by Mary Swift
Devin put his wrinkled hand over Killian’s. “You’re a much better father than I ever was.”
Killian didn’t answer. He didn’t know what to say and he was exhausted.
Nora stood up. “I think we could all use some sleep.”
“I only have three bedrooms.” Devin said. “With your brother in one that just leaves the two. I was thinking that you and Talia could share one room and the rest of the men could-”
“I’m not sharing a room with her.” Nora said.
“No, she’s not.” Killian pulled up his shirtsleeve and started writing on his arm. “There.”
“What did you do?” Devin asked.
“I added a third floor. I redesign my house in Wildbush all the time.”
Devin’s mouth dropped open. “You can’t do that. You need a permit.”
“I don’t care.” Killian stood up and took Nora’s hand. “I’m going to bed now.” Together they went up to the new third floor and found their room.
Chapter 86
Nora opened her eyes. Beside her Killian was sleeping, red stubble was beginning to cover his cheeks. They had both been so exhausted that once inside the bedroom they collapsed on the bed and went to sleep.
She wasn’t tired anymore. She watched Killian sleep. She felt as though she was falling in love for the first time. The memories of Dante were tarnished now; she felt nothing but hatred for him.
But Killian was different. He was different from anyone she had ever known. She pushed up the sleeve of his blue tunic and looked at the writing on his arm. She would have to ask Devin if he had a notebook or some paper they could have.
Killian made a noise and rolled onto his back. She lifted the tunic and looked at the writing on his stomach. She let her hand slide across his chest. He groaned and slowly opened his eyes. He smiled sleepily. “What are you up to?”
She slid closer to him. “Just admiring you.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes, but I’ll let you get back to sleep.” She pulled his tunic down and started to turn away.
He grabbed her hand. “No, don’t. I meant it Nora, I love you.”
She leaned in and kissed him. “I love you too.”
He sat up in bed. “I have to ask you something.”
“What is it?” She pulled the awful wool dress over her head. There was an even more dreadful corset type garment underneath.
Killian played with the laces on the corset. “Do you really find me attractive looking this way?”
“I’ve never known you any other way.”
“I know, but when I look in the mirror-”
She gently kissed the top of his head, then the side. She slowly made her way to the nape of his neck, her lips touching the gingery strands. “Does that help answer your question?” she whispered in his ear.
“It’s starting to.” he said. She felt him pull the ties on the corset.
“I see you’re not convinced yet?”
He shook his head. She continued slowly to his temple. “I love Killian, the redhead.”
He pulled the corset away and pushed her back on the bed. It seemed that this moment had been so long in coming. The false memories of Dante and his act as a misunderstood poet faded. She watched as Killian tore his tunic off and threw it on the floor. Nora never imagined that what she had been missing in her life was a shy redheaded enchanter.
Chapter 87
Talia waited in the hallway of the new third story of Devin’s house for Killian to emerge from his bedroom. The old man had told her that Killian and Nora had spent the night in there. She tapped her foot on the floor. Finally the door opened and Killian came out.
“What happened in there last night?” Talia asked him. She already knew the answer but she wanted to hear him say it aloud.
“That’s none of your business.” Killian tried to walk past her to the bathroom. “Will you please move?”
“No, I will not move. You haven’t answered me yet. What were you doing in there?”
He smirked. “What do you think? Use your imagination.”
Talia was furious. She wanted to hit him. Sometimes the compulsion was so strong that no matter what she did she couldn’t stop herself. When they were first married she had once beat him so badly that he couldn’t walk for three days, she had regretted that.
“I warned you last night, if you hit me I will strike back.” he told her.
“Why do you want to be with her?”
“Is it really so hard for you to understand Talia? I want to be loved just like anyone else.”
“I love you.” she said.
“You have a funny way of showing it.”
“I know, but you make me so angry.”
Killian looked disgusted. “There is something wrong with you. I’ve always known that. The best thing I ever did was divorce you and raise Lucy myself. I can’t imagine how she would have turned out if you had kept her.”
Talia backed into the wall, she felt as though he had stabbed her with her a knife. “You don’t love me do you?”
“No. How could I? Listen, I care about you as a person, as Lucy’s mother, but beyond that there’s nothing between us.”
Talia realized at that moment that nothing she said was going to make any difference.
“If you had showed me just an ounce of compassion I might have grown to love you.” Killian told her. “But when I was growing up with you and your brothers and Henry you all treated me as though I was a weed growing by the side of the road, something unwanted that you were stuck with.
“When Henry told me that I had to marry you I felt sick inside. I considered leaving Wildbush altogether. The only thing that kept me there was that I had nowhere else to go. And I had the foolish notion that maybe once you had left your father’s home you might be kinder, you might treat me as an equal. Instead you treated me like an animal, you made me feel like less than a man, less than human. I grew to hate myself; the divorce was an act of desperation. I couldn’t have survived much longer and Lucy deserved better.
“Now you have the nerve to stand here and tell me that you love me. I don’t believe you Talia. You’re incapable of love. Otherwise you would be with your husband and your sons. I can accept that you don’t want Lucy but Kip and Casper deserve better and so does Logan.”
Talia felt warm tears running down her cheeks.
Killian sighed. “Why don’t you and Henry come back with us to Wildbush? Logan and the boys will be happy to see you and so will Lucy. She loves you, although you don’t deserve it.”
“You want me to go with you and the mortal?”
“Yes. Please try and be happy for me. Nora is a kind and generous woman. If you treat her with respect then she’ll do the same to you.”
Talia wasn’t about to start treating that woman with respect. “She didn’t waste any time getting you into bed. Although I suppose you’ve been waiting a long time to have another woman since me.”
Killian smiled. “Do you really think I’ve been celibate since we divorced?”
Talia thought he had. She felt defeated; she had never stood a chance with him. “The Master Enchanter is outside. You’re sleeping with his wife. These people are powerful Killian, you’re no match for him and neither is the mortal. We have to surrender to him, there’s no other choice.”
“There is another choice Talia, you of all people should know that. We’ll fight him as long as we can. I’ve had enough of this discussion.” He pointed his finger in her face. “I don’t want to talk about this with you ever again. I hope you can find some happiness in your life, but it’s not with me.”
He pushed past her and went into the bathroom. Talia stood motionless in the hallway. He wasn’t the person she thought he was. He had disappointed her. She had to do something. This was not the way things were supposed to end between them. He was not going to get everything he wanted and leave her with nothing. She slowly walked down the stairs. It was time she met the Master Enchanter of Firesea.
Chapter 88
By morning the town of Wildbush was surrounded by Firesea rangers. They had no interest in Lucy, she didn’t belong to them. If she had managed to find a way out of Firesea then so be it, but Arden Cormenic was theirs. He had not been granted the right to leave and he was good ranger, they needed him.
Lucy was awakened in the morning by a knock on her bedroom door. She put on her robe and opened the door. Arden was dressed. “I have to go Lucy. I have to surrender to them. If I do it now they might spare the town.”
Lucy’s heart began to race. “No, please don’t go. I don’t want to be alone.”
“Your uncle will protect you.”
Lucy didn’t have much faith in her Uncle Finnegan. “Please don’t go.”
“I have to.”
Arden went downstairs with Lucy following close behind. From outside she could hear screams. They ran into the front parlor and looked outside. A line of chestnut horses and riders clad in red leather armor were lined up in the street. Mortals were cowering in fear as the men pointed their long spears at them.
A voice suddenly rattled the windowpanes. “Arden Cormenic of Firesea you are commanded to appear in sixty seconds or we will come for you. We will use whatever force is necessary to return you to Firesea.”
Lucy began to shake. Arden took her hands. “I really wanted to stay here with you.” He leaned in and kissed her on the mouth. “Maybe we’ll see each other again someday.” She held his hand as he started for the door. She couldn’t believe this was happening. Her legs were like jelly, she could barely walk.
Finnegan suddenly came bounding down the stairs in Killian’s pajamas. “Did you see what’s out there?”
“Arden is leaving.” Lucy said tearfully. “He’s surrendering.” She touched the side of his face and tried to remember what he looked like. She had a feeling she would never see him again.
“Goodbye Lucy. Don’t worry, I’ll be all right.” Arden opened the door and stepped outside. He put his hands in the air. “I, Arden Cormenic, do hereby surrender to Firesea.” He fell to his knees and waited while two rangers dismounted and came to get him.
Lucy and Finnegan watched through the open doorway. She had never seen anything like the force outside, and this was just for one ranger. The men began binding Arden’s hands behind his back with a thin gold rope. Lucy coughed as tears ran into her mouth. One of the rangers looked up; his gaze quickly slid past her and settled on her uncle.
“That’s Finnegan Murphy!” the man shouted. “He was banished by the Master Enchanter; he’s not supposed to consort with anyone from Firesea. And here he is with one of our rangers.”
Another man dismounted and walked up the front steps. He glared in at Finnegan. “It’s him all right.” He looked back at the line of rangers and raised his hand. It was at that moment that the chaos began.
With perfectly trained precision all of the riders dismounted at once. Some grabbed the mortals on the street, others set off across the main road towards the shops and homes on the other side of the road.
One burly ranger marched up the front steps of the house. He pushed Lucy aside in an effort to get to Finnegan. Her uncle stood frozen in place, his eyes were wide with fear. The ranger grabbed the collar of Finnegan’s pajamas and shook him. “What do you want in this circle? What does this place have that would interest you?”
Finnegan blinked and looked at Lucy. “She’s my niece. I’m simply here to help her.”
The ranger looked unconvinced. “You told the Master Enchanter that you would return to the mortal world. You lied to him. That’s unforgivable.”
“I, I didn’t plan on coming here. It was a last minute decision. I’m just passing through, and besides this is a mixed circle. I’m in the mortal part of town.”
Lucy felt herself trembling. Outside the rangers were snatching up any mortal they could see. In the distance she could see the Wildbush enchanters gathering at the circle gate. They clearly didn’t know what to do.
“You’re a scoundrel.” The ranger slapped Finnegan’s cheek. “You’re no good. You only do things that benefit you. So what is in this circle that you want? Mortals to possess? Riches? Power? What?”
“Nothing.” Finnegan said. “Just her.” He pointed to Lucy.
The ranger shook his head. “I don’t believe you. I could take you back to Firesea and let the Master Enchanter kill you. Or I could do it myself right now.”
“Please don’t.” Finnegan begged. “I’ll leave now. I promise.”
“Your promises don’t mean anything.” The ranger poked him in the chest and then looked at Lucy. “What do you think little lady? You’re the one he kidnapped aren’t you?”
“Yes I am.” Lucy said shakily. “I think you should let him go, then you should all leave Wildbush. There’s nothing here for you.” Outside the screams suddenly stopped, an eerie silence took their place.
The ranger let go of Finnegan. “Nothing here eh? This circle is easy pickings, anyone can see that, anyone from Firesea that is. This is the kind of place we go for, a bunch of dumb mortals and a handful of enchanters who couldn’t hold a candle to us.” He reached for a strand of Lucy’s hair.
Finnegan shoved him. “Leave her alone.”
The ranger put his hands up. “All right mate, no need to get upset. I was just having fun. I think I will take you back to the Master Enchanter.”
“Did you ever wonder where your Master Enchanter came from?” Finnegan asked.
“What?”
“Do you remember seeing the Master Enchanter in Firesea before he became the Master Enchanter? Is he related to anyone? Does he have any history there?”
The ranger looked confused. “I don’t know.”
“My father was the Master Enchanter once. Everyone knows it has to be a son or daughter of Firesea. Do you remember the Master Enchanter before he took the robe?”
Another man came in the door. “We’ve got the mortals under control. If we each took one on our mounts we could bring all of them back to Firesea. Just imagine the money we can make.”
“What do you know about the Master Enchanter?” the first ranger asked.
The second ranger shrugged. “He’s the Master Enchanter. What is there to know?”
“This one is trying to antagonize me.” The ranger jerked his thumb at Finnegan. “He wants to know if I remember the Master Enchanter before he got the robe.”
The second ranger frowned. “Do you? Because I can’t say that I do.”
“That’s because he’s not from Firesea.” Finnegan said. “He’s half mortal, his mother is from Roundhill. He’s a poet; I used to be his lawyer in Chilton. That’s where your Master Enchanter was born.”
Lucy didn’t know if he was bluffing or not.
“You’re lying.” said the first ranger.
“Why would I lie about it? You’re taking me to him; I’m going to be killed. What reason do I have to lie? Your Master Enchanter is a master manipulator. He has you all under his spell.” Finnegan started to laugh. “It’s kind of perfect isn’t it? The circle that controls all is being controlled by one man.”
Another ranger arrived. “We’ve locked the enchanters in their council hall. Boy this place is a dump. We can start taking the mortals right away and then we’ll come back later and get the enchanters. They are easily controlled.”
Lucy looked out of the window. Mortals were being slung across the backs of horses. They were taking them away, innocent people who had done nothing wrong. “You can’t do this. They are harmless.” Outside Arden was tied to a horse’s bridle.
“What about him?” The third ranger pointed at Finnegan. “Are we taking him back or killing him?”
“It’s not Finnegan Murphy. We’ve just sorted it all out.” the first ranger said.
“It has to be. I can feel he’s from Firesea.”
“No he’s not. That’s his spell, it mimics Firesea energy.”
“I’m a big admirer of you people.
” Finnegan told him.
The third ranger looked impressed. “That’s a good spell.”
“Thank you.”
“Should we lock these two in the council hall or just leave them?” the third ranger asked. “They don’t seem very important.”
The first ranger shrugged. “Leave them for now. We’ll be back anyway.” He looked at the third ranger. “Get back to your horse.”
“Yes sir.” He left the house.
After the man left the second ranger sighed. “Bill, you’re going to get into trouble for this. It’s Murphy, you know it is.”
“I know, but I think he’s right about the Master Enchanter.”
“What if he’s not?” the other ranger asked.
Bill stuck a finger in Finnegan’s face. “I’m letting you go for now, but if I find out that you’re lying about the Master Enchanter I’ll personally run you through.”
“Thank you.” Finnegan said. “Just think about how much you’ve actually seen the Master Enchanter do himself. He’s making a fool out of the entire circle.”
“For what reason?”
“I’m not sure.”
The rangers turned and left the house. Lucy watched as the men and their horses began riding out of town, a bound mortal on the back of every one. Arden, still tied to one of the horses, was forced to walk. Lucy started crying. “This is all my fault.”
“No, it’s not.” Finnegan said. “It’s mine. But I’ll find a way to fix it.”
“How?” Lucy asked. There was nothing he could do; there was nothing anyone could do. They were up against forces too great. “Why did you say that about the Master Enchanter?”
“Because it’s true. I knew the second I saw him who it really was.”
“Why would he pretend to be one of them?”
“I don’t know. But perhaps what I said will delay them from coming back. You do realize they will be back Lucy.”
“I know. We have to go to the circle and get the enchanters out of the council hall.”
“That may not be so easy. The rangers have ways of locking things that can’t be undone.”