Apparently neither did Brynneth, “Because of it no, not precisely. It was an accident and there is no way to say with certainty that when the spell was deflected the same thing would not have occurred even without that connection. He was the only non-mage present at the time, and the least magically shielded, and magic will always seek the path of least resistance, as you know.”
Zarethyn seemed to be only slightly mollified by this and so Brynneth went on, “I will say as well Captain that I believe Jess was purposely trying to pull the energy to himself, to protect her and her child.”
“That is very foolish,” Zarethyn said, looking far less angry and more like an older sibling whose younger brother has done something profoundly stupid.
“Perhaps, but it is very in Jess’s character to do. He would rather die than watch her die in front of him, especially now,” Brynneth said, and Bleidd winced. “Also, after examining them, and from what I can glean of what occurred I do not believe the bond that joins them can be broken except through death.”
Bleidd had already guessed as much, but Zarethyn inhaled sharply at the news. “And the surviving person?”
Brynneth glanced at Bleidd, knowing that more than two people were involved. “I could not say with certainty that if one died they would not all die.”
Zarethyn glanced at Bleidd then as well, reminded of his place in the situation, and had the decency to look embarrassed. “My apologies Bleidd. I did not intend to ignore your connection to either of them. I am…it is difficult to see my brother injured in this way. I am very fond of him.”
“I understand,” Bleidd said simply, thinking of his own sister and how hard losing her had been. He turned back to Brynneth. “How is Allie?”
“She is upset, but unharmed,” Brynneth said. “I would suggest that she also rest, if possible, though because she is still more stressed than I would like to see.”
Bleidd reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose, wondering if duct taping her to the couch was a viable option. “That is far easier said than done, but I will redouble my efforts to convince her to relax occasionally, if not for her sake then at least for the child’s.”
Brynneth looked sympathetic. “Indeed, her determination is both an asset and a weakness. I will be happy to continue monitoring her if she wishes, or perhaps I should say if she will allow it. Captain if it is feasible I would like to stay here with Jessilaen for the next few days to be certain that his condition is stable.”
Zarethyn frowned. “We can move him to the Outpost if he needs to be monitored.”
Brynneth inclined his head in a shrug. “That would be at your discretion of course but I would not advise it. It will upset him to be separated from Aliaine and it would be better at this point for him to stay calm and focus on resting.”
The Guard captain’s frown deepened. “Allie is also a member of the Guard now and it is within my authority to order her to go with him.”
Bleidd tensed, anticipating how badly that would go over and also knowing that arguing with Zarethyn would likely not help the situation. Brynneth however had far more experience dealing with his captain when he was in such a mood. He said. “Of course you can if you feel you should. Allie is new to the Guard and does not fully understand our ways, but she loves Jess very much and I’m certain she would go if she understood he needed her with him, no matter how much she would not want to. And I would be there to try to mitigate the stress and anxiety on her system, although I cannot promise how effective that would be under the circumstances. I would also not be able to make any promises regarding the effects of such stress on the child she carries or the viability of the pregnancy itself. But as a captain in the Guard the health of your mother’s potential heir is of course ancillary to your duty to the crown.”
Bleidd watched the last comment working its way through the captain’s mind, his frown turning into a scowl then softening. Zarethyn closed his eyes and sighed. “And, old friend, you are correct to remind me that I should be careful before risking her health and the health of a potential heir that my mother has spent decades maneuvering to gain. Wisely done as I fear my mother’s wrath more than the inconvenience of you and Jess being here for several days. Although, at the rate things are going perhaps we should just annex this house and make it an extension of the Outpost.”
Brynneth looked openly amused. “Perhaps. I’m not certain Allie would notice if we should do so.”
Bleidd didn’t see anything funny in that comment, especially as he wouldn’t put it past the Guard to actually do it, but Zarethyn relaxed and smiled slightly. “That may be a discussion for another day then. For now, I will grant you permission to remain here for three days. If his condition is still severe enough to require your help beyond that then he will need to be moved to the Outpost, because I cannot spare you any longer than that. As skilled as Faolliyn may be he lacks your attention to detail and Ebhearilas is too inexperienced for any assignment with the potential to become dangerous.”
Brynneth nodded thoughtfully. “It may be worth requesting another healer, or even two, be assigned to the Guard. We have all been taking on too much recently, if the truth were told.”
Zarethyn looked thoughtful as well, and then inclined his head in a shrug. “That too will have to be a discussion for another day. If my brother is stable then I must return to the Outpost. I hadn’t assigned his squad – your squad – a new duty since his return from the Holding, beyond following up some minor things. Those can easily be done now by Mariniessa and Ellayrian, and they can report directly to me until Jess has recovered.”
“As you will,” Brynneth agreed, and Bleidd finally felt safe enough to relax.
Brynneth turned back towards the den and Bleidd stepped forward, more than ready to show Zarethyn to the door. He glanced at the police mage, still trying to be inconspicuous by the back counter and consciously switched to English. “Sam, I’ll be right back if you can wait another few minutes and still want to go over the wards?”
Sam nodded mutely, clearly having decided silence was the wisest course. Bleidd didn’t blame him. “If you’ll follow me Captain, I’ll walk you to your vehicle.”
Zarethyn nodded tersely and Bleidd led the way out, hoping that the Guard captain was done talking for the evening.
******************************
“Brynneth knows” Allie thought to Jess as soon as she was sure he was awake, cradling his head in her lap and stroking his hair.
Jess looked up at her, his face pale, “Knows what?”
“What I am,” she thought back simply, aware of Bleidd listening in although he was out re-checking the wards around the yard with Sam after escorting Zarethyn out. Brynneth was staying to keep an eye on Jess, but was upstairs settling himself in what was, for the moment, the spare room. “That’s what caused this, when you get down to it.” She hurried to clarify as she felt them both tensing. “He said he knows it was an accident. But it’s because this bond, this connection can’t be broken. That was what that strange spell was trying to do, to break my connection with, well at least with one of you. Probably Bleidd, as a variation on a curse some witches will use to break up relationships. But because of what we are, what I am, what I’ve done to all of us, instead of just making me cold hearted towards whoever, it hit at the root of our emotional connection. Our psychic bond. And that can’t be broken without someone dying. It will kill you to break it, do you understand?”
Jess’s eyes locked with hers and he reached up to stroke her cheek the way she was caressing his hair. “The magic rebounded into me, and it was trying to severe my connection to you, I remember that. And so when Bryn was healing me he realized looking at what had happened and the nature of the bond what would happen if it was ever broken. I understand. I’m glad.”
“You’re what?” she thought back, stunned. She had expected anger or possibly resignation, not happiness.
“Apparently his head hitting the floor did more damage than Brynneth realized,”
Bleidd thought to them both, his voice tired.
Jess made a face, “I am entirely rational, and I mean what I say. I am glad to know nothing can break this bond save my death. It has been a concern since the beginning for me, that our connection would one day fade or that you might decide to revoke it Allie. How can this knowledge be anything but a comfort?”
Allie shifted, shaking her head slightly, and she could feel Bleidd echoing her disbelief. But Jess’s relief was so palpable it was almost physical and she sighed, her fingers moving smoothly through his hair. Careful to block them both out she thought to herself, I never realized he worried that much about it. This bond, spellbond or whatever it really is, it started as an accident. I know he’s said that he saw it as a gift, but I just always assumed that would wear off and he’d change his mind. At some point. But Jess is so…Jess. So constant with everything. I guess I should have realized sooner that he really meant what he was saying when he didn’t want me to talk about undoing it. Gods! It must have been so upsetting for him to have to put up with me offering to remove this bond whenever I started feeling guilty about the way I was changing his life. Their lives. And I just wasn’t listening to him at all. Not really.
“I understand now Jess,” she said softly, leaning down and kissing his forehead. His eyes met hers, serious and still. “I’m sorry it took me so long.”
Chapter 11 – Sunday
This time Allie knew she was dreaming, so she sat down at the kitchen table and waited for Syndra to appear. The room was still, the blackness outside the windows complete; it gave Allie a sense of being up very late at night while the rest of the house slept. She found herself wondering idly if the time in the waking world was the same as the time here or if it was some sort of subconscious symbol of something.
The stillness was broken by the sound of footsteps and a moment later Syndra walked in from the hallway. She was still dressed in her casual around-the-house sweats and before she greeted Allie she walked to the fridge and grabbed a beer, sitting down at the table and taking a long drink before speaking. “So another new roommate.”
“Yup.” Allie agreed, waiting to see where Syndra was going with that line of conversation before adding anything else.
“And a nurse. That’s probably a good idea given how often people around here end up at the clinic. Its like reverse out sourcing,” Syndra said, her tone letting Allie know she was working up to something.
“You know me Syn,” Allie said. “I always try to be efficient.”
“Huh. Efficient isn’t a word I’d use to describe you actually, but in this case…I guess,” Syndra said. Allie made a face at her which she ignored. “I don’t suppose she’ll be around much though, with her job and all.”
Allie frowned, puzzled. “I hadn’t thought much about it. I guess she’ll probably work a lot but so does everyone else around here. I feel like I practically live at the store sometimes.”
“I keep telling you, you need to hire an employee and start taking more time off. Get a life. While you still can that is,” Syndra said, taking another long drink.
“It’s not that easy-“
“Whatever. You’ll always be able to find an excuse not to as long as you don’t really want to.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Allie said.
“That its safer to always have the excuse of work to keep you from having to actually interact with people. You know socially. And watching movies with your roommates in your own house does not count,” Syndra said, giving Allie a pointed look over her beer.
“Hey! I do have a life,” Allie said, although she knew deep down that Syndra was right.
Syndra only raised a pale blond eyebrow and took another drink. “Keep telling yourself that. Anyway, I hope this new roommate works out for you. And when she doesn’t maybe consider not replacing her. You don’t really need to, you know.”
“What do you have against Hannah?” Allie said, curious.
“Nothing, Al, nothing,” Syndra said innocently. “I don’t even know her. And neither do you, which is my point, really. Maybe you’ll find out you don’t like her so much after all once she’s settled in.”
“You’re talking like you don’t like her.”
“Maybe I don’t like her, alright? I’m allowed to have an opinion, aren’t I?”
It finally dawned on Allie. “You’re jealous.”
“That’s ridiculous. Jealous of what?”
“You are. You’re jealous of her,” Allie said, leaning forward. “Why?”
“I am not,” Syndra insisted, but she couldn’t meet Allie’s eyes when she said it. “I just think you’re trying too hard to recreate things the way they were. You gotta fucking let that go Al.”
“Oh Syn,” Allie said, suddenly feeling terrible for her friend. “I’m not trying to replace you. I couldn’t even if I did try. You’re…well, there’s no one else like you.”
“Yeah, well,” Syndra mumbled, looking slightly mollified. “That’s true. Anyway, enough of that. On to more important things. Why are you letting someone kick your ass?”
“Excuse me?” Allie frowned, confused by the sudden change in topic. “Nobody is kicking my butt.”
“Well your hunky elf boyfriend certainly got his ass handed to him, didn’t he?”
“That’s not funny,” Allie said sharply.
“Who’s joking?” Syndra said. “You guys are supposed to be powerful magical people, you and Bleidd, but what have you been doing to stop this?”
“We’ve been trying,” Allie said, but she knew it sounded weak.
“Not working very well is it?” Syndra said, tossing her empty beer in to the trash.
“What else can we do?”
“Maybe stop sitting around on your asses and get proactive. Go on the offense,” Syndra said, leaning forward.
“How do I do that?” Allie asked, frowning.
“How the fuck should I know?” Syndra shot back. “I’m no witch. But you must have some way to track a person’s magic when they’re screwing with you like this. I mean I know you aren’t super witch but you’re not useless either.”
“Gee, thanks,” Allie mumbled, thinking furiously.
“I’m just saying Al, a time comes when you have to start fighting back. And you are way past that time already.”
Allie closed her eyes, frustration welling up as she tried to think of what she could do to get to the source of this. Instead of anything helpful she just kept seeing Jess’s lifeless body on the floor. She hated seeing that, and she tried to shake the image away, even as she scrambled to think of some way to get to whoever was doing this. Unbidden her grandmother’s grimoire, a book of truly dark magic came to her mind, and she found herself suddenly remembering one of the spells in the book, a spell to hunt down another witch….She groaned, shaking her head, but when she tried to open her eyes she found that the dream was fading, the image of Jess stuck in her mind. She fought against it, hating the sense of panic and despair that came with the sight and then abruptly woke up to Bleidd’s hand on her shoulder, shaking gently.
Her eyes flew open and she started to speak but he made a gesture that stopped her. He was kneeling on the bed next to her, fully dressed. He spoke directly into her mind, and she could feel the wall he had placed to keep Jess out. “Quietly Allie. Jess is still asleep, try not to wake him.”
She turned her head to the other side; Jess’s pale face was turned towards her, his expression peaceful. She could see the slow rise and fall of his chest and that reassuring sight was enough to chase away the last of the panic from her dream. She turned back towards Bleidd and nodded.
He released her shoulder and eased off the bed and after a moment Allie carefully followed him. Taking his hand she pulled him across the room. Glancing back to be sure Jess was still sleeping she said through the bond, “I saw Syndra, in a dream.”
His face went very still. “She still comes to you then?”
“Sometimes,” Allie said. “I had
talked to her last week as well, I think, but it had been a few weeks before that. She shows up when she feels like it.”
His lips twitched into a small smile. “That sounds like Syndra. What did she say?”
“That she doesn’t like Hannah, I think because she’s afraid I’m trying to replace her.”
“She should know you better than that,” Bleidd said reaching out and taking her hand, his thumb rubbing her wrist soothingly.
“She should, but this whole stuck in the afterlife situation isn’t easy for her,” Allie said, sighing aloud. “Anyway, she also said she thinks we need to get more proactive in going after whoever is hexing us.”
Bleidd tensed. “Allie this situation is getting far more dangerous-“
“Obviously.” She cut him off, her mental voice overriding his. “But don’t think you’re going to push me aside and try to handle this alone. I know Sam’s involved now too but I don’t think either one of us is planning to sit around and wait for him to track this person down. Not now.”
“You cannot possibly expect me in good conscience to let you go after this person”
“I don’t expect you to let me do anything,” Allie snapped. “I’m telling you that I am going to do it. We can either do it together or I can go out on my own. That’s up to you.”
He blanched, looking appalled. “Be reasonable. You could be seriously hurt.”
“I could be seriously hurt sitting here if whoever is doing this tries that same spell again,” she insisted. They both looked reflexively over at Jess, then back at each other. “Listen Bleidd I know you’re just trying to protect me. And I understand that. I can even appreciate it, really. But I can’t sit on the sidelines this time. I can’t. You told me once that when I was kidnapped and the Guard came to rescue me you went with them, followed them, because you couldn’t bear sitting around waiting to hear if I was okay or not. Well this is like that for me. Every time something has happened in my life I’m always the one waiting to find out if things are going to be okay – waiting to be rescued, or waiting to find out if Jess is okay or you are okay. I can’t do that this time. I can’t sit here and wait to find out if you’re coming back or not.”
Heart of Thorns: a Between the Worlds novel Page 24
