The Blue Flame [Book 1 of the Daradawn Series]

by Barbara M. Hodges

  "Enough,” the smaller woman said.

  She must be the healer, Kelsey decided. The tall lady has the look of a queen.

  From the back of the tent a figure stepped forward and Kelsey gasped. Five pairs of eyes turned to her. The small brown wren-of-a-woman walked toward her.

  "You must be the woman who rescued Rourk. How can we ever thank you?” she said. She reached out, circled Kelsey's shoulders with her arm, and drew her into the tent. “Oh, what happened to you?” she asked, as lantern light revealed Kelsey's face. Without stopping for an answer, she continued. “You were right to come to Margeaux.” A touch, light as a butterfly's wing, whispered across her cut cheek. “With Margeaux's herbs and Peter's magic, not even a scar will remain."

  Kelsey's glance went over the woman's head and fastened on the figure that stood just inside the lantern glow. He was short and compact with a long white beard. Bristling eyebrows framed pale silver penetrating eyes. He was clad in shades of brown from head to toe, and a silver belt circled his middle. His hands rested on a battle axe in front of him, its blade grazing his waist.

  "Peter, bring the young woman a chair, for she looks like she's seen a ghost,” the tall woman commanded.

  "Thank you, your majesty,” Kelsey said weakly, then lowered herself into the chair.

  Both women started, then the smaller one laughed. “I guess it is a rational assumption, Margeaux. You do look more like a queen than I do.” Then she turned and smiled at Kelsey. The gold specks in her brown eyes were bright with amusement.

  "Let me introduce my friends and myself. I am Tessa De'Amberville, Queen of Daradawn. This very regal looking lady is Margeaux, my friend and elven healer. Rourk you have already met. Standing next to him is Peter Canterville, High Mage to the court, and over there in the shadows is Angus, protector to the House of De'Amberville. I welcome you, Lady...?"

  "Kelsey, Kelsey Cafferty."

  "Welcome, Lady Cafferty,” Queen Tessa said. “You will have to forgive my rudeness, but Rourk has just brought us heartbreaking news.” The queen turned to face the man she had identified as the court mage. “Did you have any idea that Dirkk had shaped so many?"

  "No,” Peter said, “nor that they had penetrated so far into Unicorn Valley."

  "The villages are deserted. I saw that on my way to the farm,” Rourk said.

  "People will be flocking to Fertile Isle Valley and Raya,” the queen said.

  "Can the city hold them all?"

  "It must and, with your help, Peter, they will be safe. Dirkk will eventually tire of his revenge and leave us in peace."

  "What of Vilsathor?” the elven healer said.

  "We saw Darrian and all is well. Dirkk cannot penetrate your elven magic."

  "Then we have no choice. We must go back to the castle right away,” Queen Tessa said.

  "We are to run like dogs, with our tails between our legs?” Angus said, his lips curling in distaste.

  "I know it galls you, Angus, but we have no choice. I do not have the forces to stand against Dirkk. To face him in battle now would be suicide."

  "So we hide behind walls and Peter's magic and hope he will go away?” the dwarf sneered.

  "Yes. I will not have my people die needlessly,” Queen Tessa said, her look a clear warning for the dwarf to cease his words.

  "There's another way,” Kelsey said, thinking out loud.

  "What?” The queen's brown-eyed gaze turned toward her.

  "I said there is another way. A way of fighting that would lessen your enemy, with only minimal losses to you."

  Angus crossed the tent to stand in front of Kelsey. “What would you know of warfare?” he asked. His eyes, on the same level as hers, glittered with challenge. Kelsey met them without flinching. “I have been trained in tactical warfare by the best."

  The dwarf stepped back and laughed. “You may wear the britches of a man, but you are still a woman, and women know nothing of war."

  Queen Tessa turned her bright stare on Angus. “I AM a woman."

  Angus's eyebrows drew together in a frown. “You have men to guide you,” he said.

  The queen cocked an eyebrow at the dwarf, then turned to face Kelsey again. “I will hear what the lady has to say."

  Ignoring Angus's glare, Kelsey sat up taller in her chair. “You said you are outnumbered and can't hope to win a face-to-face confrontation?"

  Queen Tessa nodded.

  "Your forces, do they ride?” Kelsey asked.

  "All are horsemen."

  Kelsey nodded. “Then choose your best and have them ride in search of your enemy. He won't expect that. Ride in, attack quickly, and leave before he knows what hit him. When he starts expecting this, then hide and wait. When his troops come into your line of fire, ambush them. Little by little you will destroy both his forces and his confidence."

  "This method of fighting is new to us,” Rourk said.

  "It is a coward's way,” Angus said with disgust.

  "Would you rather hide behind the city's walls?” Queen Tessa said.

  Angus turned on his heels and stormed toward the tent flap. “I will see to the horses,” he said, then jerked the tent flap aside and walked through.

  Peter smiled at the quivering tent flap. “Do not mind him. Non-action makes him irritable. Tell me, Lady Cafferty, how do you come to be among us? Your clothing is strange and there are no villages near the mountain where you found Rourk."

  Kelsey's eyebrows drew together in a deep vee. “I'm not sure. One moment I stood in jungle dampness, then I heard a voice scream. I ran into a cave and out onto a ledge, and then I was here."

  Peter's hazel gaze probed hers. “What did you feel in the cave?"

  "Nothing. Absolutely nothing."

  Queen Tessa turned to Peter. “Another rift? Could it be?"

  The mage shook his head. “I do not know. It would make seven. But that would be in keeping with the numeric pattern, seven years, seven days and now seven rifts."

  "Was there a seventh mentioned in your grandfather's book?"

  "There could be but, with Dirkk's harassment, I have not had the time to translate it all."

  Kelsey stood. “Are you saying I stumbled through a time portal of some kind?"

  "Not a time portal, but a rift between your world and ours. We have only recently found out about them ourselves,” Peter said. “My grandfather used them regularly to visit your world. He left me his journal when he died and it tells of his travels.” The mage smiled. “He was especially fond of San Francisco."

  "But when I turned around the cave was gone."

  "No,” Queen Tessa whispered. “Are you sure? Sometimes they are hard to see."

  "I'm sure. I ran my hand all along the mountain. There was no opening in the rock wall."

  "I am sorry to hear that,” Peter said.

  Kelsey stared at him with a suddenly dry mouth and pounding heart. “Why? What does it mean?"

  Queen Tessa stepped forward and clasped Kelsey's hands. “It means that you will be our guest for the next seven years."

  * * * *

  "And that's exactly what I have been,” Kelsey said.

  "But the other six rifts, couldn't one of them let you back through?"

  "We were never able to get to any of the others. Dirkk keeps us bottled up here, on this side of the river."

  "How did you know the one to San Francisco would be open?"

  "Peter's grandfather's book. We just had to get Peter and Angus to the rift."

  "And us back to it,” Regan said.

  Kelsey met her sister's eyes. “Our return journey to the rift will be easy, or there will be no journey at all."

  Regan held her sister's gaze. “What do you mean?"

  "The next few days will see the end of this war, one way or the other,” Kelsey said. “Now sleep. Tomorrow's going to be a busy day."

  Regan turned over on the cot, then reached and pulled the blanket over her shoulder.

  * * * *

  Regan dreamed.
She stood on the lower marble step of The College of Mages, her hands held up in pleading.

  "Please, you must understand, it has to be this way. The Goddess has chosen it to be so."

  Desmond pulled his gaze from hers and stared coldly over her head. “No, Thea, I don't understand. How can you turn your back on your power?"

  "I'm not turning my back on it, just using it in a different way."

  Desmond spun on his heels and fastened his gaze on Dahlabar. “This is your fault, old man. You are forcing her to remain a healer."

  The tall black man met the younger one's angry appraisal. His own eyes glistened with sad resignation. “No, this is not what I would have wished."

  "Enough.” Thea snapped. “The decision is mine and it is made.” Her eyes unfocused and she nodded. “Yes, I am coming,” she added.

  "Who are you speaking to?” her father asked.

  "To the Goddess's avatar, and I must go."

  "You are leaving now?” Desmond said.

  Thea nodded.

  "Then why did you even come?"

  She smiled wistfully. “I wanted to say good-bye. Our paths must part here, but I do love you and will for all time. Perhaps someday in another life we will be together."

  Desmond stared at her, his eyes hard and cold. “You know nothing of love, at least not of the love I feel for you."

  Thea's eyes filled with tears. She blinked them rapidly and sought her father's face.

  Dahlabar stepped forward and placed an arm across her shoulders. “I will miss you, daughter,” he said, “but I've known since you were a child that this would come to pass."

  Thea's lips curved into a trembling smile. She looked at Desmond again, then sighed. “I must go. The dragon awaits."

  Desmond jerked his gaze back to her. “Did you say dragon?"

  "Yes."

  His laugh was mirthless and bitter. “Now I know you're addled, for no one converses with a dragon.” He stepped forward and grasped her shoulders. “Don't worry. I can help you."

  Thea twisted away from him. “Let go of me, you fool. You don't understand what you're doing."

  "Dahlabar, help me. We will take her to the High Mage. He will cleanse her mind of these delusions."

  An angry roar vibrated the air around them. Thea lifted her head and cried into the sky. “No, I am fine. Everything is all right.” She lowered her mismatched eyes to Desmond. “Do you want to die?"

  "No."

  "Then let go of me, now, or the dragon will come."

  Desmond met the calm certainty of Thea's eyes, then released her and backed away. “You mind-speak a dragon, but they are of magic.” His voice was a harsh whisper, filled with cynical doubt.

  "It makes no difference, magic or non-magic I mind-link with all of the Goddess's creatures."

  Desmond shook his head. “No, it can't be so. The High Mage says it is not possible."

  Thea backed down the marble step, then turned. “Come, I will show you the impossible."

  * * * *

  The scene changed, and now the three of them stood at the edge of an open field. Wind whipped the calf-high grass, slapping it against trouser legs, but they ignored the discomfort, for all gazes were on the center of the field where a golden dragon stood. “I see, but I don't believe,” Desmond said.

  "I never thought to see such a sight in my lifetime,” Dahlabar said. “You can mind-speak..."

  The dragon lifted its head and swung it toward them. Its glittering eyes silenced Dahlabar in mid-sentence.

  Thea looked at their stunned faces in satisfaction, then ran to the dragon and caressed its scaled neck.

  "We go, now,” the dragon commanded.

  "Yes, just let me introduce you."

  Thea turned to where the two men quivered. “Desmond, Dahlabar, this is Zara."

  * * * *

  Regan yawned, then opened her eyes. Staring at the canvas ceiling, she thought about the dream. She'd always believed in reincarnation. She'd just never realized prior lives could be lived in alternate worlds. So, she had been Thea in a prior life. It made sense. It explained why she and the dragon had bonded; Zara had recognized her. “It is also why I can mind-speak other animals."

  "Rae, are you awake, or just talking in your sleep again?” Kelsey asked from the other cot.

  "I'm half awake,” Regan said. “Do you have any idea what time it is?"

  "Probably somewhere around five o'clock,” Kelsey said.

  "You're not getting up, are you?"

  Kelsey stood and walked the few steps to the basin. “Listen. A lot are already up and about. You don't have to get up. Go back to sleep,” Kelsey said, pouring water into the silver basin.

  Regan groaned and pulled the blanket back over her head. Through the coarse blanket she heard someone scratch the tent's canvas flap as the way of a knock, then Rourk's voice called. “Kelsey? Are you dressed?"

  "When has that stopped you?” Kelsey said.

  "Since you acquired a chaperone.” Their voices dropped to a low murmur, then all became quite.

  Did they leave? Regan stuck her head out from under the blanket. When she saw Kelsey and Rourk wrapped in each other's arms, she tried to duck back under.

  "Too late,” Rourk said, and Regan met his laughing green eyes.

  She grinned sheepishly and sat up. “Sorry."

  A cold draft tickled the back of her neck and she turned as Peter poked his head into the tent. “Coffee's ready. Anybody want a cup?"

  "Me,” Regan said. She threw the covers aside, then pulled the gown down that had crept up her thighs as she slept. Lifting her head, she met Peter's eyes and surprised a look of longing on his face. He quickly looked away and backed from the tent.

  "Rourk, we should let the ladies get dressed."

  Dropping a last kiss on his nose, Kelsey pushed him away.

  "Later,” he said, his eyes warm with promise. He turned and ducked through the tent's open flap.

  Regan stared at the spot where Peter had stood. What did that look mean? “Kelsey."

  "Humm?"

  "I don't understand men."

  "I don't think we're supposed to. Now get dressed."

  * * * *

  The sun had crested the Williz range when Regan exited the tent. Maggie saw her first and bounded to greet her, tail wagging and ears flopping. Regan knelt and scratched the hound's velvet ears. “Morning, sweetie. How'd you sleep?"

  "Angus makes noise when he sleeps,” a miffed mind voice answered.

  "Maybe tonight you can sleep with me.” Regan sent, and Maggie wagged agreement with her tail.

  Regan saw the rest of the group standing around the fire pit.

  "She's up,” Rourk said as she joined them.

  "I feel my ears should be burning,” Regan said. Rourk and Angus stared at her blankly and she shrugged. “Never mind."

  Peter handed her a cup of coffee, avoiding her eyes.

  "Peter has spoken to Thomas about your training,” Kelsey said.

  "And?” Regan asked, blowing into the steaming cup.

  "He has agreed,” Peter said.

  "What did you tell him?"

  "Only your powers were not what we hoped, but maybe he could find some latent ones, and I didn't have time to waste on you."

  "I see."

  Peter's eyebrows rose at her tone of voice. “It was as we agreed. Do you have a problem with it this morning?"

  Three heads swung toward her, their attention fixed and tense. “Not with it,” Regan mumbled under her breath.

  Peter leaned closer. “What?"

  "No,” she spoke up. “I'm still in agreement.” Relief flooded the four faces.

  Peter turned away from her and fed another log to the fire. “Good,” he said, “I will take you to his cave after breakfast."

  Regan nodded. “Speaking of breakfast, when do we eat? I saw no magically laden table when I walked by."

  Kelsey shot her a sharp look before she answered. “I thought we would eat with everyone els
e this morning. They want to meet you."

  Regan felt her face grow pale. “I ... I ... won't have to make a speech or anything, will I?” she said. “Kel, you know I can't do that."

  Kelsey crossed to her sister and stared into her white, strained face. “I thought you'd outgrown that. How do you make your advertising pitches?"

  Regan swallowed. “There's never a crowd, just two or three people. After ten years of therapy, I can speak ten or fifteen words at the most in front of a crowd, but that's it."

  "I still can't believe you're letting Jason Wiggs control your life,” Kelsey said.

  "He's not controlling me."

  "What would you call it? You can't do public speaking..."

  "Drop it, Kelsey,” Regan said.

  A man dressed in pale tunic and trousers, dark mud caking his boots, stepped into the clearing. “Queen's-Commander."

  "Yes, Luke,” Kelsey said.

  "I have the monthly crop report. We are holding our own. Even with the many extra months to feed..."

  Regan tuned the man out. She was still fuming over her sister's words. Jason Wiggs wasn't controlling her. She had a phobia and had worked hard to even get as far beyond it as she had. Jason Wiggs. She said the name again in her head and felt nausea burn her stomach. How could a stupid boy from high school still make her ill? My God, it had happened ten years ago. She lifted her head and rubbed the back of her neck. But she still remembered it, every humiliating moment, as if it had happened this morning. She was a junior in high school and a candidate for student body vice president. Her opponent was Samantha Cooper. Blonde, beautiful, cheerleader Samantha Cooper. She just happened to be Jason Wiggs’ girlfriend and he planned to have her win, had even warned Regan to bow out. But she hadn't listened.

  It was the candidate debate. She'd worked hard on her platform and had felt confident walking to the microphone. Six students had questions for both her and Samantha. She had to admit, Samantha had answered them well. Samantha's knowing smile as they'd passed should have warned her, but it hadn't.

  She couldn't remember the first question now. But the second was about her feelings on the length of dresses and skirts. The standing rule was if you knelt and your skirt or dress did not touch the floor, then it was too short, and you were sent home to change it.