Authors: Mackenzie Morgan
“Maybe because whoever grabbed the key away from her slaver was from Camden,” Marcie said. “He’s responsible for this province and everyone in it, so going to him to get it back makes sense.”
Marcus nodded and wanted to let it go, but Hayley shook her head, so Marcie turned to her. “Why not?”
“Because she demanded Myron turn over ‘that sorcerer of his’. She knew Marcus works for Myron.”
“Turn you over? To her?” Marcie stared at Marcus with wide open eyes.
“It’s all right, sis,” Marcus said. “Myron handled everything, but we were wondering how she knew I was involved. She knew too much for it to have been a lucky guess.”
“So she just showed up and wanted her key back. And you.”
Marcus nodded, but Hayley said, “And grabbed Chris and Elin while she was there.”
Marcie stared at Hayley. “Chris? Myron’s assistant?”
Hayley nodded.
“So Gwendolyn has Chris? And Elin, whoever she is?”
Marcus shook his head and put his hand on his sister’s arm. “No. Chris and Elin are both safe. Myron got them back.”
“How? By agreeing to hand you over?” Marcie’s voice went up an octave.
“No,” Marcus said, shaking his head harder. “He went to her castle and got them back. He didn’t give her anything or anyone.” He took a deep breath. “Look, I didn’t want to go into all of this. It’s over and done with. The only reason I brought it up was I wanted to know if someone tipped her off, and if so, who.”
“Is she likely to come here looking for you?”
“No, she’s dead,” Marcus explained. “Myron killed her in a duel.”
Marcie leaned back and closed her eyes. After a moment she looked at Hayley. “I thought you were going to let me know if he got hurt.”
“I would have, but he didn’t get hurt. He wasn’t even in danger. Myron sent him away, and he didn’t come back until after the duel.”
“Good.” Marcie looked back at Marcus. “So, is anyone else going to come around looking for you? Someone who might think grabbing my children would be a good way to find you?”
Marcus shook his head. “No. Her son’s taken over Landoryn now, and the only one he was focused on after the duel was Myron. He didn’t give me a glance.”
“Wait. You were there? At the duel?” Marcie’s voice crept back up in pitch and volume.
Marcus let out a long sigh. “I was there, but only because Myron needed a sorcerer to stand in for him. I was with Chris and Glendymere the whole time. No one else even spoke to me. It was fine.”
“You were with Glendymere? The dragon?”’
Marcus grinned. “Yeah. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d ever meet a dragon, and now I’ve met two, and actually sparred with one.”
Marcie’s mouth fell open. “You sparred with a dragon, as in you and the dragon threw energy bolts back and forth?”
Marcus bit his bottom lip to keep his grin from spreading as he nodded. “And it was so much fun! I’d love to do it again.”
Marcie shook her head. “But it’s over? You’re safe now?”
Marcus nodded. “But I still want to know how Gwendolyn found out.”
“Maybe someone was in Bridgeport asking questions,” Hayley said. “That’s a bigger place. Seems likely someone would start there if they were looking for information.”
“You may be right,” Marcus said. “Didn’t you say you wanted to check on Marissa and Parsyn? You could do that while I check around and see what I can find out.”
“And if you go now,” Marcie said as she stood up, “you’ll be in and out before you run into Lisal. She’s working in the tavern with her mother and they’ll be busy getting lunch ready. If you wait until after lunch, you’ll probably run into her.”
“Let’s go,” Marcus said as both he and Hayley stood up. “You help Marcie clear up and I’ll get the buggy. Meet you out back in a minute.”
While Hayley examined both Marissa and Parsyn, Marcus went to look for his best friend, Thom. He found him working in his blacksmith shop.
As soon as Thom saw Marcus, he put down his hammer and wiped his forehead with his bandanna. “What brings you out this way?” he asked as the two men gave each other a hug and slapped each other on the back. “Visiting? Or back for good?”
“Just visiting for the day,” Marcus said. “So, how’s it going? Enjoying being a father?”
Thom’s eyes lit up. “There’s nothing like it. I love that little guy so much. It’s all I can do to leave him with Marissa to come to work every day.”
Marcus grinned. “Sounds nice.”
“It is.” Thom sat down on one of his sawhorses and motioned Marcus to another one. “You need to settle down and get a wife so you can be a father, too. Greatest feeling in the world when your son looks up at you and smiles.”
“Maybe one day. But right now, while there’s no one else around, I need to ask you a few questions.”
Thom nodded.
Marcus explained that Gwendolyn had gone to the castle demanding both the key and Myron’s sorcerer. “She had to be talking about me. What I’m trying to find out is how she knew I was involved. I don’t live here and it was a fluke I was here when it happened. Did anyone come around asking questions about what happened or who was here?”
Thom thought for a few minutes and shook his head. “I haven’t heard of any strangers asking any questions, and if they were asking about you, I would have. Nothing’s a secret in this town. You know that.”
“So no one new has been hanging around?”
“The only people I’ve met since the raid are two men operating a new boat on the river. They showed up shortly after the raid. They stayed at the inn overnight and then went on up the river. They stopped by on their way back down about a week or so later. I ran into them in the tavern and invited them to the picnic the next day, but they were on a tight schedule and couldn’t make it. I don’t remember them asking any questions, but we did talk about the raid.”
Marcus frowned. “If they didn’t ask any questions...”
Thom shook his head. “Marissa and Parsyn went to the tavern with me. He wasn’t a month old yet and I was telling everyone who would listen about the night he was born.”
Marcus laughed.
“Your name did come up, and I think they asked who you were, but that’s all. It would have registered if they’d turned the conversation into a discussion about you instead of my son, believe me.”
Again, Marcus laughed. “Are they still around?”
Thom shrugged. “Depends on what you mean by around. I haven’t seen them around here lately, but I’ve heard they’re working a route north of here.”
Marcus nodded.
“But if you want to discuss someone who asks about you all the time, we can talk about Lisal.”
“No thanks.”
“When are you going to do something about her?”
“Like what?”
“Tell her you aren’t interested in her, that she needs to find someone else.”
“I have told her, over and over. She doesn’t want to believe it.”
“Introduce her to Sister Hayley. Anyone can see there’s something brewing between the two of you.”
Marcus shook his head. “She’s met Hayley, at Marcie’s, last fall, but Hayley convinced her we’re just friends.”
“Just friends? The way you two look at each other?”
Marcus felt his cheeks warm. “Maybe a little more than friends, but we haven’t talked about anything yet. She’s only had her pendant five months. We don’t know where she’ll be assigned, and since I’m still working with Myron...”
“Are you telling me you’re going to stay in Milhaven if she gets transferred?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know what she’d want me to do, and I have to admit, I like my job. I’m getting to do things I never would have been able to do if I’d stayed here. I sparred with a dragon, Thom. A dragon. And it was great! I’m not sure I’m ready to give it all up yet.”
Thom nodded. “Well, I guess we’ll have to wait and see, but it won’t surprise me if you decide even dragons aren’t enough to keep you there if she leaves.” Then Thom stood up and stretched. “Let’s head over to the house. It’s time for lunch. You can join us.”
Marcus stood up, but shook his head. “We’re only here for the day, and if we’re not at Marcie’s for lunch, she’ll have my head. We’ll try to get back before long and stay a little longer. But for now, we need to head back.”
~ ~ ~ ~
Shortly before noon, Rhianna joined Kevin in his office for their lunch with Dara. As they got ready to go, Chris grinned. “Have a good time.”
“Yeah,” Kevin grumbled.
“Look at it this way, it’ll be over soon and you can enjoy the rest of your weekend.”
Kevin sighed and glanced at Rhianna. “I’ll apologize in advance for dragging you there, but you’re my bodyguard today, and believe me, I need one there more than any other place I go.”
Rhianna frowned. “Bodyguard?”
“Yes, as in you need to guard my body and not let it get kidnapped by anyone Dara’s invited to lunch.”
Rhianna’s frown softened into a grin. “Would this threat be coming from a female by any chance?”
Kevin nodded as he held out his arm and took out his key. “Consider any female under the age of 50 armed and dangerous.”
Rhianna laughed as she put her hand on Kevin’s arm, and with a flick of his wrist, they left for Dara’s house.
When they got there, they were standing in half a foot of snow. Kevin quickly led Rhianna up the steps and knocked on the door.
A few moments later, Dara opened it and glared at Kevin. “Late again I see.”
Kevin shook his head. “We’re not late. Your invitation said lunch and it’s barely time for lunch now.”
“We like to begin promptly at noon, which means you should have arrived half an hour ago so you’d have time to meet our guests. Once again your tardiness will cause us to eat a cold meal.” Dara motioned them in, shut the door behind them, and gave Rhianna a long look. “This is the guest you mentioned?”
Kevin nodded. “Dara, I’d like to introduce Rhianna. Rhianna, this is my aunt, Dara.”
Dara nodded and directed them towards the parlor where two women in their mid-twenties were seated. “Myron, I’m sure you remember Katrin. She joined us for lunch the last time you were here. And this,” Dara waved her arm towards the other woman, “is Georgia. I invited her to be a lunch companion for your guest.” She looked at Georgia and said, “I’m sorry, dear. When he said he was bringing a guest I naturally assumed he meant a gentleman. You’ll have to forgive him.” Dara turned back to Kevin and shot daggers with her eyes. “His manners leave a lot to be desired.” With a deep sigh and a shake of her head, she turned back to the women. “I’d appreciate it if you could entertain his guest, Rhianna, wasn’t it?” Dara glanced at Rhianna for confirmation. “I need to speak with Myron regarding family business.” Then she turned back to Kevin. “Come with me, Myron.”
Kevin looked at Rhianna and gave a slight shrug. She nodded, so he followed Dara into the kitchen. Dara shut the door as soon as they were both inside.
“What do you mean bringing an elf into my home?” she demanded with no regard for who might overhear her.
Kevin frowned. “I don’t understand what you mean.”
“She’s an elf! She should be with her own kind, not here in my house!” Dara took a deep breath and made an obvious effort to calm down. “Elves belong with other elves, not with humans, Myron.” She used the same tone of voice she used when correcting her three-year-old son. “You’ve put us in an untenable position. I realize as Master Sorcerer you have to accept undesirables into the castle, but that doesn’t mean you should subject the rest of us to them. I have guests in my home, ladies, who are not accustomed to sharing a meal with other races.”
“Then they shouldn’t share a meal with me either, or Dayed, or Jasyn for that matter. Or have you forgotten all three of us have elven blood in our veins.”
“Hush! That’s not something you mention in polite company, Myron. I can’t believe you don’t know any better.” She shook her head and frowned. “Whoever Badec chose as your foster parents certainly neglected to teach you basic manners. Never mention you’re a half-breed, and if anyone else is rude enough to bring it up, ignore them. Whatever you do, never acknowledge there’s any truth to it. It’s an embarrassment to all of us and if it gets around, it could very easily cause Dayed to lose customers as well as social position.” Dara shook her head again. “And what you’ve done to that poor woman is just plain cruel. Don’t you realize how horribly inferior she’ll feel? She’d be much more comfortable having lunch with her own kind.”
“She is,” Kevin said through clenched teeth. “She’s having lunch with Dayed and me. We’re as much her kind as we are yours.”
“No, you’re not. You’re human. Period. Your father was human, as was his father before him, and his father before him. Just because your great-grandfather foolishly married an elf does not make any of you elves. And it certainly doesn’t make my son an elf.”
“I’m not going to argue with you, Dara. If you’d prefer, Rhianna and I can go back to the castle. I’m sure Miranda will welcome us in her dining room.”
“You’ll do no such thing, Myron. Katrin and Georgia are expecting to have lunch with you and I will not have them disappointed. I had planned to have Georgia show your guest around after lunch so you and Katrin could have some time to get better acquainted. Fortunately, Georgia’s a gracious woman. I’m sure she’ll try to make your elf feel at ease.”
“Dara, Katrin and I already know each other as well as we need to. She’s looking for a husband, but I’m not looking for a wife. We have nothing left to discuss.”
Before Dara could argue, Dayed came through the back door. “Myron, good to see you again.” He grabbed Kevin’s hand and shook it. Then he looked at Dara. “Didn’t you say Myron was bringing a guest? Where is he?”
Dara pursed her lips and tilted her head towards the closed door. “In the parlor, and his guest is a she, not a he.”
Dayed’s face broke into a big grin as he looked at Kevin. “A lady friend, huh?”
Kevin felt his face flush, but before he could answer Dara shook her head. “No! Absolutely not. She’s an elf. She was at the castle on business and for some reason he decided to bring her here.”
Dayed kept looking at Kevin, waiting for his response.
Kevin nodded at Dayed. “Her name’s Rhianna, and I brought her because I wanted you to meet her. She’s a very special friend of mine.” Then he glared at Dara. “I’ve known her longer than I’ve known you. I like her. I respect her, and I trust her with my life. She’s not someone who happened to be at the castle. She’s there at my personal invitation. I’d like for everyone to meet her, but if you’re going to continue to treat her like you have so far, we can go. Right now.”