“While you’re at war?”
Josh nodded. “What all did Wisdom tell you?”
“Just enough to keep me up at night.” Dad squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed his forehead. “Are you going to be involved in these ‘battles’ between the different factions?”
Josh could make it easier for both of them and say that all he was doing was recruiting people, but Dad deserved to know the truth. “I’ve already seen combat.”
Dad sucked in a deep breath then let it out slowly. He stared at his hands. The theme song from Sesame Street wafted in from the other room.
Josh couldn’t stand the tension any longer. “Say something, please.”
Dad stood up and pulled Josh into his arms. “Be careful. And come home as soon as you can.”
“I will.”
The drive from Breckenridge to Boulder seemed to fly by. Hunter and Vince had spent the previous night in Louisville so Hunter could spend a little extra time with Kassie and the baby. She was going to drive them to Boulder County Airport where they’d all rendezvous with Zen. He would fly them back to Freedom Ridge so they wouldn’t have to worry about running into trackers on the road.
Josh knew that Mom and Elijah were staying with Kassie and Aunt Mary, but he hadn’t expected to see either of them at the airport. He should have known that Elijah would figure out that something big was going on when Hunter and Vince showed up. And of course he’d talked Kassie into letting him tag along.
Saying good-bye to Dad, Liz and the trips was hard. Saying good-bye to Elijah was even harder. But watching Hunter clench his jaw to keep from crying as he peeled Kassie’s arms off his neck punched a hole in Josh’s heart.
Even tough, old Zen had to turn his back when Hunter kissed baby HJ good-bye. There was a lot of throat clearing and coughing but no one said a word until they stopped to refuel.
Hunter pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Do y’all wanna see some pictures?”
Instead of passing his phone around, Hunter made everyone look over his shoulder so he could give a running commentary…
”This is me and baby HJ taking a nap.” Hunter was in a recliner, the baby cuddled up on his chest, nuzzling his neck.
“This is me and Kassie.” It was a classic selfie with Kassie and Hunter making silly kissy faces.
“This is me and Kassie and HJ at the grocery store.”
“Oh, and here’s one of HJ in his car seat. Ain’t he just the cutest thing?”
They all murmured their assent.
“Here he is sleeping in his swing. And here he’s sleeping in his cradle. Oh, and here he is sleeping in his Grandma Mary’s arms.”
Everyone ooh’d and ahh’d at each photo, even though they got a little repetitive. It seemed like all the kid did was sleep.
“Kassie took this one.” It was a close up of Hunter’s face, scrunched up and frowning, looking like he was about to puke.
“Why are you making such a disgusted face?”
“I was changing my first poopie diaper.”
Josh couldn’t resist. “I didn’t know you wore diapers.”
“Ha. Ha.” Hunter rolled his eyes. “This one here is my second favorite.”
“Hey!” Josh averted his gaze but not quickly enough to miss the sight of Hunter gazing adoringly at Kassie as she nursed the baby. “That’s my cousin.”
“Did you see how HJ’s holding onto my finger while he eats? That boy’s got a good grip and an even better appetite.”
“You said that was your second favorite picture.” Channie was the only one to pick up on that. Probably because she was the only girl in the group and not distracted by Kassie’s bare boob. “Which one’s your favorite?”
“It’s actually a video.” Hunter scrolled to the end and loaded the clip. He and Kassie were sitting on the front porch swing, the baby was nowhere in sight. The video was cock-eyed with the swing much higher on the right edge of the frame. Hunter must have propped his phone up on something. He slid off the swing and dropped to one knee in front of Kassie. She covered her mouth with both hands. Hunter’s back blocked the camera, but Josh guessed what was going on by the look on Kassie’s face. She nodded and launched herself off the swing, throwing her arms around Hunter, knocking him and the camera over.
“Oh my gosh!” Channie jumped up and did a good imitation of Kassie tackling Hunter. If he weren’t already sitting down, she would’ve knocked him over “You’re getting married!”
“And that ain’t all. Eric said he’d let me adopt baby HJ.”
Josh knew Eric well enough to know it was only so he wouldn’t have to pay child support, but he kept his mouth shut and gave Hunter a hug, pounding him on the back. “Congrats, man. I’m really happy for you and Kassie.”
Hunter pulled out of the hug first and raised his eyebrows. “And HJ.”
Josh laughed. “Yes, and HJ.”
He really was glad that Hunter and Kassie were happy, but he couldn’t help wondering if their impulsive engagement had anything to do with the war.
SIDE BY SIDE
INTEGRATING BACK INTO LIFE AT Freedom Ridge was even harder than Josh had thought it would be. He knew he was losing ground with both camps while he was hiding out in Colorado with Channie. Every time he showed up for a brief visit, he received less and less magical energy from the loyalty of his people. But he’d thought he’d quickly regain their trust, love and loyalty when he returned. He was wrong.
A lot of the Ozark mages resented the way Channie’s family had run away after Money killed Dominance’s grandson and favorite horse. Josh understood their anger—her parents could have at least warned them that Dominance was royally pissed before leaving—but that wasn’t Channie’s fault and he wasn’t going to put up with their snotty attitudes.
Then there was the problem with her magic. She gained control over Enchantment’s energy within a few days of getting her powers back, but Chastity’s magic refused to be tamed. It never attacked Josh, not even during sex. Channie said it was because they were married, so whatever they did “between the sheets” was considered chaste. Chastity might have considered it chaste, but Channie sure didn’t. She’d let Josh kiss her and cuddle, when it wasn’t too hot, but she rarely let him go much further—bothered by the lack of privacy in camp.
It seemed as if Josh couldn’t do anything right. He totally forgot about Channie’s birthday on July sixth. Hunter gave her a whistle he carved out of a willow twig and a bouquet of flowers. Josh wanted to kick his own ass—and punch Hunter in the face.
He’d let Zen put Channie in charge of the CDC, hoping the leadership position would satisfy her demands, as well as the Book of the Dead’s instructions, that she fight by his side. Unfortunately, that put Channie in close contact with every adolescent boy in camp. The poor kids were constantly getting zapped.
Channie tried to pass it off as “keeping ‘em on their toes,” but after a few days, parents started complaining about her overly aggressive training methods that continued even when the kids were off duty.
Josh called a camp-wide meeting and explained the situation. “I won’t hold anyone under the age of eighteen accountable for triggering Chastity’s defensive magic. As long as it’s accidental.”
A young mage, that appeared to be about fourteen, raised his hand. “How will you know whether it’s accidental or not?”
“Have you been zapped yet?”
The boy’s face and neck flamed red, but he maintained eye contact. “Yes, sir.”
“Was it worth it?”
“No, sir. It hurt like a son of an empty.”
“Good. Keep your shield down around my wife.”
“What about the fellas that’s older’n eighteen?” This mage was in his mid to late twenties, and had the same kind of cocky attitude as Eric Rickmond. Josh didn’t know the guy, but he knew he didn’t like him.
“It takes more than a passing glance to arouse a man that’s past puberty so any adult male that gets zapped must have a death w
ish. Meeting adjourned.” Josh wouldn’t kill a man for looking at Channie, or even lusting after her, as long as he didn’t act on it, but he had no intention of letting anyone else know that.
The same fourteen-year-old mage raised his hand again. “Ms. Enchantment says all us kids younger than sixteen ain’t allowed to train with guns.”
“That’s my rule. Not hers.”
“Most of us fellas’ve been hunting with a twelve-gauge ever since we was big enough to carry one.”
“I don’t care what you do in your own families, as long as you’re not endangering anyone’s safety. But I’m responsible for the camp as a whole and I’m not comfortable letting anyone younger than sixteen use firearms while under my command. The CDC is voluntary. If you don’t like my rules, you don’t have to participate. You’re free to go.”
Once the boys understood what was triggering Chastity’s magic, it happened a lot less often. They still grumbled about not being able to train with weapons but none of them quit the CDC.
As the days passed, life settled into a predictable pattern. Josh kept waiting for a crisis to rear its ugly head, but none of the patrols discovered any more of Dominance’s prison camps. Tim cut the number of habitual complainers by cutting the rations of anyone that brought a frivolous complaint to arbitration. Refugees and recruits poured into camp on a daily basis, but the Bowling Green mages continued to meet their needs with regular shipments of food and supplies.
Aside from a few horny, gun-loving teens; everything was going great. Until Wisdom showed up.
She timed her entrance perfectly and strode into camp five minutes before the chow line opened so everyone was present. Josh had his arm slung over Channie’s shoulders, talking to the people behind them when he spotted Wisdom, two apologetic guards on either side of her.
“Aunt Wisdom!” Channie ducked out from under Josh’s arm and ran to the traitorous bitch.
He glared at the guards, but said nothing. He’d deal with them later.
Wisdom’s supporters gathered like chicks to a mother hen as she made her way across the compound. She stopped about three feet from Josh and dropped to her knees. Twin puffs of dust rose from the dirt. “Forgive me, my prince. I was blinded by love for my sister. It even overpowered the influence of my power-name. I sincerely regret any inconvenience caused by my error in judgment and place my life in your hands.”
“Inconvenience? Error in judgment?” Josh’s voice rose in pitch and volume with each word. “Are you freakin’ crazy?“
“Josh!” Channie darted in front of him and fisted his shirt in her hands. “Don’t say anything in anger. Please. Think about the consequences.”
He trembled with rage, but Channie was right. He’d learned enough about mage law to understand that Wisdom had turned this confrontation into a trial. She’d addressed him as ‘prince,’ knelt in the dirt, and asked for forgiveness.
She’d committed treason. The penalty for that was death. He depended on the loyalty of his people to strengthen his magic. Without it, he’d never be able to defeat Dominance.
Even before Wisdom’s betrayal, she’d had more enemies than friends in camp. If Josh forgave her, how many of them would stop supporting him? How many would turn against him?
He could banish her for the lesser crime of disobedience, but even that would break Channie’s heart.
She released his shirt and slid down his body, kneeling beside Wisdom. “Please, my prince, show mercy.”
Josh closed his eyes and fought back a groan of despair. This was a no win situation. What should I do?
The words from the new Book of the Dead floated across his mind…
You’ve been blessed with a powerful mate,
Willing to share your trials and fate.
Do not deny her deepest desire
Or keep her from the refiner’s fire.
Cling to the hand of your warrior bride
And fight every battle with her by your side.
He leaned over and clasped Channie’s upper arms then lifted her to her feet. He pulled her against his side then faced the crowd. “How many of you have heard the tale of how Enchantment was nearly slain by her own mother?”
Everyone lifted a hand.
“This was a direct result of Wisdom’s foolish decision to relocate her prisoner.” Josh hoped that by reminding everyone that Wisdom was the one that had originally captured Prudence, they would accept his suggestion that she had the right to ‘relocate’ her prisoner. It was a stretch. He kept his tone neutral, but used his “royal vocabulary” to give more weight to his words.
“As my wife, and our future queen, Enchantment shares the privileges and burdens of leadership. And since she was the one most harmed by Wisdom’s ‘error in judgment,’ she is uniquely qualified to determine the fate of the healer.”
Channie jerked her head to the side and stared at Josh.
“Choose wisely, my love. Your word is law.”
Josh was certain Channie would grant Wisdom immediate and total amnesty.
Apparently, so was Wisdom. She smiled as she stood and brushed the dust off her knees.
Channie didn’t so much as glance at her. “Place the accused in the cage and guard her night and day with a master mage while I consider her fate.”
Josh’s mouth fell open.
Channie closed it by prodding his chin with her finger. So much for his “royal” image.
She leaned in close and whispered. “That’s what she gets for knocking you out with a rock.”
Channie kept Aunt Wisdom locked up for two weeks while she drove herself crazy trying to come to a decision. She sought the advice of everyone she knew, and all the council members, but they all said the same thing. “It’s up to you.”
She knew that everyone, including Aunt Wisdom, expected Channie to just forgive her and be done with it. But she had committed treason. Not only had she disobeyed Josh, she’d attacked him. Channie understood why she’d done it, but she couldn’t let her get away with it.
She brought Wisdom into the center of camp and proclaimed her sentence in front of everyone. “I forgive you for your negligence that resulted in the escape of your prisoner.”
Wisdom’s smile lit up her face. “Thank you.”
“But,” Channie held a hand up, index finger extended. “Your blatant disregard for the authority of our prince, and future king, cannot go unpunished. You will remain in the cage and under guard until December first.”
“Channie!” Aunt Wisdom’s eyes brimmed as they widened in shock.
“During this time, you will continue to serve as camp healer. The medical tent is to be relocated adjacent to the cage.”
Aunt Wisdom’s shoulders sagged, but she bowed her head and nodded.
At first Aunt Wisdom had lots of visitors, but as the long, hot days of summer dragged on, fewer people made the trek up the steep hillside, unless they needed her healing services.
The only exceptions were Channie and Vengeance Veyjivik.
Besides Aunt Wisdom, there were only four master-mages in camp so all of them had to take turns guarding Wisdom. They all complained about the waste of their valuable time, except for Vince.
He seemed to be on duty every time Channie visited. And he was always arguing with Aunt Wisdom.
Channie finally confronted him. “Why are you still here? Your shift ended hours ago.”
Vince shrugged. “The other master-mages have wives and families. I don’t.”
“You have Josh.”
Vince laughed. “And he has you.”
Channie’s cheeks flushed. Josh was overwhelmed with responsibility, but every free moment he had, he spent it with her. “And I suppose you’re taking the other guards’ shifts out of the goodness of your heart.”
“Channie.” Aunt Wisdom gripped the bars of the cage. “Don’t be rude.”
“Me?” Channie snorted. “He’s the one badgering the prisoner.”
“He’s not badgering me.”
Channie narrowed her eyes. Her gaze darted between Aunt Wisdom and Vince. Surely they weren’t flirting?
Channie wrinkled her nose at the thought.
Vince turned and headed down the trail. “I’m sure you’ll be fine, but I’ll stay in range in case you need me.”
Aunt Wisdom sighed. “Was that really necessary?”
“What?”
“It took three weeks before he’d even talk to me.”
“So?”
“I like him.”
“You like him? Like, romantically?”
“Lower your voice.” Aunt Wisdom gave Channie a disapproving scowl. “Is that so hard to believe?”
“But…” Channie lowered her voice to a whisper. “His face.”
“Do you know what I see when I look at him?”
Channie shook her head.
“I see a man that was tortured and nearly killed by his own mother.”
Channie sucked in a quick breath as the memory of Momma slicing into her chest flashed across her mind.
Aunt Wisdom raised her voice. “I see a man that fights his power-name every day because he doesn’t want to be a vengeful person. I see a man that cringes every time some thoughtless mage stares at his scars, or worse, refuses to look at him. I see a man that wants to free the very people that shun him. I see a man with a fascinating mind and a big heart. I see a man worth loving.”
“But…you’ve always said that healing people and running the school was more fulfilling than getting bossed around by some man.”
“Vincent isn’t just some man. And he knows better than to try to boss me around.”
“Well, he does have very nice eyes.”
Wisdom smiled and reached through the bars to cup Channie’s cheek. “The bluest I’ve ever seen.”
Channie smiled back at her and placed her palm over her hand. “Like the halo around a new moon.”
“Like a still lake at midnight.”
“Like sapphires.”
“Like father, like son.”
Believe: The Complete Channie Series Page 97
