Free The Rabbit and the Raven: Book Two in the Solas Beir Trilogy by Melissa Eskue Ousley Page B

agreement. It was no secret he was very fond of the Buchan children. “I too have heard a few of Ciaran’s animal stories,” he smiled. “They are quite informative.”
    “Oh, all right—I take it back,” Jon said. “Ciaran is not a know-it-all.”
    Abby ignored Jon and continued. “Anyway, Ciaran’s dad is into legends and culture. Riordan told me that across the mythology of our world, white animals are often considered sacred, and it’s supposed to be good luck to see one.”
    “I concur,” Fergal said. “Although not every white animal in your world is one of us disguised in spirit form. Often, white animals in your world simply lack pigment. Just as not every black cat is evil, contrary to human superstition. Not that the superstition is not at times grounded in truth, as you all have witnessed from your own encounters with the Kruorumbrae.”
    “But then, most of you shift into something that looks like the regular, naturally colored form of an animal, like your frog?” David asked.
    “Correct. All the better to blend in, no?” Fergal gave David a sly wink.
    “Very clever, my friend. You just want to keep us on our toes,” David smiled.
    Fergal grinned and leapt to his feet, brandishing his sword. “It is all part of my secret plan to make better swordsmen of you. En garde, Solas Beir.”
     
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
    C’AISLINGAER
     
     
    A bby was dreaming. She had always had vivid dreams, but in Cai Terenmare, her dreams had taken on a quality that made it difficult to know the difference between her visions and reality.
    In her dream, she was running from something dark, but she felt so small, like she was running on tiny legs. As fast as she might be, she could never outrun the gathering darkness that loomed over her like a storm. Her vision was blurred as if there were a dark fog around her, and she began to cough as thick black smoke filled her lungs. She was suffocating on some kind of evil vapor. Then, out of the darkness came a shape filled with light, and the smoke began to clear. It was a white lion. “David,” she said, and woke up.
     
     
     
    In his room, David was also dreaming. “Abby,” he whispered, and reached for her in his sleep.
     
     
     
    Sitting up, Abby looked around her room. Her nightmare had been terrifying, but the image that stayed with her was the lion—she had felt such a sense of peace about him, that he was powerful and good. Could it be him? she thought. She didn’t know for sure if the lion was David’s totem, but something about the way the lion moved reminded her of David’s presence and the peace she felt when he was near.
    Her thought was interrupted by something rustling. It startled her at first, but then, more curious than afraid, she got out of bed to investigate. The sound seemed to be coming from her balcony.
    As Abby passed under the ivory arch into the crisp night air, she could smell the ocean in the breeze. Perched on the carved marble railing of her balcony was a black shape. Two eyes rimmed in gold peered at her from the darkness.
    “Brarn,” she whispered.
    The raven nodded as if in acknowledgment and flew to her outstretched hands. She stroked his feathers affectionately and brought him into her room. “How did you get here?” Abby asked, thinking he wouldn’t answer, but asking just the same.
    The raven cocked his head at her and she laughed.
    “Never mind,” Abby said. “Oh sorry, I mean, ‘nevermore.’ If I put you down on my chair, will you still be here when I wake up in the morning?”
    He answered with another cock of his head, so she put him down on the wooden-spindled chair beside her bed. “All right. Good night, Brarn. See you in the morning.”
    “Morning,” Brarn croaked in his raspy voice. “Good night.”
    “Exactly,” Abby murmured sleepily, pulling the warm blankets back up to her shoulders.
    He was still there when she woke several hours later, and she brought him downstairs to the banquet room to