“He was strong and kind,” the woman went on quietly. “And he would never have used his strength against another unless forced to do so.”
Morgan nodded, understanding.
They rode on in silence for some time and then the woman turned back and asked, “How, how did you... you sent Petsha flying from me without laying a hand on him. And my arm...” her voice faded off in confusion as she absentmindedly rubbed her arm where it had broken.
Morgan thought about this for a few moments. How much could he tell this woman? Once again he had done magic in front of a stranger—though this time, his mother wasn’t here to punish him.
He wondered if the woman would run screaming in fright from him if he told her he was Vallen. He wondered if she would know what that meant. He knew that ordinary people sometimes got them confused with witches and because of that, his people had been persecuted and wrongfully executed for centuries.
Would this woman tell others that he had magic? Would she have him killed as so many others had been? How could he know if he could trust her?
“There are stories told by our elders that tell of those with magnificent strength, but you did not even touch him.”
“I... I can move things with my mind,” Morgan said hesitantly.
The woman nodded. “And you can heal with your hands.”
“Yes,” Morgan nodded, “And with potions which I make.”
“We have potions too. We sell them to the townspeople who do not have the knowledge to make them themselves. But I have never met someone who could heal the way you do.”
Morgan shifted a little on Apollo’s back. “It is my greatest strength. And until recently, my only strength.”
“Have you only recently learned to move things? Is it something you can teach me?”
Laughing, Morgan said, “No. It is nothing I have learned. It is a power that is developing inside of me. But I do not know how or why. That is one reason why I am going to London. I hope to learn more there.”
The woman turned around and looked at him for a moment and then asked, “One reason? What is the other?”
Morgan saw her raised eyebrows and couldn’t hide his own smile. “There is a young lady...”
“Ah ha. I knew it. There is always a young lady,” she said, turning back around to face the road.
Morgan laughed. “She is a friend, but I think I may have hurt her feelings the last time I saw her, so I’m eager to see her and apologize if necessary.”
The woman nodded her head. “That is very wise. I shall help you to find her,” she stated matter–of–factly, but with a smile that said so much more.
Morgan couldn’t help but smile too. He didn’t see how this gypsy woman could help him in his search for Adriana, but she certainly seemed determined to do so.
He gave Apollo a little nudge to move faster. The sooner they got to London, the sooner he could find Adriana, and the sooner he could be happy again.
He did have to admit the woman before him was very pleasant company—in her kindly fashion. Without Oberon or Kat with him, he had feared he would become very lonely. But now he had...
“I do not know your name,” he said suddenly.
The woman turned back to face him. “Cosmina. My name is Cosmina Nomid. And yours?”
“Morgan Vallentyn.”
“I am pleased to meet you, Morgan Vallentyn.”
“And I you. Have you ever been to London, Cosmina?” he asked.
“No. Have you?”
“No. This will be an adventure for both of us,” he said, passing by a cart laden with fresh vegetables. All of a sudden the road had become much more crowded with traffic, and Morgan had a strong suspicion it would only become more so as they neared the city.
People seemed to close in on them from all directions as they moved further into the teeming streets of London.
Morgan had never seen so many people before—not even when all of the tenants and their families came for the annual harvest festival at Vallentyn.
“Have no fear, Morgan Vallentyn, we will find your young lady, even among these crowded streets,” Cosmina’s voice was soft but sure.
Seventeen
Kat didn’t even raise her eyes as she entered the sitting room.
“You called for me, Aunt Vallentyn?” the girl asked, her eyes staying annoyingly, discreetly lowered.
“Yes, my dear. Do come and sit here on the sofa, next to me,” Tatiana said in her sweetest voice. Could the girl know why she had been called? But how could she?
Tatiana patted the white brocade sofa next to where she sat, and tried her hardest to contain the growing annoyance within her. Not only did Kat’s reticence indicate that Tatiana’s fears might be very well founded, but it also negated all that she had ever taught that girl.
After Kat had sat down at the far end of the sofa, Tatiana reached over and lifted the girl’s chin with the tip of her finger. “I thought I had taught you better than that, Katrina. You do not lower your eyes for anyone. You are a powerful Vallen. Be proud of what you are, and who you are. You are better than all the rest—better than any other Vallen and certainly better than any ordinary person.” The last words she spat out as if it were some sort of disgusting disease.
And that’s what they were, were they not? Those filthy, weak little creatures. Their lives, their world, their society was built entirely through the work of the Vallen, and those pitiful ordinary people didn’t even know it.
If Tatiana had her way, she wouldn’t hide away her identity like some scared thief. She would announce it to the world. She was Vallen and she was proud of it. She was better, stronger, more powerful than any ordinary person could possibly be. Never had she lowered her eyes to anyone, nor would she ever.
Kat was her heir. And, although not nearly as powerful, she was certainly more powerful than any other Vallen Tatiana had ever met. She should hold her head up high and stare anyone in the eye who dared to look into hers.
Tatiana said as much, but still the girl stared at her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Her fingers were nearly as white as the sofa on which they sat.
Which led Tatiana to be certain that the girl had information. Information that she, Tatiana, wanted. How ridiculous Kat was being, thinking that she could avoid divulging everything she knew just because she kept her eyes down.
She would give up what she knew. No one ever said no to Tatiana.
“Would you care for some tea?” Tatiana indicated the tea service that sat on the white marble–topped table in front of them. Every time she looked at that table, she couldn’t help but look up at Merlin’s cup as it sat in its protective nook above the black marble fireplace. It was beautiful. It was power.
It was that power that Tatiana planned to give Katrina—the power of the Merlin’s cup. But looking at the girl now, with her eyes downcast and a slight tremble to her hands Tatiana seriously wondered if she would be able to handle it.
“No, thank you.”
“Are you sure? Cook has made her lovely cream cakes. I know they are your favorite,” Tatiana said, trying to entice the girl into something other than just sitting there with her eyes down.
Kat just shook her head.
Tatiana didn’t even try to hide her scowl. Very cautious, this one. Clearly, Tatiana had trained her too well. Whatever secret she had, she was going to guard well.
This was good news and bad. Certainly, Katrina could be counted on to keep Tatiana’s own secrets, and that was good. But it also meant that more force than normal would be necessary in prying out this secret. She would have it, naturally. She would simply have to move a little more carefully, that was all.
“Very well,” Tatiana said, stirring her tea. “Tell me, how are your potions coming along? Have you managed to make the tincture of belladonna and hawthorn in the correct strength?”
Kat relaxed a little bit. “Yes, ma’am. When I fed it to the dog...”
“Oberon, Morgan’s dog?”
“Yes,
ma’am. I did as you told me. When I fed it to Oberon, he became rather lethargic and his heart slowed considerably.”
“Excellent. In an even stronger dose...” The girl flinched. “Well, I’m sure you can guess what might happen,” Tatiana concluded quickly. She knew that Kat had an inordinate fondness for animals and she didn’t want her to become upset. Tatiana needed her relaxed and comfortable in order to extract the information she wanted.
“Next, I would like you to try a combination of linden and calendula. Do you know what sort of result you might attain?”
Kat thought about it for a moment. “Linden will calm the mind and calendula the stomach.”
Tatiana nodded. “Very good. They work very well together for stomach ailments, along with licorice and chamomile. And in stronger doses, along with a touch of opium, they allow magical energy to flow more easily.”
Kat looked at her quizzically, finally making eye contact. “Could it help in strengthening your magical abilities?”
Tatiana widened her eyes, catching and holding on to Kat’s gaze while she had it. “No, nothing but innate ability and practice will strengthen magical powers. You know that you must use your magic to keep it strong, like a muscle. The more you use it, the easier it is to use. But if you don’t have the muscle or the predilection for strong muscles, there is nothing you can do—you will always be weak and powerless. This is the reason you are my heir and not any of my own daughters. Being the sixth child of the sixth child of the descendents of the great Morgan le Fey, you have that predilection. If any Vallen could increase their magical powers through the use of a potion, why, everyone would want to do so, wouldn’t they?”
Tatiana felt the girl try to pull away, but she strengthened her hold.
She reached out for Kat’s hands. As they touched, she said in her most soothing, powerful voice, “You have knowledge I want, Katrina. You will answer all the questions I ask with honesty and without hesitation.”
“No!” Kat began to struggle more earnestly, fighting both Tatiana’s eyes and her hands.
Tatiana could hardly believe the girl’s nerve, but she did admire it. Her strength was impressive as well, Tatiana admitted with a touch of pride, but no one could resist her when she had both eye and hand contact. And neither would Kat.
“You will do as I say!” Tatiana’s voice grew deeper and stronger as she filled it with magical energy, willing it to infiltrate the girl’s mind. “Just relax, Kat, you know you cannot fight me.”
Like tentacles, her magical energy wound its way into the girl’s mind and grasped a hold of her conscious will. She would do as Tatiana asked.
The girl still struggled, trying to break free of Tatiana’s hold, but it was useless. Soon she would know it too.
“It is all right,” Tatiana said, looking deeply into the girl’s frightened eyes. “Just relax, there is nothing to fear.” She filled her voice with a calming fog and blew it over Kat’s mind.
“Relax, Kat. You see only a pleasant haze as the world slowly slips away.” Tatiana made sure her voice was soft and soothing. She infused calm and good feelings into it to relax the girl.
Kat’s eyes began to glaze over, and she slowly stopped struggling.
“Very good, Kat, very good. Clear your mind. It is all just a lovely cloud.”
Kat’s body relaxed against the back of the sofa as she fell completely under Tatiana’s spell.
“Now, tell me where Morgan is,” Tatiana demanded gently.
Kat gave one last weak effort to break free of Tatiana’s hold on her mind.
“That is enough, Katrina,” she said gently. “You will answer my questions. Just relax. You know you cannot fight me.” Tatiana filled her voice with even more energy. “Shh, be at ease and open your mind to me. Where is Morgan?” she asked again.
Kat released her breath and gave in to the fog that Tatiana had over her mind. “He is gone.”
“Gone where? To the other side of the forest?”
“No. He has left Vallentyn.”
“But he cannot leave. It is impossible!” Tatiana could feel her anger rising.
This is what she had heard from that fool nurse, Maryellen, but she had not believed it. It simply was not possible, not with the ideas she had placed in Morgan’s mind or the curses she had in place all around the perimeter of the forest, just in case. One step out and Morgan would be engulfed in flame. She had long ago commanded this.
“He has grown stronger. He has powers now he did not have before,” Kat said, her voice beginning to maintain the monotone of one whose mind was deeply enshrouded in a magical fog.
“What powers?”
“He can move things and put out a fire. I do not know what else, but that is what I saw him do.”
Tatiana knit her brows. She did not like the sound of this.
“How did he get these powers? When?”
Kat gave a little shrug. “I don’t know how. We discovered them the last time I went to the forest to visit him.”
That meant that two days had passed since he had left. Tatiana had always been aware of who visited Morgan and when, but Kat had not been giving her regular reports recently, and Tatiana had been too busy to notice.
“Where has he gone, Kat?” Tatiana asked, trying hard to keep her voice soft and calm.
“To London,” the girl replied listlessly.
Tatiana saw red. London! He had escaped and gone to London. She could barely hold on to her temper, but she knew that if she lost it, she would lose her control over the girl. She pulled back and tried to calm herself. She would need to go and fetch him back before he became too strong for her to control.
Ha! As if he ever could!
But in the back of her mind was a nagging worry. Perhaps he was getting stronger, gaining powers... but no, that was impossible. He was male and he had never shown any promise whatsoever toward becoming a powerful Vallen. He could not.
But still it would be best if he were brought back here. She would reinforce her curses. Set the trees to hold him fast if he ever tried to escape again. Yes, that would keep him.
But first she had to go to London and find him.
Kat blinked. Tatiana was beginning to lose her hold on the girl.
“You shall remember nothing of this. Now, wake up,” Tatiana said, releasing the girl’s hands and turning abruptly back to her tea.
The girl sagged next to her for a moment, blinking and rubbing her forehead and eyes.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t like a little tea?” Tatiana said as sweetly as she could, behaving as if nothing had happened.
“Er, no. No, thank you, ma’am. I... I think I just need a little fresh air to clear my head. I have a slight headache. If you would excuse me?”
“Yes, of course, my dear, of course.”
Tatiana refilled her own cup and took a sip.
She would go to London and fetch Morgan back. He could not be allowed to roam free. She would not allow this child, the bane of her existence, to attain the destiny she had set out for Kat. She had worked too hard for Morgan to suddenly rise up and destroy everything.
No, she would find and punish him in such a way that he would never dare disobey her again. Never would he even try to escape from Vallentyn again, for if he did...
She put down her tea with such force that the delicate cup shattered and the saucer cracked in two. She watched dispassionately as the brown liquid pooled on the table and then slowly dripped onto the floor.
No means would be too strong to ensure he stayed at Vallentyn, forever.
Morgan looked around, appreciating the relative quiet of the street. In just the few hours he and Cosmina had been in the city, he already felt as if his ears would never stop ringing from the constant noise. Everywhere there were people rushing to and fro, hawkers crying out, carriages and horses moving in a constant stream of traffic up and down every street. His head was spinning.
Finally, as he and Cosmina settled themselves into the quiet of Mrs. Lunden’
s parlor, he could think again.
“It is good of you to meet us right away, Mrs. Lunden,” Cosmina said, smiling brightly at the older lady.
The lady nodded, but did not return the smile. “You are looking for rooms?”
“Yes,” Cosmina answered, keeping the smile on her face despite the lady’s cool reception.
She seemed to be handling this expertly, Morgan thought, as he allowed his mind to wander away from the conversation.
The room was pleasant in a shabby, genteel manner. The carpet on the floor looked as good as those at Vallentyn Abbey, but was threadbare in places. The same was the case with the chairs and sofas that decorated the cozy, little room.
He wondered what Adriana’s home was like. Did she live in a pleasant little house like this one, or in one of the grander homes he and Cosmina had passed on their way here? He suspected the latter, based on what Adriana had told him about her guardian.
“I am so sorry, Mrs. Lunden, I didn’t realize you had guests,” a male voice interrupted Morgan’s thoughts.
A very tall, thin man with a hawk–like nose stood in the doorway. He was dressed all in black and, by his stiff bearing, looked rather like the butler at Vallentyn.
“It is all right, Mr. Nestor, you may come in. Mrs. Nomid and Mr. Vallentyn are here enquiring about rooms,” Mrs. Lunden said. She then turned back to Cosmina and said, “Mr. Nestor is also a boarder here.”
Mr. Nestor’s eyes had snapped to Morgan the moment Mrs. Lunden had said his name. Even as he entered the room and closed the door behind him, he still did not look away. Morgan shifted uncomfortably under the man’s scrutiny, and then chastised himself for a show of weakness. He must still be jittery from his encounter with the gypsy men.
“Mr. Vallentyn? You wouldn’t happen to be related to Lady Vallentyn of Berkshire?” he asked.
Morgan stood up, immediately wary of the man. On the other hand...
“I am Robert Nestor. You’ve never heard of me, I’m sure, but it is an honor to meet you, Mr. Vallentyn.” He approached Morgan with his hand held out.
Tentatively, Morgan grasped the man’s hand. He was right, Morgan had never heard of him, but he didn’t like that this stranger knew who he was.
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