Read Caledonia Fae 05 - Elder Druid for Free Online Page A

bonding.”
    “Douglas is so obsessed with his work, we hardly reap the benefits of our bond. I suffer with our separation more than he.”
    “Then perhaps a diversion will do you good,” Griogair began. Before he could argue further, Munro came in, bearing the smallest faerie child Tràth had ever seen. Not that he’d seen many children.
    Eilidh was speaking. “But what is she wearing ?”
    “They’re play clothes, Eilidh. I got them for her when I went to Scotland.”
    “Didn’t the nurses pack plenty of clothes?”
    Munro rolled his eyes. “Hello, Griogair. Hi, Tràth,” he said with a grin. “It’s about time you met your sister. Well, step-sister. Sort of.”
    The statement made Tràth’s misstep with Eilidh that much more painful. “Our family is complicated,” Tràth said with a smile at Eilidh. He hoped she could forgive his earlier outburst. Not only was he dependant on her, but she had been kind to him when many others hadn’t. Although Eilidh had been responsible for his mother’s death, she had been too gracious to mention Queen Cadhla had ordered Tràth and Griogair’s executions at the time.
    “It is indeed,” she said.
    Tràth studied Maiya, uncertain what one was supposed to say to an infant. “Hello, princess,” he said.
    She leaned toward him and held out her hands.
    “Errr, what does she want?” Tràth asked.
    Munro chuckled. “She wants you to hold her.” As though sensing Tràth’s discomfort, Munro distracted her. “It’s all right,” he said. “You’ll get used to us. I’ll have you playing pat-a-cake before you know what’s hit you.”
    “Errr…” Tràth hadn’t felt so tongue-tied in quite some time. He glanced at his father, but Griogair offered no relief. Eilidh looked like she was about to break into a rather undignified giggle-fit.
    Munro then did the most peculiar thing. He took Princess Maiya and tossed her straight up in the air. In a panic, Tràth reached for the time stream. The baby was frozen in mid-air, eyes wide. Eilidh appeared equally startled. Strands of time reached out from the child. Although most threads showed her landing safely in her father’s grasp, in a rare few, he dropped her or she suffered an injury. Why would Munro take such a risk? Without pausing more than a heartbeat to consider, Tràth reached up and grabbed her, using the resistance of stopped time to give him purchase.
    When she was safe again, he released the flows of time. Panic set in as the others took a moment to catch up. Munro appeared shocked when he realised Maiya wasn’t in his hands. “Are you mad?” Tràth spat at him.
    Just as Munro started to speak, Maiya burst into a gale of laughter and clapped her chubby hands together. The druid chuckled, exhaling his relief. “I would have caught her,” he said. “I always catch her.”
    “But it’s dangerous!” Tràth said, holding the giggling infant, who latched her soggy hand onto his nose.
    Munro shook his head. “You’re supposed to look surprised,” he said.
    Tràth frowned. “Why?”
    Eilidh cleared her throat. “Because she’s got your nose.”
    “Maiya,” Munro said in a mock-stern voice. “Give your brother his nose back.”
    The scene was so ridiculous, but something tugged at Tràth’s emotions. He raised his eyebrows at the girl, and she thumped his nose with her tiny palm.
    “Good girl,” Munro said. He turned to Tràth. “So you’ve already discussed the dinner tomorrow night?”
    “Yes,” Tràth said. “With regret, I will not be attending.”
    “Will you not?” Eilidh asked, crinkling the space between her eyebrows. “I promise there will be no pressure to do anything more than chat pleasantly over dinner. If you find her disagreeable, you need never speak with her again.”
    He hated disappointing Eilidh. “I’m afraid I cannot guarantee I’d be pleasant company. I doubt the princess will be as forgiving of my social incompetence as you are.” He gave a slight bow.
    She