Free Treasure So Rare (Women of Strength Time Travel Trilogy) by Grace Brannigan Page A

would not heed the ramblings of
an old woman."
    "Speak plainly," Erik said. "I am getting
irritated by the half truths that seemed to abound in this place. Who did you
warn?"
     "Mistress Iliana." The old woman moved back
toward the shadows.
    "Of what did you warn her?"
    "Of your coming."
    At the moment, willing to play his part, Erik said,
"It's common knowledge my men at arms and I were to come."
    She laughed and it caused a shiver to run down his back.
Annoyed with himself, Erik said, "Tell me what you know of Iliana?"
    She turned the question back on him. "What do you know
of her?"
    "Leave me be if you are intent only on riddles."
    "You are a man at times fascinated by riddles,"
she observed. "Look in your heart, where you love a challenge. You wanted
to find her and so you have."
    "Iliana."
    "She is here, and yet she is not."
    "I see her in flesh and blood." Impatiently, Erik
said, "So tell me how I arrived here. What year is this? What place is
this?"
    "I offered her love philtres." She seemed not to
have heard him as she went on, "She would have none of it. She will lead
you a merry chase." Again, that laugh. "'Tis only fair you know it is
the second year of Queen Eleanor's reign, the year of our Lord 1228. You are
here where you now stand. How you arrived is how you will leave."
    "So I can leave again?"
    "If you so wish. But you will leave something you once
loved dearly behind. And you will take with you something that you never knew
was yours."
    "You know who I am."
    "Of course." Her dark eyes opened wide. "You
are the key to the treasure."
    Erik frowned.
    "You must claim your life tapestry before it is
tainted," the old woman said, turning and walking away.
    "Where will I find it?" he asked her retreating
back.
    "Under the dragon."
    "Where the devil is the dragon?"
     She was there one moment, then vanished before his eyes.
    Erik moved to where she had stood and ran his palms along
the walls. He pushed against the cold stone in several places, but to no avail.
How could that crone disappear even while he watched? But then he remembered
the strange things he had seen; his brother Darien and Elise had dissolved
before his eyes. That was almost a year ago and he had never seen them since.
    He pondered the old woman's abrupt disappearance, and even
stranger, the words she had spoken. Edward, the lad he had met in the bailey
earlier that morning, came up the stairs toward him.
    "My Lord Camdork?" the boy queried, his face
concerned as he observed Erik pushing against the seemingly impenetrable stone
walls. With a rueful grimace, Erik straightened from the wall. "There was
an old woman here. While we spoke, she disappeared in an instant."
    The boy nodded, his face losing its concerned look.
"Yes, my lord. That would be Sorenta. She comes and goes. No one is quite
sure in what manner."
    "She just disappears?"
    "It would appear so, my lord. We are all familiar with
her coming and going. I imagine it is strange for one such as yourself upon the
first meeting."
    "One such as myself?"
    The boy bit his lip and looked down. "That is, someone
new to Dutton Keep, my lord." His voice was low as he met Erik's eyes
again, his body held stiffly erect. "She does not usually show herself to
those living outside these walls."
    "But lad," Erik said softly, "I now live
within these walls."
    "Yes, that you do," the boy agreed quickly.
"Mistress Iliana sent me to tell you food is prepared and they await your
presence."
    Erik turned to follow the boy toward the great hall he had
passed on his way through the keep earlier. "I think perhaps mistress
Iliana would not mind if you did not find me at all."
    The boy looked uncomfortable, then looked up at Erik and
blurted. "In truth, I expected you to be out in the courtyard with your
men at arms. I did not expect to find you at once within."
    "Ah, so Iliana sent you to search where she expected me
not to be?"
    The boy didn't respond, but no reply was needed.
    "Sorenta told me the year was 1228. Do