Oathtaker

by Patricia Reding

Mara turned her attention back to the present.

  Edmond continued to study Celestine’s every move. He was childlike in his attempts to get her attention. He grinned at her, raised his brow and puffed out his chest. To all appearances, the barmaid was uninterested, though Edmond’s eyes moved from her face to her bosom. He reached out to touch her, but she, wholly aware, expertly moved away before he made contact.

  “Still miss me, Celestine?”

  She smiled. “Right, Edmond, I’ve been pining after you all these years.”

  “I know, I know. If it hadn’t been for Dixon here, we’d have hooked up back when we were young.”

  “Hey, hey, enough of that, Edmond,” Dixon said. “You know there was no truth to those rumors. Rumors you started. Besides, Celestine is family!”

  “Ha ha ha,” Edmond laughed. “Well,” he leaned back, directing his comments to Celestine and further surveying the goods, “lucky for you, it’s not too late.”

  “Right, Edmond.” She stood tall. “But why bring Dixon into this? Clearly, you underestimate yourself.” She looked to the bar where Ezra stood motioning for her, then back. “Fact is, I rejected you entirely on the basis of your own merits.”

  Dixon laughed and slapped his knee. “Oh, Edmond! She’s always gotten the best of you.”

  Mara bit back her grin. She could see, even if Dixon could not, that Edmond was not amused. Actually, at this moment, she felt rather badly for him. “Thank you, Celestine,” she said as the barmaid stepped away. She glanced toward Edmond, his eyes following the woman’s every move, as she drank the last of her wine, savoring its fruity, smoky flavor.

  “Here.” Dixon took her glass. “Nancy and Celestine are both busy. I’ll get you a fill.”

  “It’s all right, I’ll wait.”

  “No, really, it’s my pleasure.” He winked at her, then addressed his friend. “Can I get you anything?”

  “No.” Edmond glanced Mara’s way. “I mean, yes. Yes, I’d like something stronger. Why don’t you surprise me?”

  “Be right back then.” Dixon went to the bar. He stopped there to chat with Ezra while the staff went to get a new barrel of wine, having just emptied the old one.

  “It’s good to see Dixon has such a good friend in you.”

  Mara tore her gaze away from Dixon. She nodded.

  “Well, unlike myself—witnessed by Celestine’s behavior—Dixon does have a way with the women. Always did. Just never committed. Then of course, it was too late—after he accepted his charge.” Edmond chuckled. “But you know, about Celestine? He never really had any interest in her. I just give him trouble now and then. They’re cousins, you know.”

  “Yes, that’s what I understand.”

  “Now Rowena. Rowena was a different story.”

  “Oh?”

  “Oh!” Edmond swilled the last of his drink. “Dixon was completely taken with her. He took his Oathtaker’s duty way beyond the limits. Never, and I mean never ever, left her side.”

  “Really?”

  “Well of course, I don’t expect he talks about her.”

  “I understand they were very close friends.”

  Edmond smirked. His brow rose. “Is that what he said?”

  She looked away. Of course the man knew nothing of her relationship with Dixon. Surely he didn’t intend to offend her. But his words did make her think about her own past experience. She hadn’t done such a good job before in her judging of men. Jack had pulled the wool over her eyes. Was Dixon really different? Of course. He’s as different from Jack as night is from day.

  But maybe there had been more to his relationship with Rowena than he had let on. Surely she couldn’t blame him for wanting to keep that from her. And Rowena would no longer be a challenge—even if Mara herself were free—which, she reminded herself yet again, she was not.

  Edmond watched her closely. “Oh, I am sorry. I didn’t . . . Well, that is, you should think nothing of it. I’m sure that’s all changed.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  He looked away. “Well now, I am embarrassed. I didn’t realize—”

  “Embarrassed?”

  He hung his head. “I should have realized, should have seen it. I’m really . . . Gosh, I’m sorry.” He chewed on his lip. “You know, I bet Dixon would wait forever for you.”

  She shook her head. “Please, Edmond, change the subject.”

  He nodded and looked about. “Don’t you find people just so amusing?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well . . . like look at that guy over there.” Edmond gestured toward a nearby table. There sat a middle-aged man with a young woman. “See how he’s trying to impress that girl?”

  Mara looked. The sight was rather amusing. The man sat all puffed up, trying to look important as he rummaged through a handful of coins.

  “She caught him looking at Celestine and now he’s trying to make up ground. Ha ha ha. That reminds me of the funniest story.”

  Edmond’s laughter was infectious. Mara grinned. “Oh?”

  “Well see, I was watching this couple one night at a pub a lot like this.” Edmond waved his hand. “This guy was trying to get some girl’s attention. He told her how beautiful she was, how no one else in the room held a candle to her.” He paused.

  “And then?”

  “So he says to her, he says, ‘Why, look at you,’ as he leers at her. She says, ‘really, I’d prefer you didn’t.’ She was acting as though she wasn’t interested, see?”

  Mara smiled, caught up in Edmond’s story.

  “So he says, ‘Well it can’t be helped though, you know. Looking at you, I mean. Why, haven’t you noticed all the men here ogling you?’ Now the young woman says, ‘Oh, I’m sure you’re mistaken.’ ‘Mistaken!’ he says as he slaps the table.” Edmond slapped the table himself, to add to the telling of his story. “‘Why I should say not. Why look around! Just look. Go on—look.’

  “So the young woman—not wanting to appear rude—looks around, but she sees nothing. So she says, ‘So?’ as she turns back his way.

  “Now by this time, don’t you know, he’d drawn in so closely that the young woman nearly collided with him. So she pulls away and says, ‘What is it I’m supposed to see?’”

  Edmond chuckled. “Of course my curiosity got the best of me. I had to hear the rest of the story. So I leaned in. I could see the old guy leering at his intended . . . victim.

  “So then he says, ‘Why all of them! They’re all looking at you. See that guy over there?’ and he gestures toward some guy sitting near the door. ‘He hasn’t been able to take his eyes off of you.’”

  Edmond stopped and laughed heartily. “Now this is where it gets really funny,” he said as he pulled his chair in closer.

  Mara anxiously awaited the punch line.

  “So the young woman says, ‘You mean that guy? Right there?’ ‘Yes,’ the man says, ‘that’s the one.’ ‘Right there near the door?’ ‘That’s the one,’ he repeats. So she looks the old letch full on and says, ‘He’s a regular here.’ ‘So,’ he says, ‘he must watch you all the time.’ ‘No. No, I wouldn’t say so.’ ‘You doubt me?’ he asks her. She stares at him and says— You ready for this?” Edmond lifted a brow at Mara, in question.

  She nodded.

  “‘Doug,’ the young woman says, ‘the man’s blind.’”

  Mara laughed. “That’s very funny!”

  Edmond chuckled. “Yeah, it reminds me of another conversation I overheard one night. This guy was harassing a young woman. Finally, she turned to him and said, ‘Is it true that ignorance is bliss?’”

  “No!”

  “She did! But that wasn’t the best part. He said . . . Oh, this is so funny. He said, ‘What’s bliss?’ ‘Never mind,’ she told him, ‘You just answered my question.’”

  “Ha ha ha ha!” Mara laughed. She could see why Dixon enjoyed Edmond’s company. “Where do you come up with these? Ha ha ha!”

  He shrugged, st
ill chuckling. “People watching.”

  “Here we are!” Dixon placed Mara’s wine glass down before her, then set a drink at his friend’s hand. “How are you two getting along?”

  Mara opened her mouth to speak, but Edmond cut her off. “Famously! This is quite the remarkable woman here.”

  Dixon sat down. “Right you are.” He turned back to business. “So you say the last you spoke to Lilith, she said she intended to make her way to the city to meet with the Council for the late-spring festival.” He turned to Mara. “That still gives us plenty of time here to study.”

  She turned to Edmond, suddenly all business. “And when was that? When did you last speak with her?”

  “Well . . . it was shortly after Dixon . . . disappeared. However did you manage to get away like that?”

  “Mara here.” Dixon jostled her elbow.

  “Mara helped you to escape?”

  “Yes, she—”

  “Came in through the back way,” she interrupted.

  “The back way?”

  Dixon frowned at her. She knew the tunnels were secret.

  “I mean, I had the help of a palace insider and—”

  “Well, doesn’t matter. I’m just glad you’re safe, Dixon.”

  “It’s too bad you couldn’t have done something to lend aid to him while he was at the palace, Edmond. You know? He was in terrible shape when I got to him.”

  Edmond blinked several times. “Well, I— That is, no one really knew what Lilith was up to. She’s very secretive you know.”

  “I know, my friend. You were hardly in a position to circumvent her. Basha had the same problem,” Dixon said.

  “Oh, I didn’t mean to imply anything!” Mara exclaimed.

  Edmond looked away. His gaze rested on Celestine. With a seeming effort to pull his attention from the view, he turned back. “You know, Dixon, I would do whatever I could to help you, anytime.”

  “Of course I don’t blame you. Lilith is quite a force.”

  “Yes, Dixon’s right. It would be unfair to think otherwise,” Mara said.

  The three sat quietly for a minute.

  “Wouldn’t Lilith just cringe to learn of the girls though?” Edmond asked.

  “Yes, but it could put them in grave danger,” Dixon said.

  “That’s why we’re so careful with the information,” Mara added. “We plan to leave the city before she arrives.”

  “You’re probably right to do so. Look, I could let the Council know I’ve been in touch with you, Dixon.”

  “No,” Mara said, “I don’t like the idea. It might not be safe for you, Edmond. I mean, what if they insist on knowing of his whereabouts? No, we can’t chance it.”

  “Hmmm. Hadn’t thought of that. So, you plan to just move on without checking in with the Council at all, Dixon? But really, don’t you think they’d like to speak with you about Rowena? About her death?”

  Dixon patted a rhythm out on his knee. “Well, we’ve been doing a lot of studying. Fact is, as Reigna and Eden’s regent, Mara is the rightful leader of the Council. So, I think that so long as she’s satisfied, I’ve met my duty. In short, that’s good enough for me.”

  Edmond’s eyes caressed Celestine who approached a nearby table. Finally, he turned back to Mara. “Then no one at the Council knows of you?”

  “No. And that’s the way I want to keep it.”

  “In that case, I’ll say nothing.”

  “I appreciate it, my friend,” Dixon said.

  “Think nothing of it.” Edmond downed the last of his drink. “Well, I should let you two alone. I think I’ll call it a night.” He stood to leave, somewhat off balance.

  “Will we see you in the morning?” Dixon asked.

  “Yes, but I’ll need to be on my way then—for a few weeks at least. Maybe after that I can stop back and we can really catch up.”

  “Sounds good.” Dixon stood and clapped his friend on the shoulder. “Since Lilith isn’t due here until the late spring festival, that should work well.”

  “Excellent. Good night then, and good night, Mara. I really enjoyed the opportunity to get to know you.”

  “Good night, Edmond. Thank you.”

  As he walked away, he scanned the crowd for one final glimpse at Celestine.

  Mara knew it would be unfair to leave Nina with the twins and without meaningful assistance or company. Thus, she decided to retrieve Erin from Polesk. Notwithstanding Dixon’s initial objections, she convinced him she could travel solo, safely. Besides, she couldn’t take him along and then return with both of them at the same time.

  She traveled directly to sanctuary. Now, with Erin all packed and ready to go, she was saying her “good-byes,” to her friends.

  “Wouldn’t you know, Hattie is at the library again,” Faith said. “I would so like for you to meet her.”

  “Another time. Thank you—and you too, Ted—for caring for Erin. I promise we’ll do our best for her as well.”

  “Does she know—” Ted began.

  “No,” Mara interrupted, her voice low. “I didn’t tell her anything. I thought I’d let Nina do that. If Erin doesn’t want to stay with us after she learns of the dangers, I’ll bring her back here. In the meantime, the two of them will at least get to see one another.”

  “I understand.”

  “Well, Erin, are you ready to go?”

  “I am.”

  Mara grasped the young woman’s hands and in a flash, surrounded by clouds of color and light, the two disappeared. Moments later, they arrived back at the inn.

  Erin stumbled as they came to a stop. “Oh!” she exclaimed. Her mouth was open, her eyes enlarged.

  Mara chuckled. “Pretty amazing, isn’t it?”

  “Where’s Nina?”

  Mara released her hold, then looked up to find Edmond coming their way. “Oh, good morning,” she offered with a smile.

  “Great Good One! You just—” He stopped short, shaking his head. “You just came out of nowhere!”

  “Ahhh . . . I’d rather hoped no one would see me.”

  “How did you do that?”

  She chewed on her lip. “I suppose it’s pretty obvious.” There was no sense trying to convince him that he’d not seen what he most surely had seen. “Attendant magic.”

  “Why that’s . . . wonderful! You can just come and go like that? And take people with you?”

  She tipped her head right, then left. “It’s not as easy as all that. There are limitations.”

  “Limitations?”

  “Yes.” She really did not want to discuss the matter and felt foolish for having taken the chance that someone might catch her. “I—”

  “What kind of limitations?”

  “Oh—”

  “But you can take others with you! Is that how you came here? To the city? You brought the whole group by magic?”

  “No,” she said, grinning. She couldn’t help herself. Edmond’s enthusiasm was amusing and catchy. “I can’t travel with more than a single person at a time—except for the girls.”

  “May I try? Would you take me somewhere?”

  “Not just now, but maybe another time.” She glanced at Erin, anxious to bring her conversation with Edmond to a close. “Is there anything else I can do for you though?”

  “That is truly amazing!” he continued. “I didn’t know you could do that.”

  “Yes, well, I don’t like to attract attention with it. Appearing out of nowhere could prove difficult to explain.”

  “Right. Right.”

  “You’re on your way then?”

  “Yes, I just left Dixon and was on my way out,” he said, pointing to the back door, “when I turned and saw you.” Again he shook his head. “Well, I’m sorry to have interrupted, but I’m glad I had the opportunity to let you know how much I enjoyed dinner last night.”

  “Thank you. I did too. You take care and stay safe now.”

  “Sure thing. Well, my ride is saddled and ready to go, and my gear i
s all packed, so I’ll see you.” He started off.

  “Don’t run over anyone on your way out!” she teased.

  He turned back, then smiled broadly. “No, I won’t. I’ve learned my lesson.”

  “See you soon then, Edmond.”

  “So long!”

  Mara reached for the door to their quarters just as someone opened it from the inside. Nina nearly collided into her.

  “Erin!”

  “Nina!”

  Mara smiled as the two sisters greeted one another. “Where are the girls?”

  “With Samuel and Dixon.” Nina nodded toward the inner door. “I was just going for a walk while I awaited your return. I was too excited to sit still! Oh, thank you so much for bringing Erin to me.” She took Mara’s hands and held them tightly, then kissed her cheek.

  “You’re welcome, Nina. Now listen, I need you to tell Erin everything. Don’t leave anything out. If she’s not up to all this, then I’ll bring her back to Ted and Faith. I just thought you should be the one to explain things to her.”

  “Is something wrong?” Erin asked.

  “Oh, not really,” Nina said. “I’ll fill you in.”

  “You two discuss matters,” Mara said. “You could sit in the front room. It’s quiet there now. Just remember to keep your voices down.”

  “Oh, Erin, I can’t wait for you to meet the twins.” Nina led her sister away.

  Mara stepped inside the suite and closed the door. Almost immediately, someone knocked. She answered it.

  “Excuse me.”

  “Ezra! Good morning.”

  “One of my men returned this morning. He carried this message for you.”

  She took the envelope, broke the wax seal, then read the missive silently: Mara. Had to write immediately. Thought I saw Edmond Chantry as we left the inn. He’s trouble. Use care. We’re all well. It was signed: Adele. Mara bit her lip.

  “Anything important?”

  “I don’t know. It’s from Adele. I’ll have to talk to Dixon about this.” She refolded the note. “Thank you Ezra.” She closed the door behind him, then turned as the door to Dixon’s room opened.

  He stepped out. “Oh, there you are, back already. You made good time.”

  “It was a quick and easy trip.” She reopened Adele’s note and handed it to him. “What do you make of this?”