A Kind of Magic

by Donna Grant

  Donna Grant

  128

  chamber and glanced at him.

  “What is it?”

  “Well,” she said and blew her bangs off her forehead. “I’m a little worried about returning to the hall.”

  He smiled and leaned a shoulder against the stone wall. “Why? Because they know what we were doing?”

  “Well, yeah,” she answered and almost gave him a “duh”.

  He laughed and took her hand to bring it to his lips to kiss. “Don’t be. They are all adults.”

  “Which means nothing. Trust me, Roderick. I know how some people react to a couple … together … outside of marriage.”

  His eyes narrowed slightly on the word marriage, and she inwardly cringed.

  “And this bothers you?”

  She sighed and tried again. “What bothers me is that they might look at me differently.”

  “I’m sure they will.”

  She was about to scream. Needing to burn off the growing frustration, Elle paced for a minute. Once she had calmed down, she faced Roderick again. “I know they will look at me differently. I’m more concerned with how they will treat me.” Before he could speak, she went on. “I don’t want them to think badly of me or treat me unkind because you and I are sleeping together.”

  “They

  won’t.”

  She waited, hoping he would say more. “That’s it? ‘They won’t’,” she repeated.

  “How are you so sure?”

  “You will have to trust me.”

  She let him guide her to the stairs since she knew she couldn’t shake his confidence in the matter. With a silent prayer that he was right, Elle descended the stairs to find everyone still at the dais.

  “How long have we been gone?” she whispered to Roderick.

  “An hour or so.”

  “About time you two returned,” Hugh said as they approached the dais.

  The great hall with its warmth from the fire in the humongous hearth, beautiful tapestries, and various displays of weapons was one of Elle’s favorite places. Even the many candelabras hanging from the walls or standing amid the great hall added a touch of ambiance that a light fixture had never done in her time. Yet, despite her love of the castle, she couldn’t dispel the anxiety she had returning after leaving with Roderick.

  Elle searched his eyes for any hint of cruelty but found only the same open friendship she had first seen. A glance at Val and Mina showed the same thing. A smile pulled at her lips at her unfounded worries. She sat when Roderick held out her chair.

  “I told you,” he whispered to her just before taking his chair.

  For several minutes, Elle sat back and watched the other four talk amongst themselves. Every so often, Roderick would glance at her and smile. And for the first time in her life, she felt truly sated. Not because of the great lovemaking she and Roderick had shared, but because she was with people that understood her. She longed to A KIND OF MAGIC

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  speak of her future and just what would happen to her once the harpies were dead, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

  One thing at a time. First, we need to kill the harpies and destroy the stone.

  “He’ll come with them,” she blurted out.

  Roderick turned his head to her. “Who will?”

  “Alex,” she said, remembering the way he laughed as Jennifer fell to her death.

  “He has the stone. If the harpies come, so will he.”

  Hugh nodded solemnly. “We know.

  Elle’s eyes looked from Val, who refused to meet her gaze, to Roderick. “Why didn’t you say anything to me?” she asked Roderick.

  “We thought you might forget about Alex, and after what happened, that wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

  “I can’t forget him,” she said. “At least not until he is dead and the stone destroyed.”

  “He will die,” Val said, his voice low and deadly.

  Hugh nodded. “And the stone destroyed.”

  Elle was lucky to know such good people, but she couldn’t help but worry. “Is there already a plan for Alex?”

  “It depends on who he follows,” Hugh answered.

  Roderick leaned back in his chair. “And if I’m correct, he’ll come after you,” he said to Elle.

  “Great,” she mumbled.

  “Between Val and I, we will get him.”

  Elle prayed he was right. “All right. Once we split up after the first harpy is beheaded. What happens?”

  The three men smiled and leaned close.

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  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Roderick scratched his whiskered face as he walked into the stables. He had seen the red marks on Elle’s soft cheeks after their lovemaking, and he would be sure to be clean shaven from now on so as not to harm her.

  Her wild abandonment just hours earlier still brought a smile to his face. Even now his body wanted her again, and with each taste, his hunger for her grew.

  He glanced at the gray sky, hoping he would see the harpies. He was anxious to get the battle started so he and Elle could speak of the future. After so many years in the Shields, he knew better than to talk of the future before a battle. Better to wait until he defeated the enemy.

  A quick check of the saddles and weapons let Roderick know everything was in order. He stood against the stall of the white stallion he had ridden earlier and rubbed his velvety nose.

  It was then he found himself wanting to return to his realm. He wanted to see his family and introduce them to Elle. The guilt he had carried with him, for what seemed like an eternity, no longer weighed as heavily as it did before.

  “I see some things have changed.”

  The cool voice of the Fae commander reached Roderick’s ears. He didn’t turn to Aimery but continued to stroke the stallion’s muzzle. “What do you mean?”

  Aimery walked around until he stood in front of Roderick. “Your guilt has lessened.”

  “Not really. I have much to pay for, but I have a different outlook now.”

  “Because of Elle.”

  Roderick sighed. “I wondered when you would speak of her.”

  “I do not pass judgment,” Aimery said. “I have always told you all to take what pleasure you could find.”

  Roderick looked away, not yet ready to speak of just how he felt about Elle since he really didn’t know what it was he felt.

  “Yet, I sense that she is more than just a passing bed partner,” Aimery said softly.

  “Probe in my mind all you want,” Roderick said and raised his gaze to the Fae.

  “The fact is, I don’t really know.”

  The smile vanished from Aimery’s face. “Though I do.”

  Roderick’s stomach fell to his feet like a leaded ball. “Tell me what you know.”

  “I cannot, and you know it.”

  Roderick turned away in disgust. “Did you come here to torment me or for some other purpose.”

  “Actually, I came to warn you that the harpies will be here before nightfall.”

  Roderick spun back to face the Fae. “How do you know?”

  Aimery’s upper lip turned up in disgust. “We can smell their evil soaked bodies A KIND OF MAGIC

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  hours away. I hope all has been prepared.”

  “Of course. You know Hugh. Everything has been thought of.”

  “Good, good,” Aimery said and walked to the stable doors.

  Roderick could stand it no more. He had to know. “Aimery, will she live?”

  For long moments the Fae didn’t answer. Slowly, he turned to face Roderick.

  “There is a slim chance,” he said, the sadness pulling at his handsome features.

  “What can I do to ensure her safety?”

  “There is nothing you can do. You are doing everything there is.”

  “Then that isn’t enough,” Rod
erick said and strode to Aimery. “If there is a chance she will die, I want to know how to deal with it.”

  “That I know not. If I did, I would most certainly tell you.” Aimery sighed and looked away. “You have to understand, that although we are able to see many things, some things are fuzzy, unreadable at times.”

  Roderick flexed his clenched hands. “And this is one of them.”

  “Aye. It must be because of how closely Elle and Mina are to us and our future.”

  “You need her,” Roderick tried. “She is important to Earth, to your realm, and to mine. She cannot die.”

  Aimery reached up and clasped Roderick on the shoulder. “Then keep her safe.”

  “I will guard her with my life,” Roderick promised.

  Aimery lowered his hand to his side. “I have news from your realm.”

  “I don’t want to know,” Roderick said and turned away.

  “Your father is dying.”

  Roderick’s feet stopped as emotion welled up inside of him. “Not yet. I haven’t redeemed myself to him and the rest of my realm.”

  “You have served the Shields faithfully for many years. King Theron and Queen Rufina have agreed that you may return to your realm immediately.”

  Roderick squeezed his eyes closed. Either Elle or his father. How could he choose?

  “How long does my father have?”

  He felt more than saw Aimery’s shrug. “I know not. I know what happened, Roderick. Face your father again and receive your forgiveness so that you can go on.”

  “When must I leave?” he asked and opened his eyes.

  “The sooner the better.”

  Roderick swallowed hard, picturing Elle’s lovely face as she called his name as she climaxed. “I need time.”

  “I will be waiting,” Aimery said as he walked to him. “I do not envy you the decision you must make. Your father or the woman that could be your heart’s match.”

  “Is there anyway I could leave now and return before the harpies arrive?”

  Aimery stared at him for several heartbeats. “We could try, but I do not think so.”

  But it was worth a try. “Listen for my call,” Roderick said and rushed from the stables to find Hugh and Val.

  Val sat alone next to the tall stone wall that surrounded the castle, sharpening his sword. As usual, he was sharpening the point on his halberd.

  He looked up as Roderick approached and frowned. “What is it?”

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  “I have just had a visit from Aimery.”

  Val cursed and jumped to his feet, shook off the snow, and headed towards the castle doors. “Best to find Hugh so you need only tell it once.”

  They found Hugh inside the armory as he inspected weapons his knights would use. “Aimery,” he said as Val and Roderick approached.

  “How did you know?” Val asked.

  Hugh shrugged. “I know that look. What happened?”

  Roderick took a deep breath. “The harpies will be here before nightfall.”

  Both men cursed long and loud.

  “We need everyone in place, especially a lookout,” Roderick continued.

  Val nodded. “Three are already in place.”

  “That is not all Aimery told you,” Hugh said as he searched Roderick’s face.

  Roderick sank onto a barrel and looked at his two friends. “My father is dying, and there is a chance Elle will die this night.”

  Val whistled and propped his foot on another barrel. “You must choose.”

  Roderick nodded.

  “Go,” Hugh said. “We will watch Elle for you, keep her alive until you return.

  You need to see your father, to explain what happened.”

  Roderick looked at his leader. “How do you know?”

  Hugh smiled ruefully. “I pieced things together through the years. I don’t know what happened exactly, but whatever it was needs to be explained so you can receive your family’s forgiveness.”

  “There is a chance that I can go to my father and return before the harpies arrive,”

  Roderick said.

  “Then do it,” Val urged. “Find Elle and explain to her.”

  Roderick put his head in his hands. The last thing he wanted to do was tell Elle why he had no other choice but to return to his father before died. If she didn’t hate him for leaving her, she would hate him for what he had done.

  “I cannot,” he mumbled.

  The armory grew silent as the three men turned to their thoughts.

  “Do you love her?” Hugh finally asked.

  Roderick lifted his head. “I do not know. What I feel for her is hard to put into words, but is it love?” He shrugged.

  “I will tell her,” Val offered. “Go to your father.”

  Roderick turned to Val. “I cannot ask you to do this.”

  “You didn’t. I offered,” Val said with a smile. “I give you my word that I will keep Elle safe. Go so you can hurry back.”

  Roderick knew he would forever been in Val and Hugh’s debt. He stood and gazed at the two men. “I cannot thank either of you enough.”

  “Don’t try,” Hugh said and pushed him towards the door. “We’ll be waiting for you.”

  Roderick hurried from the armory and out of the castle to the stables. Just as he reached the stables he called out for Aimery who appeared instantly.

  “Well?” Aimery asked.

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  “Let us go so that I may return.”

  Aimery smiled and then glanced over Roderick’s shoulder, his smile slipping.

  “What is it?” he asked as he looked over his shoulder.

  And

  spotted

  Elle.

  She was coming towards him, but Val quickly intercepted her. Yet, Roderick couldn’t take his eyes from her beautiful face. And when the anger and surprise shown in her eyes, he knew then he had lost her.

  “Fight for her when you return,” Aimery said.

  Roderick knew he was right. He turned back to Aimery and nodded. “Take me to Thales.”

  And that’s when it happened. The instant Aimery touched him, Roderick smelled the evil.

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  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Elle blinked, her mind barely registering that Roderick had left her. What was it Val had said? That Roderick needed to return to his realm.

  “Elle,” Val yelled and pulled at her arm.

  She turned and looked at him as if through a fog. Her mind had stopped working the instant she heard Roderick was leaving her. After he had sworn never to.

  Val grabbed both her shoulders and shook her. “Elle, look at me.”

  She blinked again and focused on his face. “He left me.”

  “He’ll return,” Val promised. “We must leave. Now.”

  “Why?”

  “The harpies are here.”

  And then she heard their unmistakable screams, screams she never wanted to hear again. Like nails on a chalk board, their cries would rival that of a banshee.

  She lifted her skirts and followed Val into the stables. While Val began to saddle the horses, she barred the door after Hugh, Mina, and the knights ran inside.

  “Did the call go out to the others?” Hugh asked as he saddled his horse.

  “Aye,” two of the knights answered in unison.

  Elle ran to her mare and gathered her weapons to place on her saddle now that Val was done. She tossed him the bridle to his horse and then moved to mount hers. It was on her third try that she felt hands on her waist.

  Once in the saddle she looked down at Val. “Thank you.”

  “We’ll take care of you,” he promised as he vaulted on his horse.

  The small group looked at each other in the stables before Hugh gave a nod.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  Elle was anyt
hing but ready. She knew Val would keep her safe, but they needed Roderick. As the group burst from the stable, Elle tried to recall just what reason Val had said Roderick needed to leave.