Free A Warrior's Perception by Spring Stevens Page A

herself that it would never happen again, she would never trust another man, and she would use what little she had to get what she wanted.
    After her breakdown she moved into the make shift orphanage and met Flaron, the abbey carpenter. He had built the orphanage rather quickly as the demand had warranted and kept the abbey in repair.
    Flaron was quite a man with a nice friendly smile and a square jaw. His intense blue eyes sparkled with kindness and his smile puffed his cheeks up in pink mounds. Andra liked him but kept her distance. Andra guessed him to be in his late fifties by the streaks of white in his red beard and braided hair.
    The nuns had told her he was widowed twenty years past and had no children of his own. Andra had watched him work from a distance and was slightly impressed by his stamina. He rarely ever talked, but his eyes sparkled and his smile made her hand wave in greeting. But he was a man nonetheless and she would not fall for his kind eyes.
    Andra ran her hands through the tall blades of grass as she watched Flaron work on the abbey wall. Sweat poured from his brawny back and his skin glistened in the sunlight. He looked up and cheerfully waved at her. She dropped her eyes as he turned to the children that came up behind him laughing. He chased them around the abbey and through the field towards Andra.
    Panic attacked at her heart but she forced it down refusing to let the children see fear in her eyes. She had downed one man and she could do it again if necessary.
    “ Save us from the ogre. Save us Miss Andra! ” they squealed as they ran behind her.
    She laughed and shooed them behind her skirts, “ Stop beast or suffer my hand! ”
    He stopped and put his hands on his thick hips with a twinkle in his eye, “ But milady, I promise I will'na harm the wee ones. ”
    She laughed in delight despite her panic as she pointed behind him, “ It is'na the bairns I am worried 'bout. ”
    He raised his brow and roared with laughter as the littlest one punched him in the gut. Andra scooped her little hero up into her arms and rewarded him with a kiss on his cheek. His little face flushed and he wiggled out of her grasp. The children ran toward the orphanage as Flaron sat at her feet, propping himself up on his elbow. He picked a blade of grass and stuck it between his teeth. Andra sat beside of him as they watched the children play.
    “ They like ye, ” Andra noted as he laughed at the least one's antics.
    “ I always wanted a house full of bairns, ” he admitted, “ but Keyra was'na able to ha'e 'em. ”
    “ I am truly sorry, ” Andra whispered.
    “ She left me long ago. She disappeared as if she were a dream, ” he returned with sad eyes and heavy heart, “ She was a good woman. ”
    “ Ye loved her very much? ” Andra asked curiously as Flaron's eyes misted with tears.
    “ With all mine heart, ” he breathed as he looked to the heavens, “ I take comfort in knowin' that she waits for me in Valhalla. ”
    “ How did ye know ye were in love with her? ” Andra asked.
    “ From the first time I saw her, she captured my heart, ” he smiled, “ Keyra was a fine lass. Her heart was as strong as a bear and as tender as a lamb. I could'na stop thinkin' bout her, she haunted me day and night ‘til I realized I would'na e'er be happy without her. ”
    Andra frowned, “ I did ‘na mean to pry, forgive me. ”
    Flaron's soft smile melted Andra's heart, “ There is nothin' to forgive. It was my good fortune to ha'e loved her and I thank Dagma that I had the time that I did with her while she was here. ”
    “ She must ha'e been wonderful to ha'e a man love her so deeply, ” Andra commented as Flaron patted her hand, “ How did she pass? ”
    “ She was indeed wonderful and lovelier than the sunset. The priest at Geldamar said she died in her sleep after a long illness. She was taken to bed with a fever one night and lay sick for months while I was fightin' at Laird McKregan's side, ” he