‘It was empty. We had enough space in the dorms downstairs not to need that room. I looked in once and thought it awful, with broken windows and damp. Jim would have sorted all that, I imagine, before offering it to you. I certainly felt a huge surge of magic that evening. He prepared the room himself. You know we now take bets on trying to guess what each massive surge of magic is for. We’re rarely anywhere near the mark. He cannot be anticipated.’
‘You admire this wizard?’ Darius asked her.
‘Of course, he’s our headmaster. He can be damn scary too, particularly when his lion takes charge.’
‘What lion?’ Ebony asked.
‘Jim’s animus animal is a lion,’ Drako told them, pausing significantly. Learning an animus person’s form gave great insight and understanding to the character and strengths of a person. ‘Amelie is often a panther, but I’ve seen her in lion form and as an eagle. I also hear tell she can be a dragon.’ All those forms were powerful in their own right.
‘Haven’t you seen her dragon? I have, she’s very impressive like that. I saw her take off and fly carrying both Jim and Bruno,’ Cassy admitted. ‘They were clearly very heavy for her and she could barely fly but she did it.’
‘You’re clearly impressed with what these other wizards are up to and their power. Does that mean you’re not looking to marry Drako?’ Darius asked her. ‘Is your reticence and presence here because you are seeking a more powerful animus?’
‘Darius,’ Ebony chided.
‘Why is everyone so fixated on this marriage thing? And why does everyone feel entitled to demand answers so inappropriately?’ Cassy protested. Darius merely raised a brow and silently waited for her to answer.
‘Fine. If I was simply interested in marrying for power, I would not be dating an animus,’ she said bluntly. ‘Drako and I have only been seeing each other a short two weeks and thus barely know each other. I will consider marriage as and when I am ready. I will not be making promises or setting a date prematurely simply to please someone outside of our relationship. Having said all that, I am not planning to replace him.’
Darius nodded and was aware she silently stared at him waiting for her question to be answered in return.
‘You know I am the heir? Well, I’m not married, none of us are. We could be killed tomorrow, and there be no heir to follow us. If Drako marries, any child of his would be our heir, certainly, until I had a son. That is why our people are taking such an interest in you. They are pressuring us to marry, but choose well and to provide heirs as soon as possible. We live in dangerous times. Many have put their lives on hold and stopped having children with no home to raise them safely. We need to set an example before our people really do become extinct.’
‘I see. So, we’re not just talking about marriage, but leaping forward to my providing children immediately, just to encourage your people to breed. However, Drako’s children will only be stand-ins for yours as and when you get around to having any. Thanks.’ She noticed Drako was wincing and Ebony embarrassed.
‘He doesn’t mean for all that to happen quite so immediately,’ Drako said and glared at his brother. He went to her and crouched before her chair. He searched her face anxiously.
‘Yes he does,’ Cassy contradicted but without rancour. ‘He is talking of things that are actually none of his business and would happen naturally in their own time if allowed to and if it’s meant to be,’ she said for Darius’s benefit. ‘So far, all any of you appear to have considered in this, is whether I could be made to fit in with you. You haven’t considered my family and whether they would accept a fugitive animus as my husband. They are of course, respected wizards. Perhaps your father is hoping, that with me in the family, that some new alliance can be forged between your clan and regular wizards? Perhaps that is the main reason he asked me here. Are you expecting him to arrive soon?’
‘Very soon,’ Darius affirmed, his interest piqued by the possible implications.
‘Well I suppose we’ll know his reasons soon enough then,’ Cassy said. ‘Meantime I’m tired and would like to retire if there’s somewhere available?’ She got up pulling Drako to his feet too. If she was going to make an escape then he should too; he was just as tired.
‘I’ll show you,’ Drako told her absorbing her wish for him to rest by her side. ‘What rooms are free?’ he asked turning to his sister.
‘This way,’ Ebony said quickly leading them from the room and the further questioning she could see Darius would subject them to along this new line of thought. ‘Darius is free now,’ Ebony announced to those waiting in the hallway. They would occupy him nicely until her return.
Freddie was waiting for them in the hallway with their saddlebags. ‘Thank you Freddie,’ Drako said gratefully, taking them. ‘Go get some rest,’ he added and followed the ladies up the stairs.
‘There’s only one room free on this floor with us,’ Ebony advised.
Drako wordlessly carried on up to the top floor.
‘All of these are free,’ Ebony said.
Drako walked to the end of the corridor and opened the doors to the last two rooms. Having expected many more people to arrive, all rooms had been prepared ready for occupancy.
‘You take the one on the end,’ Cassy suggested to Drako. ‘It’s got the bigger bed. Hopefully I won’t hear you stubbing your toes or banging your head in the night.’
Ebony laughed at her brother’s dismayed expression. Cassy was not painting a romantic picture of him. Her teasing was light hearted though and affectionate. ‘The bathroom’s just in here. Anything you need?’
‘Just some rest, thank you,’ Cassy said and watched Drako’s sister glide silently down the corridor and disappear downstairs.
‘Maybe I should go and talk to Darius. I’m so sorry he spoke to you like that,’ Drako said feeling nervous and almost sick with worry that Darius had scared her off. He followed her back into his room and closed the door, fed up of the constant lack of privacy to talk. He dumped their bags and sat on the bed searching for something to say. She turned back to him having examined the view outside.
‘I told you before, you worry too much. You need some sleep,’ she told him and knelt to unfasten his boots. She ignored his protests and tugged the boots off. She then pulled off her own and sat beside him. ‘Hold me?’
‘Yes,’ he sighed in relief and lay down on his back pulling her with him. She snuggled against him, her head on his shoulder and their arms about each other. In this simple silent way, they comforted each other enough to fall asleep within a few brief minutes.
9. Cassy
Freddie knocked lightly on Drako’s door and pushed it open. He sighed softly to find Drako spooned around a still sleeping Cassy. If he had known she was not resting in her own room, he would not have walked in. Fortunately, both were fully clothed except for their boots.
‘Freddie?’ Drako murmured.
‘I’m sorry to disturb you my lord. Darius is asking for you. I thought you might prefer me to come up than him,’ Freddie added and his gaze slid to Cassy held so closely.
‘Damn him,’ Drako muttered, reluctantly easing away from Cassy’s warmth.
‘I second that,’ Cassy said and turned to meet Drako’s dark eyes. He leaned over and kissed her, not caring that Freddie was present. ‘Now I’m awake,’ Cassy laughed. His kiss had also just banished the chill she had felt on wakening. Without Drako’s warmth cuddling against her she would have woken a while ago, she suspected, having slept uncovered. His kiss had just sent blood rushing through her body.
‘Sorry, I should have let you sleep on,’ Drako said contritely.
‘I shouldn’t be sleeping in here anyway. Go, you don’t want to keep him waiting too long. I’m going to take a bath,’ she added, aware that was an overdue necessity, particularly when her man seemed to want to wrap himself around her at every opportunity. The harsh arctic weather they had been travelling in over the last few days had meant washing was a foolish thought unless they c
ourted frostbite. Now they had reached this comfortable guesthouse, she could make use of the facilities available.
Drako turned back from the doorway, ‘now I really don’t want to leave your side. I wouldn’t mind a bath myself; we could scrub each other’s backs. No? Pity.’
Freddie cleared his throat. Drako glanced at him and winked at Cassy, who really did laugh at his flirt, before leaving the room. She suspected he enjoyed embarrassing Freddie as much as seeing her blush.
Cassy collected her things from her room and retired to the bathroom, automatically locking the door. She magically warmed the water, sprinkled her scented bath salts and had a relaxing soak. She did not stay long, the warm water was making her very sleepy and she did not want to fall asleep and drown. She magically dried her hair, donned her long cotton nightdress and slid into the bed in her own room.
Cassy awoke suddenly to hands grabbing and lifting her out of bed. Before she could get more than a glimpse of two strange men, a sack was thrown over her head. She struggled, gathering her magic hastily but someone hit her on the head and she knew nothing more.
She woke with an excruciating headache, feeling sick and very cold. She squinted around her in the darkness and gingerly sat up. She was in an animal cage inside an empty shed! The cage floor was rough wooden planks but otherwise it was a rectangular metal box of bars and the gate featured a big lock. There was a small fire on the other side of the room but no warmth reached her. She tucked her bare feet up under the hem of her nightdress before she met the watchful eyes of her kidnapper just coming into view.
‘Don’t you even think of trying some magic,’ he told her brusquely. ‘I haven’t any qualms about shooting you. We don’t trust wizards.’
‘Drako, I’m in trouble,’ she whispered mentally letting him see the cage. She felt his sudden rush of anger and immediate need to get to her side to defend her. ‘Shush love, I’m ok. Don’t let on anything’s wrong and don’t do anything just yet to give us away. I want to find out if this is some misunderstanding before you come and get me. This guy might have acted alone or he might be under someone’s orders.’
‘Cassy, I see the man. I know him. Stewart’s one of us! He put you in a cage? He’s holding a crossbow on you?’ Drako was outraged. ‘You really expect me to stay here listening to Darius prattle on while you’re trapped, in pain and in danger?’
‘Yes you must. They took me from my bed just when you weren’t with me. How did they know you’d been called away unless this was under your brother’s orders?’
‘Cassy, what’s he saying to you?’ Drako asked suddenly feeling her increased tension and alarm and noticing Stewart’s rather aggressive body language. Sound abruptly came to him in addition to the view through her eyes.
‘Don’t worry little wizard, if indeed you are one. I’ll make sure you aren’t lonely while you wait. Pity I’m not meant to touch you just yet, you looked mighty tasty. But you might come my way later; no one would know.’
‘Wait for what? Why am I in this cage?’ Cassy asked, ignoring the rest.
‘Darius suggested it as a precaution in case you did anything stupid and forced us to kill you. He’d be annoyed if we did before he could view you and decide whether you would do, but I doubt he’d be too upset.’
‘What do you mean whether I would “do”? Do for what?’ Cassy asked aware Drako was listening closely.
‘Drako was meant to bring Darius a magical woman. He wasn’t meant to claim her for himself. Maybe he thought Darius wouldn’t mind his getting a girl out of turn since you’re not animus, but it seems he does mind.’
‘Darius wants me, or only to thwart Drako?’ She noted Stewart’s shrug. ‘He’s acting like a petulant teenager,’ she muttered and noticed his anger at her irreverence. She hastily concentrated on the lock barring his or anyone else’s entry and turned her back on this irritating man. ‘Drako I’m going to try and reach Freddie and send him to you. Then you’ll have an excuse to leave that room.’
‘Freddie can you hear me?’ Cassy called. ‘I’m calling in your head. Don’t panic. But we need you.’
‘Cassy? Is that you?’ Freddie asked.
‘Yes. Just think your words rather than saying them aloud; it might not be safe to be overheard. I’m locked in a cage in a shed, by someone called Stewart.’ She felt Freddie’s immediate alarm and outrage. She could detect no duplicity in him even though he had called Drako from her side and her sense of betrayal eased. ‘Stewart and another man knocked me out and took me from my bed. Drako knows but he’s stuck with Darius and has no excuse to get away. We think Darius is behind it, and is detaining him purposely. I’m freezing, could you please collect my coat and boots then go to Drako?’
‘Of course I can. Be careful lady and hold tight,’ Freddie reassured calmly but she could sense his emotions were in turmoil and he was already walking briskly over to the Inn. Once inside he quietly made his way up the stairs to her empty room.
Fortunately, mental communication was far quicker than speaking, because you could hear and answer questions and they could equally feel your true meaning without ambiguity. Cassy was quickly able to return her complete attention to Stewart. She sat quietly rubbing her cold toes but doing nothing to threaten him. He had a bow held in readiness; she would struggle to create a spell quicker than an arrow’s flight. Prudently, she prepared her shield spell so she could activate it quickly should she need to. Unfortunately, with her head pounding and feeling dizzy she did not have much strength or concentration. She would have to leave it to Drako and Freddie to come for her. They knew their people and what approach to take, although the red waves of anger she had felt in Drako might reduce his ability for rational thought.
Only a few short minutes elapsed before the door crashed open. Drako strode in, Freddie on his heels and behind them Darius. Drako was rather wild eyed and he ran to the cage close enough to see her clearly but stopped short to turn to his brother.
‘What the hell is the meaning of this?’ Drako demanded of his brother.
‘Why look at me? I’m just as shocked as you,’ Darius said.
‘Don’t play the innocent,’ Drako snarled. ‘Stewart was kind enough to admit to Cassy that you ordered this,’ Drako added, his gaze landing on a cowering Stewart.
‘And how can you possibly know what he might have said. You’ve been with me for hours,’ Darius said.
‘My lady might have been beaten unconscious but she found the strength to call to me and let me see her predicament through her eyes and ears,’ Drako said, his voice harsh and strained. ‘She means nothing to you Darius. Why try to steal her from me?’
‘You failed to bring any other acceptable woman to me. It is I who should have first pick, not you little brother,’ Darius snarled.
Freddie edged around the brothers to the cage and passed through the thick coat and boots. The thin cotton nightdress she wore was not remotely adequate in this barely above freezing room. He wished he had thought to bring her trousers too. She thanked him a little absently; slipping them all on quickly but her hands shook and she fumbled with the buttons. Her main attention, as was his, was on Drako and Darius.
‘She’s right, you’re acting like a jealous teenager,’ Drako said shaking his head in disbelief. ‘You had no right to touch her; she’s mine and you know it.’
‘I can do whatever I like. You’re not engaged to her and she’s not clan. She’s not even animus and she’s a potential security threat.’
‘Security threat? Father invited her,’ Drako snapped.
‘He’s not here. I’m in charge and I’ll decide if she’s trustworthy, when I’ve brought her to heel of course,’ Darius laughed cruelly.
‘You will do no such thing and you’ll pay for hurting her,’ Drako snarled, his brother’s deliberately vindictive threat, the last straw.
Darius threw a punch and the pair rushed together, fighting savagely and inflicting as much pain on the other as possible with their bare hands. They were th
e same height and build and the same instructors had trained both. They also knew each other’s style and moves. It was clear however, that Drako’s fury allowed him to shrug off blows that usually would have felled him. Darius was not able to crush him as he always had as a child, and before long, he was the one falling back.
Freddie heard a clunk behind him; Cassy had magically unlocked her door. He steadied her as she rose from the cage’s low door, anxiously noting she swayed as she did so. There was blood in her hair and she was blinking; the blow she had been dealt had clearly been harsh. A crowd, Ebony included, had formed at the door and stared in shock at the brothers’ savage fight. Ebony was rooted to the spot speechless. If anyone could stop them from killing each other, it was Cassy, and she knew it.
‘Stop it,’ Cassy cried and when they ignored her, she infused magic into her command. Both men staggered apart under the compulsion, their breathing harsh and anger unabated. ‘I am not a threat to Clan safety. Nor am I some transferable toy,’ she snapped at Darius. ‘How could you expect any woman to admire a man who resorts to such brutality? How dare you order me knocked senseless, kidnapped and locked in a cage. Would you have tried to rape me too? Haven’t you had enough misery in your life? You have no idea what I, as a wizard, am capable of. You’re a pitiful excuse for a man.’
‘I like a woman with spirit.’ Darius found her courage and anger captivating. He barely listened to her words. She had approached closer in her furious determination to face him and make him listen. Darius stepped forward, grabbed her and kissed her. A force struck him in the chest and he staggered back. She had pushed him away with more strength than would normally be in such a small woman’s arms; magic.
Clan Green Bear: Wizards of White Haven Page 13
