dwarf's longing would soon be fulfilled. If men were judged by heart instead of size he knew that Au lay would tower over everyone.
A hush of quiet had settled over the land as Ian and Aulay hurried along, yet years of constant warring had made them both overly cautious. Though the only voices they heard were from a flock of gulls circling overhead, t hey attuned their ears to hear every sound. Being in another clan's territory made them very vulnerable and most certainly unwelcome until they had made themselves known and explained their mission.
Focusing their eyes on the mottled golds, browns and greens of the land that rolled before them, they kept a lookout for any sign of danger. Even so , Ian was startled as a white and saffron-garbed figure darted out of the foliage several feet away. The well-proportioned figure and long flowing red hair told him instantly that it was a woman.
"A lassie!" Aulay's whisper gave voice to the obvious. Two pair of eyes watched as the woman walked slowly over to the edge of a small lake gouged into the land. She was unaware of their stares. Silently the two men crept closer, close enough to see that she was beautiful. At that very moment Ian was bewitched.
"Look at that hair! 'Tis like a fire, like a raging flame." As the woman threw her head back, the long tresses whipped about her shoulders, catching the rays of the sun, setting her hair a blaze with magenta highlights.
"Now, Ian...ye canna be thinking. Not so soon. I thought what ye said was all in jest, about finding a lassie. Ye shouldna........" Aulay had seen that look in Ian's eye before and knew his protestations were i n vain. Still he continued, "She might be one o' the fairies....a kelpie. I've heard they roam hereabout."
"She looks real enough for me. Beautiful." Ian cran ed his neck for a better view.
"Och, then she might hae kin who would not look favorably on a man of Campbell blood. Aulay threw up his hands in exasperation. He knew Ian as well as he knew the freckles on the back of his hand. There would be no reasoning with him once he’d set his mind. “Ye could start the feuding up again just for a kiss...”
"Ian didn't hear, he was too involved in watching the young lass.” I have to see her eyes, to know if they're blue or green." Leaving Aulay behind, Ian moved closer, his eyes caressing the mounds of the woman's breasts, moving to the narrow waist which he knew he could span with his hands. The gentle swell of her hips and long legs were outlined by her gown, completing the enchanting image.
"Ian, ye are daft! I know it for a certainty now!" Aulay followed Ian, voicing his declaration, only to be silenced by Ian's hand upon his mouth.
"Hush, you'll chase her away before I have time to speak with her." Ian flashed Aulay a challenging smile. "You go on ahead. I'll catch up with you somehow." As Aulay hesitated he said, "On with you now. But be careful. I'll be along soon."
“I’ll be along soon!” Aulay echoed. Mumbling beneath his breath, he walked on ahead, narrowly missing a tree trunk as he turned back to look at Ian. With a cluck of his tongue he shook his head again in warning. Ian ignored his friend's chastisement. Easing out of the shadows he moved towards the girl, seduction most definitely upon his mind.
Chapter Five
A soft whispering breeze caressed Brianna's face as she stood by the lake. Glancing about her, she viewed this untamed woodland of tall, slender silver birch trees. It was a natural wonderland, a haven with a mossy floor hidden from view by a drapery woven of hundreds of leaves. It was so achingly lovely here in the fairy glen. The mountains and moorlands sparkled like jewels. Tranquil. Each stone, each tree, every inlet of water that gouged deep into the glens was precious to her. How she would hate to leave.
The island of Ulva was a happy, smiling place, whose mood was that of its upland
A hush of quiet had settled over the land as Ian and Aulay hurried along, yet years of constant warring had made them both overly cautious. Though the only voices they heard were from a flock of gulls circling overhead, t hey attuned their ears to hear every sound. Being in another clan's territory made them very vulnerable and most certainly unwelcome until they had made themselves known and explained their mission.
Focusing their eyes on the mottled golds, browns and greens of the land that rolled before them, they kept a lookout for any sign of danger. Even so , Ian was startled as a white and saffron-garbed figure darted out of the foliage several feet away. The well-proportioned figure and long flowing red hair told him instantly that it was a woman.
"A lassie!" Aulay's whisper gave voice to the obvious. Two pair of eyes watched as the woman walked slowly over to the edge of a small lake gouged into the land. She was unaware of their stares. Silently the two men crept closer, close enough to see that she was beautiful. At that very moment Ian was bewitched.
"Look at that hair! 'Tis like a fire, like a raging flame." As the woman threw her head back, the long tresses whipped about her shoulders, catching the rays of the sun, setting her hair a blaze with magenta highlights.
"Now, Ian...ye canna be thinking. Not so soon. I thought what ye said was all in jest, about finding a lassie. Ye shouldna........" Aulay had seen that look in Ian's eye before and knew his protestations were i n vain. Still he continued, "She might be one o' the fairies....a kelpie. I've heard they roam hereabout."
"She looks real enough for me. Beautiful." Ian cran ed his neck for a better view.
"Och, then she might hae kin who would not look favorably on a man of Campbell blood. Aulay threw up his hands in exasperation. He knew Ian as well as he knew the freckles on the back of his hand. There would be no reasoning with him once he’d set his mind. “Ye could start the feuding up again just for a kiss...”
"Ian didn't hear, he was too involved in watching the young lass.” I have to see her eyes, to know if they're blue or green." Leaving Aulay behind, Ian moved closer, his eyes caressing the mounds of the woman's breasts, moving to the narrow waist which he knew he could span with his hands. The gentle swell of her hips and long legs were outlined by her gown, completing the enchanting image.
"Ian, ye are daft! I know it for a certainty now!" Aulay followed Ian, voicing his declaration, only to be silenced by Ian's hand upon his mouth.
"Hush, you'll chase her away before I have time to speak with her." Ian flashed Aulay a challenging smile. "You go on ahead. I'll catch up with you somehow." As Aulay hesitated he said, "On with you now. But be careful. I'll be along soon."
“I’ll be along soon!” Aulay echoed. Mumbling beneath his breath, he walked on ahead, narrowly missing a tree trunk as he turned back to look at Ian. With a cluck of his tongue he shook his head again in warning. Ian ignored his friend's chastisement. Easing out of the shadows he moved towards the girl, seduction most definitely upon his mind.
Chapter Five
A soft whispering breeze caressed Brianna's face as she stood by the lake. Glancing about her, she viewed this untamed woodland of tall, slender silver birch trees. It was a natural wonderland, a haven with a mossy floor hidden from view by a drapery woven of hundreds of leaves. It was so achingly lovely here in the fairy glen. The mountains and moorlands sparkled like jewels. Tranquil. Each stone, each tree, every inlet of water that gouged deep into the glens was precious to her. How she would hate to leave.
The island of Ulva was a happy, smiling place, whose mood was that of its upland
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