by Sam Argent
The last of the vines disintegrated just as Dalia and Feoras ran in through the hole left by Trenton. Trenton turned and faced Sebastian. “An elemental. I won’t bother feigning surprise that your parents lied about another thing.”
A colorless orb that distorted the air around itself appeared in Trenton’s hand and flew at Sebastian. Sebastian couldn’t avoid it because of its size, and it slammed into him, sending him flying into the fireplace. Trenton was soon upon him and shaking him with rage.
“What monstrosity are you that no one can gaze upon your face? Huh? Speak up!” Trenton shook Sebastian harder. “Tell me what pathetic creature did Caspian and his wife bear that mercy would have been killing you at birth. You will wish they had performed their duty when you were a babe before I’m done with you.”
Lord Orwell jumped on Trenton’s back, and Lady Orwell pulled on Trenton’s arm. Trenton flicked his hand and sent them into their children. Bending down, Trenton yanked Sebastian’s hood off and froze.
Sebastian was in too much pain to hide his face. His back and head had hit the brick, and the light hurt his eyes. Trenton reached for him, and Sebastian pulled away, whimpering in pain as broken ribs caught his attention.
“Shhh,” Trenton whispered, and he raised his hand again.
Sebastian closed his eyes, but an attack didn’t come. Instead the pain disappeared, and he opened his eyes to see Trenton healing him.
Trenton took a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped away soot and blood that Sebastian hadn’t known was on his face. He stood up and backed away. “Much better.”
Dalia joined Trenton and gazed down at Sebastian. “How the fuck did that ugly bastard make that?”
“Magic, probably used Cynthia’s fey blood to do most of the work. My, what a pretty trinket you’ve found,” Trenton said while looking at Sebastian’s neck.
“I didn’t take it,” Sebastian said. “A dying man put it on me without any warning.”
Trenton smiled. “He probably figured out what was under your hood and gave it to you as was his duty.”
Sebastian frowned. “Who was he?”
“A cult member who had tasked himself with protecting the stone. Every powerful item has to have one.”
“Trenton, please,” Lord Orwell said, carefully making his way to the wizard’s side. “Please don’t take him.”
“A great many things are clicking into place, Caspian. Who would have guessed that all your deceptions were to protect your son? I never would have called you a noble man,” Trenton said.
“Please,” Lady Orwell begged too.
“Summon the rest of your family downstairs,” Trenton commanded.
“Trenton!” Lord Orwell cried.
“You have a reprieve. Take it or I begin killing one after another until you obey me.”
“He can’t give you what you want.”
Trenton sighed. “No wonder you went to so many lengths to destroy most of the manuscripts. One little line relating to a magic-blessed, and I would have figured out your secret.” He stared at Sebastian. “A soul so pure its beauty bleeds to skin and bone. Of course the necklace locked around your neck.”
“What’s he talking about, Father?” Diana asked.
“A being molded by magic,” Lady Orwell whispered. “Magic by its nature isn’t subtle, and it’s like a child making a person. It goes for a lot of indulgence without thinking about consequences. And neither are you, Trenton. The Heart of Light won’t work at your will no matter what you do.”
“That’s obvious, Cynthia, but there are ways around that,” Trenton said.
Sebastian stood up and sidled to his siblings without anyone stopping him. “Why is everyone discussing my leaving? I’ll give you the damn amulet if it will come off.”
“You’re delightful,” Trenton said. “Unfortunately, the necklace won’t come off without extreme actions, and then I would have to find another magic-blessed. Waiting half a millennia for another one to be born is a very long time, even by wizard standards.”
“How are you going to harness its magic?” Sebastian asked.
“By a marriage ceremony close to what demons have,” Ophelia said.
Everyone turned and saw the rest of the Orwell clan.
Trenton smiled. “I’m happy the seer sees wisdom in following my directions.”
“You should have stayed upstairs,” Diana said angrily.
Ophelia pointed to Dalia. “She has a dragon-bone saw.”
“If I don’t have an opportunity to kill you, remind me to send a message to a dragon territory about your macabre collection,” Lady Orwell said. “Watching you burn alive would give me great pleasure.”
“You two have a lovely chat,” Trenton said. “I’m going to round up my soldiers and prepare to travel. My people will pack your clothes and any supplies they deem necessary.” He walked out of the house, and stronger wards than before slammed into place inside the room.
“We have a wedding to prepare for, so we’ll take our leave,” Dalia said as she walked through the wards without a problem and Feoras close on her heels.
“Fuck him and Ophelia’s vision. If I die, that bastard is coming with me,” Sebastian promised.
“I have an idea why everything became a clusterfuck, so show of hands, who poisoned Trenton’s soldiers?” Lord Orwell asked.
First Sebastian’s and then Lady Orwell’s hand went up.
“What kind of poison did you two use?”
“Farer’s Lotus,” they said at the same time.
Lord Orwell cradled his face in the palm of his hand. “I told all of you not to do anything.”
“No wonder they were puking left and right.” Pratchett groaned. “Too bad I didn’t get healed too.”
“Quit your whining,” Alice said. “I have salve in my pocket.”
“That’s easy for you to say,” Pratchett said.
“Where is he taking us?” Mernon asked, two children in his arms blocking his face.
“Anerith,” Lord Orwell said. “He’ll need a high priest there who’ll know how to bind him and Sebastian.”
Sebastian looked at his father. “You’ve known what I was this whole time?”
Lord Orwell glanced at his wife. “Let’s just say if enough bloodlines mix, something weird eventually comes out of it. It’s the entire reason the fey agreed to the Refuge Laws. You’re somewhat of a final product they’ve anticipated for millennia.”
Lady Orwell clenched her hands by her sides. “That’s part of the reason we forced the hoods on you.”
“Father, you knew Trenton was the one Ophelia’s vision spoke of, didn’t you?” Kevin asked. “Maybe if you had said something, we wouldn’t have poisoned them on our own.”
Lord Orwell rolled his eyes to the ceiling. “You lot are convinced I always have a scheme up my sleeve, but when I cowered to Trenton with little protest, then you decide to take my motives at face value?”
“What does that mean?” Diana asked.
“There was no reason to poison anything, because all you had to do was wait a week.”
“What grand spell was going to take care of all our problems?” Lady Orwell asked.
“There was no spell,” Lord Orwell said. “All we had to do was wait for the creeping leech ivy to take effect.”
“That stuff matures after years, Father,” James said. “How would you have enough to take out an army in a week?”
“Because it’s been there propagating for five years,” Lord Orwell muttered.
Sebastian frowned. “Isn’t that a highly illegal plant with a burn-on-sight warning?”
James sighed heavily. “Yes, yes it is.”
“What would you do if the castle authorities found out?” Diana asked.
Lord Orwell shrugged. “It’s a magical forest. I can’t help it if it picks up weird things, and I’m not allowed to disturb its fauna or flora.”
“That doesn’t explain why you didn’t tell Mother. If she was aware of that damn ivy,
then we wouldn’t be in this mess,” Alice pointed out while she dabbed at Pratchett’s cuts.
“I suspect it’s because he didn’t want to tell me how much gold he spent on it. Even a small bit is worth a king’s ransom.” Lady Orwell shook her head. “You are too smug for your own good.”
“Did you get a message to Turren before you headed back?” James asked Sebastian.
“No, but I sent a vine to Harold. He still has a plant I gave him, so it can hone in on that.”
“That could be the only thing working in our favor,” Lord Orwell said.
“Does the ceremony he wants to perform have to be consummated physically?” Sebastian asked quietly.
Lady Orwell brought her son close for a rare hug. “I don’t care what we have to do to stop him, but we will find a way to beat Ophelia’s vision.”
“I’m sorry,” Ophelia whispered. “His stupid wards are clouding my Sight, and I don’t know what will be helpful.”
Diana hugged her sister and kissed her head. “It’s all right. None of this is your fault. Father holds full blame.”
“If I get us out of this situation, I want an apology,” Lord Orwell said.
“If you succeed, I’ll stop drugging you for a year.”
Lord Orwell shook his head. “Sadly, that’s probably the nicest gesture you’re capable of.”
CHAPTER 34
SEBASTIAN SAT in a covered wagon on the opposite side of Trenton. The rest of his family rode horses in clusters surrounded by Trenton’s army.
“I never contemplated marriage before, but a magic-blessed certainly makes things easier. It won’t be long before your aging ends, and you’ll grow even more beautiful. I am a lucky man,” Trenton said.
“I don’t consider myself lucky.”
“If we arrive in Anerith with as many of your family as we left with, then you’re rich with luck.”
“Threatening me doesn’t make my situation feel better,” Sebastian said.
Trenton crossed to Sebastian’s side and made himself comfortable while Sebastian moved to the window. “My power and your fey blood means we will be together for a long time. It’s in both our interests to reach a truce.”
“Release my family,” Sebastian said.
“A member at a time and after you’ve gained my trust.” Trenton slid closer to Sebastian. He touched Sebastian’s chin, and Sebastian pulled away. “As with any hostage negotiation, I assume you’ll want the children released first?”
Sebastian swallowed and faced Trenton, allowing the man to cup his chin. Trenton leaned forward and kissed him. At first it was just on the lips and Sebastian thought he could tolerate it, but Trenton got greedy and pushed his tongue inside. He clenched his hands so he wouldn’t attack Trenton but stiffened when the kiss deepened and hands moved to his hips.
Trenton broke away and smiled. “Even when your eyes glow red with anger, you are stunning.” He sighed. “It’s fitting that we’re going to Anerith. Once the amulet is obedient to me, I’ll finish what I started there. Then I can use Anerith’s armies and the amulet to take Larnlyon.”
“You sound like you have everything planned out,” Sebastian said. The moment I have an opening, I’m putting a knife in your throat.
KING HARRIS looked down on Captain Pembrost and rubbed his temple. “Go ahead and report what I already know.”
“We lost track of the two scouts we sent to the Orwell house,” Captain Pembrost said.
“And the other bad news, Captain. I’m expecting it because I can’t find Anne anywhere.”
Captain Pembrost bit his lip. “Queen Anne used a glamor and disguised herself as the sergeant assigned to be one of the scouts. We’re still able to track her, and it appears she’s headed to Anerith.”
“You work for both of us, Captain, but you always fail to include me in these discussions.”
“The queen has better threats,” Pembrost muttered.
“At this moment, I’m sure I can be far more creative than her,” Harris said ominously.
Frederick burst in the throne room and then slammed the doors shut behind him. “I have bad tidings, cousin.”
“Can you outdo the captain telling me Anne is missing?” King Harris asked.
“Harold Bast just informed me about a large puzzle piece we couldn’t figure out about the Heart of Light,” Frederick said.
Harris frowned. “That’s actually good news.”
Frederick shook his head. “No, it’s horrible news if Trenton is holding all the Orwells.”
“I’m confused,” Captain Pembrost said.
The wizard turned to the captain. “When you came upon Turren and Sebastian in the woods, did you see Sebastian’s face?”
The captain hesitated and looked at his king.
“Answer the question,” Harris ordered.
“Yes,” Pembrost said.
“Beautiful beyond anything you’ve ever imagined, glowy skin?”
“Yes,” Pembrost said.
“I wouldn’t have expected that,” Harris said. “Why would he cover himself?”
“Because Sebastian is magic-blessed,” Frederick said breathlessly. “If you had told me what he looked like, I could have figured out all of this.”
“I don’t know what a magic-blessed is, so how would I know?” Pembrost asked.
“You two, calm down.” Harris addressed Frederick, “Aren’t magic-blessed pure souls molded by magic?”
“Yes,” Frederick said. “That’s the problem. I am almost certain that the Heart of Light would react to his magic.”
Harris stood. “Send a message to Anerith. We’re taking a contingent with us.” He pointed to Pembrost. “You have the duty of updating Turren.”
“I said tidings,” Frederick broke in. “When Sebastian was a boy, Ophelia had a vision that if he married a person who did not truly love him, he would die horribly. His cloak was protection to keep it from happening.”
“That isn’t a problem because I know Turren’s feelings are sincere,” Harris said.
“It is a problem because a way to harness a wizard’s power is by a marriage ceremony,” Frederick explained.
Harris’s shoulders sagged. “You actually brought me worse news than Pembrost. My orders are the same, but you are a depressing man.”
“Do I have to tell Turren all of that?” Pembrost asked.
“Yes!” Harris said. “Next time you will choose wiser which of us you serve.”
“HOW KIND of Trenton to let his new puppy run,” Kevin said as he rode beside Sebastian.
“If he puts out a water dish, I can’t guarantee my behavior will be civil,” Sebastian said.
“Has he done anything to you in the carriage?”
“Nothing that soap in my mouth won’t take care of,” Sebastian said.
“Did he…?”
It took Sebastian a moment to figure out what his brother hinted at and shuddered. “Kissing, only kissing. Gods, I don’t want to think about that.”
“Making any move against your will is enough to warrant what he’s got coming,” Kevin said.
“You guys have a plan for getting the children out of the way?” Sebastian asked.
“We’re working on it,” Kevin said. “We’ll be in Anerith soon.”
“At least I have my cloak back. He doesn’t want anyone else to look at me.”
“Maybe that prince of yours is worth more than his blood and he’ll come,” Kevin said.
Sebastian rolled the ring in his hand that had been inside the lining of his cloak. “I hope so too.”
Feoras trotted to their side and grabbed Sebastian’s reins. “You’re wanted back in the carriage, Sir Orwell.”
“Eager to get his filthy hands back on my brother?” Kevin growled.
“I have it on good authority that you’re fondest of the seer,” Feoras said. “She doesn’t have to ride a horse. Walking with her hands tied in front of her can be done.”
Sebastian climbed off his horse and smiled at Feoras.
“If you touch my sister, I will use your body as fertilizer and watch as the earth consumes you vine by vine.”
“That’s an ugly mind to go with such a pretty surface,” Feoras said.
“I pray to every god that you’ll find out how ugly,” Sebastian said. “Lead the way, errand dog.” He felt Kevin’s stare on his back, but his brother made no move.
“You would make a good husband for the boss,” Feoras said. “Strong and vicious.”
Sebastian ignored him as they walked to Trenton’s carriage. Feoras held the door open for him. Sebastian stepped inside and made for the opposite bench when Trenton cleared his throat.
“Beside me,” Trenton said.
Sebastian glared at the wizard but obeyed him.
“Ah,” Trenton said before Sebastian sat down. “Sit next to the window.”
“Why does it matter?” Sebastian asked through gritted teeth.
“Something has come up. You’ll see in a moment.”
Trenton slid to the side, giving Sebastian room but still closer than he wanted. An arm wrapped around Sebastian’s waist and pulled him in so part of his leg rested on Trenton’s thigh.
“Remove your hood.”
Sebastian snatched it off and glared at Trenton. The other man smiled and leaned toward him. Sebastian had no choice but to wait for Trenton to kiss him. It was a soft touch of the lips but thankfully no tongue that time. Someone knocked on the door, and Sebastian sighed in relief.
“Enter,” Trenton said.
The door opened, revealing Dalia and two chained prisoners.
“We found these two on our trail. My intelligence informs me that you know them,” Trenton said while squeezing Sebastian’s hip.
Lieutenant Adams and Sergeant Hooper stood transfixed at Sebastian’s face. “Are you an angel?” Adams asked.
Sebastian snorted. “As far from it as possible.”
Adams blinked. “The cranky Mister?”
“What an interesting name for my betrothed,” Trenton said.
“Betrothed?” Hooper repeated.
“Yes, and I wish I could send you back to give Prince Turren the news, but I don’t think he’s a man who listens to reason. The question is whether or not you’re good hostages. It’s up to you, Sebastian. Do I gut them and leave them on the road, or should I take them with us?”