The Silver Pear (17 page)

V
ik’s
private dining hall was long and narrow, with dark paneling and military standards hanging from the wall.

The room smelled musty and unaired, and Rane guessed Vik dined more often in the great hall with his men and the castle staff.

His wife looked cool and collected as she inclined her head to the servers to begin, although he could see in her movements and the straight line of her back that she was no more relaxed and happy than her husband.

There seemed to be a great many courses, but the food was good and hearty, rather than exotic and strange, and Elanie had all the dishes placed on the table and then dismissed the staff.

The doors were closed, and there was silence for a moment as they were finally left alone, the current rulers of Phon, and the future rulers of Gaynor.

Kayla had certainly walked into Urlay Castle like the queen she would one day be.

Rane knew he wasn’t the only man in the courtyard who’d been struck speechless when she’d come flying to his rescue. Vik had had some trouble himself.

She’d been magnificent. The jewels and style of her hair and gown had been eye-catching, but it was her face—determined, full of energy and purpose, that had truly gripped him.

He dropped his hand below the table and rubbed her thigh, just to remind himself of the warm feel of her, that even when she sat in her wild magic-wrought splendor at the King of Phon’s table, she was still his.

Sooty lay curled between them, snoring softly.

“How are you enjoying life in Phon?” Kayla asked Elanie, stirring a spoon through her soup, although her free hand came down over his and squeezed. “I know the land is less steep and more forested than Tibalt. Has it been difficult to adjust?”

“It is very different, but I enjoy the forest and I have been welcomed here.” Elanie’s words were measured, and Rane wondered what she wasn’t saying.

“How long has it been? Just over a year, if I remember correctly.”

“Yes. It was a year two days ago.” Elanie said, and Rane saw Vik go suddenly still.

He was seated next to his wife, and he looked sidelong at her, but said nothing.

He’d forgotten the anniversary, Rane would bet money on it. And he was both sorry and embarrassed about it.

That he was, tempered Rane’s anger at him for what had happened earlier.

Kayla set down her soup spoon. “I know it’s a good two days’ journey, and these aren’t the safest times, but I meant what I said earlier, you are most welcome to visit—”

“Enough!” Vik’s shout startled Elanie so much she upset her almost empty bowl, and Kayla went still.

Sooty stood, her hackles raised, and Rane realized he was out of his chair, stone in his hand.

Vik stood himself, tipping his chair back so it fell with a crash behind him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to shout. But we’re talking in polite circles, when there are far more important topics to discuss.”

“And what would those topics be?” Rane asked, slowly sitting down to diffuse the suddenly dangerous atmosphere.

Vik’s shout had brought his guard running, and the last thing they needed were more arrows pointed at them.

Vik noticed the guard as well, signaled them to leave and then scrubbed his face with his hands, just like he’d done out in the courtyard. “I haven’t gotten much right today.” He looked across at his wife. “For the last few days.” He picked up his chair and sat again. “Some might say for the last year.”

Elanie said nothing, and Rane decided she agreed with him, but was too polite to say so in front of an audience.

He liked the queen more and more.

“You want to know about the sorcerers?” he said into the tense silence.

“Yes!” Vik pushed his soup aside. “What is going on?”

“It’s simple.” Rane tucked into the roast meat in front of him. “Eric the Bold, and a few other sorcerers, Andrei Wolfsblood included, are indulging in a little war. They’re flexing their muscles, trying to prove they’re the most powerful sorcerer in Middleland.”

“To what end?” Elanie asked.

“If they can kill all their rivals and become the one great sorcerer of the region, they have also realized it means they can control the region itself. So they are aligning themselves with princes and kings they think will help them, or deliberately setting countries against each other, so there is no unity, and therefore no opposition to what they’re doing.” Kayla ran a soothing hand down Sooty’s back, and Rane realized the cat was still rumbling under her breath from Vik’s sudden movements.

“How do you know this?” Vik leaned forward across the table.

“Because my father, who has never allowed a sorcerer into Gaynor, suddenly allowed Eric the Bold into Gaynor Castle, allowed him to dictate the terms of a contest for my hand, and Nuen of Harness’s brother tried to interfere with that contest. Rane and I were caught up in it, and we came to realize my father was probably coerced into co-operating with Eric. We’ve also spent time with a powerful earth-magic witch who’s been watching the sorcerers for the last few years. They are definitely involved in a power struggle.”

“Well, perhaps Gerald of Halakan has been removed from the chess board,” Vik said. “Andrei left here to go work for William of Nesta, and Gerald was his sorcerer. I can’t think why William would poach Andrei if Gerald were alive.”

Rane gave a hum of agreement, tamping down the sudden surge of urgency in him at the mention of Gerald. He needed to get to Halakan as fast as he could and find Soren. “Don’t discount that Andrei is probably manipulating William. None of these four sorcerers care for their liege lords. They plan to overthrow them when they’ve cleared the field of their competitors.”

Elanie looked across at Vik, her eyes narrow.

He sighed and then shook his head, meeting her gaze. “You told me Andrei was lying to me.”

Again, she said nothing. There was a tension between them, based on hurt and pride and idiocy.

Rane would guess most of the idiocy lay in Vik’s camp.

“So Andrei was whispering lies about my allies to me, stirring up trouble to destabilize this part of Middleland, and having done that, took a position with William to do the same?” Vik stood, but carefully this time. He placed his hands on the table and leaned forward. “I’ve been a dupe?”

Rane shrugged. “You and every other regent in Middleland.”

“And your father?” He looked over at Kayla. “You say he’s been coerced by Eric the Bold?”

She lifted her shoulders uncertainly. “From some things he said to me, I had the impression Eric threatened to harm me if he didn’t cooperate.”

Vik pushed himself upright. “Drink?” he asked Rane, and then stalked to a small table near the massive fireplace at the far end of the room which held a collection of bottles.

Rane didn’t have time for a drink—all this talk of sorcerers only strengthened his need to be off and searching for Soren, but he forced himself to follow.

He saw Elanie and Kayla come together, talking in low voices as they stood a little to one side.

“What was your journey here truly about, De’Villier?” Vik handed over a crystal glass of liqueur.

“I was telling you the truth. I’m looking for my brother, although I was hoping to get some idea of Andrei’s strengths and weaknesses while I was about it. There is only one option to save Gaynor from Eric, and that’s to bring all the sorcerers down. If we get rid of only Eric, one of the others will simply take his place.”

“You say ’we’?”

“Kayla and I. And possibly a powerful earth-magic witch called Ylana.”

“What can Phon do to help in this?” Vik watched him over the rim of his glass.

Rane considered it. “You’ve been manipulated by Andrei, and other regents in the area will have been, too, either by him or one of the other sorcerers. You could start to spread the word, send messages out explaining what Kayla and I have told you this evening. Start undoing the damage. And start with the king of Therston. Nuen is theoretically his sorcerer, but his real loyalty is to his brother, Jasper. If Nuen wins this war, Jasper will be reigning by his side, and the king of Therston will be either killed or expelled, of that I have absolutely no doubt.”

Vik gave a slow nod. “Andrei told me Gaynor was gearing up for war. That Therston was planning to boycott our fruit and that Klevan was considering going to war with Tibalt. Elanie refused to believe it, especially the information about Klevan and Tibalt, and she sent a secret message to her father to clarify. He sent a messenger who arrived today, denying it all. What you’ve told us tonight makes more sense than anything else has these last few months.”

Rane set down his glass. “We must go now. Every moment we waste, my brother could be in trouble.”

Vik set his glass down as well. “I have said sorry more tonight that I think I have in my whole lifetime, but I am sorry about what happened today. Kayla is right, I could have accompanied you along your way, and I would know all this already, and still have a gate on my castle entrance.”

Rane smiled. “And more bows and arrows in working order.”

Vik didn’t smile back. “What is she?”

Rane looked across at her. “Extraordinary.”

“You know what I mean.” Vik shifted his stance, looked at the two women as well.

Rane didn’t think Vik would be pleased to learn Kayla had brought as much wild magic as she could into his home, so he shrugged. “I know what you mean, but I’m not prepared to tell you. She is powerful, and she is determined to protect Gaynor from Eric and anyone else. That’s all you need to know.”

“I asked her to marry me four times.”

Rane lifted a brow. “I gathered that from what she said outside. It sounds as if you failed to win her over.”

Vik huffed out a laugh. “I was an ass. Although it turned out for the best. I’m happy in my marriage, although I haven’t done much better in winning over Elanie.”

Rane watched Kayla and Elanie embrace, the dark, almost black, of Elanie’s hair contrasted against the deep chestnut of Kayla’s. He turned to the king. “Try harder.”

Vik bowed to him. “I think I will.”

Rane bowed back, but before he could take his leave, Vik raised a hand. “I think you’ll want to take this.” He opened a long flat wooden box that sat on the table and lifted out the knife inside it.

Rane stared down at it, and then took it, his hand clenching around the hilt. “You saw me hide it?”

“Let’s just say I was suspicious. I sent someone back to search the area until they found something.”

Rane slid it into its place on his belt.

“May I ask why you did hide it?”

“It’s precious to me. I knew your guard would take it from me at some point and I planned to escape you as soon as possible. If someone had my knife, I would have had to find them, and that would have taken time and been . . . messy.”

Vik looked at it. “It doesn’t seem particularly sharp, or even very fine. Why do you prize it so much?”

Rane smiled. “Sentimental reasons.”

H
alakan looked pretty
in the morning sun.

The large village, almost a town, sat nestled in a valley against a hill thick with trees, and the steep pitched roofs gleamed warm and red as the light touched them.

Rane stood next to Kayla on the opposite slope and they both looked down.

They’d ridden wild magic through the night, and again, all the wild magic had followed her, so the woods were thick with it.

Sooty had been left at Ylana’s as they’d passed near her cottage on the journey from Phon to Halakan.

Kayla still hadn’t worked out how Sooty had managed to change back to her normal size, and they couldn’t afford to draw attention to themselves in Halakan.

Kayla chose less noticeable clothes and a more subtle method of carrying wild magic with her this time, using it to create petticoats under a sensible wool skirt and the lining of her wool jacket. Out of sight.

She also took Rane’s satchel and slung it over her shoulder, and let as much wild magic as could fit pour into it before buckling the straps.

Rane stood watching her, legs braced apart. “Ready?”

She could see the tension in him, the drive to get into Halakan as fast as possible.

It was almost as if he was under a compulsion like the one Eric the Bold had used on them both when they first met. Kayla knew the feeling of being driven to a goal, although this one was entirely born of Rane’s loyalty and love for his brother.

She stepped close to him, brushed her lips over his. “Ready.”

He drew her close and hugged her very tight, then took her hand.

They stepped out from the cover of the Great Forest and walked down the open slope toward the village. A little way in the distance, down the far end of the valley, she saw a stronghold, high-walled and as imposing as Jasper’s.

If he was still alive, Gerald of Halakan was aligned to a powerful lord. A ruler with this much status would only have the best sorcerer he could find.

The village gate was already open, but when they reached it, two guards stepped into their path.

“What business?”

Kayla took in the wariness of the guards’ stance, the way one kept his gaze locked on Rane, and the other looked over Rane’s shoulder, as if expecting trouble, or more men to emerge.

She let Rane answer.

“We’ve come to speak to Gerald of Halakan.”

“What do you want with Gerald?”

“I sell wild magic items and I heard he was in the market.”

Sorcerers were always in the market for wild magic items, so Kayla didn’t think Gerald would turn the opportunity down.

“Which direction did you come from?”

“From Therston.”

“Through the Great Forest?” The guard scoffed.

Rane shrugged. “I’m a wild magic hunter. The Great Forest is where I make my living.”

“Dangerous work.” He glanced over at Kayla. “And how does the lady feel about dodging wild magic?”

Rane looked at her. “She manages.”

The guard pursed his lips. “You see anyone on your journey?”

Rane raised his brows, as if the question was ridiculous.

The guard looked uneasy. “We lost a few prisoners from the stronghold recently. Just wondering if they took to the Great Forest, is all.”

Rane wanted to look at her again, she saw him start to and then check himself. Instead he shook his head. “We were alone. These prisoners dangerous?”

The guard hesitated. “They haven’t hurt anyone, far as I know. But they might be desperate.”

“If they haven’t hurt anyone, why were they prisoners?” Rane’s voice came out easy and calm, but Kayla could feel him tense beside her.

“The liege lord thought he had something to fear from them.” The other guard spoke more to his partner than to them.

“The bloody fool,” the first guard muttered. He glared across at his friend, and the two men stared each other down before the one who seemed to support the liege lord looked away.

“Where will we find Gerald, if you don’t mind pointing the way?” Kayla spoke into the silence.

“Afraid Gerald isn’t here.”

Rane lifted his brows as if surprised, although they’d guessed Gerald must be gone if Andrei had been invited here. “Does he have an apprentice, or is there a new sorcerer?”

“You’re full of questions.” The less-friendly guard thrust his face forward aggressively.

“Just want to find someone interested in buying what I have to sell.” Rane gave a one-shouldered shrug. “No good coming all this way and then walking back just because Gerald’s not here.”

“Get a grip, Kol.” The other guard made a scoffing sound. “Paranoia must be catching.” He stepped aside. “The only sorcerer left here is Andrei Wolfsblood’s apprentice, and word is he’s still on his deathbed, so he’s no use to you. But you’ll want to rest and get some food before you’re on your way, no doubt.”

“Thank you, we would.” Rane took her hand and they walked into the town. Kayla felt both guards eyes on them as they made their way to the town square to look for a place to eat.

“Andrei isn’t here either?” Kayla didn’t know what to make of it.

“And his apprentice near death. Sounds like there was a battle of some kind.”

Kayla hummed her agreement. “Then why isn’t whoever won not here, claiming their place?”

Rane paused as they approached the busy square, looking for any threat. “Andrei could be off elsewhere, stirring up trouble. Unless he fought and lost to Eric, and Eric simply wanted him gone, so he doesn’t have to worry about him anymore. He wouldn’t stay here, he’s got your father to manipulate, the King of Klevan to antagonize, and Nuen to fight for control of Therston.”

It was all too plausible.

Kayla heaved a sigh. If it were true, they were down to two sorcerers instead of four, but she wondered if Eric had fought Andrei and won, what magical objects he’d managed to take. How much stronger he’d become.

The thought was so depressing she pushed it aside, focused on the good news. “What about the escaped prisoners they were talking about? You think one of them could be Soren?”

Rane looked at her, and she could tell he was afraid to hope. “It could be. Halakan’s the most likely place the gem would have taken him, if it wasn’t to Phon. Eric was always unlikely, because he’s the one who wanted the gem in the first place, and Travis and his men were caught up in it, and you say there was no talk about them appearing in Nuen and Jasper’s stronghold when you rescued Soren. He
has
to have ended up here.”

Kayla realized they’d been standing still, watching the square, for too long. People were looking at them, and she tugged Rane forward, angling toward the large inn that took up almost one full length of the square.

“Let’s see what we can pick up over a meal.”

He gave a nod, although she knew he’d prefer to call on William of Nesta and simply demand answers.

It would most likely come to that anyway.

Rane would tear down the walls of Halakan stronghold if he had to to find Soren.

And Kayla would watch his back while he did it.

W
illiam of Nesta
had been holding Soren.

Rane seethed at the thought as he and Kayla walked toward the stronghold, taking the small town’s back gate and then a path that led through a tame wood and past a quaint cottage.

“Do you want me to be the princess of Gaynor?” Kayla’s question cut through Rane’s anger and forced him to pay more attention to the here and now.

He shook his head. “Better not. I might be doing a few things that won’t be good for any agreements your father has with William. Especially if he still has Soren.”

She laughed, and he found his own lips were tugged into a smile at the sound.

“I’ve met him twice, but I don’t think he took much notice of me, either time.” She slid her arm through his as they approached the main entrance to Halakan stronghold.

There were more guards here, and by the time they reached the portcullis, four stood waiting for them.

Rane was sorry the village gossip hadn’t been more specific. Several men had appeared in the stronghold after a flash of light over the last few months, and some had escaped a few days ago. How many were left, if any, seemed unclear.

“I’m here to speak to William of Nesta.” He kept his anger and his fear for Soren strapped down tight under a cordial smile.

“What about?” The guard who spoke looked at them curiously, and Rane knew they were probably getting a polite greeting because of Kayla. It was hard for them to imagine he’d come to cause trouble with a woman in tow.

“About the men who’ve been magically appearing inside the stronghold. I have some information about it, and I’ve heard William would be interested in hearing it.”

The guards shared a look. “You heard right.”

They searched him, patting him down and ignoring his knife, which looked even more dull and blunt that usual. They left Kayla alone, but they wouldn’t have found anything on her. The wild magic in the satchel she wore could easily become a cloak or a dress if they decided to unstrap it.

When they were satisfied Rane wasn’t dangerously armed, they opened a small door inset into the main gate.

The Halakan stronghold was well-kept and a guard led them across an open area to the front of a large stone building.

They entered and were shown to a room on the ground floor overlooking a formal garden. A guard stood just within the door, watching them, and William was sent for.

Kayla walked over to look at a portrait on the wall, and Rane noticed her petticoats were billowing, swaying gently as if she was still walking, or as if there was a breeze.

He hid a smile.

The door opened and Rane guessed it was William who stepped in. He was dressed well, in contrasting dark and light blue, and he wore a sword at his side. He nodded to the guard to dismiss him.

The guard wanted to argue, Rane could see it. He didn’t want to leave William alone with them, but eventually he stepped out and closed the door.

“You’ve had trouble recently?” Rane asked.

“Why do you say that?” William’s eyes were an ice blue and he watched Rane carefully.

“Your guard didn’t want to leave you alone with us, as if you needed protection.”

William didn’t respond for a moment. “We may have had a few problems. Who hasn’t, these days?” He looked over at Kayla and frowned at her, as if trying to place her. “My guards say you have information about the men who’ve been dropped into my stronghold. How do you know anything about it, and who are you?”

Rane gave a shallow bow. “My name is Rane De’Villier, and I understand you have my brother in your dungeon.”

William gaped at him. “There’s no-one in my dungeon now. They’re all either dead or escaped.”

“Dead?” Rane didn’t recognize his own voice.

“Andrei Wolfsblood walked into the dungeon and died a terrible death. The prisoners escaped, one before my very eyes, and someone took my sorcerer away.”

“I thought Andrei Wolfsblood was your new sorcerer?” Kayla spoke up for the first time, giving him some time to recover his balance at the news that the only one dead was Andrei, and again William swung his attention to her, frowning.

“How do you know that?”

“We’ve recently come from Phon. That’s all they’re talking about over there. How William of Nesta came to poach Andrei Wolfsblood from Vik the Steady.” Kayla smiled at him benignly.

William’s frown deepened. “You must have left shortly after me, to be here from Phon so fast.”

“How fast we travel is of no consequence. Let’s talk about your prisoners.” Rane finally had himself back under control.

William spun to look at him, eyes wide. “That sounded like a demand.”

Rane had held himself back, controlled himself, mostly, with Vik, certainly with Ylana, but this man, who had locked his brother up when he’d been nothing more than an innocent victim, did not deserve the same restraint.

Rane pulled his knife as he leaped at William, slamming the liege lord up against the wall. The blue blade extended, glimmering in the light from the window, and Rane pressed it up against William’s throat. “That’s because it
was
a demand.”

Kayla moved behind him, but he kept his focus on William.

“Why don’t you start by telling us why you locked them up to begin with?” she asked, and William’s gaze skittered to her.

“Thought a sorcerer was trying to take over, sending men in to kill my guards from within.”

“
Did
these men try to kill your guards?” Rane forced William’s attention back to him.

“No.” William closed his eyes. “They were upset, though. Hard to subdue.”

Rane’s throat closed at the thought of Soren ’subdued’. He’d barely recognized his brother after Kayla had rescued him. He’d been too thin, almost broken. Rane couldn’t imagine the agony he’d faced at the thought of going back into a dungeon after only a few days of freedom.

“Did Gerald tell you that’s what was happening?” Kayla asked.

William started to shake his head, then froze as Rane hissed a warning at him, lifting the blade. “No. Gerald disappeared. I thought someone had killed him and was trying to take over because they thought Miri was too weak to step into his place.”

“Miri?” Kayla took a step closer.

“Mirabelle, Gerald’s daughter.”

“I’ve never heard of a woman sorcerer.” And Rane knew a lot about sorcerers since Soren’s obsession with bringing them all down.

William tried to smile, and managed to lift up one side of his mouth. “Miri is unique. And she is powerful. She came close to breaking Andrei, and his apprentice is barely hanging on to life.”

“If she’s so good, why did you bring Andrei in? Isn’t it against the code?” Rane asked.

William’s cheeks flushed red under his pale skin. “I was a fool. I wanted her to torture the prisoners, get them to tell me why they were here, but she refused. I was angry. I wanted a sorcerer who’d do as I told them, so I called in Andrei. I didn’t know that he had even less intention of doing as he was told, and was far less honest about it than Miri. I didn’t know he planned to kill her.”

Kayla drew in a sharp breath.