“What’s wrong?” inquired Ian.
“It feels as though the book is in two places.”
“How can that be?”
The old elf took a moment to think about it. “If this Caleb has been carrying it around with him, it could be that the book’s energy has imprinted itself on him. I’ll have to send you each to a different place. We can’t risk sending you together and ignoring the second location.”
Ian shook his head. “No. I’m not sending her on her own.”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “I’m quite capable of taking care of myself.”
“That’s not what I meant and you know it,” he growled. “I just… I guess I’m getting used to having you around.” He took a deep breath. “If there’s a chance I won’t see you again, I need to give this to you now.”
“What is it?” My heart jumped at the sight of a beautiful silver chain he pulled out of his pocket.
“Ian, it’s…”
He dropped it into my hand. “Do you like it?”
I nodded. He took the chain back and went to stand behind me. He brushed the hair from my neck, clasped the chain and pressed his lips to my skin. I shivered and leaned back into him.
“Promise me you’ll be careful,” he whispered.
“I promise.” I turned around and gazed into his eyes. “Do the same.”
He nodded.
“Ian, I…” I stopped, not sure how to word what I wanted to say.
“We must do this now.” Blarenagin interrupted our moment. Ian held his lips to my forehead for a few seconds before kissing the end of my nose.
“I’ll go first,” he volunteered.
The wood elf nodded and started to mumble under his breath.
“Wait!”
Everyone froze at my shout. I tried for a second time to get my feelings in order. Knowing I wasn’t going to be able to do it in time, I shook my head. “I just… Do you know what Caleb looks like should you see him?”
Ian nodded. “Our fathers are second cousins.”
Blarenagin resumed his chant.
“Chaela…” Ian took a deep breath. “Chaela, I need you to know, I love you.”
The wood elf put his hand on Ian’s shoulder and I watched, stunned, as he disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Before I had time to register what he’d said, the wood elf touched my shoulder and I felt the ground disappear from under me. I felt as though I was free falling for a few seconds. My feet touched solid ground once again and I fell backwards.
“Bloody hell, where did you come from?”
I stood quickly and gawked at Caleb who was staring at me, his mouth hanging open.
“Where’s the book, Caleb?”
He jerked back to his senses and his surprise turned to contempt. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” He blinked and looked at me a bit more closely. “By gods, you’re a woman!”
I fought the urge to laugh. “I am.”
“A woman named Chael. Your father must really have despised you.”
I grunted. “Not that you actually care, but my name is really Chaela.”
He tilted his head to the side. “You’re right. I don’t care.”
“The book.”
He raised an eyebrow at me. “Over my dead body.”
“You’re right. It will be over your dead body. It doesn’t matter anyhow, Caleb. If I’m here with you, then Ian’s with the book. You’ve lost and you don’t even know it.” I swung and my fist connected with cheek.
“Bitch! Gods, are you ever going to change? You insolent little… You don’t understand, Chael. This is bigger than just us.”
He pushed me backwards and I realized I’d made a mistake. Being so preoccupied with Caleb, I’d let myself get backed up to the edge of Guard’s Ridge. I fell to my knees to try and stay balanced as the piece of ledge I stood on gave way beneath my weight. Caleb’s foot connected with my shoulder and I fell backwards with a cry. His hand reached for me, or so I thought, but stopped short as it clasped around the chain Ian had given me. He managed to pull it over my head as I disappeared over the edge of the cliff. I looked down at the ground rushing up at me.
“Yenstid!” I yelled the word as loudly as I could. My heart jumped in my chest. “Yenstid!” When the word didn’t work the second time, I had a few seconds to wonder if Blarenagin was ever wrong before I closed my eyes and waited for the impact.
*****
It had been two days and he still wasn’t sure if he was supposed to find the book or the idiot that had taken it. Ian took a drink of his ale and watched from the corner booth as Caleb came strutting into the pub. His anger flared and he was surprised that it had nothing to do with the fact that the man had killed Alexander. He was angry that this was the one who had made Chaela’s life hell growing up. He felt the hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach. By gods, he missed her. It didn’t matter that she irritated the hell out of him with her need to be strong and independent. He took another drink. It was of no importance either way. The look on her face when he’d told her how he felt had been a good enough indication of how she felt. He knew she’d come to care for him, that much was obvious, but she wasn’t the kind of woman who needed or wanted a man in her life. She was man enough by herself.
He was so busy watching Caleb and thinking of Chaela he didn’t notice the other two men come up behind him. He felt the point of a dagger press into his side.
“Keep quiet and walk out the back door.”
Great, he thought. Just perfect.
The men walked him past Caleb who sneered and followed them out. One of the men hit him between the shoulder blades and he grunted as he fell to his knees.
“Well, now, if it isn’t the dead come to life,” commented Caleb. He laughed at Ian’s obvious surprise, though the shock was more at his cousin’s choice of words than then fact that he’d recognized him. “Did you think you could just walk into town and that no one would recognize you for who you truly are? Sir Ian Murphy, or should I say simply Ian Murphy.”
Ian shrugged and looked up to the other man. “What’s wrong little Caleb?” He grinned as Caleb’s eyes flashed at the nickname. “You can’t possibly still be upset they banished you from the Knighthood? At least I walked away of my own free will and wasn’t cast out like an unwanted dog.” His comment had the desired effect and Caleb threw himself at him. Ian raised himself and shoved his shoulder into the other man’s abdomen. Caleb’s breath left him in a huff, Ian landing over him and quickly straddling him, his fist connecting with his opponent’s face. He let out a frustrated grunt as he was pulled off.
Caleb raised himself on his elbows and wiped the blood from the cut on his lip. “Now, what I want to know is if you’re still upset I killed the old man, or if you found out I killed Chael. Or should I say Chaela. I always knew there was something wrong with him.”
Ian’s heart dropped. He struggled to suck in his breaths. “What?”
Caleb grinned. “See, boys, I told you he was fond of the runt.” He wound up and kicked Ian in the chest. “What? No fight left in you?”
Ian coughed. “Where is she?”
“I really don’t think it matters, do you?”
“Where is she?” Ian’s yell echoed through the alley.
“Well, if it matters that much to you, she’s the bottom of Guard’s Ridge.” He smiled. “It was the most amazing thing, really. She screamed all the way down… just like a girl.”
Ian clenched his jaw and tried to slow his breathing. He shook his head in denial.
“Do you think I’m lying to you?”
Ian glared at Caleb, trying to convince himself his cousin was just trying to get to him. The image of Chaela having the vision of herself falling flashed through his mind and his heart sank.
“Maybe what you need is a bit of proof, yeah?” Caleb reached into his pack and pulled out the silver chain.
Ian remembered how her skin a been covered with goose bumps at the touch of his fingers as he’d softly moved her hair to the side to do it up, ho
w she’d tilted her head forward and leaned back into his chest as he’d pressed his lips lightly to the back of her neck.
Caleb tossed the chain to the ground and watched as Ian picked it up gingerly. Ian’s fist tightened around it as his eyes met Caleb’s. He started to charge at him again but was pushed roughly to the ground by his guards. Something struck him in the back of the head and his vision blurred. The only thing that managed to keep him conscious was the fear of dropping Chaela’s chain.
He felt himself getting dragged a short distance before being hauled up some steps and finally sat down roughly on a chair which his legs were then tied to. He struggled to stand and was hit again. The men proceeded to tie his hands behind the chair. The rope cut into his wrists, threatening to make him lose his hold on the necklace. One of the men gave him a final punch to the stomach before they left him, alone, in the dark room. He flexed his jaw and pushed against the gag in his mouth until he couldn’t get it to loosen any more than it could. The weight of the chain in his hand pulled like an anchor on his heart. He felt a tear slip down his bruised face and then another.
No. Please no.
*****
I watched from my hiding spot behind Jasmine’s house as she moved around her room. I checked myself over once more, still shocked at having gotten away with nothing more than a speeding heart. Once all of this nonsense was over I’d be sure to make a special trip to the coast to thank the old wood elf personally for the charm he’d put on me. I wondered how Ian was doing and if he was doing better than me. Blasted Caleb.
Jasmine stepped out of the house with a wave to her mother.
“Jasmine!”
She frowned and looked around, trying to find who had called her.
“Jasmine! Behind the water barrel.” I stood and grinned as her hand flew to her mouth.
“Chael! Why are you hiding behind my house? They’re looking for you Chael. They say you killed your aunt and uncle and father!”
I nodded. “So I’ve heard. Do you believe them?”
She came to stand beside me and shook her head.
“Good. I need your help.”
“Anything. What do you need?”
I smiled. “I need a dress.”
Her jaw dropped and her eyes bugged out of her face. “But…”
“It’s a long story, yeah? For the sake of getting things done, here’s the short version. The night my mother died, my father got a double shock to the system. Instead of giving birth to a son as was usual for my family, my mother gave birth to me. A girl. My father raised me as a boy to keep the Shadow Knight tradition alive.”
She looked me up and down, her smile widening. “By gods, Chael, you make a much prettier woman than you do a man!” She started to laugh. “It explains so much! Hang on.” She ran back into her house, saying something about forgetting her purse to her mother. She reappeared at her bedroom window. “Come on!” She opened the window and moved out of the way so I could climb in.
She took another look at me and grinned. “Alright, so, what’s the dress for?”
“Well, I can’t go around looking like Chael; he’s a wanted man. I think it might be time to officially become Chaela. That’s my real name, by the way. No one will recognize me if I’m in a dress.”
She nodded and went to her closet. “I’ve the blue or the green that should fit you well. Let’s go with the green, it matches your eyes.”
I started to tell her it didn’t really matter what the dress looked like, but kept quiet when it became obvious she was having a lot of fun. She was, at this very moment, the only person I could put my trust in.
She handed me the dress and I pulled my tunic over my head so I could get it on. She nodded, sure of her choice. “I knew this one would work. It’s not as poufy as the others so if you need to fight, it won’t be in the way. Also, keep your pants on underneath. The dress will hide them and if you really need to, you can rip the skirt clean off the bodice.” She went to her closet and pulled out a thick dark brown cloak. “It’s a bit warm for a cloak, but you can strap your slaggens to your back and cover them with it.”
I watched her, shocked, and she laughed. “Chaela, I’m not daft. I know you don’t need a dress to go for an evening with a special someone. You’re here on a mission which means you’ll need your weapons.” She maneuvered me to the bed and handed me a brush. “You will, however, have to endure me doing your hair if you’re going to pull this look off.”
I smiled. “By gods, if Ian saw this he’d have a heart attack.”
“Oh?” She looked back from where she was finding pins to put in my hair. “And I’m assuming Ian knows you’re a woman.”
I blushed and she grinned.
“Promise me one thing, Chaela.”
“Anything.”
“When whatever it is you’re doing is done, we’ll get together for a drink. We could all go for supper.” It was her turn to blush. “You were right about Mac, by the way. We’re to be married next summer.”
I smiled. “Well, once this is done, I’d love for you to meet Ian. Speaking of Mac, is he around?”
She nodded. “I was just on my way to see him. He’s guarding the gates with Hal and Harry at the moment.
“Perfect. I could use their help.”
“Alright.” She pinned my bangs back and nodded at her handy work. “Now, a bit of eye smudge…”
I shook my head and she laughed.
“Fine.” She handed me the cloak, grabbed a different purse than the one she’d been carrying, and walked out of the room while I climbed back out the window. Once outside, she linked her arm with mine. “Now, Ian, do I know him?”
“I’m sure you’ve heard of Sir Gavin Murphy.”
She nodded.
“His son.”
She frowned. “But Ian Murphy is dead! A riding accident out on the plains.”
I grinned. “Trust me, the man is very much alive.” My smile slipped. “I hope he still is at least.”
She gave my arm a squeeze and gave a wave to Mac who was climbing down the wall at our arrival.
“Good evening, Love.” He pressed his lips to her forehead and nodded to me. “Miss.”
I started to laugh. “By gods, Jasmine, I must admit I wasn’t sure the dress would work to disguise me, but the proof is right before us.”
She grinned at a confused Mac. “Let’s see if Hal and Harry recognize you.” She waved at the two of them and we smiled as the twins made their way down to us.
“Good evening, Jasmine.” Hal smiled to her and nodded to me. “Who’s your friend?”
I smiled and Harry’s grin slipped. “By gods! No!”
“What?” Mac stared at me for a moment.
“Mac, it’s me. Chael.”
He looked me up and down before shaking his head. “Well, it definitely explains a lot, then, doesn’t it?”
Hal’s eyes bugged out of his head. “Chael?” He looked around to make sure no one had heard him. “You can’t be here!” His eyes wandered to my chest and he shook his head.
“I know that but I have no choice! I didn’t kill my father.”
“We know that, but the rest of the city seems to think you did.”
“It was Caleb!”
All three of them frowned.
“Come here.” Mac took my arm and we all went into the guard’s shack. “Tell me what’s going on.”
“We were sent to retrieve a book the day after the Knight’s ceremony, do you remember?”
He nodded, but held up his hand. “Before that. Before you left. You know they’re blaming you for your aunt and uncle’s murders as well? Gods, Chael, they have your dagger as evidence.”
I nodded. “It’s my old one. The one Caleb stole when we were young.”
Everyone nodded to show they remembered and I pulled my new dagger from behind my hip where it was hiding under the cloak and ran through the explanation of how my father had presented me with a new dagger the night of the ball and how I hadn’t been a
ble to find my old dagger the following morning.
“So whoever stole your dagger used it to kill your aunt and uncle.”
I nodded.
“And what happened with the book?” inquired Harry.
“We were attacked when we arrived at the cabin where it was. Alexander was killed and so was my father. The only reason I made it out a live was because Ian happened to be traveling by and he heard the commotion. It was Caleb, Mac. I didn’t know that at the time, but it was. He stole the book.”
“Ian?”
“Murphy.”
Mac ran a hand over his face in disbelief. “A man who is actually a woman and a dead man who is actually alive.” He took a deep breath. “Alright, keep going.”
“Ian knew a bit of the book and that it came from the Wood Elves on the coast.” I waved away their shocked looks. “I made that face too, but trust me, they’re alive and well. The elder elf, the one that had given the book to Alexander for safe keeping, explained to us that the book could be used to kill the Knights.”
“How?”
“There’s a spell. The elf said that all Knights carry a certain strain of magic in their blood. It’s what makes them agile and strong… it’s not just genetics, yeah?”
Harry nodded. “Alright, so why does Caleb want this book?”
Hal slapped him in the back of the head. “He’s going to try to destroy us, you idiot.”
“But if he kills us, he kills himself.”
I shook my head. “There’s another spell, a charm, that keeps the one saying the bad spell from being affected.”
Mac swore. “We knew he was up to something, but we had no idea it was something like this.” He frowned. “Where’s Ian, then?”
“I’m not sure. Blarenagin, the wood elf, displaced us to two different places. He could feel two areas where Caleb and the book might be. I managed to displace where Caleb was. I’m hoping Ian found the book.”
“So Caleb knows you’re here and that you know what he’s up to.”
I shook my head. “He knows I was here, but after he pushed me off the top of Guard’s Ridge, he thinks I’m dead.”
Chael's Luck (A Knights of Dorathan Novel) Page 12
