Echoes of Magic

by Donna Grant

  “Then you’re going to die as is every man, woman, and child in Hawksbridge. Make your choice.”

  Grayson rotated his wrist, sending his sword dancing around him. “There is no choice.”

  “You’re making a mistake,” Nigel said and took a menacing step toward him. “I can give you power beyond your imagination.”

  “There is nothing you have that I need.”

  Nigel slowly unsheathed his sword, the blade glinting in the sunlight. “This is your last chance.”

  “Stop your talking and fight,” Grayson said as he bent his knees, preparing for an attack.

  “As you wish.”

  Grayson had seen Nigel fight, knew the bastard was quick, but when the attack came, it took all of Grayson’s will and training to keep him on his feet.

  Nigel’s blade had the force of five men. Each time their blades connected, Grayson’s arm reverberated from Nigel’s sheer power. But Grayson wasn’t about to give up. He would fight until his last breath left him.

  With no armor to encumber him, Grayson was able to move quicker, giving him more agility to duck, jump and roll away from Nigel’s vicious swings and thrusts. Grayson hissed and jumped backward when Nigel’s blade sliced open his thigh. Blood soaked Grayson’s breeches. The cut was deep and throbbed mercilessly. He leaned most of his weight on his good leg and motioned Nigel to him.

  “You haven’t had enough yet?” Nigel goaded.

  “You’ll have to cut more than my leg to make me stop.”

  Nigel growled and lifted his sword. “I’ll cut your heart out, you insignificant whelp.”

  Grayson only smiled. He knew better than to let his emotions cloud him while in the middle of battle. His life’s blood might be draining from his body, but he would bring Nigel down before the end.

  “You’ll have to get close to me first,” Grayson taunted.

  “You don’t know who you’re dealing with.”

  Grayson took a step to the left for every step that brought Nigel closer to him. Grayson wanted his shield. Just as Nigel swung his sword at his neck, Grayson ducked and rolled. He grasped the shield as he came to his feet and faced Nigel.

  He felt, rather than saw, Nigel’s sneer. “You are only prolonging the inevitable.”

  “Stop your talking, old man. It’s your day to die.”

  With a roar, Nigel charged. Grayson brought his shield up in time to block the vicious blow, but he never saw Nigel’s foot hook around his leg. Grayson hit the ground with alarming force. His lungs locked, neither taking in air nor releasing any. Through his haze of pain, he recalled Adrianna’s words and quickly rolled away.

  Grayson inhaled deeply and lifted his gaze to see Nigel’s blade buried deep in the ground. Grayson swung his sword toward Nigel’s. There was a loud pop as Nigel’s blade broke in two. While Nigel roared his fury, Grayson jumped to his feet ignoring the biting pain in his leg.

  Nigel turned to him, his rage obvious. “What magic did you use?” he demanded. “My blade was indestructible.”

  “Obviously you were wrong.”

  * * * * *

  Adrianna’s feet slipped, and she fell down the last two steps into the bailey. Her gaze was riveted to Grayson and Nigel. When she’d seen Grayson fall, she knew it was her vision. She had run as fast as she could to him, but then he had rolled away. To safety.

  The relief that poured through her made her legs weak. Her body shook with fear, which caused her feet to miss the steps. She would have a bruise on her back from the steps, but she didn’t care. Nothing mattered except Grayson.

  Adrianna stilled. She didn’t want Grayson to see her outside the castle for it would cause his attention to divert from Nigel. And that would be disastrous. She smiled at the sight of Nigel’s broken blade. Maybe her magic on Grayson’s sword had worked. She was giddy with hope. Grayson had a chance; he could survive.

  Then she saw him favor his right leg and the blood from his wound. Adrianna’s stomach churned. His wound would slow him, as would his blood loss. She had to get closer to him, to use her magic to help heal the wound.

  She darted from the castle steps to the castle itself. With her back against the gray stones, she inched closer to Grayson and Nigel. When she was as close as she dared, she closed her eyes and began to chant the ancient words in her mind, focusing all her magic on Grayson.

  It was all she knew to do, but it had to be enough. It had work.

  * * * * *

  The hidden path was long, winding. A person could overlook it if they didn’t know what they searched for. But he knew.

  The ground shook beneath the man as his horse jerked his head in warning. The man had seen Nigel enter Hawksbridge. In the silence of the morning, he could hear the clang of swords as the battle began between the new lord and Nigel.

  He jumped from his horse and laid his hand on the ground. A mass of horses rode quickly toward Hawksbridge. The leisurely way Nigel’s knights sat upon their steeds outside Hawksbridge’s walls told him the army coming was Nigel’s.

  No one in Hawksbridge stood a chance now.

  With a sigh, he mounted his horse. He knew the outcome of this bloody battle. Whispers of insurrection had spread over the land during the night. The people of Hawksbridge were taking a stand with their new lord.

  And he would take one with them.

  It had been predestined. He’d thought this day would never come, but come it had. He was more than ready for it.

  * * * * *

  “You need a sword,” Grayson said. “I think I might manage to find you one.”

  “I need nothing.”

  No sooner had Nigel spoken than he lifted his broken sword and sliced it downward. Grayson lifted his shield to block the attack the same time he lunged and thrust his own blade in the exposed area under Nigel’s arm.

  Nigel bellowed and jerked backwards. Grayson stared at his blade. There was no blood on it, no evidence that he had wounded Nigel, but he knew he had. He had felt the blade sink into Nigel’s body. Grayson lifted his gaze as Nigel laughed.

  “What is it?” Nigel asked. “Not sure what to do since there’s no blood? I tried to tell you, I cannot be killed. There is nothing you possess that could end my life.”

  Frustration ripped through Grayson. The only saving point was that his leg had quit aching. At least he could put some weight on it now, giving him more leverage in an attack.

  “You can die, of that I’m sure of. I just have to figure out how.”

  Suddenly, Nigel barked with laughter. “Did you think you could bring another bana‐bhuidseach inside Hawksbridge and I wouldn’t know?”

  Grayson stilled. He refused to look away from Nigel, but he didn’t need to. He could sense Adrianna near. It was she who took the pain of his wound. Grayson silently cursed her for leaving the safety of the castle.

  “You must be mistaken. There is only one.”

  “Oh, aye. Your mother,” Nigel said and took a step away from him.

  Grayson quickly followed. He didn’t know where Nigel was going, but he would bet his sword it was toward Adrianna. “Aye, my mother.”

  “Were you surprised to find her still alive? There were many times I thought of killing her.”

  “Then why didn’t you?”

  Nigel halted, his head tilted to the side. “Is it possible you don’t know?”

  Grayson was tired of the secrets. He clenched his jaw as he struggled to bring his anger under control.

  “You don’t know,” Nigel finally said, his voice laced with humor. “I find it odd your mother didn’t tell you.”

  Grayson didn’t want to play Nigel’s games any longer. He lifted his sword to charge him, only Nigel moved with lightning speed.

  Suddenly, Adrianna was in Nigel’s grasp, his broken sword at her neck. Her wide, pale blue gaze turned to Grayson. He felt her fear as if it were his own, and he knew in that moment he would do anything to free her.

  “You lied to me,” Nigel said. “I can feel her magic as strong
ly as I feel her heartbeat. I’ve not felt magic so strong in a long while.”

  “Release her,” Grayson demanded.

  “Or what?” Nigel taunted. “You’ll attack me again? Haven’t you learned there is nothing you can do that will harm me?”

  “What do you want?”

  “What I wanted when I first came to Hawksbridge. I want you, Grayson.”

  Chapter Thirty‐One

  Grayson could only stare at Nigel. “Me?”

  “I’ve always wanted you,” Nigel answered. “Though I didn’t know the boy I let escape was the same one I searched for.”

  Grayson shook his head. “Why would you want me?”

  “Because your magic grows each day. Don’t you know you’ve great power in you?”

  “Nay,” Grayson said. He glanced at Adrianna to see her brow furrowed in confusion.

  Nigel laughed. “Leoma managed to fool me. I didn’t realize the power you had then. I should’ve killed her and raised you as my own.”

  “Males don’t have magic.”

  “They aren’t supposed to,” Nigel agreed. “But there have been instances where some were able to use it.”

  Grayson sliced his hand through the air. “Enough of the lies. I hold no magic.”

  “You do. Come with me, and I’ll show you.”

  “Never,” Grayson said between clenched teeth.

  Nigel pushed a broken tip of his blade into Adrianna’s neck. Blood welled and rolled down her creamy skin between her breasts. “Come with me. Or she dies.”

  Adrianna was the one thing Grayson would do anything for. It was the reason he had begged her to stay inside the castle away from Nigel’s gaze. She should have realized it sooner.

  The blade in her neck didn’t compare to the pain in her heart. She struggled against Nigel, sending the point deeper into her skin, but she didn’t care. Grayson couldn’t give in to Nigel, he couldn’t turn over his soul.

  “You can try to lie,” Nigel said to Grayson. “Tell me she means nothing to you. Tell me that I don’t smell your scent on her. Tell me you would rather see her die than to give me your soul.”

  Adrianna clawed at the hand that gripped her jaw. Nigel’s fingers tightened, sending waves of blackness at the corners of her eyes. She stilled, and he instantly loosened his grip.

  “Don’t make me kill you,” he whispered in her ear. “You want to see your lover live, don’t you?”

  “If you take his soul, you’ll kill him.”

  Nigel’s hand lowered to cup her breast. “He’ll live. You can as well if you do as I say.”

  “You disgust me.” She closed her eyes, hating Nigel’s touch.

  “Not very smart of you,” he said, his voice as cold as ice.

  “Leave her be,” Grayson commanded, his voice low and lethal.

  Nigel chuckled and continued to fondle her breast. “Or you’ll do what? Kill me?”

  No sooner were the words out of his mouth than a sword embedded in his throat. Blood sprayed Adrianna as she turned her head. When Nigel’s arm loosened, she moved away and found herself enveloped in Grayson’s arms.

  “How badly are you hurt?” he asked as he tilted her head to the side to look at her neck.

  “I’m all right. Who threw the sword?”

  “My mother,” he whispered.

  The gurgling from behind drew their attention. She turned and found Nigel slowly pulling the sword from his throat. Her blood turned to ice and her stomach dropped to her feet.

  “You need to run,” Grayson whispered in her ear as he stepped away from Nigel.

  She let Grayson push her behind him.

  “Run.”

  She gripped his hand. “I’m not leaving you.”

  His silver gaze captured hers. “I will die here, Drina, but you don’t have to. Don’t let him use you against me again. I’ll do anything he asks as long as he has you.”

  Tears gathered in her eyes. She knew he was right, but the thought of leaving him, of never seeing him again, was too painful to imagine.

  “Please,” he begged.

  She nodded.

  “Run, and don’t look back,” he said and gave her a little push.

  Adrianna spared one last glance at Nigel. His helm faced her, and she swore she could feel his smile of glee. But she didn’t stop. She lifted her skirts and raced as fast as she could to the castle.

  But she wouldn’t go alone. She was determined to take Leoma with her.

  “Leoma,” she shouted as she slammed the castle door closed. “Leoma, we must leave. Now.”

  Adrianna started for the stairs when she glanced up and skidded to a halt. On the stairs with Leoma was a man who looked like Grayson only with dark blond hair that was streaked with gray.

  She backed away from Leoma and the man. There were too many secrets, too much evil.

  “Adrianna,” Leoma called out to her. “There’s no need to be frightened.”

  She shook her head and continued backwards. “Grayson has bade me leave.”

  “And you must,” the man said. “Immediately. Nigel cannot get his hands on you again. Take the secret passage.”

  Her gaze shifted to Leoma. “Why didn’t you tell Grayson his father was alive?”

  “Not even Nigel knows William isn’t dead,” Leoma said. “We knew the day would come when Grayson returned. We counted on him being strong enough to survive until this day.”

  “We just didn’t expect you,” William said with a soft smile, his silver gaze locking with hers. “Thank you, Adrianna, for saving my son’s life.”

  She watched as his father descended the stairs and walked from the castle.

  “You should leave.”

  Adrianna turned to find Leoma beside her. “You should come with me.”

  “Nay. My place is here, defending my son beside my husband. Now, go, Adrianna.”

  This time, Adrianna didn’t look back. She hurried down the stairway, counting each one as she went until she reached the tenth stair. Just as Leoma had explained, Adrianna reached her foot down and felt the lock. She raised her toe and the hidden door slid open.

  She rushed inside and a heartbeat later the door closed behind her. Adrianna lifted her skirts and walked as fast as she dared down the pitch-black corridor. She never thought it would hurt so bad to leave Grayson.

  Tears fell unheeded down her face. Several times she tripped, catching herself on the jagged rocks of the cave. But it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered without Grayson.

  * * * * *

  Grayson let out a sigh of relief when Adrianna entered the castle. He would make sure she had enough time to get to the secret passage before Nigel went looking for her. He shifted his gaze to Nigel. The bastard still stood, as if he hadn’t just had a sword through his neck.

  “Does it hurt?” Grayson asked.

  Nigel tossed aside his broken sword and tested the weight of the one he pulled from his body. “I feel nothing.”

  “I think you’re lying. Whether you die by a wound or not, you still feel the pain.”

  “Care to find out?” Nigel asked.

  Grayson snorted. “Never.”

  “You keep saying that, but if I still had that tasty little morsel in my hands, you wouldn’t be so cocky.”

  “How can you be sure? You think I cared about her enough to hand you my soul?”

  “If it meant she was able to live? Aye, I do. How about we see if your wound has healed enough for you to fight me properly?”

  Grayson lifted his sword to block a downward swing of Nigel’s blade. Amazingly, Grayson’s leg felt almost normal. He lunged and pivoted, and not once was there a twinge of pain.

  He almost smiled. Almost. But Nigel’s attack had quickened. Grayson found it more and more difficult to defend himself, and not once was he able to give an attack of his own. Nigel kept him on the defensive, and it was wearing him out quickly.

  Grayson managed to duck a blow and, as he did, he dropped his shield and caught Nigel’s arm. With a migh
ty bellow, Grayson elbowed Nigel in the throat before backhanding him with his fist, denting Nigel’s helm.

  Nigel staggered backwards, but didn’t fall. Grayson blew out a breath and waited for the next attack. Just as Nigel lifted his sword and took a step, someone bellowed Grayson’s name, halting Nigel.

  Grayson looked over Nigel’s shoulder and stared dumbfounded. Nigel growled as he turned to face the man.

  “Well, William. It seems your bitch of a wife lied to me twice.”

  “She deceived you, Nigel. Give credit where credit is due.”

  Grayson’s knees almost buckled. William? My father? He couldn’t believe his eyes, not even when he heard his father speak.

  “You should have died that day,” Nigel said.

  William shrugged a thick shoulder. His dark blond hair was shorn to his shoulders, his silver eyes filled with anger. “Did you think I didn’t know of your treachery?”

  “I always thought you a fool. Why did you never attack before now?”

  Grayson moved around Nigel to see his father. He waited, his breath locked in his body, to hear what his father would say.

  “I’ve waited for the day my son could best you.”

  “So you’ve come to watch me kill him, have you?”

  “Grayson won’t be the one to die this day.”

  “Have you used your magic then?” Nigel asked. “Did you seek the future as your wife has done for me?”

  Grayson jerked. His father had magic? His father was a bana‐bhuidseach? He looked from his father to Nigel, so many questions swimming in his head.

  William laughed, the sound void of humor. “I’ve done much as I’ve waited.”

  “You were too cowardly to challenge me yourself. You let me take over your castle, your people and your wife.”

  Grayson’s chest began to ache at Nigel’s words. He couldn’t believe his father had sat idly by and let Nigel infect Hawksbridge. His father had let him wander alone, his father had let his mother be abused. He had let his people crumble to almost nothing.