“But I’m a mage. I—”
“You don’t deserve what was done to you and your fiancé.”
“My lord …”
“I’m serious, Alaina. Take the money and go.” He turned away from her, not moving, obviously feigning sleep.
She stared at his back for a while. When she got up, she bent down and kissed him on the cheek. “You’re a good man, August Asher, and you’re going to make a good duke.”
She grabbed the saddlebag and stepped toward the edge of the camp.
“Alaina!”
She froze. Was he changing his mind? Her heart thudded. Should she run?
No. Trust him, blast it! “Yes?”
“The world is a better place with you in it.”
She dashed away before he saw the tears in her eyes.
11.
Auggie massaged his temples.
“I can’t believe you let her get away,” Benj said. “And you call me immature?”
Auggie felt bad enough with the way things ended with Alaina without having his actions thrown in his face. Even with the money he’d given her—he could have been more generous there, too, if he’d been willing to compromise on the quality of the horses he needed to buy—how was she going to make a life for herself with a bounty on her head?
“I’m sorry,” Auggie said. “I take full responsibility for nodding off before waking you for your watch. Her escape is completely on me.”
Benj shook his head. “I am not now—nor have I ever been—stupid.”
“What?”
“You can’t really think I believe you accidentally let that tiny slip of a girl get away from you.”
“Fine,” Auggie said. “You win. I let her go. Sorry. Are you happy now?’
“I think you’re an idiot. She’s got over an hours’ head start on us. It’s going to take forever to find her.”
“My duty was to have her executed, but none of this was her fault. It just wasn’t right. And you’re not going to convince me that it was!”
“By the Holy One, you’re stupid today. Gather your wits, man! I’ve been your sidekick since we were too young to know what a girl was, and I have never seen you react to a woman like you did to her. You’re not an idiot for allowing her to escape; you’re an idiot for not grabbing hold of her and not letting go.”
“You’re blasted nuts!” Auggie grabbed a stone and hurled it into the woods. “Sure, she was attractive, but I’ve dated a dozen women more … Okay, but the others were more … I mean …”
Benj smirked.
“It wouldn’t have worked,” Auggie said. “I couldn’t have hidden her forever.”
Benj raised his eyebrows. “Really? That’s your rationalization?”
“Even if you’re right—and I am not saying you are—what can I do about it? Nothing. Even if we tracked her down, she wants nothing to do with me.” Auggie took a deep breath. “We go to the nearest village, buy some horses, and return to the garrison.”
12.
Alaina stumbled.
Her hand flew out and found a tree. Barely, she managed to stay upright. She hadn’t even seen the rock in the predawn light. Idiot. Slow down.
Oh, the joys of traveling on her own. Even if she managed to avoid the people actively trying to kill her, a simple accident could lead to her death. No one to help her up if she fell. No one to share the load if her burden got heavy. No one to nurse her back to health if she got sick or injured.
Nothing but the unending drudgery of putting one foot in front of the other, always afraid the next rise or curve in the trail would reveal a catcher. Being accompanied by someone who could have actually protected her had been such a blessing. A gift from the Holy One, really.
But she was well and truly—once again—on her own, and having had company, even for a short time, made the lack that much more evident. Perhaps the worst was simply not having anyone to talk to or to share a smile or laugh with.
If only she could find another companion.
Alaina sighed. Who was she kidding? It wasn’t just “another companion” that she wanted. She missed August.
As a soldier and a noble and a duke’s son, he’d actually provided real protection against catchers. And he wasn’t afraid to stand up for her. She had felt safe with him, and she hadn’t felt safe for a long time.
But in all honesty, it wasn’t just the security he provided. August was a good man, and she’d found those to be few and far between. With his wealth, he could take advantage of a lot of people in a lot of ways, yet he resisted those temptations. It was a rare sort who didn’t let that kind of power go to his head.
She had openly mocked him and, alternately, berated him. What other noble would stand for that treatment from a peasant? By the Holy One, what had she been thinking? She was lucky he hadn’t had her executed that first night. Instead, he’d rescued her, and she’d repaid his kindness by being horrid to him.
Nothing she could do about it, though. Her life was to survive on the run. Best to forget him entirely. Not to even think about the life she could have had—squirreled away in some cushy apartment somewhere.
Instead, what did she have to look forward to? Never being able to get close to anyone. Even if she did fall in love with someone, she couldn’t keep her secret from him. And what were the odds that he would react like August?
No. It was a life of solitude for her. August’s money would help her get away. Maybe go to Eagleton. The town, after all, was named after a wizard. Perhaps they were more accepting of mages there. If not, maybe the tribal lands beyond.
She changed her route to head southwest. Leaves and bushes rustled in the woods behind her. Alaina squinted, but the foliage was too dense. Probably just an animal anyway.
Her fate wasn’t that bad. She’d already survived on her own, and she could do it again. The fact that she would never have kids was the toughie. Thomas had just gotten married before she took off, and she’d been so looking forward to being an aunt. And she really could have seen herself as a mother.
But it wasn’t to be. Even if she married someone, she couldn’t risk passing along whatever had made her into a monster. Though August, at least, didn’t see her that way. She smiled. Better to have the memories of him than nothing at all. Right?
More noises behind her. If it was an animal, it was a large one. Maybe she’d better get away from it.
She sped her pace despite the rocky, treacherous terrain. One fall would finish her but so would a bear. The sounds grew louder and closer despite her best efforts. A murmur reached her ears. What was that?
Voices! The catcher had found her!
What was she going to do? There was no way to escape if they could follow her tracks that easily. Or hide.
Feet scraped rock and gravel behind her. Low voices. She could almost make out words.
Alaina searched the ground for a weapon and hefted a rock the size of her hand. Her heart pounded. A figure broke from behind a tree.
“August!” Oops. “I meant, milord.”
He grinned at her.
“You big …” She’d been about to call him an idiot. Was she insane? “You scared me, milord.” Her lips burst unbidden into a smile despite her being so nervous. It was good to see him. Really good.
But why was he there? It was too good to be true. The only possible reason was that he’d changed his mind. Alaina was to be executed after all. Tears welled in her eyes. She’d accept his judgment.
13.
Auggie raised his hands in what he hoped was a calming gesture. Exactly how much of an idiot was he?
Alaina looked terrified and, then, sad. Who would have thunk that coming up behind a woman alone in the forest would scare her? You don’t say! And what must she have assumed when she saw it was him?
“It’s not what you think,” he said.
“And what is it that I think?” she said, her tone hopeful but cautious.
“That I changed my mind. That I’m going to … you know …”<
br />
She cocked her head to the side. “You haven’t? Then why are you here?”
“Because I did change my mind but not like that.” Auggie let out a frustrated breath. “Wow, this isn’t going well.” He paused. “I know of a better solution to your—our—problem than you just running away and hiding.”
She stared at him expectantly, but words wouldn’t come to him. Voicing his idea would make it real. Better to face a battalion of catchers than that.
Wow. He really was an idiot. A child. The solution was right. It solved so many problems with one decisive blow. He just had to find the courage.
“And …” she finally said.
“I can protect you.” Auggie’s voice barely rose above the level of a whisper.
“We discussed this already,” she said. “If you get caught hiding me … I will not put you in jeopardy.”
Auggie met her eyes. “Being a mage doesn’t matter if you’re a high noble.”
She looked confused. “But I’m not—”
“When I fell,” Auggie said, “I thought my life was over. I cursed myself as a fool for not fulfilling my duty to produce an heir for Vierna.”
“What does that have to do with anything?” she said
“Nobles aren’t subject to the same laws as commoners. The catchers can’t execute us.”
“But I’ve heard about—”
“You’ve heard of scions of minor houses or those who refused to abandon their power.”
Alaina pressed her fists against her hips. “That’s outrageous! You execute commoners but not nobles!”
“Magic isn’t evil; it’s a threat to our rule.” Auggie shrugged. “When a single peasant can destroy a whole village or army, he can’t be allowed to live. As long as a noble agrees to play by the rules, he’s allowed to continue as before.”
Alaina sank to the ground. “It doesn’t matter anyway. I’m not of noble birth. My father, Holy One preserve his soul, was a baker.”
“You don’t understand,” Auggie said. “My w-wife would be considered a noble. A high noble.”
She stared at him with wide eyes. Her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.
Auggie took her hand. “This is the perfect solution for both of us. I gain a bride who can bear me ch-children. You gain protection from the catcher. We both win.”
Alaina’s face clouded, but she didn’t speak.
“Surely, there’s a tender in the village we saw from the cliff top. If we hurry, we can reach it in a couple of hours.” Auggie gripped Alaina’s hand. “Will you do me the honor of m-marrying me?” He stared at her waiting for her response. Was he more scared she’d say “yes” or “no?”
“N—” She shook her head. “Does what I feel play any part in this?”
What could he say to that? “Of course—”
“Don’t,” she said. “Just don’t. My answer is yes.”
14.
Alaina’s mind spun as she followed August through the forest.
She was engaged. To the son of a duke. How the blast did that happen? One simply did not go from peasant to fugitive to noblewoman.
How was she supposed to feel? Grateful? Relieved?
Was that any way to enter a marriage? Beholden to the man who swooped in to save you? Bringing nothing of value into the union? But what choice did she have? Marry him or die. Okay. Marriage it was.
She stared at his back. He was well-built. Powerful. Not classically handsome, but easy on the eyes. Hmmm. What would he look like with a beard?
Auggie turned and smiled at her. “The village is just over that rise.” He thrust something at her.
Without thinking, she grabbed it. Coins. Lots of coins.
“Find a dress and meet me in the square,” he said. “And hurry. No telling if Emar might show. We need to get this thing done quickly.”
She gawked at the pile of silver and gold filling her hands. “Milord, this is too much.”
“My money is your money, now. Or will be soon enough.” He turned to Benj. “Find a tender. I’ll go after the mayor.”
Alaina stumbled after them and soon found herself alone in front of a shop. Staring.
Should she go in? Go through with the marriage?
She and August had been through a lot together despite the short time they’d known each other, and she was pretty sure she had his measure—the brave knight who roams the world saving fair maidens. A foolish child in some ways but with a good heart. And he’d decided that she was in need of rescuing.
Alaina grimaced. Not that his assessment wasn’t accurate.
Sure, he likely felt some affection for her, and the marriage did solve an apparent problem for him. But there were better women for him. Nice ones who weren’t commoners—or mages for the Holy One’s sake!
Alaina had never been to court, but tales were full of the goings-on. Imagine the embarrassment she’d bring him. And he certainly had brushed over how complicated marrying a person under edict of death would be for him.
It would be the height of selfishness for her to go through with it.
She chuckled at the irony of her situation. The last time she ran, it had been the wrong thing to do. The only question was whether she had the guts to do the right thing.
15.
Auggie dashed into a jewelry store and threw a handful of coins on the counter—more than enough to cover any possible purchase.
A diamond ring caught his eye. Perfect. He grabbed it and two gold bands before rushing out of the shop and over to the nearby town hall. An attendant sitting in an antechamber tried to stop him, but he barreled past and burst through the door to an office.
“What the blast—” A man wearing a distinguished gray suit popped to his feet.
“I’m Major August Asher, niskmo of Vierna. Round up the sealer and follow me.”
“Oh! Well, then. I’m Mayor—”
“No offense, man, but I just don’t care who you are. Find the town sealer and follow me.”
Auggie fully expected that the mayor would nod and instantly fulfill the command. The whole deal should have taken five minutes. Instead, locating the sealer required a quarter hour of searching the building, finally finding her going over records in the basement. She turned out to be an elderly lady who didn’t move quickly, and of course, her book for recording official town marriages had been misplaced. Another twenty minutes gone.
When they eventually made it outside, Auggie expected to see both Alaina and Benj waiting at the wedding arch in the square. Of course, neither were.
Had they run into trouble? Was Benj dodging guardsmen left and right? But the town wasn’t that big, and Auggie saw no signs of Emar.
And Alaina. What if she had changed her mind? Maybe she ran. Maybe Benj was chasing her. It would be just Auggie’s luck to finally find a woman worth marrying only to lose her. He trudged to the middle of the square and waited with the mayor and the sealer.
What else could Auggie do? If he ran around town trying to find Benj and Alaina, he was likely to miss them if they showed up at the arch. Finally, a flash of color caught his eye. Alaina. His breath caught.
She wore a pale green gown that set off her eyes. It dipped low in the front where a white lace camisole hinted at her charms. The dress, though not a perfect fit, tapered to her thin waist before falling from the swell below her waist and flaring down her legs. Instead of being confined in a braid, her brilliant yellow hair hung straight down her back and shone in the sunlight.
He gawked at her as she approached. Even when he realized he was staring, he couldn’t do a thing about it.
Once Alaina reached him, she put her hands on her hips. “Just what do you think you’re looking at, milord?”
He closed his gaping mouth. “You’re beautiful.”
“Is it that surprising to you?” She sounded pleased.
“Yes. Uh … I mean, no. I mean …”
There was no way to defeat her with words. No, to gain the upper hand on her, he’d ha
ve to take a different tack. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to him. “I can’t wait to get you alone.”
Red colored her cheeks, and he grinned. All he needed was Benj and the tender. Auggie scanned all he could see of the town. Still no sign. What the blast was taking so long?
His hand brushed his pocket, and he felt a slight bulge. The rings. He pulled them out, palmed the smaller of the gold bands, and shoved the other two at Alaina. “Here, I bought these.”
She looked at him with a curious expression but didn’t speak. With nothing to do but wait, Auggie paced. A cloud of dust grew on the horizon.
Emar.
Blast it! Time grew short. They had to get the ceremony done before the guardsmen arrived. Again, Auggie scanned the surroundings. Should he go after Benj?
More minutes passed. Auggie wore a path around the arch. Finally, Benj appeared from an alley with an octogenarian hitched to his elbow. Benj stepped, and the stooped man followed, rebalancing himself after each footfall.
Auggie ran his hands through his hair.
At the edge of the street, the tender held Benj back until every cart and horse and passerby traveled out of sight. With agonizing slowness, the old man placed his foot tentatively. Benj hopped forward, and the man shuffled ahead another inch. They continued in that manner until reaching the grass.
The dust cloud had disappeared behind a tree line, so Auggie had no idea how much time they had. He eyed the anchored columns supporting the wedding arch and wondered if moving it would be quicker than waiting.
Alaina rubbed his arm. “It’ll be okay. Relax.”
Even through the thick leather of his sleeve, her touch sent shivers through him. He really couldn’t wait to get her alone.
Auggie’s eyes went to the road into town. Black-liveried men would appear at any moment. They had to get the ceremony done.
Her hand moved to his back, where she made circular movements with her fingernails. The motion sent chills through him, and he sighed.
“If it’s meant to be, it will be,” she said.
Abuse of Power (Rise of the Mages 1) Page 6
