My Lady Mage: A Warriors of the Mist Novel (17 page)

“By the time the lady arrived, his colors were already almost back to full strength on the shield, but she insisted on checking him over herself. It turns out she has the same talent for working with birds as she does with horses. She soothed away the last of his pain.”

He smiled. “Certainly Scim’s appetite hadn’t suffered. She brought him a mess of chicken entrails that he devoured with his usual lack of table manners. The last I saw of him, he was inside, sleeping off his meal up in the rafters.”

“And how long did Lady Merewen linger after she’d seen to Scim’s injuries?”

Always a dogged hunter, Kane obviously wasn’t going
to stop until Gideon answered him. “Long enough to watch me eat the apple pastries she brought for us.”

“That doesn’t explain why her scent clings to you.”

The attempted distraction didn’t work. “No, it doesn’t.”

He decided to share some of his frustrations. “She confounds me, Kane. First, she rides out here, knowing full well her uncle does not like her to wander at will. When I told her to let Murdoch and Duncan handle any abuses of her people by her uncle, she told me it was her duty to interfere because they are her responsibility. I lost my temper. That’s as much as you need to know.”

It came as no surprise that Kane still had more to say on the subject. “The lady has a strong gift for tying you up in knots. I wish I’d been here to see it.”

Gideon has mixed feelings about that. If Kane had been there, things would not have gotten so far out of hand. Still, he preferred not to lie to himself. He could not bring himself to regret kissing her again.

Well aware that Kane was still waiting, Gideon finally turned to face him. “I have no control around her. I’m not sure what I’m going to do about that. Now, unless you want me to have the rest of the apple pastries for my morning meal, I suggest you go eat them now and then get some rest. I think we should both ride the plains this afternoon to see what we can learn.”

Kane rarely touched anyone, but he put his hand on Gideon’s shoulder. “The river has made us all cold. Perhaps putting the lady in your path is the gods’ way of reminding us all of what it feels like to be human.”

His smile wasn’t a happy one. “Or at least mostly human. My darker half is never far from my mind.”

There wasn’t much Gideon could say to that, so he said nothing. Kane left him sitting in the sunshine and disappeared into the cottage.

*    *    *

When the sun was directly overhead, the two of them rode out onto the grasslands. Gideon had no particular destination in mind other than to avoid Merewen’s keep. He needed to give Fagan time to adjust to the three new additions to the keep before making his own approach. Too many visitors to the remote estate in such a short time could make the man suspicious. Besides, Gideon couldn’t risk any of Fagan’s men seeing Kane. The warrior, marked as he was by dark magic, was too distinctive to be easily forgotten.

Kane’s grandfather had been a dark mage of the worst kind, greedy and violent. He’d been dead for untold centuries, yet his name was still whispered in fear. That Kane had foresworn anything but the magic wielded by the Damned never seemed to matter. He carried the taint in his blood and the mage mark on his face, and so was shunned.

He pretended not to care, simply ignoring the insults and the whispers that often followed his footsteps. Gideon hurt for his friend, knowing Kane to be an honorable warrior, one who had fought at his side for far too long. And even if Kane’s blood did carry his grandfather’s gift for magic in his veins, he still hurt and bled like any other man.

They rode on in silence. The two stallions weren’t happy to be so close together but soon settled down. It probably helped that none of Kestrel’s mares were there, but for everyone’s sake, Gideon hoped they’d make peace with one another.

Which brought another thought to his mind. “Kane, did you introduce Hob to Rogue last night?”

The rough sound of Kane’s laughter rang out as he leaned forward to pat the big gray on the neck. “Yes, I did. Rogue trembled, but he stood his ground as Hob circled around him. I was worried that if Hob got too close, Rogue might kick him.”

As he described the event, there was a lightness in Kane’s mood that had been absent earlier in the day. “They finally ended up standing nose to nose for the longest time before turning to look at me. Rogue shook his head and snorted while Hob growled a bit. I think they were saying they’d better stand together since they both share the burden of putting up with me.”

Gideon could picture that in his head. Hob’s fierce loyalty to Kane also extended to those Kane cared about. Rogue was just contrary enough to like the beast.

They’d reached a low rise that afforded them a view of the grasslands in several directions. If something was out there, Gideon couldn’t sense it, but then the attack on Scim had come out of nowhere.

He turned to ask Kane if he was having better luck, but the words died unspoken. His friend sat stone-still, staring off into the distance toward the east. The muscles in his neck stood out in stark relief as if he were in pain. Worse yet, the symbol on Kane’s face had darkened to nearly black, a warning that evil magic was in the air.

“Kane?”

Rogue stirred restlessly, pawing the ground with his forefoot. Still no response from the warrior on his back. Gideon guided Kestrel closer to the other horse, and for once neither stallion objected. They seemed to realize that right now there was something more important than their usual bickering.

Gideon hesitated to touch his friend. But if Kane had been ensorcelled, he had to do something. Grabbing Kane’s arm, he squeezed it hard enough to bruise. “Kane, what is it? What’s wrong?”

The day was not hot, but a heavy sheen of sweat gleamed on Kane’s face, and his eyes were unfocused and unblinking. Gideon tried again, this time punching Kane’s arm—anything to break him free from whatever it was that held him in its grip.

Abruptly, the tension was gone, and Kane slumped forward in the saddle. He swallowed hard and breathed deeply several times as though struggling to fill his lungs.

“Kane, what is it?” Gideon asked, keeping his voice to a whisper, fearful of drawing the danger back to them.

Over the centuries, Gideon had seen plenty of expressions on Kane’s face—from anger to bloodlust to amusement. Together they had faced enemy armies, overwhelming numbers, and even the judgment of the gods. Fear was the one thing that Gideon had never expected to see in Kane’s eyes.

Sometimes there were questions that a man never wanted to learn the answer to; yet they had to be asked. “What was it?”

At first he thought his friend would refuse to answer. Finally, he spoke, his words colder than the river in midwinter.

“There are magics that even my grandfather knew better than to invoke, the kind that destroy a man’s soul.” His hand gripped his sword, the black stone flashing bright with the power of his blood. “Someone has been foolish enough to unleash one such evil upon this land.”

Now at least they knew why Merewen’s call for the warriors’ help had been granted. Gideon offered his hand to Kane, once again to swear a solemn vow to do the work of the gods.

“So we are charged with rooting out the source of this evil and destroying it.”

Kane took Gideon’s hand; his grip had a desperate feel that had never been there before. “Captain, know this. I know not who the true enemy is, but I can tell you this much. A bargain has been struck, and the price was paid in innocent blood.”

Then once again he looked into the distance. “Even now I sense it hungers for more.”

“N
iece! Attend to me.”

Merewen’s footsteps faltered to a stop. She’d hoped to reach her room without attracting her uncle’s notice. Knowing she was trapped, she started across the hall to where Fagan waited with his wife. Alina stood at his side, her hands clasped at her waist, her eyes focused somewhere in the distance. Clearly she was hoping that, by remaining motionless, she wouldn’t draw her husband’s attention.

“Yes, Uncle.”

He looked at her in disapproval. “Must you always reek of the stables?”

His hand shot out toward her head. She ducked back, sure that he was about to hit her. Instead, he snatched a piece of straw from her hair. Despite his supposed disgust with her appearance, he obviously enjoyed seeing her flinch.

Fagan nodded in his wife’s direction. “Alina might not be good for much, in my bed or out of it, but at least she looks the part of a lady. You would do well to learn from her example.”

Alina paled at her husband’s cruel remarks but remained statue-still. Merewen understood why the woman didn’t defend herself. She had good reason to fear Fagan far more than Merewen did. If he had so little regard for his wife as to insult her in front of others, how badly must he treat her in the privacy of their bedroom?

It wasn’t in Merewen’s nature to always back down or to cower in fear. She knew in her heart that were she forced to marry such a man, she would likely provoke him to the point of murder—either his or hers. Gideon’s image filled her mind, his strength incredible but his touch so gentle. With the blessings of the gods, he would end Fagan’s tyranny. Would Alina rejoice or mourn her husband’s death? For it was coming, even if the man himself was unaware that his actions would lead to his own destruction.

Back to the moment. Now wasn’t the time to be thinking that way lest she make Fagan suspicious.

“Did you have need of me, Uncle?”

“Yes. Duke Keirthan has requested my presence at court. I will depart at first light with most of the men. Olaf will be in charge in my absence. You will answer directly to him. Not that you’ll listen, but my advice is to do exactly as he says.”

She couldn’t help but protest. “But—”

Olaf appeared at her side. “But nothing, Merewen. Your uncle trusts me to see that things are handled properly while he is gone. It is not your place to argue.”

His eyes glittered with the hope that she would, though. Fagan knew exactly what he was doing by leaving Olaf in charge. Merewen would need to tread carefully every minute to avoid giving Olaf the excuse to lash out at her. The best she could hope for was that if he did attack her, one of three Damned would be close enough to prevent him from killing her.

What if her uncle ordered Murdoch and Averel to accompany him? The thought didn’t bear thinking about. If he did force them to go, at least Averel might be able to send word to Gideon with one of his dogs.

For now, she needed to get away from both Olaf and her uncle. “It has been a long day, Uncle, and I would like to retire for the night. I wish you safe travel.”

He nodded his permission as he turned his attention to his captain. “Olaf, see that arrangements are complete for my journey.”

“Yes, my lord.” Olaf bowed slightly and walked away, brushing past Merewen, close enough to make her step aside to avoid his touch. She hated showing even that much weakness.

As usual, Fagan didn’t miss the small interaction. “Merewen, do not cross him. He has my explicit permission to act as he sees fit. Do you understand what that means?”

Yes, she did. “How long will you be gone?”

“As long as the duke has need of me.” Fagan held out his arm. “Wife, you will accompany me now. I have plans for you. For us.”

Alina couldn’t quite disguise the shiver that ran through her as she silently set her hand upon his arm. Even so, she offered Merewen a small nod.

“Sleep well, Merewen.”

They both knew it was unlikely Alina would. At least she would have a few days of peace once Fagan rode out in the morning. Merewen hoped that brought her some measure of comfort.

As they walked away, she noticed Duncan watching from the corner. He jerked his head in the direction of the stairs. Was he telling her to disappear? Or that he needed to talk?

The man had been a ghost since arriving at the keep. After she introduced Duncan to her father’s collection of books and manuscripts, he’d settled in to hunt for information, coming down only for meals. Had he already found what he was searching for?

At the top of the stairs, she made sure that no one was following her before she veered away from her bedroom toward the library. She’d wait there to see if Duncan had indeed been signaling that he wanted to speak to her. If
so, she hoped he wouldn’t be long, because she hadn’t been lying to her uncle. It had been a long day, and she was tired to the bone.

Inside the library, she dropped into her father’s old chair, drawing comfort from the memory of happy hours spent with him, sharing his love of knowledge with her as together they pored over some new book he’d found. She picked up a small book of poetry and started to read out a favorite verse aloud. Her voice cracked as she recalled the day her father had first read it to her. She struggled to blink back the tears that burned her eyes.

Their love of books was one more thing the two of them had shared. Gods, she missed her father so much. His passing had left a gaping hole in her heart that nothing seemed to fill.

A footstep outside the library dragged her thoughts back from the past. She held her breath and hoped it was Duncan, not Olaf, who had followed her.

“Lady Merewen?”

She sighed with relief. “I’m here, Sir Duncan.”

He came straight to her, a worried look on his face. “Are you well?”

Not really, but he wasn’t there to hear her complaints.

“I am merely tired. I’ve been meaning to tell you that Scim is fine. His injuries are nearly healed, and he’s no longer in pain.”

The handsome warrior smiled, clearly pleased. “And Gideon, how did you find him yesterday evening?”

She gave him a narrow-eyed look. “You last saw him only yesterday morning. Were you expecting a big change in that amount of time?”

He chuckled. “No, but I’m sure your visit was unexpected. Our captain doesn’t always enjoy surprises.”

For the first time since leaving Gideon, she grinned. “No, he doesn’t. He does, however, like giving orders.”

Duncan cocked his hip to lean against the table, his arms crossed over his chest. “That he does. In fact, I suspect he likes giving orders as much as you enjoy ignoring them.”