The Blue Flame [Book 1 of the Daradawn Series]

by Barbara M. Hodges

  THE MAN SLUMPED against the tree trunk. One of the things grabbed his head, pulled it back and then let it fall forward.

  The brush surrounding the clearing shook. The things backed away from their captive, formed a circle and faced outward. Long black snakes slithered into view. As Kelsey gaped, the snakes rose and balanced on their tails. One of the pale demons swung a club at the closest snake. The snake's head darted to the side and the club missed it by only inches. The snake hissed, then sprang forward and fastened its jaws in the demon's throat. Shiny black coils wrapped around the figure's arms and chest, pinning the club to its side. The club dropped from the demon's hand, and it screamed, thrashing back and forth, trying to free its hands and arms. The watching demons jumped up and down and shook their clubs soundlessly.

  The coils tightened. Suddenly the snake uncoiled from the figure, dropped to the ground, and slithered to the far side of the clearing. The rest of the snake things followed. The demons lowered their arms limply to their sides. All cocked their heads to the side as if listening.

  Kelsey rolled onto her back. “Girl, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore,” she whispered toward the sky, then shivered and glanced at the descending sun. Well, if I'm really going to be stupid and do something, I'd better find a way down from this ledge before it gets dark. She looked over the ledge again. Her gaze followed the plateau. It rose steadily until it met the center of the ledge. Kelsey pushed herself to her knees and then to her feet. Moving to where the ledge and plateau met, she saw a narrow, rocky path leading down.

  At the bottom of the path, Kelsey pressed her back against the trunk of the huge oak. The fourth tree ahead supported the man. The demons and snakes were deathly quiet. They seemed to be dozing or awaiting further instructions. She sprinted to the next tree. So what do I do when I get there? I don't have a knife or anything. She darted forward to stand behind the captive.

  His bound hands were swollen and bloody. She looked at the knot and frowned. There's no way I can untie that. As she stood staring at the hands, they moved. She leaned in close to the tree. “Can you hear me?"

  "Yes.” The whisper was hoarse and raspy.

  "I can't untie the rope."

  "My boot...” The man's voice cracked, replaced by a spasm of coughing. “A knife, in my boot."

  Kelsey dropped to her knees, then froze as footsteps approached. She pressed herself against the trunk. A pale hand reached around the tree and yanked on the rope. It cut into the man's skin. Fresh blood flowed and he moaned. The shuffling feet departed and Kelsey released her breath.

  She forced her hand down into the man's boot, stopping as her fingers touched a metal handle. She worked it free, and began to saw the ropes.

  The fibers parted and the man let his hands drop. “Back up, three trees,” he said. “I will follow."

  Kelsey backed away from the tree, counting as she went. At the third one she stopped. Her eyes strained into the dark. Did they catch him? No, too quiet. A hand grabbed her shoulder and a second pressed against her mouth. A boot scraped against her heel. She stomped down on the top of her attacker's toes. She heard a sharp intake of breath, but the grip didn't relax. She went limp, trying to pull her attacker off balance.

  "Damn, woman, hold still,” a voice said into her ear. She froze, hanging in his grip. “Did you free me so you could kill me?"

  Kelsey planted her feet beneath her.

  "If I release you, will you remain quiet?"

  She nodded. The hands withdrew and she turned. As she stared at the man, the moon slid from behind the cloud covering and shone on the trees and the man in front of her. He was tall and broad shouldered. Dark red hair waved back from a wide forehead and fell to his shoulders.

  "Thank you. I am Rourk Bannion. Now let us go."

  * * * *

  Regan jerked and broke contact. “That's how you met? You saved Rourk's life?"

  The tent flap lifted and Rourk poked his head in. “Did I hear my name?” He grinned at Kelsey's quick frown. “Enough catching up for now. Dinner's ready."

  "Okay, we'll be right out,” Kelsey said.

  Rourk winked and withdrew his head.

  "Dinner? But I want the rest. Just how did you meet Peter and Queen Tessa?"

  Kelsey smirked. “Not so boring huh? I'll tell you the rest after dinner."

  Regan's stomach chose that moment to growl in complaint. “All right, after dinner. But I won't forget."

  Chapter 14

  Under a star-filled sky, they sat around a square metal table. Sweet smoke from the campfire behind them hovered above.

  "What's in this? It's fantastic,” Regan said as she tilted her silver bowl and scooped up the last potato and carrot with her spoon.

  Kelsey glanced at her in amusement. “It's just beef stew."

  Peter ladled himself another bowl of stew, then winked across the table at Kelsey. “We introduced her to travel fare last night."

  Kelsey rolled her eyes. “That explains it. Pig slop would seem heavenly after that."

  "I like trail food,” Angus said, breaking off a piece of crusty bread, then spreading it with soft white cheese. Four pairs of eyes looked at him in disbelief. “Well, I do."

  "Just proves dwarves have no taste,” Rourk said. Angus glowered across the table at him and Rourk grinned.

  Regan helped herself to a piece of bread and asked. “Do you always eat this well?"

  Kelsey gasped, then bent over in a spasm of coughing. Laughing, Rourk pounded her on the back.

  Regan looked at the grinning faces surrounding her. “What?"

  "I'm sorry,” Kelsey choked out. “But this is the first hot meal we've had in days.” Regan felt her face heat. Rourk reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “Forget it. That's the first laugh I've had in weeks.” The smile left his face and he shook his head. “Dirkk has been at us day and night."

  Peter looked out across the valley. “How many have we lost?"

  Rourk carefully spread cheese on a hunk of bread before he looked up. “It hasn't been that bad ... it could have been worse."

  Peter's eyes locked with his. “What do you mean...?"

  "Thomas."

  Peter's lips thinned. “Let us hope our plan works. If so..."

  "No,” Kelsey cut in. “No talk of Dirkk, Thomas, or anything dealing with war. Tonight we celebrate the arrival of my sister.” She picked up her mug of mint tea. “Join me in raising a glass to Regan."

  "To Regan,” Peter said. “Even though her power is not what we had hoped for."

  Regan, startled, looked across at him, but Peter stared over Kelsey's shoulder and into a dark pool of shadows. Regan's eyes followed his and she saw Thomas step from the darkness and slink away.

  "The watcher has left,” Peter said.

  Kelsey turned on the bench and looked into the dark. “Thomas? He grows bolder. Do you think he heard our plans?"

  "I do not know, but he is gone and now I drink to Regan, the beginning of Dirkk's end."

  "To Regan,” echoed the rest, clinking mugs.

  Rourk set his mug down and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Now for dessert.” He reached for a bowl of purple beans in the middle of the table, and scooped a handful onto his plate.

  Angus took the bowl from him. “Try these. You'll like them,” Angus said, offering the bowl to Regan.

  Regan looked at the waxy beans doubtfully. “What are they?"

  "A Daradawn delicacy."

  "Go ahead. Try them,” Kelsey urged. “They taste like cantaloupe."

  "Cante ... what?” Angus said.

  "A California delicacy,” Kelsey said.

  Regan popped a bean into her mouth and chewed. Its juice was sweet and cool. “You're right. It does taste like cantaloupe.” She grabbed a handful and faced Peter. “I just remembered. You promised to tell me the story of Thea."

  "Thea?” Kelsey asked.

  "Rourk has never told you the story of Thea?” Peter said.

  "Time is scarc
e, and when we are alone I have other things on my mind,” Rourk said, grinning.

  Kelsey's mouth fell open, then she blushed to the roots of her hair. “Rourk!"

  "Well, it's the truth."

  Angus pushed himself away from the table. “I know the tale of Thea so I'll feed Maggie and see if she'd like to take a walk."

  Regan reached down and patted Maggie. The basset hound looked up at her. “I would love a walk.” Along with the basset hound's thoughts came a rush of warmth and love. “Maggie would love a walk,” Regan told Angus.

  "Then we shall have one,” the dwarf said. He slapped his leg. Maggie scrambled to her feet and the two of them walked into the dark.

  "How did you know that Maggie would like a walk?” Peter asked.

  Regan shrugged. “She's a dog. Of course she'd like a walk."

  "That's all it was, a guess?"

  "What else could it be?” Regan asked innocently.

  "For a moment—your eyes..."

  "What about my eyes?"

  Peter's gaze probed hers, and it was all she could do to keep from looking away. After what seemed an eternity he shook his head. “Nothing."

  "So, tell us of Thea,” Regan said, eager to change the subject.

  Peter pushed back from the table. “Yes. It is time you knew of Thea. Let us move to the fire pit."

  Regan looked down at her dirty bowl and cup. “What about the table?"

  "One of the soldiers will take care of it,” Rourk said.

  "We just leave it?"

  "I know. It still makes me uncomfortable, but they have a fit if I try to help,” Kelsey said.

  Rourk bent and kissed the top of Kelsey's head. “You are the Queen's-Commander, and commanders do not clean up after themselves."

  Kelsey pushed him away. “Don't do that. What if someone sees you?"

  "I have news for you, love. Everyone already knows."

  "Well, we don't have to flaunt it. Some of the troops have been away from their loves for a long time."

  "I stand rebuked. I'll try to be more discreet,” he said, but his boyish grin was unrepentant.

  * * * *

  The group moved to the pit and seated themselves on fire-warmed rocks. Beyond them Regan heard the low hum of voices and looked over Kelsey's head and across a valley dotted with the red glow of fire pits. A sudden wind sprang up. It whipped her hair and plastered her shirt against her body.

  "What the hell,” Regan said, springing to her feet. The wind blew beyond her, formed a dust devil and then whirled off into the night.

  Kelsey reached, grasped Regan's hand, and pulled her back down onto the rock. “It's nothing to fear. Twyla must be practicing her air magic. She's an apprentice like you, and sometimes her lessons get out of control.” She squeezed Regan's hand, then sat back. “Now, how about that story."

  Across from Regan, Peter stared into the flames. What does he see there? she wondered. He glanced up and met her look through a haze of smoke. His eyes staring into hers, he began to speak.

  "Thea lived one hundred years ago. She was born into a farming family, a baby with one blue and one brown eye.

  "Her father, on viewing his daughter for the first time, flew into a rage and accused his wife of fornicating with the Dark One. After he beat her soundly, he slammed out the door to seek the nearest alehouse. The mother, fearing for her life and that of her child, left the baby on the steps of the Temple of Ogdah.

  "An aging priest found the sleeping babe and took her into the Temple. Laying her on the altar, he vowed they would care for the innocent one. More priests arrived and marveled at the beauty of the child's face. Awakened by their voices, the baby opened her eyes.

  "The priests gasped and drew back, and making sure their robes did not touch the babe's swaddling clothes, they ordered her returned to where she had been found. But the priest told them of his already made promise to God. Fearing the babe's gaze, but God more, they banished the priest and the babe to his cell with orders to keep her there, out of their sight.

  "The next morn the king brought a young man to the temple. At first sight of the man, the priests dropped to their knees and prayed for protection, for the man's skin was as black as the darkest night. He had to be one of Satan's chosen."

  "Satan and God?” Regan interrupted. “The people of Daradawn know of God and the Devil?"

  Peter stared at her in silence for a moment, then said. “The Dark One is Satan. Who did you think I spoke of?"

  "I didn't know. Maybe some bad-ass, like Loki or..."

  "I do not know of this Bad-Ass or Loki you speak of, but God is everywhere,” Peter said. “Did you really think your world was his only creation?"

  "Well, I never really thought about it before."

  Peter smiled. “From what I saw of your world, I would say yours was only his first attempt. Now, may I continue?” He paused, ignoring Kelsey's look.

  "The king told the priests of the man's arrival in a strange ship made of woven reeds. The ship had been blown off course by a storm. The king believed the storm was no accident but God's will, for at the same time the young princess, swimming, had ventured beyond Mage-controlled water and was caught by a whirlpool.

  "The whirlpool was pulling her down when the black man arrived. He jumped in, pulled the princess free, then swam to shore, and placed her in the arms of her ladies-in-waiting. Afterwards he collapsed at their feet.

  "The king said he owed the man much, but all the stranger wanted was to serve his Goddess. When the priests heard this they were enraged. There was no Goddess, only the one God, they cried.

  "The stranger turned his brown eyes from them, then to the forest and sky. It was the Goddess who caused the sky to weep, watering the ground, and it was she who commanded the sun to shine, he told them. The priests cried blasphemy, but the king demanded the man be accepted and taught the temple's way.

  "The priests had no choice, but they put the man in charge of the devil child, saying it was only fair that one of Satan's children should care for the other.

  "So the man, Dahlabar, cared for the babe, naming her Thea, which meant nature's child in his tongue. As Thea grew, Dahlabar taught her of the Goddess and the wonders waiting for her beyond the temple walls.

  "When Thea was six summers old, Dahlabar went to the priests and demanded he be given a small woodcutter's cottage he had seen in the forest. The priests agreed and Dahlabar moved Thea into the heart of the woods. Five summers passed.

  "One afternoon Dahlabar came upon Thea in the forest. Standing behind an oak tree he watched as she stared into a thicket. Soon a rabbit limped her way. Thea picked it up and gazed into its eyes. ‘Where does it hurt, little one,’ Dahlabar heard her ask, then she leaned close and nodded her head. ‘I see, a thorn in the front pad. We'll have it out in a moment.’ Thea bent over the rabbit's foot and pulled the thorn free. The rabbit reached up, patted Thea's cheek, and hopped away.

  "Dahlabar stepped from behind the tree.

  "'Father, I did not know you were there’ she said.

  "'I did not want to scare the animal,’ Dahlabar said. Then he closed his eyes and spoke to the Goddess. When he opened them, he turned and smiled at the child he considered his daughter. ‘It is as I thought,’ he said. ‘You are chosen and blessed by She Who Is The Mother To Us All. All creatures will heed your voice.'

  "As Thea grew into womanhood, her powers grew stronger. Strange animals she had never seen before came to her. Dahlabar told her the shaggy mountain goat with the broken leg, and the large bird of prey with the swollen left eye, were from the high mountains. She healed them all and sent them on their way.

  "One morning a snow-white stallion awaited her when she opened the cottage door. Seeing her, the horse approached and butted her shoulder. Placing a hand on each side of the horse's head, Thea looked deep into its eyes, then turned, hurried into the cottage and grabbed her basket of herbs while calling to Dahlabar that someone needed her help.

  "The white horse took her deep i
nto the forest, finally stopping at the edge of an open field. In the field a still figure lay on the ground.

  "Thea slid from the horse's back and ran to the prone form. The man's leg was broken. Thea splinted his leg with two long narrow pieces of wood from her bag. Tying the last knot, she looked up and saw the man's gaze upon her. For a moment they stared at each other, then the stranger raised a hand toward her mismatched eyes. ‘Who are you?’ he asked.

  "'I am Thea, Daughter of Dahlabar,’ she said.

  "The man sat up. ‘What happened?'

  "'Your horse sought me out,’ Thea answered and turned, but the horse had vanished.

  "'But I have no horse,’ he said. He told her his name was Desmond. He attended the mage college in the city. A bear had chased him up a tree and he had fallen trying to get down.

  "Their meeting was destined and Desmond became a frequent visitor."

  Peter stopped, taking a sip of his drink before he continued. “Years passed and both Thea's and Desmond's powers grew. Desmond became adept at casting spells of power, and Thea's mind-link with animals became clearer and stronger, as well as her knowledge of healing.

  "One night Desmond came to her and asked her to come with him to live in the city. He wanted her to cast her healing aside and concentrate on becoming a woman of power.

  "Thea was torn, for she had grown to love Desmond, but healing was her life. She sent him away, with her assurance that she would give his words thought.

  "Dahlabar overheard Desmond and was angered by his words. He demanded that Thea no longer see him. Devastated, Thea threw a cloak over her shoulders and ran into the night. Through the night and on through the next five days, she walked. On the sixth morning, she stopped at the base of a tall mountain. Upward she climbed until she stood before a cave entrance. Inside the cave's darkness a light flared. Pulled onward, she followed the beckoning light until she stopped before a sleeping dragon.