Pledged

by Gwynneth White

  “Based on what? My hatred of all Guardians?”

  “That, I’m afraid, is part of the curse that flows in your veins. But, to answer your question: almost fifteen-hundred years have passed, and that’s a very long time for anyone to be enslaved to Reuel – no matter what they did in their lifetime. So the time is now right to send in our best hope. You.” Gideon turned to Erin and smiled. “And of course you too, Sparkles.”

  “That’s my name for her.” Seth gave Gideon a sour look. “And you dead people just can’t give straight answers, can you? Why am I a Custodian?”

  “Seth, who else do you know who has your brand of loyalty, your devotion to your friends, your ability to make peace?” Gideon chuckled. “Although, that said, we could use some of your diplomacy right now.”

  “Yes,” Erin said before Seth could snap out a reply she was sure he’d regret. “Seth certainly shows a marked degree of devotion to Kyle.”

  “Indeed he does, Erin. That already breaks the mould of Reuel’s Curse.” Gideon hesitated. “Seth, all you now have to do is work on your concept of promises.”

  Seth held up his hands. “Stop right there. What are you saying? That I’m cursed?”

  “I’m afraid so, Seth,” Gideon replied. “You made a promise to Kyle. Didn’t you?”

  “Yes. I told him I’d help him find the diamond. But how does that pledge me to Reuel?”

  “Tell us about that night, Seth.”

  “Why? I assume you were there. Given that you’ve probably been spying on me for years.”

  “Describe the scene, Seth. After all, I may have been there, but Erin wasn’t.”

  It took a full minute for Seth to reply. “It was late. About three in the morning. We had been going at each other for days about the stupid rock and I was sick to death of it. All I wanted was for Kyle to shut up already.” Seth voice dropped. “I was so tired. I guess in desperation I went down on my hands and knees pleading for him to leave me alone if I promised to help him find the Stone.”

  “That’s not quite how I recall it, Seth.”

  “Then you tell it.” Seth was running out of patience with Gideon.

  “You went down on bended knee and promised to give Kyle the Seer-Stone. And, because you had already agreed to be a Custodian, by offering it to him, you pledged yourself to Reuel. After all, what else does Reuel want, other than to destroy the diamond that holds the key to lifting the curse?”

  “Come on, that’s crazy!” Seth cried. “How was I to know I was a Custodian? That’s like punishing me for stuff I didn’t know.”

  “Seth, when the visions started, you knew the Stone was important. You knew instinctively that you had to defend it – at all costs. But you went against a compulsion that was burned into your spirit before you were even born. A compulsion that was confirmed to you again in mortality, once the visions started. You knew. And I know that for a fact, because I was reading your thoughts.”

  “But this is just stupid. How could I promise to give Kyle a Stone I didn’t even have?”

  “I see you have the grace not to deny what I’m saying. I am grateful for that.” Gideon didn’t wait for an answer. “Extend that honesty, Seth, and admit that you never once doubted that you’d find the Stone.”

  “That’s not true. I was terrified of the whole thing.”

  “Yes, the whole concept filled you with so much dread you went into instant denial.” Gideon fixed his steely-grey eyes on Seth. “But in your heart, you knew.”

  Erin hoped Seth would continue his denials because she didn’t want it to be true that he was cursed. Instead, Seth covered his mouth with his hand as if he was going to be sick. Then he whispered, “But that would mean . . . Kyle must know about all this.” He faced Gideon. “He does, doesn’t he?”

  “More than you can imagine.”

  Seth started pacing. Of course. Every Shadow Lord is shown a vision of the diamond, and Kyle’s the Shadow Lord. He must have known about it long before I did. But why didn’t he come and find it? Why did he wait for me to become Custodian? Seth stopped, his face wracked with pain. “Gideon, did Kyle know I would be Custodian? That I would bring him the diamond?”

  Gideon, who had read Seth’s thoughts, looked at him with a puzzled expression. It took a moment for him to reply. “He did.”

  Seth punched the closest wall.

  Gideon folded his arms across his chest. “Yet another reason you were chosen, Seth. Even your gentle tolerance has its limits.”

  Gideon’s words pulled Erin from her stunned shock. She sprinted over and grabbed Seth’s hand. “Seth, your knuckles . . . they’re bleeding.” She blew on them, as if that could change everything.

  “Erin, you don’t get it.”

  “I do. I promise. I do.” She kissed his hand. “Somewhere there’s a solution to this. And . . . and we’ll find it. Together.”

  “There’s only one solution, Erin.” Seth’s eyes were wild with panic. “I have to get back to Kyle.”

  Erin’s eyes filled with tears. “Just say no, Seth. Just say Kyle can’t have the diamond.” She looked at Gideon. “Will that work? Is that enough?”

  “The promise was made to Kyle. It must be broken in Kyle’s presence.”

  “Will you do that, Seth? If you get back to him. Then the curse, it’s broken. Right, Gideon?”

  “That is one way of breaking the curse. But it’s not the best way.”

  “Then what is?” Erin demanded.

  “But it’s my way.” The determination in Seth’s voice took both Erin and Gideon by surprise. “If Kyle has lied to me, used me, then I intend looking him in the eye and demanding an explanation.”

  “Seth,” Gideon said in surprisingly gentle voice. “Reuel’s Curse blinds even the brightest and best amongst us. You still don’t see the full picture of what’s going on between you and your brother. Now, if you will just listen to my way–”

  “No, Gideon!” Seth shouted. “I’m done with you, and Reuel, and your curses, and you both screwing with my life. It’s enough! I’m going back to Kyle. And I’ll rip the truth out of him, if I have to. So either you help me. Or I find another way.”

  Gideon looked tired, and very, very sad. “I do not own the Seer-Stone, any more than you do, Seth. I would therefore be acting outside the bounds of my authority if I helped you give it to Kyle so he can destroy it.” Gideon paused. “I see you’re disappointed, but I am what I am because I do not act outside the limits of my power. To do so would make me like Reuel.”

  Seth exhaled a slow breath. He was bitterly disappointed by Gideon’s answer, but he tried to cover it. “I thought you were all-powerful here.”

  “I am not God, if that is what you are implying. I am merely his servant. To help you destroy the Stone, which holds the key to lifting the curse, will cost me my place in the eternities. And that I will not risk.”

  It took Seth a moment to reply. “I suppose I can understand that. I might not like it. But I get it.” He smiled weakly at Erin. “Don’t worry, Sparkles. Like you said, we’ll do it together.”

  Erin’s eyes were now brimming with tears. “Even after I’ve been so bitchy to you, you still want me with you?”

  “Of course. Without the one the other fails. Remember?”

  Erin gave Seth a quick hug. But he held her tight long after she tried to let go, burying his face in her hair. Although the situation could not have been worse, Erin smiled, tightening her arms around him. But even as it thrilled her to be in his arms, she was desperate to know what Gideon’s plan would have been. So she silently asked him.

  He replied in her mind. “I would have advised Seth to marry you. The moment he pledges to you, and then follows it up with a marriage, the curse will be broken.”

  Erin stiffened, but she forced her body to relax before Seth could sense her tension. Marry? But I’m not even eighteen!

  “Will you love Seth any less in five or ten years time?”

  I don’t know. Probably not, but–

/>   “Of course you won’t. When something’s right age doesn’t matter. And think of the fun you’ll have getting to know each other. Each day will bring a fresh surprise as your characters unfold. And after a lifetime of sharing the happiness and frustration that love brings, you and Seth will be rewarded with an eternity of joy.”

  Erin could see Gideon’s logic. And he was persuasive. Still her voice was hesitant as she replied, Then why don’t you ask Seth to marry me? Her thoughts faltered. Did Seth love her? She really had no idea of his feelings for her.

  “No Erin.” Gideon had confirmed what she already knew. Seth didn’t love her. But Gideon, reading that thought, quickly added, “He has chosen his course of action, and I will not plead with him to marry you. We learnt that lesson from Talitha and Caleb. It has to come from Seth. And you.”

  Again that logic was clear to Erin. The humiliation of listening to Gideon beg Seth to marry her, and then hearing him reject her, would be too much to bear.

  “Erin, before your and Seth’s embrace ends, I need a private answer from you – one that Seth is not to know about.”

  Why? Seth and I are in this together. Or aren’t we?

  “Yes. But Seth is cursed and you’re not. And like all Reuel’s Sons, he’s unable to see truth before his eyes. He’s made the decision to return to Kyle and that changes everything.”

  Seth loosened his arms, but Erin quickly buried her face in his shoulder to prolong their embrace. What do you want to know?

  “How much are you willing to sacrifice to free Seth from Reuel’s Curse?”

  Seth pulled away from Erin. For a moment she was disappointed, but then she sighed with relief. Not even her acting skills would have been enough to hide the icy shiver chilling her marrow at Gideon’s quietly spoke words. She covered up her dread with a smile. Gideon, the thought terrifies me, because I’m beginning to understand just what Shenayan sacrifices mean.

  “Indeed. So I ask again: How much are you prepared to sacrifice to help Seth?”

  Erin knew she had to answer Gideon quickly, but making decisions on life-changing questions without an array of facts before her was not her strong point. Especially when Seth’s gold-flecked brown eyes were fixed on her, his beautiful face cocked to one side, clearly questioning why she was so silent. Then he smiled his crooked smile.

  “You okay?”

  “I – I’m good. More than good.” Erin closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Gideon, I’ll do what ever it takes to make him mine.

  “That’s all I need to know.”

  Seth mussed her hair, and then turned to Gideon. “What happened to Erin? She was so amped with those mood swings. We all know she’s fiery, but that seemed so out of character.”

  “Thank heavens you realised that! I was scared you thought I was some awful, hormonal bitch.” Erin’s voice sounded a little loud, a little too tense.

  Seth didn’t notice.

  “Amped is the right word,” Gideon said. “Reuel meddled with you both. First Seth with his icy moods. When you found the antidote to that, he attacked Erin.” Gideon gave Seth a private smile. “And Seth, I suggest you tell Erin about the cure you found.”

  Seth brushed off the advice with a curt mental reply. She knows I love her. Just like I know she loves me. Why else would we want to be with each other after our cranky moods?

  Gideon snorted softly; then he brushed Erin’s face with a gleaming finger. “And you he burned you with fire. Or rather his Lightning Bird did.”

  “Fire? When?”

  “After your last bath. And it put you in one hell of a bad mood.”

  Erin pursed her lips, feeling justifiably angry, she thought. “Then why did you allow it? Guardians are supposed to protect us.”

  “For two reasons. First, you both needed to learn a vital lesson about asking for help. Get it into your heads once and for all that no Guardian will help you unless you ask for it. And second, I allowed it to happen so you would grasp just how insidious Reuel is.” Gideon looked at Erin expectantly.

  She opened her eyes wide, wondering what Gideon was waiting for.

  Seth chuckled; then he whispered out the corner of his mouth, “I think he’s waiting for you to ask for help.”

  “Oh!” Erin giggled. “Please. Help.”

  “With pleasure.” Gideon ran a finger down her face. Her core temperature dropped and peace settled on her like the comfy blanket she had loved so much as a child. “Now,” Gideon said matter-of-factly. “Back to Shenaya. My brother Reuel isn’t the only one plotting murder in this Fortress tonight. So, Erin, if you please, take your soul mate’s hand, and let the Seer-Stone lead you both to your next rendezvous with conspiracy.”

  “Wait! Not so fast,” Seth said. “What about Caleb? Look at him! You’re not going to leave him passed out on the floor, are you? You can’t just abandon him, even if his misery is self-inflicted.”

  “Seth, I can assure you, I have never abandoned a Shadow Lord while there remained a flicker of hope that he would make the right choice. Sadly, thus far every single one of them rejected my help and chose to follow Reuel. But, back here in the year 998AD, Caleb is as yet undecided, and I’ll not give up on him. Once he revives, I’ll speak with him about his future.”

  “Good.” Seth offered Erin his hand. “Let’s go find out which of my scum ancestors are plotting murder and mayhem tonight.”

  Chapter 19

  CONSPIRACY

  “Well, blow me down.” Seth smiled as he looked around the brooding darkness of Marlthas’s office. “Gideon mentions murder and – surprise, surprise – we’re right back here.”

  Erin gave Seth a mischievous look. “Your ancient granddaddy is nothing if not predictable. After all, who else other than Marlthas would be plotting murder and mayhem around here?”

  “Him,” Seth said, pointing to Rustus, who was facing Marlthas across the desk.

  “True.” Erin sucked in her cheeks, imitating Rustus’s gaunt face. “Hey, maybe I got it wrong and old Rustus is really your grandpa.”

  Seth rolled his eyes. “Give me a break. Just look at the guy.”

  “Jared must have got his good looks from his mother. And by the way, while we’re on the subject of Jared’s good looks, it’s surprising how much you look like him.”

  “I do not!”

  “Yes, you do. I kind of noticed it when I first saw Jared. But my mind refused to connect the dots. And you’ve got Daniel’s eyes.” She grinned at him. “But, best of all, you get your build from Caleb.”

  Seth gave her a disdainful look. “Are you quite finished?”

  “And you share mannerisms with Caleb too. He also chews his nails like there’s no tomorrow.”

  Not wanting to dwell on the gross possibility that any of his friends were in his paternal line, Seth grabbed Erin’s shoulders and steered her round to face Marlthas. “Look at the nasty man, child. He’s fondling his knife.”

  Seth was right. Marlthas was playing with his dagger, running his thumb along its length, enjoying its sharpness. But there was nothing playful in his conversation.

  “So, Rustus,” he was saying, “after Caleb’s attempt on my life this morning he has to die. I had hoped to wait until he provided me a grandson; that way, the succession wouldn’t fall to my other worthless son. But I can’t take any more chances.”

  Rustus pursed his thin lips. “There’s always Jared. It’s not too late to organise an Emblem Picking for him. The girl would be young, of course, but still able to bear a son. That would solve a multitude of problems.”

  Marlthas looked at Rustus and grunted, “The next Overlord of Shenaya will come through my loins, not yours.”

  “So the future of Reuel’s bloodline depends on that wimp Daniel, with Kezeah.” Rustus gave a loud snort. “What a lot we have to look forward to.”

  “Don’t push it, brother. It’s the only reason why I let Jethro dump the little bitch on me.”

  “I thought you took her because Jethro was making trouble. As
I recall he refused to send Sophia unless you invited him to the marriage sacrifice,” Rustus said. “So you placated him by accepting his demand to send Kezeah for Daniel. I think he blackmailed you, brother. And you were too stupid to see it.”

  “And you were too stupid to see the finer workings of my mind which allowed that blackmail to happen.” Marlthas lay back in his chair, smiling at Rustus. “But I don’t have the time – or the inclination – to try and explain it all to you. So let’s just stick with what you can understand. As soon as Kezeah delivers the goods I’ll have Daniel’s throat slit too. It’s time to start again in Shenaya, I think.”

  The skin on Rustus’s gaunt face tightened so much it looked as if it would split. “I foresee problems.”

  “You always do.” Marlthas picked at his teeth with the point of the dagger.

  “If you murder Caleb, people will think that the findings from the Predictor are true. It will lead to instability. Possibly even insurrection. You know as well as I do how fragile things are at present. I cannot – and will not – allow you to jeopardize what we have.”

  “Which is why I have the perfect solution to my ‘multitude of problems.’”

  Rustus’s eyes narrowed. “Hmm . . . you always spring to the most obvious and worst possible solutions. So who, other than Caleb and Daniel, are we purging this time?”

  “Nothing so crass, brother. And purges are your thing, not mine. Only one other person will die. Alfred. A nice trio, don’t you think?”

  “Ah . . . so that’s what you were implying at our last meeting. Who then takes over as Lord of the Armoury?”

  “Who do you think?” Marlthas again ran his thumb across the edge of his knife.

  “Jared is the obvious choice.” Rustus was battling to keep his face expressionless.

  “Is he really? Considering that, contrary to what you told me, he spent last evening in Sophia’s room.”

  Rustus’s face twitched before he’d a chance to suppress his synapses. “The guards must have lied to me. I’ll have them punished.”

  Marlthas angled his knife at Rustus’s throat. “Don’t strain yourself. Jared will pay for his crime by rendering me a service.”