Songbird

by Colleen Helme

  “That’s true,” Teya agreed. Her brow puckered. “There’s something about him that I don’t like, but I don’t know why.”

  “Hmm...you’re probably picking up on his prejudice against your people. At least he’s willing to take us to the monastery, and his men will be able to help us if we need them. I just wish I had time to check it out and see what we’re getting into. I hate going in cold. There’s a chance that Korban will be there, so I want you to be extra careful when we arrive. Be ready for anything.”

  Teya’s heart raced to think she’d face Korban so soon, but she wouldn’t be alone and that bolstered her courage. “The main thing we need to do is to find the Kalorians and release them. If Korban’s there, I won’t hesitate to use my powers on him.”

  Her stomach clenched with nerves, but she was ready just the same. It was time for Korban to be held accountable for his actions. He was a monster, and he needed to be stopped.

  A sleepy-eyed man carried a tray to them. “These biscuits are from last night, but it’s the best I could do on short notice. However, the wine is excellent.”

  “Thank you,” Bran said. The man nodded and placed the tray on the small table, then left. Bran picked up a roll and poured glasses of watered wine. “I’m glad Jax was able to leave.”

  “Is he really going to Rasmussen?”

  “Yes. We need Rasmussen on our side, and if anyone can persuade him to help, it’s Jax.”

  Reassured, Teya ate quickly. As she finished drinking her wine, the lieutenant came in and told them everything was ready. The food gave her some needed energy, especially since she hadn’t slept well the past few nights.

  Colonel Porter joined them at the entrance and ushered them out to the cool night air. Teya stopped short at the sight that greeted her. Bran quickly explained. “It’s a motorcar. We use them to travel in, and believe me, they’re much more comfortable than riding on the back of a horse. Here, I’ll show you.”

  He opened the door to the inside which held a cushioned seat, much like those in an open carriage, only both seats faced forward. The lieutenant climbed behind a round wheel in the front seat and the colonel took his seat on the other side.

  “Get in, you’ll love it.” Bran clearly had no qualms about the strange machine, so Teya climbed in. The cushions were soft, and once she was settled with Bran beside her, the contraption started to move.

  “There’s an engine that makes it run,” Bran said enthusiastically. “On a good road it can get up to fifty miles an hour, much faster than a horse.”

  Teya felt her initial wariness turn into astonishment as they picked up speed. Larger motorcars both in front and behind carried several soldiers. She was pleasantly surprised at how quickly and efficiently they moved.

  Braemar was full of wonders and she eagerly surveyed the passing countryside. In the early gray light of dawn, the rolling hills didn’t seem much different, but at the speed they were going it was hard to tell. At this rate they would be to the monastery in no time.

  Coming over a rise, she glimpsed a group of buildings in the distance. “That’s it.” Bran pointed toward them. Trees and gardens with neat rows of well-tended vegetables surrounded the large compound of several buildings.

  The main building stood two stories high, with a bell tower above it. It had to be their place of worship, while the other buildings were living quarters. She could picture the Kalorians inside the compound, held within its boundaries, and her heart stirred with anticipation that they were so close.

  Her motorcar pulled up at the front of the main building and stopped, with the other two stopping behind them. She waited in anticipation for someone from the monastery to approach, but nothing happened, and her brows creased with worry. A few moments later, it was apparent that no one was coming.

  “We’ll see if anyone’s here,” Bran told Porter.

  At his nod, she and Bran got out of the car and cautiously approached the building. Porter stayed behind, ready to give orders to his men. Halfway to the door, a man in brown robes came out and approached them. Stopping a few feet away he smiled and bowed. “How may I be of service to you?”

  He looked and acted like a real monk and Teya wondered if they had made a mistake. Her heart sank with sudden realization. Had Jesse lied to Bran? If the Kalorians weren’t here, then where were they?

  “We are seeking sanctuary and a place to rest for a few hours,” Bran answered. The monk merely nodded and motioned for them to follow. “Once we’re inside, we can begin our search,” Bran whispered. At least Bran thought there was a chance they were here, and she nodded with relief.

  Colonel Porter and three soldiers followed behind, leaving the others to stand guard outside. They entered the dimly lit interior and the monk hastened to light more candles and torches. As she moved further into the building, the pungent odor of incense overwhelmed her and she held back a cough.

  The monk motioned them down a long hallway. As they moved, she became aware of a low chanting coming from deep in the bowels of the stone building.

  Hearing the click of a door, she glanced back and realized the monk wasn’t there and he’d shut the door. She inhaled sharply and coughed on fumes of billowing incense.

  With her head swimming and her eyes unable to focus, she leaned toward Bran and found him confused as well. In panic, she concentrated on drawing her magic, but a sudden lethargy left her numb.

  Her mind screamed in terror and she fought against it, but it was too late to do any good. With bleak despair, she sank into darkness.

  Chapter 8

  Voices penetrated her drugged veil of sleep. Teya focused on the sounds and listened through the fog of darkness until she could understand what they were saying.

  “…but we have to tell the king something.”

  “That’s easy. Just tell him I have her, and I’ll bring her to him when it’s safe. That should appease him, and the Braemarians will think I single-handedly stopped a war. I’ll have the governor of Braemar eating out of the palm of my hand, and in a few days we’ll take Teya back under a large guard of Braemarian soldiers.

  “When the king opens the palace to let us in, we’ll make our move and be rid of him once and for all. The Old Country will be mine. I’ll convince the governor that the king attacked us, and we had to defend ourselves. After that I’m sure the governor will beg me to stay and take charge.”

  “But what about Teya and the Kalorians?

  “Once the kingdom is in my control, we’ll take them back to the grove. Don’t worry, Jesse, I’ve been planning this for a long time. Everything will work out.”

  “But Teya said the grove was dying. Leona is the only one left to keep back the Destroyer.”

  Teya’s numb mind tried to make sense of what she heard. One of them was Jesse, but the other? It sounded like Colonel Porter, but how could he be involved?

  “We’ll deal with that when we get there.”

  “All right, I’m ready,” Jesse said. “Are you sure you want to do this now? Remember how some of the others reacted.”

  “I’m only taking enough for you and me, she’ll be fine. Besides, once the Kalorians know she’s here, I think they’ll stop dying. Especially when we tell them that we’re taking them back to the grove.”

  A sharp pain in the tender part of her arm caused her to moan, but the influence of the drug kept her from moving. What were they doing to her? She tried to open her eyes, but couldn’t. Soon, she became aware of a different sensation, like all the energy was draining out of her.

  “That’s enough,” Jesse said.

  “A couple more vials won’t hurt her. She’s strong. The sym from this blood will be enough to last until we reach the grove. By then, I’ll have my full power again, along with everything else I deserve.” A small tug released the pain from her arm, but not the greater one gathering in her heart.

  “There, all done. Here, hold that down.” Someone applied pressure to her arm, then bent it at the elbow. “I can see that yo
u’re drawn to her. You’ve hardly looked at anything else since you got here.”

  “She’s... different...exotic and beautiful.”

  “Yes. She looks a lot like her mother with her black hair. When Teya was a child it was lighter, almost blond, like yours, but that was a long time ago. Why don’t you finish up? I’ll get this ready.”

  Teya struggled to open her eyes. The man leaving could only be one person. The person who had destroyed her life... and she was lying there helpless to do anything about it.

  “I know you’re awake, Teya,” Jesse whispered in her ear. “Don’t worry. I made sure he didn’t take too much of your blood. You’ll recover quickly, but it would be best if you slept. Go ahead, you’re safe now, and you have me to keep watch over you.” He hummed a few notes that wove through her consciousness and then pulled her back into oblivion.

  ****

  Gradual awareness brought Teya awake. This time the lethargy of the drug was gone and she opened her eyes with ease. The ceiling was far above her head in a room much larger than she was used to. Thick maroon curtains kept the sunlight at bay, leaving the room bathed in a dim, gray light. Portraits and paintings decorated the walls, and a fireplace took up the opposite side of the room. She was lying fully clothed in a large four-poster bed, covered with a maroon comforter.

  She tried to sit up but fell back, faint and weak. Her arm was bandaged where they had taken her blood. Blood they meant to make into sym. That’s how they did it, by taking blood from the Kalorians. Were any of them left? From what she could recall, it seemed like Jesse said they were dying. She had to get out of here.

  Bran. What had happened to him? She tried not to panic and took a deep breath. The incense must have drugged them when they entered the monastery. It was Colonel Porter’s doing. Only that wasn’t who he really was. Her stomach clenched with the realization that he was actually Korban.

  Teya’s throat went dry and she swallowed. The familiar feel of the kundar sent a small wave of panic through her, and she feverishly ran her fingers over the gold. There! The rough edge of the broken seam caught her skin. It was hers. Through some miracle, they didn’t know.

  Tears of relief and hope filled her eyes, but she hastily dashed them away. She had a chance now, but only if she stayed in control. She quickly checked her first impulse to jump out of bed and kill them all with controlled determination.

  She was not going to blow it this time. She needed to find out what was going on, and the only way to do that was to play along with Korban. Let him think she was helpless until the time was right, then she could blast him to pieces.

  She let out a breath and realized her hands were clenched and shaking. Unclenching them, she took a calming breath and tried to relax. It wasn’t easy, especially when she wondered what had happened to Bran. There was a way to find him. All she had to do was open the bond.

  She gathered her courage and let down her guard, opening herself to him. At first, all she felt was a flicker of emotion, but it was enough to guide her to the light of his essence. He was alive and nearby. But nothing else came through. Maybe he was still drugged?

  A sudden burst of warmth thundered into her, spreading through her body with welcome comfort. She gasped with relief and her heart overflowed. With impulsive abandon, she sent her love through the bond to him in a wave of tenderness.

  His warmth came through with more than a feeling of love. It carried with it a resonance of strength, and her heart swelled. He believed in her, and because of that, she knew she could do whatever it took to win her way free.

  A soft knock was the only warning she got before Jesse came into the room. Teya tried to compose her features into something bland, but couldn’t mask the defiance before Jesse saw it.

  “Good, you’re awake,” he said cheerfully, choosing to ignore the venom she directed his way. He motioned to someone in the hall. “Bring it in.”

  A young woman entered with a tray of food and set it on the table. The woman kept her head lowered while she worked, but Teya caught a glimpse of a gold circlet around her neck. Surprise laced with protectiveness came over her. The girl glanced at Teya with curiosity before she hurried out.

  “Wait,” Teya cried, but the girl didn’t come back. She directed her anger at Jesse. “What’s going on? What do you want with me? Where’s Bran?”

  Frowning, Jesse pulled a chair from the table, his earlier cheer gone. Asking about Bran clearly upset him and she hoped it wasn’t a mistake that Bran would pay for later. “Come to the table and have something to eat. You must be starving.”

  Her stomach felt hallow and she wondered how long she’d been asleep. She sat up and swung her legs over the bed to stand, but the movement brought a wave of dizziness and she lost her balance, toppling forward. Jesse caught her, and settled her back against the pillows. She glared at him. “What did you do to me?”

  His face clouded with contrition. “It was just some blood. Not that much, really. If you’ll eat something, you’ll feel better. Here, I’ll bring the tray over to the bed.”

  Anger swelled in her heart, and she wanted nothing to do with him. But the aroma of bacon and eggs, and the sight of warm biscuits and jam, sparked a burning hunger she couldn’t deny. She didn’t want to eat just to spite him, but swallowed her pride and took a bite of eggs. Each mouthful strengthened her, and gradually, the dizziness left her head.

  While she ate, Jesse wandered about the room, stopping to open the curtains. With the slant of the sun, Teya guessed it had to be late morning. The bright rays fell on Jesse, and his golden hair shone with luminous brilliance while softening his face with a warm glow. In this light she noticed how handsome he was, and for some reason, it fueled her anger.

  “How long have I been asleep?”

  He didn’t turn to her, but kept his gaze focused on the world outside the window. “Since yesterday. It took a while for the drug to wear off. Then after…you needed to recover.”

  Was that guilt she detected? “That’s how you make sym, isn’t it? With the blood of our people?” When he didn’t respond, she continued. “How many have you killed for this counterfeit magic of yours?”

  His blue eyes blazed. “It doesn’t kill them anymore because I’ve intervened. I’m trying to save them. Korban doesn’t realize what he’s doing.”

  She didn’t believe him. “What do you mean?”

  “Korban... is my father.”

  Teya could hardly contain her astonishment. “Your father?” Her heart raced as the pieces began to fit together. “But, what about sym? Korban said he was taking my blood for both of you to use. Why do you need my blood?”

  His eyes narrowed. “I didn’t realize you overheard that much of our conversation.” His voice hardened. “That means you must have heard everything else.”

  “Your plans to kill the king?” She tried to sound nonchalant. “As if I care about that. You forget how much I hate him.” Hate she still held in her heart. He could not mistake the truth in her tone, and the intensity of it surprised her.

  She really did wish the king dead. Jesse studied her shrewdly. She had surprised him as well. “The king is cruel and heartless,” she continued. “A lot like your father.”

  He smiled at the jibe. “You surprise me princess. I didn’t know you possessed such venom.”

  “You never answered my question. If you have your own magic, why use sym?”

  “It augments the magic I have. And my father doesn’t mind. After all, sym has always been plentiful for me.”

  Teya shook her head, confused. “Then why intervene? Why try to help the Kalorians against your father’s wishes?”

  Jesse filled a glass with wine and took a drink, then sat on the edge of the bed next to her. “I’m tired of it all. I can’t stand back and watch him destroy us. Up until now, all I’ve been able to do is stop him from taking too much blood and killing any more Kalorians, but with you here we can go back to the grove where we belong.

  “I want to find my
true heritage. My true nature. I wasn’t born there, but something inside of me is pulling me toward the grove, almost against my will. It’s like I’m yearning for something that isn’t here, and the only place I’ll find it is in the grove.”

  Teya’s eyes widened with surprise. It was exactly how she felt. She caught herself nodding in agreement.

  His brows lifted. “You feel it too?”

  “But what about the Kalorians?” she asked, ignoring his question. “What about the kundar? How could you allow this captivity, this exploitation of your own people?”

  “Allow it?” He stood and began to pace in agitation. “How could I stop it? It began long before I could do anything about it.” With an air of exasperation, he came to her side. “I know you find this hard to believe, but it’s true. I want to restore the Kalorians to the grove. I want to return with you, even if it means defying my father.”

  “You’re good,” she whispered. “For a minute, you almost had me fooled.”

  “I’m telling the truth.”

  “No, you’re only telling me what you want me to believe.” But was he? How could she believe him? Besides being Korban’s son, he was a hunter. He’d hunted down her people and captured them like dogs.

  “I see that it’s too early for you to believe me now, but in time, you’ll know that I mean every word.” He took the tray from her lap and set it on the table. “I’ll send someone in to draw your bath, and bring fresh clothes. When you’re ready, Korban wants to see you.”

  He paused, and with an undercurrent of warning said, “Be careful with him. It’s better to appease him when you can. At least appear to go along with him for now. I promise it won’t always be this way.” He didn’t wait for a reply and shut the door behind him.

  Teya took a deep breath. His advice was what she’d planned to do all along, and it rattled her that he suggested it. Still, she wasn’t going to let Korban bully her. She was going to insist that she see Bran and her people. He could hardly deny her that.