Oathtaker

by Patricia Reding

  “I have no idea.”

  “Oh, Dixon, there’s just so much I don’t know. That’s why I knew I had to bring you back here. When I saw what Lilith had done the first time I was there—after she started torturing you—I was so frightened for you. I . . . I just knew the message meant that I had to go for you.”

  “We’ll figure it out, Mara. We’ll figure it all out.”

  She smiled in gratitude, then looked around at the others, all busy with one task or another. She was blessed to have this team. She looked back at Dixon. “So what did Lilith want from you?”

  He patted his knee, a mannerism that told her that he was thinking. “She figured out that Rowena’s child is alive.”

  “You mean children.”

  “No, I mean ‘child.’ She doesn’t know there are two of them.”

  “How did she find out?”

  “Well, Rowena had always said that she wouldn’t release her power until she bore her seventh. But of course, she did release it. If she hadn’t, the position of ranking member would have reverted to her siblings—to Lilith, the next in line. Then Lilith would’ve been endowed with the magic that goes with the position. But of course, she wasn’t.

  “Also, I suspect she spoke with the men who’d been dogging Rowena and me. They arrived in Polesk right after she found me at sanctuary. They must’ve learned enough from Drake and Maggie to pass word along to her that Rowena’s child had been born.”

  “And you couldn’t just tell her that she was wrong?”

  “Like I said, she received no magic power upon Rowena’s death. It passed to Reigna or Eden—or both, I don’t know. Then of course, since the girls haven’t reached the age of accountability and found favor with Ehyeh, you as their Oathtaker, possess that power, as well as the attendant magic that comes with your position as their Oathtaker.”

  “So—”

  “So she was furious! She used some strange magic on me. It was awful.” He closed his eyes, apparently recollecting the torment, and shuddered. “When that didn’t work, she set her thugs on me and had me beaten.”

  “And you said nothing.”

  “I’d like to think I wouldn’t have anyway, but I think I may have been protected from giving away your secret by the oath that I’d sworn to protect the girls.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Well, as you know, when you take your oath for the protection of your charge, the Good One gives you strength to help you hold to it. Some say you can’t breach your oath—that you can’t intentionally do anything to harm your charge.”

  “Hmmm.”

  “Most anyone would succumb, sooner or later, to torture. But some believe an Oathtaker can’t—if it would mean that he would betray his charge.”

  “You mean an Oathtaker would be tortured to death first?”

  “I don’t know for sure. But I believe Ehyeh protects us. If the only choice is betrayal, or death, I believe the Good One won’t allow us to choose betrayal.”

  “An Oathtaker has to choose death.”

  “That’s what I believe. There may have been a time when this was commonly known, but no longer, I’m afraid.”

  “But even if you’re right, you’re not the girls’ Oathtaker.”

  “Maybe not, but I think the Good One held me to my vow just as He would have held you to yours.”

  “I’m sorry for all you suffered, Dixon. Truly. And I’m glad you’re well now and back with us.”

  “That makes two of us.” He chuckled. “But next time, take it easy on the magic.”

  Oh, why can’t he just stop when he’s ahead?

  Earlier, after the rain had stopped, Samuel and Jules surprised, not far from camp, a wild boar foraging for acorns. It made for a sumptuous dinner, which Adele had prepared on the open fire, proving her willingness to be of assistance. Everyone seemed relaxed, as they all were now clean, dry, warm, rested—and fed.

  Mara finished her dinner with a bite of the crunchy potato skins, savoring the steaming hot pulp. She watched Basha and Therese. It seemed that wherever one went, the other followed shortly behind. Their bond was very strong. Watching them, she got new insight into Dixon’s pain from losing Rowena.

  She looked down at Eden, in her arms, and contemplated what losing the girls might be like. She was startled at how completely she’d changed since becoming their Oathtaker. The very thought of losing one of them pained her greatly—and it brought back memories she did not want to probe. She shook her head to dispel them, then turned her attention back to the ongoing conversation of her friends.

  “I simply don’t know,” Basha was saying. “It was as though she changed suddenly. She was always difficult, but then she seemed out of control. It reminded me of how she behaved back before Rowena took her son. You remember?”

  “Her son!” Mara cried. “What son? What are you talking about?”

  “Oh, it’s a long story, but Lilith had a child—not long before we thought Therese had been assassinated. Rowena took him and . . . well, no one really knew why.”

  “She took him? Why would she do that?”

  Dixon, having left the watch to Samuel, approached the group huddled in a semi-circle around the hearth. “For his safety,” he said, “or at least that’s my best guess.”

  “Lilith put her own son in jeopardy?”

  He sat beside Mara and drummed a rhythm on his knee, then suddenly went still. “Rowena— Well, she always thought the best of everyone, so I can’t say for sure. But some . . . odd things transpired, so she made arrangements for Lilith’s son. All she told me was that she thought it better to be safe than sorry.”

  “What did Lilith say about that?”

  “Now that’s where it gets interesting.”

  “That’s right,” Basha interrupted. “Lilith never said a word. Never asked after him. Never asked for him. It was as though he’d never existed.”

  “Where is he now?” Mara asked.

  “With Lucy,” Therese said.

  Dixon and Basha looked at her in surprise. This was news.

  “Huh. Interesting,” Mara said. “And his father?”

  Dixon shook his head. “No one knows.”

  “Hmmm.”

  “Yes, well, as I was saying, Lilith is behaving strangely,” Basha said. “I’m frightened of her.”

  Dixon looked down at the fire. “She’s right. Lilith is operating under something different—something dark.”

  “Dark magic?” Nina asked.

  He shrugged. “If I had to guess, I’d say so.”

  “But why?” Therese asked. “What could have happened to her? I mean, she always seemed to lack confidence, always wanted to be the center of attention. But to have gone to the dark side? To serve the master of Sinespe?”

  “You think she lacked confidence?” Basha asked.

  “Or maybe she lacked some sort of self esteem—like she wanted the best, but didn’t think she was worthy, somehow.”

  “Self esteem!” Dixon exclaimed. “No, Therese, I’m sorry to say, you couldn’t be more wrong. Lilith doesn’t lack confidence or self esteem.”

  “But she was always trying to be something she wasn’t,” she argued. “It was obvious from the time Rowena was little that Lilith resented her. You know, I recall the day Rowena was born. In that moment, Lilith changed.”

  “Which proves my point exactly.”

  “And that is?”

  Mara put her hand on his arm. “Let me see if I can do this.” She glanced to the ground, noticed a stick someone had used to spread the fire earlier, then called it to herself by magic. When she looked up, Basha’s eyes were on her.

  “Practice, but be careful,” she cautioned.

  Mara smiled. She liked this particular attendant power, though Basha seemed so cautious about it. She would have to get the rest of that story someday. She looked back at Dixon.

  He grinned at her. “Go ahead.”

  “The truth is,” Mara said as she spread coals about, “that Lili
th doesn’t lack self esteem. The truth is that she esteems herself so highly that she thinks she should have—or should have had—Rowena’s place. The truth is that Lilith would be willing to expend anyone or anything—other than herself—toward her cause.”

  “What do you mean?” Nina asked.

  “Well, most evil comes from someone trying to be something they are not. Or from someone trying to do something they have no authority to do. Or from someone taking something they have no right to possess. That’s how Lilith is.

  “She doesn’t lack self confidence or self esteem. She lacks self discipline and self control. And you can be sure she has bound herself to the powers of Sinespe. I saw it in the look of her. She exuded evil. I could practically smell it.” Mara shivered.

  “I think she’s right,” Dixon said. “Lilith is very dangerous.”

  Everyone looked down or away.

  Finally, Therese broke the silence. “So what do we do? I couldn’t harm her. Evil or not, tied to the underworld or not, she’s my sister. And you all,” she said motioning at Dixon, Basha, then Mara, “are Oathtakers. You can’t harm one of the Select—not unless it’s in the course of protecting your charge.”

  “Who said anything about harming her?” Basha asked.

  “No,” Dixon said, “I think she’s onto something.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I think we might have to go far away from here—at least for a time. Lilith will pursue the girls to the ends of the earth if she has to. And there’s little we could do to stop her, particularly given the dark magic she now wields.”

  Mara sighed. “So we need to find our way to Lucy’s.”

  “It seems the best course.”

  “Enough of this,” she said. “We need to make plans. I say if it’s not raining tomorrow, we move out—try to make time as quickly as possible. The farther we are from the palace and from Lilith, the better. It’s going to take plenty enough time as it is. We’ve none to lose.”

  “I agree,” Basha said.

  “You know, Mara, you could just travel ahead with the girls. You probably don’t really need any of us,” Dixon remarked, his head down, as though he didn’t want to see her reaction, didn’t want to admit she’d done, and would likely continue to do, very well without his assistance.

  She looked at her cohorts, each in turn. She bit her lower lip. “I had thought of that.”

  “So you see? It makes sense,” he said, scrambling to his feet.

  Mara put her hand out to stop him. “No, wait. I said I thought about it, but I don’t like the idea.” The expectant eyes of the others were upon her. “First, of course, I’m getting better at this traveling thing, but I’m not all that certain that I have much control over where I’m going—at least not yet. So how would I get to Lucy’s? Second, I feel we’re supposed to do this together. At a minimum, I need Nina to help with the girls. The truth is that this job is too big for any one person.”

  Nina caught Mara’s eye and smiled. She appreciated the importance of her role.

  “Still,” said Basha, “Dixon’s idea merits consideration.”

  “Let me finish,” Mara interrupted. “Third, I’ve considered taking you all one or two at a time, but,” she grinned, “I’ve learned my lesson, you might say, about overdosing on magic.”

  Basha laughed.

  Dixon looked at Mara with a smile and a wink.

  “And finally,” she said, grinning, “you’d all simply miss me too much. I just couldn’t do that to you!”

  The sounds of laughter filled the air.

  “Restrain yourself, Dixon,” she said.

  “What? What are you talking about?” he looked at her, clearly perplexed as to what she meant.

  She laughed heartily. “I know, after all the troubles we’ve had, you’d find it a relief to be free of the worry I’ve brought.”

  He chewed on his lip, then responded. “It’s not kind to read the thoughts of others when they are unaware.”

  Her eyes flashed wide. Her mouth dropped open.

  “Ha ha ha! You have to admit, you set yourself up for that one!”

  His mirth contagious, she joined him. “So it’s agreed. We stick together if possible. Right?”

  “Right,” her friends responded unanimously.

  “Anyway, there’s a more immediate issue to attend to.”

  “What’s that?” Nina asked.

  Mara’s looked at Adele. “Adele, do you want to stay with us?”

  “Yes,” the young woman’s eyes narrowed. “Why?”

  “Basha?” Mara turned her way.

  “I wouldn’t be anywhere else. I feel I’ve found my way home. Why?”

  “Oh, I know!” Nina giggled, then covered her mouth.

  Jules grinned at the sound of her mirth.

  “What?” Adele and Basha both asked.

  “Well,” Mara said, “I’d like to have you stay with us, but I need to know where your loyalties lie.”

  “I’d do anything for the girls,” Basha said.

  “Me too,” Adele agreed.

  “Well if that’s the case, you won’t mind swearing to that. Of course if you do mind, that’s not a problem. We’ll simply accommodate your decision. Either way, I need to know where you stand.”

  “I realize you don’t really know us, but is an oath necessary to assure you?” Basha didn’t seem the least troubled by the prospect, more like she found it interesting.

  Therese placed her hand on her Oathtaker’s arm. “Prepare yourself for a grand surprise,” she said.

  “Can she do that, Mara?” Dixon asked.

  She looked surprised. “You mean—”

  “She’s subject to her oath for Therese’s benefit.”

  “Hmmm. I never thought of that. But then I swore an oath for the protection of two people—for both of the girls.”

  “Oh, I have no problem with swearing an oath if . . . Well, you don’t mind, do you?” Basha asked Therese.

  “Not in the least.”

  “It seems like the right thing to do. So, what do you want me to say?”

  “It’s simple, really,” Mara said. “Just, if you want to, swear you’ll protect the girls with your very life. If you mean it, that is. Above all, it must be a true and voluntary oath if you give it.”

  “No, of course I’ll give an oath. You mean like the one I swore to protect Therese?”

  “Exactly.”

  “Very well.” Then without hesitation, Basha continued, “I swear to protect Reigna and Eden with my very life if need be.”

  The ground shook. The windowpanes rattled and dirt and debris from the ceiling rained down on the troop.

  “Oh, Dear Good One!” she exclaimed.

  Therese laughed. “I told you that you were in for a great surprise.”

  “But she’s the girls’ Oathtaker!” Basha pointed at Mara.

  “Remember the night at the falls?” Dixon asked. “Remember I told you I’d seen strange things with the oath?”

  “This is what you meant?”

  He grinned. “Quite something, isn’t it?”

  Mara turned to Adele who was brushing fallen dust and rubble from her hair. “Are you up to this?”

  She smiled. “I might know Lilith better than any of you right now. She’s evil and cruel. I’d help the twins even if it didn’t mean bringing her down. But the fact that it might only helps!”

  Everyone laughed.

  “Go on then,” Mara encouraged, “if you like.”

  Adele got to her feet. She teetered for a moment on her crippled leg and then, bowing at the waist toward the girls, she said with theatric aplomb, “I am at your service dear Reigna and Eden. I swear on my life I will do all I can to protect you.”

  As Mara had come to expect, the earth trembled. The barn shuddered.

  Dixon jumped to his feet to catch the young woman, as the shaking caused her to lose her balance. “Well done!” he exclaimed.

  Mara looked at Basha, and then at
Adele. Her eyes glistened with tears of appreciation. “Welcome to the girls’ army,” she said.

  For a moment everyone was quiet. It was as though the oath gained new meaning each time someone swore to protect the infants.

  “So,” Jules said at last, “is everyone up for some intense traveling come morning?”

  “I’m ready. I feel great,” Mara said.

  “Me too,” Dixon added. “The truth is, I haven’t felt this good in a long time.” He turned to her. “You really are quite the healer,” he said.

  She rolled her eyes. “Charmer.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  The air crackled. Power emanated from the mirror.

  Lilith stood her ground. She shook with unrestrained anger. Her features, which until recently had at least been beautiful when she was at repose, had grown repugnant with her unfettered lust for power and retribution.

  She swayed on her feet, concentrating on the pain Daeva inflicted, willing herself to rise above the mere physical. To her sides knelt Sally and Janine, both of whom had sworn their loyalty to Daeva at her bidding.

  Sally rocked to and fro, as waves of heat pelted down upon her. Smoke rose from her clothing.

  Janine clutched at her throat, agonizing over each breath, her eyes wide in terror.

  “You’ll kill them!” Lilith cried.

  “They should be sssso lucky.” Daeva’s visage pulsed with power. “How could you have failed me again?” His voice caused the floor to shake and pictures on the wall to rattle.

  Lilith stood firm. “There was nothing I could do. Daeva, stop.”

  “Why, you pompoussss little she-devil.”

  “Daeva,” she pleaded, “I’ve done all you’ve asked. I’m bringing others to you. Look! I brought my sisters. They’ve sworn to serve you faithfully. And I’ll find the infant. I will!”

  He pulled back on his power as Lilith gasped for air. Clearly, he loved to see her squirm and whimper, to beg for his mercy—and he with no mercy to extend.

  “But you allowed Dixon to esssscape. This is twicccce now you have had the child nearly within your grassssp, only to losssse your chance due to—ineptitude. Ah Lilith, my pet, what am I to do with you?” He shook his head. Red eyes punctuated his black skull. They seared into Lilith.