by Ally Shields
“You don’t. You leave it to us.”
“Then you can see them? How?”
Seth released an impatient hiss. “Look, Crain, I’m trying to be forthcoming, but there are limits. You need to respect them.” He locked his gaze on the agent. “Trust us to handle this.”
Crain blinked first. “That’s not easy to do. If people keep dying, you’ll have to show me more than promises.”
* * *
Seth and Rhyden scouted the city for almost two hours after their meeting with the CIA agent, but found no trace of the Cyrilians. They looped by the addresses Crain had given them for the two gang headquarters. All was quiet there, too.
Eventually they searched the neighborhoods around their own apartments, saw nothing suspicious, and decided it would be safe to spend the rest of the night at home.
Seth was exhausted from the short nights and restless sleep on cots at the guild. He watched until Rhyden was inside his building; then he levitated to the top of the nearest building and worked his way across the cityscape toward home. A night in his own bed would be good.
He wasn’t more than two blocks from home when he dropped into a crouch, his heart pounding. Five uncloaked Cyrilians were on the street below him. He couldn’t mistake that pale flaxen hair. Following along from above, he moved from roof to roof, duplicating the Cyrilians’ route. Had they discovered where he lived?
He watched tensely, but they bypassed the street to his apartment without a glance in that direction. As they crossed the intersection, the streetlight gave Seth a clearer look at them. The man in the lead might be Trystan, but he couldn’t distinguish their features from this angle. What he could see made him shake his head. They wore sweatbands to cover the tops of their ears. Nice try, but it made them look like a hippie gang, and their eyes and hair were never going to blend in.
He didn’t see any weapons. Were they cloaking their bows?
After another three blocks, Seth was sure they were on the way to the Lormarc Guild. He called Henre and warned him. If this was an early morning sneak attack, the guild would be ready. Seth continued to follow. They stopped a half block from the guild, four of them used their invisibility magic to cloak, and shadowy flashes moved toward the shelter of nearby buildings. One man walked on alone. He remained uncloaked and displayed no weapons.
Had he come to talk? Seth hurried forward and leaped across the remaining roofs until he was next to the guild house and in front of the approaching Cyrilian. He peered over the edge.
It was Trystan.
This should be interesting. Seth ran to the far side of the building and dropped to the street. He walked around the corner and stopped in plain sight, not more than fifteen feet from the Cyrilian prince.
“Looking for me?” he asked.
Trystan came to a halt, outwardly unruffled by the sudden appearance, but his eyes were wary. “Not particularly, but you’ll do. I’ve come to make an exchange for Brianya and Andolf…and to offer a truce. But first I need to know if they’re still alive.”
Seth lifted a brow. “Bria’s our guest. And we don’t kill prisoners.”
“You killed one of my archers.”
“They attacked two of our men.”
“I was told you’d say that.” Trystan glared at him. “You lie.”
Seth kept a rein on his own temper. “I was there. Your archers were hidden by invisibility magic and shot at our men without provocation. If Kam and I hadn’t been coming to meet them, they’d both be dead. Ambushed.”
The prince’s frown deepened. “The version I heard was exactly the opposite.”
Seth cocked his head. Had he heard a slight hesitation in Trystan’s voice? “Then you heard wrong. Instead of arguing over who started the fight, tell me about the deal you’ve come to offer. What do you have in mind?”
“Do you speak for your people?”
“I speak for my guild. I can take your offer to the king, but if you’d prefer to talk with someone else, I can arrange it.”
“That’s not necessary. We have gold and gems to trade for the safe return of our people. And I want your king’s promise there will be no more killing.”
Trystan was being so reasonable Seth was tempted to invite him into the guild to sit down and talk. On the other hand, he’d kidnapped Kam, and his people had made several strikes at the guild. And there was the mystery of the drug gangs break-ins and the dead night watchman. Was Trystan an honorable man? Or a clever and deceitful enemy with a hidden agenda?
Until he knew the answers to those questions, Seth wasn’t taking any chances. “The king will consider your words. In the meantime, Bria is our welcome guest, free to come and go as she wishes, and Andolf will remain in custody, alive and well. You should use this time to discover who lied to you about the fight and why.”
Trystan’s head came up higher, and his look hardened. “I have no need of your advice in running my kingdom.”
“I hope that’s true.”
The Cyrilian’s jaw tightened. “When will you make the exchange?”
“I’ll give you an answer as soon as I have one. I can’t guarantee when or what it will be.”
“Then I will return in forty-eight hours. I expect to see Brianya and Andolf at that time.” Trystan turned to walk away, his back rigid.
“One last thing,” Seth said. “What’s your quarrel with the local drug gangs?”
Trystan stopped and looked back. “Drug gangs? I don’t understand the term.”
“Human criminals who sell unlawful, mood-altering substances for huge amounts of money.”
“I have no interest in such things.”
The Cyrilian’s attitude was haughty, disdainful…but something flickered across his face. Surprise? Guilt?
“A gang member was shot and killed with a Cyrilian arrow. Before you call me a liar again, I can describe it.” Seth gave him the details, including the phoenix feathers. “Sound familiar?”
Trystan paled. “I’m not certain what to think. This may be another falsehood you’ve invented to cause dissension in my kingdom.”
“Or it could be the dissension is already there.”
Trystan shot him a sharp look, turned on his heels, and strode away.
Seth watched him thoughtfully before turning toward the guild. The moment he stepped inside, Henre met him with questions. “Was that one of the Cyrilians? What did he want?”
“That’s their leader, Prince Trystan. I think you can stand down for a while. He offered gold and gems in trade for Bria and the prisoner. And he wants a truce.” Seth gave a weary sigh, thinking of his bed at home. “This won’t wait. I will have to go to Elvenrude immediately to speak with the king.”
Henre shook his head. “You can’t. Brunic left just before you called. The situation at home has taken a bad turn. No one is to transport there until he approves it.”
Seth scowled. “I hardly think he meant me. The king will want to hear this proposal immediately. It may influence whatever is happening.”
Henre shoved his hands in his pockets. “That may be, sir, but he said especially not you. I’ll go and report the offer for you. I’m sorry. I know it sounds absurd, but the council of advisors panicked over the idea of war and had to blame someone.”
“Blame? You mean me? What the hell for?”
“Escalating the fight.” Henre stepped back at Seth’s black look. “I’m just repeating what I was told. Brunic ordered you to stay Cityside.”
Seth ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “What about Kam? Was she singled out too? She’s already over there.”
Henre nodded. “Brunic knows. He’ll warn her.”
“This is bullshit. You tell Brunic I said so. And Kam better be all right—”
“She will be.”
“If she’s not back by tomorrow night, I’m going to Elvenrude to get her.”
“Her family has enough influence to keep her safe.” Henre gave his employer a reassuring look. “Don’t get me wrong. Brunic
wasn’t placing any fault on you.”
“Yeah? Doesn’t sound that way to me.” With irritation seeping from every pore, Seth whirled and headed for the exit. “I’ll wait twenty-four hours. If Brunic or anyone else wants me during that time, I can be reached by phone. But it better be important. I’m not in the mood for idle chat.” He stalked out and slammed the door behind him.
Seth was sorely tempted to ignore Brunic, go straight to Elvenrude, find Kam, and confront their accusers. The only thing holding him back was the concern he might make the situation worse. Given time, he suspected cooler heads would prevail. He hoped Kam wasn’t caught in the middle.
Almost too tired to think, Seth heaved a sigh of relief when he reached his apartment. There had to be a good way to handle this situation, but for the life of him, he couldn’t come up with anything right now. He stripped off his work clothes, climbed into bed, and lay awake for several minutes before drifting into a restless sleep.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Kam, her sister, and Bria were up by dawn and on their way to Murielle’s before Sawyer Ryndel left for work. It was a long walk to the foothills, and they didn’t hurry, taking the time to show Bria the farms and fields, the forests of huge live oaks, the fragrant wild flowers, and to admire three horses grazing outside a stable. The Cyrilian woman seemed to take great joy in the warm sun on her face, something she’d never felt until she reached Elvenrude. It was nine o’clock before they knocked on the door of Murielle’s hut.
The old woman’s stick-and-peat home was built into a hillside and partially shaded by a huge oak tree. She invited them into her kitchen, and after the hot walk, they gratefully accepted her offer of cold, sweet tea. Bria grinned in delight. She was quickly becoming addicted to the taste of Elvenrudian teas.
Kam handed the burlap bag of roots to Murielle. The woman took each specimen out and turned it over in her hands. She nodded now and then, and dislodged a strand of her dark, silver-streaked hair. Brushing the lock back in place, she laid the last root on the table. “These will do nicely, but I need a few more things. I’ll check if I have them all. You may come if you like.”
She stood and led them into a large pantry that opened off the back of the kitchen. On one side, the shelves displayed typical food containers: jars, jugs, and baskets filled with dry ingredients or preserved foods. On the opposite wall the wooden slats held small containers of powders, potions, unidentified liquids, and what looked like a large jar of dirt. A basket of dry herbs sat on the middle shelf, and various stones, wood bark, and wilted foliage had been laid out to dry on the bare boards.
Murielle picked up a small bowl and added each ingredient as she found it. “I have all the oils, but I don’t see the ginseng root. I use so much, I’m frequently out. We can start as soon as I gather some.”
“I can get it,” Esty said. “I know what it looks like. My mother grows it in a pot.”
“Thank you, my dear. Go through that door to find the garden.” Muielle pointed. “The ginseng is on the right. Meanwhile I’ll prepare the rest.”
Bria followed Esty, and Kam returned to the table with Murielle.
Kam looked doubtfully at the small mound of roots and ingredients. “How long will it take? Will we have enough when you’re done?”
“There are enough roots for hundreds of applications. It takes very little for your purposes.” Murielle spread out the roots and chopped them on a wooden board. “Mixing the ingredients is the easy part. Drying and pounding into a fine powder is a tedious process, but I should finish that part this morning or early afternoon. Weaving in the magic takes the longest. It will be done when it is done. Maybe a day or two. Could be more. The magic is fickle.”
Kam suppressed a sigh. She had hoped for sooner, but the magic…and Murielle…couldn’t be rushed.
“If you send word to my parents’ house when it’s ready, someone will come immediately. We are most anxious. Elvenrude is at war, and we are disadvantaged by the enemy’s magical cloaking.”
Murielle nodded, her long hair swaying across her back. “I hate to think of our peaceful world immersed in violence. If the dust will help to stop it, I will work as quickly as these old fingers are able.”
As soon as Esty and Bria brought the ginseng, Murielle shooed them out, and the three young women returned to Brierwood. At the edge of the forest that surrounded the town, they accessed the rope steps and hurried across the swinging walkway to the Ryndel home.
Kam opened the front door and choked back a laugh when she saw Caleb waiting with her mother. She was quite sure he wasn’t there to see her. But wasn’t he supposed to be supervising shipping crews at the guild? She’d never known him to take off during work hours before.
He rose a little awkwardly. “Hi, Kam. I’d promised Bria I’d take her to The Bookstore today. But your mother was just explaining you arrived last night. Our outing can wait for another day.”
“No, no. I wouldn’t dream of spoiling your plans. I have to visit the palace anyway. Bria and I have chatted all morning, and it looks like I’ll be here another day or two. Did you take the day off?” she asked innocently.
“I had a lot of extra time coming. Your father suggested I take it.”
No doubt. “I’m sure she’ll enjoy The Bookstore.” Kam turned her head to hide a knowing smile. She hadn’t missed the look on her mother’s face. Whether Caleb was thinking long-term or not, her parents certainly were. Surprisingly, she didn’t feel the slightest qualm. Caleb had always been a fixture in her life, the son her parents had never had. Everyone had assumed they would eventually marry. Even she had thought so for a while. They’d been sexual partners for a few years, but they hadn’t shared the kind of love that mated you for life. Good sex, but the vital spark wasn’t there.
Of course, she hadn’t realized it at the time. Not until she’d met Seth, and the energy between them had sizzled. Oh yeah. She sighed at a sudden twinge of regret for the recent fighting, most of it her fault. When other things were back to normal, she intended to show Seth just how sorry she was.
Although Bria put up a feeble protest, she and Caleb left within a few minutes headed for the local hangout for Elvenrude’s younger generations. Both classes, common and Elite, frequented The Bookstore but kept mostly to their own floors: commoners on ground level, Elite class on the second level reached by the hanging walkways. In addition to books, the Bookstore boasted an attached tearoom and a candy counter. It was a noted first-date establishment.
Bria had invited Esty to accompany them, but she had turned her down flat. Further evidence, if Kam had needed any, of the family conspiracy.
“You’re all so transparent,” Kam said, as soon as Bria and Caleb were out of sight.
“I can’t imagine what you mean.” Her mother smiled as she turned toward the kitchen. “Would you like some sweet tea or fresh bread?”
* * *
In sharp contrast to her peaceful home, King Seliwyn’s palace bristled with tension. Kam caught several strange looks as she walked the marble corridors. Brunic’s office was empty. The first palace guard she found pointed toward the council’s chambers. “I’m sure you’ll find him in there. They’ve been at it all morning.”
The guards on the door didn’t say anything when she asked to be admitted, but one of them went so far as to roll his eyes at his companion when he thought Kam wasn’t looking. Something was definitely up. The moment she stepped inside, Brunic’s face flushed, and he hurried over to intercept her.
“What are you doing here? You should have waited,” he said, pushing her back into the hallway. “Come to my office.”
“Waited for what?” Kam followed him. “What’s happened now?”
Brunic closed his office door behind them and spun around, his jaw clenched. “Didn’t you get the message I left with Thom Barrott?”
“I haven’t seen Barrott. I transported through the Lormarc Guild. What message?”
“Not to come here. You must leave immediately. Just see
ing you may be enough to set the radicals off again.” He smacked a fist against his desk. “The king’s advisors have lost their backbone. We’ve been at peace so long, they’re terrified of war.” Brunic’s face twisted into a scowl. “They can’t decide whether you and Seth are heroes or should be tried and banished from Elvenrude as traitors.”
“Traitors! For what?”
“For starting a war. For shooting the Cyrilians.”
“But they were trying to kill—”
“You don’t have to convince me. But until the council regains their good sense, it’s better if you and Seth stay out of sight.”
Kam stared at him and seethed with indignation. How could they turn on her like this? “Well, I can’t leave. I’m waiting for the damned dust that will even the fight and save their ungrateful souls,” she snapped.
“Then stay away from the palace,” Brunic urged. “I hope all their complaints will eventually fade.”
“All? What else have I done?”
Brunic raised his hands in defense. “Let it go. They’re just venting.”
“If you don’t tell me, I’ll ask someone else.”
He gave her an unhappy look. “It’s been suggested you provoked the Cyrilians by bringing Brianya here.”
“Did they want me to abandon her? Or maybe they thought I should have stayed in Cyrilia. Are they angry about that too? Upset I escaped?” Her voice dripped with scorn. “Who’s saying these things?”
“OK, that’s enough.” Brunic gripped her shoulders and turned her toward the door. “I’m not naming names, and you’re leaving. Now. Stay home or go back to New Orleans. That includes Seth too. And it’s an order.”
“Then Seth doesn’t know. Good luck explaining this to him. I won’t do it for you.”
He motioned her toward the door again.
She glared at him, but there really wasn’t anything else to say. Kam stalked out, looking neither left nor right, and went straight out the front gate. She was still fuming when she reached her parents’ home less than ten minutes later. Caleb, Bria, Esty, and her mother were sitting in the living room. They looked up when she stomped in the door.