Unraveled Homecoming

by J. L. Shelton

  A bushy eyebrow rose in question. “Well?” Thaddeus demanded of his wife.

  Putting her hands on her hips, Henriella snarled, “Not here, and not now.”

  “Fine, then!” snapped the innkeeper. “Heaven knows we have more important things on our plate at the moment!”

  “Ah, that explains a lot,” said Lord Gregory, his entrance into the Pheasant greeted by the matrimonial spat. He crossed his arms and glowered at Garin, who was starting to feel infinitely uncomfortable with all the scrutiny. “Henriella, I was beginning to wonder if you were slipping in your old age. I noticed the moving shadows more quickly this time.”

  “Which I still don’t understand how you are able to do so,” she muttered.

  Lord Gregory slyly grinned. “I have my own special ways.”

  “Plus a lifetime of practice in this place,” grumbled Thaddeus as he rolled his eyes. The beast of a man turned to Lord Gregory and said, “So what now? We all know that, even if she kept her word about not attacking us, we cannot give anyone to that mad queen! She has turned murderously violent against her own flesh before!”

  While Garin heartily agreed, he was surprised the innkeeper had said such a thing! How much did they know about the story of Maximus? Did they know that Cambyses was being held on this plane against his will? More importantly—did Iantha suspect that the people of Crosshawk held that ghastly secret? Damn it, Garin was going to have to sit Mattie down for a thorough talk about this!

  Lord Gregory’s stern voice interrupted that thought. “I believe we should find a more private location to discuss everything. Is my favorite meeting room available?”

  “That it is,” rumbled Thaddeus. Then his irate attention turned back to Henriella. “You know the way. I need to let my staff know that I’ll be indisposed, after I have a quick word with my wife.”

  The woman just shrugged in response, as if this was a common way the couple’s arguments occurred. With the tension strumming through the air, Lord Gregory almost didn’t need to wave Garin over to him as the man started to walk away. Getting in the middle of a matrimonial argument was never, ever wise. Glancing back, Garin timed it just right to watch the couple disappear completely into a corner.

  Grudgingly, Garin had to admit that being able to find privacy no matter when or where would definitely be one benefit to bending the shadows.

  ***

  “What in the hell is wrong with you people!? You all agreed that Esus probably has Bran, but you haven’t said a damn word about how we’re getting him back!”

  The three others present at the table gave Garin an incredulous look while they continued to partake of the food that had just been delivered by one of the barmaids. It smelled delicious, his stomach loudly grumbling about the lateness of this meal. Still, he was so angry that his appetite was shaky at best. At least the enraged outburst had waited until the young lady was beyond earshot of the closed door.

  Garin crossed his arms and scowled at Lord Gregory, Thaddeus, and Henriella. In his mind, everything to this point had been a waste of time. While he had grudgingly respected the need for bringing the two Brewers up to speed on some of the plans that had already been put into place, he still couldn’t believe these so-called family members were willing to leave one of their own to his fate. Precious hours had already been lost, and Esus would have escaped the borders of Crosshawk by now. And unlike his half-brother, Garin kept his word. Because of King Easton, he was stuck within the boundaries and could not hunt for the elf beyond them!

  “Is this still a lesson you need to learn?” questioned Lord Gregory with an eyebrow rising above a glaring eye. “Acting with blind rage is more likely to get Bran hurt than rescued! We don’t know where the elves have set up their camp, we don’t know if they actually have Bran, and even if they did—we don’t know exactly where he’s being held.”

  Thaddeus’ voice came out like a growl from the very earth itself. “Trust me, lad. I want nothing more than to get my son back. But when it comes to matters involving politics and military strategies, I follow your father-in-law’s lead. Even if it grates on my very soul.”

  “And if he’s being used as leverage, they won’t seriously hurt him,” said Henriella firmly. “Otherwise, it negates their pretext of a truce.”

  So they weren’t as unfeeling as he had believed. For some reason, that didn’t make the vein popping out of the middle of his forehead stop throbbing. Rubbing the ridge of his brow with a hand wasn’t helping the headache either.

  “What I do know is that they didn’t kidnap him from the estate,” said Lord Gregory firmly. “He must have been on his way elsewhere.”

  Henriella sighed. “Either he was coming here or he planned to check on his friend across the river.”

  “Always was the kind-hearted one, looking out for others,” grumbled Thaddeus in agreement.

  Garin glanced over in time to see Henriella put a gentle hand on the man’s enormous arm. There was a tender look on her face when she said, “But still a fighter like his father.”

  The innkeeper’s expression softened a bit. He lightly placed his hand on top of hers, easily engulfing her own, and whispered gratitude for her words. After a glint of tears appeared in his eyes, she leaned over and gently kissed his scruffy cheek.

  The female voice that seemed to come from nowhere ruined the touching moment and caused everyone to jump. “You all forgot something else.”

  Mattie!

  The grin of relief and surprise he flashed at his wife slowly faded. He had sent the ecstatic greeting along their bond, but he still couldn’t get much but vague emotions from the auburn-haired beauty coming towards him from the far corner. She gave him a tentative smile, but that was the only sign he had that she had gotten his message.

  There was something different about her. The traveling clothes that she preferred to wear and the basic features were the same. Her carriage and stride, however, had a new rigidness to them. Her whole being expressed a sharper edge as if she had recently fought through a major battle. The unfamiliar expression in those hazel eyes also worried him. It was almost as if her focus was distracted by things he couldn’t see. From what little he could glean through their connection, she was struggling to keep herself together.

  What in the hell had happened to her!?

  “If you were more patient, I would have gotten to that part!” snapped Henriella, glowering at her niece.

  Mattie took her aunt’s venom in stride as she stopped just short of arm’s reach. “Then by all means,” she said with feigned graciousness. “Go ahead.”

  It pained Garin that she hadn’t moved closer to his side, but now was not the time to bring up his insecurities. Not when the expression on Henriella’s face was becoming cold with rage in answer to her niece’s pointed glare. If it wasn’t for Thaddeus keeping a firm grip on his wife’s hand, Garin was sure an epic family quarrel would have ignited into being.

  Tension in the room was tight enough that Lord Gregory’s sharp cough cut the atmosphere loose while it brought everyone’s attention his way. “What you don’t realize, Garin, is that Bran is not without his own special talents. They might have captured him—but whether or not they can keep him is yet to be seen.”

  Thaddeus let out a disheartened sigh. “The boy always had a knack for finding ways to escape. A lot of practice from sneaking out to meet his cousin when he was supposed to be locked up tight in his room.”

  “And he’s a Nature Wright,” added Mattie. “If they tie him to a tree and leave him unattended, he’ll disappear in no time and give them no trail to follow.”

  Garin was impressed. Nature Wrights were the ones who had created the living boundary of Arduenna. A magic so strong that, even long after the casters had died or disappeared, the plants had gained a measure of sentience from the spells laid down thousands of years ago.

  Though he was about to express his admiration in regards to that kind of power, his mouth stayed firmly shut. Mattie had finally looked him
in the eye, and he now wanted to tear something to shreds! He knew the emotions that shone out of those hazel depths well, and underlying terror wasn’t one of them! Was this why she continued to shut him out of their bond?

  His growl must have been aloud because Mattie grabbed his hand. A quick shudder at his touch ran through her, causing his wrath to rise! The gentle squeeze she gave him was an attempt to comfort him, but it wasn’t helping. Not one bit.

  I’ll explain everything later, I promise. But, please, be patient with me for now.

  The shock at hearing his wife reined the angry beast back in. It had been only a quick plea, but heartfelt and had included a sense of her love. Nodding his head, he released the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

  Not surprising, it was Henriella who broke the strained silence. She wiggled out from her husband’s hold and waved a hand at the table. “Enough of all this for now!” she commanded. “The food’s not getting any warmer, and things often look better on a full stomach. Everyone, eat!”

  Chapter 39

  Garin and Mattie didn’t require being barked at twice. The couple quickly found seats at the table, grabbing plates immediately. Mattie sighed, because Henriella’s foul mood was all her fault. The older woman knew what had been done, though Mattie had a feeling her aunt was just as terrified by the event as she was. From all accounts, it should not have been possible. The Siphoning power was supposed to manifest through touch alone!

  Mattie hadn’t even been in the line of sight of her family when something frightening had happened. One second she was standing outside the door wondering if there was some way to become invisible, wishing for time to accustom herself to everyone’s power signatures. The next heartbeat had the serving girl almost dropping the large and food-laden platter to the floor with a look of utter shock on her young face! Somehow Mattie had wrapped a dark grey blanket of magic about herself causing her to disappear from sight. It hadn’t been until she released the arcane energy that it became obvious that the power had come from Henriella, and the other woman had felt its return.

  At least the strange shade of magic had also helped Mattie determine who the woman’s new student was.

  “Glad to have you back, Mattie,” said Garin, pulling her focus back into the present. He leaned over and planted a gentle kiss on her cheek. This time she kept the flinch at bay; his power almost knocking her to the floor again! “It’s been one hell of a day.”

  The loving smile for her husband was real, though Mattie couldn’t help wondering how they were going to survive this change! “For me too.”

  “It’s not over yet,” muttered Henriella as she shoved a bowl filled with roasted potatoes over towards the couple.

  Mattie tried not to stare at the various hues shimmering brightly about the woman’s form, or to shudder at the strands from the others that seemed attracted to her. Mattie knew the same thing was happening around herself as well, and the idea made her queasy. Choosing to ignore all that for now, she glanced at her father while plopping some food on her plate. He was the only one she could look at for any length of time, his shapeshifting and his connection to Crosshawk were feathery tethers that didn’t overwhelm her senses.

  “So, did I hear correctly? Esus is back?” Mattie queried before passing the bowl to Garin.

  “Unfortunately, yes,” said Thaddeus, causing Mattie to look his way. Next to his wife, the wispy silver-green and daffodil-yellow aura about him paled in comparison.

  Desperately wanting to do the exact opposite, Mattie barely kept her head from turning towards her favorite voice when Garin darkly chuckled, “At least it appears that the griffins did their job. He now has some rather nasty scars on his face.”

  Mattie’s father saved her from nearly blinding herself again when he stated, “This is why I think we should move up the timetable of our plans a bit.”

  “You’re all insane,” muttered Henriella as she passed the platter of lamb.

  “Probably a good thing, considering this seems to be an insane time,” grumbled Thaddeus.

  “Leto needs to double-check the protections on the Watchtower before any conflict arises,” added Garin as he reached over to grab some lamb. “So we should be able to kill two birds with one stone, as they say.”

  The spark when the couple’s hands accidently met over the platter of meat felt like an explosion! Mattie closed her eyes for a second, praying she would find a way to make this work for both their sakes. Sweet Adonai, she had known he was magically strong, but she had never imagined this!

  Her husband was the most powerful person in Crosshawk!

  The tears were coming; Mattie couldn’t help it. If she didn’t leave now, an uncontrollable, sobbing mess would take her place at the table. “Excuse me, everyone,” she croaked as she stood up. “Just the smell of food is starting to make my stomach upset. I think I need some air.”

  Garin stood up, worried. “Should I go with you?”

  Oh, Mattie wished he could! But the sheer brilliance of his various powers, including the metallic grey that almost twinkled like Star Stone, was making her head spin. But how was she to refuse him without hurting his feelings?

  “I’ll go,” declared Henriella. “That way she can rest at our house if need be. It’s probably just the stress of the day. She is pregnant after all!”

  Steeling herself for the barrage of magic, Mattie gently stroked Garin’s cheek. “I’ll be okay,” she whispered before giving him a quick kiss. Painful in its way—both because his arcane energy wanted to consume her and because no one should feel like they are unable to touch their own husband! “Give me some time to walk this off.”

  “I will,” he said with equal parts sadness and anger. He must have sensed there was more to her statement because he added, “But just make sure you come back to me as soon as you can.”

  If Mattie was able to make this work with Firestorm, then she sure as hell was going to find a way to make this work with the man she loved! “I promise.”

  ***

  Mercifully, Mattie had made it the whole way to the Brewers’ front stoop before the tears demanded her full attention. Then there was nothing to do but literally collapse into racking sobs, her butt almost sliding off the top step after she landed. Henriella managed to catch her at the last minute because the woman had rushed to situate herself beside her niece. Her hands were soon gently guiding Mattie into a more steady position. Though a tiny part of Mattie wondered why Henriella’s power wasn’t threatening to overwhelm her, the human touch of kindness caused her grief to explode even more! Mattie never thought she would feel something so normal again! Holding tightly to her niece, Henriella allowed Mattie to curl up tight against her. Henriella’s arm wrapped around Mattie’s shoulders and held her niece tight while the young woman’s body shook from the uncontrollable sobs.

  “I’m sorry, child,” Henriella eventually whispered, sounding close to tears herself. “I should have been there to help you through this.”

  “But Garin also needed you,” Mattie hiccupped between sobs.

  “True, but you’re the daughter of my heart. And I should have realized that no one else could have explained what’s happening to you like I could.”

  “That’s not why I’m a mess!” Mattie managed to cough out.

  “Garin?”

  A nod was all Mattie could manage as an answer. Tears racked her anew as she thought of how desperately she needed his familiar touch, but that power he held! It far surpassed Belladonna’s! If he ever discovered the full truth about himself, he’d balk and deny it. Was it any wonder she was still keeping him at arm’s length through their connection?

  Henriella let out a frustrated sigh. “I feared that was the reason; the boy shines brighter than the sun. Between you being so much more than a Siphon and being so deeply bonded with him, there was no way to predict how this would play out.”

  “Nightmarishly!” Mattie screeched, finally starting to catch her breath from all the damn crying.
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br />   “Let’s try to wake you from it then,” said Henriella while she gave her niece an extra squeeze. “Now, you are probably wondering how I’m able to touch you like this without the two of us becoming magically entangled.”

  “The thought did cross my mind,” Mattie grumbled.

  Patting Mattie’s arm, Henriella frankly said, “I learned long ago how to contain my powers whenever I wished, so I will impart this same wisdom to you. It’s still hard for me from time to time, but slowly it became almost second nature to me. Remember the exercise outfit you told me the sisters sewed for you?”

  Difficult not to remember the skintight piece of clothing, the thing had encased Mattie from ankle to wrist to neck. Despite that, it had allowed a freedom of movement no other garment could. Unsure as to where this was going, her answer was a murmured, “Yes.”

  “I had no such thing to use as a comparison, so I had to start small—imagining that there were gloves covering my hands. After I found out that worked, I slowly started to add piece by piece until the whole of my body was covered,” Henriella gently explained. “Even when that guard is up, my magical gifts are available when necessary. I can still feel and see all your powers—but without the overpowering onslaught tempting me to take them from you.”

  “So it’s just a different type of shield? A little more solid than a flimsy veil?” Mattie asked, needing to understand.

  Her aunt groaned. “Yes. Damn it! I really should have explained it to Belladonna better!”

  Henriella let out a disgusted huff before Mattie heard a sharp intake of breath a second later. It didn’t take long to figure out something had just upset her aunt. The woman let go before grabbing Mattie by the shoulders and staring her straight in the eyes.

  Nothing but abject concern came through when she asked, “Mattie, there’s only one way you could have gotten here so quickly from Belladonna’s— how exactly did you manage to ride a Fury?”

  Her question and intense study caught Mattie by surprise, causing her to stammer, “I—I’m not sure how to describe it.”