“That’s right.”
Despite not wanting to upset the delicate balance of the spell on Raine, Bri couldn’t help herself from sending a wave of comfort and healing to Raine and was pleased when the woman sank deeper into sleep. Marian was observing the new Exotique. Bri said, “Mirror magic rang a note for Raine. Think she’s for Koz?”
Marian shrugged. “Maybe. Falling in love and pairbonding tends to keep a person here.” She sent a pointed look to Bri.
“Yeah.” Bri’s heart gave a little leap as she saw Sevair striding across the lawn toward them. She did love him. Her life would be so much less without him, and his love. Her inner child’s panic at being trapped went down a notch.
Alexa said, frowning, “The net’s ready. Good enough for now, but I’d like to commission the Circlets to make another.” Her lips thinned before she said, “We’ll probably need it again, should have such a thing in our arsenal.”
“More like my arsenal,” Bri said, narrowed her eyes to see and hear the net. “I could maybe coat it with healing spells.”
Alexa said, “That would be great.”
Sevair smiled and the day seemed brighter. “I’ve been told that I’m the best man to move her.” Pride emanated from him. He was finding his place in the rhythm of the other Exotiques’ men.
He squatted, set his hands near Raine’s back and thighs. Brow knit in concentration, he used his Power to gently lift her a few inches so he could slide his arms under her. Strong, steady, solid—Bri’s mantra about her love. Of course he would be the right man to move Raine.
No wild Power like Bastien’s Song that might rouse her, or curiosity from Jaquar, or attraction from Faucon. Marrec might have done, but Bri thought Sevair had more experience in moving heavy items gently. Not that Raine looked very heavy.
As she rose, Bri let her hand drop away from Raine. They made a little procession to the net where Calli stood with the two interested volarans.
“I notice the Seamasters aren’t here to help Raine,” Bri said, not keeping anger from her tone.
Marian said, “They’re still in the Castle consulting with Faucon. I’m pretty sure that at least one Seamaster should be part of the ritual at the Marshalls’ Castle to complete the Summoning spell. Faucon’s convincing them they owe Raine that.”
Bri snorted. “And so much more. What do you think of their comment that the Marshalls should send out instructions for Summoning?”
“Their accusations that we were delinquent, do you mean?” Marian answered. Fire kindled in her eyes. “It’s the Circlets’ responsibility to disseminate information, even though the Marshalls usually do the Summoning.”
“So?” Bri raised her brows.
Marian’s mouth tightened. “I don’t like keeping information secret, but distributing instructions for a Summoning might be asking for trouble. You need a very close team for a Summoning and other precise factors as well.”
“Like the gong and the chimes,” Calli said.
“And the chant length and wording and timing,” Marian said. “The Seamasters botched the job because they were ill-prepared and sloppy.” She gave a little shudder. “See what happened—a good and Powerful woman coming through the Dimensional Corridor and no one knowing. Worse could happen.”
That kept them all quiet as they arranged Raine and made sure she was secure and supported by the net.
“Well, it’s gonna be moot in a few months anyway,” Alexa said, mounting her volaran. “The Dimensional Corridor is closing.”
“To Earth,” Marian said.
They stared at her. She shrugged. “There have been two other worlds Summonings have pulled from, in the ancient past.”
Calli broke the silence. “We need to take care of this Exotique.”
Bri heard the horsewoman speak mentally in Equine to the volarans as she vaulted onto her steed. “Besides, the last Exotique from Earth will be for the Singer. I doubt she needs any help Summoning someone.”
“Probably doesn’t think she needs anyone,” Alexa muttered. “Too bad. We take care of our own. We should Summon the next, all of us and the Marshalls and Chevaliers and Circlets and Citymasters.”
“Ayes,” Marian said. “We should.” Another little sigh. “I noted that you left out the Seamasters.”
Alexa’s expression hardened. “They opted out themselves.”
“I’m sure one of Raine’s tasks is to integrate them into the rest of the culture, like we’ve done with the others. We all have a common cause, after all, and we may need the Seamasters when we sail to the north to invade the Dark’s nest.”
Bri sucked in a quick breath and straightened her spine.
“If we need Seamasters, we’ll have Faucon set up a circle of those we can trust,” Alexa said.
“Thus fragmenting that particular segment of society further,” Marian pointed out.
Alexa tugged her gauntlets onto her hands, squinted with irritation at Marian. “Why are you playing Devil’s advocate?”
“Because if Raine’s task is to integrate the Seamasters as well as design and build the ship, she’s going to need all our support and not our antagonism against them.”
“They deserve our antagonism. They hurt one of ours.” Alexa stared at Raine, shook her head. “She is one of us, ours.” For Alexa, that was the last word. Her volaran shot into the sky and away northeast toward the Castle.
46
Raine woke to hideous pain of a thousand needles piercing her body. A shriek tore from her raw throat. Her sweaty hands were grasped on both sides, the left by Bri, the right by Alexa, and the pain diminished. She was hauled to her feet and only then realized that she’d been lying on cool, hard stone.
Marian linked hands with Alexa and the pain was shared again. Calli took Bri’s hand and Raine’s head cleared further, enough to grit her teeth and bear it, stop the screams ripping from her. She stood in a huge, circular building with high windows, some of stained glass, some clear. Around her a large circle of people linked hands—the Marshalls in color-coded pairs, those who wore flying leathers—Chevaliers. Middle-class townspeople were there too—she recognized Bri’s serious husband; Circlets stood in long velvet robes with bands of precious metal and jewels around their foreheads.
And those who wore clothes that showed they worked on the ocean—Seamasters. Those who had originally Summoned her, torn her from her world. There weren’t many of them, four, at what might be the compass points. They looked as grim as she felt.
The thin guy was nowhere to be seen, but the big guy caught her eye and ducked his head. Then there was a man who resembled Faucon—a cousin? A third, older, bent man with shrewd eyes and a hard jaw. Looked as if he might have come out of retirement. The fourth was middle-aged, but had lost a hand and wore a hook.
Raine couldn’t see Faucon, but knew he was there.
The man in white leathers who’d shaken with revulsion upon meeting her but had not attacked, raised his voice in Song. The others Sang too, chanted. The Exotiques’ men. Even Alexa and Marian and Calli Sang. Bri hummed.
What’s going on? she asked the other Earth women, jolted a little when she realized she’d sent them words with her mind as well as muttering them.
You weren’t Summoned properly. Marian’s mental voice was laden with disapproval. You must be attuned to Amee by the gong and chimes. That way you will come into your full Power.
And the pain will go away, Bri said.
And you will be able to fly anywhere in Lladrana, Calli said. Blossom wants to fly with you.
Raine glanced at Bri and saw a drop of sweat bead at her temple and trickle down her cheek. She was dressed in a deep blue-green gown, more sapphire than emerald. Each of the others also wore a gown—Marian’s flame red, Alexa’s the brown of rich loam, Calli’s a cloudless sky blue.
Raine herself wore white cloth that shimmered with many colors like possibilities.
Brace yourself, Alexa said. We’re coming to the end of the first verse. The rest of us wi
ll let go of your hands a bar before the end. You will have to endure the pain yourself.
Or just succumb, Calli said. We will still be here inside the pentacle with you.
They were in a pentacle? Now that Calli mentioned it, Raine saw the flaming lines of neon blue. She didn’t like this, any of it, but figured like the rest of her life the past six months, it would have to be survived.
The chant rose, perfect and beautiful, one rhythm pulsing like her heart, secondary voices breathing in time with her. Or she was with them. Magic. Power.
Bri and Alexa let go of her hands and the needles were back in force, piercing her flesh. She fell to the floor, writhing, sweat instantly coating her body. She didn’t have the breath or the energy to scream. Agony was all.
Chimes rippled and the pain tugged through her, faded a moment. The gong rang and the note reverberated through her; her limbs thrashed.
Her ears popped and the Song coming from many throats surrounded her, beautiful. The pain was less. Bri and Alexa took her hands, lifted her again. She became aware of the smooth stone under her bare feet, the marble walls, the beams with Power crystals overhead, the sunlight in the windows.
Is it almost over? she asked the women linked with her, standing with her, becoming her friends.
Two more times, Marian said.
A wave of empathic sympathy came from the other Exotiques. The sweat that had been drying on Raine’s body slicked again. She gritted her teeth and concentrated on the Song. Some of the transitions were not quite smooth.
We lost Partis and Thealia, the lead Marshalls, who led all the Summonings before. Alexa answered her thought with quiet grief. Luthan is leading now, mentally linked with the Singer, whom he represents. But before we Summon the last we will need a stronger Singing pair.
Luthan was the man in white leathers, the honorable treasure of a man. He had controlled his revulsion of her. Having experienced Travys, Raine could respect the man. He met her gaze with grave regard, inclined his head. Now that she listened she could hear Songs better, nuances better, even see auras a bit. Luthan’s shone bright with integrity. She nodded back.
There were two other male voices adding depth and Power. Cocking her head she sought out the next one, found him—Calli’s man. Marrec? He smiled at her, reassuring, letting her know that not only the women stood with her, but all those in the circle wished her well, wanted her here.
End of verse coming up, Alexa warned. She squeezed Raine’s hand and some of her memories flashed. Alexa had been attacked when Summoned, both by a monster and one of the repulsed ones. Raine turned her head, locked gazes with Alexa. Then the women released her hands and a massive pressure gripped Raine, crushing breath from her. She landed on her knees. More pain shot through her. Chimes rose and fell, the gong sounded. Raine panted.
This time when Bri and Alexa grabbed her hands, she got her feet under her and pushed up.
You are doing very well, Marian said with warm approval that eased Raine’s stinging pride that so many witnessed her weakness.
Not weak at all, said Calli, and from that woman Raine saw that she, too, had been damaged before her Summoning, had collapsed with pain.
The chant got louder and not from the force of breath, but of Power shared and resonating. Harmonies and tones melded together in an intricate weave of melody and magic. Power was audible now, and nearly visible as darkly glowing threads. Luthan, Marrec, both men with extraordinary voices. Raine heard a lilt rolling through the melody giving it a different twist, a little something extra. Another man. Raine looked around. Bastien, Alexa’s man, one of the rare, brilliant black-and-whites, winked at her. Raised his brows as if asking her forgiveness for his blow.
She found her lips curving and smiled back. He made a show of a sigh of relief.
He’s a love, Alexa said, grinning.
Bastien winked at Alexa, too.
Yes, the chant, the Song was as deep and Powerful as an ocean swell, pulling at her, preparing her? Attuning her to the land, more, to the sea.
The women around her were single, pure, major chords. Raine pulled knowledge from Bri—chakra tones, embodying energy and Power of the elements.
But there was one last throbbing rhythm that she needed to follow, to find. A harmony that wasn’t as aurally exquisite as Luthan’s and Marrec’s voices, not as unusual as Bastien’s lilt, or as rock steady and solid as Sevair Masif’s beat, but which called to her more.
She sank into herself, listened with more than her mind, flowed with the surge of her blood.
Behind her.
She turned gently, the other women pinwheeling slowly around her, until she could see him, though she knew his voice and his Song before she caught sight of him.
Faucon.
Their gazes locked.
Yes. His was the Song she wanted, that provided her with everything—strength, wonder, comfort.
Fascinating man.
She heard the verse coming to an end, and dropped Bri’s and Alexa’s hands. Let the pain wash over her like an old aching bruise. Endured it. Stood tall.
The chimes rang and this time they were fizzing in her blood, down every nerve. She trembled.
The gong sounded and all her mind was the tone of it. Her body arched.
She kept her gaze on Faucon, gasped as Power swept through her and around her and expanded to the sky and the earth, the wind and the wave.
Pain was banished. Her gown turned deep emerald with a dark blue shimmer.
Faucon was still there with her, mouth tight, unwilling.
She didn’t care. She felt incredible.
Fabulous Song.
Over the next few days Bri spent more time at the Castle than in the town, helping Raine settle into Elizabeth’s old suite, one floor below Alexa in her tower. Learning Raine preferred dark chocolate, Bri had given Raine the last of Elizabeth’s stash, thinking it might comfort her.
Bri accompanied Raine to her first few lessons in Power, something that came easily to her now and brought a radiance to her face, straightened her hunched defensive posture into the confidence she must have had before.
There were short introductory meetings with the Marshalls and Chevaliers, and more casual evening gatherings that included meals. Alexa had a very different style of leadership than the lost Thealia.
Faucon had returned to his seaside estate to travel to other coastal towns with his cousin, ostensibly to speak individually to the Seamasters.
Koz and the rest of them had learned that a mirror had been pivotal in Raine’s Summoning, and that she was indeed the descendant of Thomas Lindley, the man who had been the Singer’s teacher and lover. Who had taken a mirror from Lladrana home to Earth somehow. Or the Singer had transported the mirror to Earth and to Thomas.
These deductions had fired Calli and Marrec’s irritation; everyone concluded that the Singer had somehow primed the crystal in Calli’s mountain to show Lladrana when she was a child, and later bring her through. They all suspected she had help on Earth.
Sevair spent the nights in Bri’s bed and the sex was wonderful. When they spoke, it was of daily happenings, or the additional renovations Sevair wanted to make to their tower, or the fact that the couple next door had been persuaded to move away to a new house in the southern part of the city. Their old, smaller, square two-story building would eventually be Bri’s new office and surgery space. Or they’d talk of life plans, after the Dark was defeated. Bri got the idea that Sevair was gently accustoming her to the fact that she’d have to face the final battle with the Dark, with five other women to help her. Despite all their plans, she might not survive that battle. Sevair did not speak of the bloodbonding thing, but Bri knew he hadn’t given up those particular plans.
One evening she’d spent a full hour talking to her parents, Elizabeth and a wide-eyed Cassidy. Sevair, using Elizabeth’s retuned mirror, had been introduced and stayed several minutes, then excused himself.
Elizabeth glowed. Cassidy kept his fingers linked wit
h hers, or his arm possessively around her waist. He was the one who detailed the plans for a huge wedding on the autumnal equinox. Watching him closely, Bri was of the opinion that he’d never let Elizabeth go, never stray, always would support her. A knot of worry eased in Bri. They looked in love and happy.
When she felt she’d burst into tears, she reluctantly signed off, though her father had insisted on a weekly family talk. How Bri missed touching them, hugging them, though the knowledge that they were well and thriving comforted her.
She still felt trapped.
Raine didn’t like the Marshalls’ Castle. It was a city in itself, bounded by high stone walls. Every couple of hours or so someone would knock on her door. To meet her or talk with her or check up on her. The Exotique women, Circlets, Chevaliers, Marshalls. Even Luthan of the repulsion and the white leathers came, though she thought that was to overcome his instinctive reaction around her. While she admired him for it, he wasn’t easy company. Faucon didn’t come, hadn’t stayed after her Summoning ritual.
She had, of course, been provided with paper and parchment, drafting tools and table to design The Ship. The Ship. People already called it that. Capital letters. The Ship. They’d already accepted that she could plan and build it. She was still figuring out what it needed to be designed for. To carry Exotiques, some Marshalls and Chevaliers, for an assault on the Dark’s nest. She shuddered at that. But she wasn’t sure of the size of the invasion force, and thought that they’d need to carry food and weapons, and surely needed space for volarans.
She had maps and strange hard-copy visuals from Calli’s and her volaran’s minds. She had no clue how such a ship was supposed to be powered. Magic Power? She was sure that wasn’t the energy source of most boats. She’d have heard during those horrible months at the Open Mouthed Fish.
The Seamasters weren’t much help. Mired in failure and guilt and pride, none stayed after the ceremony. But for her to design and build a ship, she’d need their knowledge. So she’d have to make the first move, ensure that they knew she forgave them. To be sincere in that would take a while.
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