by Rin Grey
Elizabeth took the key slowly and looked up at him, her eyes widening. Was he suggesting…?
His expression was solemn, his message was unmistakable—he was giving her a way to contact him if she needed.
She was so surprised at what was practically an invitation, that she could only stare at him, stunned. Apparently he really meant it about wanting to see her again.
Something had changed between them. Had it had anything to do with her admission of love? She didn’t dare hope.
She put the key carefully in her pocket, her heart warming, and nodded. “I’ll remember.”
Sean nodded, then bent down and gave her a last, lingering kiss. He didn’t say anything, just reached into his belt pouch and took out his stone. A few seconds later, he winked out of existence.
Elizabeth sat down on the side of the bed, her clothes forgotten for a moment, and stared at the key he had given her. She still found it hard to believe. This was the closest thing to a promise he’d ever offered in all their years together.
She shook her head. She didn’t have time to think about this, or wonder what it meant right now. She rose and began to dress. She’d have just enough time to go home and make her excuses to Gemma and Digger before she needed to be at the Salinga offices.
Yet despite being pressed for time, her feet dragged as she walked back to Gemma’s house. Now that Sean was gone, the fact that Gemma and Digger would have been wondering where she was refused to be dismissed. Hopefully Gemma hadn’t been too worried. Digger would have reassured her, surely.
And Digger…
Though he’d said nothing had changed, she knew that wasn’t true. No matter how they both tried to deny it, things had changed.
Her absence would hurt him more now than it would have a few months ago.
It would hurt him more because despite having the option to sleep with someone else, she never had. Not until now.
For it to happen now, after he’d come here just because of her…
She winced.
It didn’t matter how many regrets she had now, there was no undoing the past. And she knew, deep down, that even if she could, she woudln’t.
The house was quiet when she let herself in and for a few moments she thought that everyone had slept in.
She should have known better. As she headed down the hallway to the stairs, Gemma’s voice startled her. “Had a nice night?”
Elizabeth bit back a curse and turned towards the sound. Gemma stood in the doorway to the lounge room, knitting in her hand. Her expression wasn’t worried. It was angry.
And Elizabeth deserved every bit of it.
“I’m sorry, Gemma.”
“Sorry for making me wonder if you were in trouble, or sorry for cheating on your boyfriend?”
Elizabeth stared at her in shock. Where had that come from? Even though it was the truth, she hadn’t expected Gemma to come to that conclusion.
Digger was another matter.
“I’m sorry if you were worried, but I was in no danger,” she said shortly.
“Apparently not,” Gemma said dryly. “I take it you were with one of the mages? The one who threw you out of the Dome previously, perhaps?”
Elizabeth winced. Gemma had made some very accurate guesses. Was she that transparent?
For a brief moment, she struggled with the automatic reaction to make excuses, then she let the urge go. The truth was, there were no excuses.
What was the point in making excuses when she knew she’d do the exact same thing again in a heartbeat?
There was no way she could possibly explain that to Gemma, so she just asked, “Is Digger upstairs?”
“Yes, though I have no idea why he’s still here. Obviously he cares about you more than you care about him.”
Gemma’s statement was so close to the truth, Elizabeth winced again. “Digger is more than I deserve, yes.”
Gemma’s eyebrows shot up. “So you can see it then.” She stared at Elizabeth for a few moments, then asked softly, “So why do you do it? Don’t you think he deserves better than this?”
Of course Digger deserved more. Elizabeth’s heart ached for the pain this was going to cause him, even as she knew she couldn’t give it to him. Not now. She shook her head to clear the thoughts. She was working today, she didn’t need this inner turmoil. Instead of answering Gemma’s question, she headed again for the stairs.
This time, Gemma made no attempt to stop her.
She took the stairs two at a time, not out of anxiety to explain to Digger, but out of concern now that she would be late for Jocelyn’s appointment.
When she entered the room they shared, Digger was at the washbasin, splashing water on his face.
Elizabeth paused in the doorway, suddenly unsure of what to say.
He dried his face in the towel, and turned towards her. “Hi, Liz.” His voice was dull and tired, but he didn’t follow his greeting with a question, or even an accusation.
Elizabeth hesitated. If she pretended nothing had happened, he would probably do the same, and she was short on time. There would be time to discuss this later, after her work with Jocelyn.
If Digger were even still here. She wouldn’t blame him if he wasn’t.
“I’m sorry, Digger,” she said softly.
Digger shrugged, his shoulders sagging. “It doesn’t matter, Liz. You don’t owe me anything.”
He was wrong. She owed him more than she could ever repay. But she didn’t say that. She couldn’t do anything about it.
She could no more say no to Sean than she could stop using her magic.
What she should, in all fairness do, was leave Digger. But that wasn’t so easy either.
“Digger, I… perhaps this isn’t going to work after all…”
Digger swore. He turned to her, his eyes intense. “You’re always ready to give up, aren’t you, Liz? Forget sticking it out, that’s too hard, much easier to just walk away, isn’t it?”
That hurt on more levels than she cared to admit.
Even more so because it was the truth.
She’d walked away from so many things in her life. This was just one more in a long line.
If only he knew.
She shook her head sadly. “I’m sorry, Digger, but I can’t offer you anything more. That’s not fair, I know, but I can’t change it right now.”
“And if I want more, I’d better go find it elsewhere,” Digger finished for her. “I do want more, Liz, but I don’t want it with someone else. I want it with you.”
The pain in his voice and eyes caused her heart to twist painfully, hurting more deeply than any wound she’d ever sustained fighting. “I’m sorry, Digger,” she said sadly, wishing she’d never started this conversation.
He sighed heavily. “You have a meeting to be at. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. We can discuss it when you get back.”
He didn’t plan to leave. He was offering her an out. Probably because he knew if he didn’t, it would be over.
Elizabeth hesitated, but it was too tempting. She didn’t want to talk about this, and she didn’t have time. She could do nothing more right now, she was already pushing it to make Jocelyn’s meeting.
She nodded, but he’d already turned away.
Chapter 8 - Assignment
Jon sat on one of the wooden benches along the wall outside Sean’s study and tried not to fidget. The messenger had arrived before seven that morning, and he’d rushed to dress and be here, not even stopping for breakfast.
Yet here it was, past eight, and there was still no sign of his liege and father. His stomach rumbled, and he glanced surreptitiously at Carlis, who leaned with his head against the wall, arms folded and eyes closed.
“Is this normal?” he asked tentatively.
His fellow Seeker and partner opened one eye and regarded him silently for a moment, before shrugging. “Normal? Who can define normal around here?”
It was an answer, after a fashion.
Jon hesitated for a
moment, then followed the man’s example, leaning against the wall and closing his eyes. He suspected however, that though he might look the same, he was nowhere near as relaxed as the veteran Seeker beside him.
This would be his first assignment, whatever it may be.
He told himself it was understandable to feel nervous, no matter how much training he’d had. He’d never been outside the Dome, never been in a real battle, never been tested at all.
Carlis had though. That was why Sean had partnered them together. A new Seeker was always partnered with an older, more experienced one.
Jon knew that sometimes novice Seekers waited months for a partner. Though he wasn’t grateful that the death of Carlis’s partner had offered him this opportunity, he was looking forward to getting out.
It had only been six months since Jon had graduated from the Academy and immediately sworn oath. Six months barely seemed time to be ready, though he had been training for this moment for many years before that.
Jon pushed the doubts away. If both Sean and Carlis thought he was ready, he would just have to trust them.
He felt movement beside him and opened his eyes. Sean stood in the doorway of his study, watching him in amusement. “Sorry for keeping you waiting, Jon. Will you please come in?”
Jon scrambled hurriedly to his feet beside Carlis who was already standing. The older Seeker probably hadn’t been caught with his eyes closed.
“If you can give us a minute, Carlis,” Sean said smoothly. “Janice will send you in when I’m ready.”
Carlis nodded immediately and sat obediently
Jon followed his father into his study, mystified. He took the indicated seat and waited while Sean walked around the desk and sat down.
“What is it, sir?” he asked curiously.
Sean folded his hands and regarded Jon for a moment. “I wanted to give you the choice of whether you wished to take on this assignment or not before I brought Carlis in on it.”
So his father didn’t think he was ready after all. Even though he’d been thinking exactly the same thing himself only a few minutes ago, it still rankled. “I’m ready to do whatever you request, sir, I don’t require any favoured treatment,” he said a little stiffly.
Sean held up a hand before he could say more. “This isn’t favoured treatment. Unless you call being requested by your mother favoured treatment.”
His mother?
Any irritation fled, and Jon just stared at him in shock.
He didn’t for a moment think Sean was referring to the woman who had raised him. A tingle of anticipation raised goosebumps up his arms. “She… asked for me?” He couldn’t think of what else to say. Especially given that he had very little idea, besides a name, of who ‘she’ was.
“She asked to see you, yes. Not specifically for this assignment, I don’t think that occurred to her, but I have no doubt she’ll be happy to see you. The choice though, is yours. Do you wish to meet her? If not, I have another mission in mind for the two of you, so you needn’t feel like you’ll be missing out either way.”
Jon considered the offer for a moment, even though he already knew what his answer would be. He needed to get his head around the idea that he might be finally going to meet Mage Elizabeth Salinga, the woman who had given birth to him, then left, twenty-one years ago.
Why had she left and why had she never come back? Sean had never answered those questions, though Jon had asked more than once. The very topic seemed to annoy his father.
He had at least one answer now though. She did want to see him. “Of course I want to go.”
His father smiled, any indication that talking about his mother had annoyed him previously gone. “Good. That’s settled then. Before I call Carlis in, I also have a special assignment for you.”
“Yes, sir?”
Something had changed. Whatever rift there had been between them seemed to have gone. Jon couldn’t help being curious, but he didn’t ask. He had bigger questions on his mind. Ones for his mother.
Hopefully she wasn’t as reticent as his father.
Sean’s expression grew serious. “There should be no real danger on this assignment. The group of mercenaries you will be up against should be well within the group’s capabilities. None the less, keep an eye on Elizabeth. It is vitally important that no harm comes to her, and by that, I mean not so much as a scratch.”
“Yes, sir. Of course,” Jon answered automatically, but his mind was working overtime. Not only was his father no longer annoyed about his mother, he was determined to protect her.
It went without saying that he would protect anyone on the mission. But for Sean to put in the request specifically had to mean something more.
“Don’t for a minute think this is going to be an easy task,” Sean warned him. “Elizabeth is one of the most stubborn, pigheaded women I’ve ever met.” The smile on his face took the sting out of his words, and left Jon even more curious.
“I will do my best, sir.”
“This is important, Jon,” Sean repeated again. “No matter what else you have to sacrifice, she has to come through it unharmed.”
Jon stared at his father. What was going on?
Did he still have feelings for her, as Jon was beginning to suspect? If that was his reason, it was a very personal reason to risk Linarian assets.
Then again, it was her son he was asking.
Either way, it was not his part to question his orders, only to obey them. Nor did he want to risk losing this mission by asking. So he nodded. “I’ll protect her with my life, sir,” he said simply.
Sean nodded as though he expected no less, then rose and called Carlis into the room.
Chapter 9 - Seekers
Elizabeth didn’t make Jocelyn’s nine o’clock meeting, but she did make it just before ten, when the mages were expected to arrive. Jocelyn scowled at her as she slid into her seat just as Lorri showed the first of the visitors in.
The man who followed Lorri appeared to be in his late twenties. Not a surprise, all mages from the Dome did.
Elizabeth hadn’t met many Seekers before, only those who had taken Amily to the Dome, but he fit the label as neatly as they had. His dark black hair had just a suggestion that it might curl, had it been allowed to grow long enough, and his strength and skill were evident in the confidence with which he walked.
His magic was just as obvious to anyone who knew what to look for. Elizabeth evaluated him, reasonably sure that her magic level was the greater, but not by much.
His eyes flicked across her, widening just a little, but that was all the recognition he gave. He turned and bowed to Jocelyn. “I thought it best if the warriors remained outside, it might be a bit crowded in here otherwise. We can relay any necessary information to them afterwards. My partner is just seeing them settled, then he will join us.”
Jocelyn inclined her head. “A very sensible idea. And you are?”
“Carlis Danell, ma’am, Seeker to Prince Veryn, at your service.”
He was a very handsome man and his manners were impeccable, but although he was attractive, there was something about him that made her uneasy, something Elizabeth couldn’t put her finger on.
Any concerns fled a few moments later when his partner entered.
This man seemed quite young for the role, perhaps in his late teens or early twenties, but he had a quiet confidence that was unmistakable. His magic was stronger than the older man’s, surpassing even Elizabeth’s slightly.
None of that was why Elizabeth stared. His light red hair caused her heart to skip a beat, and when he paused for just a moment and her eyes met his, she could have been looking into a reflection. She caught herself just in time to prevent blurting his name out loud.
It had to be Jon.
He didn’t look in her direction, turning first to Carlis. “The warriors are waiting outside,” he informed him.
Carlis nodded with enough respect that it was obvious he considered him an equal.
Eli
zabeth wished she could be as calm. Her heart sang with happiness. It was a strain to stop every bit of emotion showing on her face.
He looked at her then, and he must have known who she was, because he smiled at her, then ducked his head, breaking eye contact.
She took a seat opposite him at the table and barely heard a word Jocelyn said.
Had Sean planned on sending him when she saw him last night, or had their time together changed his mind? She couldn’t possibly guess. She was just glad he was here.
Her mind was full of questions she wanted to ask him. And a little dread. She had no idea what Sean had told him about her, or the circumstances surrounding his birth. She’d probably have a lot of questions to answer, and she wasn’t sure that her answers would be what he would want to hear. That thought was sobering, but not quite enough to wipe away the joy of seeing her son for the first time since his birth.
He spoke then, and for the first time during the conversation, she paid attention to what was being said, “Can we see the map now, Miss Salinga? I’d like to have an idea of where we’re going.”
“You’re going to Anyir, I already said that,” Jocelyn replied, her lips thin and disapproving.
“Yes, but where are we going once we get there?”
Jocelyn gave a tight smile. “We may be working together, but I have yet to decide if I trust you. Merron will carry the map and you can see it once you arrive.”
Jon looked at her wordlessly, and for a moment Elizabeth thought she almost saw Jocelyn squirm.
His partner nodded, breaking the moment of tension. “Fair enough. When we get there then. You have the horses organised?”
Jocelyn nodded, “Merron will take you out.” She stood up, and held out her hand, “I hope this is the start of a prosperous partnership for both of us.”
Carlis Danell shook her hand, and she offered it to Jon, who did likewise, saying, “I hope so as well.”
