Alfred bowed before her. “I could see the recognition in your eyes when you saw me at dinner last night. You couldn’t quite place me though, could you?” She calmly shook her head as if she were tied up this way on a daily basis. “You know my master much better than you know me.” He didn’t give her the name of his master, because he’d been sworn to secrecy.
She stared at him, her eyes meeting his unflinchingly. She conveyed to the others that it was Alfred who had her tied up, hoping that would give Roland some information he could work with.
“We need you to agree to help the resistance, with all the powers you have at your disposal,” Alfred continued. “Which power is yours? I know the three of you sisters have the powers of illusion, healing, and another which is less useful, that I can’t even remember. Which is yours?”
She mumbled something behind the gag, hoping he would take it off her, or assume that she had a power that wouldn’t help her.
He shook his head. “The gag stays. I need you to nod and tell me that you agree to help the resistance.”
She continued to give him a blank stare, sending out a quick message. “He is not hurting me. He wants me to join the resistance.” She could feel the evil rolling off the man in waves. She was surprised she hadn’t felt it from across the room at supper the previous evening.
Roland thought back again, “Just don’t say anything to him. I should be there in a few more minutes.”
“I won’t.” She said a quick prayer that Roland would travel safely and quickly and continued staring at Alfred.
“You will nod and tell me you’re joining the resistance. We need you in place here in this house, ready to spy on your husband.” Alfred was starting to get angry, his dark eyes glowing unnaturally.
Christiana stared at him with surprise. She’d sensed evil in the man, but she hadn’t sensed power. If he was a man with power, what was the power? What could he do to her?
He stepped closer to Christiana as she watched him, and he saw the recognition in her eyes. “Yes, Christiana, power recognizes power does it not?” His smile was filled with evil. “I too am a descendent of the Ancient Ones. My power makes yours look puny in comparison.” His grin widened, making her cringe with disgust. “Would you like me to show you?”
She shook her head slowly, wishing the others would hurry.
He snapped his finger and she saw fire appear in the palm of his hand.
A fire starter? A mighty power, surely, but hers would be a surprise to him. She sent out the message, “Alfred is a man of power. A fire starter. Be ready.”
He laughed as she continued to stare at him blankly. “You know as well as I do that I could burn you alive.” His hand reached out and he transferred some heat to her skin, obviously trying to make her cry out.
She moaned slightly behind her gag. When he removed his hand, she saw that he had burned away the fabric of her sleeve and left red fingerprints on her arm that were already blistering.
In her mind she heard, “I am home, my love. We will make a plan and be there in moments.”
Christiana tried to force the panic down. She couldn’t tell the others he had burned her, for then they wouldn’t take the time to plan carefully. She must let them take the time they needed to work out how to rescue her. No matter how much it cost her.
The smell of singed hair in the room was overpowering. It made vomit rise up in her throat, but she carefully forced it back down. He could burn her again, and she wouldn’t cause the others to rush and bring harm unto themselves.
He walked toward her again, his evil smile bigger than ever. “You will nod your agreement to help the resistance.”
Christiana took a deep breath and shook her head slowly. She wasn’t going to help him, and she wouldn’t lie to him. He claimed to be from the resistance, but she had a feeling there was more behind him than what he said.
He laid his hand on her shoulder, and she felt the fabric of her dress burn away, and then the intense burning pain that came from his warmth. She closed her eyes and fought against crying out, but after a moment, she couldn’t stop her moan of pain.
He pulled his hand away, laughing brutally at her pain. “You don’t like burning, little witch? Then you will do what you’re told and help the resistance.”
The tears were stinging her eyes, but she refused to give in. The words, “We’re coming in” floated into her brain, giving her a feeling of relief even as he stood over her laughing at her pain.
She hoped Marina would be ready to heal her immediately because the burns were paining her terribly. She knew her sisters would have to combine their powers to help her, but she could do nothing.
The door had been barred from the inside and it was suddenly hit by an enormous force. She closed her eyes and prayed that they would get to her before he killed her, because she was needed for the rest of the fight.
The door burst open, and she watched as Roland came into the room with his hands in the air. He was the only one who entered, which surprised her. She was in so much pain, she had no idea what to think, but she sat still, waiting for help.
“Drop your dagger!” Alfred told Roland. “She won’t be able to help the resistance so much with you dead, but my master will be pleased if I kill you. He looked between Christiana and Roland, watching them carefully. “Your husband is a stupid man, coming here with no weapon.” He laughed coldly, reaching out a hand toward Roland.
Christiana tried to yell through her gag, but felt hands on her untying her quickly. Of course. Eva was using an illusion. It made sense now. She was pulled to her feet and felt Roland’s strength behind her.
Just as she stood, she saw Alfred’s hand go through Roland’s image in front of her. “What? You’re the one with illusions!”
From the hallway, she heard her sister’s voice say, “No, I am.” Hugh and Charles charged into the room, taking Alfred by his hands. Roland reached up and removed the gag from Christiana’s mouth.
“Careful. He burns with his hands!” Christiana called out the warning and immediately yelped in pain when Roland gripped her shoulders and turned her toward him.
The outrage on his face was palpable as he stared down at the burn on her collar. “Marina! She must be healed!”
Marina hurried into the room with Eva right behind her. Roland held Christiana as Marina put her hands over the burn on Christiana’s shoulder. Eva put her hand on her sister’s back to give her strength to her. The burn on her shoulder was healed, and Christiana immediately sighed with relief before holding up her burned arm.
Roland hadn’t yet noticed the arm, and he cried out as if he had himself been burned while Marina put her hands to Christiana’s arm. As soon as she was healed, Christiana whispered, “Thank you, Marina.” She was obviously weak, too weak for questioning, so Roland scooped her up in his arms and carried her to their room, laying her on the bed before returning.
He walked back into the room Robert had been using and walked to the man who had been holding his wife captive. He knew if he tried to deal with him then, he would kill him, and no questions would be answered, so he used his fist and dealt a mighty blow to his face, watching as the man collapsed onto the floor in front of him.
“Take him below and shackle him. Be certain to use chains and nothing that will burn.” Roland closed his eyes for a moment and worked very hard to control the anger that was all but consuming him.
He walked to Marina, who was sitting dazedly on the bed. “You must sleep.” He looked at Eva who looked just as tired. “Why was it so much harder this time? You’ve been healing so much more easily.”
Marina forced her eyes open as she answered. “Christiana is much more powerful than before. She has been giving us her strength. She couldn’t...” Marina couldn’t say another word as she fell to her side on the bed, sound asleep.
Roland caught Eva as she was falling to the floor, first carrying Eva and then Marina to their beds before sending for some servants to watch over them.
Robert stood watching the scene with fear. “If Christiana hadn’t had her powers, she wouldn’t have survived. We would never have found her in time.”
Roland gave a brief nod, not wanting to think about how his life would have been if he’d lost his beautiful wife. He needed to go tend to their prisoner and question him, but he needed to give himself time yet as well. He needed to be able to get information out of the man rather than just killing him as he wanted to do.
“I will sit with Christiana, Roland.” Robert put his hand on his son-in-law’s shoulder. “I need to see for myself that she is healed and doing well.”
Roland nodded, following the older man into his bedchamber. “I must see her as well.” He looked at her, sleeping peacefully on the bed. He stood a moment watching her before kissing her cheek and telling her to sleep well. He turned on his heel and left the room, going immediately to help the men build the new castle. Carrying around heavy stones for a few hours would help him to release some of his anger. He hoped.
Robert sat quietly, clinging to his daughter’s hand, thankful for the first time in his life for the powers his daughters had been born with. Yes, he’d been happy to be healed by Marina when he was hurting, but he still hadn’t been happy that his daughters had powers that could have them burned as witches. Now that the powers had saved his daughter’s life, though, everything was different for him. He was thankful they’d ignored him when they were children and worked so hard to perfect the powers they’d been born with.
His wife had told him over and over that he would be happy for their powers when they were older, but he’d never believed it. How could he be happy that his daughters were unnatural?
He buried his face in Christiana’s hand and wept. He’d almost lost her, and only her abilities had saved her. He couldn’t bear to lose any of his beautiful girls.
Christiana awoke and looked at her father. “It’s okay, Father. I’m fine.” Her eyes drifted back closed, and he realized that his daughter who had just been taken captive and burned was trying to comfort him. He couldn’t help but laugh as he stared down at his spirited child. She was perfect, just as his wife had always told him the three girls were.
*****
Roland worked himself into exhaustion before going below stairs to see the servant who had dared harm his wife. The man was hanging with his hands above his head, his feet barely able to reach the floor, his eyes filled with malice.
Roland strode to him. “Why?” He knew the man needed no other words to know what he was asking.
The man he knew only as Alfred laughed. “Why? Because she is needed for the new regime change.”
“Christiana?” Why did he think they needed Christiana for the resistance? Because she was his wife?
“We need all three of the sister witches, and my master will not stop until he has all of them in his power.” The evil beamed straight out of his eyes as Christiana had claimed it would.
“You will tell me the name of your master.” Who could have sent such an evil man to harm a young woman? Who would do such a thing?
“I will never reveal my master. Never!”
“What if we use your own weapon against you?” Roland pulled a torch from the wall and held it toward the man. As soon as it got close to him, the fire jumped higher. Roland pulled the torch back. “Do you control all fire that is near you?”
Alfred smiled. “I am a fire master.”
Roland made a face. “Christiana called you a fire-starter in her thoughts.” His eyes studied the younger man carefully, wondering which term was correct.
“So she’s the one who can think to others.” Alfred nodded as if he was happy to receive the information.
Roland stood studying the younger man, wondering if there was anything he could do that would make the man stop hating him and working so hard against him and his family. The answer was obviously ‘no’. The man was evil through and through.
Roland pulled his sword and ran it through the man’s heart, leaving him hanging there. Someone else would have to dispose of the refuse. He left the dungeon and climbed the stairs to go check on his wife. Just seeing her would remind him that all power was not evil.
When he reached his bedchamber, Christiana was sitting up in bed, talking to her sisters. Roland walked into the room, ignoring them all and sat beside his bride, pulling her into his embrace. “You are well?”
Christiana nodded. “I am healed.” She held up her arm where the burn had been and showed him only a slight red mark. She indicated her shoulder and he saw the same thing. “What of Alfred?”
Roland shook his head. “He would tell me nothing.”
Christiana didn’t ask, but she knew by the look in Roland’s eyes the man was dead. She wished she knew where he’d come from, but understood that would be impossible. At least he wouldn’t be hurting anyone else for a long time to come.
She watched as Roland left the room, and called to him in her mind. “I love you, Roland.” She waited for her sisters to complain that she was too loud, but they didn’t show any indication they’d heard.
Roland’s answer came clearly, though. “I love you, wife. Be careful.” He knew there was still someone out there who wanted to harm his wife and her sisters, who wanted them to help with the resistance. Why that didn’t seem right, he didn’t know, but he didn’t think the resistance truly wanted the three sisters for their side. Someone else was after the women, and it was his job to stop them.
He strode down the stairs to find Hugh and Charles, letting them know what he had discovered talking to the young man who had refused to give him any real information. He was pleased with the little bit of knowledge he’d received, though. They would find the “master” and take care of him. And they would do it soon.
*****
At dinner that evening, Robert looked around at his daughters and the men who protected them. Christiana had done well, and he was proud of her. He looked from Eva to Hugh and then from Marina to Charles. “When will there be more weddings in this old house?”
Eva smiled at Hugh, who shook his head. “I could never marry Eva. She is too good for me.” He stood without another word and left the room, leaving Eva in tears as she watched him go.
Charles laughed. “I need to either find a way to acquire land of my own or marry a woman who will inherit land. I cannot marry now.”
Robert looked confused. “But it’s obvious you care for my daughter.”
Charles nodded. “I do care for her. She is a comely young lady, and I enjoy being with her. That doesn’t mean I plan to marry her.”
Robert looked at Roland. “You approve of this behavior?”
“I will not be forcing any marriages to take place. I would be happy if Hugh was to marry Eva, but the choice must be theirs. I promised Christiana when we married that her sisters would be allowed to choose their husbands. I will not go back on my word.”
Christiana sat quietly watching the sad faces of her sisters. She so wanted them to marry Roland’s men and stay there with her. She couldn’t imagine living her life without her sisters by her side. They had always functioned as a unit.
She rested her face against Roland’s shoulder, wishing she could give her sisters the happiness she had found with Roland, but she knew that they each must find their own happiness. She felt strongly their happiness would come with Hugh and Charles, but she couldn’t force it or anything else.
“I love you,” she thought to Roland, wishing she knew what to say to her sisters who sat silently amidst what should have been a celebration. She sensed the evil was not yet gone, but it was for a time. She wondered if Alfred’s “master” would look for him immediately or wait for him to complete his mission.
“I love you. Stop worrying. It will work out for the best,” Roland thought back to her, and he squeezed her hand.
Robert held up his ale and shouted. “To my daughter, Christiana, and her husband Roland. May your love last a lifetime!” His face beamed with pride as he wat
ched Christiana and Roland.
Once they were in bed, Roland pulled Christiana to him, his hands roaming her body as if to make sure she wasn’t injured any longer. “Are you still hurting?”
Christiana shook her head. “Once Marina healed me, I was fine. Thank you for saving me.”
He shook his head. “I didn’t save you. Your sisters did. They came up with the plan. Why did you not tell me he was hurting you?” Roland’s eyes stared deeply into Christiana’s.
“I didn’t want you to rush to keep me from hurting more. I was afraid someone else would be injured if you didn’t take time to plan things out.” She knew he’d be angry with her for not telling him Alfred was hurting her, but she hadn’t known what else to do.
Roland sighed heavily. “You cannot think of others first when someone is doing their best to hurt you.”
“He was trying to get me to agree to help the resistance,” she told him. “He wasn’t going to kill me, just cause me pain. I knew Marina would be able to remove any injuries or pain once she was back.”
“But your pain must have been agonizing!”
“Not as bad as the pain from my heart would have been if I’d lost someone I love.” Her fingers stroked along his lips and she smiled at him. “I couldn’t risk any of you. You must understand.”
Roland gazed into her eyes, knowing he’d have done the same thing in her position. “I understand. I don’t like it, but I do understand.” He hugged her to him, still marveling at the fact that she was alive. “Promise me that when you are carrying my sons you will be more careful.”
“My family has had nothing but daughters for generations upon generations. Are you certain you’ll have a son?” Her eyes danced mischievously as she asked him.
He laughed. “I’d heard that before I ever married you. I knew it didn’t matter what had happened in previous generations, though. It’s our generation that matters.” He stroked his hand down her side, bringing it around to flatten against her stomach. “You’ll bear me sons.”
Conquered (Thrice Blessed Book 1) Page 13
