Free Lightnings Daughter by Mary H. Herbert Page A

take his rudeness to heart. The responsibilities of a chieftain weigh heavily on him tonight,”
    he said gently.
    She looked up at her old friend and squeezed his arm. "It's not very often you defend Athlone." The healer's pale eyes met hers with sympathy and caring.
    "I'm fond of you both. Don't worry. Athlone wil come around as soon as he straightens out his own thoughts."
    Wearily she nodded, more hope than conviction in her heart, and the healer took her arm. "Come,”
    he said. "I have your old sleeping place ready for you." He led Gabria out of the hall and down the path toward his tent. She looked back at the hall entrance, hoping Athlone would cal to her, but the lord was talking to a warrior and did not even seem to notice she had left. She bowed her head and hurried on with Piers.
    In the hal , Lord Athlone paced back and forth by the fire pit. The hall was momentarily empty, save for Bregan. The warrior was standing silently by the dais, waiting for his chieftain to speak.

    Bregan was twenty years older than Athlone and a handspan shorter. His dark hair, worn short, was graying, and a black and silver beard trimmed his square face. He was dressed in a warm tunic and pants with none of the ornamentation or gold jewelry that was the privilege of a warrior of his experience. His features were well-defined, but in the past winter a deep sadness had left permanent lines on his forehead and face. Bregan watched his lord despondently, for he knew what Athlone was going to ask him and what he would have to answer.
    Lord Athlone final y stopped pacing and said, "Bregan, I have asked you twice to be wer-tain and both times you refused. I have to ask you again. I need you as commander of my warriors."
    Bregan shifted uncomfortably. "Lord, you know I can't."
    Athlone held up his hand. "Before you refuse again, hear me out. I am going to Pra Desh with Lady Gabria."
    The warrior did not look surprised. "Good. Branth must die,” he said flatly.
    "And Gabria must not," Athlone muttered. He put his hands on the older man's shoulders. "I understand how you feel, but I am chieftain now and I must leave this clan in capable hands. The journey wil take months. You have the wisdom to rule in my stead, and you stil hold the respect of the werod. There is no one else I trust as much."
    "Lord, you do me great honor, but please choose another! I cannot go back on my vow."
    Athlone studied the man before him and saw the adamant refusal in Bregan's eyes. Of Lord Savaric's five hearthguard warriors who had been with him the day of his murder, only two still survived.
    Two of the warriors had chosen suicide instead of facing the shame and dishonor of their failure. One warrior had died of an illness on the way back to Khulinin Treld---some said he had lost the will to live.
    The fourth withdrew from the werod and each day drank himself into a stupor.
    Only Bregan remained a warrior. After Savaric's death, he voluntarily stripped himself of his status and the gifts he had won for distinguished service, then placed himself in the bottom rank with the young warriors in training. He would begin again, he had told Athlone, and work to regain his lost honor.
    The chief shook his head. He could respect Bregan's choice, but it did not help him solve his dilemma. He had not yet chosen a wer-tain for the clan in the hope that Bregan would eventually accept. Now he had to decide on someone else quickly. He dropped his hands from Bregan's shoulders and resumed pacing.
    "Do you have any suggestions?" he asked.
    "Guthlac would serve you well."
    "He's too young."
    Bregan's mouth lifted in a slight smile. "He is several years older than you were when you became wer-tain."
    Athlone stopped pacing, his face thoughtful. "I wil think about it."

    "He is a good warrior, and the others approve of him. He has been an excellent mentor for the younger men."
    "Isn't he also your cousin?" Athlone asked, his eyebrow arched. The older man smiled, then the chieftain found