by Candy Crum
Snow stopped and Arryn pulled Dante onto his mother’s massive back right along with her.
“Samuel,” Arryn said, her voice forced because of how tired she was.
“Yeah?” he replied, putting just as much effort into speaking.
“I hope you’re ready for this,” she replied, a dreamy smile on her face as her eyes looked upward to the stars beginning to glow in the night sky.
“Ready fer what, lass?”
“I’m gonna snore so loud. It’s gonna be bad. Snow says I snore like an old man when I’m this tired,” Arryn told him.
The rearick would have laughed, had he not been on the verge of passing out. “We’ll have a contest then. Whoever gets punched first is the winner. And how did she know what an old man’s snoring sounds like?”
“How is getting punched first a good… Oh. Because they’re the loudest. Got it. Damn it all, I’m tired. I can’t even put simple thoughts together.” Arryn yawned. “Snow heard the Chieftain sawing logs on her way back from a hunt. When I laughed at the images she relayed, she basically told me I shouldn’t laugh because I’m just as bad.”
Samuel did laugh then. “Yep. A contest it’ll be, lass, because I’m about ta shake the damn windas once we get ta Craigston.”
Scarlett smiled as the sheets were pulled back and her companion moved up to lie next to her. “That was perfect,” was all she said, catching her breath.
Barbara smiled, her blonde hair spreading over her pillow as she pulled the sheets over them. “I was happy to be of service. You seemed tense.”
With a chuckle, Scarlett said, “Yes, well, once everything is all settled and Amelia and that druid girl are dead, my stress will melt away. It will all be nothing more than a bad memory. We’re climbing the hill now, but don’t worry. We’re almost to the top.”
“Not that I doubt you, but how do you figure?”
The wicked mystic shrugged her naked shoulders. “See, everything we’re doing now, everything we have been working on… All the brainwashing, the compulsion, the subtle and not-so-subtle suggestions… The Boulevard is being rebuilt now, and as I continue to put my efforts into positive things in the city, the people will grow to love me. The mystical magic is the glue that their emotions and loyalty to me stick to. Talia had the right idea, just not the power to pull it off.”
Barbara nodded, her green eyes glistening in the candlelight. “But the Chancellor and the nature bitch both have to die for that to happen.”
Scarlett nodded. “Amelia and Arryn could expose me. It wouldn’t take much, because our hold on the people is light. Too many of them, and too few of us. Those two could point out how closely I worked with Talia. They could point out a great many things, and brick by brick my entire façade would tumble until the wall was nothing but rubble below my feet.
“But once they’re gone—once no one is left to stand in my way—we can drop the magic. It won’t be needed any longer. I can live here and rule over the people with absolutely no resistance. They will love me. They will do anything I ask them to, and they will believe their fearless Amelia died a traitor to the city right along with Arryn.”
Barbara smiled, turning to lie on her side. Her hand came to rest on Scarlett’s bare arm, her fingertips gently grazing the sensitive skin along the crease of her elbow.
“Simply tell me anything you need, and I’ll do it. You know this,” Barbara said.
There was a knock at the door before Nikolai walked in, not waiting for an answer. Neither woman bothered to cover herself further, since neither was very modest.
“Yes, Nikolai?” Scarlett asked.
Nikolai smiled. “You asked for an update as soon as I had one. Well, I do.”
Scarlett sat up, the sheet falling to her waist. “What is it?”
“The Guard. We have worked on them night after night, and I think they are bending. Whatever they’d heard about Arryn and the time she spent training the men to fight is all gone. Nothing is left except anger and hatred. Though, we might have had to do some convincing.”
Scarlett hadn’t needed to use much mental energy since the arrival of her friends, so it was easy for her to push against the barrier Nikolai had raised. He had nothing to hide, but they kept their minds hidden enough from one another that general absentminded thoughts weren’t often heard.
Feeling the brush, Nikolai lowered his barrier and allowed Scarlett to see what they had done.
As he had said for several nights now, they had snuck into the barracks after dark and planted subtle thoughts in the minds of the guardsmen. When they were sleeping, it took little to no effort to push their influence, though it took repetition.
They had moved from barracks to barracks, exerting only minor compulsion. It had taken the entire night, every night, and it had been painfully exhausting, but after almost a week they had decided to seal their work.
Nikolai, Vanessa, and Theo had all disguised themselves as their enemies, having picked their identities from the minds of those closest to them. Vanessa played the part of Arryn, Nikolai was Amelia, and Theo had been Cathillian.
They broke into the barracks as quietly as always. Nikolai made his way to a bed, mentally shoving the man lying in it to wake him. As the man awoke, Nikolai made sure his hand was tight around the Guard’s throat, convincing him that he was being choked by their once-faithful leader, Amelia.
Once the man had passed out with the image of the angry and cold-blooded Amelia burned into his mind, Nikolai let go, leaving him alive and unharmed. He hadn’t wanted to kill the man, only make him think he was dying—and that Amelia had been the murderer.
Across the walkway, Theo and Vanessa attacked a Guard they knew had been close to Cathillian. Just as Nikolai had done, the two mystics allowed the man to get a good look at their faces but left him alive.
Theo cracked him in the head with the butt of a magitech rifle that had been in the corner, physically knocking him out instead of using magic.
Last but not least, magically keeping all the other men sound asleep, they went through and slit the throats of several of the guards. As those men were bleeding out in their beds, the mystics implanted memories in the remaining ten guards’ minds.
They convinced them that they had woken to the sound of their brothers being killed, causing Amelia, Arryn, and Cathillian to flee.
The three mystics left the barracks, standing outside before giving every living man in there the mental shove to wake up, terrified and alert to what happened.
As Scarlett pulled back from Nikolai’s mind, she reached to her left and touched a small magitech lamp next to her, triggering the amphorald crystal inside to light. She saw that Nikolai was covered in blood.
She smiled.
“You know, I thought of that very scenario not just a day or two ago. Were you peeking?”
Nikolai returned her smile and lowered his head in a slow nod, his eyes momentarily closing before he met her gaze again. “I did. I apologize, but you seemed so deep in thought, so worried about how you might pull it off.”
“I was worried about all of you. I certainly couldn’t have done that myself, and knowing the three of you were on barracks duty while Barbara and I kept Henry in line and managed the citizens… Well, I just couldn’t bear to ask any more of you than I already had. I had assumed it would be too much. I wouldn’t risk it.”
He smiled. “That was why I did this for you. A little patience—that was all we needed. We spent several days preparing. We only needed sufficient meditation, drink, and rest, which we got plenty of late last night and earlier today. We pulled it off brilliantly. Right now, those men are scouting the city. I’m sure you’re about to have even more visitors.”
Scarlett couldn’t believe it. Nikolai had plucked the plan straight from her head and had executed it perfectly. Those men were now convinced, without a shred of doubt, that that it had been Amelia, Arryn, and Cathillian that had broken into the city, killed all those guards and attempted to kill two other
s.
The two who were alive would give positive identification, while the others would swear to seeing them flee the barracks and the city. It was all too perfect. The Guard would now listen to her.
Before anything else could be said, frantic pounding on the front door to her home echoed through the halls and into her room. The three mystics took turns looking at one another, smiles growing on their faces.
“Nikolai, dear, you’re covered in blood. Please use my shower. Barbara, it’s your turn now. Disguise yourself as a guard—my personal guard. Greet the men, and tell them I’m getting dressed.”
Barbara leaned over, kissing Scarlett on the shoulder before getting up. Without dressing, the mystic stood and walked across the room.
Scarlett couldn’t see the white take her lover’s eyes, but she could sense her power as the woman’s body began to change. She walked into the darkness of the hallway, heading to greet the eager guests.
9
By the time Samuel led the others into the rearick town of Craigston, every one of them were ready to pass out. Exhaustion had completely taken some, like Arryn, who had fallen asleep on the back of her fearless tiger, Snow. Dante was out, too.
Cathillian had been only barely able to hang on, but Samuel was even worse. He hadn’t grown in strength like the others. His magic was still new, so any use at all zapped him entirely. But that didn’t matter—he’d had to stay awake to lead everyone to safety and get help for the injured.
Unfortunately, several rearick lost their lives that day, but Samuel was grateful they had been able to save the ones they had. It had been an honor to help his own people for once.
He didn’t mind working with the Arcadians or the druids. To him, assisting the Arcadians helped his own people by proxy. What was good for those selfish bastards in the city would bring profitable work to his brothers.
The druids, however, were different. They weren’t selfish. They weren’t bad folk at all. They were everything the rearick were—although a bit taller and prettier, of course—honorable, kind, and possessed of sharp tongues and wit. All things that made a man or woman trustworthy.
He supposed they were a bit more organized in the battle department, too, though he would never tell the young pointy-eared lad that. He knew Cathillian would never let him hear the end of it.
Samuel loved Arryn. She was kind of like a daughter to him, though he would have been a very young father to her. He felt the pride and closeness to her that he had felt for his own child.
She was everything he hoped his daughter, Alyssa, would have been when she grew up—minus the magic, of course. It was kind of appropriate, given how he felt about Arryn’s aunt—yet another thing he would never admit to.
But his love for Arryn and his confusing feelings for Celine—that he still refused to admit, even to himself—were very different from what he felt for Cathillian. While Arryn was like his daughter, Cathillian was like a brother.
They constantly went back and forth with one another, arguing and picking on one another. If Cathillian had ever failed to give Samuel a hard time, he would surely have taken offense. Tall as a tree or not, that boy was like a rearick. Stubborn, feisty, and strong—not to mention funny as hell.
Samuel had lost his family quite some time ago, but he had stumbled into another one.
“Ugh.”
Samuel heard the moans and groans of discontent behind him. He looked back and saw Arryn waking as she nearly fell from Snow. The big cat had turned her head and was trying to nudge Arryn back up, but it wasn’t happening.
“Yer about ta take a spill, lassie,” Samuel said.
She groaned again. “Please tell me we’re almost there.”
The rearick laughed. “We just made it. Ophelia’s is just ahead, if anyone wants ta make a stop.”
Arryn perked up then, raising one hand as the other rubbed her eyes. “Me.” She coughed, clearing her throat. He laughed at her again because she looked so pathetic. “Me. I wanna go. I want some mystic’s brew.”
Samuel’s eyes widened as the corners of his mouth turned up. “Ye wanna drink? Ye never drink.”
She laughed. “Yeah, well, I sure as hell will now. I love the Chieftain, but that shit he makes would strip the bark off a tree. He makes two kinds—sweet enough with the sugar cane to blacken your teeth on contact, or bitter enough to eat a hole through your stomach.”
“It ain’t the shit we make here or the shit those mystics up the hill make, I’ll give ye that,” Samuel said, “but I rather liked it. I was impressed.”
Arryn looked at him incredulously, her hands making a sarcastic gesture.
Samuel laughed. “Right. I see yer point.”
“Exactly. The way I heard it, rearick could eat the ass out of a skunk and those cast-iron bellies wouldn’t even grumble about it,” Arryn said.
Samuel opened his mouth to protest, but he shut it again. “Ye know, I don’t have an argument fer that, lass. It’s true.”
Arryn smiled. “See? So, I want something good before I pass out.”
With a nod, Samuel said, “Come on. I’ll get ye good and drunk. Ye won’t even know yer own name when we’re done.”
“Uh…” Cathillian chimed in. “Do you think that’s a good idea? You’re exhausted.”
“Butt out, lad,” Samuel said. “The lady wants to let go and have some fun. She ain’t had a bit of it since she got back from that damnable mountain. I think she’s earned it.”
Arryn found a little energy then, smiling with excitement as they grew closer to the building Samuel had pointed out.
“I didn’t even think about it, but this really is the first time I’ve let myself relax,” Arryn said.
“Maybe we should find ye somethin’ to punch while we’re in there,” Samuel said.
“Samuel!” Cathillian scolded.
“Damn it, boy,” Samuel snapped, looking back from his horse. He pointed a finger at Cathillian. “In the damned woods we do things yer way. This up here is rearick country. Ye made me respect the trees, fer goddess’ sake. Not a single huntin’ trip! Ye owe me.”
Cathillian laughed. “Damn, Sam. Get all feisty about it, why don’t ya?”
Samuel nodded and turned back around with a smile on his face. “I will. So will she, if she likes. Lass, ye don’t walk into Ophelia’s without plannin’ ta punch or break at least somethin’.”
Arryn almost beamed with excitement. “Hell, yes. Let’s get these people to safety and make sure they’re taken care of. Then it’s time to have some fun.”
Spring had come, and though it was still too cold for most people to swim, it wasn’t for Elysia. She liked the water cold, especially in the Kalt River.
Sometimes, when she had thoughts constantly flowing through her mind and raging like that very river, she would slip away after dark for a swim. On this particular night, she’d had quite a bit of the Chieftain’s wine, so she was well equipped to handle the cold water.
Elysia stripped off her clothes and stepped forward, dipping her toes into the water. Smiling as she balanced on one foot, she found the water truly was warm enough for the swimming season to begin.
The Elder took slow steps, wading into the water. The current pressed against her, but it wasn’t anything she couldn’t handle. It was relaxing, the rippling water massaging her body from head to toe.
As she stood there in the moonlight, she thought back to the first time she had ever gone night-swimming. It had been with Cathillian’s father, Liam. She smiled as she recalled it.
Druids didn’t allow things like chastity to burden them or weigh them down like the Arcadians did. It wasn’t as if they spent all their time getting it on in the Forest, but it was a celebration of life—something beautiful between two people. Certainly nothing to be ashamed of.
So, when Liam had snuck into her home to wake her when she was sixteen, stealing her away in the night. It had come as no surprise to the Chieftain when he found her bed empty the next morning.
&nb
sp; They had spirited away to the river, laughing as they chased one another. She’d had feelings for Liam since she was a little girl. He was only two years older, but when he had told her how he felt about her, she couldn’t stay away.
He was incredibly tall, even for the tall druids, and had long, dark-blonde hair, tanned skin, and emerald eyes. The intense color of his irises was rare, even among the druids, who were all born with green eyes because of their magic.
His magic was strong, but his mental and physical strength in battle were unmatched. It was he who had convinced her to train, though her father had tried fruitlessly for years.
Day in and day out she trained with him. Her skills quickly progressed, but her body was always very sore. Every night, Liam would sneak her away and bring her to the river.
He would walk her in and care for her, healing her as he washed her long hair in the current. Never once did he try to take advantage of the situation, which only made her love him more.
Finally, after months of the routine—training hard during the day and sneaking away to the river at night to be alone—she made the move she had wanted to for so long and became a woman.
It didn’t take long for her father to find out, of course, but he handled it well. He liked Liam and what he brought out in Elysia, a fire he had feared had been extinguished when her mother died.
It was on the bank of that very river, only a year later, that she had told Liam that he would be a father. Tears streaked her face as she remembered that day.
Elysia looked over her shoulder at the thick patch of grass just outside the edge of the woods. Liam had planted a large patch of lilies there for her. They had bloomed purple and white—her favorites.
He had grown them for her and their unborn son. Even now, over twenty years later, whatever grew in that area was healthier than anything else in the Forest.
Elysia’s eyes widened when they saw not a tall patch of grass, but blooming lilies. The tips of her fingers gently came to rest on her lips. They were bright pink, but they were beautiful.