The Hunter's Gambit

by Nicholas McIntire

  “You put me at risk for some common soldiers?”

  Aleksei crossed the room in four easy steps and glared down at the prince, his golden Hunter’s eyes glittering. “I am not your servant, Jonas Belgi. We are equals or we are nothing. Am I clear?”

  “You have a duty to protect me.” Jonas barked.

  “Are you in danger?”

  Or are you just wasting my time because you can?

  The words crashed through Jonas' mind like a thunderclap. Before the Prince could open his mouth to respond, Aleksei turned and stormed from the room. When Aleksei slammed the outer door, the wood splintered.

  Jonas sat back in his chair, his thoughts tangled in confusion. He could feel Aleksei’s rage radiating across their bond, could feel the man growing farther and farther away. He was still in shock from the way Aleksei had spoken to him.

  But at the same time, Aleksei’s Hunter nature was manifesting in a way he’d never anticipated. The man was becoming more feral by the day, and his patience for pleasantries seemed to be wearing thin.

  More disturbing was Aleksei’s grasp of their bond. Jonas wasn’t entirely sure if other Knights could speak into their Magi’s thoughts directly. That was supposed to be an ability the Magus wielded alone.

  Jonas' eyes widened as Aleksei’s voice filled his mind again. He could hardly believe the invective the man used, and yet it certainly served to remind Jonas that Aleksei was not alone in his thoughts. There was a ferocity emerging, and Jonas feared he was quickly losing his leash on his Knight.

  Leash? You should be so lucky. Aleksei snarled.

  I’m sorry. Jonas thought back, his concern melting into desperation.

  You don’t know how to be sorry, Jonas Belgi.

  Jonas tried to respond in kind, but incredibly found himself unable to reach out to Aleksei’s mind. The man’s anger seemed to block his voice.

  He tried again, exerting more force.

  Nothing.

  He relaxed his grip on the bond. And then he buried his face in his hands. “You’re a damned fool, Jonas Belgi.” he groaned, keeping his tears at bay. Why was he so angry? Why was he taking his frustration out on Aleksei? Gods, why was he shaking?

  Aleksei had become his best friend, his only friend, and yet he was suddenly treating the man like a subordinate?

  No. No, he was trying to control a man he really wanted to spoil. He viewed Aleksei’s rough-and-tumble upbringing as a life deprived of access, of convenience. And Aleksei refused to let him.

  It had been the work of moments to ensure bowls of fresh apples were delivered outside Aleksei’s room each morning. Not delivered to his room, but just left outside. Yet Aleksei considered even that an extravagance.

  Much as he hated to admit it, Jonas had actually been hurt that Aleksei wouldn’t allow him to do more, that he rebuffed Jonas' attempts to provide him even the smallest of luxuries.

  It had never occurred to him that Aleksei might view such overtures as a means for Jonas to exercise his own perceived superiority. As a means for Jonas to exercise control over his Knight. After all, it stood to reason that if Jonas could offer something, he could also take it away.

  Gods, what sort of man did Aleksei think he was? The confusions trickling back through the bond signaled that Aleksei was as uncertain at the moment as he was himself.

  Jonas came to his feet and rushed from his chambers. The corridor was empty, but he could feel Aleksei moving back towards the barracks. There had to be a way to head him off.

  Jonas ran down the hallway in the opposite direction, past surprised servants and curious nobles as he worked his way through the labyrinth of the palace. He had grown up in the place; he ought to know a faster route than his bloody farmer of a Knight.

  Still, he found himself at the man’s bedchamber door a good five minutes after his Knight had bolted the door. He was going to have to do something about the proximity of their chambers. He couldn’t have Aleksei so far away. And then he suddenly realized that he didn’t want Aleksei to be so far from him. Ever.

  “Aleksei?” he whispered. He knew his Hunter could hear him. He wanted to hear Aleksei’s voice more than anything in that moment. It was a part of him that could no longer be concealed.

  There was no reply.

  Jonas wanted to slink back to his chambers and wait for Aleksei to calm down. Gods, but the man had a temper to match his own. That alone should be worrying. He had angered Aleksei, but only out of petulance and panic. That was clearly unacceptable.

  The anger that was radiating from the other side of that door was palpable.

  The anger and the hurt.

  Jonas resolved that he wasn’t moving until he could speak to his Knight. He still felt guilty enough for dragging Aleksei across the entire realm for his convenience. That journey had been incredibly difficult for an uninitiated farm boy from a tiny nothing of a village.

  And now Jonas stood there attacking the very man he’d begged to help him. The very man who had given up his entire former life based on a vow Jonas had made. A vow he’d just tarnished.

  “I’ve obviously made a mistake.” he muttered under his breath. “I’m not used to standing on equal footing. With anyone. I understand that this is new to you, but it’s new to me too. Surely that has to make some sense.” His voice cracked as that last sentence tumbled out.

  There was silence from Aleksei’s room for a long moment. And then the door unlatched and the Knight pulled it open. Jonas stepped back when he saw the look in the other man’s eyes.

  “You can come in if you wish.” Aleksei said stiffly.

  Jonas stepped into Aleksei’s small room, noticing for the first time how spartanly the room was furnished. In the last several weeks he’d never once bothered to visit Aleksei in the barracks.

  “Now listen to me very closely.” Aleksei growled, shutting the door firmly and pulling Jonas back into the moment. “I’m not quite sure what you had in mind when you asked me to be your Knight, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to spend the rest of my life being treated like one of your lackeys. I don’t care what your title is. That’s not the measure of a man. I care how you treat people, me most of all. Do I make myself clear, Jonas Belgi?”

  Jonas stared at his Knight, hardly knowing what to say.

  “I truly am sorry, Aleksei.” he breathed brokenly. “I thought I understood our bond, what we were to each other. I suppose we were both wrong about that.”

  A moment later Aleksei’s face was a half-inch from his own. “I don’t care what the Magi in the Voralla do with their Knights. You’ve made me aware time and again what you think of their kind. You’re not like them, but neither am I. So stop trying to act like I’m playing by their rules.

  “You’re making this up as you go, Jonas. I’m not a fool. I understand that. But don’t be surprised when you can’t always write the rules the way you want them.”

  Jonas just stared up into Aleksei’s eyes. He had never met a man who was not in the least bit impressed with his authority, with his title. Aleksei Drago was the rare man who saw right past all of Jonas' pretense, all of his posturing. Which was exactly why Aleksei was such a perfect match for him.

  Jonas looked down. “I’m so sorry, Aleksei. I just…”

  Aleksei lifted Jonas' face in his hand. Jonas felt a shiver rush down his back.

  And then Aleksei’s mouth was against his.

  Jonas' eyes widened before he relaxed into Aleksei’s arms.

  The kiss lasted only seconds.

  And then Aleksei pulled away, casting his gaze into the far corner of the room.

  “I’m sorry. I had no right to do that.”

  “No,” Jonas began. “Aleksei, I….”

  “And now,” Aleksei said hurriedly, “if you’ll pardon me, I need to be alone for a while.”

  Jonas nodded, fighting to steady himself. He wasn’t sure how long his legs would continue support him.

  “I u
nderstand. When you’re ready, I’ll be in my chambers.”

  He was surprised to have managed even that. Jonas stepped quickly from the room and shut the door soundly behind him.

  Gods, what had just happened? His heart was pounding in his chest and his forehead was covered in sweat.

  One thing resonated clearly in his mind. He was no longer in control of this relationship. He was no longer in control of anything.

  Jonas walked slowly back to his chambers. His head was swimming. He could hardly think except to guide himself.

  “Your Highness?”

  Jonas winced as Eleina Perron whispered up behind him.

  “Your Highness, are you quite well? I noticed you walking down the corridor in a most confused manner.”

  Jonas turned his head to stare into her large liquid eyes. “What do you want?”

  She laughed lightly, “Prince Jonas, you are always so brusque with me. If I did not know passionate men better, I should take offense!”

  “I’m not passionate,” Jonas responded woodenly, “I merely mean to know your intentions.”

  Eleina arched an eyebrow, “Well, one must wonder when her betrothed is constantly seen entertaining gutter trash.”

  Jonas' face froze, “I beg your pardon?”

  She rolled her eyes, “Highness, the court can hardly stop talking about you…consorting with that peasant. ‘Captain’ Drago, is it?”

  Boom!

  Jonas felt his jaw clench so tightly he thought his teeth might shatter. His eyes were narrowed to emerald slits as he stared up at Eleina Perron.

  Up.

  Jonas suddenly came back to himself. He stood in the middle of the hallway, his hand outstretched. Eleina hovered a pace above him, her fragile body pressed against the wall.

  And then Jonas realized that he was holding the Archanium in a vice grip. He released it immediately and Eleina slid to the floor with a shriek.

  She rose cautiously and fixed him with a glare that radiated such hatred and fear that Jonas immediately felt horrible for what he’d just done. He looked around and saw the many terrified stares of both servants and nobles alike.

  Whether or not he liked it, his secret was now surely out. The only consolation he felt was that he hadn’t accidentally killed the poor girl. Still, his rage at her insolence quickly overwhelmed his horror at lashing out at her.

  “You will never refer to Captain Drago as ‘gutter trash’.” His own words surprised him as he glared daggers at Eleina, “If I ever hear such words from your mouth again, I will burn you from this world. Am I clear?”

  She stared at him, her fear now far exceeding her anger. And then she vanished down the corridor in a swirl of silk and tears. Jonas slumped to the floor, feeling entirely drained.

  What had happened to him? Had he completely lost his mind? And yet, part of him felt more than justified in his actions. He couldn’t rationalize such an assault, yet in the back of his mind he wanted more. He wanted blood for the insult she had leveled against Aleksei.

  Don’t hurt someone for a petty insult. Not for me.

  The thought burst like a tempest in Jonas' mind. He wanted to bury himself in his chambers, never to be found again. He wanted to vanish into the sea. Anything rather than invite Aleksei’s displeasure.

  That thought struck him as strange. When had this change come about? A mere half-hour ago he’d been ready to remind the man exactly who Jonas Belgi was. And now his knees felt weak at the very thought of Aleksei Drago.

  Rising to his feet, Jonas did the only thing he could think of. He hurried to his rooms, closed as many doors as he could, forgiving the one that Aleksei had shattered, and hid himself under the covers of his bed with a bottle of Dalitian firebrandy.

  It was only moments before he heard the outer door groan open. He lay beneath a heap of quilts, desperately trying to pull his thoughts together as he felt Aleksei drawing closer and closer.

  The door to his bedchamber creaked open and his entire body tensed. He heard the door close. The quilts were pulled away and he had no choice but to face his Knight.

  But Aleksei wasn’t there to berate him. Instead he reached down and took the firebrandy from Jonas' grip. The Knight took a long pull and then climbed into the bed next to Jonas. Aleksei lay there for a long moment, just staring at him. Even through the bond, Jonas couldn’t read the other man’s emotions.

  Aleksei reached out a hand and laid it on Jonas' arm. His eyes piercingly, ravenously gold, fixed Jonas' own. “What is this?” Aleksei asked softly.

  Jonas swallowed. “I’m not sure I know, exactly.” he admitted.

  Aleksei’s face broke into an unexpected smile, “Well then that makes two of us.”

  Jonas kept staring into Aleksei’s eyes, transfixed by the man’s face, by the connection he now felt burning across their bond. He was being studied by a predator and he was the prey.

  Aleksei leaned forward and kissed him, gently this time. Softly. Jonas was just glad he was already lying down. He was certain his legs wouldn’t have supported him this time.

  His Knight finally broke away and ran his hand down the length of Jonas' face. “I guess we’ll just have to figure this out. Together.”

  Jonas nodded, unable to form the words he needed. Instead he just moved closer and wrapped his arms around Aleksei’s thick chest, resting his head in the crux of the man’s arm.

  Aleksei’s arms wrapped around him, cradling him in strength and security. It was the first time Jonas had felt protected in ages. Not since his mother had held him as a small boy had he felt this safe, this contented.

  He realized that he was crying. “Good gods,” he muttered, “what’s wrong with me?”

  Aleksei planted a soft kiss in his chestnut hair. “You’re home.”

  Jonas suppressed a sob. For the first time in his life, he understood what it was to truly belong somewhere, and to someone. And he never wanted to leave.

  CHAPTER 18

  Desperate Measures

  “MAJESTY, AT THE very least, you must admit this is shocking!”

  Andariana frowned, “Sammul, as I understand it, you’ve been well aware of my nephew’s talents for some time. You should hardly be surprised.”

  Sammul rose up indignantly, “I entertained suspicions, but I never thought the Prince would attack an innocent girl.”

  Andariana sighed, “While his actions are unfortunate, it changes nothing. Often enough Magi discover their abilities due to a sudden onset of powerful emotion. I have heard something akin to those very words come out of your mouth. Thus, I see no reason that Jonas should be treated differently than any other accidental adept.”

  “Parliament will not be happy. Chancellor Perron least of all.”

  Andariana clenched her jaw. “Last I was aware, High Magus, Parliament did not command me. Quite the opposite, actually. They will receive my edicts, and that will be that.”

  Sammul stiffened, “What are you suggesting, Majesty?”

  Andariana smiled, “It’s simple, really. Jonas is to be acknowledged as an adept in the Archanium. I will make no motions to have him trained in the Voralla, but I will ask that you send a trusted Magus to aid him in his understanding, simply to make sure he doesn’t accidentally harm anyone else, of course.”

  “Of course.” Sammul managed. “And of his supposed Knight, Majesty? The bonding spell is not something most ‘accidental adepts’ can access, much less invoke.”

  “Yes.” Andariana said thoughtfully. “I suppose with Jonas now revealed we might as well drop the pretense surrounding Captain Drago. I’ll have his position formally acknowledged and his rooms moved to the west wing where he can be close to the Prince. Who knows, perhaps some good will come of this?”

  Sammul’s face sank into a glower, “As you say, Majesty.”

  Andariana smiled.

  “Thank you for coming to me with your concerns, Sammul. Though we sometimes have different viewpoints, your
counsel is always appreciated.”

  Sammul forced a smile, “Happy to be of assistance, Majesty.”

  He bowed quickly, turned and exited the chamber. Gods, but he hated that woman!

  By the time he reached his chambers in the Voralla, he was seething. She casually trespassed on his territory without a second thought. She had commanded a Magus be sent to the Prince? Who was she to command anything within the Voralla?

  He slammed the door and gripped the Archanium, locking the door and warding the room from eavesdropping. He felt like screaming.

  “Good afternoon, Sammul.”

  He froze.

  “Master Bael.”

  Bael stepped out of the shadows and smiled. His emerald eyes shot right through the High Magus. His madness had taken him to new heights in both power and cruelty.

  The Master took a seat across from Sammul, his face expectant.

  Sammul sat back into a chair, doing his best to affect comfort and ease while his insides were twisting in knots.

  “You seem agitated.” Bael observed.

  “It’s a minor annoyance. Hardly important.” Better to change the subject. “Have you had any luck finding a suitable…replacement?” he asked, masking his interest as best he could.

  The Master sat across him and from his posture it was difficult to remember that these were Sammul’s quarters, rather than his.

  “I haven’t located him yet. He’s become very difficult to track the last few years. But I’ll find him soon enough. There’s really no need to rush, Sammul. I want the gears well-oiled when we put everything into motion. No sense going to all the trouble if it’s simply going to fall apart in the end.”

  Sammul nodded, “I forget how patient you are.”

  Bael laughed harshly, “I’m not my father, Sammul. He and I differed in many ways. He was only willing to go so far to bring his vision into reality. I have no such limitations.”

  Sammul fought a grimace. Bael had grown into a challenging man. And very, very dangerous.

  “How goes your other…endeavor?” Sammul ventured.