ENCHANTER
Magio-Earth, Book Three
By Joanne Wadsworth
LYRICAL PRESS
http://lyricalpress.com/
KENSINGTON PUBLISHING CORP.
http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/
For my son, Cruise, who amazes me with his ability to invent and discover. You are so precious. Hugs.
Acknowledgements
I have the best family, and huge thanks go to my hubby, Jason, and kiddies, Marisa, Caleb, Cruise and Rocco. I love your smiles, and for giving me tons of time to write.
To my amazing editor, Penny Barber. You’re so dedicated, and I’m one of the luckiest authors to have you.
For my readers, this series lives because you joined me, taking the journey to where imagination and magic soar. If you can dream it, you can do it.
And here’s to another dream of mine, to Silvie and Guy’s story. I’ve been longing to share this one with you.
1
Unbelievable. My best friend had some nerve. Sprinting down the edge of the football field, I had to get away from my urge to crush Faith like the dry grass beneath my sneakers. I dodged the running back with eyes only for the rugby ball and hoped he’d slow Faith enough for me to get away.
“Silvie Carver, slow down,” Faith yelled.
“You have forethought. You should have seen this coming.”
“I didn’t know you’d get this angry.”
“I didn’t know you’d dump this kind of news on me.”
Chasing me, she ducked and dodged around the team. “Your temper should come with a warning.”
“I’m a redhead. Get used to it.” Hah! Faith’s forethought was what needed a warning.
“Okay, so I shouldn’t have just blurted out my problem.”
“Ya think?” I made a beeline for the far gate.
“Let me try this again. It’s not like my forewarning has happened yet.”
“But it’s going to.” She was gaining on me, had hardly lost a breath, while I panted madly.
“Damn right it is. My skill is so freakin’ annoying. Flaring up all over the place, and at the worst times.”
“Your king is a tyrant. I have my own king and country to worry about. I want nothing to do with yours or Dralion. Noth-ing.”
“Best friends forever, Silvie. He’s my grandfather and I need your help to figure this all out.”
Now I had the stitch. It shot down one side. Skidding to a stop, I clutched my ribs. “Ugh, I really need to get more exercise.”
Faith whizzed past then jogged back. “Thank you. I just need you to listen.”
“I’m not listening. I’m unfit, if you didn’t notice.” It was alright for her, being so highly skilled and all. She ran every morning at dawn just to get rid of her excess energy. Me, I snoozed. No use rolling out of bed until absolutely necessary.
“I’m really sorry about this coming disaster.”
“The disaster is Donaldo Wincrest.” Heck, saying his name out loud was enough to set me off. “I can’t stand him. Your grandfather’s always sending his warriors onto Peacio’s shores, with my people in the firing line.”
“We can’t choose who we’re related to.”
“It’d make life a lot easier if we could.” Bummer, though, that she’d found out she was a Wincrest. Eighteen years and she’d never known.
“At least we can choose who our best friends are, and you’re mine.”
“Geez, I hate your forewarnings. Why can’t we just have a regular school day? Death and disaster should be off limits.”
“My forewarnings don’t work that way.” She squeezed my shoulder. “My father is the last person any of us expected him to be, but I love him and I’m dealing with the cards dealt.”
“I’m dealing too, but not if it involves Dralion.”
“C’mon, pleazzze.”
I didn’t dare look into her eyes. Those stupid pleases of hers niggled at my heart and got me every time. “My king sent me to Earth to watch over you when we were kids, not your newfound family. Carlisio Loveria wouldn’t appreciate it if I ended up getting my nose stuck in the enemy’s business.”
“I can’t ask anyone else.” She tweaked my chin. “Hey, you’ve gotta look at me.”
“No.” Her voice was pitched just right too, making my “no” not nearly strong enough.
“You’re a sister to me, and Magio is all so new.”
Damn. Not the sister card. Stand strong. Don’t fold.
“Silvie, the battle between our nations, and the fact I have a mate I can’t speak about, is difficult, but at least I have you. We’ve always stuck together.”
“I can’t go against my country. Ask your mate for help. Davio loves slashing his sword around. Just mention Wincrest’s name, and my cousin’s your man.”
“I can’t tell Davio about my vision.” She paced in front of me, clutching the sides of her denim miniskirt. “I’ve already used my forethought and factored him into the problem. The results weren’t pretty. He’s one totally obstinate prince. I need you, not my mate.”
“Yours and Davio’s relationship is strong. He got over who you were related to. Give him more credit.”
“I do, but we have to take such care.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “I can’t work through this forewarning without you. This fight isn’t mine, yet I’ve been dropped into the middle of it.”
And it appeared, so had I. So not fair when I couldn’t keep ignoring her plea. We’d grown up together and always had each other’s back. “Argh, okay, give me some more information so at least I can think about it.”
“Is that a yes? We stick together?”
“It’s give me more information.”
“You won’t regret this.”
“I’m sure I will.”
“Right.” The wind blew her long blond hair about her face. She flicked it away. “So I got to the part before about Donaldo being involved.”
“Yeah, your tyrannical king who knows how to throw everything into chaos.”
“Just try to put your frustrations aside.”
I breathed deep, instilling some calm for Faith’s sake. Discovering her father was Dralion’s Prince Alexo when he’d returned to Earth for her and her mother had been difficult, but it hadn’t destroyed our friendship. Our eighteen years together counted. “Okay, I’ll try.”
“What happens, is Donaldo makes an announcement soon. One which involves Hope too. Heck, I still can’t believe I have an identical twin sister. It’s just as well our blood-bond cemented the moment we came together.” She blew out a long breath, as if needing a moment to calm herself. “Okay, so saying yes to me, is saying yes to her. We both need your help.”
“How is Hope involved?” I adored my brother’s new mate. I had to keep her safe.
“My forewarning affects so many people if I don’t get it sorted. Hope and Silas. Davio and me. We’re just the beginning.”
“Grrreat.” With all four of my closest involved, I barely had a choice. “Lay the rest of the details on me, and be gentle. Gen-tle.”
“Hope and I are in Donaldo’s grand dining room.” Sweat popped up along her brow and she wiped it away. “There’s a formal dinner and the leading eight are seated.”
“Dralion’s elite fighting force, right?”
“Yes.”
“Lovely.” Not only was her king involved, but the fiercest of the fierce. How could she possibly think I could help? I had no skills. “Your forewarning was bad enough with Donaldo in it. Now you’re adding the leading eight?”
“Only two of them, Killian and Abelard.”
“Oh, only two.” Sheesh. “That’s so much better then.”
“You ready for more?”
“No.”
“Killian makes his d
emand clear, that he’s there to court me. Abelard rises and states his desire to court Hope, except a lot more brutally than what I just said. Things get pretty heated.”
“Holy moly. Do I even want to know what happens next?” I didn’t, except best friends didn’t let each other down. “No. Don’t answer that. Just tell me.”
“My skill doesn’t work on me, and my forewarning kept blurring because I couldn’t keep my focus from myself. Then when I finally shoved it back on Hope so I could get some clarity, Donaldo stood and boomed his agreement. Killian and Abelard are slayers.” Her face paled. “They kill the enemy just for the sheer pleasure of it.”
“Wincrest is such a dictator.”
“Davio and Silas—” She gulped. “The war between our nations already rages. Hope and I want to see peace prevail. I can’t have this problem added to it.”
“Hold on. You’re only eighteen. Why would Wincrest agree to a courtship this soon?”
“No one knows Hope and I have mates, and it’s not like we can spill the news. My guess is we’re fair game in Killian and Abelard’s eyes.”
“What about your father or aunt? Can’t they help?” Alexo and Goldie were loyal to Wincrest, but they also revered the bond. Alexo had lived without his wife for eighteen years, fearing Wincrest would find and remove her. He’d never inflict the same pain on his daughters. It was probably his only redeeming quality, in my eyes.
“Nothing changed when I factored them into my forewarning, yet the moment I did with you, bingo, the forewarning dissolved. Somehow, you’re the key. It’s you who has the ability to halt what’s about to happen.”
“How am I the key?” I wobbled, and she propped an arm under my shoulder.
“You’re the last person I want dragged into Dralion’s business, but I can’t prevent what’s about to happen, and it seems no one else can, other than you.” She shuddered. “I don’t want Killian courting me, not when I’m mated to Davio. My soul is bound to his, and I’d never survive losing him.”
“Okay, but you’ve gotta give me more than ‘I’m the key.’”
“That’s not how my forewarning works. It’s you who figures out a resolution. I can only say you’re the one who discovers it.”
“I seriously, seriously hate your skill.” A student dashed past us, nabbed his bike from the bike bay and rode through the gate.
“Every decision we make can alter the course of our future. It’s always in flux, but to fix what’s coming, I need you. Please.” She squeezed my arm. “Let’s work together.”
I couldn’t let Faith down, not with this massive problem on the horizon. Even with Dralion involved, I had to do what I could. “Hope has to be brought into the loop. I can’t leave her out of this since your forewarning involves both of you.”
“I don’t want to leave her out of it either. I’ll take you to her in the outback, but you’ll have to keep a low profile. Warriors ’port in and out of Wincrest Station.” The station was one of Dralion’s off-world ventures. Faith had been raised here in New Zealand with her mother, and Hope in both Dralion and their Australian holding.
“That’s all right. I’ll simply be your friend from Earth.”
“That’ll work. Let me check exactly where she is.” Her eyes glazed as she focused with her forethought. It was such a rare skill, one only held by the two ruling families of Magio. It was also the skill which had begun our world’s war a thousand years ago, and still wreaked havoc today. “Found her. She’s in the yard near the corral.”
“So, we’re good to go?”
“Yes, I’ll ’port us from behind one of the furthest trees.” Her gaze cleared, and the deep Wincrest violet denoting her strong line shone through.
“Sounds good.” The coach blew his whistle and the football team jogged to the bright blue changing rooms off the gym. Most of the students had gone home, and only a few stragglers remained near the bus bay. “On a brighter note, I’ve always wanted to visit the outback.”
“I doubt you wanted to visit it like this.”
“Try never, but I can deal.”
“That’s why I love you, Silvie.”
“Oh, so now you’re trying to butter me up?”
“Yep.” She tugged me to the tree she favored with its wide trunk. “Because the place is in drought, and it’s hot enough to melt the soles of your shoes if you stand in one place for too long.”
“Don’t worry. I love a hot day.” I squeezed her hand. “I’ll be careful.”
“You’re the best friend I could ever have.” She hugged me, and then everything darkened as she ’ported us, as she made the jump through time and space.
We arrived in the blinding sunshine. Oh yeah. Heat. Beautiful.
“Wow, it’s hotter than hot.” She fanned her face. “Do you see Hope? She was right here.”
“Not yet.” I peered between the wooden beamed rails of the horse corral. A stallion pranced within, kicking up red dust as he snorted. “She’s not in there, and that horse looks ready to bolt.”
“Maybe she went to get him something. If she did, she’ll be that way.” She tilted her head toward a long run of white weatherboard stables.
Following her, I jammed one loose tail of my red t-shirt into my denim cutoffs. At least my Earth clothing should pass initial inspection. Warriors usually wore battle leathers, the same as my country’s elite protectors. “Donaldo Wincrest never comes here, right?”
“You’re safe. It’s just Goldie and Hope who run this place. They were raised together and spent half their lives here.”
We stepped through the open doors and into a wide central holding room. On one wall, hooks held saddles and tack. I stroked one of the long reins, polished to perfection. On the opposite wall, square bales of hay had been stacked to the ceiling, a dozen high and a good twenty bales wide. Hmm, nothing here so far to worry— Nope. At the back of the stables, perched on a wooden stool before a workbench, a man gripped a silver stirrup which glowed red on one end. He was heating the object, and without fire.
A warrior. He must be one of Dralion’s highly skilled.
Someone from Peacio would be dubious, but I had to act the part of an Earthling. I couldn’t show any fear. I stepped closer.
Black hair fell forward over his brow, his hair so silky it shone midnight blue on the ends.
He jerked around, his gaze landing on me.
I kept my composure. “Hey.”
“Who are you?” He stood, his impressive height a good hand over six feet. He would tower over me by a foot. I should be intimidated, but oh, what broad shoulders. His white shirt stretched tight over his chest, and dark leather pants cupped his butt to perfection. His sword, belted low on his right hip, brushed the dusty floorboards.
What? Why was I ogling the enemy? Get it together.
“Ah, I’m Silvie, a friend of Faith’s.”
His eyes were to die for. Stunning silver, displaying his strongly skilled line, swirled around the edges of his pale blue eyes. An enchanter.
“No! This can’t be happening.” He gripped the hilt of his sword, and his nostrils flared. “You should never have come.” What was he talking about?
“Guy, it’s fine. I brought Silvie, and it was important she come.” Faith held up a hand. “I’m after Hope. Did she come in here?”
“Yes. She’s down the corridor. One of the mares is in labor and she ran to check on her. Go, but be quiet.” He set the stirrup on his workbench, and the melted end oozed into a metallic puddle.
“How’d you melt that?” What he’d done was enthralling.
“It’s the spell of heat without fire. What’s your last name, Silvie?” His gaze traveled over me, not missing an inch. Strangely, I enjoyed it. Hold on. What was wrong with me? He was still a warrior.
“Carver,” Faith interrupted. “Guy, she’s in the know, like you are.” The girls had a tight inner circle of those they trusted. And since Guy kept Faith and Hope’s secret as I did, he had to be one of the few good ones. I mu
st have sensed that. Somehow.
“Right.” He snorted then turned back to his workbench. “Take her away, Faith.”
“Come on.” Faith tugged my hand.
“No, I’d like to stay and get to know one of the warriors you trust so much. Go and find Hope. I’ll wait.” He completely intrigued me.
“You sure? He doesn’t sound like he wants you here.”
“If he’s in the know, then I’m safe. Just go.” I studied the warrior as he whispered a spell over the stirrup he’d set down.
“Okay, I’ll be as quick as I can.” Faith dashed away.
“You should have gone with her.” He cast me a sideways glance. “Carver, eh? Any relation to Hope’s mate, the protector Silas?”
“Maybe.” I advanced on him.
“You have the same blue eyes as Carver. Doesn’t he have a twin sister? One I’ve heard is close to Faith?” He slowly circled me. “Yeah, you’re her.”
“What’s your last name?”
His gaze flickered with frustration as he came nose to nose. “Moyer.”
My heartbeat thumped at his closeness. “The son of Gerritt, and the grandson of Gilles?”
“You’ve heard of my line?”
“Everyone has. Forty years ago, Gilles Moyer spelled the dome’s energy field into existence over Dralion.” Which meant this man was from one of Dralion’s strongest enchanting lines. Although, not the wisest since his father had been captured at the battle of Eventide two years ago and now resided within Peacio’s containment cells. A heavy weight settled in my chest and I couldn’t stop myself from touching his hand. “I’m sorry for your loss, your father.” Boy, why did I feel such a sudden connection with him?
“He still lives, and soon he’ll be freed. I’ll see to it.” He clamped his hand over mine. The silver in his eyes swirled to life, as if he were about to spell.
“Don’t even try it. I may be unskilled, but I’m tough.”
“There’s a spell which turns back time.” He tightened his grip on me. “We should never have met. Don’t you feel it?”
Inside me an urge to be even nearer burned, and I was quite close enough.
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