nearly as excited as she was.
“Oh, don’t you go getting all sexist on us. Men can be healers, doctors. In fact, in our century there are more male doctors then women. Surgeons, people that save lives on a daily basis.”
Cian settled in his chair deep in thought. He glanced to his father, searching for approval.
“The Ancients said it would take all our powers to bring down Grainna. This newfound gift will aid 46
Redeeming Vows
our fight more than any I think. The ability to heal our wounds inflicted by her is a godsend,” Ian boasted.
A slow smile inched over the youngest MacCoinnich son.
“Looks like my injury wasn’t so bad after all.”
“We still need to be careful, Elizabeth. Cian will need time to learn his power.”
Leave it to Fin to be a killjoy. Without acknowledging his words, Liz thrust her palm at Cian once again.
****
They stood in a line, shoulder to shoulder, while Grainna paced. One of them held power, enough to keep her from knowing instantly who it was.
Her eyes met the leader of the caravan. For one brief moment, the man dared to lift his chin in defiance. Grainna narrowed her eyes at his and filled his brain with the image of his limbs ripping from his body. His hands reached to his head before he fell to his knees in pain. Blood dripped from the tear ducts of his eyes.
Grainna moved to the next gypsy in line. “You learn fast,” she said to the man whose eyes and head dipped in respect to her power. As she moved, heads bowed, children clung to the legs of their parents whimpering. She slid into the mind of every adult as she passed and found nothing.
She pivoted and stalked several feet before facing them again. “Show yourself to me.”
The gypsies’ nervous glances spread among them, most unknowing of what she wanted. Grainna raised her hand, intent on destroying them all before a small voice called out. “’Tis I ye search for, m’lady.”
From behind one of the boys stood a girl no more than fifteen, her ripped clothing and matted hair evidence of her poverty even among her people. As she stepped forward, the boot of the man at her side 47
Catherine Bybee
kicked out and she sprawled to the ground. The girl turned on him and spit at his feet. “I give myself up for me, Uncle. Not for ye.”
The child’s defiance sparked interest.
“Devil spawn,” he cursed.
“Which devil do ye speak of?” The girl scrambled to her feet and walked toward Grainna with confidence.
Grainna attempted to search the girl’s mind but wasn’t able to penetrate her will. Interesting.
Her uncle, however, was a different story altogether. He despised his niece for her mere existence. Grainna dug deeper and realized why.
The man had used the girl to ease his lust and in return, the child professed to know how he would die and when. His fear penetrated his thoughts as he looked upon the child now.
The girl stopped a few feet from Grainna, her chin high.
“You do not fear me. Why?”
“Because ye will not kill me.”
“How do you know this?”
She glanced to her people; most didn’t meet her gaze. “I see the future. In it, I am here, as are ye.”
A true seer. No crystal needed to yield the power. “What is your name?”
“They call me Tatiana.” Her words sounded much older than her years. Then again, growing up under the hand of her uncle, she had little choice.
“May I call ye Grainna?”
A slow smile spread over her lips. “For now,” she replied. “Tell me, seer? When will your uncle die?”
The question brought a gasp from those who stood in line.
Tatiana leveled her eyes to Grainna’s. “Before the sun sets.”
****
Liz sat beside her sister in the small cottage by 48
Redeeming Vows
the stream. Outside, Fin, Duncan, and Simon worked together with balls of fire. The only evidence of her brush with a burned palm was a faint red mark. Cian hovered over her palm daily, healing the wound. Within a week, he accepted and used his gift whenever he
“Oh, don’t you go getting all sexist on us. Men can be healers, doctors. In fact, in our century there are more male doctors then women. Surgeons, people that save lives on a daily basis.”
Cian settled in his chair deep in thought. He glanced to his father, searching for approval.
“The Ancients said it would take all our powers to bring down Grainna. This newfound gift will aid 46
Redeeming Vows
our fight more than any I think. The ability to heal our wounds inflicted by her is a godsend,” Ian boasted.
A slow smile inched over the youngest MacCoinnich son.
“Looks like my injury wasn’t so bad after all.”
“We still need to be careful, Elizabeth. Cian will need time to learn his power.”
Leave it to Fin to be a killjoy. Without acknowledging his words, Liz thrust her palm at Cian once again.
****
They stood in a line, shoulder to shoulder, while Grainna paced. One of them held power, enough to keep her from knowing instantly who it was.
Her eyes met the leader of the caravan. For one brief moment, the man dared to lift his chin in defiance. Grainna narrowed her eyes at his and filled his brain with the image of his limbs ripping from his body. His hands reached to his head before he fell to his knees in pain. Blood dripped from the tear ducts of his eyes.
Grainna moved to the next gypsy in line. “You learn fast,” she said to the man whose eyes and head dipped in respect to her power. As she moved, heads bowed, children clung to the legs of their parents whimpering. She slid into the mind of every adult as she passed and found nothing.
She pivoted and stalked several feet before facing them again. “Show yourself to me.”
The gypsies’ nervous glances spread among them, most unknowing of what she wanted. Grainna raised her hand, intent on destroying them all before a small voice called out. “’Tis I ye search for, m’lady.”
From behind one of the boys stood a girl no more than fifteen, her ripped clothing and matted hair evidence of her poverty even among her people. As she stepped forward, the boot of the man at her side 47
Catherine Bybee
kicked out and she sprawled to the ground. The girl turned on him and spit at his feet. “I give myself up for me, Uncle. Not for ye.”
The child’s defiance sparked interest.
“Devil spawn,” he cursed.
“Which devil do ye speak of?” The girl scrambled to her feet and walked toward Grainna with confidence.
Grainna attempted to search the girl’s mind but wasn’t able to penetrate her will. Interesting.
Her uncle, however, was a different story altogether. He despised his niece for her mere existence. Grainna dug deeper and realized why.
The man had used the girl to ease his lust and in return, the child professed to know how he would die and when. His fear penetrated his thoughts as he looked upon the child now.
The girl stopped a few feet from Grainna, her chin high.
“You do not fear me. Why?”
“Because ye will not kill me.”
“How do you know this?”
She glanced to her people; most didn’t meet her gaze. “I see the future. In it, I am here, as are ye.”
A true seer. No crystal needed to yield the power. “What is your name?”
“They call me Tatiana.” Her words sounded much older than her years. Then again, growing up under the hand of her uncle, she had little choice.
“May I call ye Grainna?”
A slow smile spread over her lips. “For now,” she replied. “Tell me, seer? When will your uncle die?”
The question brought a gasp from those who stood in line.
Tatiana leveled her eyes to Grainna’s. “Before the sun sets.”
****
Liz sat beside her sister in the small cottage by 48
Redeeming Vows
the stream. Outside, Fin, Duncan, and Simon worked together with balls of fire. The only evidence of her brush with a burned palm was a faint red mark. Cian hovered over her palm daily, healing the wound. Within a week, he accepted and used his gift whenever he
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