A Gathering of Souls

by Dianne Keep

  “I’ve always thought so, but now I’m not so sure. If you are pleased with me, you would want to be with me always, and you wouldn’t refuse my offer.” He pulled her closer and wrapped his hands around her waist. “For any reason.”

  A sliver of space separated them. His breath fused with hers, and she hated the taste. Her alhor didn’t move toward him. Thank the heavens. “As I said, a coupling between a non-possessor and a Seyh is not done. I’m more surprised than anything. You don’t seem to be a son who would go against his father.”

  Bayan grumbled.

  Try something else. “You say that he won’t object, but it’s me. With the recent defection and all those men dead, and maybe, if it wasn’t me.” And now she was crazy. She might kill him in his sleep. “You have to be protected. You know I’m not safe.”

  “You said you were loyal.” His lips swept across her cheek. “And I want you,” he whispered in her ear.

  The charm triggered.

  She froze. The necklace’s invisible web of fire held her firmly in place. Why? His kiss shouldn’t trip the defense mechanism.

  “Bree, say something.” Bayan stepped back. “What’s wrong?” His eyes widened.

  Tears trickled down her cheeks. For the rest of her life, she would hate this day. If Resh Osling allowed her to remember it.

  “Is it the necklace? Did I?” He touched the amber stone and flinched, putting his fingers in his mouth. “How does it not burn you?”

  She gurgled a reply. Did he really believe it didn’t burn her? How could he believe that?

  “Do you need Ehre?”

  Why was he asking her stupid questions? Ehre was probably already on her way.

  She blinked rapidly.

  He turned on his heel and ran across the catwalk to the stairs. She’d like to see him stumble over his words trying to explain her dilemma to Ehre. She would be furious. And Resh Osling? He might decide to kill her for ensnaring his only son. Khrisk? She hoped he’d be disappointed in Bayan. She hoped he wouldn’t support the Zeir in his absurd affections, but what if he did?

  Her heart splintered, and fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. Why was her heart breaking? She wasn’t attached to Khrisk. He was nice, that’s all.

  Nothing in her life made any sense. She’d been good. She’d tried, and now everything was wrong. The charm shouldn’t be firing.

  As if agreeing with her, the charm funneled away its heat. Her limbs trembled, and it took a full minute to catch her breath. She wiped her face, rubbing the excess moisture on her skirt.

  “What was that for?” she asked the charm. The amber stone glinted. Are you as confused as I am? The pendant heated. “Ehre has to fix this.”

  She ran after Bayan, desperate to stop him from sending a message to Ehre, to anyone. She couldn’t speak with Ehre in front of the Resh. “Bayan! It’s all right! Bayan!” She slammed into a warm body. Shane. Good, calm, sturdy Shane. “Go! Please, tell him I’m fine.”

  Shane didn’t move. “You are not fine.” He crossed his arms.

  “But I am. I don’t need Ehre. The alarm deactivated on its own.” She tried inching around him, but he proved a rather large obstacle on the narrow steps. “I need to stop him.”

  “On that, I agree. He should not touch you.” Shane’s words were possessive, final. He turned and walked down the stairs.

  “Can we please hurry?” She shouldn’t be talking to him now that the crisis was over, but this was Shane, the soldier who seemed to care about her of all people. And she wanted to talk to him. Strange and stranger.

  “I can’t risk you falling.” He pointed to some obscure place on the stairway. “Step carefully.”

  Bree chewed her cheek. Shane had to know about the proposal. “I don’t think the Resh would approve me as Bayan’s Honor.”

  “The Resh is capable of many things.” Shane stopped on the landing. “Not unlike you.”

  All she’d been capable of is activating a disk, making her own Honor chain, apparently, and seeing outrageous things with the added benefit of feeling cracked. And killing, if her vision of the bloodied bodies was her memory and not a hallucination. She hoped it was a vision.

  Shane continued down the stairs. She wished he’d go faster. After more than a few minutes, they finally reached the stadium floor, and she couldn’t keep herself from running. “Zeir Bayan!”

  She skidded to a halt. Before her stood a group of Seyhs, Bayan among them. Shane slid in front of her, blocking them from view.

  “We’re returning to the palace,” Bayan said, coming alongside Shane. He didn’t touch her again. “I’m glad to see you’ve recovered without the help of the deactivation code.”

  What had he been saying to the other Seyhs? She shouldn’t be able to deactivate the charm. But it was malfunctioning. Was that why the Seyhs were in the arena? The only Seyh she knew the necklace alerted was Ehre.

  Shane stayed at her side as they passed the Seyhs. All of them were male and kept their eyes averted, except for two. One Seyh with a red alhor glowered at her. The other with a blue alhor stared as if counting her footsteps. Bree turned away, feeling their eyes on her back.

  Outside the stadium, Shane gave her a hand up onto Nikki’s saddle. They rode toward the tube in silence. All the while, her stomach circled and flipped. Bayan had proposed. He wanted her to represent him during the Ranking. And Shane had acted like a friend, albeit a weird, possessive type of friend.

  Bree’s tight control over her emotions slipped for a second. The moment was enough for her to realize she was happy to have Shane near. She wanted to tell him she was all right. He didn’t need to worry. Ridiculous. She couldn’t have feelings for Bayan or Khrisk, and definitely not Shane.

  Carefully, she restrained the unruly reactions bouncing around inside her head and heart to the forbidden place in her mind. The rumble of emotions stilled. The flutters disappeared.

  She was in control again. For the moment.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Ehre waited at the end of the metal tube. After saluting Zeir Bayan, she directed her horse next to Bree. “What happened? Your charm activated.”

  “You tell me.” Did Ehre really expect her to have an answer? Bree leaned closer to her mentor. “I’m seeing things. Things that aren’t real, but they could have been.”

  Ehre shook her head. “You’re probably just tired after the long morning and the other malfunctions. I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about.”

  “I don’t think it’s just malfunctioning,” said Bree.

  As soon as the gate opened into the planting fields, Bayan took off with the extra guards. Bree stared at his back until he entered the city. She’d turned him down, and now what? Would he be her friend? No, you idiot. He’ll probably avoid you like the plague.

  Bree’s alhor crept down Nikki’s legs and onto the dirt again. Please, for all the magic in the world, not again. “And my alhor. What’s going on with it? It did this on the way out here.”

  Some of the farmers stopped digging and glanced at her. Scars etched long lines on their faces, and more than a few were missing an arm or a leg. Her stomach twisted. How many young men would join the seeder and feeders after the Ranking?

  “You’re alhor is always twitchy. You have to regain control over it.” Ehre’s boots rubbed against Bree’s. “The trigger was a few minutes ago. If you don’t think it was a malfunction, then tell me what happened.”

  Bree guided Nikki an inch to the right. “You knew who the Honor chain was for and you didn’t tell me. He kissed my cheek. That’s it. The charm blitzed me.” She turned in the saddle. “Has Bayan been planning it all along? I mean, who spends time with a Seyh in rehab?”

  Bayan had taken an interest in her as soon as she walked through Stav’s gates. The Resh allowed it, and she wondered now if Osling had encouraged Bayan to become her friend.

  “I didn’t think he’d be reckless enough to ask you.” Pity tinged Ehre’s voice. “The charm shouldn’t fire when a person touches
you. I didn’t deactivate it.”

  “It shut itself off after it realized I wasn’t trying to kill Bayan for kissing me. The charm should require the deactivation code. Right?”

  “Right,” said Ehre.

  “It needs to be replaced.” Bree touched the amber gem. “Today.”

  “I wish it were that easy, but it isn’t.” Ehre stared straight ahead. “I’m sorry.”

  “Why? Replacing a charm isn’t that hard. I’ve watched you do it.” Despair surged from Bree’s emotional black hole. She smashed it down. “I can’t live like this.”

  “You have to try.”

  Bree gulped a sob. “But why? Why won’t you do this for me?” Eventually, her vigilance on the dam restraining her emotions and thoughts would shatter. There was a reason she needed to keep her feelings hidden. If they got out, what would happen then? Would she go berserk and kill everyone in Stav?

  “It’s not up to me to decide anything about your charm,” said Ehre.

  “So, Resh Osling won’t let you,” said Bree. Great. “Even though he knows what’s going on with it. You have told him, haven’t you?”

  “He knows the alarm triggered when you were in the presence of Zeir Bayan, yes. But he doesn’t know it’s because Bayan touched you.”

  “A kiss on the cheek. Not a touch. He’s been grabbing my hand all afternoon, and nothing happened. It was his lips on my skin.”

  Ehre gave her that look. “I’ll make sure to be specific when I report the incident to the Resh.”

  Bree sighed. What else could she do? She had to trust Ehre would take care of her.

  The tiers of the city passed in a flash. Back at the palace, a groom stole Nikki’s reins out of Bree’s hand. Bayan paced the palace steps. Was he expecting an answer from her now?

  There had to be a way for her to salvage the day. Not with Bayan, with him her answer would always be no. But maybe with the Resh. She could prove she was worth keeping, as an active Seyh in the army, not as his son’s wife. After she convinced Ehre that the charm needed to be replaced.

  Ehre dismounted. “You will come with me to see Resh Osling.” She marched toward Bayan.

  Bree felt her hair. Tosha’s masterpiece was still in place. “Why?” Her quad of guards formed around her and Ehre.

  “Because I asked you to, and because he asked for you.” Ehre eyes narrowed. “Do you have a problem with that?”

  Prove to them you can follow orders. “No, of course not. Sorry. I just wondered why you didn’t tell me earlier.”

  Bayan paused and reached for Bree’s hand, but she tucked her hands in her pockets. “Bree, I hope—” He glanced around. There weren’t any courtiers in the vicinity. “—I hope you won’t worry. It was my fault about the defense mechanism tripping.”

  She nodded. At least he wasn’t repeating his proposal. Bayan moved behind her, and his own set of bodyguards surrounded him.

  Ehre raised her eyebrow. Bree rolled her eyes, and leaned in. “Is there anything else I need to know before we meet with Osling?”

  “The Second Zeir Khrisk will be home tomorrow.” Ehre stayed within the quad but signaled them forward.

  “Tomorrow?” Bree drew back. Bayan knew and hadn’t told her. He asked if she had feelings for Khrisk, and she realized she did. Why she did, though, and what kind of feelings, remained a mystery. “When did you find out?”

  “Right after you left. Keir Ryne came to my workrooms and told me the Second Zeir’s mission was completed and he was on his way to the capital. It’s not a good thing. He’s coming home because, well, you’ll see in a moment.”

  Instead of going to the west tower, they went to the southern wing. To the royal family’s living quarters where marble floors gleamed with fresh polish. Silk tapestries from Urham hung from the walls. Gold statues and crystal candelabras imported from Nis graced streaked ockawood tables that no doubt came from the pillaged palaces of Feyne. Bree touched the designs on her riding suit. Her clothes came from Yenn, all products from Rysa’s newly conquered nations.

  Two of guards opened the gold-plated double doors of Resh Osling’s private study. She’d only been inside one other time.

  Her blood pooled to her toes and she swayed. Shane looked back and gave her a quick nod.

  She took a steadying breath and straightened her shoulders. I can do this. Who knows why you’re here? He might congratulate you on finally activating a relic. Bree didn’t believe a word she said to herself. She was here because of the alarms. Breathe. Walk. Ehre will settle things.

  They stepped onto a lavish crimson carpet that featured snakes intricately intertwined and seemingly slithering along its borders. A massive redwood desk was at the end of the carpet in front of a huge, glittering sapphire fireplace in the form of two snakes facing each other. The mantel was taller than Shane, and the hearth sported black fire. Something a Seyh cooked up, most likely. A gentle breeze blew from the open doors of the balcony, bringing with it the sweet scents of flowers from the courtyard below.

  Birds chirped and the normalcy of the sound calmed her nerves. The room wasn’t going to yell at her or reprimand her for not accepting Bayan’s proposal. This meeting might be good. Maybe the Resh would scold Bayan for touching her.

  Her quad kept the square formation around her, but Ehre moved forward to stand near the desk. Bayan and his bodyguards stood to the side near the bookshelves. They waited in silence for Osling to appear.

  After a few moments, the Resh came in through the balcony doors, went to the great tabletop, and shuffled through some papers. He didn’t say a word, not even to Bayan, and since she was there, he’d make everyone wait longer. Or, perhaps this was a game he played with everyone.

  Bayan stood statue-like with his arms by his sides, hands fisted. He didn’t look at her even though she stared at him for more than a minute.

  One of the carpet snakes coiled under Bree’s feet. The tiny scarlet scales reflected her gold alhor. It was a clever trick, like the fire, probably Ehre’s doing. She tapped out a hundred seconds on its beady eyes with her toe. As if drawn by the rhythm, several snakes slithered over from the edges and gathered under her boots, their little tongues whipped out to smell her as if they were real. They weren’t real, just an unnerving distraction for anyone waiting on Resh Osling Satrov. Fortunately, she didn’t mind serpents.

  Another hundred seconds passed. Bree’s stomach grumbled. I should have eaten that custard on the way back. Both Ehre and Shane turned their heads in her direction. She shrugged and they faced forward.

  The door to the left of the fireplace opened, and a palace servant dressed in brown bowed. “Your Greatness, she is ready.”

  Osling’s indigo robes billowed as he walked quickly through the door. Bayan and his men went after, and Ehre followed along with Shane and Bree’s other front guard.

  Bree stepped through the doorway into complete darkness. One of the rear guards shut the door, and a cocoon of silence wove around her body. The air was colder than cold. Goosebumps prickled her skin. This is what a tomb feels like. Her alhor did little more than illuminate her clothes.

  Her heart raced.

  Stretching her arms, she tried to find the connecting door, wall, or whatever the room was meant to have. Now would be a really good time for you to dart about, she told her alhor, but it appeared to be as frightened as she was.

  Muffled sounds came from her right. Purple light approached. Ehre. Her mentor took her hand. “Come on.”

  Bree counted the steps. Only twenty-one before Ehre opened another door. The windowless room they entered felt like it was built for dolls rather than people when compared to Osling’s massive study. Heat rolled over her in waves, carrying the scents of rosemary and pine. Sweat dripped down Bree’s face, chest, and sides. Her tongue tasted death with every breath.

  Shudders twitched her body. She shouldn’t be here. She turned to leave, but Ehre grabbed her arm and pulled her close.

  “You’re here to meet Rishi Fara, the Resh’s wi
fe,” whispered Ehre, pointing to a woman sitting on a cream sofa in front of a natural flickering fire. White fabric draped her from head to toe.

  Osling went to his wife and took her withered, white hand. “The fever worsens. I fear she’ll die before she has the opportunity to see our son pass the Ranking. There has to be a way to save her.”

  He actually managed to produce tears. Bree glanced at Ehre, who stayed stone-faced and stared at nothing. Bayan had gone as white as the fabric covering his mother.

  Why had the Resh brought her here? Ehre was the only Seyh Osling had who could help Fara. Rishi Fara had an illness that no one could cure, but Ehre had managed to keep her alive for the last couple of years. Perhaps watching Ehre heal Fara was her afternoon lesson. Bree extracted her arm from Ehre’s grip and shuffled back toward the shadows. She bumped into Shane. He smiled at her, tilting his head toward Fara. What did he expect her to do?

  Ehre motioned her forward. Bree didn’t move. Healing the Resh’s wife was impossible, but everyone in the room watched her expectantly, including Bayan, whose eyes begged her to do something.

  “Ehre, can I speak to you a moment?” Bree chewed the inside of her cheek.

  “What is it?” Ehre whispered.

  “My necklace.” Bree touched the amber gem. “What if it trips?”

  Her Superior’s face remained unreadable. “The Resh desires you to try.”

  Why were they asking for her help? They all knew she hadn’t been retrained in healing. In fact, some Seyhs never acquired the capacity of healing. Magic was unruly that way. “Only one of my talents has returned.”

  “We can’t let her die.” Ehre’s words dug deep.

  “Right.” Life was precious, and if she could save one person, it might repay some of the death she caused in Anthea. She owed Osling.

  Her vision tunneled around the Rishi’s glossy, white fabric. This dying woman was the Resh’s beloved. Osling really loved someone, and someone loved him in return. If he thought she could help, she would.