Cathain entered the room where Conchobar held council. The three standing around the table turned to her and she felt the barrier immediately. Their faces were cold and distant, united in shutting her out. They seemed to look down on her even though she was at their height.
It was done. Now it was obvious that a new alliance had formed and she was not in it. Conchobar would not hear her argument. Ever since the dreadful, nearly fatal, blow to his skull he had treated her differently - like a woman instead of an ally, and taken council with people she disapproved of.
She still hoped time would heal him and return him to his former self but she had to push that hope aside to deal with the present.
Lorcan spoke first, always diplomatic, if not sincere, "Welcome, Lady Cathain, we have much to discuss with you."
*I am sure you do* she thought.
Neit beckoned her to the table. They outlined the plan they had already made in detail, giving her instructions on how she was to use her troops. It was the plan she expected and the one she feared.
As they talked Lorcan constantly leaned in towards her. Not enough to offend to but enough to make her uncomfortable.
When they finished the meeting Cathain asked Lorcan to wait while Neit and Conchobar left the room. Turning to him she said "Pressure me again and I will have your head on a pike, and your partners will have to find someone else for their threesome."
She spoke quietly but at the same time the Witchblade sprang into the gauntlet and the blade extended several inches. Lorcan looked at the blade and her eyes and nodded.
........
Sara shook off a feeling of stiffness and looked around. Where did Irons go? She was talking to him and . . . She noticed that it was evening outside. What happened to the afternoon? Maybe *she* had a brain injury - the way time kept slipping away from her.
She heard the soft sound of doors opening and turned to see Irons enter, along with . . . Ian! Her jaw dropped. Ian was here!
Irons saw the expression on her face and said with amusement. "Sara meet Nottingham. Nottingham this is Lady Sara." Ian bowed slightly.
Sara tried to get her jaw closed. Now she could see that this Ian was not the Ian that been tailing her for the last few months. But the difference was very subtle, besides grooming preferences. This Ian was clean shaven except for a small goatee. His eyes glittered with amusement - or was it something else more sinister? Sara felt uneasy with the man himself, outside her horror at seeing someone she knew duplicated.
"You have no conscience whatsoever, do you?" Sara sniped at Irons. "But should I call you Lorcan?"
This comment didn't dampen Irons' amusement. "A conscience is not useful in business, Sara. Yes, I was Lorcan. You do progress. Were you speaking to Cathain? You must learn to control your visions. They make you vulnerable."
"I saw you and Neit and the two of you were allies."
It was done. Now it was obvious that a new alliance had formed and she was not in it. Conchobar would not hear her argument. Ever since the dreadful, nearly fatal, blow to his skull he had treated her differently - like a woman instead of an ally, and taken council with people she disapproved of.
She still hoped time would heal him and return him to his former self but she had to push that hope aside to deal with the present.
Lorcan spoke first, always diplomatic, if not sincere, "Welcome, Lady Cathain, we have much to discuss with you."
*I am sure you do* she thought.
Neit beckoned her to the table. They outlined the plan they had already made in detail, giving her instructions on how she was to use her troops. It was the plan she expected and the one she feared.
As they talked Lorcan constantly leaned in towards her. Not enough to offend to but enough to make her uncomfortable.
When they finished the meeting Cathain asked Lorcan to wait while Neit and Conchobar left the room. Turning to him she said "Pressure me again and I will have your head on a pike, and your partners will have to find someone else for their threesome."
She spoke quietly but at the same time the Witchblade sprang into the gauntlet and the blade extended several inches. Lorcan looked at the blade and her eyes and nodded.
........
Sara shook off a feeling of stiffness and looked around. Where did Irons go? She was talking to him and . . . She noticed that it was evening outside. What happened to the afternoon? Maybe *she* had a brain injury - the way time kept slipping away from her.
She heard the soft sound of doors opening and turned to see Irons enter, along with . . . Ian! Her jaw dropped. Ian was here!
Irons saw the expression on her face and said with amusement. "Sara meet Nottingham. Nottingham this is Lady Sara." Ian bowed slightly.
Sara tried to get her jaw closed. Now she could see that this Ian was not the Ian that been tailing her for the last few months. But the difference was very subtle, besides grooming preferences. This Ian was clean shaven except for a small goatee. His eyes glittered with amusement - or was it something else more sinister? Sara felt uneasy with the man himself, outside her horror at seeing someone she knew duplicated.
"You have no conscience whatsoever, do you?" Sara sniped at Irons. "But should I call you Lorcan?"
This comment didn't dampen Irons' amusement. "A conscience is not useful in business, Sara. Yes, I was Lorcan. You do progress. Were you speaking to Cathain? You must learn to control your visions. They make you vulnerable."
"I saw you and Neit and the two of you were allies."