A Passionate Magic

by Flora Speer

  “I don’t think so,” Blake said in response to her comment. “I noticed how full Wade’s saddlebags were, so as soon as I had a chance I checked his cot in the servants’ quarters. All of his belongings are gone. I told Sloan, and he said good riddance. He doesn’t like Wade. Not many people do. Wade isn’t very friendly, and he often makes excuses not to do his share of work. But he was always ready to jump to do anything Lady Richenda asked of him.”

  “Did you say Wade?” Emma repeated the man’s name, thinking how glad she was that Dain had taken Vivienne off to become reacquainted with her in private. Vivienne needed no reminding of Lady Richenda’s manservant, who had been willing to murder a child at his mistress’s command.

  “You know him,” Blake said. “He’s the scrawny, gray-haired man who looks sour and seldom speaks. Maybe Sloan is right; maybe it is good riddance if he’s gone. But I thought both Dain and Sloan ought to know, so when I couldn’t find Dain, I came to you.”

  “It’s probably just an ordinary letter Wade is bearing,” Emma said, “and most likely, after it’s delivered, he’ll remain near the convent to attend Lady Richenda, since he is her servant, not Dain’s. She’s not taking the veil, you know, just living there, so she will have contact with the world outside the cloister, and no doubt she will want someone to run errands for her.”

  But the matter tugged at Emma’s thoughts, mingling with her belief that Lady Richenda wasn’t going to relinquish her influence on her son’s life. By day’s end a nagging doubt was firmly lodged in Emma’s mind, so when Dain came to the great hall for the evening meal she told him all that Blake had said and the conclusion she had drawn, that Lady Richenda wanted to keep her manservant nearby.

  “You are the third person to carry the tale to me,” Dain said. “First Blake, then Sloan, now you. There is another simple explanation for Wade’s departure, which apparently hasn’t occurred to any of you. My mother has two distant cousins and a few long-standing friends, all of whom she sees whenever we go to court. It is possible that she has sent Wade off to one of them with a letter requesting that he be given a place in another household. She knows I’d never keep Wade at Penruan after what I’ve learned about him, so it seems reasonable to me that she would try to find a new place for a man who has been faithful to her service.”

  “You are too accustomed to trusting her,” Emma protested.

  “I know it, and I will change my way of thinking. But there is little my mother can do except complain of me. I doubt if any relative or friend will raise an army in her behalf to bring her back to Penruan and force me to accept her presence here. Girls and women are sent off to convents all the time, and many of them are unwilling. To most men it’s no great matter. I do thank you for your loyal concern, however.” He paused, regarding her with a smile in his eyes that did not quite reach his lips.

  ”Will you join me later tonight?” she asked softly, taking courage from the look he bestowed on her.

  “No.” His warmth was gone, replaced by a cool consideration of her features. “Too much has happened in too short a time. I need to be alone, to think about what I’ve learned of your magical ability and how you concealed it from me for so long. I also need to think about Vivienne, and about my mother’s duplicity.”

  “I do understand.” She turned away so he wouldn’t see how disappointed she was.

  Dain did not join her the following night either, or the night after that. Seeking distraction from her longing for him, Emma plunged into her daily duties as chatelaine, and into seeing to the preparations for the coming winter. Harvest season was full upon them and there was grain to be stored, meat and fish to be dried or smoked, fruits to be preserved in honey.

  Todd and his men returned to report that Lady Richenda had made no trouble about entering the convent. When asked, Todd declared that neither he nor his men had seen Wade.

  “He has gone to live elsewhere, just as I assumed,” Dain said to Emma. “He knows better than to stay nearby when I know so much about him.”

  The days and the lonely nights slowly slipped into weeks, and still Dain did not return to the bed in the lord’s chamber. He was consistently polite to Emma, though always a little distant, and she often felt his speculative gaze, as if he could not quite decide what to do about her.

  Vivienne was far more affectionate. The sisters-in-law were becoming close friends, drawn together by their mutual love of Dain, and by the relief each found in the opportunity to speak freely to a woman who would never betray the magical secrets they shared.

  “Do you find it difficult to live confined in the castle after so many years of freedom?” Emma asked one day.

  Vivienne had been well trained by Agatha in the healing arts, as well as in magic, and she and Emma were busy in the stillroom. Emma was shredding dried herb leaves into storage jars so they would be clean and easily available when needed, while Vivienne was compounding a salve for a kitchen worker who had burned her hand.

  “I like it here with you and Dain,” Vivienne said, “though I do miss seeing Agatha every day.” She fell silent, frowning at the bowl containing rendered goose grease and alkanet, which she was mixing together.

  “What of Hermit?” Emma asked gently. “Do you miss seeing him? From what you’ve said, you lived in one room of the cave and he in the next, and you spent a good deal of time together.”

  ”We did talk often.” Vivienne gathered a few dried calendula petals in her fingertips and crumbled them over the salve. “Yes, I do miss Hermit.” Her voice shook a little.

  “Why don’t you return to the cave and visit him?” Emma suggested. “Or he could come here. Dain has said he’s always welcome.”

  “I don’t think it’s a good idea. Hermit has sad memories and conflicts in his past that only he can resolve. I am no help to him; I only complicate his thoughts. I believe he’s eager to return to his traveling life.”

  “Did he say so? Hermit gave me the impression that he’s very fond of you. He promised he’d not leave Penruan until you are settled and happy.”

  “I think he meant until Dain and I are close as brother and sister should be.” Vivienne brushed away a tear and bent her head over the bowl of salve.

  To Emma, that last remark indicated a conflict within Vivienne’s heart, for the closer she and Dain became, the more likely Hermit was to forsake the cave and resume his wanderings. Emma didn’t want to think about Hermit leaving, or about how empty the beach and the cave would be without him there. She had grown surprisingly fond of the bearded wanderer.

  ”You ought to talk to Agatha,” Emma said. “She knows Hermit well, so she may be able to offer some advice.”

  “Perhaps.” Vivienne looked doubtful.

  “I heard Dain telling Sloan that he is planning to ride to Trevanan tomorrow,” Emma said, “to inspect the rebuilt houses. You could ride with him. I’m sure he wouldn’t object. He enjoys your company, and I know he has been taking you along on short rides, to re-accustom you to horses.”

  “You and I were going to the moor tomorrow,” Vivienne protested, still doubtful of the plan.

  “I can take Blake and Hawise,” Emma said. “They are used to helping me look for wild herbs.”

  When morning came Vivienne and Dain left early for Trevanan. An hour later Hawise made an excuse to stay at the castle.

  “It’s Sloan,” Emma teased her. “You are spending more and more time with him. Don’t think I haven’t noticed.”

  “Do you mind? Blake is more agile than I when it comes to climbing on rocks or getting down on his knees to dig up plants. I usually end with my arms and hands itching. I’m glad to help you all I can in the stillroom, and you know I’m useful there, but I don’t like the moor. It’s so empty and windy.”

  “You are far more likely to fall into danger with Sloan than out on the moor with me,” Emma said, still teasing. She wished there was a similar danger for her to fall into with Dain. “Very well, stay home if you like. Just be careful what herbal brews
you feed to Sloan.”

  Shortly thereafter, with Blake at her side, Emma rode forth to the moor. The boy was as cheerful and talkative as ever, chattering on about his sword practice and Todd’s promise to allow him to join in sentry duty during his next night on watch.

  “Gather as much as you can,” Emma said, interrupting the stream of youthful male plans. “We may not have many more opportunities to come here before winter arrives. You’ve told me how chill and blustery and wet the moor can be during the winter months.”

  There was no sign of unpleasant weather at the moment. The sky was cloudless, the sea sparkled in the distance, and a breeze blew gently, chasing away any hint of mid-afternoon heat. The moor was deserted, the only sign of humanity being a single horseman cantering along the road from Trevanan to Penruan. Emma watched him for a moment, thinking the mounted figure looked vaguely familiar. Then she shrugged and turned back to her work. The rider wasn’t Dain, so he held little interest for her.

  “It gets dark early in winter,” Blake said, continuing their conversation. His voice was muffled as he bent low to dig up a plant. He pulled hard on it and the roots gave way, sending the boy rolling backward onto the damp ground with the plant on top of him. Laughing, he dusted himself off and placed the herb into his basket.

  Within a short time all of the baskets were full, and they began to strap them to the horse’s backs. They were so busy and Blake was talking so continuously that at first Emma didn’t notice the soft sound of hooves on the spongy turf. Not until her horse whickered, acknowledging another equine presence, did Emma realize someone was approaching. She finished fastening the last leather strap that held her basket and turned, half expecting to see Dain. It was the horseman she had watched on the road just a short time earlier, and now she knew why she had found him a familiar figure.

  “Wade!” Blake exclaimed. “What are you doing here? I thought you had left Penruan for good.”

  “Did you, now?“ Wade leaned forward in the saddle to chat with Blake. “Whyever would you think such a thing, when I’ve lived at Penruan for more than thirty years?”

  “All of your things were gone,” Blake said, taking a step nearer to the wiry, gray-haired man, who smiled at him as if smiling hurt his usually sour face.

  ”Blake,” Emma cautioned, noting the ice behind Wade’s friendliness, and the sword and long knife at his belt, “come here to me.”

  ”When I left, I was bound for a long ride,” Wade explained to Blake, “and I didn’t want anyone to steal my belongings while I was gone, so I took them with me. Here, lad, I’ve brought back a present for you.” He reached out a closed fist, as if he was offering something he was afraid he’d drop if he wasn’t careful.

  ”What is it?” Blake took another step toward where Wade sat on his horse. “It must be small if you can hold it in your hand that way. Is it a gold coin?”

  “Come and see,” Wade coaxed.

  ”Blake, no!” Emma cried. “Stay away from him!”

  Her second warning was too late. Blake had moved a little closer to the promised gift, just close enough for Wade to seize the boy by his tunic and hoist him upward until Blake was flung facedown across the horse.

  “Let him go this instant!” Emma commanded.

  “Not a chance,” Wade said. “Not until you do what I want.”

  “And what is that?” Emma asked, though she wasn’t really interested in his response. She was gathering her magic, preparing to use her power to immobilize Wade and free Blake, when it occurred to her that she could learn more from Wade by pretending to be afraid of him and of what he might do to Blake. There was bound to be some dire reason why Wade had returned to Penruan after escaping Dain’s justice, and Emma wanted to know what the reason was. Most likely, Lady Richenda was involved.

  “Blake,” Emma cried, managing to sound terrified, “are you hurt?”

  “No,” Blake responded, “but I’ll be sick if I stay this way much longer.”

  “All the more reason for you to obey me without any further argument, my lady,” Wade said with a nasty grin. “Start walking.”

  “Where should I walk?” Emma asked.

  “To Rough Tor.” Wade jerked his head in the direction of the high rock formation. He spoke his next words with a sneer. “Start moving now, my lady.”

  “It will be a long walk,” Emma said. “Why don’t I mount my horse and we can ride together?”

  “Do you think I’m fool enough to allow you on a horse?” Wade demanded. “You walk; I ride.”

  “It will take until after dark to reach Rough Tor on foot,” Emma said.

  “Don’t imagine I care if your dainty feet are blistered by the time we get there,” Wade said. “You won’t be spending the night on your feet, anyway.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’ll be spending the night sprawled on your back,” Wade told her with a horrible, mirthless grin, “unless they prefer to have you facedown. That’s their concern, not mine.”

  ”You’re planning to give me to the bandits.” She was so choked with rage and disgust that she could barely get the words out.

  “They’ll be glad to have you,” Wade said, “considering all Dain has done to spoil their livelihood.”

  “Surely Lady Richenda never ordered you to do such a dreadful thing!”

  “She told me to get rid of you by any means I chose,” Wade said. “She left it to me. The witch Vivienne is next, after you’re taken care of. Now there’s a killing that should have been done years ago.”

  “No!” Blake yelled, kicking and struggling to push himself upright. “You can’t kill women! It’s dishonorable. I won’t allow it!”

  “If you want to live long enough to find out whether I’ll do it or not, stay where you are,” Wade told him, drawing his knife from his belt as he spoke. “Otherwise, I’ll put my blade between your ribs.”

  “If you kill Blake, you’ve lost your hold on me,” Emma said.

  ”If I kill him and the bandits have you, who’s left to warn Dain or the witch?” Wade asked, calmly reasonable.

  ”What does Lady Richenda want?”

  “You and the witch permanently gone, and her former place back.” Wade answered so promptly that Emma knew he was speaking the truth as he had heard it from Lady Richenda’s own lips.

  “She’s mad if she imagines Dain will ever let her return.”

  “Do you think he’ll let you return after every brigand on the moor has had you?”

  Emma had heard enough. Blake was retching as if he’d be sick at any moment, and she didn’t want him frightened any longer. Nor did she think she’d get anything more out of Wade. She was sure he had told her all he knew of Lady Richenda’s plan.

  Emma summoned her magic and cast a spell on Wade, holding him in place where he was. He was so difficult to restrain that she began to wonder if he possessed some degree of magical ability. Surely if it was so, she’d have sensed it while he was living at Penruan. Nor did she think Lady Richenda would keep a magician for a servant, when she loathed the very idea of magic.

  “Blake,” Emma said, “get off the horse. You can do it. Wade cannot harm you. I won’t allow it.”

  “I can feel the point of his knife in my side,” Blake cried.

  “He cannot use it. Trust me, Blake. I have immobilized him. Slide under Wade’s arm and off the horse now. ”

  “I’ll try.” Blake moved with nerve-tearing slowness until, finally, he stood on the ground. He gazed up at Wade, who sat as if carved from stone, though the man’s eyes blazed with impotent fury.

  “You did it!” Blake cried, starting toward Emma. “You used magic to save me! Thank you.”

  “Don’t touch me,” Emma cautioned. “Wade is surprisingly strong and I want no distractions to my spell. Blake, I want you to mount your horse and ride back to Penruan.”

  “And leave you alone with this villain?” Blake cried. “I won’t do it. I’ll dishonor myself if I leave a woman alone and undefended.”<
br />
  “As you can see,” Emma said, “I am perfectly capable of defending myself. I’m sure the sentries at Penruan have noticed how we’ve been accosted here, and have ordered men-at-arms to ride to our aid. But just in case they haven’t seen what’s happening, I want you to alert Sloan and have him send men to escort Wade to the castle. I will hold him here until they come.” She didn’t add that she wanted Blake out of the way so Wade couldn’t use him as a hostage for a second time. She couldn’t be sure Wade wouldn’t distract her long enough to kill Blake.

  “Yes, I understand,” Blake said, rushing to his horse. “You need me to summon help, to rescue you. I’ll be as fast as I can.”

  “Be careful,” Emma warned. “Mind the path and the bogs.”

  She couldn’t watch Blake leave because she was having to use more and more magical energy to maintain her control over Wade. The hatred in the man’s eyes was terrifying. She waited in tense silence, keeping her attention fixed on him.

  Suddenly, from some distance behind her, she heard Blake shout. Fearing he’d been thrown from his horse in his haste to reach the castle, she allowed herself to be distracted for an instant.

  It was long enough for Wade to take action. He wrenched himself free of the spell, leaving Emma gasping with pain that seared through her mind and her chest. Wade pulled a silver chain from beneath his tunic. From it dangled a rough, pitted black stone, half a finger in length. Emma recognized the remnant of a burned-out shooting star that had fallen to earth and broken into pieces, and she understood why keeping Wade within her spell had been so difficult.

  “Here’s a talisman that Lady Richenda gave me to use against your magic,” Wade told her, letting the stone swing on its chain. “Iron that falls from the sky will destroy any spell.”

  “It didn’t work very well against mine,” Emma said. “Blake is free of you.”

  “No, he’s not. I’ll catch him before he can reach the castle and give the alarm. As for you, my lady, the bandits will take care of you.”

  With a last, cold glance and a shrug of his shoulders that left Emma totally perplexed, Wade kicked his horse’s sides and headed for the cliff road.