Hunted by Magic: a New Adult Fantasy Novel (The Baine Chronicles Book 3)

by Jasmine Walt

  “Flying Man?” I echoed, confused but hopeful. Could he mean…?

  The male nodded. “White man with purple eyes fell from the sky seven suns ago. Halyma saw a great spirit in him, and took him back to our village to be her sharalli.”

  “Uh-oh,” Fenris said to me. “I’m not sure exactly what a sharalli is, but I think it means consort or husband.”

  “What!” I exclaimed aloud, and the two Coazi jumped, startled at my outburst.

  “Is Flying Man your sharalli?” one of them inquired, looking at me curiously. “He say nothing about another woman.”

  “He was maybe afraid?” the other Coazi pondered. “Nobody says no to Halyma.”

  “Halyma is your shaman?” I asked.

  “Yes.” The two males nodded simultaneously. “She is chief shamaness of the Coazi. We do not like white man living among us, but Halyma has temper like raging buffalo, so we say nothing.”

  “Thank you for your assistance.” Fenris stepped forward before I could ask anything more, taking control of the conversation. He waved a hand in the air and spoke a few Words, and immediately the males’ eyes glazed over. “You will forget that you saw us, and return to your village.” His voice resonated with power, and the burnt-sugar scent of magic stung the air.

  The two Coazi blinked, then immediately turned on their heels and walked away. I opened my mouth to speak, but Fenris held up a hand.

  “Stay silent until they are out of earshot.”

  “Why the hell did you do that?” I snapped, my fingernails digging into my palms. “I wasn’t done talking to them!”

  “They’ve told us all we need to know. Their shamaness is holding Iannis hostage, and we need to go to their village and get him back. Giving them more information about us isn’t going to help, and if they warn the village we are coming that isn’t going to help either.”

  I huffed out a breath, my ears telling me the Coazi were gone. “How do we know that Iannis is being held there against his will? I can’t imagine any of the Coazi being strong enough to do that.”

  “Yes, and I can’t imagine Iannis willingly choosing to remain with the Coazi when so much is at stake,” Fenris pointed out. “From what these two men just told us, their shamaness is not only powerful, but she has a temper and her people are afraid of her. We need to get close enough to the village to do a proper reconnaissance so we can figure out the best way to extract Iannis.”

  “Well I know that,” I said peevishly, turning my gaze toward the cave entrance. Honestly, I knew Fenris was right, and I’d been coming to the same conclusion myself. But as soon as the Coazi had said Iannis was their shamaness’s new consort, the need to grill them and find out just what the hell that position entailed had consumed my mind. Did that mean the two of them were married? Was Iannis spending his days frolicking in the grass with her, and his nights rolling around in her bed? Iannis didn’t even know this woman – how could she claim him so quickly? He was not hers to keep. My blood boiled, and I fisted my hands at my sides.

  “Relax, Naya.” Annia patted me on the shoulder, bringing me back to the present, and I turned to look at her. “We’re not going to know for sure what’s up with Iannis until we get there and see for ourselves. For all you know she’s got him chained up in her tent, trying to force him into submission.”

  I laughed and winced all at once as an image of Iannis chained to the floor of a tent with a bunch of bearskin rugs underneath him and probably nothing covering him popped into my head. That wouldn’t be so bad if I was there, but considering it was the shamaness…

  “By Magorah, but we’ve got to hurry.” Shaking my head, I cleared my mind of the image. It didn’t matter what kind of state Iannis was in, we still had to get him back. Reaching for my beast, I shifted into panther form, then headed out with Fenris and Annia, hoping against hope that we’d get to Iannis in time to undo whatever spell the shamaness had put on him.

  Back in beast form, Fenris and I were able to track the two Coazi males without difficulty despite the lead we’d given them. We followed at a distance, with Annia even further behind to make sure we drew no attention to ourselves. It took another couple of hours, but by early afternoon we arrived at the tribe’s camp, set on a plateau at the edge of a large patch of forest high up on the mountainside.

  Rather than following the two males into the camp, we hung back in the forest, shifting back into human form and climbing up tall pine trees so we could get a good view of the camp while remaining hidden from view. Perched securely on a branch, with my legs wrapped around the tree’s trunk in case the branch wasn’t as sturdy as I’d gauged, I fished out a spyglass and extended it, then fitted the lens to my eye.

  Like the Coazi tribe we’d met on the plains, the mountain Coazi set up their dwellings in a circle. Unlike the plains Coazi, their huts were made out of wooden frames that were covered in what looked like woven mats and sheets of bark. In addition to several large looms where women sat and wove rugs, the center of the circle also housed a large, communal fire pit with logs set up around it for people to sit on. Several women were prepping the fire pit for cooking, and I noticed a woman watching from the side who was more elaborately dressed than the others. The feathers in her hair were a brilliant blue, and a colorful shawl with animal patterns woven expertly into the fabric was draped around her slim shoulders. The buckskin dress she wore flattered her shapely figure and regal bearing. Jealousy flashed low in my gut as I guessed that she must be Halyma.

  “No sign of the Chief Mage yet,” Annia commented as she studied the camp through a pair of bronze binoculars. “You think he’s hiding out in one of those huts over there?”

  A series of whoops and shouts echoed from the forest on the opposite side of the camp, and everyone in the clearing turned toward the sound as one. Both adults and children started jumping and shouting as well, and there was no mistaking their excitement as they all ran toward the edge of the forest.

  A small group of Coazi men armed with spears and bows emerged from the forest, a pair of large hunting dogs dancing around their feet as they carried a huge elk back to the camp. I nearly fell out of the tree as I spotted Iannis at the head of the group, along with two other hunters. Brightly colored feathers very similar to the shamaness’s were woven into his cherrywood locks, and he’d traded in his robes for buckskins. The tunic and leggings he wore showcased his tall, lean form in a way that his robes never did. I drank in the sight hungrily, my eyes roaming over his broad chest and shoulders, his lean waist, and long legs that I could tell were muscular even through the buckskin pants. His violet eyes glowed with health and vitality, and his white teeth gleamed as he flashed a brilliant smile.

  Except that smile wasn’t for me, I realized as I followed his gaze. That smile was for the shamaness, who had rushed forward to greet him along with the others. The whole tribe crowded around them, whooping and cheering at the sight of the elk, which had been bound to a long, sturdy tree log that all six of the men helped to carry. The shamaness gave Iannis a feline smile as she twined her arms around his neck, and I hissed as she pressed her slim curves against him. I saw lips move as words were exchanged, and Iannis lowered his head and kissed her.

  “No fucking way!” Annia hissed as a red haze spread across my vision. My claws dug into the bark, and I realized a second later that I was snarling, my fangs bared. “Not only is he one of them, but he’s standing there making out with that hussy shamaness while the rest of Solantha is losing their minds?”

  I ground my teeth together, choosing not to respond because honestly, I didn’t know what to say. I felt like someone had thrust a superheated blade straight through my heart. The searing agony made it hard to breathe, and hot tears gathered at the corners of my eyes. I’d come all the way out here to rescue Iannis, only to find that he’d thrown himself wholeheartedly at another woman. And from the way he was kissing her, it didn’t seem like he had any plans on leaving.

  “Your lack of faith is unbecoming, Sunaya,�
� Fenris warned, his eyes narrowed as he read my emotions perfectly. Not that I imagined that was a great feat – I’m sure they were stamped across my face for the whole world to see. “You and I both know that Iannis would never willingly abandon his people to live amongst the Coazi. What we are seeing here is clearly a product of the shamaness’s trickery.”

  “But –”

  “This is the same man who took you in against the wishes of the Council and made you his apprentice. The same man who risked his life and reputation to save me from execution. Do you really think that he would willingly abandon his responsibilities now, when his people need him more than ever?”

  “No.” I let out a heavy sigh, and tried to push out all the negativity in my chest along with that breath. But it was hard, especially as I watched the two of them link hands and walk back into the camp with the rest of the Coazi. The group dispersed now that the welcome committee had done its job, the ones who’d been in the midst of chores returning to their tasks while others jumped in to help skin and prep the elk for dinner.

  “I guess you’re right, but it’s hard to reconcile that logic with what my eyes are seeing,” I told Fenris, ripping my gaze away from Iannis. I really didn’t want to watch him hold hands with the shamaness anymore.

  “I understand, but you have to put your emotions aside and focus on the mission,” Fenris reminded me, his eyes softening with sympathy. “Besides, I imagine that when Iannis sees you again, he will have no trouble forgetting about the shamaness’s charms.” His lips curled into a smile.

  “Yeah, right,” I scoffed as a blush crept up my cheeks and butterflies erupted in my stomach. “Let’s just focus on getting him out of there. The sooner we can get him away from that woman, the sooner we can beat some sense back into him.”

  “That’s the spirit.”

  16

  We waited until the sun had set and the evening meal was in full swing before enacting our first plan. We’d gone through a couple of different options, including outright kidnapping Iannis, but even though he might have been under some kind of enchantment, there was no evidence that he didn’t still have full use of his formidable powers. In fact, he was the only one of the hunters who didn’t carry a weapon, so he was probably relying on magic even now.

  “Alright,” Fenris said as we watched Iannis leave the fire and head back into one of the tents. We’d already tried using mindspeak to reach him, but he hadn’t responded, so our only choice was to get closer. “I’ll head in now.” He crouched down, white light enveloping him as he changed from man to wolf.

  “Be careful,” I told him as the light faded from his form, revealing a large wolf with coarse brown fur and yellow eyes. “The Coazi won’t be happy if they see you anywhere near their children.”

  “Don’t worry.” Fenris shook himself, then stretched and yawned, revealing his sharp, white fangs. It was still hard to believe that he’d once been a full-blooded mage, even with all the little clues I’d noticed before. “I can be stealthy.”

  Annia and I climbed up a tree and watched as Fenris quietly approached the camp. At first we thought things were going to be fine – nearly all of the Coazi were happily gathered near the fire, including the children, who were playing with the dogs.

  The dogs.

  “Oh fuck!” I cursed, suddenly realizing how stupid we were. “Fenris, get out of there! The dogs—”

  But it was too late. One of the dogs had suddenly stopped playing, ears perked and nose in the air as he sniffed. Fenris, who was outside Iannis’s tent, froze and the dog bayed as he caught the intruder’s scent. The two huge beasts sprang forward, and Fenris made a run for it, but several Coazi rushed out of their tents, blocking his path as the slavering dogs closed in. My breath caught in my throat as I watched Iannis rush out of his tent, then stand by and do nothing as the two animals fell upon Fenris. There was no recognition in Iannis’s eyes, only a bemused frown as he watched the three beasts roll around in the dirt, jaws snapping and snarling as they fought for the upper hand. The Coazi were closing in, already making a tight circle around the animals, so there was no way Fenris was escaping – the only way he was getting out of this was if he changed back into a human, and if he did that our cover would be blown.

  Just as I was getting ready to jump out of the tree and charge into the camp, the shamaness stepped forward, her shawl fluttering around her slender arms as she made a cutting motion with her arm and shouted something. The dogs backed off instantly, returning to her side, and Fenris lay there panting for a moment, clearly weakened by the attack. Before he could get up, the shamaness reached into a pouch hanging from her belt and tossed some sort of powder at Fenris, then shouted something I could not understand. A purple glow enveloped Fenris, and my heart froze as he stopped moving.

  “Fenris!” I cried out. “What did she do to you? Are you hurt?”

  “Not hurt…but extremely lethargic,” Fenris answered as the Coazi tossed him into a wooden cage and tied it shut with leather ropes. “You need to get to Iannis and break the spell on him – I could see the aura of a strong enchantment around him, and cannot not reach him with mindspeak even here. I have a feeling the shamaness has plans for me that I’m not going to enjoy, so please hurry.” Beneath the urgency of his tone I could sense Fenris’s disappointment, and I felt bad for him. Even though he knew Iannis had been under a spell, it must have cut Fenris deeply that his best friend had not recognized and aided him.

  “No kidding,” I said as I watched the Coazi carry Fenris’s cage into one of the huts that was near the fire. It was smaller than the others, and had some kind of ceremonial beading dripping from the entrance in lieu of a door, so I had a feeling the hut was used for rituals or important meetings. “Are you sure we shouldn’t just storm the camp and rescue you first? I really don’t want them to sacrifice you to whatever gods or spirits they worship.”

  “An attack now would be too dangerous, since Iannis is under the shamaness’s control and will likely defend the tribe along with her. You need to get him alone and break through the spell clouding his mind. It’s the only way.”

  “And just how am I supposed to do that?” I demanded, digging my claws into the pine bark as panic rose in my chest. “He didn’t recognize you at all, Fenris, and the two of you have known each other for years. What makes you think he’s going to recognize me?”

  “He probably won’t,” Fenris admitted heavily. “But if you can get the serapha charm back around his neck, that might help you break the spell.”

  “Umm, so what’s the plan, exactly?” Annia asked, sounding more than a little worried. “I’m going to assume you’ve been chatting with Fenris instead of staring dumbly off into space, and it would be nice to know what we’re doing next.”

  “Fenris says I should try putting the serapha charm around Iannis’s neck and see if that breaks the spell.” I tugged the chain from beneath my shirt and stared down at the charm. “I guess if I do that, it’ll remind him of our connection and hopefully get through to him. I just hope he doesn’t see me as a threat and try to kill me.”

  “Just because the Chief Mage is dressing like a Coazi and under a spell doesn’t mean he isn’t the same person,” Annia pointed out. “From what you’ve told me, the Chief Mage isn’t a shoot first, ask questions later kind of guy. If you can get him alone for long enough, you might just be able to reason with him.”

  “I sure hope so, because it looks like I’m about to get my shot,” I said as Iannis walked out of a hut with a small bundle beneath his arm. I watched as he headed in the direction of the woods he’d come from earlier, and my heart rate shot up as anticipation raced through me.

  “I’ll stay up here and make sure Fenris doesn’t become dinner,” Annia told me. “You go get the Chief Mage, and don’t forget to take a piece out of that ass of his for putting you through the wringer.”

  “Damn right.” I cracked a smile, then grew serious again. “If you see an opportunity to get Fenris out of there, jum
p on it.”

  “Will do.”

  I sprang out of the tree, then shifted into panther form and crept around the camp, careful to stay out of sight behind the tree line and downwind of the dogs. The last thing I needed was for the Coazi to find me and stick me in a cage next to Fenris. Thankfully they’d gone back to eating and dancing around the fire, and with my inky-black fur nobody would be able to spot me beneath the cover of the pines.

  Once I’d made it around to the forest on the other side of the camp, I put my nose to the ground and started sniffing out Iannis’s trail. It didn’t take me long to find it, and I trotted uphill, winding my way through the trees and taking care not to rustle the needle-laden branches. I didn’t want to alert Iannis to my presence – the last thing I needed was for him to blast me with his magic because he thought I was a wild animal that wanted him for dinner.

  As Iannis’s scent grew stronger, the sound of running water greeted my ears, followed by a splash. A gap in the trees brought the stream into view, and I nearly tripped over a pinecone as I caught sight of Iannis standing waist deep in the water without a stitch of clothing on. My mouth went dry as I watched the moonlight play over the muscles of his broad back, and I traced a line down his spine with my gaze until it disappeared beneath the silver ripples of the water. A flush spread across my skin, and suddenly I was too hot for my fur.

  As Iannis dunked his head beneath the water, I shifted back into human form, figuring that was probably my safest bet. I stepped out of the tree line as he resurfaced, and swallowed hard as he tilted his head back and pushed his gleaming mane of hair back from his face. Silver moonlight played across the strong planes of his handsome face, highlighting the length of his nose, the edges of his high cheekbones, the strength of his triangular jaw. His sensual lips, normally so firm, parted on a contented sigh, and it struck me that I’d never seen him so relaxed. I wondered if he was like this in the privacy of his rooms, or if living out in the wilderness had softened him.