Home > Evernight (The Kindred #4)(5)

Evernight (The Kindred #4)(5)
Author: Donna Grant

He gave a nod and looked forward. “Sometimes, our thoughts can be our own worst enemies. Tell me why you chose the bow for your weapon.”

This, she could talk about. Synne was grateful to Lachlan, and she would make it up to him somehow before they parted ways. “My teacher, Radnar, made each of us train with many weapons. He wanted to make sure we could defend ourselves with various tools, not just one.”

“Smart man.”

“He was a knight. One of the bravest, kindest men I’ve ever known.”

Lachlan’s gray eyes swung to hers. “He is one that you are avenging.”

It wasn’t a question. Synne nodded. “He was like a father to me, and his wife, Edra, a mother.”

“Radnar must have been very skilled.”

Synne felt a smile start for the first time in days, thinking about Radnar. “He was, but he also recognized that others could teach us, as well. He brought in warriors from all over to add to our lessons. His way worked, although I doubt there would be many who agreed with it outside of our community. He watched us as we trained with different weapons. Most showed skill with at least one, and once he saw which weapon they took to, the training intensified.”

“And yours was the bow?”

“I was accurate from my first shot. It’s like I don’t even have to think about it. I just know what to do.”

Lachlan glanced at her weapon. “What were you training for, exactly? I doona think it was just to hunt for food or to protect others. You make it sound as if Radnar was creating an army.”

“Radnar and the others taught whoever wanted to learn, for whatever reason they wanted to learn.”

Lachlan’s brows rose on his forehead. “Lass, I have an uncanny knack for knowing when someone is giving me a line of shite, which is exactly what you’re doing now.”

“You don’t want to know the truth.”

“Or is it that you doona want to tell me?” he countered.

She shrugged. “Both.”

“There have been few times in my life where there was peace. My clan is large and verra strong, and that makes others uncomfortable, as well as envious. We’ve been attacked, threatened, and lied to constantly. I tell you this so you’ll know there isna anything you can say that I have no’ already heard.”

“I doubt that,” she retorted.

He snorted and looked forward. “Keep your secrets, then.”

Synne briefly looked skyward into the gray above her and then blew out a breath. What would it hurt to tell him? She wasn’t a witch, and even if he tried to take her, she was positive that she could get away from Lachlan. She didn’t want to hurt him, but she would. Normally, she wouldn’t dare say anything about witches or the Coven, but there was a war brewing that could threaten everyone, whether they knew of witches or not. So, perhaps now was the time to talk.

“You may discount what I’m about to share with you. Be forewarned that everything I say is the truth. I tell you in case we don’t win the battle. You’ll need to prepare your clan and as many others as you can.”

Lachlan’s gray eyes met hers, waiting for her to continue.

“Radnar was a knight, but Edra was a witch. They set up a place in the forest as a sanctuary for anyone seeking to escape the Coven. The abbey was my home, and it was destroyed. The Coven is a set of witches who take whatever they want and kill whoever they wish simply because they have magic. They wanted Edra, but she fought against them and won. From then on, she and Radnar took in abandoned children and gave them a home.

“For years, the two of them went out to hunt Coven members. As the children grew and trained, some of them joined in the hunt. We became Hunters. And we thought we were making headway.”

Lachlan asked, “How can someone without magic battle a witch?”

“Edra infused our weapons with magic to give us an advantage.”

The Scot, keeping his gaze forward, nodded for her to continue.

“One such Hunter, Leoma, was tracking the Coven when she stumbled upon a man who was after the same witch. He was a lord, and the two of them worked together. They learned the Coven was after the bones of the First Witch.”

“How do you know there was a first one?” Lachlan asked.

Synne eyed him, wondering why he wouldn’t look at her. “It’s how witches came into being. The First Witch, Trea, was Norse. The Vikings revered women who had such power, and Trea had a lot of it. So did her three sisters, but nothing compared to Trea. When she died, she had her followers scatter her bones and burn the rest of her body so her sisters couldn’t use her in death. Her sisters began the Coven.”

Lachlan remained silent.

Synne licked her lips and continued. “Braith and Leoma found the Blood Skull—Trea’s skull—and Braith learned from it that he was its Warden. It wasn’t long after that we found the Staff of the Eternal—a weapon containing the thigh bone of the First Witch—but, unfortunately, we lost it. A witch named Sybbyl took it and killed the three elders of the Coven. She now rules, the staff giving her immense power.” Synne adjusted her cloak and quickly glanced at Lachlan before she began again.

“But we still have Helena. She is a direct descendant of Trea, and thereby the Heart. Thankfully, Helena fights for us. It isn’t enough, though. During the fight, Sybbyl got away and attacked our home, killing everyone inside the abbey, including Radnar and Edra. I was in the forest at the time, unable to get to them to help.”

“That’s why you’re in Scotland now?”

Synne nodded her head. “Sybbyl to locate another bone, but she’s also here to find the Varroki, a group of witches and warlocks who have battled the Coven since the First Witch died. They’ve kept their location hidden. I’m going to them.”

“Do you know where to find them?”

“No, but Malene, their leader, said that I would be able to find the way.”

Lachlan made a sound. “And you believe her?”

“I do. I know that Sybbyl will eventually find the Varroki, and I know that I’ll be there waiting for her when she does.”

“It’s one woman against how many of these Varroki?”

Synne shuddered. “Sybbyl isn’t alone.”

“How many witches are with her?”

“It isn’t the witches I’m concerned with. It’s the Gira.”

Lachlan’s head finally swiveled to her. “The what?”

“Gira. They’re tree nymphs. Their skin looks like the bark of trees, so you pass right by them and don’t even know it. Their whispers draw people to them. Once close enough, the Gira take them, locking them inside the tree to torture and eat at will.”

Lachlan stared at her for a moment before facing forward again. “That is some tale, lass.”

“It’s the truth.”

 

 

4

 

 

Of all the things Lachlan had thought Synne might tell him, he’d never imagined it would be about witches and magic. She was so absorbed in her tale that she hadn’t yet realized that he wasn’t shocked by her mention of magic.

“You’ll see soon enough,” Synne replied. “If we don’t win, the Coven will raze everything you know and love to the ground.”

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