Treachery in Tarnstead (Stoneblood Saga Book 5)

by Robyn Wideman

  “What did I do?” Nathan asked.

  “What did you do? How about stepping in last night like I was some sort of damsel in distress?”

  Seven hells, thought Nathan. Rose was right. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know what else to do.”

  Camille scowled. “Why not let me deal with it?”

  “Because the man wasn’t trying to pick a fight with you or Captain Vatkin. He wanted to start a scene, so I would get involved. I’m sorry that he used you to do it, but I don’t know how else I could’ve handled the situation.”

  “Arghh, men,” Camille said. “I know you handled the situation well. That isn’t what frustrates me. It isn’t you that is the problem it is me. I should never have let that happen. I just froze. I was so wrapped up in the night, the dress, the dancing, you … And then that Captain Vatkin asked me to dance, and I said no. But then he said it would be good for you to see me dancing with a dashing rival, make you jealous. He was funny, so I said yes. And then that cad Maycott stepped in. And I froze. I didn’t know what to do.”

  “What were you supposed to do?” Nathan asked.

  “Anything other than stand there like some doe-eyed princess worried about getting blood spilled on her dress. The worst part was the way he goaded you. He knew exactly what to say to get you angry. The whole thing could’ve been avoided if I hadn’t been so stupid.”

  “How can you blame yourself for what happened?”

  “Nathan, the whole thing started with him interrupting my dance. If I’d acted like a warrior, and not some silly girl, he would’ve kept his mouth shut. And if he hadn’t I would’ve shut it for him. No offense to you, Nathan, but on my worse day I would’ve killed Maycott within twenty seconds. His fighting was sloppy and his only chance of killing you was getting you mad enough to make a mistake, so he could cut you with that poisoned blade. I should’ve dealt with it myself. But no, I had to leave my sword in my room and wear a damn dress, so I could impress you.”

  “It worked you know,” Nathan said.

  “What worked?”

  “The dress. You were a vision. And Captain Vatkin was right. I was jealous to learn you were dancing with him. And I’m sorry I stepped in. I know you are more than capable of defending yourself. It was my mistake.”

  “Damn it, Nathan. Even when I try to hate you, you end up saying something like that.” Camille stepped closer so that her face was only inches from his. “I’m just so confused. I thought you were cute when you came to Layton, but I wasn’t interested in anything more than a little flirting. But, I came here and saw how great you are, and how you are stupid, and modest, and a little dense, but then you made me that great sword, and you treated me like an equal and, yet we had this chemistry and I wanted to kiss you. Then you were stupid again because of that stupid Maycott. Did I mention you were stupid?”

  Nathan nodded.

  “And now, I don’t know what I want,” Camille said, and then leaned in and kissed him. Before Nathan could react, Camille stepped back and said, “I’m leaving.”

  Nathan didn’t know what to say.

  “I’m going back to Layton. I need to go back. I need some time to sort out what I want. I like it here. I like you. But I can’t be some princess in a skirt. I’m a warrior, a hunter. I can’t behave like a proper lady.”

  Nathan nodded. “I understand. Will you be back?”

  “Yes. I have to bring back more of mother’s stuff now that she intends to stay here. And I promised to help organize the trade route and make sure it is safe.”

  “When are you leaving?”

  “As soon as I’m done packing. Goodbye, Nathan.”

  Leaving Camille, Nathan headed into his blacksmith shop. His brain was spinning from the strange confrontation with Camille. She was angry with him, but not. She kissed him, but needed to get away? It was all too much. He’d had a hard enough time understanding Ava, and he’d known her his whole life. Camille was something entirely different.

  Using his magic, Nathan brought the hearth’s fires to a full roar. He then started working on an iron rod. He had no idea what he was making. He just needed to hit something and not think. Between the emotional tidal storm of the fight, then Ava, and now Camille, he couldn’t tell if he was drowning or just being battered by waves of emotions, good and bad.

  As he worked, Nathan started to relax. His mind focused on the metal, he could feel the different particles inside the metal, the potential weak points, and the parts that needed to be reheated and hammered out again. He let his magic flow through him and his hammer. Slowly, a design started to form in his mind. He couldn’t tell if it was his idea or part of the magic, but somehow, he knew that it was the right design. It was a challenging design, intricate and complex, but that made the challenge even more rewarding. Now that he had inspiration his efforts redoubled.

  Hours passed, and Nathan kept at it, hammering, heating, then hammering again. All his earlier anguish and turmoil were gone. And slowly, he was able to think again.

  Quinton and Sharon entered the blacksmith shop and stood watching as Nathan worked. He noted their arrival without actually looking at them. He knew it was Quinton, because he was the only one the magical door would let in without announcing him, and Sharon had a certain smell that his brain recognized, but he couldn’t stop yet, he had to get this last part right before the metal cooled or he’d have to start the section over. Satisfied that he could stop, Nathan turned to his friends. “What’s up?”

  “Rose wanted us to come and check on you. She suggested you might be in an agitated state, but that doesn’t seem to be the case,” Quinton said.

  Nathan laughed. “She was right. But a few hours of work have helped clear my mind.” Nathan turned to Sharon. “When did Rose become so perceptive? I know she has the ability to talk to Ava, but it feels like that isn’t the only reason.”

  “It’s not. Her ability to speak to Ava is a recent development. Her becoming a smart and perceptive young woman has been going on for a while. She was always smart for her age but her ability to read people is astounding now. You’ve been too busy building a city to notice.”

  Nathan nodded. That was true. He didn’t spend nearly as much time with Rose as he had before, but she no longer needed him the way she once did, and his responsibilities had grown. “So, what did Rose tell you, besides the fact I might be agitated?”

  “That you are totally clueless when it comes to women.”

  Nathan put his hammer down and rubbed the sweat from his eyes. “Is it OK to be annoyed she is right.”

  Quinton slapped Nathan on the arm. “I’m just glad I’ve finally passed the mantel of most clueless on to you.”

  “I wouldn’t go that far,” Sharon teased. “You’re more idiot savant than learned wise man when it comes to women. But I’m keeping you anyways.” She then turned to Nathan. “Tell me everything.”

  Nathan sighed and explained everything that had happened to him in the last twenty-four hours. From the dinner and consequential duel, to talking to Ava, and finally his talk with Camille. He left nothing out, spilling his emotions and confusion he’d felt at every turn. He explained how close he’d been to losing control during the taunts of Maycott, only to have Ava calm him down. Woken up feeling like he’d let down his people only to be told he’d done a good job then his encounter with Camille.

  “Well. This proves it,” Sharon said.

  “Proves what? That I’m a fraud not fit to rule anything?”

  “That you are human, and not some freakish being from another world or a god,” Sharon said. “Seriously, Nathan. The standards you hold yourself to are unrealistic. Everyone makes mistakes, people have troubles controlling their emotions, especially when terrible things happen and then someone attacks the memories of your loved ones. Of course, you overreacted. You’re a northerner with a family bloodline famous for having giant’s blood. Your enemies know that and will always try to use it against you. It doesn’t matter it was Ava who calmed you down, the
fact remains you got through it unscathed. As for Camille, ever since Ava died you’ve been trying to pretend everything was OK, that you weren’t devastated by her loss. That knowing you had a magical connection, however slim, to her spirit made the pain you were feeling immaterial. That is bullshit. You had every right to feel devastated. You didn’t need to be strong for Rose or for myself. You needed to heal. And now you finally are healing and moving forward you feel this guilt. That maybe you aren’t honoring Ava’s love by being interested in another woman. And that isn’t fair to you or to Camille, and it damn well isn’t fair to Ava. I feel bad for Camille, it can’t be easy for her with all your mixed signals.”

  Nathan sighed. Just like her fighting style, Sharon pulled no punches, and went straight in. However, it was exactly what he needed to hear. “You think I’ve royally screwed things up with Camille?”

  “I don’t have a clue. From talking to Rose and Kiana, it sounds like Camille is more confused about her own feelings than she is about you. I’d just give her space and wait. If she comes back, you can try acting like a normal person and not a stressed-out royal puke.”

  Nathan couldn’t help but laugh at Sharon’s assessment of his behavior. It was meant as a joke, but really, wasn’t far from the truth. “Wait. You talked to Rose and Kiana about me?”

  Sharon rolled her eyes. “You really are dense when it comes to women aren’t you. Of course we talked about you and Camille. You’re like a brother to us, and anyone you get involved with is going to become part of our lives. We’re not going to let you get tricked into marrying some noble’s daughter for political gain, or some floozy because you’re infatuated by the shape of her curves.”

  Nathan shook his head and looked to Quinton for help.

  Quinton just smiled. “Sorry, buddy. I’m staying out of this one. I know enough about women to know not to interfere with their interfering.”

  Again, Nathan had to laugh. “Coward.”

  Quinton nodded. “You’re darn right. Sharon’s now an expert with a sword. Rose has a wolf the size of a house, and Kiana is a trained thief who could sneak into any house in the world and kill you in your sleep. You think I am going to cross that group of conspiring females? You are out of your bloody mind.”

  Nathan grinned. “When you put it that way, I see your point. Besides, it doesn’t hurt to have a good group of friends who have your back when things aren’t going well.”

  “Things could be a lot worse. You need to stop looking for the dark in every scenario. You survived a plot to kill you, the festival was a success, you got to talk to Ava’s spirit, and you have an insanely attractive, badass warrior interested in you.”

  Nathan laughed. “Sounds pretty good.”

  “Great. Now you’re out of your funk are you going to show us what you are working on? I’m dying to see what you’ve done this time.”

  Nathan raised an eyebrow. Sharon usually wasn’t interested in his work. “How come?”

  “Because you always do your best work when you’re angry or confused.”

  It was hard to deny her point. His ability to infuse magic into his creations seemed greatest when his life was in turmoil. His sword and bow, two of his most powerful creations had been made when Ava, Rose, and Sharon were kidnapped. “I think I have discovered a way to harness elemental magic in my creations.”

  “You mean like Sharon’s sword, protector?” Quinton asked.

  Nathan nodded. “Something like that. Except different. That was made using a different type of magic.”

  Sharon shivered. “That thing gives me the creeps. Don’t get me wrong. We go into any dark tomes where the dead start coming to life and I’ll bring that bad boy out. So, are you going to show us?”

  “OK. But I’m not even sure if it is going to work.” Nathan pulled his creation out of the salt water barrel.

  “You made a black steel whip?” Sharon asked.

  Nathan grabbed the weapon by the handle. “Yes.”

  “Seems strange to me. Wouldn’t a good leather one be better. Why not make a vraber skin whip, or even a troll skin whip?”

  Nathan snapped his wrist and let the whip fly. Despite being made of black steel; the whip was supple and uncoiled with ease. When the tip was just about to strike the far wall, Nathan squeezed his hand and the full length of the steel whip suddenly lit into a magical flame. He quickly relaxed his hand and the flame disappeared.

  Sharon and Quinton both jumped back startled.

  “Seven hells, Nathan. I take it back. Vraber skin has nothing on that. How did you manage that?” Sharon said.

  “Yes, Nathan, that is a very cool, or should I say hot, weapon. How did you do it?” Quinton said.

  Nathan smiled at Quinton’s bad pun. “It was weird. I didn’t start out making a whip, I just wanted to beat the hell out of something to get my mind to stop spinning, and the more I worked the metal the longer the strand of rod became, but then as I got into the rhythm I started feeling a connection to the metal. It was as if the metal was telling me it could be a whip. Then I had a vision of the fire magic, and, at first, I was confused by it. Fire is elemental magic, but then I realized earth magic can be used to start a fire. I already had the steel.”

  “Flint,” Quinton said. “You added flint to the whip.”

  Nathan nodded. “There are tiny fragments of flint the whole length of the whip, and a bigger piece in the handle. By squeezing my hand and sending a surge of magical energy into the whip it ignites the flame.”

  “Fascinating. Using the natural properties of steel and flint along with a surge of magic. There are some interesting possibilities we’ll have to explore,” Quinton said as he examined the whip.

  “Two things,” Sharon said. “I still don’t know how you turned steel into a whip.”

  “Magic,” Nathan admitted. “By using heat I’m able to soften metal. I used magic to keep the metal in that soft and pliable state despite it being cooled off. What was the other thing?”

  “You don’t know how to fight with a whip.”

  Nathan shrugged. “I didn’t make the whip for me. I felt the need to make something and this is what came to me. I’m sure I’ll run into someone who can use it.”

  “Yes. Sometimes magic works in mysterious ways. Like magic knows when it is needed and reveals itself. Like Sharon finding her magical sword, protector, when we needed something for fighting undead. Perhaps this is one of those times.”

  Sharon looked skeptically at the whip. “You think we are going to need a fire whip?”

  Quinton laughed. “Not necessarily. What I mean is we are in a strange and dangerous time. Powerful mages from the west trying to conquer the world, dragons returning, and now we have at least two powerful magic users in Nathan and Hanna who use magic thought to be long gone. Perhaps there is some sort of magical balance, and the return of dragons has awakened giant magic. Nathan has strong earth magic. Hanna has spirit magic. Who knows what other magic users are out there now.”

  “You think Nathan is destined to fight all the dragons?” Sharon asked.

  Quinton shook his head. “I hope not. He’d be doomed. What I mean is dragon magic is the strongest it has been in hundreds of years. There are once again dragonblood mages again. And dark magic users like Lord Zellox are also stronger. Maybe we are entering some sort of era where all magic is stronger. Ingla, giant, dragon, elven.”

  Sharon laughed. “Elven? You’re joking right? Next thing you’re going to tell me is fae are real and dwarves will be showing up.”

  Quinton frowned at Sharon. “You know trolls, giants, and dragons are real, but you think fae and dwarves are only in children’s tales. No, our history books don’t say much about the magic races, but they existed. Many say they live in the lands far to the east and they have shunned man. Other stories tell of elven mages who travel as humans using their magic to disguise themselves. I’m not saying they’re going to show up tomorrow. I’m just suggesting the timing of Nathan and Hanna showing such po
werful magical abilities might not be a coincidence. That maybe, we are going to need all sorts of magical users and Nathan’s ability to create magic weapons is part of that.”

  Nathan wasn’t sure if Quinton was right or not, but there was a logic to his words he couldn’t deny. Why did Nathan have powers his father and grandfather didn’t. Why did Hanna? Verin and Demarion thought Nathan’s source of magic was the mixing of the two magic bloodlines. But what if it was more? What if there was something bigger happening. The whip was something he’d created, and he sensed it would be a powerful weapon in the right hands, but he could tell the weapon wasn’t meant for him. And was the whip just the beginning? Using his earth magic to create the weapon had calmed him, had centered him, and allowed him to see the truth in Ava’s council and the same with Quinton and Sharon. Maybe his role in life wasn’t to be a prince or warrior, but a magical blacksmith. Or perhaps all three? Nathan had no idea, but he sensed Quinton was on to something.

  Nathan hung the whip up on a nail. The new magical weapon still needed a bloodstone but until he knew who the weapon was for, it could wait. Right now, he was going to spend time with his friends. “Let’s sneak into the kitchen, I’m starving.”

  23

  After days of celebrations, boisterous crowds, and unrivaled displays of magical beauty, Hanna was content to be back on the road. While the festival had been a smashing success, despite the king’s man challenging Nathan to a duel, and she was proud of Nathan for what he’d accomplished in Elderwood, there was much to be said for the relative peace and tranquility of traveling the mountain pass back into Northern Solotine. Of course, that tranquility was broken up often by the enthusiastic discussions of her companions regarding all they’d seen and done during the lunar festival of Elderwood.

  “I especially loved the fountain in the castle courtyard,” said Elga. “It wasn’t the most elaborate of illusions, but it’s simple elegance and beauty were unmatched. Did Nathan make that one?”

  Hanna shook her head. “No, that was his cousin Quinton’s doing. I believe Nathan used his ability to imbue gems to add durability to the illusion and manipulation of water.”