“You’re the mate. One of them, at least.” Simeon didn’t know who had told him, but he figured it was easy enough to figure out since he was the last one. “She’s afraid of you, that you’ll put her in chains no different than a man who would claim her sword. She would rather face incarcerated than to be with a man who would make demands on her body rather than her ability.”
“I’d never do that.” Tinsel said that the king had told him that. He glanced at Asher, who only shook his head. “He said that you were all going to be great men. Each of you, special in the magic that you brought to the family. But you and your other half, he told me, would bring everything to fruition.”
“What does that mean?” Tinsel said that he didn’t know, as the former king had told him only that. “This book…what does it have to do with me?”
“Everything.” Simeon didn’t know what that meant either, but he was more afraid of that one word than he had been anything else in his long life. Akassa asked him when she was coming here. “Today. As I said, she is on her way here. I know that she must hurry so that the other men do not call to her first.”
“She plans to disobey them. Will it be hard on her? This thing that she plans to do?” Tinsel told Akassa that it would be harder than healing from any wound that she had ever had. “Can we call her here?”
“Nay, not you.” He glanced at Asher, then back to the ground. “There is only one being that can command her to do her job or not.”
The wording of it, the way he glanced again at Asher, had him thinking that he was putting something out there that he couldn’t tell them. But Akassa got it and laughed.
“You have to summon her here, Asher. As the king, then command her to not do as these men order her to do. Sort of claim her yourself, I’m guessing.” Tinsel smiled at them all and lowered his head again. “Call her. Let’s see what we can work out for her.”
Asher stood up and looked around. It was one thing, he knew, to call others to you, but to call in a stranger, one that was there to murder you and all you stood for, was something else altogether. Simeon looked at him. There was a question there, one he wasn’t sure of. When Asher spoke, Simeon stood up as well.
“I think it should be you. Not to call her to you as I would, on a command, but as your mate. She knows about you, so you call her.” Simeon said he wasn’t sure that was a good idea either. “Then if it doesn’t work, I’ll do it. But if you ask and she comes, it might go better for us all. To be honest, I’m not sure what will happen, but I have a feeling that it’s going to be difficult no matter who does the calling.”
Simeon nodded, then looked at Akassa. “We do this. Together. We’ll call her here, if she pleases. If not...well, then we’ll go with plan b. Whatever that might bring us.”
They stood side by side, and then Akassa spoke. “We ask her like this, I think. Brynhilde Scott, heart of our soul, come to us please so that we might speak.” Simeon agreed and they said it. Before the last word was complete, she was standing in front of them. Or a better description would have been, she was ready to kill them both while standing in front of them.
Her armor was...well, he had to say it, it was beautiful. New looking, though he was sure it was older than any of them. Her hair flew behind her. There wasn’t a wind anywhere, so he assumed it was her magic. And that Simeon could almost taste it, she was so strong. Her sword, as stunning as her, was drawn and at the ready.
“Who are you?” Simeon introduced himself, then Akassa. Just their names so as not to upset her more. “And you summoned me here…why?”
“To talk. About the book.” It was suddenly in his hands. He was sure that she didn’t move, not even to blink. “Okay. But you gave it to me, not Asher.”
The sword lowered, but she looked no less ready to do them harm. When it disappeared at her back, Simeon assumed that she’d put it in a scabbard there. He wondered what other weapons she might have on her person. Then Asher cleared his throat, and she turned and looked at him. Studied him, he supposed. Turning toward him, she bowed low, then went to her knees. Simeon had a moment of fear that she was going to kill him when she pulled her sword from her back, quite literally from her back, and handed it out to his brother.
“I give myself to thee. I have dishonored your rules. I would only ask that you spare Tinsel. He had no part in my deception of the men who even now call for me.” Asher asked if she was in pain. “Pain? I don’t understand.”
“The men that call for you, the ones that claimed you…does them calling out for you cause you any kind of pain?” She glanced up at Asher, and Simeon could see the confusion on her face. He wondered if anyone had ever asked her about pain before. “How do I make it so that you are no longer claimed by them so that it doesn’t hurt anymore?”
“Why?” It was a good question. Asher looked at him and Akassa. It was time to confess, he supposed. Or do whatever it was to let her know that they were her mates.
“You are our mate.” She stood up, her sword pointed at his throat. He didn’t move, not even to push it away. He could have, he supposed. Or had Asher order her to do it, but he only stared at her. “Do you wish me dead?”
“Yes.” He saw the confusion again, then she shook her head. “I don’t want to be claimed by any man. Nor two. I have been shackled to someone nearly all my lifetime. I wish only to be free.”
“Then you are.” She frowned, the point of the blade shaking just enough to cut a small nick into his flesh. “I free you from the bonds of our coming together. Akassa? What say you?”
“Yes, you’re free to do as you please. As your mate, one of your mates, I free you willingly to love us or not.” The sword lowered, and she stood there. Simeon waited for her to do something, say anything, as she seemed to be lost in thought.
“What sort of trickery is this?” He told her none as he wiped the blood from his neck. “You wish to entrap me. Or to make me do something that I don’t want. I’m not stupid.”
“No, and I doubt very much anyone would think you stupid. I haven’t any idea how old you are—older than me, I think—so you’d have to be smart to have been able to survive.” She told him she was an immortal, same as him. “No. You cannot be killed. Removing my head or piercing my heart will end my life. While it will be very difficult to do, it isn’t impossible. I think a man would have to be incredibly stupid to approach you with their sword drawn. You’d have them dead before the thought moved through their head.”
“I don’t care for your logic. You make me sound as if I’m a monster.” He told her he was sorry. “I don’t understand you. You’re not.... What are you playing at?”
“Playing? I’m not. But here, before we talk, if you wish to speak with us, then you should give this to Asher. I’m not sure what is supposed to happen with it, but I think this was your task, to give the book to the new king.” She took the book from him and handed it to Asher. “Thank you.”
Asher opened the book and thumbed through it. There wasn’t much too it…a leather-bound book that had no title on the front of it, nor did it have any kind of special tassels, as the other books did. The ones that had been brought to them, or found when the dead came to request they be found, had been carved on. Some of them looked like they’d been taken to a crafting class and had been the model for all the things there. This one, the one from the king so long ago, was as plain as a brown paper bag.
“There are no words.” Asher looked at Simeon as he thumbed through the book again. “There isn’t anything written here. It’s just blank pages. Are you sure this is the right book?”
“It is, my lord.” Tinsel came forward as he spoke. “The magic must be released before you can see the words written there. Then the castle, his lordship told me, would be complete. He made me repeat it several times to him that night. There are times when I mess up things.”
That was very true. He’d messed up things a half dozen times in the few minutes he’d been with them today. Asher sat down when the rest of them did, and h
e noticed that Bryn sat lower, her head bowed slightly.
“What sort of magic, Tinsel?” Bryn looked at Asher, then bowed again. “I know nothing of the book, save I was to bring it to you when the time was right. When the castle was nearly finished so that it would be helpful in keeping you all safe.”
“There isn’t anything we can do about it now, so let’s go to the house and have dinner.” Simeon put out his arm, as courtly as he could remember doing for his mom. “Would you join us, Bryn?”
~~~
Sally enjoyed having all the family at the dinner table. But tonight, this first night, was very special. They were all there…all of her sons were with their mates. Yes, Bryn wasn’t a part of it yet, holding herself off a bit stiffly, but she was there and that was all that mattered for now. Passing the last of her potatoes around, she smiled at the woman.
“I remember you. Not well, I’m afraid, but I had seen you around the castle a few times.” Bryn nodded, unsure of herself, poor little thing. “I was so sorry to hear about your mother, child. And your family. They were good people. Your father was a good farmer, and he took very good care of you and yours. I was heartbroken when I heard that they’d been murdered.”
“My mother knew you as well. She thought you a very wonderful person. And she said that you made the most pleasing sour apple pie.” Sally brimmed with the compliment. “They didn’t deserve to die like they did.”
“No one does. And to have.... Well, we heard that they’d been asleep in their beds when they were attacked. You were away.” Bryn nodded, and said that she’d been a servant then too. “Do you know what happened? I’m sorry, but I know very little about your kind. I thought they’d all be fighters like you.”
“No, just me. There is a warrior born every ten generations. When I was born, my parents were so terrified that I’d be called upon at an early age. They kept me hidden away as best they could.” Sally asked her if she wanted to talk about it, that she’d not meant to hurt her. “It’s all right, mistress. It’s been a great many years, and while I miss them very much, the hurt isn’t as raw. I thank you for asking after them.”
“The king, Anthony, he knew what you were?” Bryn nodded at Jacob when he asked. “He was a brilliant man. A good leader. He, too, was murdered, and the more I find out about that night, the more I wish I could have done more to help him and his lady wife.”
“He was a good leader. Tricky, but a good man. The night that I was brought to him, I know that I was frustrating him something terrible. He wanted me to stand, talk to him as if I were equal to him. My heart was broken then…my parents and family had only been killed the month before. But he told me that I was to come here and give the book to one called Asher, so that he could complete the task of the castle rebuild. As you can imagine, I hadn’t any idea what he spoke of. The castle that I was in, it stood strong and steady. But he also told me that I was to hibernate. It’s what I do when I’m injured badly. He didn’t want me to be caught up in the fighting that would go on when the castle fell.” Sally watched the boys, Bryn’s mates, as she told her tale. “The castle fell while I rested. And when I woke, the smoke still burned in the fallen castle, and fighting men and women, who would otherwise have been friends, still fought over even scraps of food and water rights.”
They didn’t touch her, as the others did their mates. No holding of her hand. They were already in love with her, she could see that, but they were standing back, waiting for her to trust them. Sally knew that there was little love or trust in the girl’s heart. She’d seen too much, been abused more than most. Sally was proud of her children in that moment, more so than she thought she’d ever been.
“How long were you resting? I would imagine that the magic that you received from the king and queen would have been powerful. It was when they zapped me.” Bryn looked at Ariannona and frowned as the other woman continued. “Yes, I’m a witch. I knew the king and queen as well.”
“You were but a child when I saw you there.” Ariannona nodded. “There were others as well. They were witches too. Few of them good, white witches. The black, I think one of them was the cause to it all, but I cannot be sure.”
“Yes. Helenia was there, the black witch. She was Essie’s mother, but we dispatched her, and a few others along the way. It’s been necessary to keep everyone here safe. The dragons, they’re our only hope for the future.” Bryn frowned again, and looked down as Akassa spoke again. “You were asked to come and kill us all.”
“Yes, but they no longer call to me. The men, I mean.” Asher asked her if she was feeling better then. “I am. I don’t understand why I’m here. I have no desire to be a mate to anyone. I’ve been a slave to men all my life. Not sexually, but it would be just as bad. My sword is all I have ever had to offer to anyone. I have nothing else to give. My heart is now of stone, and black as the coal in yonder fire.”
“We don’t want you to be our slave. In fact, if you’d like, we could be yours.” Akassa laughed when she looked at him, and Sally wanted to caution him. “We have a home that you’re welcome to change in any matter that you wish. We’re not slobs, but we’ll do better, I promise you. You have only to ask for anything, and it will be yours.”
“At what price?” Sally asked her what she meant. “Who do they wish me to kill? What army do I vanquish for them? No one wants me around but for my blade and armor. I’m a warrior, not a wife.”
“Well that’s just sad. And we don’t want anything from you that you’re not willingly ready to give.” Sally could see the mistrust there, like a part of her armor. “You don’t believe us. And that’s fine too. I’m just glad that you’re here. With us as family.”
“My family is gone.” Bryn stood up, and the men did as well. When she drew her blade the boys did too, but didn’t point them at her, instead surrounding them all, ready for whatever had spooked the warrior. “There is someone coming.”
Sally felt the magic tighten around her. She wasn’t sure who it was from, but was glad for it. If there was going to be bloodshed, she didn’t want it to be her family, but she thought them better suited to it than she might be. Holding onto Jacob, she was surprised to see Bryn standing next to her.
“They told me to stand here. I’m a warrior, don’t they know that?” Sally nearly laughed, and might have had the girl not looked so murderous right then. “I’m not a milksop that needs to be protected. I protect them.”
“Perhaps they are only looking out for your wellbeing, rather than you protecting them.” Bryn said that was her duty. “Well, this is theirs. Their duty to protect their mate. Who’s out there, Bryn?”
“A man and a woman. They’re not human…wolf, I believe. And with the magic surrounding the land, they shouldn’t have ill will in their heart if they were able to cross it, correct?” Sally said that was right. “Perhaps, but I do feel something about them. Something not right. I feel powerful magic, but it is wearing down. If there is ill will, it’s being buried in the magic that surrounds them. We have to be careful of them.”
“What is it?” They both turned to Asher when he spoke. “I have my children here…we all do. I’d like to know what we’re up against.”
“I can go to them.” Asher looked at Simeon, and when he said she’d be the best for the job of protecting them, Sally was stunned by the smile that Bryn gave them all. “I’ll protect them with my life. But the people out there, do not allow them in the house. Tinsel has gone to see what they’re about.”
Tinsel returned in seconds. He spoke to Bryn, who didn’t seem any less tense for whatever he told her. Sally was going to have to brush up on her brownie language. She might have understood more if she did. But when Bryn told them what she knew, all thoughts of pulling out her books went out the door.
“They’re wolves in sheep’s clothing.” Sally was fearful now for the young woman. “They’ve come here for me…they know that I’m here. They wish my services to help them kill humans. I shall have to go to them should they be allowed t
o see me.”
“No.” Asher looked around as he continued. “Akassa, take your mate to the caves. Kiaran, you take Simeon. The children will be fine with the faeries that are here now, so go before they see you.”
“But I’m a warrior. My services are for anyone that needs them.” Asher walked up to her and Bryn lifted her chin. Whatever happened next would be the turning point in this family, Sally knew it. “You wish to claim me, King?”
“Nay. You’ve been claimed by the King.” She looked at her armor, then at him. “There. His mark is there. I saw it the first time I saw you. If I remember my laws of war correctly, you will fight for the next in line, without claiming, correct?”
“I’ve not been—” Sally saw it then too. As if saying the words, pointing it out, had made it clearer, brighter for them. “I didn’t know. All these centuries, I’ve never seen it. I have been.... You must forgive me, my lord. I had no idea that I fought for others when I have been rightly claimed by another.”
“We’ll talk later. For now, I need for you to get away from here. We’ll deal with this. Go.” As she was bundled up in Akassa’s arms, Asher turned to her. “Mom, I’d very much like you and Dad to go as well.”
“Not on your life.” She smiled at Jacob. “They’re interrupting our dinner time, and they’re not going to get off that easy. You go on out and see to them, Asher, my boy, and I’ll be right there with you.”
With a groan, Asher assembled the family. Sally wasn’t afraid any longer, but smiling. This might be fun, she thought, and walked onto the newly decorated porch with her boys.
Chapter 3
Bryn paced the large cave. She had so much on her mind right now that she wasn’t sure where to even begin in deciding what she was mad about. She’d been marked, and she’d never known about it. When Akassa laughed, she turned her temper on him.
“You do that well.” She asked him what he was talking about. “Mumble and pace. I’ve only seen one other person do it that well, and I think you might be better at it than Asher. Only he doesn’t mumble in several languages at once. Just one. What is it you’re saying? Some of it I know, but the rest is older languages, I think.”
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