"Easy,” Angus said, catching her hand.
She jerked it free. “Just tell me where my sister is."
Peter looked up, his eyes dark with pain. He reached out toward her. “There are more Ru'taha than we knew."
Regan turned her back on his outstretched hand. “You think Dirkk has her, don't you?"
Peter shook his head. “She would never let Dirkk take her alive."
She whirled around, her eyes narrowing as she snapped out the words. “Kelsey is not dead. I would know."
Angus stepped between them. “Of course she's not dead. They've just withdrawn into the valley."
"What valley?"
"Fertile Isle Valley. It's just beyond Peaks’ Pass,” Angus said.
Peter rose unsteadily to his feet. “Of course. They will make their stand there. Kelsey cannot let the Ru'taha and Black Vipers into the valley. It is the only food source that remains. Come, we must hurry. They cannot be that far ahead of us."
* * * *
Peter turned left into a stand of tall oak trees. The wind swayed their upper branches and a shower of leaves drifted to the forest floor to join the crushed mass that already muffled the horses’ hooves. They followed no path, picking their way around trees and skirting low growing spiky thickets. After splashing through a small stream, they followed its winding course.
They'd only ridden a short way when Regan heard the sonorous roar of swift water flowing over rocks. The trio of riders exited the trees onto a worn, stone-paved road. Peter reined in Skylar. “This is the King's Road. It will lead us to Raya."
"Where Queen Tessa is?"
"Yes, and the only large city in Daradawn. The rest are hamlets and farms."
The river that rushed beside the road was narrow and fast-flowing, the current surging around half-submerged rocks and kicking white spray into the dimming sky. “Is this still the Queen's River?” Regan asked.
"Yes. It flows fast now until it reaches the sea,” Peter said.
Angus turned Zax south along the road. “Ride faster,” he said over his shoulder. “The sun is setting.” He leaned over Zax's head and the gelding set off at a canter.
Skylar pranced and side-stepped, but Peter held him at bay and turned to her. “Stay close. The pass is not far.” He gave Skylar his head and the stallion charged after Angus. Gilda shook her mane and leapt forward in pursuit.
* * * *
Regan craned her neck and gazed up the length of the mountain. The gray pitted rock became lost in the midst of wispy clouds before she spied its top. To the left of the peak a range of mountains stretched. Across the river was the first peak's twin flanked by another stretch of mountains. Between the two was a narrow pass shared by the King's Road and the Queen's River. The far bank of the river flowed against the mountain's base, and over time had cut a deep gorge into its side.
"Peaks’ Pass,” Angus said. “The only way through to Fertile Isle Valley."
"Do the mountains have a name?"
"They are the Williz Mountains, named for my father William and my mother Elizabeth,” Peter said, urging Skylar into the pass. “It will be good to get home."
* * * *
They rode in silence through the shadows of the towering guardians. As the pass narrowed, the dark pools spread to greet each other in the middle. They rounded a curve and ahead Regan saw a black wall at least ten feet high blocking their way. As they neared, Regan saw the barricade was made of giant tree limbs, bound together with brownish-green vines. Each thumb-width vine bristled with one-inch thorns.
Peter reined Skylar in at the barricade's base. Angus halted Zax beside Peter. “Well, someone has made it through or this wouldn't be here. Do you think it is bespelled?” Angus asked.
"If so, it will have been done by Thomas and will prove no challenge to me.” Peter swung from Skylar's saddle, then reached for his pants. “Just the same, I will feel safer with something between me and those thorns."
"Good idea, boy,” Angus said, sliding from Zax's back. He grabbed his trousers and bent to step into them. Maggie teetered forward over his head and yelped. Off balance, Angus stumbled as Regan scrambled from Gilda's saddle and rushed to help.
"Hold it,” she said, grabbing the backpack just below Maggie's neck. “I'll have her out in a minute.” She lifted the pack from Angus's shoulders and let it slide through her hands to the ground.
Once free, Maggie scampered in circles, kicking up dirt and dried grass.
Peter stared up at the barricade. “Where do you think the door is today?” The dwarf shrugged his shoulders.
The mage made three circles in the air with his hands, then reached to touch a branch. Before his fingers made contact, a white flame arced across the dividing space. He cried out, jerking his hand back.
Angus frowned. “Strongly warded. Can you counteract it?"
"I do not know. Maybe with Regan's help."
Regan glanced from mage to dwarf and back before shaking her head and sighing. “Why don't you just see if there's anybody on the other side?"
Peter and Angus stared at her.
"You mean ... just ask?” Peter said.
"Yes, like this. Hello!” she yelled, “is anybody there? I'm Regan, Kelsey's sister. I'm with Peter and Angus and we'd like to come in."
"Peter, is that you?” a voice responded from the other side of the barrier.
"Rourk. Where is the doorway?"
"The opening is in front of you. Thomas has it warded. Wait, I will get him."
Angus's gaze met Peter's. “Thomas has improved."
"Remarkably so. I think I shall talk to him, and very soon."
"Master?” A lilting voice called through the thorns.
"Yes, apprentice, it is I."
"One moment. I am lifting the ward now."
A black square formed before them, a spinning vortex of colored light at its center. Regan watched the vortex expand until it pushed against the edges of the black cube that held it. The revolutions increased in speed and an arched doorway appeared.
On the other side stood a tall man with a mass of red hair. Next to him was a thin, dark-haired boy. The man waved them forward. “Hurry, he can only hold it open for a short while."
Angus, Peter and Regan ran to their horses while Maggie charged through the doorway.
As they cleared the thorns, the dark-haired boy swayed and the red-headed giant reached to grasp his arms. The arch wavered, the black edges spreading and devouring the spinning lights. As the last colored light vanished, the blackness faded and the wall of thorns again became whole.
The boy leaned his head against the giant's arm for a moment, then pushed away and stumbled to a nearby rock.
"Rourk,” Peter said, advancing on the big man, “it is good to see you."
Rourk enveloped Peter in his huge arms and thumped him on the back. His gaze went over the mage's head to Regan. “You have brought Regan, I see. Kelsey will be pleased.” Maggie approached Rourk and thrust her nose against his leg. “What is this?” he said, bending down.
Angus walked to the three of them and squatted to pet Maggie. “This is Maggie, a member of our company."
Regan felt a tickling on the back of her neck and, as she turned, she caught a half-smile on the lips of the boy—no, on closer inspection, not boy, but man. Noticing her look, the smile left his lips and he dropped his head into his hands. He's pretending his weakness, but why?
"Regan,” Peter called. “Come meet Rourk."
Rourk reached to grab her hand. “You share Kelsey's smile."
"Where is my sister?"
"Across the field of grain. Give me a moment with the sentries and I'll take you to her.” Rourk turned and whistled toward a black freshly tilled square of earth. The dirt moved. From inside a long trench, three men rose. Each gripped a flat-bladed sword. “They're here to sound the alarm if Ru'taha or vipers break through."
"But the warded barricade?” Regan said.
Rourk shrugged massive shoulders. “Dirkk
has magic, too. Come, Kelsey has been waiting seven years to see you."
Rourk led them through a waist-high field of golden grain, then jumped a shallow ditch full of sluggish water. On the other side of the ditch two men rose from the grain, notched arrows stretched taut in their longbows. Seeing Rourk, they lowered the bows and nodded.
Peter's eyebrow rose. “Are you expecting an immediate attack?"
Rourk's gaze flicked over Regan. “Yes."
Peter saw the quick glance. “Dirkk knows of Regan?"
"We think so."
"But how?"
"We don't know yet."
"An informer?” The mage's eyebrows forged a frown.
"It would seem so."
"Whom do you suspect?"
Rourk looked back over his shoulder. “We will talk of it later,” he said softly.
They followed Rourk across a packed dirt road and into a wide field planted with rows of corn, beans, and squash. Adjacent to the field was another full of vines with long purple gourds hanging from them. Among the rows of vines, men, women, and children walked, picking and dropping the purple gourds into large woven baskets. At each corner of the field men stood looking out across the valley, bows at ease by their sides.
At the left edge of the field, two roan draft horses stood hitched to a long, wide wagon filled with the purple, green-tipped gourds.
In front of the wagon, a slight figure dressed in a loose, pea-green shirt and trousers stood, head bent over a ledger. A wide-brimmed straw hat shaded the face, but something vaguely familiar made Regan's heart pound.
A gust of wind caught the hat and sent it sailing toward Regan. The figure turned and gave chase, a long, blonde braid bouncing as she ran.
"Kelsey,” Regan whispered, then bent and scooped up the fly-away hat. Tears filled her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. “Kelsey,” she cried, waving the hat in the air.
Kelsey turned, then ran toward them. She stopped in front of Regan, and they stared at each other for a long moment. Regan handed Kelsey the straw hat. So many words tumbled around inside her head that she didn't know where to start.
Kelsey took the hat and placed it back on her head, then reached out with the ledger and rapped her sister on the right shoulder. “Took your own sweet time getting here, didn't you?"
Regan touched her sister's sun-bleached braid. “I thought you said you didn't like long hair.” For a heart's beat they grinned at each other like idiots, then fell into each other's arms. They rocked back and forth, tears falling unheeded.
Regan heard a high childish voice ask. “Mommy, why is the Queen's-Commander hugging that woman?"
The air filled with the rustle of hushed questions, until somewhere in the middle of the field a cheer started. It rose in volume until the valley vibrated with the sound. Regan pulled away from Kelsey's embrace and frowned. The cheer was a single word, her name over and over. Why?
Rourk stepped to Kelsey's side. “I'll stop it."
Kelsey grabbed his arm. “No, let them. We've had little to celebrate."
Rourk looked down into Kelsey's face and smiled. “As you wish, Queen's-Commander."
Kelsey laced her arm through Regan's. “Come with me. We've lots to catch up on.” Cheers echoing at their backs, the sisters turned and walked toward a small tent pitched away from the others.
Chapter 13
KELSEY GLANCED UP from the map-strewn table and grimaced, then slowly rolled her neck. Rourk stood and circled the table. His shoulder brushed a lantern hanging from a pike jammed into a circle of dirt as he passed. The jarred lamp sent shadows dancing across the walls.
Rourk kneaded Kelsey's shoulders and she smiled and sighed without looking up. “It's not if Dirkk will attack, but when,” Rourk said.
Peter looked up from the maps. “What makes you think he knows Regan is here?"
"I'm not sure,” Rourk said.
"You are having the traitor watched?” Peter said.
Rourk's eyes narrowed for a moment before he answered. “Gunthar says he is in his tent."
"Gunthar? Then it is Thomas?"
Regan rose from the cushioned, hollowed-out stump she was using for a chair and crossed the few feet of dirt that separated her from the four who circled the table. “Who's Gunthar?"
Kelsey glanced at her from across the table. “Gunthar is Thomas's mount."
Regan stared at Rourk. He must mind-speak horses, too.
Kelsey's gaze turned to Peter. “Is the camp still unbreached?"
Regan looked at Peter and felt a slow spreading warmth in her stomach. His eyes were closed and lines of concentration etched his forehead. What is he doing? From the way my stomach feels, I know it involves the Power. She closed her own eyes and, in the darkness behind them, she saw an electric-blue aura circling the valley. She felt Peter travel the circle, seeking a break in its symmetry. She turned and searched the opposite way. Their minds met at the halfway point and touched briefly.
Regan opened her eyes. Peter opened his seconds later and looked at her. “Thank you,” he said, then turned to meet the anxious looks of Kelsey, Angus, and Rourk. “He has not sent a message yet."
Angus jerked the tent's flap aside. “And he won't, either. We should have stopped him before this."
"No, wait,” Kelsey said. “It's Dirkk we want, not Thomas. I've got a better way.” Angus, halfway out the tent, paused. He turned and looked at his commander.
A mirthless smile stretched Kelsey's lips. “Dirkk seeks information. Fine, he'll get what he wants.” She looked at Regan, and Regan felt her stomach knot. She knew the look, and it usually meant trouble. Kelsey faced Peter. “How do you feel about Thomas taking over Regan's training?"
Regan answered for him. “It's what we'd already planned, but that was before he was branded a traitor."
Kelsey nodded. “Can Regan learn to shield?"
"Why?” Peter said, then smiled. “We will turn her over to Thomas so he can teach her to control her power, but..."
"There will be little or no power to control.” Kelsey finished for him.
Rourk grinned. “If we make Thomas believe Regan is no threat, that is what he will tell Dirkk."
Angus's eyebrows drew together. He dropped the tent flap and walked back to the table. “Dirkk is no fool. He will try to find out for himself."
Kelsey's eyes glittered like blue ice. “We'll be ready for Dirkk.” She turned to Regan. “Will you help?"
Regan opened her mouth, but her tongue refused to form words. She looked from face to face, then back to Peter. “Can I do this?"
"You have the ability. I can show you how to use it."
Regan nodded. Kelsey stood. “Then we will leave you and Peter.” She turned to the mage. “But make the lesson quick. I want to spend some private time with my sister.” Kelsey waved Angus out of the tent and followed him.
Rourk paused in front of Regan. His green eyes stared down into hers, probing, measuring. Then he nodded and followed Kelsey and Angus.
As the tent flap dropped into place, Regan released a deep breath. “Does he always look at people like that?"
"Rourk cares for Kelsey almost as much as he does for Daradawn,” Peter said. “Are you ready to begin?"
She nodded.
"With your strength this will be easy,” he told her. He drew two chairs away from the table and set them in the middle of the tent facing each other. “Sit here."
Regan sat.
"When someone violates you with an uninvited probe and you have no shield, you feel a tickling in the back of your mind. All who have some form of power can probe."
"So there's a difference between powers?” she asked.
"Yes. There is Earth, Sea, and Air, but the Power combines all and is the strongest and most rare."
"What does Dirkk have?"
Peter's jaw tightened. “Dirkk's power has no name. It is evil, corrupt, and has been bargained for from the Dark Lord himself."
"Is dark power stronger than the Power?"
Peter looked away from her. “It is stronger than I am alone.” His gaze came back to her. “Your lesson. The time grows short."
'Stronger than I am alone.’ The words hung in the air between them. Regan wanted to jump up, to run and just keep on running. She shifted on the chair. “Go on."
"To probe without an invitation is forbidden, so most do not. For those who are unscrupulous, a shield will block them. At first you will have to consciously raise it. In time, it will be a natural reflex. In a minute you will feel my probe."
Regan felt a tickle at the nape of her neck. “I feel it, but it's more like an itch."
"In your inner eye, picture a wall between you and the probe. Do you have your wall?"
"Yes."
"Can you still feel my probe?"
Regan frowned and rubbed the back of her neck. “Yes. You're burning me."
"Strengthen your wall."
"I'm trying."
"Try harder,” Peter said, then grinned. “Interesting. Does Kelsey know that you envy her and Rourk?"
"What?” Anger coursed through Regan. “Get out of my thoughts."
"Shield them from me and...” The grin left his lips. “No, I am not. I can assure you my mother and father were married."
Regan gasped, then with a low curse lashed out with her mind. Peter flew backward and crashed down onto Kelsey's cot. The cot tipped to the side and Peter rolled across the ground. When he stopped rolling, he was a good five feet away from her.
Shocked, she stood and started toward him and then stopped. He deserved it!
Peter sat up and grinned at her. “Well, you repelled that invasion very well."
Regan fought to keep the smile from her lips, but it was hopeless. Laughter exploded from her and Peter joined in. She laughed until tears poured from her eyes and she gasped for air.
The tent flap thrust aside and a whirlwind on four legs charged in. Regan heard the breath gush out of Peter's mouth as Maggie landed in the middle of his stomach. Wiping tears from her eyes, she crossed to where they lay and pulled Maggie off the mage. Peter gulped in air and rolled to his side.
"You women are going to kill me,” he gasped, glancing up to meet two unrepentant gazes.
Getting to his feet he looked at Regan. “Well, shall we try it again—the shielding, that is?"
The Blue Flame [Book 1 of the Daradawn Series] Page 11
