Songbird

by Colleen Helme

  Her breath caught and she searched the crowd for Jesse, only to see him in arduous conversation with Korban. A quick cutting movement from Korban’s hand brought an end to their words, and Korban hastily came around the carriage to open the door.

  He reached in for Teya with lips pursed in dissatisfaction and anger rippling about him in waves. This close, she could feel the sym hovering around him like a second glove. She wondered how much he had taken to gather such power, and reflexively shrank back from his touch. His cold eyes locked with hers and she swallowed her fear and revulsion before taking his proffered hand.

  As he led her out of the carriage, his countenance changed into cordial civility, and he mounted the stairs toward the king. With a sweeping gesture of magnanimity, Korban bowed deeply before King Thesald and presented Teya to him. “Your Majesty, your prize is returned, unharmed and collared.”

  “I thank you Colonel Porter, and all of Braemar, for returning her to me.” The king searched the entourage and asked. “Where is the man who took her?”

  “He was delayed by our governor for a brief questioning before I hand him over to you. I assure you he will be here shortly.”

  Teya knew from the set of his jaw that the king was furious. He turned his gaze on her and she flinched. With narrowed eyes he took a step toward her and she backed into Korban’s chest. The backhanded blow that hit her face might have snapped her neck if not for the cushion of sym that diffused much of the power. She knew she had Korban to thank for that. Still, she tasted blood in her mouth, and suffered from a slight ringing in her ears.

  At her dazed eyes and bloody lip, a satisfied smirk settled over the king’s face. “Welcome back, my beauty. You will be thoroughly punished later, but in honor of our guests, we will call a truce.”

  He offered her his hand. Trembling, she placed hers over his. As they began the ascent into the palace, he methodically scrutinized her face. “You seem different somehow... pale, and not so haughty. It pleases me.”

  She said nothing, only concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other until the stairs were behind them, and they were inside the main hall. Korban and Chancellor Turner followed behind, along with two or three other dignitaries.

  A few select Braemarian guards kept pace beside them, and Teya wondered if the king realized how easily they had replaced the palace guards. She noticed Jesse in the entourage behind Korban. In his courtly dress, he could not be mistaken for a Braemarian. This led Teya to wonder how many of the other people surrounding the king were actually loyal to him, or on Korban’s side.

  Inside the palace, King Thesald led her to the main hall where a small banquet had been set up. Instead of seating her at the high table, he walked her up a set of stairs to a small rounded alcove in the palace wall. He seated her there like a statue perched high above the crowd.

  “A living, breathing work of art is much better than the cold marble I removed. You will serve me well here.” Triumph gleamed in his eyes. “Besides, I want you where no one can reach you. Know this, any freedom you had before is lost. From now on, you will be isolated from everyone.”

  She inclined her head, but kept her mouth shut. His eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed in suspicion before he turned away, his triumph gone. Not rising to his taunts settled Teya, and helped restore the sense of balance she desperately needed. Bran’s counsel to let go of her hate helped her stay focused.

  She thought of Jesse’s confession of how sharply her words had affected him, and she caught her breath in astonishment. Because of those few words spoken in truth, Bran wasn’t here. She realized that words held as much power as her music, but in a different way. If she sang the truth to these people with her magic, would it change anything?

  The full use of her magic would return soon, if not today, then tomorrow. All she had to do was endure the present. It wouldn’t be easy, but she could do it. She let out a relieved sigh, and glanced over the crowd. From here, she could see exactly what was going on, and a small smile touched her lips to have this advantage.

  Chancellor Turner, Korban, and three members of the king’s council joined King Thesald’s table. The occupants of the other tables varied between Braemarian officers and Old Country dignitaries. Jesse sat between two of the king’s advisors and others she didn’t know. It was a small gathering by the king’s standards, with only five tables in all.

  King Thesald stood. “For the safe return of my Songbird, I thank Colonel Porter and Braemar. Hopefully, we can put our differences aside and forge a new alliance for the future. To that end, this banquet was prepared. However,” he paused and motioned toward the back of the hall, “I hope you don’t mind the presence of a few more of my guards. I do not want to lose my Songbird a second time.”

  A troop of the king’s soldiers entered the hall and took up positions along the walls. Was it possible King Thesald suspected something? Teya didn’t know what Korban had planned, but this would complicate things. Korban graciously inclined his head, unaffected by this show of dominance.

  The king took his seat and servers brought out platters of food. Teya watched them eat, relieved that she was momentarily forgotten. She kept her attention on Jesse and wondered if he had actually drunk the sym he had in his pocket. He glanced at Teya a few times, but never for long.

  After dinner was cleared away, the king stood again, only this time he turned to Teya. She tensed under his dark gaze. “I wish to hear you sing.”

  An undercurrent of tension filled the chamber and echoed through her blood. The king was up to something and her singing would put his plan in motion. She stood, her heart pounding as if poised on the edge of a massacre.

  Korban was a fool to think he could dislodge the king. Without Bran to make an example of, King Thesald was going to do something else. Korban seemed to realize it as well, but instead of fear, an odd light shone in his eyes.

  As the first few notes left her mouth, the palace guards attacked. At once, more guards took position around the king for his protection, while others fell on the Braemarian officers. To her astonishment, a large group of Braemarian soldiers flooded the hall and the fight began in earnest.

  Korban disarmed two of the king’s councilors and Teya’s mouth dropped open in shock as Chancellor Turner joined him. Together, they disarmed any who opposed them and the rest of the dignitaries gave up without a fight. Jesse tried to get to the king, but the palace guards intercepted him, outnumbering the Braemarian soldiers.

  At this turn of events, the king’s face turned red and livid with rage. Even though the Braemarians were outnumbered, they seemed to possess incredible fighting skills, and the tide was turning in their favor. Teya knew it came from sym. Korban turned his attention to the king who paled, knowing his bodyguards wouldn’t last long.

  With everyone occupied, Teya jumped at the chance to escape. She quickly climbed down from her perch and dodged behind a guard. She made it to the door behind the table, but King Thesald’s strong grasp around her waist stopped her.

  “You’re not leaving without me,” he hissed. He held her back tightly against his chest and backed toward the door.

  Teya didn’t fight him, knowing that once they were in the hall, she had enough strength to stop him with a dark tone of magic. As they backed through the door, Teya’s heart raced with anticipation to accomplish her task, but Jesse ran toward them, and she cursed the promise he’d made to stay by her side.

  As he surged through the door after them, a shot rang out and Teya jumped. The sharp smell of gunpowder came from the gun in the king’s hand. Jesse clutched his chest. With blood running between his fingers, he fell to his knees.

  “No!” Teya cried. Jesse slid to the ground, his eyes full of pain and desperation.

  Suddenly, all the pent-up emotions of anger and rage broke through her carefully constructed barriers. In one breath, she directed them toward the king in a single harsh tone. He screamed in pain and clutched his head, dropping the gun. She intensified the tone a
nd the king writhed in agony. His screams turned to a gurgling sound and he collapsed at her feet, his face a mottled purple, and his breathing shallow.

  “Teya,” Jesse whispered, his hand raised toward her in supplication. “I think I’m dying.”

  Dazed, she ran to Jesse’s side. “Lie still,” she panted. Blood soaked his shirt, and she pulled it away to reveal a gaping wound in his chest, just below his heart. “I can help you, but you must promise not to tell anyone.”

  “Please,” he gasped. “I’ll do... anything.”

  Teya took a deep breath and placed her hands over the wound. With strength born of need, she poured a healing melody over him, binding the torn flesh while drawing the bullet out. Concentrating with heart and soul, the bullet came into her hand, with the skin whole beneath it.

  The world tilted at a crazy angle and she tried to blink the dizziness away. Darkness buzzed at the outer edges of sight, and her face felt waxen and cold. As she slid helplessly to Jesse’s side, he gently cradled her in his arms.

  The door burst open, and Korban frantically rushed in, then stopped abruptly. Jesse’s hold relaxed to see his father, and Teya fought to keep the darkness at bay.

  “Is she all right?” Korban asked.

  “She’s hurt, but she should be fine,” Jesse answered.

  Korban rushed to the king. “What happened?”

  “He was leaving with Teya. I came after them and we fought. Is he dead?”

  “Not yet, but look at him. What did you do?”

  Teya tried to open her eyes, but it the effort was too much. Jesse was saying something about sym while other voices soon joined Korban’s and Teya lost track of the words. She felt the sensation of weightlessness before coming to rest on something soft and warm. Comforted, she let go of her tenuous hold on awareness. As soft lips brushed her forehead, she fell into a deep sleep.

  ****

  Teya woke in a rush, pulled out of her sleep by awareness that she wasn’t alone. The elegant room belonged to someone of wealth, and with sudden clarity it all came flooding back to her. She was in the palace, still dressed in her finery, and lying on a bed. But the thought that made her breath catch was remembering what she had done to the king. Had she killed him?

  What about Jesse? She had healed him and now he had to know that her kundar was a fake. She searched the room, and there, in the corner sat Jesse, asleep in a large cushioned chair. His rumpled, bloodstained clothes left no doubt that he had stayed with her for as long as she’d been there.

  A pitcher of water sat on the bedside table and she licked her lips with sudden thirst. Pushing up to a sitting position, she waited until the room stopped spinning and then swung her legs over the side of the bed and picked up a glass.

  Jesse jerked awake and caught her gaze. “You’re up.” At her nod, he stood and moved stiffly from the chair to her side. “Here, let me pour that for you.” He took the glass out of her hand and poured the water. “You look better than you did a few hours ago.”

  She drank the water greedily before responding. “What about you?”

  Without answering, he pulled something from his pocket and opened his palm. In the center of his fist he held the gray stub of a bullet. “I’ve been waiting to hear how you got this out of me, especially with that kundar on.”

  “You didn’t say anything?”

  “No, of course not. But I’d like to know how you did it.”

  “What about the king, is he still alive?” she asked.

  “Probably, but it won’t be long. His brain is fried. My father decided to let him die on his own. That way the transition won’t seem so difficult for the advisors or the people. It gives them a chance to get used to the idea. But not many needed persuading. Most had already grown tired of Thesald’s rule.

  “Chancellor Turner’s cooperation converted the rest of the councilors. He and my father have enjoyed a long and fruitful friendship. Turner practically ruled this country under Thesald, and will have more power than he did before, once we return to the grove.

  “But right now I’d like to know what you did to the king? I had to lie through my teeth to convince Korban it was me who did it. He thinks I used sym and hit the king so hard it affected his brain. I’m not sure he believes me, but there was no one else who could have done it besides you, and with the kundar around your neck, that should be impossible.”

  “I asked if I could trust you…” she began.

  He waved her words away. “You can. You saved my life with your magic. I didn’t know it was even possible. The wound was mortal. I would have died.”

  Teya sighed, knowing she had to tell him the truth. “When the king grabbed me, it all happened so fast. I didn’t even realize he had a gun until it went off.” She swallowed before continuing. “I had to stop him. It was a natural reaction. I don’t regret what I did, as long as he can’t tell anyone it was me.”

  Jesse shook his head. “If you saw him you’d know there’s no chance of that.”

  “Good,” she said with conviction, to ease the whisper of guilt for the king’s plight. Jesse caught her gaze expectantly, and she knew she had to explain how she did it. “This kundar is mine. When Bran got it off, the dark magic inside was destroyed. I kept it, and after my first meeting with you, I put it back on for protection.”

  “Hmm...now I understand.” He said nothing more, and his hard gaze unsettled her.

  “What will you do?”

  He sighed deeply. “I won’t tell anyone, just promise me you won’t do anything rash with your power. I can’t cover for you if Korban finds out.”

  “You won’t tell him?” she asked.

  “I said I wouldn’t tell anyone,” he said, his voice low and hard. He began to pace the room. The turmoil in his eyes matched his restless energy.

  “So...what’s going on in the palace now?”

  “I’m not sure. I was so worried about you that I haven’t been paying attention. If you’re feeling all right, I think I’ll find out, but you’d better stay here out of sight.”

  “Does Korban know where I am?”

  “Of course, but he knows I’m with you and…he trusts me. I’ll see what’s going on and come back when I know anything more.”

  “Wait!” She looked deep into Jesse’s eyes. She had to know he would keep her secret.

  “I won’t say anything.”

  She nodded numbly, realizing how precarious her position was. Jesse knew the truth. She hoped placing her trust in him wasn’t a mistake. How long did she have before someone else figured it out? Did Korban suspect anything? That was the last thing she needed, and she knew this window of opportunity wouldn’t last. She had to escape before it was too late.

  Jesse took her hand, surprising her. “You could have let me die today. With things the way they are maybe you should have.” He stopped her protest with a finger to her lips. “It’s all right. I’m glad you didn’t. Just... forgive me if I’m not sure about things.”

  She nodded and swallowed, unable to say the words since she still didn’t trust him.

  “I won’t betray you. Not after what you did. I promise. I’ll prove it to you, if you’ll just give me a chance. I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe and away from Korban.”

  Teya couldn’t help the leap of hope that rose in her heart. Her gaze locked with his and she found sincerity and desperation in his eyes. He meant what he said. “Thank you.”

  He let out a breath and smiled. “I’ll help you get out of here. Don’t worry.”

  She smiled back at him and he leaned toward her, lowering his head to catch her lips in a kiss. Her breath caught and she ducked her head. He hesitated, but kissed her forehead instead and sighed deeply, then pulled away. “I’ll be back.”

  He left the room and she flopped back against the pillows with a huge sigh. What was that all about? Did he think she’d just fall into his arms in gratitude? Could she even trust him in the first place? He seemed sincere enough, but that didn’t mean anything r
ight now, and she wasn’t going to throw herself in his arms anyway.

  She loved Bran. Jesse had probably saved Bran’s life, but she had saved Jesse. They were even. Except now he knew about the kundar. Did he have a price for his trust? She hoped not, because she would never stop loving Bran. Thinking of Bran, she opened the link, not knowing if the distance was too great, but needing him all the same.

  Only a hint of awareness came to her, but nothing solid. She tried again, with the same result, and wondered if the distance was to blame. It didn’t help that she was tired, but the faint link with Bran unsettled her, and she worried that something was wrong.

  Using her magic against the king and healing Jesse had laid her flat. She was surprised she could even get out of bed. The force of her anger had given her more power than she thought possible, but it seemed different from the power of the grove.

  The grove was filled with the miracle of life, but she had used her power to destroy and kill. She shivered. There was a world of difference between them, and she suddenly understood how her powers could be considered monstrous, especially when used in anger.

  If Korban regained his full powers, she had little doubt that he would use them to kill and control everyone he could. He was no different from the king, and perhaps even worse. Now, the king was dying. Unbidden, the moment she unleashed her magic on King Thesald flashed into her mind.

  She remembered with startling clarity the agonized contortions of his face. At the time, the red haze of rage and anger didn’t make it seem so terrible. Thinking about it now disturbed her, and she quickly banished that train of thought with another. The king had killed and hurt many people. He deserved what he got, and those he hurt deserved justice.

  She took a few unsteady steps to the window. The sun was setting and darkness stole across the sky in ever lengthening shadows. The same dark shadows fell across her heart and threatened to pull her into them with chains of hate and anger. It was wrong to kill with her power, but given the circumstances, what choice did she have?