Excerpt: The Mountains of Mourne (Could Change)

“This is quite nasty…” she murmured.

“Well, the wolf was quite nasty.” Eli responded, his breathing too erratic, and his voice not quite pulling off the sarcastic tone he’d been aiming for. “He was huge, Adie.” Eli shook his head as if in remembrance of the beast. “Larger than any wolf I’ve seen, and his eyes glowed….”

The stillness of Adie’s fingers, and the expression on her face did not go past Eli’s notice.

She turned to rinse out the flannel abruptly.

“You’ve never seen a wolf that close before, Eli. Perhaps that was why it seemed so large? And what’s this about it’s eyes glowing,” she smile indulgently at him over her shoulder. “You sound like one of Uncle Albert’s whimsical stories.”

Blinking as annoyance overcame the pain and remnants of shock, Eli said testily, “I’m not making this up, Adie. It looked at me right before it bit this bloody gawping hole in my arm! It’s eyes glowed, and it seemed--sad. Like it had feelings,” he finished in a softer voice.

“Stop it.” The command in her voice left Eli feeling stung.

“Why? It’s the truth. There was something odd about that animal…I’m going to find out what.”

The wet flannel dropped out of Adie’s limp hand and landed on the floor with a splat.

Eli stared at it, then lifted his eyes to the back of Adie’s head. He realized her hair was done in a braid where she usually had it in a bun like the other ladies of the court.

Her dressing gown was buttoned from the neck to her feet and Eli once again felt uncomfortable being in her rooms, if someone was to walk in now, he’d be in so much trouble.

“Eli,” Adie turned and walked over to him and sat on the bed without her usual grace.

“Something’s happening.” Seeing his utter confusion, Adie pursed her lips and looked about the room for a moment trying to find a better way to tell him…something.

“I imagine you’ve heard that the wild animal attacks have been worse, worse than what it usually is around this time of month?”

Eli nodded, “And no wonder, with the beasts being that big, and smart too.”

Adie looked pained, “Yes, well. You see, I get the feeling that there is a bit more to it than just normal wolfs.”