by Chanda Hahn
“Thank you, Duke Tally!” Calah called out.
“Yes, bless you, Duke Tally,” Tamara intoned.
As each of the women sang their thanks, Duke Tally’s cheeks turned a deeper red of embarrassment.
“Ah, speak nothing of it. As long as you work hard and continue to sneak me candy whenever my daughter, the warden, denies me my vices, we shall get along splendidly.” He patted his round belly.
More laughter followed as Duke Tally tottered inside to his study.
“Dinner has already been prepared, and it is awaiting you inside.” Liam gestured to the doors, and Devin and Hayes helped the women out of the wagon. I slid off Damsel and was patting her nose when I saw a beautiful woman with brunette locks step out of the house.
Her dress was a soft cornflower yellow, her eyes a bright green, and she had the softest rouge to her cheeks. “There you are, Liam.” She clutched his elbow possessively and then turned to survey the yard and wagon. Her perfect lips turned into a frown. “Are these the questionable women father agreed to employ?”
I gasped at the insult, and my fingers dug into Damsel’s reins.
“Delphine, I already explained the extenuating circumstances in detail,” Liam said.
“Really, Liam. I know that you have a noble heart, but don’t you think this is going a bit too far? It’s not appropriate to have these women under the same house as me. Aren’t you worried about my reputation?”
“Delphine,” he turned and clasped her hands between his, “your reputation is above reproach, and I think it will only spread further if the people understand how magnanimous your charity is.” He patted her knuckles, and she preened.
“Yes, once again you are right.” She smiled and then turned to the women in the yard. “Very well, come in. I will show you to your quarters.” She snapped her fingers and spun without waiting to see if anyone would follow.
The earlier anticipation faltered, but only a little. The women eagerly accompanied Delphine. I balked, refusing to enter the house of that woman. There was something about her I didn’t like, and I didn’t need my gift to know that she was spoiled.
Liam waited until the last woman entered, and he turned and looked at me.
It was a silent standoff. He would either follow Delphine into the house or walk to me. He took a single step toward me, then halted.
“Liam!” Delphine called from inside the manor. He turned and followed her call.
I took my horse and headed around the side of the house. The stables were far larger and capable of housing more horses that were currently kept on the property. Many of the men had claimed the empty stalls for themselves to sleep in, choosing to release their own horses into the fields.
I found an empty stall and removed Damsel’s tack and brushed her down.
“You’re a beautiful lady,” I said, speaking to my horse. “And I wish I could hear your thoughts.” I ran my hands up her nose and scratched her in all the spots the bridle would rub.
She bobbed her head and pushed her nose into my chest and snuffed loudly. I closed my eyes and leaned into her nose, trying to open myself up to her. If there was any sign of me getting my powers back, it would be through her. The first time I heard thoughts, I was five. It was one of our chickens as it chased a grasshopper in the yard. I fondly remembered the chicken’s thoughts.
Eat hopper. Stop jumping. Eat hopper. Eat hopper.
My sisters didn’t understand my ramblings, and they teased me mercilessly.
I sighed and looked into my horse’s deep brown eyes. “You got nothing for me? Well, at least I tried.”
As night fell, it became darker, and the cold set in. The manor house lit up with lights and music, and most of the soldiers had found their way inside. From my spot in the stables, I could look through the side alcove into the ballroom and see that there was an impromptu dance going on. Tamara played the piano, Hayes was on the violin, and a few of the other soldiers were swinging the girls around the room in a dance.
I moved forward a few steps to watch through the glass. I had said I was just like the others, but here I was. Once again, I found myself on the outside looking in. Afraid to be normal. Afraid to make connections with people, avoiding large groups.
The chandeliers cast a sparkling glow across the grass, and I grabbed my skirt and lifted my right arm, pretending to dance with an invisible partner. Frequently, I would look over my shoulder to correct my stance, and more often than not, I turned the wrong way, and I even stepped on my own foot.
“Ouch!” I cried, laughing at myself.
The music stopped, and I waited for the next song, my hands clasped in front of me. It was a slow waltz, one meant for lovers and partners. In the hall, Patrick moved toward Tamara, and within minutes, each of the ladies had a dancing partner.
“May I have this dance?” a voice came from the darkness.
I spun around in surprise and saw a man with dark blond hair, whom I didn’t recognize. He wore a cloak and long sleeves that covered his arms. His face was angular and oddly familiar, but I wasn’t sure how I knew him.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“An old friend of the family,” he answered.
“Oh, then shouldn’t you be inside?”
“Like you, crowds make me uncomfortable.” He bowed gracefully and extended his hand to me. I curtseyed and grasped his fingertips. He pulled me close, one hand on my waist, and with practiced ease, he led me through the steps for the waltz.
“I see you’ve danced before,” I said.
“They forced me to take lessons as a child. Although boring, they do come in handy. You’re a quick learner.”
“I’m barely keeping up with you,” I said, out of breath.
He smiled and leaned close to me. “You’re so fascinating, Aura.”
“How do you know my name?”
“I said I’m a friend of the family. I just didn’t say whose family.”
“I’ve never met you before in my life.”
“But I’ve seen you. I watched you from afar as you gallantly tried to save Meri and failed.”
I stopped dancing and tried to pull away, but his grasp on my waist and wrist tightened painfully. “Who are you?”
“Now really, I expected more from a daughter of Eville.” He laughed. “I hardly sense any magic in you. Why would he go to all the trouble to find a daughter of Eville to fight the blight and bring you?”
“Let me go,” I snapped.
As I fought, his sleeve slipped, and I noticed dark tattoos lining his arm. I knew those tattoos and what they symbolized. Dark magic.
“I know you,” I hissed. “You’re Aspen, Allemar’s apprentice.”
“You’re smart. Too bad you’re so weak. I could squash you like a bug.” He chanted, the tattoos on his arms glowed with power and his fingers burned into my wrist.
I yelped in pain as I tried to pull away, but he overpowered me. “Killing you will be the sweetest revenge on my sister, Rosalie.”
I screamed and kicked Aspen. I was aiming for his legs, but he turned, and I kicked his knee. He lost his grip, and I turned to run.
Aspen tackled me, bringing me to the ground. I tried to crawl away, but he flipped me over and hit me in the face.
Blinding stars exploded in my brain, and I felt a warm trickle down my lip as I tasted blood.
“I’m going to kill you, and you’re so pathetic I don’t even need magic to do it.” His hands reached for my throat as he chanted again, his arms glowing. “Go ahead, scream. Cry out for help. No one will save you. I want to hear those pretty lips beg for mercy.”
“I’ll never beg,” I hissed.
“Then die.” His hands pressed against my throat and I pulled at his wrists as I fought for each breath. All I could think about was Liam. How I had let him down in so many ways. He was right. I needed to learn to defend myself.
Liam, I’m so sorry. I failed you.
Aspen’s grip lessened, and he looked at me with confusion.
“What was that?”
I gasped and coughed.
“What did you just do? I felt it. You did something. Where did it come from? How there was nothing there a minute ago and now it appeared.”
I couldn’t answer, and he quickly changed his mind. “Never mind. It won’t matter once you’re dead.” He grabbed my neck again, and I was losing consciousness. My vision was narrowing as darkness took over. “Allemar looks down on me. Said that I’m not strong enough to beat one of Lorelai’s daughters. I will prove him wrong. You’re nothing but a weak girl.”
I choked. Anger boiling up within me. I’m not weak. I’m strong, and I refused to die without a fight. I released my hold on his wrist and felt along my hip for the staff. Digging with my fingers on the strap, I released it from the leather harness and put it between our bodies. I pressed the button, and the staff extended, knocking Aspen backwards. He groaned in pain and his hands went to his midsection.
I swung my weapon like a club, hitting him in the temple. He lilted to the side, but it wasn’t a powerful hit because he recovered quickly.
“Why, you little . . .” Aspen lunged for me, and I braced myself for the attack that never landed.
A fist connected with Aspen’s face. His head snapped back. He dodged the second attack and ducked. The two men circled each other warily. I lay on the ground, my focus coming in and out in waves.
Aspen’s hand glowed as he released a fireball, and the other person jumped to the side. When the smoke cleared, Aspen had disappeared.
The figure ran to me, and Devin materialized as he leaned over me. “Aura, are you okay? Answer me.”
“I’m sorry,” I croaked out.
He shook his head. Devin helped me sit up, and he accidentally touched my burned wrist. I cried out and looked at the four-and-one blister pattern.
“You have nothing to be sorry about. He attacked you.”
“I couldn’t stop h-him. I was so upset I let him overpower me and get away,” I hiccupped.
“Shh, I don’t care about him. I care about you.” Devin pulled me into a hug. One that I didn’t even know I needed. Huge, gut-wrenching, guilty sobs racked my body as I wished it were Liam holding me, comforting me.
I wanted it to be Liam.
“Aura!” Liam cried out. His shirt had come undone, and his hair was in disarray, as if he had run from far away. “What happened?”
“A mage attacked her. He went that way,” Devin answered, pointing toward the edge of the property.
Liam saw my burned wrist and his fists clenched, his face turning dark.
“I’m taking her to get her wrist bandaged,” Devin said, lifting me up into the air. He carried me into the manor house, my skin blistered and red, giving off an odd stench of burning flesh.
“N-no,” I murmured into his shoulder. “No, I’m fine. I can do it myself.”
“There’s nowhere else to go. I have to get you to a healer.” Devin walked past the ballroom and headed down the hall.
A house-elf wandered by. “Fidget, fetch bandages, now,” Devin yelled.
The house-elf nodded and scampered into a hidden panel in the wall. Devin moved like he knew his way around the house, and he took me to a study. After he set me down in the chaise lounge, I leaned forward to see if Liam had followed us inside. He hadn’t.
I sighed and relaxed on the chair, letting Devin and the house-elf tend to my burn. I was pleased that the elf returned with a large fresh aloe vera leaf and other treatments in her hand.
Devin picked up the aloe leaf and made a face as he smelled it. “Phew.”
“Don’t worry, I know it stinks, but the smell will go away.” He didn’t know what to do with it, but I explained, and he worked the knife. “Cut the spines off, slice it in half, score it, and then we can rub it into my wrist.” I turned to the house-elf and asked her to show me what else she brought. With my good arm, I pointed to the items I knew would help with the blistering.
“Ah.” Devin held up the prepared aloe and carefully applied it to my wrist.
I only whimpered a little at the pressure, but the burning sensation was cooled. It wasn’t the first time I’d received an unbearable burn. When I was little, I had grabbed a cauldron handle thinking it was cool and had to endure a similar treatment. Thankfully, Devin bandaged my wrist and gave me a smile.
“How’s that?”
“Not bad,” I answered, surveying his work.
“Thank you.” He grinned.
“Devin, have you seen Liam?” Delphine spoke as she walked into the study. When she saw me on the chaise and Devin leaning over me, she halted. Her eyebrows rose, her mouth pinched together. “What are you doing?”
“Tending to an injury. We had an intruder on the property that attacked Aura. Liam went after him.”
“He what?” Delphine and I said in unison. I had no idea.
“What are you doing here? You need to go after him,” Delphine screeched, and I was inclined to agree.
Devin looked up at me and gave me a wink. “He’s a big boy. He can handle himself.”
“Against a dark sorcerer? Please, Devin,” I pleaded.
Devin heard the worry in my voice. “Okay, I’ll go. You stay here and don’t worry.”
“I’ll be right back.”
He followed Delphine out into the hall, and I sat in the study alone, taking in the warm, cozy interior while I waited.
It was hours later when Devin and Liam returned on horseback without a prisoner in tow. I heard the servants rushing to help them, and Liam’s voice just outside the door to the study.
“She’s asleep,” the house-elf whispered.
The handle moved, the door opened, then it shut and closed with a click. Liam’s footsteps faded away.
Chapter Fifteen
A loud thud roused me from my unnaturally deep sleep, and I rubbed my palms over my eyes. It was strange to sleep without having other people’s thoughts merging into my dreams. It was oddly peaceful and unnerving. I had a kink in my neck from sleeping on the chaise. I stretched, reached toward the ceiling. Rolling my shoulders, I wandered over to the window that overlooked the courtyard and stables. My hand, despite the severity of the burn, only ached. I would need fresh bandages, more aloe, and pain reliever poultice, but for now the pain was tolerable.
The white lace curtain obscured my view, and I pulled it aside to see most of the troops had their horses saddled and were ready to leave. They were loading more barrels and food onto their supply wagon, and it was that noise that woke me. Devin had already mounted, his face forlorn as he cast a solemn look toward my window.
The door creaked open, and the soft steps on the carpet alerted me to a visitor. Even without my magic, I knew who it was. I could sense Liam.
“Are you okay?” I turned and studied him from head to toe, searching for signs that he had encountered trouble.
“I’m fine. I’m sorry, I couldn’t find him,” Liam said.
“I’m just glad you’re not hurt.” I looked out the window. “I overslept,” I said.
“I told the servants not to disturb you.”
“Why?” I asked, heartbroken, still not turning around.
Liam came closer, stopping inches behind me. So close I could breathe in his scent. “I wanted you to rest so you can recover.”
I turned around, ready to spill my heart out to him about the kiss with Devin and how it meant nothing, but his stony look stopped me. He clenched his jaw, his brows furrowed, and I saw the dark circles under his eyes. I hesitated, unsure of the reception I would receive. This didn’t seem like the same Liam.
Liam gently grasped my shoulders. “I’m sorry that I failed to protect you a second time. It won’t happen again.” His voice was full of regret. His hands dropped from my shoulders and he stepped away.
I stared up at him with wide eyes. “What do you mean?” I cast a glance out the window, through the lace, and came to the heartbreaking conclusion. “You’re . . . leaving me behind.”
&nb
sp; “Yes, it’s for your own good. I was wrong to ask you to come.”
“You don’t get to decide what’s for my own good,” I breathed, holding my temper in check.
“I’m the commander, and I say what goes.”
“I won’t stay here. I still want to help. I will make my own way to the front lines to fight anyway I know how.”
“Aura,” Liam warned. “I’ve lost enough men trying to tackle the blight, and now you’re even more of a liability.”
“I’m not a liability.”
“You are. Last night proves it. I can’t bring an unarmed woman to fight the blight. It will be too dangerous.”
“I wasn’t defenseless. I fought him off using the staff—without magic—but I can get better.” I finally found a spring of hope in my dire situation. “Maybe Devin could teach me to fight with it?”
Liam’s hands balled into fists. “Is that what you want? Devin?”
“Yes, I just said—”
Liam’s shoulders dropped the slightest. “As you wish.” He turned and marched out of the room.
“Where are you going?” I asked, quickening my pace to keep up with him.
“If you want to come, we’re leaving right now. If you can’t handle my pace, then maybe you should reconsider the offer to stay here,” he said.
“But I haven’t even had breakfast.” I slowed when I smelled the fresh ham in the dining room, and I debated if I had time.
“There’s an entire kingdom at stake. Food can wait.” He marched by and headed out the front doors.
I stood in my half-wrinkled clothes, my bandaged hand throbbing with pain—needing more ointment–and looking at the buffet table full of food.
My stomach let out an unladylike announcement.
“Oh, stars.” I raced into the room, and with my bare hands grabbed handfuls of ham, bacon, and toast, and then raced out the door and down the steps. Carefully, I sandwiched the meat between the bread as I stopped in front of Damsel.
