Page 6 of The Irresistible Warrior
“I am not rude,” Hamish snapped.
“Hush,” Freyda ordered, and Hamish mumbled beneath his breath but otherwise kept silent. “As I was saying, sir, Hamish can be rude, but he means well, and he is protective of me as any good husband is of his wife.”
“My condolences to you, Freyda,” Declan said with a chuckle.
Freyda smiled and Hamish frowned.
“How may I be of help to you, sir?” Freyda asked.
“Would you have any knowledge of how to remove a… curse?” Declan asked, unable to admit it was a wish that had brought him such misery.
Freyda sighed softly. “The only thing I know, as do most healers, is that a witch is the only person who can remove a curse and preferably the one who cast it.”
Declan worried that would be her response since it had been the response of every healer he had asked. He noticed her brow narrow as if considering a thought.
“Is there something you thought of that could help?” he asked anxiously.
“I don’t know for sure, but it might be worth a try,” Freyda said.
“Tell me,” Declan asked, eager to try anything.
Seeking her husband’s opinion, Freyda turned to Hamish. “Aura.”
Hamish’s eyes widened a bit, and he nodded. “She is more knowledgeable than most.”
Declan sprang to his feet. “Who is the knowledgeable woman called Aura and where can I find her?”
“Aura lives alone in the woods and knows the properties of plants like no other. She has helped me heal the ill I thought would surely die.”
“She’s a healer?” Declan asked with hope.
Freyda shook her head. “Nay, she does not claim to be a healer. She says knowledge of plants and nature are important to her and so she seeks it. She blends plants I would not think of blending and is successful with them.” She smiled. “And she cooks exceptionally tasty food.”
Hamish grinned. “That she does.”
“Perhaps her knowledge could help you,” Freyda said.
For the first time in a long while, Declan felt hopeful. “Where can I find her?”
“Aura will be here tomorrow to see me. You can talk with her then, if you’d like,” Freyda said.
Declan didn’t want to wait that long, but it was growing late, and it was probably better that he did. A good night’s sleep would clear his mind and give him time to think about whether to be truthful with someone who could possibly help him.
“You will bring Aura to me when she arrives here tomorrow, Hamish,” Declan ordered.
“Aye, sir,” Hamish said. “And you should know that Aura is a good woman and highly respected by the clan.”
“I don’t mean her any harm, Hamish,” Declan clarified and looked to Freyda. “I am grateful for your suggestion, Freyda. Now, I need to speak with your husband privately.”
“Aye, sir, and I hope Aura can be helpful to you,” Freyda said, bobbed her head, then placed a tender touch to her husband’s arm before taking her leave.
“Skillful hunters, weavers, builders, and more,” Declan said. “What skills does the clan possess and what ones does it lack?”
Declan listened as Hamish detailed the clan’s strengths and weaknesses, while in the back of his mind, he could think of nothing else but meeting Aura.
CHAPTER 3
Morning arrived brisk and bright, the air crisp with the scent of pine, the kind that stirred a man to action. Declan wasted no time. He walked through the village to see for himself what needed to be done. Then he gathered the men and assigned chores according to how Hamish listed their abilities. Three men were sent to hunt, those skilled with tools were sent to make repairs to the cottages, starting with the roofs. Another group of men were instructed to repair the animal pens, while young lads got the unwanted but necessary chore of cleaning out the animal pens and shelters. A good start for his first day, though there was far more to be done to make the place a thriving clan. He then ate a tasteless meal, wondering what to do about that, before he went in search of Freyda, knowing Aura was to visit her today.
