Dragon Knight's Sword by Mary Morgan

with her horse. We all thought him a bit daft at the time, since Meggie was always with the horses, until he said she was meeting Adam MacFhearguis, and they were going to be handfasted. He had heard her talking to her horse and singing.
    “Angus stood so fast the pitcher of mead spilled everywhere. As he spoke, he kept a firm grip on my shoulder to let me know that I should not leave. He told Hamish not to tell the others, saying he would handle it. He did not want bloodshed if possible, and cast his eyes at me when he spoke this. Angus then told him to have Tiernan prepare his horse.
    “When Angus left the hall, I went for my sword and stormed out, taking off on Brandubh. My rage was so great, the skies started to darken. I had no control.” Duncan drew his hand through his hair, his nostrils flaring.
    “There was only one place where Meggie would take him to handfast, and that would be to the sacred stones. By the time I reached them, the storm was fast closing in.” He closed his eyes recalling the smell of that night—lightning flashing the night sky, and thunder so fierce, it shook the ground.
    Duncan clasped his hands behind his back, slowly turning toward Cormac. “There they were in the middle, wee Meggie with our sworn enemy. All I could think of was blood and rage, and it was all for the MacFhearguis.
    “Adam saw me first, and seeing my fury ran to put himself in front of Meggie. It was all my madness needed. I saw him as the enemy, and Meggie needed saving. By the time our swords clashed, the storm was upon us. I heard Meggie screaming and calling out to Angus to stop. I did not see that my brothers were there, swords drawn.
    “The ground was muddy and I continued to battle the MacFhearguis and then my brothers.” Duncan pounded his fist against the tree. “I did not see her coming.”
    “She stepped in front of Adam?” whispered Cormac.
    “Aye,” Duncan nodded.
    “The fool lass had her arms outstretched calling my name, and I drove my sword into her.”
    Duncan dropped down against the tree, head in his hands. When he spoke, there was bitterness in his words. “Ye asked me why I seek out the druid.” His hands clenched. “It was with magic we were all cursed, and it will be magic that will unbind us. In truth, for my brothers, my soul is already damned, and I cannot undo what has happened.”
    Cormac then sighed, “So your plan is to sacrifice your life, using magic for redemption of your brothers.”
    When Duncan lifted his head, his eyes were cold shards of glass, gleaming in the night.
    “Aye.”

Chapter 8
    “They say that Ireland and Scotland were once joined, until a dragon’s tail smashed onto the land and separated them in two.”
    If anyone had told her a week ago she would be standing on Scottish soil, Brigid would have laughed in their face.
    Yet, here she was.
    The long flight and layover in Chicago did not dim her enthusiasm in the least. She felt like shouting for joy and tried to keep her eyes from tearing, lest others would think her some crazed American.
    Thank goodness, Archie had contacted officials not only in the States, but also in Scotland alerting them that she was entrusted with an ancient artifact. He had faxed the appropriate paperwork and officials even had a copy of her passport. How he managed to know the proper contacts and to do it so quickly, was still a mystery to her.
    Deeply breathing in the cool, crisp Scottish air, she closed her eyes and uttered a quick prayer of thanks for her safe journey here. Hugging the sword in its leather pouch more closely to her body, she opened her eyes and looked about.
    Standing outside Glasgow’s airport, she looked about as cars, buses, and people passed her by. She expected Archie to send her a text letting her know the name of his friend he was sending, but she hadn’t heard a word since she left the States.
    For a brief moment, the doubts started to creep into her thoughts as to her purpose here in Scotland. It was