Free The Witch and The Warrior by Karyn Monk Page A

life. He had bellowed at the top of his lungs, waking all of his clan as he vainly tried to purge himself of the pain tearing through him. And through his fury and despair he suddenly noticed a tiny, brilliant star that he was certain had not been there before. He had been so astounded, he went immediately to Morag, the clan seer, and demanded to know the meaning of it. And the wise old woman had assured him it was a sign that Flora was watching over him.
    From that evening on, Alex never slept without first searching the sky for Flora’s star.
    Forgive me, my love. It meant nothing.
    He laced his fingers behind his head and sighed. He had no doubt she believed him. His Flora was the most tender-hearted of women and would never imagine him capable of anything but honesty. Still, his confession did not ease his shame. He had betrayed his beloved wife, and he did not know how to cleanse himself of that unforgivable act.
    Four years. It was not so long, really. Barely a drop in the ocean of time, and certainly not long enough to numb his suffering. At first he had been far too enraged with God to continue with his duties as a laird and father. What kind of God would bless him with unfailing strength and good health, while slowly leeching the life out of his innocent wife? Flora had been as lovely as a flower, and as delicate. When Alex met her at the MacLean holding, she had not known he was laird of the MacDunns. A lively, rosy girl with laughing eyes and hair the color of fire, she spurned his arrogant advances with her quick wit and saucy manner. And Alex, who was accustomed to women throwing themselves in his path, was completely enchanted. He courted Flora with a patience and determination he had not known he was capable of. And finally she gifted him with her love. He proudly brought her back to his clan as his bride, and a year later his son was born, making his life complete.
    But after David’s birth, Flora lost a child, and then another, each time losing a little more of her color and strength. She began to complain of internal pain and weakness, and could barely find the energy to rise from her bed. Overcome with worry, Alex sent for the finest healers in Scotland, who spared neither effort nor expense as they bled her and purged her and forced her to swallow all manner of foul potions. Poor Flora endured her suffering with courage, though Alex knew she often wept at night when she thought he was sleeping. At times he wondered if his love for her had made him cruel, for surely it was inhumane to make her bear such hideous ministrations. But he clung to the hope that her illness was but a fleeting blot on an otherwise perfect life. Eventually they would find the right treatment and one morning Flora would waken and smile, cured.
    Instead his beautiful wife wasted away, until finally she was but a thin, pale wisp of the glowing girl he had so proudly presented to his people.
    Her illness lasted for nearly a year. When she realized that she was going to die, her greatest worry was Alex’s unhappiness. Over and over she pleaded with him not to grieve, but to promise her that he would marry again and get on with his life.
How can you ask such a thing of me?
he had demanded, pressing her slim, cold hand against his cheek.
I swear to you I will never love another.
He had sworn this oath as a way of binding her to him, of making her see she could not possibly desert him. But one night Flora was finally released from the torment of her treacherous body. Though he knew she was at peace, Alex had felt empty, abandoned. When Flora died, the light in his life was extinguished.
    And now God was determined to take his son from him as well.
    He could not imagine what terrible sin he had committed to make God want to punish him so viciously. His life had been far from pure, but whatever his sins, he did not think he deserved this additional, unbearable agony. He knew for certain David did not. The lad was scarcely ten and