by J. D. Wright
“Did you hear me?” he asked. “I said I want more.”
“I don’t,” Dahlia said, softly. She looked up into his eyes and saw the heartbreak she was causing. She didn’t mean to hurt him. But he shouldn’t have allowed himself to want more than she was willing to give him.
“I don’t believe you. I’ve been with women who only wanted the night. You want more. I know you do. I can see it in your eyes, Dahlia. If it’s because, I’m a prince—“
“It isn’t,” she said, abruptly. “I just… I can’t. I’m sorry.”
Before he could convince her to stay, she ran past him and back into the hall. He followed her, but she had had plenty of practice blending into a crowd. She kept her head down and disappeared into the night.
Chapter Twelve
“I can’t feel my legs,” Rowan said, frowning.
“It’s blazing hot out, today,” Dagan replied. “How are you possibly cold?”
“They aren’t cold. They’re numb.”
“Maybe we should stop for a moment. I want to check the mirror, anyway,” Dagan said, pulling his horse’s reins to slow her down.
“That’s the best idea you’ve had all day,” Rowan grumbled.
Dagan ignored Rowan’s sour mood, just as he had since leaving Junacave. He understood exactly why his friend was irritable. Rowan blamed himself for the princess and Gabby’s abduction. If he hadn’t gotten the horse for Sarita, she might not have been able to follow Gabby from the stables. And he doubted that Mereck would have kidnapped Gabby if Sarita wasn’t with her.
So for the past five days, Dagan had been patient and quiet as they rode day and night, only stopping to feed and water their horses and a few times to nap, which was a waste of time as neither of them were able to sleep for very long.
The scrying mirror had been a fairly reliable way to track Edmund, thus far. First, it showed Edmund in Elmber’s town square, so for the first three days, Dagan and Rowan rode northeast, toward Elmber. Just before they reached Elmber, however, the mirror showed Edmund passing by Pinefell Cliffs, so they turned and rode west.
While Rowan fed the horses, Dagan took the mirror from his bag. He pricked his finger with one of Rowan’s knives and let a drop of blood fall onto the mirror. A small ripple spread across the dark surface and the blood disappeared. Since he didn’t have the amulet or anything else that belonged to Edmund, Dagan’s blood was the only thing he could use to track him. It was the last thing he had that connected him to his father. Dagan studied the mirror for a moment. For now, Edmund seemed to still be on the trail toward Carneath.
Convinced they were on the right path, Dagan put the mirror away.
“I can’t tell how far ahead he is. Could be a few moments, a few days, or a few weeks.”
“I’m surprised the mirror is working, at all. It hasn’t helped us much to track people, before,” Rowan said, taking a bite of an apple. He was leaning against a tree trunk, out of Dragon’s view.
“Are you hiding from your horse?”
“Don’t be judgmental. This is my last apple.”
Dagan shook his head. “I’m surprised, too, actually. I didn’t expect it to work. Then again, I didn’t think to use blood, before. Finding the Queen Mother might have been possible if I had thought to use Queen’s blood.”
“Asking Bree for her blood may have landed you in the stocks,” Rowan said, chuckling. “She can handle seeing someone else’s blood, but not her own.”
“Well, that doesn’t make any sense…”
“I can’t explain it, either. I just remember when she and Finn fell from a horse onto some rocks. She was about eleven years old, I think. Finn broke his arm and had several cuts. Blood was gushing out of one and Bree tore a piece of her skirt off and wrapped the cut. But then, when they returned to the castle, I pointed out a cut on her arm, barely bleeding, mind you. When she saw it, she damn near fainted. And she couldn’t bear to watch when Elric healed it, either. Such a wuss.”
Dagan blinked and shook his head. “How you’re able to speak so comfortably about a queen, I’ll never understand. And she lets you. That’s the worst part of it. I’ve seen the two of you yelling at one another. That would never happen in some kingdoms.”
“No, it probably wouldn’t,” Rowan replied, laughing. “Though, she did try to have me punished for mistreating her. But only once.”
“Oh, I’d love to hear about this,” Dagan said, mounting his horse.
Rowan waited until they were back on the trail before continuing the story.
“It was shortly after I came to live in the castle. My father forced me to attend the daily tutoring, against my will. There were about ten of us children, altogether. Bree and Finn sat together, every day. I sat beside another girl, Penelope.”
“Why does that name sound familiar?”
“Sir Colbert was her father. He was the knight that King Silas killed, from before you came to Junacave. I don’t believe you’ve met her. She never attends the events with her family.”
“No, I haven’t met her, but I’ve heard the name.”
“Yes, she spent her childhood in the castle with us, sharing our tutors. Penelope and Finn’s mothers carried them in the womb at the same time and were close friends. That is, until Finn’s mother died, during childbirth. But that isn’t part of the story.”
“I hope not because that’s a depressing beginning to a story.”
“Well, one day Bree walked in and found Penelope and Finn were sitting together, so she was forced to sit beside me. She wasn’t happy, of course, and every time she spoke to me, she had a hateful tone. I didn’t like it, so I began to pester her. I pulled her hair pin out. Then, I kept staring at her until she got angry. But when I hid her book under my legs, so she couldn’t find it, that’s when she got really mad.”
“She does love her books so I can believe it.”
“She told her father about what I was doing and he laughed. He told her that if she wanted the book back, she should punch me in the nose and take it from me.”
“Wow. I was not expecting that reaction. From a king, especially.”
“King Frederick was unlike any king I’ve ever heard of. He didn’t coddle her like most do. However, I suspect that the king showed me more leniency than he would have with most other boys. Being the son of Sir Nicholas, the king’s most trusted friend, did have its advantages.”
“Did she punch you? Please tell me she punched you,” Dagan said, laughing.
“She tried, but I told her that if she punched me, I would kiss her.”
“Ha! You certainly were a brave boy.”
“I was. But to be honest… I’m glad she didn’t try to punch me. I did not want to kiss her.”
“Well, now you do want to kiss her. And, at times, she still wants to punch you. Strange how things tend to work themselves out…”
Rowan started to laugh but stopped when he spotted something sitting beside the trail, ahead of them.
“What shape did you say was painted onto Edmund’s wagon?” Rowan asked.
“A blue star,” Dagan said, looking up.
“Like that one?” Rowan pointed ahead. Sure enough, there was a covered wagon with a large blue star on the side.
They approached slowly, unsure of how Edmund would react to their sudden appearance. Dagan had little trust for his father, even before Sidonie had unsealed his magic. The back of the wagon was open, but they noticed no movement or noise coming from inside. Rowan waited with the horses while Dagan climbed into the wagon.
It was mostly empty. At first glance, it was clear that Edmund spent little time there. There was a small table, stool, and several books stacked in a corner. There was also a trunk on one side, open with clothing visible inside of it, and a cot with blankets draped over it in the rear. Dagan rummaged through the trunk, checking to see if there were any secret compartments. Then he walked toward the back of the wagon, looking for anywhere that might be a good place to hide something valuable.
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br /> He paused when he saw movement on the cot in front of him and, for the first time, noticed someone was lying on it. The size of the body seemed too small to be Edmund. Not to mention, he doubted Edmund would leave his wagon visible to passing travelers, let alone open while he slept. Something seemed amiss. Quietly, Dagan stepped closer but was shocked by what he saw.
It was Adelphie, lying on the cot. There was a thin brown blanket thrown over her body, but her face and hair were clearly visible so there was no doubt that it was her. He put a hand on her shoulder. Before he could say her name, she woke and looked up at him.
“Get your hands off of me, wizard!” Adelphie shrieked and scrambled backward on the cot.
“Wizard?” Dagan blinked at her, confused.
Upon hearing a woman’s voice, Rowan tied Dagan’s horse to a branch and signaled for Dragon to stay. Then he approached the wagon and was surprised to find Adelphie standing inside. She glanced down at him but didn’t speak before turning her attention back to Dagan.
“Yes, I know you’re a wizard. I can tell from your clothing. Keep your cursed hands away from me.”
“Adelphie? You don’t know who I am? You don’t remember me?”
“Why would I remember you? You’re a damn wizard. Wait, did I try to kill you? Because if I missed my opportunity, I won’t miss it again.” She reached down and pulled a dagger from her belt.
“Whoa!” Dagan stepped back and instinctively put his hands up in front of him. She actually had tried to kill him when her sisters captured him, before. Thankfully, he had been in the company of Queen Breestlin, who had bartered for his release. But Adelphie didn’t seem to remember that incident. Or him, for that matter. What else doesn’t she remember?
“Your name is Adelphie,” Dagan continued, “and your sister’s name is Sidonie.”
“Sidonie? I remember that name. Yes, Sidonie is my sister. How do you know Sidonie?”
“She’s my… uh…” He wasn’t sure what to call her because no one had ever asked him before. People usually saw them together and just… knew. She was his magical soul mate who he was deeply in love with, but that title sounded absurd if he said it aloud.
“Really? You can’t answer that question? After this long?” Rowan said, shaking his head at Dagan, whose face was as white as snow. He turned to Adelphie, “Dagan and Sidonie are together, a couple.”
“Impossible!” she screeched. “My sister is a Sabra. She would never show kindness to a wizard, let alone lie with one!”
“And all of a sudden… we’re back to the beginning, again.” Rowan looked over at Dagan, who was cringing. If the thought of Dagan and her sister together was this infuriating, it was probably best that Adelphie didn’t know about Sidonie’s magic, as well. For now.
Suddenly, Edmund stepped around the side of the wagon and into view and carrying a bundle of twigs. He looked back and forth between his two visitors but didn’t seem very surprised to see them. Dagan jumped down from the wagon, furious.
“What did you do to her?” he spat, pointing to Adelphie, who followed him out of the wagon. “She’s lost part of her memory. Her recent memory.”
“I didn’t do anything to her,” Edmund replied. “I found her in the forest. She was in a deep sleep, of sorts. Had been there for days, it seemed, so I took care of her. She woke two days later.”
“She was alone when you found her? Where were the other Sabras?”
“I didn’t know she was a Sabra,” Edmund said, looking irritated. “Or I would have left her there.”
It was no secret that wizards both feared and despised the Sabras just as much as the Sabras feared and despised wizards. At least, that was until recent events. Now that one of their own sisters was a sorceress, the Sabras had become more tolerant of magical beings. A little more tolerant.
“Why would you have left me there?” Adelphie asked, giving Edmund a sharp glare.
Dagan glanced between Adelphie and his father. “You didn’t tell her?” he asked, beginning to smile. He was surprised to find humor in the situation.
“Tell me, what?” Adelphie asked, narrowing her eyes.
“That your rescuer is a wizard, Adelphie,” Dagan replied.
Adelphie was stunned. All of this time, she had been traveling with the one thing she hated most in this world. And she hadn’t even realized it. Looking at him now, he seemed just like any other man. His clothing was that of a commoner, not the majestic robes of a wizard. And he hadn’t used a single spark of magic. That she had witnessed, at least.
“This man is a wizard?” she asked, through clenched teeth.
Dagan ran his hands over his face and through his hair, frustrated.
“Let me see if I understand,” Rowan said, crossing his arms and leaning back on his heels. “Edmund found Adelphie, alone in the forest, and helped her because he didn’t know she was a Sabra. And now Adelphie can’t remember you or me. Oh, and she hates wizards. Again.” Rowan wanted to laugh because the entire situation was insane. It was too much of a coincidence that they found Adelphie with Edmund.
“Apparently so,” Dagan grumbled.
“But Adelphie was at the Winter Ball. How did you not realize she was a Sabra?” Rowan asked, turning to Edmund. If anything, her clothing should have been conspicuous. Then again, most wizards who meet the Sabras do not live to tell the secret of their attire.
“Because he snuck out of the castle during the ball,” Dagan interjected. “He must not have seen her. But that doesn’t explain why Adelphie was lying in the forest for days.”
“Let me guess,” Rowan said, smirking. “She doesn’t remember.”
“Stop speaking about me as if I am not here!” Adelphie shouted. She was growing tired of this conversation and wished to be far away from the two wizards and their sarcastic friend. If she only could remember where she lived…
Rowan shook his head, ignoring Adelphie’s outburst. They had far more important things to worry about than her tantrum. Not to mention, they were pressed for time. “What now?”
“Well,” Dagan said, turning back to his father, “we’ll start with the amulet since that is the reason we’ve come in the first place. I assume you still have it?”
“Yes, I have it. I thought you didn’t want it,” Edmund said, surprised.
“I’ve changed my mind. I have use for it, after all.” And this entire situation would have been avoided if you hadn’t stolen it from me in the first place. “May I have it?”
Dagan decided to ask his father for the amulet, rather than force it from him. He hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
Edmund only hesitated for a moment, then reached one hand up, pulled a chain out from under his tunic, and slipped it over his head. He held the chain out and Dagan took it.
Rowan paid close attention to Edmund’s behavior, out of habit. He couldn’t help but feel that the wizard was hiding something. To have gone through all of the trouble of taking the amulet and sneaking away from the castle, he gave the amulet up a little too easily. Then Rowan noticed a pile of twigs on the ground behind them, which was obviously where Edmund had intended to light a fire.
“Edmund, I’m sure you would like to spend a few moments with Dagan before we leave. I will take those twigs and start the fire for you,” Rowan said, moving forward and relieving Edmund of the bundle before he could refuse.
“What about me?” Adelphie asked, speaking to no one in particular. “I am not staying with a wizard. Either of you wizards.”
Dagan turned to her. “I don’t see how you have much of a choice unless you know your way home. Of course, if you would rather continue traveling to Carneath with my fath—“
Dagan started to point to Edmund but was surprised when he turned to see the empty forest in front of him. His father was gone.
“Where did he go?” Adelphie asked.
Dagan cursed to himself. He should have known that his father would disappear. Edmund continued to disappoint him.
“At least I go
t the amulet, first,” Dagan said, holding it up. It only took him a brief moment to realize the amulet that was dangling in front of him was not his father’s amulet. The stone was the same red and the same shape, but in the remaining sunlight, it was easy to see that the letter “E” was missing from the center.
“That bastard tricked me. This is a fake!” Dagan shouted just before winding his arm back and sending the useless stone flying through the forest. Just for good measure, he sent a bolt of lightning hurling and hitting it as it fell from the sky which caused an explosion of stone.
Adelphie watched, both amazed and angered by the wizard’s blatant use of magic in front of her.
“I knew he couldn’t be trusted,” Dagan said, growling.
“I had a feeling he was being a little too cooperative,” Rowan said, walking back over to the wagon, “which is why I took this from his pocket.” He held up a chain with a dark red stone hanging from it.
“Rowan, you wouldn’t have to punch me right now. I want to kiss you, anyway,” Dagan said, laughing as he took the amulet from him.
“I would like to punch the both of you,” Adelphie mumbled. “Now, where is my sister?”
Rowan sighed. “As much as I want to get back to Junacave as soon as possible, we can’t just leave her here.”
“No, but I’m afraid to take her back to Junacave,” Dagan replied. “Remember her first visit?”
“Again, stop speaking about me as if I am not here, wizard!” Adelphie shouted.
“If we ride through the night, we’ll make better time.”
“I am not riding with you,” Adelphie said. “I will ride with him.” She pointed at Rowan. While she didn’t know either of them, she would trust any stranger over a wizard.
Dagan shrugged. “Suit yourself. But just so you know, I am in love with your sister and would never do anything to harm you. But him…” Dagan said, nodding toward Rowan. “He is a trained killer and you’ve kidnapped him and his fiancé queen before. So I would mind my tongue around him if I were you.”
