VirtualDesire

by Ann Lawrence

Her father turned from Narfrom, his hands thrust out in a gesture almost of supplication. “You should not be here, my child.”

  “Aye. It is my place. Is this not my slave?”

  “Go to your chamber. This business is not for you to see.”

  “I have seen a testing before, Father. Do you not remember? When Mother was alive?”

  “Ardra! How can you bring that up now?”

  She knelt at her father’s feet, her silk gown a molten gold pool about her body. Its fineness was a sharp contrast to the stone floors and the ugly pits only a few feet away. Gwen suddenly understood that whatever the test was, it would be no simple quiz of facts. Tears ran down Ardra’s face.

  But she did not bow her head as she spoke; she kept her eyes on her father’s face. “I have asked little of you. Give this slave into my care, Father. Please, I beg of you.”

  Narfrom stepped forward, but Ruonail raised a staying hand. “You have been a good and obedient daughter. Will you answer a question before I make a decision?”

  Ardra nodded.

  “Why is this slave unmarked?”

  Gwen felt a flush of heat stain her cheeks.

  “I would not allow it. What purpose does it serve to scar a woman so men might know how many beds she has lain in? I hate the custom. It sickens me. We do not mark the male slaves so we women can count their lovers.”

  “And yet you have never spoken up before. Why now?”

  Ardra folded her hands about her pendant. “We have just mourned three men who died in treacherous acts. Perhaps if I had been thinking for myself, saying what I thought all along, the men would not have thought me such a useless sheep before whom they could do as they pleased. I have no authority here, and yet I am your heir. It is time I took my place at your side and made a few decisions.”

  Ruonail smiled. “I have waited long to see some spark of courage in you. Rise. I will spare your slave.”

  “How dare you!” Narfrom dragged Gwen backward to the pit. “You old fool. You forget what we have planned,” Narfrom said. “You forget what our goal is. This slave,” he gestured at Gwen, “may yet ruin those plans. We must test her.”

  “I have made my judgment. You must abide by it, as should any man.”

  “You will regret this decision.”

  “I regret all we have planned between us.” Ruonail thrust his daughter aside as he approached the pits. “It is time to release the maidens and make some recompense to appease their fathers’ ire. We will bring only war upon us, such a war as has not been seen in generations. Tolemac will not need to trade for the ice; they will simply annihilate us and take it! I was a fool to believe in vague rumors of treasures and maps!”

  “You coward,” Narfrom said in a low voice only Ruonail and the two women could hear.

  “How dare you!” Ruonail swung around.

  Narfrom shoved Gwen into Ardra. They went down in a flurry of skirts. Gwen screamed.

  “Hold.” Vad stepped into the chamber. He aimed at Narfrom’s chest, but it was to Ruonail he directed his words. “Take the women to safety. I will deal with this one.”

  Gwen was on her feet before Ruonail could reach them. As Ardra went into her father’s arms, Narfrom smiled. It was reptilian, frightening, but no less frightening than the dull metal object he drew from his robes.

  “I knew this would come in handy one day. Drop the bow or I kill one of the women.”

  Vad ignored him. “Ruonail, if you wish to salvage any of your reputation, take the women away.”

  Narfrom shifted his aim to Gwen. “Make the man see reason, Gwen. When I came across Liah in the kitchen, she found my gun a more fascinating object than the bowl of beans she was counting. If your champion is not interested in saving your life, what about hers? Explain what a gun is, Gwen, and how it works.”

  The gun was aimed at her chest. Gwen’s heart thudded dully. “Vad—”

  Narfrom gasped. Ruonail swung to where Vad stood. “You are Vad?”

  “Well, well,” Narfrom said, smiling. “It seems we can avoid violence. How pleased I am to meet the famous Vad.”

  “What is it you hear of me?” Vad asked.

  Gwen edged around behind Ruonail toward Vad. Somehow being near him seemed terribly important. She felt a thickness in the air, a gathering of something awful. It shimmered around them. She could taste something bitter and ugly on her tongue.

  A rumble of thunder shook the stone edifice.

  “Enec, one of the dearly departed,” Narfrom said, “garnered some pillow talk that you were after a very valuable map.”

  “Pillow talk?” Ardra whispered. She glanced at her father.

  Narfrom spared her a brief sneer. “Talk after lovemaking, my dear. Loose talk. He was excellent at gathering those little gems that make a man’s planning so much more effective.”

  Another crack of thunder sounded, almost in the chamber with them. Even Narfrom glanced overhead.

  “Where is the child?” Vad asked, tracking Narfrom as he moved around the chamber.

  “Liah? I will give her to you in exchange for the map.” Narfrom halted by one pit and tapped it with his toe. Everyone looked down. “Oh, Liah is not in here. That little minx would have been howling up a storm if she were here. But you will never find her, never know her fate if you do not hand over the map.”

  Vad tipped his head. “It is a fair exchange. Bring out the child and I will give you the map.”

  A sickness rose in Gwen’s belly. His words were casual, but she knew the map was everything to him. Did Narfrom know that the map was in the dagger, right there for all to see, the handle in plain view? He had only to shoot Vad and he would have it.

  Her knees nearly buckled. She glanced about for some weapon to help defend Vad.

  “Ruonail. Liah is in that little room where you like to meet your concubine. Bring the child here, and we will have riches far greater than any you can get with the ice.”

  “Father, do not aid him. Return the child. Do not take the map. We do not need the Tolemac treasures.”

  There was a pair of chains lying in a neat coil on a table by the chamber entrance. Gwen estimated how long it would take to get to them.

  “Stand still,” Narfrom barked at her. “I can shoot him in the knee, or the heart, before you can even lift those chains from the table.”

  She froze. All eyes save Vad’s swung toward her.

  “We are about to realize our dreams, Ruonail.” Narfrom took Ardra’s hand and pulled her close to his body. He encircled her waist and spread his hand over her middle. “We will have everything with no bloodshed, no sacrifice of maidens, no pain and suffering, if you just get the child. Go now.”

  With but a moment’s hesitation, as if he now understood that Narfrom could harm more than just the Tolemac maidens, Ruonail swept out of the chamber.

  No pain, no suffering. Not true. Vad would suffer. But his face was a study in serenity. No one but she would know how he must wish to bargain anything but the contents of the dagger.

  Ruonail was gone only a few minutes. Ardra tried to run to him, but Narfrom shoved her back. Ruonail kept the child between himself and Vad as he walked her to where Narfrom stood.

  Narfrom held out his hand, the gun once more visible, aimed at the child’s small blonde head. She was avidly taking in her surroundings, unaware she was in danger.

  “What use is the map to you? You can’t go on a treasure hunt yourself,” Gwen said. She took a step toward Narfrom, but he raised the gun.

  “The map alone will be worth a fortune—millions—to certain collectors back home.” Narfrom turned to Vad. “Are you ready?”

  But Vad directed his words to Gwen. “Be easy. It is just a piece of paper, not worth a life. Come take the map to him and bring me the child. His weapon may be deadly, but I am counted an excellent shot with mine as well. I would gladly wager my shot against his.”

  Gwen’s legs felt rubbery as she withdrew the dagger from its sheath. She felt the full weight of the g
un’s power trained on her back. The evil in the chamber was thick, like smoke. Only here by Vad could she breathe normally. Heat emanated from his body. She quickly twisted off the handle, withdrew the map, and thrust the dagger back into its place.

  How small was the paper; how big were the consequences for her warrior. Her warrior. Although his eyes were on Narfrom, he smiled. “Hand it over, Gwen.”

  She offered the child one hand and gave away Vad’s future with the other.

  A tremor shook the building. Ozone filled the air.

  Gwen looked at Narfrom, who smiled and gestured her toward Vad with his gun barrel. “Do you remember what I said, Gwen? Power and design.”

  Narfrom touched his embroidered belt. From one moment to the next, he disappeared.

  Gwen threw herself into Vad’s arms.

  “Thank the gods he did not harm you,” he murmured against her hair.

  His body was flame hot. All the desires and fears of the last few hours ran through her. She locked her arms about his waist and hiccupped to keep back her tears. He touched her shoulder. “We must see to the others.”

  She stood back and looked up into his eyes. “You’re burning up with fever.”

  “Nay, it is just you, woman. You are the one who is warm.”

  “Wait! I don’t think we’ve seen the last of him.” She looked at Ruonail and Ardra, who were standing and staring at the spot where Narfrom had disappeared, as if frozen into ice like the glacier outside. “How do we explain him?”

  Vad shrugged. “I do not want to. I just want to be gone from here. Let them puzzle out his magic.”

  He held out his hand to the child. She took it, and, still glancing over her shoulder to the spot where Narfrom had stood, she followed him,. Ardra led her father after them. Ruonail stumbled along like a broken man.

  Gwen wrapped one arm about Vad’s waist. “I have to tell you what I learned from Narfrom. It might make a difference someday,” she said softly, so the child would not be privy to the tale. “Narfrom is from my world. He’s obviously figured out a way to come and go from there at will, but that’s not what’s important. His name in my world is Gary Morfran. I feel so incredibly stupid not to have thought of it. My only excuse is tiredness, finding myself here, not really believing… Never mind all that.”

  Vad watched her face pale to the color of her gown. “Steady yourself. You are just frightened. Save your tale until we have settled this little maiden.”

  How she hated to wait. They saw Ruonail up the steep steps to his chamber. He barely acknowledged his daughter as she told him she was taking Liah away. Gwen watched Ardra leave her father and take the child by the hand.

  No one challenged them as they went down to the lower levels. A murmur of prayers floated on the air; voices could be heard singing. No sentries challenged them. All was silent, as if the guards had deserted the fortress along with Narfrom.

  Every step in the oppressive, dark corridors told her Narfrom might be gone, but only temporarily. Would the amount a collector might pay for an ancient map be enough to satisfy him?

  Gwen detoured to the storage area to retrieve the basket with the bottles of potion. She threw a couple of apples on top for Vad to eat.

  Right before they lifted the tapestry to cross the great hall, Gwen tried to make Vad listen to her once again.

  “Remember how I told you where your name came from? Nicholas Sandav. Remember who Sandav was?”

  Vad made an impatient gesture.

  “Make him listen, Ardra. In my world Sandav was a famous warrior who survived one of our legendary ruler’s last battles—”

  Vad nodded when Ardra raised a brow. “There is a legend in Gwen’s place that tells of a warrior whom no man would engage, lest they harm a messenger of the gods. She thinks I am somehow the embodiment of that warrior.”

  “No. I think you are one of his descendants. But listen!” She touched his bandaged arm. “You have to listen or this wound on your arm might be the least of your worries. Another warrior survived along with Sandav. His name was Morfran. And he didn’t survive because he was a great fighter, or gorgeous like you. No. He lived because he was so ugly, so dark, no one would fight him in case he was—”

  “A messenger of evil,” Vad finished for her.

  Gwen could only nod. Her fear was cold and deep. “This man from my place, his name is Gary Morfran. He must be a descendant of this ugly warrior. And he is evil in my world. He was accused of beating a woman nearly to death. And remember, in this world he had a boy hanged!”

  “But Narfrom is gone,” Ardra cried; “We need no longer fear him.”

  “Don’t you feel it? Narfrom may be gone, but that evil feeling is still here. Maybe he came back in another spot or something. He could be waiting around the corner.”

  Vad still could not believe what his eyes had told him. But he had seen a weapon such as Narfrom’s once, seen its power, known his bow and arrows were useless if the man had decided to fire on any one of them.

  “Narfrom is evil, as is Morfran,” Gwen continued. “In legend, Morfran’s mother was the goddess of darkness. Her totem spirit was the sow—”

  Ardra reeled away, a hand to the wall, the other to her stomach. “Nay. Nay.” Liah cowered away from her emotion.

  “What is it?” Gwen ran to Ardra’ s side. Vad moved more slowly, but it was into his arms that Ardra turned. She buried her face against his bare chest.

  A stab of jealousy twisted in Gwen’s middle. She took Liah’s hand and held it tightly. They did not need to lose her again.

  Ardra raised a tearstained face to Vad. She spoke only for him. “My mother died because she accused my father of having congress with one of her trusted slaves. My father denied it, but my mother, thinking to force my father’s confession, demanded that the woman be tested. My father agreed. He did the testing himself. I remember my mother’s cold anger, the woman’s tears. The slave died of her festering wound, cursing my mother. Within a few months, my mother sickened and died. I know ‘twas the curse.”

  “Wound? Festering? Died? What are you talking about?” Gwen asked.

  Vad held his bow out to Gwen, who took it automatically and then wished she’d refused. It merely freed him to fold Ardra into a tighter embrace. “A testing, Gwen, involves forcing the slave to hold a burning coal, or the placing of a heated iron to her breast. If the wound festers, she is evil. ‘Tis believed by the ignorant that the evil inside will seep out at the wound site.”

  The bow shook in her hand. “Oh, my God,” she whispered. “You saved my life, Ardra.”

  “It was nothing. Vad asked it, and I could not refuse him.”

  Gwen looked at him. He shrugged and looked away. Had he really cared about her fate, or had he simply felt a sense of responsibility toward her?

  Ardra continued, “My mother’s slave wandered in her fever, as is so often true in such deaths, and I took my turn to nurse her. She called on the goddess of darkness, begged us to sacrifice a sow for her. I had never heard such things before, but they frightened me. I remember her every word.”

  Gwen and Vad exchanged looks over her head. “Then we are all connected somehow,” Gwen said. “Oh, why didn’t I remember this stuff when I first heard his name?”

  “I agree. Narfrom is evil,” Ardra said softly. “And if he can command the powers of darkness, as the woman did in killing my mother, we are all lost. Vad must find Narfrom and destroy him, or this will never end.”

  “I do not believe in such nonsense.” Vad put Ardra gently aside. “Only an evil man would take innocent maidens hostage, then threaten their lives—that evil I will believe—the desire for power. The desire that twists a man. But this other evil? The goddess of darkness being mother to some ancient warrior named Morfran? It is all just legend.”

  “Please listen, Vad.” Gwen blocked his way. “Narfrom appeared and disappeared. That wasn’t some legend! I think there’s going to be a battle. The light against the dark. Sandav against Morfran. Good v
ersus evil. I thought it before. And Narfrom may be gone for the moment, but I think the battle is still to come.”

  “Whatever omens you read in our names, or in your memories of ancient legends, Narfrom has what he wanted. And if the map is not enough, even now he may be on his way to gain the treasures. What need has he to bother with me?” He turned and walked away.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Ardra held Gwen back from following Vad. “Enec was part of this treachery? He conspired with Narfrom?�� Her voice quavered.

  Gwen tried to soften the blow. “I think he was seduced by the treasures.”

  “Then it is best he is dead.” She wiped her eyes. “We must take the little maiden to the others.”

  “Hide the maidens somewhere. I don’t believe this is over,” Gwen said, and before Ardra could protest, she ran after Vad. She reached his side as he crossed the silent hall. She felt exposed, sure some guard would jump out and challenge them. He was a tall, blond, half-naked target. “Where is everyone?” she asked when she reached his side.

  “It is tradition for a priest to offer prayers after the funeral wine,” Vad said softly.

  “Ardra’s going to take the child to the others. I asked her to hide them.”

  He nodded his approval, but did not slow his steps. “We will depart at the sun-rising tomorrow. I may have only a dagger, but I am still going to take it to the council.”

  There was nothing she could say.

  “If you are so afraid, go with Ardra and hide with the maidens.” He leaned on his bow and impatiently thrust his braids behind one ear.

  “No.” She felt a cold breeze swirl about her ankles. “I won’t leave you. What if Narfrom returns? I could help you.”

  He smiled and shook his head. “That thought will make me sleep at ease this night.”

  “No smart answers,” she said, and hooked the heavy basket over her arm.

  Vad marveled at her. She had been so close to harm, and here she was offering to defend him. Just as he knew his fever stemmed from a tainted arrow tip, so he knew men often assured the results of a test by dipping the iron rod in poison. He would wager Narfrom would have called for a brand, not a hot coal, if Ruonail had allowed the test. If all Gwen said about Narfrom was true, he could not have afforded to have someone who knew his background talking to Ruonail or Ardra.