by Ally Shields
“I know. But I felt so awful for starting that stupid quarrel.” She rubbed her cheek against the stubble on his chin. “When I thought I’d never see you again…”
His lips trailed across her temple. “It was as much my fault as yours. But we have another chance to do it right.”
She sighed and molded herself against him. “I don’t want to fight anymore.” She heard the chuckle deep in his chest. “What’s so funny? I mean it.”
“You’ll never quit fighting against something or someone.” He rested his chin on her hair. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. I just don’t want it to be against me. If fighting needs to be done, we’ll do it together.”
“A perfect plan,” she murmured. Kam lifted her head. “What happened in the swamp after we left? Is Trystan gone?”
“For now. The younger one was arguing with him, but they left. I don’t think they’ll accept defeat easily. This isn’t over.” He let one arm drop and stepped back. “We should go. At the moment I’m satisfied just to look at you, but I have a hundred questions, and our friends are waiting.”
“I’m not sure I’m ready to share you yet.” Kam smiled, before glancing behind them. “But you’re right about Trystan. He’s not accustomed to losing. We’d be safer getting off the streets.”
Seth grabbed her hand. “Then let’s hurry. I’m eager to meet your friend.”
“Not too eager, I hope. She’s very pretty.”
“Yes, she is. But she isn’t you.” He looked at the rooftop next to them. “Shall we go up? It’ll be faster.”
She nodded and, seconds later, they landed softly and took off running across the cityscape. Kam stretched out her legs, enjoying the freedom and sense of euphoria. Thank the gods her magic wasn’t in danger of failing. In fact, it was strengthening each moment she spent Cityside. She’d have to ask Seth if he knew that…later. She settled into the pleasure of running by his side with the wind whipping through her hair.
* * *
Upon reaching the Ryndel Guild, Kam and Seth found Rhyden waiting in one of the balcony offices with Bria and Captain Brunic. Andolf had been taken to a separate room. Brunic stood immediately, his weathered face cracking into a smile.
“Kam, you can’t imagine how relieved I was to see you pop out of the swamp.” He looked away as if embarrassed by the admission.
“Oh, but I can. You guys were the best thing I’d ever seen. How did you happen to be there?”
“We were looking for the Cyrilian portal,” Seth said. “We’d figured out you were on the other side.”
“Hey, back up,” Rhyden interrupted. “I want to hear Kam’s story from the beginning. How’d you get to Cyrilia? I’m guessing the guys in the swamp had something to do with it.”
Kam gave them an abbreviated version of the last few days, hitting the highlights: her capture, Cyrilia’s pending collapse, meeting Bria, and their escape through the portal. Her listeners’ reactions swung between incredulous and angry.
“How could magic fail?” Doubt flickered across Brunic’s face. “I’ve never heard that was possible.”
“It’s happening to us,” Bria said. “I’ve grown up with it fading faster every year. When I was a small child, we had an hour or two of sunlight and dark. Now there’s nothing except gray. I suspect the royal family and members of the assembly have known for centuries.”
“It’s really a dreary place,” Kam said. “Nothing like…” She caught herself. She didn’t yet know if Bria should be told about Elvenrude.
Brunic lifted a dismissive shoulder at her hesitation. “It’s too late to hold back now. We can’t leave Brianya alone in New Orleans.”
“I hoped you’d say that.” She glanced at Seth. “Do you agree?”
“Absolutely. We owe her a lot for getting you back to us.”
“I don’t understand.” Bria looked confused, even concerned. “Why can’t I stay in New Orleans? I don’t want to go back.”
“We’re not sending you back.” Kam smiled at her. “We’re taking you to Elvenrude. We have our own world on the far side of a portal. It’s too late to go tonight—we should speak with the king first—but I’ll show you tomorrow. You’ll love it.”
“Is it as pretty and green as here?” Bria asked.
“Even greener. You’ll see. There are rolling fields of growing crops, and forests of huge, magnificent trees, and mountains with gold and silver mines. The villages are full of laughing children. And we have beautiful horses to ride.”
“How wonderful.” Bria’s eyes danced with excitement.
Seth put his hands on Kam’s shoulders. “I hate to quell this enthusiasm, but can we delay the rest? We have decisions yet to make tonight. Besides, Elvenrude will speak for itself better than we can describe it.”
“That’s true,” Kam conceded. But she looked forward to seeing her homeland again, especially through the eyes of this young woman who’d never seen the kind of world Kam had always taken for granted. She turned to face her friends. “OK. It’s time for you tell me what’s been going on here. And why you have this other elf in custody.”
Seth explained when and how they’d found him outside the Ryndel Guild. “There were others with him. I heard them, sensed them, but didn’t see anyone. I made a lucky tackle, and Crain threatened to shoot him if he didn’t cooperate. We’ve kept iron cuffs on him to combat the cloaking magic.”
“You could simply take off his ring,” Kam said. “Invisibility isn’t an inborn gift for them any more than it is with us. In fact…” Kam smiled at Bria again. “I’ve found they aren’t very different from us.”
“Except they think they’re superior,” Rhyden said.
“Not all of us,” Bria protested.
Kam gave Rhyden a rueful glance. “Is it so different from how we treat the workers? I wonder how our people will accept Bria.”
“They’ll show respect or at least fear, if you tell them she’s a moon elf.”
“But I’m not.” Bria stood, a resolute look on her face. “We are Cyrilians now. The master race of moon elves is gone. I want to learn your ways, to grow plants, to make things with my hands. To be independent of the magic.”
“The magic is part of us.” Seth’s voice was gentle, as if he spoke to a child. Which she was in many ways. “But nature has its own magic. The two must be in balance.”
“This is getting a little too philosophical for me,” Brunic said standing. “I should get my prisoner back to Elvenrude, and I’ll relieve him of the ring. We need to decide what to do with him long-term. I can’t hold him forever for trespassing outside your guild. Are all of you staying in New Orleans tonight?”
“Bria can sleep at my place,” Kam said. “But I have to transport home long enough to see my family. I know they’ve been worried.” She looked at Seth. “Would you and Rhyden entertain her while I’m gone? I’ll make it quick. You both looked exhausted.”
“I don’t need to be entertained. I’ll just sit and wait for you.”
Seth overrode Bria’s protest. “We’ll be here. It will give us a chance to get acquainted.”
“I heard your guild master keeps a stash of ale and beer.” Rhyden gave Kam a hopeful grin.
“That he does. On the way out, I’ll ask him if he can spare a few. Captain, are you ready?”
“You bet.”
After a brief conversation with Thom Barrott, Kam and the captain retrieved Andolf from the storage room. Brunic turned the Cyrilian around and twisted the silver ring off his finger and blindfolded him for the return transport.
“That’s much better. He won’t be disappearing on us now.” Brunic handed the ring to Kam. “Keep this safe. He won’t need it anytime soon.”
* * *
It took Kam longer in Elvenrude than she’d expected. The moment she came through the Ryndel Guild portal, her ex-boyfriend Caleb swept her into an enthusiastic hug. She was actually glad Seth wasn’t there to see it. He liked Caleb, but still… Once she assured her ex she was fine,
she took a few minutes to fill him in on the basic story, including the Cyrilian woman who’d come back with her.
“I might need your help to make sure Bria is accepted,” Kam said. “I’m worried she’ll be viewed as the enemy or a misfit. But you’re going to like her.”
“If you like her, I’m sure I will, especially if she helped you escape. I’ll do anything I can.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.” She broke away and headed toward the door. “But I’ll be in big trouble if I don’t get home.”
Minutes later she bounded across the suspended walkway and opened the front door of her parents’ home.
“Kammy!” Esty’s shriek was loud enough to announce Kam’s return to the entire village.
She was suddenly surrounded. Her family acted as if she’d returned from the dead. Kam’s heart sank at the sight of their pale faces and tired eyes, but the smiles and celebration that followed were priceless. Mother and Esty cried, of course, and Father cleared his throat twice before he could speak. When she said she’d be bringing Bria tomorrow, her parents greeted the news with nods of approval, and Esty squealed in delight. Mindful of the tired group waiting for her in New Orleans, Kam reassured her family as quickly as she could and then prepared to leave. Her mother broke away from the good-bye scene, hurried to the kitchen, and brought back a loaf of blackberry bread.
“You see that young woman gets some of this. I know Seth and Rhyden. They’ll eat it all, if you don’t stop them.” Her mother pressed the warm, wrapped loaf into her hands.
“She’ll get the first slice. I promise. But you could have saved it until tomorrow.”
“I’ll have something better by then. You tell her we’re eager to meet her.”
Kam hugged her mother and left grinning. Her family really was the best.
* * *
Back in New Orleans, Kam found Seth and Rhyden in the guild master’s office talking with a very animated Bria. Seth broke off a laugh when he spotted Kam in the doorway and rose to greet her with a grin. He wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her against his side. “Rescued in the nick of time. Bria is full of questions, and some of them are out of my comfort zone.”
“I can’t imagine what that would be.” Kam turned to Bria. “What did you ask?”
“How soon I would be required to mate.”
Kam suppressed a smile. “Never, if you don’t want to. But I think Seth is right. You and I need to do some talking in private. There’s a lot for us to share.” She turned and laid a hand on Seth’s cheek. “You guys really look wiped out.”
“He hasn’t slept much in four days,” Rhyden said. “And he dragged me around with him.” Rhyden gave her a lazy grin. “Now you’re back, maybe he’ll let me get some sleep.”
“I could use a few hours,” Seth admitted, “but I’m going to see you home first. To make sure you get there this time.”
“Not necessary, but I have goodies if you do.” She held out the wrapped loaf she’d been holding behind her back. “Mother’s blackberry bread.”
“Oh, that’s not fair.” Rhyden leaned over and took a quick sniff. “I was going home, but…”
“Oh come on. Join us. It’ll only take a few minutes. None of us can hold our heads up for long.”
Rhyden flashed her a grin. “If you insist.”
As they crossed town toward her apartment, the streets beyond the bar district were nearly empty. Perhaps the heat had everyone staying in the AC. After the extreme dryness of Cyrilia, Bria appeared uncomfortable with the humidity and wiped a hand across her forehead several times. Some lightweight clothing would help. Kam sighed. There were so many things to do and show Bria over the next days and weeks.
As a precaution, they cut down one street over from her apartment and approached the rear entrance. Kam used the keypad to get in, and they climbed the stairs. She opened her door, flipped on a nearby lamp, and started for the kitchen to switch on the main bank of lights. Halfway there, she started as the intruder alert beeped.
“What the—?” She spun around, adrenaline surging, then stopped and blew out a breath. “It’s Bria.” Kam hurried to the spare bedroom, keyed open the door, and used the tattoo on her hand to silence the mini portal’s alarm. Rhyden and Seth checked the windows and hallway, but Bria followed her.
“Is that a portal?” Bria asked, frowning at the small shimmer of white.
“My personal one. It’s only used for transports in this world, and not much of that anymore. It guards itself and the area around it, including my apartment and hallway. It interpreted your energy as an intruder, but that won’t happen again. By using this cross key tattoo, I indicated everyone inside the apartment is safe to be here.”
“I’ve so much to learn.”
“Not all at once. It’ll get easier every day.”
“All clear,” Seth called.
Kam motioned Bria toward the portal room door. “Shall we try Mother’s bread?”
They returned to the kitchen, where Kam cut off four generous chunks of blackberry bread and fixed coffee and tea. They’d just settled at the table when the portal’s warning beeped again.
“Intruders.” Seth sprang from his chair. “It isn’t Bria this time. Stay with her.” He and Rhyden raced into the hallway.
Kam grabbed her Sig Sauer from the nightstand in her bedroom and flipped off the safety. The pistol was a recent acquisition, but the grip fit her hand better than the Glock.
“That’s a gun, isn’t it? Do you know how to use it?”
Kam straightened to find Bria staring at her with one hand over her mouth. “Yes, how’d you know?”
“Books, magazines. Trystan brought me a lot of things.”
So Bria—and Trystan—knew at least limited English and some human culture. Kam tucked the information away for future use. “Stay behind me, and we’ll check the portal again.” She unlocked the spare bedroom, swung the door open, and peered inside. Nothing. The room looked unchanged. She touched the portal, felt no vibrations of recent usage by an intruder, and returned to the front room. She met Rhyden and Seth coming in the apartment door.
“They took off,” Seth said.
“Did you see who it was?”
He shook his head. “But it’s obviously not safe for you to stay here. Let’s leave before they return.”
Kam turned to Bria. “Grab your bag. I’ll just be a minute.”
“We can’t forget the bread.” Rhyden grabbed the rest of the loaf and handed it to her. “It’ll fit in your bag, won’t it?”
Kam reached under her bed and retrieved the dark-blue guard bag that held her other weapons and clothing for night work. Dropping the bread inside, she stuffed in everyday clothes and the extra box of ammo from her dresser drawer. There’d be nothing dangerous for the Cyrilians to find and use. She took a last look around. What else? Kam turned toward the front door and stopped.
Holy Hades. She’d almost forgotten.
She ran back to the portal room, knelt next to the crossbow symbol on the floor, held her hand out, and murmured the words to erase the magical threshold. When she was done, the etching vanished.
“Good thinking,” Seth said from the doorway. “It would have been nice to use it to get out of here, but not worth having it fall into the wrong hands.” He looked at Kam. “I wish we could take Rhyden and Bria up to the roofs with us. Fighting our way out of here isn’t going to be easy when we can’t see them.”
“I can sneak Bria out. Andolf’s ring will make her invisible.” Kam dug in her pocket and held it up. “If we invoke the magic, I hope they won’t be able to see us.”
“Hope?” Rhyden questioned. “How could they?”
“I’m not sure how it works…invisible against invisible. I didn’t see more than a blurry shadow, but maybe their magic is different.”
“It’s all elven magic. Why wouldn’t it work the same?” Seth took Kam’s arm and urged her toward the door. “The one thing we can’t do is stand here talking. Rhyden and
I’ll go first and clear the way. You two use the invisibility magic and follow us closely. When we get downstairs, Rhyden and I will turn left as if we’re checking around the building. Take Bria to the Lormarc Guild. It’s closest. And we’ll follow as soon as we can.”
Kam pulled his head down and whispered in his ear. “Will you be careful?”
His face softened. “I’ll see you later. Count on it. Now disappear.”
Kam placed the ring on Bria’s finger and then clutched her amulet. “Take my hand, Bria, so I don’t lose you.”
Seth and Rhyden drew their guns and stepped into the hall. Kam hoped none of her neighbors came out to walk the dog or for a late-night run to the store. The guys would have a hard time explaining this. She watched them make a sweep of the hallway to the right—using their arms to make sure there were no hidden figures—then turn and come back. When they reached her apartment door again, Seth murmured, “OK. Let’s go.”
Seth and Rhyden kept moving toward the stairs on the left with Kam and Bria close behind. Finding no resistance, they descended to ground level and out the back door. In accordance with their plan, the men turned north and disappeared around the corner. Kam led Bria to the south.
A faint shout came from the far side of the building. Kam stopped and listened. When she heard Rhyden swear loudly, followed by fists smacking flesh, she shoved Bria behind a large trash bin. “Stay here. Don’t move, or I’ll never find you again.”
Without waiting for a response, she sprinted toward the front of the building and found Seth and Rhyden fighting with invisible foes. From the way they were reacting, the blows were coming from several directions. The Cyrilians had come in force this time. How could she even the odds?
She couldn’t. But there was one sure way to break up a fight. She took her gun from her pocket and crept closer. When she was within ten feet, she fired into the ground and nodded grimly at the startled shouts and sounds of scrambling feet. She darted across the street and fired again. Heavy footsteps and blurry shadows ran past her as some of the Cyrilians dispersed. Seth and Rhyden were holding their own against the others, and the police would soon be there. She circled back to collect Bria, and they raced down the narrow street hand in hand. If the Cyrilians regrouped, she didn’t intend to be around.