Her own mark stung, and she placed her hand over it.
The Chancellor growled his displeasure, but no one else spoke or moved.
Ren stepped through the ward.
Hugh sighed. It was a soft sound, but she caught the pain and frustration in it.
“Not only is Ren impervious to magic, he wears Theodora’s mark. Magic recognizes magic,” her uncle smugly explained. “Ren would have no trouble passing Rhea and myself through the ward as well, now that it has accepted him. How long do you think your force would last against us, once we were inside?”
It wouldn’t take both of them. Either Rhea or Dougal could massacre the Chancellor’s guards, if they wished. Though, Theo had a hard time believing her mother would hurt so many of her own people.
The Chancellor shook with barely contained rage. “You would destroy —”
Ren unsheathed his sword and stepped forward.
She placed a hand on Hugh’s arm and shook her head when he moved to step between them.
Ren knelt before her and offered up his sword.
Dougal cursed.
The Chancellor laughed — just once — before silence fell over the entire yard.
She looked at Ren’s bowed head.
She looked at the army outside the gates.
She looked at her mother’s calm and accepting face.
Everything rested on her. If she denied her mother and uncle entrance, they would tear the castle apart to get to her. The Chancellor’s warriors, who were now under her blessing, would die defending her against the wrong enemy, because the black force on the edge of her perception was now pulsing and moving rapidly in their direction.
She stepped forward, and thought she heard Hugh exhale, but when she glanced back at him, he watched her without judgment.
She laid a hand over the back of Ren’s neck, and felt him also exhale the breath he’d been holding. She marveled that she felt nothing of him other than the warmth of his skin. No magic, no spirit at all.
She made certain her voice rang out as loudly as she could muster. “Your sword. Your strength. Your Spirit.”
“I swear,” Ren called loudly and sure, and then added, “all the days of my life, till all else fails me. I stand in your service. My body. My mind. And my soul. I swear.” His words, and his antiquated use of the word ‘soul’, recalled the vows they’d previously exchanged, but Theo fought the memory, for now was not the time. The mark on her arm tingled in recognition of his declaration. He was clever to repeat it here. He’d been learning his lessons from Dougal well, but she wasn’t an admirer of cunning.
She removed her hand as if nothing had passed between them, though his mark must have recognized her reaction.
“Then stand by my side.”
Ren rose and stood at the side that the Chancellor had previously occupied. Theo didn’t need to glance back to tell Hugh that she wanted him to step forward to her other side. So, flanked by the two men she was bound to, whether she wanted that binding or not, she invited an army into the Chancellor’s domain. He’d probably never forgive her, but she had more immediate concerns.
“Mother. Uncle. We are well met,” she called.
As one, the siblings stepped through the wards.
She turned and looked at the Chancellor. He grimly nodded to her, and then quickly stepped back into the role of accommodating host. With a nod to the Commander to deal with the influx of warriors, he led the smaller group inside to his private library.
The knot that had tightened in her chest when Ren stepped through the wards, the one she was fairly certain was her heart, refused to ease. She was not looking forward to being in the same room as her mother, uncle, and the Chancellor, let alone Hugh and Ren.
She cast a sideways look at Hugh’s horse, where Bryan still eagerly held the reins.
“Just say the word,” Hugh whispered, and she felt Ren stiffen on her other side.
“We’re here now,” she sighed.
“But not trapped. Never trapped.”
“She knows that,” Ren snapped, though he too kept his voice low.
“Does she? Maybe you think so.”
Ren looked to Theo for her answer, but she let the conversation drop as she stepped back into the castle and lost sight of Bryan and the Beast, and the lure of freedom it had momentarily brought. It was difficult not to feel trapped, by expectations, by her prophecy, and most of all, by her own self.
∞
The Chancellor’s library was smaller than her mother’s, and minus the lovely ocean view Hollyburn Castle provided as a distraction, but it easily held twice as many books. The Chancellor was a collector; many of his books, layered with protection spells, dated back to before Spirit rose. The books were archaic, and, to Theo, ultimately boring. So, in her mind, while the knowledge they held was immense, it had no practical application.
A couple of the Chancellor’s guards pulled the double doors closed behind them as they moved into the library. The Chancellor barely let them click closed before he articulated his primary concern. “We must discover the leak in your camp. Who could have handed Theodora’s blood over to the Preacher? He might have used it for more than tracking devices.”
Theo hadn’t thought of that … there were rumors of many nasty blood-based spells … though the wards should protect her. Unless someone triggered a spell within the castle.
“Theodora is stronger now that she has access to her wielder powers.” Dougal sent an accusatory look Rhea’s way. So all was not forgiven between the siblings, then. “It is unlikely they’d be able to kill her with a single spell, even one blood-based.”
“That’s comforting,” Hugh said, his sarcasm easily identifiable.
Theo wandered over to the window in an attempt to keep some sort of eye on the darkness she felt rapidly approaching. “Why now?”
“What you should be asking is why the threat increased when you returned to your mother’s protection. No one made attempts on your life in my care,” Dougal said.
“That’s because I didn’t even know who I was,” she snapped. She couldn’t help it, when he so casually suggested she was better off those ten, ignorant, painful years.
“Exactly,” Dougal snorted, not at all remorseful.
“So Rhea —” A sharp look from her mother caused the Chancellor to stumble over his informal address, “I mean Apex … could you … then … the traitor —”
“Is among Rhea’s people. Yes, Chancellor, we’ve got it figured,” Dougal interrupted.
“Bandages, rags, and all should have been burnt — “ Hugh said.
“Obviously,” her mother snapped, utterly displeased to be discussing such things with others.
“Then Peony?” Hugh didn’t finish his accusation, formed as a question.
“No.” Theo and Rhea declared as one voice.
“Theodora’s personal healer?” Dougal asked, and Hugh shot Theo a warning look, as if she’d complicate matters by suggesting she’d released Peony from that particular bond.
“She’d be incapable of betraying Theodora. Don’t you think I would have seen to it?”
“But she could have been compromised. She rode with us, alongside her rather annoying father, who, for some reason, Rhea considers valuable counsel.” Dougal strode to the doors and yanked one open. “Guard.”
“Don’t be simple, Dougal.” Rhea seemed rather delighted to undermine her brother. “She’ll answer Theodora’s call.”
They all turned to look at Theo. She hesitated, and turned to address her mother. “If it is her?”
“It’s not.”
“But if it is, then what will you do?”
“We’ll do what is necessary, Theodora. It is all we have ever done. Your uncle and I.”
“Peony is very talented, more than you give her credit for … I think it would be wrong —”
“Call her, Theodora, or I will,” Dougal interrupted.
She lo
oked to Hugh. He remained impassive even when she spoke in his head. Hugh?
Call her, they won’t kill her. You are correct about her value, but if it is her … His anger resonated through her head, but she decided it was better if she called, rather than have Peony dragged here as if already guilty, under guard. She closed her eyes, not that she needed to do so to call Peony, but rather she needed to not see all the people staring at her, looking to her … Peony, she asked, once she found Peony’s energy within the castle. Please join us in the library.
Once she received Peony’s agreement, she opened her eyes and returned to her first question. “Why now? Why bring an army? They’ll be crushed.”
“I imagine that is part of the plan,” Dougal growled, but it was her mother, who settled into one of the high-backed leather chairs by the unlit fireplace, who elaborated.
“The solstice approaches. It would be a logical time for us to formalize the bond between you and Hugh. The combination of your prophecies is … predicted … to be very powerful.” Here Rhea cast a look at the Chancellor, who inclined his head in agreement. “I imagine this Preacher has decided to attempt to interfere with the bonding, if not to thwart it all together by killing one or both of you. Plus, if we raise arms against his rabble, it will only reinforce his argument.”
“Then Hugh could be in danger as well?”
“He always has been,” the Chancellor answered. “But you are both very powerful. Untested, but powerful, and surrounded by powerful people and powerful defenses.”
“There is more than one obstacle to this scheduled solstice bonding,” Ren suddenly declared.
Her mother turned her eyes on Ren as if she utterly loathed to do so. “That mark you wear?”
“Theo’s mark.”
“Brother, you haven’t schooled your boy very well,” Rhea almost purred, like Ren was just another thing to use against Dougal.
“Sister, you always underestimate the baser magics. Plus, my boy, as you call him, is impervious to magic, so he is likely somewhat unaware of the power that pours from Theodora.”
“I know she is powerful,” Ren insisted.
“Yet you think she is incapable of being bonded with two men at once? If she chooses to not just simply negate your bond out of some sort of loyalty … ill advised, but not unlike her.”
Hugh remained impassive, so this was not news to him, but Ren looked as if he was about to explode. Theo wasn’t even sure what her mother was suggesting … that the rules of matrimony were somehow different for her? That fidelity and loyalty were hers to cast off?
Peony entered the library, and everyone turned on her as if she was their last meal. She actually stumbled as all this energy hit her. Her golden curls bounced around her now surprised and wary face. “Theo?” she asked, as she came to a halt in the middle of the room.
“Peony, the army, the dark force that heads this way —”
Peony shuddered and wrapped her arms around herself as if she was suddenly cold.
“You’ve felt them as well?”
“No, my lady, not till just now, when you mentioned it.”
Her mother threw her a warning glance so her magic must be radiating again. Theo inhaled and tried to gather in all the confusion and questions and fears with the breath. She hoped that this would dampen her magical aura as well. She had to be better at holding it all in check. Most of the people in the room were powerful enough that she wouldn’t overwhelm them unintentionally, but if the way the Chancellor’s shoulders seem to lighten when she corralled herself was any indication, they could still feel it.
“This force has a way to track me,” she continued.
Peony was nodding, and Dougal looked about ready to tear her head off. “I saw, my lady, the rock with the red light your mother holds.”
“They must have another.”
“Among other things,” Hugh added.
“Other things to harm you, Lady Theo?”
“Most likely, Peony.”
“I shall stay by your side then, my lady. I would have before, had someone not snatched you away!” She threw a withering glance at Hugh. Theo felt a slight pang at the thought that Peony and Hugh had been friends for years … years denied to her, but then she tamped down on the wayward, wallowing thought.
“It’s not just that, Peony,” Rhea smoothly took over the interrogation, but Peony was guileless. Theo doubted she ever had the ability to be any other way. “It’s that such items can only be crafted with blood.”
Peony’s hands flew to her mouth, and she whispered, ”Blood magic … but … but … that’s …”
Blood magic had been deemed atrocious and amoral in her mother’s reign, so much so, that even speaking of it was illegal.
“The concern, Peony, is how the Preacher would have gotten ahold of Theodora’s blood?”
“You think he used a spell or … or took it by force when Lady Theo was alone?” Poor Peony didn’t have any idea that Rhea was moving in for the kill.
“It’s not her, mother.”
”What? You think I’d … I’d … I would never! I would give my own life force to heal Theo! I burnt everything, everything.” Peony’s voice trailed off, and Rhea followed like a predator follows a trail of blood.
“Everything?”
“Yes. Yes. Except … one time … I was afraid to leave the lady … and … and.” Peony’s eyes flew up in horror to meet Theo’s. “Oh no, my lady.”
“Who, Peony? Who offered to burn it for you?” Theo asked as softly as she could, but Peony still dissolved into sobs even as she gave Theo access to her memory of the night in question.
From Peony’s mind, Theo pulled an image of the first evening of her return. She saw herself lying in her bed, so pale, as if close to death. Peony had been healing her for hours and finally thought she might be well enough that she could replenish her supplies and burn the blood-soaked pile of bandages.
Except … Peony didn’t want to chance burning the rags in the fireplace, just in case the magic in Theo’s blood, combined with the act of destroying it, caused further damage to the weakened Theo. This was not usually the case, but with someone as powerful as Theo, even blood could be a weapon. However, just as Peony had opened the door to leave the room, Theo had groaned in her sleep … and he … he had been there to help … Davin. She’d been easily persuaded to hand the rags and dirty water over to him. She’d secretly had a crush on him since Davin had been assigned to the castle last fall, and he was the guard posted at Theo’s door. He was sworn to protect her. He’d returned promptly with fresh water and bandages, even though she hadn’t asked him, and she’d been happy for his assistance, for Theo’s fever had spiked.
Peony stood sobbing quietly in the middle of room. Theo turned and locked eyes with her mother, who would have been able to access Peony’s memory as well. Her mother looked shaken. A guard, handpicked and bound by Rhea. It was difficult to fathom.
Hugh touched Theo’s shoulder lightly.
“Davin,” she gave voice to the accusation.
Hugh strode out of the room with Ren by his side and fury in his step.
Peony fell to her knees and began to wail. “Please, lady, please,” she begged. Theo crossed to her and laid a hand on her head. Peony wrapped her arms about Theo’s legs. “It can’t be, Davin. Please. There must be some mistake.”
“I hope so.” She tried to soothe the healer, but was almost too shaken to do so. How many times had she been alone or nearly alone with Davin? He’d helped them in the wood with the babe … he’d guarded her room.
Theo followed Hugh and Ren’s movement through the castle in her mind. She saw them question the Commander, and identify the whereabouts of the Hollyburn guards. Moments later, she felt the instant Davin saw Hugh and Ren coming for him, but couldn’t pick up the guard’s thoughts. “He’s shielded,” she murmured to her mother.
“All guards are,” the Chancellor said.
“Not t
his well,” her mother sighed.
“Mother, there would have been no reason to notice before. I certainly didn’t.”
“It’s not your responsibility to do so, Theodora, it’s your mother’s.” Dougal’s tone was softer than his words.
“Dougal is right. I assigned Davin to you. Mostly because he has a little natural resistance to your magic, but also because I trusted him … I am not certain how he could have gotten by the fealty oath?”
“A superseding directive maybe,” Dougal guessed. “The Preacher has been planning his rise for longer than we thought.”
The door slammed open. Hugh and Ren escorted Davin into the library.
Peony’s sobs increased, and Davin attempted to not look in her direction. Hugh crossed to Peony, scooped her off the floor, and carried her from the library.
“Davin of the Hollyburn Castle Guard, we stand in serious doubt of your loyalty.” The room shook with the power in Rhea’s voice, but it wasn’t to her that Davin turned to when he crumpled to his knees.
“Mercy, lady. Mercy, lady,” he pleaded before Theo.
“You have no right to ask for clemency from the very person you have harmed. You will not benefit from my daughter’s soft heart.”
“But, Mother.”
“No, Theodora. He will answer to me.”
“Ren,” Dougal commanded, and Ren immediately crossed to her. She shied away from him, and he grabbed her arm. He looked a little sorry to be handling her such but she forestalled any apology by smashing her open palm into his chest. He didn’t move, though he didn’t look pleased. He was just that much stronger than her.
She knew if she drew her sword he would do the same but wasn’t sure she could defeat him without killing him. She attempted to fight him mind to mind, as he dragged her from the library, but soon discovered he was indeed completely impervious to any of her magic.
∞
“Which way to your rooms?” Ren asked. She didn’t fight the firm grip he had on her arm, but she wasn’t going to be helpful either. “Or the kitchens. I could make you a snack. Remember? I make good snacks.”
For some reason, Ren’s casual use of the word ‘remember’ caused her to yank her arm out of his hand and veer off toward the practice yard.
Spirit Binder Page 16
