by Candace Sams
"I wouldn't have done so had you been more conscientious about your conjuring. But I can't be everywhere at once."
"Yes, but he'll tell everyone in the woods that no matter how hard I try, I still can't summon a minor breeze. Every elf, fairy, and gnome in the Order will know I can't do what a child apprentice should be able to do. And I'm no child."
"That's true, but you have only yourself to Blaine. That's why your parents sent you to me. And Gawain's protectiveness isn't helping matters." Shayla walked to a nearby flat rock and patted the surface next to her. "Are you trying as hard as you can, girl?"
Afton nodded as she sat down. "I am, but don't Blaine Gawain for being overprotective. He thinks he's helping." She sighed and attempted to get the Sorceress to understand. "I try to concentrate. It's just that there's so much to do and to see. And I wonder about using powers at all."
"How so?" Shayla raised her hand, inviting Afton to finish her thoughts.
"Please don't be angry, Shayla. But what are such powers used for other than starting fires and bringing down a little rain now and then? It isn't as if they'll be used against any of our own kind. We certainly can't go into the outside world and display such capabilities. I'd rather concentrate on the Druid rituals, ceremonies and customs."
"Afton, if our kind is to be protected from the outside world, everyone in the Order must learn all they can about their particular faction and their respective powers. You know this. Fairies learn what they must with glamour. Trolls and pixies learn their powers of camouflage, and you must hone your own skills. If a crisis arises, you may need your powers to help yourself or one of the Order. It will be too late for you to learn your craft at the last moment. The power to summon elements won't simply come to you without prior preparation. Those elements must be controlled through practice. Many years of it. Take a look at Gawain. He's very powerful, and he's become so through practice."
"I know. He and everyone else in my family have told me a thousand times that practice makes perfect. But how many times have our kind actually had to use our powers against outsiders? When Gawain goes to London, he never speaks of having to protect himself."
"He uses his powers more than you realize. He probably doesn't tell you about the things that happen to him to keep you and your parents from worrying."
Afton stared at Shayla in alarm. She opened her mouth to ask about the matter, but Shayla held up a hand to silence her. "I'll tell you about all that another time. Right now, I believe a change of scene is in order. You're too attached to these woods and those who dwell within them. Things here are distracting you."
Afton waited as Shayla paused and pulled the front of her robe together. As if it were a portent, a cloud blocked out the sun and shadowed them
"A matter of some urgent business has arisen, and I'll need an assistant to accompany me on a trip. Would you consider coming along?" Shayla asked.
"Travel? Oh, Shayla I'd love it. I've never been anywhere but England and Scotland. Where would we go? Ireland, or maybe even France?" Afton smiled at the prospect of seeing more of the world.
"I'm afraid the trip will take us farther away from ancient ground than that. This journey will be to the States."
Afton felt her jaw drop. "The States? Why would we be needed there? Europe has always contained our most sacred grounds. And you just returned from the States not long ago."
"Yes, but I've received an urgent message from Hugh. He's found what remains of some deserters," Shayla told her as she rose from her seat and took several steps away.
"Deserters from the Order? What will you do to them?" Afton whispered. She knew that anyone leaving the Order without permission could be put to death. The rule was an ancient one meant to protect the Order from human discovery. In Afton's twenty-three years, she couldn't recall the necessity for that particular law to be invoked.
"You know as well as I what our law states. However, this is quite an exceptional situation. The two main offenders have met their fate. Only their child remains, and this boy is unaware of his heritage."
"How could he not know of his relationship to the Order?" Afton tilted her head in confusion as she stood up and stared at her mentor.
"I told you, this is an exceptional situation. I'll explain everything later," Shayla said as her voice took on a wistful quality.
Afton watched as the older woman's eyes grew teary. It was as if she was temporarily lost in the past, remembering something painful.
Shaking her head as if she could clear her mind of distant memories, Shayla walked back to her stone bench and sat down again. "Now, back to work on your conjuring skills. You'll need the practice before we leave in a week's time."
Afton quickly walked to the middle of the clearing and began to practice her powers again. She looked at the sky and watched the wind move the clouds about. But the phenomenon was only a force of nature, and not a sign of her meager attempts to manipulate the elements. She wondered if she would ever be worthy of her heritage and bold enough to live her own life without her brother Gawain's well-meant interference.
***
"Are you sure about this, Flower? You've never been outside sacred ground," Gawain frowned as he watched his sister pack.
Afton sighed and turned to face him. "If Mom, Dad and everyone else isn't worried, why are you? And why do you insist on using that ridiculous nickname. I'm all grown up, Gawain. Or hadn't you noticed?"
He shrugged. "I've noticed. So have a lot of men in the Order. But I can't help remembering when I first saw you all those years ago. You were two hours old when I was allowed to hold you. I was only ten, but I felt ancient when you were placed in my arms. You were so small and had the cutest little button nose. And the color of your eyes reminded me of the bluebells that grow in the Goblin Meadow. That's when I called you Flower. The name just stuck."
Afton's eyes misted. How could she be annoyed with her big-hearted sibling, especially when this was the first time she'd heard why he'd bestowed her with that stupid nickname. Afton always assumed it was because she liked flowers, not because her eyes reminded Gawain of them.
Gawain leaned against the door frame and continued. "You know, you smiled at me and managed to grab onto my fingers with all the strength of a baby ogre. I knew then and there that I would never let anything happen to you. I know what the world outside the sacred forest can be like. You don't. Despite what the Sorceress says, I just don't want to see you get into trouble, Flower. I worry."
For a moment, Afton was taken aback. She'd never before seen all this emotion pouring from her oldest brother, and she had to swallow down a large lump in her throat. But then she remembered Shayla's assertion that Gawain had been forced to use his powers in the outside world to stay safe. It frightened her to know he'd been at risk.
"How many times have you had problems that you haven't mentioned? The Sorceress led me to believe you haven't been so safe," she accused and watched his reaction closely.
"That's different. I've got a bit more experience at this kind of thing, and I..."
"Don't, Gawain. Don't go into that big brother, macho thing. You've deliberately let us all believe nothing ever happens to you when you're traveling. Mom and Dad would be worried sick if they knew you'd had to use your powers to protect yourself. And I'd be just as worried about you, too."
"There was no use letting them know since everything has always worked out. I'm here. No scrapes, bruises or broken bones."
Afton knew he was lying and that he wouldn't tell her about his experiences in the outside world. So she took courage from his nonchalant attitude. "The Sorceress needs me. Goddess only knows why she's chosen me, but I'm going, and I don't want to hear any more about it." Afton firmly snapped her suitcase shut, turned and glared at her oldest sibling.
Gawain looked at the floor and glowered. "Something about this isn't right. I don't like it."
"None of us especially likes it when you're away, either, but you have to go. Now, so do I."
"Okay, Flower. But just be careful. Life outside the Order can be a bitch."
Afton smiled, walked to where he stood and hugged him hard. As she stepped back, she asked, "Will you ever let me grow up?"
"Don't have much of a choice, do I?" He grinned and crossed his arms over his chest.
"None. So, kiss me goodbye, and I'll get downstairs to say my farewells to the others."
Gawain kissed her cheek, quickly hugged her, then grabbed her suitcase, "You'll call?"
She rolled her eyes and let out a heavy sigh. While the rest of her family was understandably concerned, Gawain was proving to be a royal pain-in-the-butt. She loved him dearly, but his interference m her life was becoming annoying. He'd even chased off several beaus, claiming they weren't good enough for her. Given the choice of fighting one of the biggest men in the Order or letting Afton go, they'd chosen to walk away. Gawain had used their desertion of her to prove they weren't worthy. She saw this trip as a way of getting herself distanced from him—a way of letting everyone else know that she was all grown up and didn't need coddling any more If the Sorceress trusted her, then so should they
And Afton really looked forward to the adventure, but something Gawain had said stayed in her mind. Her brother hadn't been trying to frighten her, but if traveling in the outside world concerned a Druid as powerful as he, she would be insane not to heed his warning. And there was still that nagging thought that Shayla could have picked someone with a great deal more power than herself. Someone who could actually help if authorities discovered the false identification all those of the Order used, or if some other serious problem should arise. If the situation were reversed, the choice of whom to take would have not included herself, and Afton's instincts said the Sorceress hadn't told her everything That, more than anything, worried her But she kept those fears buried as she kissed her family goodbye.
Two
"Baby, that was incredible."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it. I've got to get back to the farm or Hugh will be wondering where I am. And morning comes around pretty early," Blain said as he leaned over, kissed Rhiannon's lips, and watched as she stretched her sultry frame.
"Are you saying that feeding livestock is more appealing than making love to me again?" she asked as she watched him leave the bed and reach for his clothes. She smiled at him, using her sweetest tone of voice in an attempt to lure him back.
Blain ran a hand through his hair. "You know I'd like to stay all night, honey, but I've got to get my seeds in the ground. What would harvest be like without pumpkins? Besides, I'm keeping you from your own work."
"I don't have a lot of clients during the week. Most people only want to buy antiques on the weekend. Stay with me, please?" Rhiannon begged as she put on her prettiest pout.
In the process of dressing, Blain paused. "You really like sex, don't you?"
"Who doesn't?" she grinned and traced one finger across the bedspread.
He simply stared for a moment. While he wasn't a shrink, he felt pretty sure that Rhiannon could almost be classified as having some kind of obsession with sex. From the first time he'd met her, she'd come onto him like a nova—hot as hell and ready to burn. After a while, he wondered if there was really anything more between them than sex. It was good, and he loved what they did together, but it was strange that she never wanted to talk like other women. Or cuddle and hold each other afterward. Their entire relationship was rather cold and impersonal. Still, he kept coming back. Maybe hoping for something more substantial. Or maybe because he was as obsessed with sex as she. He wasn't sure. But he did know that he felt compelled to return to her.
"Will I at least see you this weekend?" she asked as she lifted her hair off her shoulders.
"Maybe. We'll see. I'll probably have more energy then, anyway." Blain finished zipping his jeans and rolled up the sleeves on his cambric work shirt. He stopped when a strange tingling sensation began running through him His skin felt like someone was running a mild electric current over it, and he knew that the feeling might lead to his becoming physically ill again.
"Are you still feeling tired9" Rhiannon asked as she sat up in bed. "Maybe you should see a doctor."
"I have, and the old quack can't find a damned thing wrong with me. According to him, I'm as healthy as a draft horse I'm just putting in a lot of hard hours." He was lying. The doctor had run every known test. Nothing wrong could be found.
"I'm worried about you, darling," Rhiannon said as she pushed her hair away from her face with one hand.
"Don't be." He sat on the side of the bed and admired the way the light glistened in her long black hair "I'll see you later in the week " He had to leave quickly or risk her seeing how ill he was about to become He fought off the dizziness and shot her his best smile. He wondered if she'd be sorry if anything happened to him and decided that Rhiannon would easily find someone to replace him. Their relationship wasn't all that deep. So why did he keep coming back to her? All he knew was that he couldn't seem to stay away.
"Be good," she told him as he lowered his mouth toward hers.
"I try my best." He kissed her one more time, grinned and quickly got up to leave.
Blain looked back over his shoulder before he opened the door to her bedroom Rhiannon smiled seductively at him and spread her bare legs. It was an open invitation to stay. He pretended to laugh and quickly left before his illness could overcome him. He knew the impromptu meetings between them should stop. He had too much work to do, and he felt an urgency to get it done. It was as if something was driving him to go further, finish more, before he couldn't do anything. It was a kind of impending sense of doom that wasn't rational, except that he had the illness to prove otherwise.
As he drove back to the farmhouse, he began to feel better again. He wondered if there wasn't something psychologically wrong that was causing these physically debilitating episodes. But he was afraid to consider that option. Talking to Hugh about it to any extent would only put some angst on the older man that he didn't deserve. He thought once more about discussing his physical ailments with Rhiannon, but she really only cared about what they did in bed. And that, in and of itself, was another source for concern. Other than Hugh, he didn't have a single person who gave a damn about what was happening to him. It was pathetic, but it was the truth.
Thirty minutes later, Blain pulled onto the dirt road leading to the farmhouse and saw the lights still on. Hugh was, despite his request, waiting up for him. He was bone-tired, and the last thing he needed was having Hugh question him about his sex life. His respect for his uncle was the only thing that kept him from rudely telling him to mind his own business.
"You were with Miss Stone quite a while, weren't you?" Hugh asked as Blain entered the house.
"Yeah, though why you've lost sleep just to state the obvious, I have no idea." Blain rubbed the back of his neck. He suddenly felt so damned tired again.
"You should be getting sleep, lad, not cavorting about with that woman at all hours. You look completely done in."
Blain wanted to make some smart retort, but hearing his uncle's gentle reprimand in the same Scottish accent as his father's made him smile instead. Hugh was so much like his dad that he sometimes had to remind himself that his father was gone. "You shouldn't worry about me. Did you ever stop to consider that being with a beautiful woman is the most relaxing thing on earth?"
Hugh grinned mischievously. "Aye, I've heard that, though it's been a while since I've had the pleasure myself."
"Maybe you should go out. You know, find a lady in the community with similar interests?" Blain hoped his uncle would get the hint and leave him alone. Or maybe the subject might lead to his uncle talking more about his personal life in Scotland.
Hugh took his time responding. He picked up his pipe, loaded it with tobacco, then leaned back in his comfortable chair while he lit it, "Well, since you've brought the subject up, there's an acquaintance of mine living in England. I hope you don't mind, but I've invited her for a visit
. That's the real reason I waited up for you."
"Why, you old lady-killer! She can stay here and have the room next to yours. Better still, she can stay with you in your room if you'd like some privacy," Blain joked as he straddled a nearby chair. He'd enjoy picking on his uncle the same way the older man had goaded him about Rhiannon
"Don't be impertinent, young rake," Hugh responded as he raised one eyebrow in an imperious expression. "Shayla Gallagher isn't a woman with whom one toys."
Implying Rhiannon probably was, but Blain let the last comment pass. "Shayla, huh Sounds interesting. So, tell me about this...friend." If Hugh heard the emphasis he'd placed on that last word, he refused to rise to the bait
"She's from Cornwall, and you might say she's a sort of cultural expert. She travels from country to country and deals with a variety of people."
"Did this woman know Mom and Dad?"
"She was great friends with your parents. But the same circumstances which prevented me from visiting your father and mother while they were alive also kept Shayla away."
"I don't understand what that means. You know, Mom and Dad never told me I had an uncle living somewhere in Europe. In fact, they wouldn't discuss anything about family matters at all."
"Aye, I'm sure that's true. It's better that you don't know why for now, but you will soon. I promise."
"That's cryptic." Blain remarked "You aren't wanted by the law or anything, are you?"
"Certainly not, young pup," Hugh gasped in mock indignation. "I've never done a single illegal thing in my life!"
"Secret agent? Spy?" Blain questioned as he leaned forward, grinning.
Hugh paused for a long time and stared straight into Blain's face. "I was busy learning to conjure and control the elements of air, fire, water and earth. Does that answer your question?"
"Okay, okay. You win. It's none of my business." Blain laughed, put his hands up in resignation and shrugged.
