Читать книгу Keepers of the Flame - Robin D. Owens - Страница 13

Isaw him, Luthan, shudder last night when he looked at us, Elizabeth said.

Now that you mention it…

“Luthan has the instinctive repulsion,” Alexa said, her voice cool, her manner lacking any playfulness. “He is deeply ashamed of it. He would die before he hurt any of us.”

Must be difficult to have a brother-in-law who thinks you’re repulsive, Bri sent to Elizabeth.

“Ayes,” said Alexa, reading body language or energy or Bri’s mind. “Ayes is ‘yes.’ ‘Ttho’ is ‘no.’ And Luthan has long since gotten over his first problem with me, as well as Marian and Calli. It’s only when he has to meet and interact with a new Exotique that the problem surfaces again.”

“But you must be aware that others might have this reaction,” Marrec said. “If they have never met an Exotique before, they may not know they have this flaw and may act on it instead of thinking how important you are to us.”

“We understand,” Elizabeth said. Bri could feel her need to leave the suite and get out into fresh air, someplace not as crowded with others. Bri felt it too.

“Okay, so there’s a repulsion and Luthan has it and hates it. I still sensed he was the most honest of all of you.” She enjoyed saying that. “Will he watch our goodies for us?”

Marian sniffed, took out her finger length wand again. “I can bespell the chest to keep the food cold. And Jaquar is very good with lock spells. He can put one on the door and all the windows.”

“What about Faucon?” Elizabeth asked. “Since Luthan has the revulsion, I would imagine that he has the attraction?”

“Ayes,” Alexa said cheerfully. “He’s sexy, rich, noble, a good Chevalier and a good guy. He’ll want to Pair with you.” She shook her head. “Twins. He’ll go mad at the choice. I’d advise you to take him up on any offers.”

“We aren’t staying,” they said together. Bri continued, “Our parents—” The thought of their parents grief at the disappearance of their daughters clutched at her gut.

“It’s difficult,” Marian said. “I couldn’t leave my brother Andrew.” Then her voice softened, held a wrenching undertone. “He came with me, but was badly wounded, and dying. We transferred his mind and soul into a dying Lladranan, Koz. Now Andrew is Koz.”

That still sounded weird.

“There’s a cure for MS here?” Bri asked.

Marian grimaced. “We didn’t know. We hoped. But my place was here, with Jaquar and the Circlets.” She took her husband’s hand. “With my mentor, Bossgond, and the school we wanted to found, did found.”

“I don’t believe it.” Elizabeth shook her head.

A smile lingered on Marian’s lips. “Come meet him, then.” She nodded to the medica who was waiting patiently by the door. “Jolie was the main medica to make the transfer, if you’d like to talk with her.”

Jolie said, “You did it yourself, Circlet Marian. That procedure is a matter of the soul and the Song. We medicas only kept the receiving body alive.”

All Bri’s nerves shivered at the thought.

“It was a matter of faith in herself,” Jaquar said, kissing his wife’s cheek. “She knew her Power was strong, and fashioned to be more of use here than on Exotique Terre.”

A definite prod at them, Bri thought. She said, “I have always used my healing hands.”

Jaquar switched his gaze to Elizabeth. “And you? You both have great Power here, otherwise the Song would not have reverberated in your mind—the gong, the chimes.”

Bri jerked in surprise. “How did you know that?”

“It is the way Exotiques are Summoned.” He nodded to the books on the table. “You can learn much from the others’ experiences.”

“Later.” Alexa walked to the door, sent the twins a challenging look. “Can’t hide in here all day.” She snorted with laughter as if at a secret joke. “Come along. Your new life awaits. If you dare.”

Bri spared one last glance around the room, then watched carefully in the hallway when Jaquar bespelled the door.

As they walked down the stairs the medica, Jolie, began asking Elizabeth questions. Soon they were deep in a conversation about medical techniques. Bri blinked. She didn’t want to face another new day in another new place. She was supposed to be in Denver.

When the outer door opened onto the wide courtyard of the Castle, they all hesitated.

“One of the twins should come with me to Castleton. We have a house prepared,” Sevair said. “The Exotique Summoned was for Castleton and the other cities and towns.”

“Sounds like traveling,” Elizabeth’s voice was strained. She met Bri’s eyes. A bad feeling slicked Bri’s gut.

I don’t want to leave the Castle. Elizabeth was even more hesitant.

Bri couldn’t resist the plea. She pasted on a smile and jutted a hip. Looks like it’s me, then. Think this telepathy thing works across two miles?

Elizabeth’s eyes sharpened. An interesting experiment.

Yeah. Bri straightened her shoulders. “I’ll go.” She sent a glance around the cluster of people. “For a while. We aren’t chessmen to be pushed around.”

“Of course not,” Bastien said. “No Exotique can be pushed far.” His smile was crooked, his gaze admiring.

Alexa said, smiling, “We get to Castleton often, usually to the Nom de Nom.”

“A worthy establishment,” Sevair said, but something about the way he said it made Bri think he didn’t really mean it.

Bastien laughed. “A Chevaliers hang-out.”

Of course he hadn’t really said hang-out. Had he? Bri could hardly distinguish the English words from the Lladranan, especially since she realized that the Exotiques had already had a definite effect on the language. “Okay” was commonplace. Maybe Bastien had said hang-out.

“Lodging, food, and clothing is a priority. We will shelter and care for our Exotiques.” Sevair’s broad hand with scarred fingers gestured to Elizabeth and Bri.

“Merci,” said Elizabeth. “It’s comforting to know we have a place here at the Castle and in Castleton.”

“Not only there,” Marian said. “If you prefer Circlet Towers you can live with me or Bossgond.”

“Marrec and I have a big house at your disposal, too,” Calli said.

“Exotiques are valued,” Sevair said, “but I think you will find that no one values their Exotiques more than the Cities and Towns.”

At that moment a couple of women strode up to the group. The older one was the Marshalls’ leader, the other wore expensive leathers. Bri vaguely remembered them from the night before.

The Marshall bowed brusquely to them; she wore Authority like a surgeon’s coat.

“I’m Thealia Germain, Lady Knight Swordmarshall.”

Okay, make that the Authority of the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Thealia jerked a nod at the woman beside her. “Lady Hallard, representative of the Chevaliers.”

Bri thought it sounded like the two top warriors in the world. She stepped back. She’d avoided war zones on her travels. Poverty and disease of third-world nations was bad enough without being caught in a struggle between vicious groups.

Elizabeth nodded at them. “Ladies.”

Well, Elizabeth had served her time in emergency services and ICUs; she’d have seen plenty of wounds inflicted on people by others.

“Exotique Medicas,” Hallard said.

Thealia continued, “It’s time for the morning briefing about last night’s battle. My husband and Shieldmarshall noticed a different pattern in the fighting, as did other Shields. We also received a message from the horrors, or perhaps I should say from the new Master of the Horrors and Servant of the Dark.”

Just the titles had Bri backing up a little more, into the solid shape of Sevair. He steaded her with a hand on her shoulder, then said in voice full of suppressed fury, “You mean my ex-assistant.”

Thealia spared him an impatient “get over it” look. “All three of our groups were betrayed last year.” She indicated Hallard with a stern jerk of her head.

“Yes, of course.” Now Sevair’s voice was quiet, even soothing. “My anger and grief are not solely my own.”

“The briefing,” Thealia snapped.

“What was the message?” Marian asked. “This isn’t a good sign.”

“I prefer to speak of that in private.”

“Hey, Jean,” Bastien called to a soldier in the Castle colors, lingering on the edge of their group. “What was the Master’s message?”

“‘Our Dark plague will take you all.’”

On the receiving end of scathing stares from the Lady Knight Swordmarshall and Lady Hallard, the soldier shrank back into the dark shadows shrouding the cloister corridor in the gray morning.

“So now we know for sure,” Sevair said quietly, though he’d left his hand on Bri’s shoulder and she felt the tension run through all his muscles.

Scowling, Thealia said, “Unfortunately.”

“The Circlets must hear this news immediately,” Marian said.

“Broadcast a message by crystal sphere,” Thealia said impatiently. “I want you Circlets at my briefing.”

“Of course,” Jaquar said, slipping his arm around Marian. “We’ll join you shortly.” They moved away.

“Right,” Alexa said, holding her hand to Bastien. He made a face but took it and matched her magically rapid pace back to the keep, outdistancing the taller Marian and Jaquar.

“And you, also, Citymaster, and the Exotique Medicas.”

“Thank you, but that is not possible,” Sevair said.

A few seconds of startled silence passed. The Lady Knight Swordmarshall was obviously not used to people denying her.

“Castleton has prepared a welcome and thanks for their Exotique Medica. The morale of my city is very important. We have been much harder hit by this sickness than you here at the Castle. My people come first.” His hand grew warmer with sheer energy on Bri’s shoulder, heating it, reminding her that she was standing in damp, chilly air.

“Of course,” Thealia said in repressive tones.

The Castle medica, Jolie, stepped forward. “It’s my opinion that the Castle Exotique Medica should see our facilities and learn the basics of our methods, while we speak to her of the Power she used last night. The sooner we understand each other, the better.” She swallowed.

So Elizabeth was the Castle Exotique Medica, huh? That made Bri the—

Sevair’s fingers squeezed Bri’s shoulder gently, released, leaving a quickly cooling spot. “Both Medicas were Summoned on behalf of the Cities and Towns. I reluctantly agreed that one of the ladies stay here for training. But they are both for the Cities and Towns.”

“The medicas can reimburse you for the Marshalls fee to Summon—”

“This is not about zhiv,” Sevair said. “This is about need and priorities.”

“I understand.” The medica bowed her head.

“I do, too,” said Elizabeth. She smiled. “I’m used to training at one place and working in other departments, and Bri has traveled, using her gift, extensively.”

Yep, Elizabeth definitely wanted to stay at the Castle. Still, Bri continued to drag her feet. She didn’t want to leave. Even the Castle was better than someplace new. After years of traveling, of being flexible, of modifying her behavior to be accepted into a new society—even if it was an alternative medical structure that she fit into better—she wanted just to be herself in one place with her family.

Sevair’s large hand squeezed her shoulder again, then he stepped back and made another very courteous bow. “We of the city and towns are honored to have you here, Exotique Drystan.”

She looked at his serious brown eyes, let out a sighing breath. At least there was an upside—she wouldn’t have to work to connect with the medical community here, wouldn’t have to prove herself. That had already happened. Last night.

Clearing her throat, she said, “Thank you.” She sucked in a breath and addressed Jolie. “This is where your…warriors…the Marshalls and Chevaliers return, right? Elizabeth is better with wounds.”

Elizabeth frowned. “That’s right.” She inhaled deeply, too. “Any wounded from last night’s battle?”

The medica studied her. “Two. We would appreciate your opinion. It’s an excellent way to start.” She sounded cheerful.

Elizabeth jumped into conversation with the medica, and was walking to the big round temple where several others waited in their red robes with a white cross.

Bri felt abandoned.

“The morning wears on,” Thealia said, turning to Calli.

“Marrec and I are out of this.” She raised both hands palms outward. “Until the last battle.”

Thealia snorted, pivoted on her heel and left. Her bootsteps echoed through the courtyard as she went to the keep.

“They meet in the Marshalls’ Council Chamber,” Calli said.

“I’d imagine so,” Bri said.

But Calli had tilted her blond head and was studying her. “You know, the destruction spell does demand six, and there are two of you. Maybe we will only need one more to win the final battle.”

“We aren’t staying,” Bri said. She was sure the phrase would be repeated like a mantra in the coming days.

Clop, clip, clip, clip, clop. A large brown volaran danced up to them, neighed, dipped its head. A series of pictures came to Bri, of herself and Sevair mounted on the winged horse and flying down toward a spired town. With the images came a feeling of anticipation and pleasure. The pegasus was talking to her!

She smiled uneasily at the volaran, but stroked her neck. Looking at Sevair, she said, “Did you get that?”

The clouds had returned but she saw a faint tinge of redness on his cheeks. Of course it could have been the coolness of the air.

“Did I hear the volaran? Not very well.”

She thought he didn’t like admitting what he might consider deficiencies.

But Calli was there, smiling, her blue eyes twinkling. “Mud says she’d like to fly you both down to Castleton. I don’t fly with her often and she likes Exotiques. They smell so good.”

“Mud?” Bri couldn’t think of an uglier name for such a beautiful creature.

Calli’s smile widened. “Her name is really, ‘Rich-Earth-Warm-And-Soft-From-A-Summer-Shower-To-Play-In.”

“Mud.” Bri smiled.

“It’s not far to Castleton,” Sevair said. “It would be a very short ride.”

Mud batted her eyelashes at him, whickered.

“Don’t you fly?” Calli asked.

“Ayes, but I don’t keep a volaran.”

“Mud can be yours. I’ll call others for you,” Calli said.

Another bow from Sevair to Calli, this one a stiff inclination of the torso. “I thought you and your bondmate were settled on your estate.”

“We are,” Calli said, “but since Bri and Elizabeth have arrived, Marrec and I have decided to come with our children to the Castle—and Castleton—at least once a week.

“Children!”

“We adopted. Continue to adopt.” Calli’s smile remained in place, but hurt shadowed her eyes.

Bri couldn’t help it—she heard a tiny tinkle of chimes in the back of her mind and Calli’s Song became emphasized, not the Song of the Exotique Calli, the total person, but just the physical. The murmur of her second chakra was low, or rather, one note of that melody was missing. Calli’s ovaries were gone. She couldn’t have children.

“You know, don’t you?” Calli said quietly. “You can see my physical health?”

“No,” Bri said absently. “I hear it.” She met Calli’s gaze. “You are in excellent health.”

“Exceptional,” Calli said.

“Yes.”

Sevair shifted beside her, and Calli’s attention went back to him, even as Bri absorbed the shock of being able to hear what might be wrong with a person. Mud pawed the ground.

Calli said, “Surely as a Citymaster, you travel.”

Nodding, Sevair said, “I have a coach.”

Calli looked at the streak in his hair. “You have the Power to call wild volarans. I sense you’re an excellent partner.”

His expression froze into an impassive mask. “My sister loved volarans. She had planned to call one.” He lifted a strong shoulder, dropped it. “Or several. Perhaps become a Chevalier. That didn’t happen.”

Since he used the past tense, Bri knew what had happened.

“Ah,” Calli said. “But it would be easier for you to perform your duties if you flew with a volaran. Using their distance magic, your trips would be much shorter. I’m surprised no one has considered this before.”

With a lift of one brow, Sevair said, “Are you? The Marshalls have avoided telling the Citymasters much, the Circlets—”

Calli waved that away. “I understand. Lladranan society has been segmented.” She lifted her chin. “But we Exotiques are mending the situation. Mud will love to partner with you.”

“I don’t have room near my house to stable volarans.” Sevair’s voice was even.

“Contrary,” Bri said.

He frowned, then said, “We’ll fly to Castleton. Mud, would you like to be my regular mount? Stay in Castleton?”

Mud pranced in place.

Calli slid her gaze to Bri, “Along with the estate and the salary, volarans are an Exotique perk.”

Bri didn’t answer. She looked at Elizabeth, who was watching their little scene, hearing the shadows of their conversation through their twin link. Bri would be the first of them to fly on a winged horse! Elizabeth might stay in the safety of the Castle, but Bri would fly! She couldn’t prevent a grin, and heard an audible mind-sniff from Elizabeth.