Vision of Light [The Renegades 1]

by Amanda Hilton

  He stepped up onto the bank. “Think you can swim across on your own in your condition, milady?"

  She nodded, wondering why he would make this so easy for her to escape. However, she did not intend to argue with him. The forest and the river had always been her sanctuary.

  He walked in the direction of the camp. After barely half a dozen steps, he stopped and looked back at her. Aislan could not read his expression, but she feared he had changed his mind.

  The man named Nadan came into the clearing with his sword drawn.

  Chapter 4

  The Exchange

  "You cannot be sadistic enough to want the lady to drown in her delicate condition.” Nadan smiled affably as he rested the point of his sword on the ground. “What games can you be playing, Lucien, my sorsvasus broth

  Two more men, Mason and Peyt, wandered into the clearing bare-chested as if to bathe. Armed with their swords, they each carried a blazing torch. They stopped behind Nadan and stood aside. The flames lit up the riverside.

  Lady Aislan remained in the water, an easy target. When Lucien took a step in her direction, Nadan also moved in the same direction. When Lucien stopped, Nadan also stopped, the same false and civil smile pasted on his mouth, but his eyes lit up in wicked anticipation of a fight.

  Lucien's hand rested casually on the hilt of his sword. “I'll come to the Sorsverein when I am ready. Until then, Nadan, I have no need of your tiresome company. Come, Aislan.” He felt pleased she made no ladylike protest of his familiarity. “We shall go further down the river for your privacy."

  "Now, now, stay! We will turn our backs modestly,” Nadan offered. Lucien shrugged as if they all bored him.

  "Milady, come.” He beckoned the stubborn woman. Could she not sense an imminent fight? He wanted Aislan behind him, and he hoped she would cooperate. However, she did not move, just standing there wide-eyed as if she were surveying her options. Playing to the audience, Lucien looked her over, up and down, focusing first on her luscious mouth, then her full breasts, and then her hips. He remembered all too well the image of her sitting on top of him, though the fragile woman of reality was a far cry from the wild, passionate siren in his dreams. His constant state of hard-on and the burning need to touch her soft skin had kept his senses heightened.

  She stared back at him with the same absorption she had had since she came to the river. He knew she feared him no longer, her awareness of him almost as intense as his own captivation with her. Her lovely dark gaze drifted downward to stare at his cock tenting painfully against the confinement of his clothes, obvious for everyone to see his intense desire for her under this most inauspicious circumstance. In the firelight, a becoming blush spread across her beautiful face.

  "Aislan,” he liked the sound of her name as he coaxed her, “step this way."

  "Oh, no, no.” Nadan lifted his sword and waved it at her in a beckoning motion. “Come this direction, milady."

  She did not budge for either of them.

  "Do not try my patience.” Nadan narrowed his eyes. “Obey, and I offer you my protection."

  "'Tis no way to charm the lady with your sword in her face.” Lucien sighed with great exaggeration. “I refuse to fight you, Nadan, or either of you.” He indicated the two companions. “Leave us be."

  Nadan burst out laughing. “Milord Demarcus, am I to obey you on command?” He laughed again, his eyes bright. “You have no choice. We shall fight for your lady."

  Like Lucien, Nadan also grew up immersed in cat-and-mouse politics. The Sorcery Circle, as well as the king's court, was full of game players. The more ambitious waited for the opportunity to pounce on their competition when opportunity arose. Defeating Lucien and taking Aislan's head in the name of the king's decree would elevate Nadan's status manyfold.

  However, as rules dictated, Nadan could not risk attacking Lucien first without justification. So far, Lucien had done nothing significant enough to provoke a fight. Their two ‘witnesses’ might be Nadan's reinforcements, but like all sorsvasus, Mason and Peyt were more likely honor-bound to relay to the Court and the Circle what they saw. Nadan was looking for a provocation, so Lucien stated the terms for the battle that now seemed inevitable.

  "If I win, you and all others leave us be. I'll take Lady Aislan to the king myself."

  Nadan's mouth tightened. “And claim all the glory for yourself? No, Lucien, the lady goes with us. Anyhow, we only need her head.” In one quick motion, he extracted a small knife from his belt and threw it at Aislan, aiming for her heart.

  Cursing, Lucien extracted his dagger swiftly and threw it at the flying knife in order to divert its path. The blades clanged in midair before falling several feet in front of Aislan. He quickly drew his sword as Nadan leapt forward and began a series of offensive strikes. While he countered the parries, Lucien deliberately moved along the bank to place Aislan behind him.

  Nadan was young, strong, and physically up against an equal match. Lucien sensed Aislan's movements behind him as she got out of the water, but he could not afford to take his focus from Nadan or the other two men, who stood aside watching warily. Hearing a faint clinking, Lucien knew she had picked up one of the weapons. Nadan saw what she did and attacked in earnest as he waved his free hand at Mason and Peyt. Lucien would not let anyone detain Aislan if she wanted to escape, so he leapt and placed himself between her and the men. He saw out of the corner of his eye Aislan running back into the water, and then he heard a splash and saw Nadan's outraged expression. As the two men ran for the water, Lucien blocked their entrance. Flicking the tip of his sword at the first's belt, he cut through the leather without cutting skin, and then followed up with the other man just as quickly, all in a space of a few eye blinks. He parried Nadan again, who was fighting madly now, exerting enough energy to force Lucien to defend himself in earnest.

  Mason and Peyt, hands holding their loose braes, managed to enter the water anyway. Lucien spun around so he faced the river and saw the two men standing in the water looking around. Aislan was nowhere in sight. Lucien had suspected she might have an affinity for water. From the reconnaissance's story from several days ago, Lucien suspected the renegade sorceress, Narisse, had abducted Aislan long ago for a ritual sacrifice. A Fluid sorceress, Narisse might have passed some of her abilities onto Aislan. Nevertheless, Lucien could not control the flash of fear that chilled through him because she had not surfaced.

  "We will find her, dead or not.” Nadan stopped in the midst of his attack.

  "Why so fervent in your need to have her dead?” Lucien felt the frantic need to go after Aislan. “She is but a defenseless woman with child."

  Nadan's expression flickered, showing he was still human, but his resolve hardened quickly. “The king and the Sorsverein want her head, and so I shall deliver it!” He attacked again.

  Lucien moved from his defensive mode and channeled his energy, focusing his attack. Waves of power also exuded from Nadan until it almost palpitated in the air around them. The need to end the fight as quickly as possible fueled Lucien as he bore down full force on Nadan. He saw the startled expression on Nadan's face and heard his angry shout for reinforcements. He fought all three of them, swords and torches dancing. Because his power was stronger, Lucien knew he would defeat them eventually. However, as opportunities for a deathblow against both Peyt and Mason arose, Lucien did not take them. They all served the same king. As sorsvasus brothers, they all trained under the same sorcery master. Lucien was the one defying orders. He could not cause serious injuries to, let alone murder, his comrades when they only obeyed orders.

  The clanging swords and shouts brought forth a crowd as the remaining men gathered at the riverside, but no one intervened. Eventually, Lucien eliminated his opponents, one at a time. He flicked the tip of his sword across Mason's wrist before sending his sword flying. Mason shouted in alarm and clutched his slit wrist. Lucien followed up quickly with the startled Peyt in the same manner. He did not cut deep, grazing just enough so they could no
t pick up their weapons and continue the fight. They would heal once they regenerated.

  No one else entered the fray, leaving Lucien to deal with Nadan alone. Lucien succeeded in knocking the sword from Nadan's hand, but Nadan maneuvered himself quickly and protected his wrist. Lucien feigned a swipe at Nadan's throat, and when Nadan dodged, he tripped on the rock-hewn ground. In no time, Lucien stood over him, touching the tip of his sword lightly against Nadan's bobbing Adam's apple.

  "You kill me, and you bring the wrath of the king's army and the full Sorcery Circle down on your head for murder!” Nadan shouted.

  "I have no intention to kill you.” Lucien smiled without amusement. He moved the tip of the sword to Nadan's right shoulder and tapped it once before returning to his throat. “Your right arm shall be sufficient."

  Nadan looked appalled.

  Lucien manipulated his advantage. “An exchange. Your arm for your protection of Lady Aislan."

  Nadan gaped. “I cannot go against the Sorsverein's command! You think I value my arm more than my obligation to my master?"

  Lucien expected that. “You shall protect her babe."

  "What babe?” Nadan's mouth opened and closed. “The babe has yet to be born!"

  "You are the guardian of Lady Aislan's firstborn,” Lucien assigned. “You ensure her safe delivery of the child and raise it should it be orphaned."

  "You have lost your fucking mind!"

  "I thought ‘twas quite clever."

  "The hell with you! I'll not be burdened with some brat!"

  "Your right arm should be worth any burden. ‘Twould be an honor guarding the life of a child. Nadan, you have acquired your first apprentice."

  "Damn you. You make a fool of me!"

  "You have become tedious. Your arm, or your protection of Lady Aislan's firstborn. Make your choice now."

  Nadan visibly gnashed his teeth. Murdering a sorsvasus brother was punishable by death, but Lucien's taking of Nadan's arm would not be as dire because of the condition of their combat. The winner had the option to set terms as long as it did not involve killing. Nadan no doubt had expected to defeat Lucien.

  Lucien had no intention taking Nadan's arm, but he had always been good at bluffing.

  "You shall pay for this,” Nadan gritted through his teeth. “I'll take care of her brat."

  "And ensure its delivery."

  "Fuck you."

  Unable to delay anymore, Lucien moved the point of his sword above Nadan's right armpit and pressed hard enough to draw blood. “Your word of honor. Now!"

  "I cannot go against decree to keep her alive."

  "You leave her be until she delivers her child."

  Nadan relented and sighed. “Very well."

  "Swear to it."

  Nadan looked about the circle of men standing around. Even if he had no witnesses, his word would have sufficed for Lucien. After all, Nadan was a sorcerer and bound by the code of the Sorcery Circle when he swore allegiance. Some rules were harder to skirt around. Witnesses helped when it came to interpretation, and he had plenty of witnesses, regardless of whose side.

  "If she still lives, I swear I'll protect Lady Aislan's firstborn as my ward."

  "Until then, you ensure that she will deliver her child."

  Nadan's face turned beet red. “You are a stupid fuck, Lucien. You stand ready to throw away the Realms and the glorious Stonebrush. There are plenty of pussies to have, but no, you must have this one. ‘Tis true. You are a contender to be one of the new Lords of the Realms. You deserve what awaits you now."

  Despite his shock, Lucien hid it well. However, he would not sacrifice Aislan. “Until then, you ensure Lady Aislan will deliver her child,” he repeated.

  Nadan's jaw tightened. “Until then, I'll not be the one to kill her,” he gritted through clenched teeth.

  Good enough for now.

  Lucien straightened, backing up a few steps, and went to retrieve the dagger he had used to throw Nadan's knife off course. He realized to his shock only Nadan's knife remained.

  "Your little cunt took it.” Nadan laughed as he stood. “She got out of the water to take your weapon, and then went right back in and drowned."

  Lucien had to steel himself not to react. He had forged his blood as well as his sorcery power into his two weapons. The dagger could only be touched by him, or by sorcerers more powerful.

  Scanning the quiet river, he knew Aislan could not have swum across it during the fight or even stayed underwater that long. Something brown washed near the bank. Leaping into the water, Lucien fished out Aislan's cloak. He looked in vain up and down the river. She must have abandoned the cloak so she could swim unhindered, or so he hoped. Lucien was a strong swimmer, a skill he acquired through continued practice and not sorcery power. However, he had never tried finding anyone underwater before.

  Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Lucien refused to believe she had drowned. He wrung the dripping cloak and focused on the task ahead—finding Aislan.

  Chapter 5

  Kiss of Fate

  Aislan concentrated on making her reserved breath last as she let the river carry her downstream. Eventually, when her lungs strained for air, she broke to the surface. As she gasped for breath, she looked about her. She bobbed in the middle of the river, far from either bank. Under the full moon, Aislan studied the night sky, knowing the position of every twinkle in relation to the others. Unfortunately, the flow of the river had brought her back to Templeton Castle, exactly the place she wished to be away from most.

  As she floated on her back, Aislan knew she could not allow herself to continue drifting downstream. She needed to go to Victania, which lay further north. It meant having to swim back upstream and past where she started.

  Wading along, Aislan swam to shore, one hand holding the silver dagger belonging to the Dark Lord Lucien Demarcus. Finally, she reached solid ground and crawled onto the bank, lying on her back to catch her breath. Once she could breathe normally again, her attention returned to the dagger she grasped tightly.

  What had spurred her to take the dagger during the fight? Drawn to it lying on the ground, on instinct, Aislan had snatched it before diving into the river. Initially, the heavy dagger pulled her down the water, much deeper than she wanted to be, forcing her to fight her way back up near the surface. Eventually, it weighed nothing.

  Aislan sat up and looked over the enchanted dagger. Sword sorcerers usually forged their own weapons and endowed them with their own power. Aislan touched the inscription along the hilt, matching that on its scabbard, and wondered what it said. The symbols looked familiar, but she could not read them. As she traced the patterns, the hilt warmed, and something blossomed within her. She touched the tip of the sharp blade with a tentative finger. It pushed at her skin but did not cut.

  It was not wise to take the enchanted dagger with her. Its master could track her, defeating her purpose for escaping. Even knowing the high possibility of being found, Aislan could not abandon it now, no matter how foolish her sentiments. Again, she deliberately pinched the sharp tip between her fingers, but her skin remained intact. She caressed the sharp blade in awe.

  Finally, Aislan got to her feet. As she pushed her wet hair from her face, her fingers encountered the marriage filigree she wore across her forehead. Without a moment of hesitation, she slid it off. Curiosity halted her before she could toss it into the water. Instead, she brought the filigree down on the sharp edge of the dagger blade, and the thin metal split in two. She ran her fingers along the edge again.

  The night grew colder, and her wet clothes clung to her. Aislan looked about her and knew she had to find shelter. Picking up the two cut pieces of the filigree, she threw them as far as she could in the water. No reason to leave them on land where they could be found.

  Aislan walked away from the river, thankful for the full moon lighting her way. The wind made her shiver in her wet clothes. She clung tightly to the hilt of the dagger, and the warm handle vibrated like a living thing. T
he warmth traveled up along her arm, spreading slowly through her body, until she no longer felt cold.

  The dark forest would normally be frightening, and though unfamiliar with the area, Aislan felt no fear. Even as a little girl, she had always known how to get back home even if she strayed far and took a path she had never traveled. Aislan saw a passage slightly to her right. She followed it as if it were etched for her and the moonlight shone brighter along the path, even though nothing distinguished it from the forest all around her. As long as she stayed on the track, no wild animal would harm her. Aislan did not understand how it came to be, and she never questioned why, crediting it to a sorcery power within her that she did not know how to control.

  Soon after, she sensed a presence, and Aislan stopped immediately. Her heart beat so loud, she could hear nothing beyond its drumming in her chest. She could feel him. She had wanted to escape. Yet, knowing the full implications of what could happen, she had taken the dagger with her.

  Aislan had allowed it to lead the Dark Lord to her.

  * * * *

  Lucien set the horses free, sending them scattering in all directions. He jumped on his steed and took off, leaving the men shouting after him in rage. They could walk for a couple of days to the nearest town. Lucien did not want to give anyone the opportunity to pursue him.

  He traveled far down the river until he sensed the spot where Aislan had gotten out of the water. His heart drummed and reverberated in his ears. His relief at knowing she was alive coursed through him, and he had to pause to let the knowledge sink in. He had not expected her to swim this far down the river. Lucien gathered some of his belongings in a bag. The horse would have made the trip easier, but the animal could not get across the wide river. Strapping his weapons to his back, and then the bag, he got into the water.