“Of course I’m coming back,” he said, frowning.
“You can’t promise that,” she said leaning into him. “You can’t tell me what’s going to happen once you walk out that door today. Maybe nothing, maybe you won’t even find this person, but maybe…maybe something terrible. Maybe they’ll really hurt you. Or maybe you’ll kill them and then Sam or the Guard will have to arrest you.”
“That’s a lot of maybes and no certainty,” he said gently, stroking her back.
“Exactly,” she said, closing her eyes. “Its all maybes and uncertainty. I can’t bear it.”
“You’re asking me to risk more than your life Allie. How am I supposed to bear that if anything happens?” he said, and she hated the way she could feel his pain at the thought. For the first time since she’d started to get her empathy under control she wished she didn’t have the ability at all.
“I guess we’ll just have to watch out for each other,” she said honestly.
He sighed and she knew from the resigned tint to his emotions that he wasn’t going to argue any further. “And do you have a plan to track this magic?”
She hesitated, biting her lip. “I do, sort of, but I was hoping you might have a better one.”
He tilted his head, curious. “I think I may be able to use the traces of the spell from last night to track back to where the spell was cast. Hopefully from there we can find the caster or gain enough information to uncover their identity.”
She nodded, deep in thought, and when she didn’t immediately volunteer her own plan her grew impatient, “Alright, I’ll brace myself now. What were you going to do to find the source of the hexing?”
“Oh, ahh,” Allie hedged, flushing, “well, I couldn’t think of anything, you know, that would be a good idea to use. Then I remembered this one spell from my grandmother’s grimoire-“
“Allie,” he said sharply, frowning. “You cannot keep using magic from the dark book.”
“I know that!” she thought back quickly.
“You were the one who convinced all of us that it was too dangerous to be kept. You were the one who insisted it be burned-“
“I know that!” she cut in, flustered. “I said it was a bad idea. But it’s the only way I know to track a person who is using magic against someone. I wasn’t even considering it before, I swear I wasn’t, but after Jess got hurt, and then Syndra asked me in the dream what I was doing, could do…”
She trailed off and she could feel movement against her cheek as Bleidd turned his head to look at Jess’s sleeping form again. His emotions grew hard and sharp. “Tell me about this spell.”
She felt a surge of fear and hope in equal parts. “Well, its within my skill level. A chant and three runes traced on a shadow, its supposed to manifest a shadow hound – I’m not sure how solidly it manifests, actually – and then I, er, we, instruct it on what to track and it hunts, er, follows the magic back to the source.”
“And what does it do when it finds the source?” he asked dryly.
“Oh, right,” she said pulling away from him and shrugging slightly. “Well, you know it just, ummm, holds the person until we get there.”
“Holds the person,” he repeated.
“Mmmmmhmmmm,”
It was Bleidd’s turn to sigh and she could feel his indecision. Using any magic from the grimoire was a really bad idea and she knew it. But they both knew that it was their best and fastest chance to get to the person behind all of this before anyone else was hurt. If Jess was part of the conversation he would have talked her out of it, but he wasn’t and she had no intention of telling him about her plans and upsetting him. In this case at least what he didn’t know couldn’t hurt him.
Ultimately Bleidd’s pragmatism won out over his concern about her use of dark magic. “Alright. But we will contact Sam and have him go with us.”
Allie nodded, relaxing slightly. At least this time I’m really helping she thought as they moved quietly out of the room, leaving Jess to sleep. And I’ll show Bleidd that I can really help, that its not a mistake to let me be involved in this.
*************************
Bleidd walked down the stairs slightly ahead of Allie, still mulling their conversation over in his mind. Deep down he worried that it was a mistake to let her be involved at this point but he could see no way to prevent it. Allie is stubborn enough to follow through with what she said and go out on her own if I don’t let her go with me, and that will certainly be worse. Perhaps I should have insisted they take Jess back to the Outpost, and Allie with him, he thought grimly. Only under Zarethyn’s watch would she be likely to behave herself. Ah, and yet I think even there she’d find a way to slip the leash and fling herself into the middle of this. He sighed to himself, but he couldn’t find it in his heart to be too upset with her because he did understand why it mattered so much to her to be part of this. And in a way it pleased him that she was finally insisting on really fighting for herself instead of looking to others, although he didn’t think she was ready yet either. It left him torn about whether he should encourage her or not. Not that Allie needs much encouragement once she gets going he thought.
They ran into Brynneth at the bottom of the stairs. The Elven Guard healer smiled, “Good morning, Allie, Bleidd. Is Jess awake?”
“Good morning Bryn,” Allie said, smiling back. Bleidd nodded, hoping his expression was friendly enough. “Jess is still sleeping, or he was a few minutes ago when we left the room anyway.”
Brynneth nodded, and Bleidd realized that despite the more casual situation he was still in his uniform, black cargo pants and dark green tunic, and his dark hair was still bound back in the braid the Elven Guard wore when working. He may not have been wearing his sword but it was obvious to Bleidd that Brynneth was here in an official capacity and he felt himself tensing slightly in response to the realization. Allie as far as he could tell was oblivious to the significance of the nuances of that and he decided not to tell her.
“Speaking of that though, Bryn, we have to go out for a bit today, would you be able to stay with Jess until we get back?” Allie said, in what Bleidd was certain was supposed to be a nonchalant voice and practically screamed suspicious to his ears. He fought to keep his own face blank.
Brynneth clearly wasn’t buying her attempted innocence either. “It would be wiser for you to stay with him today. Not only for the reassurance your presence provides, but also because you should rest as well.”
Allie squared her shoulders and Bleidd knew before she spoke what her answer to that would be. “You told me yesterday that I was fine, and so was the baby. And this is important – it really is or I wouldn’t be going out.”
The healer hesitated, clearly unsure, then turned to Bleidd with a hopeful look. “Is this something that you could handle without Allie?”
Allie huffed indignantly and Brynneth looked even more unsure. Dear Gods why does everyone keep assuming I can handle Allie any better than anyone else? Bleidd thought knowing that the healer was hoping he could convince her to rest, and trying not to sigh. I may have known her the longest but that grants me little besides the ability to predict how little any of us can control her actions. If anything Jess is the best one for convincing her to go against her inclinations because she is so easily influenced by his emotions and even that is no guarantee…Without looking at Allie Bleidd said “Under the circumstances I think the wisest course is for me to accompany her.”
Brynneth looked from one of them to the other, processing that, then said slowly, “I see. Well, then I shall certainly stay with him today until you return. It has been a long time since he and I have spent any casual time together and I won’t deny that I will enjoy his company. I am curious to hear his thoughts on living here, for one thing, as it is so different from the Holding.”
Bleidd was surprised that the healer would admit that to him, but Allie didn’t seem to find the personal information unusual. She smiled widely, “I think he would like to spend time wi
th you too Bryn. He has often said how much your friendship means to him, and how rare it is among elves.”
That shocked the former Outcast. As Brynneth replied to Allie, something about how much it meant to him to know Jess had told her that, Bleidd tried to keep his face impassive. He hadn’t realized that Jess and Brynneth were that close and he felt an unexpected surge of jealousy at the revelation, even though he knew that the two couldn’t possibly be lovers, at least not anymore; Allie’s spellbond had made sure of that. Still, true friendships were as rare among the elves as permanent lovers and Bleidd had to admit if only to himself that he had enjoyed the growing friendship between himself and Jess, and the feeling that it was special. He would rather have had all of that aspect of Jess’s attention for himself than to know that he shared it with the Elven Guard healer. Well, Bleidd thought, nettled at this new information, Brynneth may be his friend but he will never share as much with Jess as I do, or as deeply. And knowing that he had a true friend before he bonded to Allie…well perhaps there’s just something in Jess’s nature that seeks out these connections, perverse as they are among elves. The idea of the rather pretentious Elven Guard commander having such a deep seated perversion, at least from an elven perspective amused Bleidd enough to soothe his ego and he relaxed, but not before he caught Allie giving him a strange look. He pulled himself back to the conversation immediately hoping that she hadn’t picked up on too much of what he’d been feeling.
“Well, I’m glad you don’t mind staying with him,” Allie was saying. “And that it will give you two time to catch up. We shouldn’t be gone too long.”
Brynneth nodded politely, but he was still smiling slightly. “Then I will go up and sit with him until he wakes.”
The healer moved past them and up the stairs, and Bleidd resumed his interrupted progression to the kitchen, still feeling annoyed. He was walking quickly enough that Allie had to hurry to catch up; he could hear the fast uneven rhythm of her steps behind him and he forced himself to slow down, knowing that her leg often pained her in the morning until she’d walked around enough to stretch the muscles. As they entered the kitchen she placed a hand on his arm holding him back in the doorway. Hannah and Jason were standing by the stove as Jason cooked, chatting, and Allie spoke quietly in Elvish, obviously not wanting to be overheard but reluctant to speak to his mind, “I will call Sam now and see how soon he can meet us.”
He looked at her suspiciously, “There is no hurry Allie, unless you know something I do not. We can surely eat breakfast before we rush out to track down this enemy.”
She blushed, her cheeks coloring a light rose, reminding him of how young she truly was. No matter how she tried her face always gave her thoughts away, at least to him, as he found her unbelievably easy to read, and always had. Normally he found it charming, but at the moment it made him wonder what she was up to. She looked away, pretending to study the scenery out the window. He watched her face closely as she said, “There’s no point putting it off, and the sooner I call Sam the better. We don’t even know if he is free to do this today.”
Bleidd’s eyes narrowed, “And I suppose if you cannot reach him you will insist on doing this anyway?”
Her wide eyed innocent look confirmed his suspicion. He shook his head, reaching around her for the phone that hung on the kitchen wall, “What’s his number?”
“What? Why?” she stammered. “I said I’d call…”
“Yes, but I have the phone now,” he said smoothly, “and since you want this done immediately let’s not put it off. I’ll call right now and speak to him myself.”
She floundered for a moment further confirming his guess that she had planned some deception to cut Sam out of today’s adventure but finally relented and gave him the number before sulking over to get a cup of coffee. Bleidd listened to the phone ring with some satisfaction, I can’t believe I’m the one insisting we involve the police now, he thought wryly but whatever happens today I’ll see it done as legally as possible…
*******************************
“What’s taking him so long?” Allie paced the area by the front steps nervously, watching intently for Sam’s distinctive hearse.
Bleidd sat on the steps watching her with obvious concern. “I’m sure he will get here as soon as he can Allie.”
“You said he told you on the phone he would come right over. He should have been here by now,” she said, chewing her lip.
“Allie, relax,” Bleidd said, and she could feel his worry thick and heavy through the bond. It made her teeth ache.
She realized that if she couldn’t control her nerves better than this he was likely to insist she stay home so she forced herself to take a deep breath and stop walking. Instead she sat down next to him on the steps. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close against his side, and she felt herself relaxing for real surrounded by his reassuring presence. Taking another deep breath she inhaled the faint smoky-woody scent that always clung to him, and she pressed her face against his shoulder. “Sorry. I guess I just want to get this over with.”
“I wouldn’t get your hopes up,” he said rubbing her back. “Even with this spell of yours we may not find the person behind this.”
She tensed again, closing her eyes and seeing Jess laying on the floor. “We’ll find them, whoever they are.”
His hand stilled, and she could see his concerned look out of the corner of her eye, but she ignored him. She knew she was acting obsessed but she was done with this whole situation. She’d lain awake most of the night thinking about everything that had been happening, about Jess almost being killed with a curse that could have killed her…about the car accident, the fire…and she’d hit her limit. Even before she’d finally dozed off and had the dream conversation with Syndra she’d been racking her brain for what to do offensively to put an end to this. Because seeing Jess so badly hurt had started a slow build of anger in her that was making her feel savage.
Sam’s car finally pulled up in front of the house and Allie started to stand, but Bleidd held her back. “Allie…”
She looked at him and frowned. “What?”
He shook his head slightly. “I’m worried about you. Maybe…maybe you should stay here with Jess.”
Panic made her momentarily lightheaded and caused her stomach to clench. Her eyes searched his face even as her empathy searched his heart, but she found only genuine worry. “I can’t, Bleidd. I can’t. I thought you understood.”
“I know why you feel you need to do this, but I don’t want to see you push yourself too hard,” he said carefully.
She bit back the sharp response that almost flew out and watched Sam get out of his hearse instead, gathering her thoughts before replying. “We’re in this together, one way or another. Neither of us wants to see Jess hurt. You don’t want to see me have some kind of breakdown. I don’t want you to get into any legal trouble. I guess the only option is to watch each other’s backs.”
He let her go slowly as Sam approached, and she knew he didn’t like it but he also couldn’t argue with her. She smiled at Sam who looked tired. “Hi Sam, thanks for coming back out.”
“How could I not when presented with the intriguing possibility of a new tracking spell?” he asked, smiling and tapping his cane on the walkway. The ruby eyes of the dragon head handle flashed in the sunlight.
“Oh, yes, well,” Allie mumbled, flushing. “I’ve never actually used this spell before – it was one of my grandmother’s.”
“Interesting,” he murmured. “Well, let’s proceed shall we? If this works I can close this case in time to keep a particularly promising dinner date. And if it doesn’t I have some ideas of my own we can try as well.”
Allie ignored Bleidd sighing behind her and nodded. “Right, well. It’s fairly simple really I just need to find a shadow…”
She looked around quickly and spotted a heavy shadow under the bushes beneath the front windows of the house. She limped over to the closest bush wi
th the men following curiously behind. She squatted down, then hesitated realizing that Sam would certainly try to memorize what she did so that he could replicate it himself later if it worked. She didn’t mind Bleidd knowing this spell, but the human mage knowing it made her uneasy for some reason. Spontaneously she decided to translate the chant into Elvish, sending up a desperate prayer that the language change wouldn’t affect the spell.
Reaching out she traced the delicate shapes of the three runes into the shadow while whispering in Elvish, “Compert transform, Nert shape, Cert direct, As I will, shadow to hound, nothingness to substance, hunt that which I seek!”
As the final word left her lips she felt an enormous outrush of energy. Bleidd and Sam both stepped forward reflexively as Allie fell back, landing gracelessly on her butt. An instant later though both men were hastily stepping away as the shadow beneath the hedge thickened, darkened, and started to shift outwards like smoke. As Allie sat, mesmerized, the darkness uncoiled in front of her and shaped itself into the form of a large, sleek hound. The shadow hound solidified until she couldn’t help but reach out and touch it, her hand stroking the cool smooth fur of its shoulder. The long muzzle swung towards her, its eyes a deeper black looking out from the spell-animal’s dark otherwise grey form.
“Dear Gods,” Sam said, stunned. “Its really solid isn’t it? It has physical presence? Can I touch it?”
“Ummm, sure,” Allie said, still petting the hound. She was fascinated to realize that she could feel emotions from it.
“Allie,” Bleidd said through the bond, his mental voice exasperated. “This is not a tracking spell. This is a doilbhthe”
“I don’t know that word,” she thought back, as Sam reached out and began tentatively petting the hound. He looked thrilled.
Heart of Thorns: a Between the Worlds novel Page 25
