by Rinelle Grey
“Since they set half the countryside on fire and made a dragon appear out of thin air.”
“Don’t be silly, there’s no such thing as dragons,” Mianna said automatically.
“That’s what I thought, Mianna, until I saw it with my own eyes. The man, their leader, is saying if we surrender, no one will be hurt. And the other guys are saying we should listen.”
“You trust someone like that to keep their word?” she said sharply. “Take me to the tower and show me this dragon.”
She followed the warrior to the lookout tower, not quite sure what to believe. But the field of unmoving flame, crowned by a dragon sitting on a tree, was hard to dispute. So was the man who stood in front of them all, unafraid.
The dragon roared—an unnatural sound that echoed off the ridge behind her. Mianna jumped and swallowed the automatic scream that rose in her throat. Hopefully that sound didn’t carry over the ridge.
Where was Brianna when she needed her? She would know what to do.
But Brianna wasn’t here and who knew when she would be back. Mianna had to make the decision herself.
“Surrender now and no one will be harmed.” The voice was unnaturally loud.
The dragon roared again, and Mianna’s heart jumped into her throat as it leapt into the air and flew towards the very spot she stood. It took all her courage to stand her ground and stare at it as it flapped its wings a mere thirty yards from her.
“What other choice do we have?” Terion’s voice said quietly at her shoulder.
She wanted to turn and bury her face in his shoulder. To let him take care of her and make the decisions that seemed impossible. But Terion wasn’t in charge of the village, she and Brianna were.
“We could refuse,” she said.
“Look at them, Anna.” He waved his hand at the army outside. “They come close to outnumbering our warriors as it is. With command of fire and a dragon on their side...” He shook his head. “They could raze the village without a thought. We have no choice but to surrender.”
“And what if they’re lying? What if they kill everyone as soon as we give in?” Mianna demanded.
“They don’t need to get inside our walls to do that,” Terion pointed out. “If they wanted us dead, we would be.”
He had a point. Brianna was going to kill her when she returned home, if she was still alive.
“Open the gates,” she said tiredly.
Two warriors headed for the mechanism that slid the heavy wooden gates back. Mianna allowed herself a moment to rest her head against her husband’s chest.
“You don’t have to go down there and face this man,” Terion said quietly. “You can let me do it.”
Mianna shook her head. “Brianna and I are responsible for the people of this village, it wouldn’t be right.”
Terion just sighed. He had known what her answer would be before he asked. “What do you want me to do?”
“Avoid these people. Go wait for Brianna and warn her. Maybe she will know what to do.”
Terion searched her face for a moment, then nodded. “Take care, Anna.” And he kissed her.
Then he was gone. Mianna looked down at the man riding towards the gates, as though he owned the place, and bit her lip. Then she put her hand on her sword and walked down the stairs to stand inside the gate. The warriors of the village arrayed themselves behind her.
The man rode on slowly, and Mianna took the chance to size him up. At first glance, he seemed rather innocuous. In fact, it was the man whose horse trailed behind his by half a length who concerned her. That man, with his greying beard, stared at her with fury.
Her eyes went back to the first man, and she almost took a step back. Dark eyes, flashing fire, bored into her. A slight smile twisted the corner of his mouth and he raised an eyebrow at her as if they shared some sort of secret.
“Who do you think you are?” she demanded angrily, no longer able to stay silent. “My family has run this village for generations. What gives you the right to march in here and terrify my people?”
The man seemed amused by her comments. He dismounted from his horse leisurely, then took a few steps towards her. He stopped just as Mianna was wondering if his men would back off if she ran him through, and gave her a mocking bow. “Lyall Balen, Prince of Isla de Magi.”
Mianna was aware that her jaw dropped. She felt slightly faint at his words. Isla de Magi? Did that mean? She swallowed. “You’re a mage?”
He nodded. “I am.” His eyes crinkled a little. He was smiling? Who did he think he was?
“What do you want with our village?” she demanded.
His eyes met hers for a moment and Mianna supressed a shiver. Why did they seem to see into her soul? Was that what mages did? Then his eyes lifted to look at the men and women standing behind her. Mianna didn’t even have to look back to know that they were all staring at him, hands on their swords. He nodded, then looked back at her. “As I said, no one will be hurt if you cooperate. Now where can we talk more privately?”
Mianna didn’t like the sound of that. At all. Apparently neither did his advisor. The man with the beard cleared his throat. “Sir, shouldn’t we see to securing the village first?”
The mage prince looked over at him. He nodded. “See to it, Urster. Replace the sentries with our own.” He turned back to Mianna. “Your men and women might as well go back to their homes and settle in for the night. There will be no fighting.”
No one moved behind Mianna. She gave a smile. “I’m not sure anyone here trusts you.”
His eyes narrowed. “I’m a man of my word,” he said tightly. “You have nothing to fear from me.”
“And yet, here you are, invading my village,” Mianna said sweetly. She had no idea what she was doing, taunting this man. He was a mage. She was playing with fire. Literally. She laughed inwardly.
“Privately,” he snapped.
It took all her willpower not to take a step forward, away from his intense gaze. He glared at the men and women behind her. “I suppose I don’t need to tell you that fire and dragons work just as well within the walls?”
He watched her carefully. Just what sort of reaction was he looking for? Mianna swallowed. She turned around to the men and women behind her, though turning her back on the mage wasn’t easy. “Return to your homes,” she said quietly. “There is nothing you can do here.”
The last thing she needed was someone thinking they’d be a hero and take this man out. He’d made no attempt to relieve them of their weapons, leaving the conclusion that he didn’t see any of them as a danger. Weapons would not be any use against him. Their only hope was a cunning plan.
Where was Brianna?
Everyone looked at her questioningly and a few hands tightened on their swords. Mianna shook her head. “Return to your homes,” she repeated. No one moved for a long moment, then slowly, the crowd started melting away. Mianna swallowed a sigh of relief.
She turned back to the mage. “What now?” she asked through tight lips.
He was staring at her again, but at her words, he straightened up. “My men will make camp outside, but I will need somewhere I can work from. Wherever you normally work from is best. People cope best with as few changes as possible.
Mianna swallowed. “I don’t work from anywhere. This is a small village. If people need me, they come to my home.”
Did he seem pleased? Bastard!
“Then your home will do nicely. I assume you have an office or study there?”
Mianna nodded. How was she going to get out of this? She couldn’t bear to have this man in the same house as her babies. But where else could he go where she could be sure no one was going to try something stupid in the middle of the night?
He was watching her. “I wouldn’t dream of hurting you, but some of my men are rather untrusting. If anything happens to me, I have no idea what they would do to this village,” he warned. “And even if they somehow manage to take out the thirty men who have come inside with me, the
re are another fifty outside. I don’t want anyone to get hurt.” His voice was just loud enough to be heard by the last of the crowd leaving.
Mianna bit back a sigh. Brianna was not going to be impressed. At all. She was useless as a leader. Why oh why had her sister chosen this particular night to go scouting?
“It’s this way,” she said quietly. She turned and walked back to her home, aware of his presence close behind her the whole way. She heard footsteps approaching as she neared the door.
“The village is secure and all seems quiet,” Urster said.
“Good. Tell them to keep alert.”
“I will, sir.”
The man’s footsteps didn’t leave. In fact, two other’s joined the first. Mianna was strangely comforted by his presence. He seemed to provide some sort of check for the prince’s strangeness.
She opened the door and lead both men up the stairs, grateful the bedroom door was closed, and through to the study. She and Brianna really should have a bigger house, or at least one with a receiving room separated from the living area.
“The village records are held here.” She almost choked on the words. “If there is anything you need…”
He glanced around the room briefly. “This will do nicely.” He turned to Urster, standing at the door, flanked by two other men. “Search the house. I don’t want any surprises. You can wait outside.”
Mianna felt cold. “There’s no one else here,” she said quickly. Too quickly.
His eyes narrowed. “Tell me who it is.”
The entrance to the basement was hidden, but it wouldn’t escape a serious search. “Please, my children are in the basement with their grandmother. They’re babies, and they’re probably asleep now. Leave them be.” Tears filled her eyes.
Fire leapt in his eyes. “Children?”
What did he have against children? Mianna held her breath. He stared at her, and this time it wasn’t hard not to back down. She’d do anything she had to to protect Kylis and Lylis.
“Where is the entrance to the basement?”
“Please, leave them alone. I’ll do whatever you want, just leave them alone.”
He halted at her statement, stared at her searchingly for a moment, then nodded. “Tell me where the entrance is and my men will just guard it. No one will step inside without you there.”
Still Mianna hesitated. This man had done nothing so far to make her trust him.
He swore. “Just the room. I can’t take the risk that someone else is hiding there.”
She should have sent Terion to get the children out, not to find Brianna. But how was she to know this man would insist on coming to her house?
Her mind wavered. He already knew of the basements existence, finding it wouldn’t be hard. “It’s in the living room,” she admitted quietly.
He nodded to the men outside and they left the room. The other one, Urster, remained.
“Get out, Urster,” the man said roughly.
“Are you sure that’s wise, sir?”
“Get out!”
The man retreated, closing the door behind him.
Leaving Mianna alone with the mage.
She stood near the door. “I... I’ll leave you to get settled.” She edged towards the door.
He closed the gap between them with two strides, and Mianna barely had time to think before his hands were around her waist, pulling her sharply against him. “Anna,” he breathed, right before his lips crushed hers.
Adrenalin flooded through her—fear combined with anger. How dare he! Well, she wasn’t some little simpering woman. She might not have embraced fighting as Brianna had, but she was more than capable of defending herself. Her fingernails clawed at his cheek, and at the same time, she brought her knee up between his legs.
He shifted just in time for her strike to miss the most sensitive spot, but still he stumbled back, leaning against the desk, one hand going to his cheek. He stared at her as though he couldn’t believe what had just happened.
Mianna didn’t pause. “How dare you use my twin name! That privilege belongs to my husband and my husband only. I don’t care if you’re a mage, or a prince, that doesn’t give you the right to abuse me.”
His eyes widened. “Husband? Twin?” He swore. Then he laughed. “You must be Mia… Mianna, right?”
She just glared at him. He knew who she was. He must have heard her name from another village. “You think you can walk in here and win a set of twins? It’s not that simple. We’re already married, so you’re going to have to find another way to fulfil your fantasies.”
His eyes darkened and if her back hadn’t already been up against the door, Mianna would have stepped back. He closed the distance between them and gripped her shoulder so hard she winced. “You’re married? Both of you?”
Mianna wished she’d kept her mouth shut now. “Of course we are. Our village follows the law of the land. Twins marry together. That is how it is always done.”
“We’ll see about that,” he growled. “Where’s your husband?”
“Do you think I’m going to tell you that?” Mianna’s voice shook. “What happened to not wanting to hurt anyone?”
He checked again, then released her shoulder. He paced the room a couple of times, then turned to her. “Where is your sister?” His face was taught, and while his voice was quiet, there was an edge to it that made Mianna shiver.
“She’s not here.”
“I can see that,” he said through clenched teeth. “Where is she? I don’t really want to have to get everyone out of bed to search the entire village.”
“She’s not in the village.”
His frown was sudden, and less intimidating this time. “When will she be back and by which entrance?” he asked sharply.
“Do you really think I’m going to tell you that?” Mianna demanded.
He stared at her for a moment, then laughed. “You’d better, if you want to see your sister alive. My men are in the process of creating a magical barrier around the village. Anyone who tries to enter or leave will die.”
Mianna stared at him in horror. “You said you wouldn’t hurt anyone!”
“I said if everyone cooperated, no one would be hurt,” he countered. “Trying to enter or leave the village is hardly cooperating. Now tell me where your sister will return, so I can create a gap for her.”
Terion was waiting at the door. Fear clutched at Mianna. Hopefully he hadn’t gone outside, searching for Brianna. “There’s a door in the North East corner of the wall. She’ll come in there.” She hesitated. He had already threatened her husband, but if Terion touched that barrier, one that he probably couldn’t even see… “My husband has gone looking for her.”
He stared at her, then swore. He pushed her away from the door and spoke to the older man outside. “There is a door in the North East wall and a man somewhere nearby. Create a gap in the barrier around the door. Guard the area, but quietly. Don’t let anyone coming in see you. And bring the man to me.”
“A gap in the barrier? Are you sure that’s wise?”
“Now is not the time to question, Urster. Just do it.”
This Urster seemed a lot more sensible than the prince, who was fast beginning to seem like he was crazy. Mianna couldn’t make any sense of what he was doing or saying. What was his goal? What did he want? She shook her head.
He stepped back into the room and stared at her. “You can bring your children up to bed. They’re in no danger from me.”
Mianna wished she could believe that. “They’re fine where they are for now.”
He paced the room a couple of times again. Then stood in front of her. He took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Mianna. I mean no harm to you or your family. You can go about your business without fear of harm.”
“You invade my village, come into my home, threaten my husband, and you think I shouldn’t be afraid of you?”
He winced at each word. “Come with me,” he said and opened the door.
Reluctantly, M
ianna followed.
He walked down to the living room, where two men stood at the door with swords. “Wait outside,” he said quietly.
These two didn’t ask questions, they just nodded and disappeared out the door. “Where is the entrance?”
Mianna hesitated. Logic told her that Ryla and the children were no safer in the basement than anywhere else in the house. But crossing to the rug and pulling open the trap door attached underneath it wasn’t easy.
There was silence from the room below. “Ryla?” Mia said softly. She glanced over at the mage, but he just stood watching her, arms folded. Mianna stepped down into the basement, out of his view, giving her eyes a few moments to adjust to the dark.
“Is everything okay?” Ryla asked? Both children were asleep on the mattress next to her.
Mianna breathed a sigh of relief to see them safe. “Not really, but it’s no safer here than up there.”
Ryla looked at her questioningly, and Mianna sighed. “Mages have invaded the village. They say they mean us no harm, not that I trust them. Right now though, we have no choice but to do as they say. Bring the children up.”
She picked up the sleeping Kylis and carried her carefully up the stairs. Ryla followed with Lylis. The mage watched her, lips tight. Ignoring him, she took the babies up the stairs and tucked them into the big bed. She stared at the sleeping children for a while.
How would she ever keep them safe through this?
15
Outside the Wall
Brianna opened the small door and slipped inside, two young men following her. She looked around the quiet corner on the far side of the village. Something was definitely wrong, but what was it?
She hadn’t even made it to the next village before a feeling of unease had come over her. She had been planning on asking questions about the rumours she’d heard lately—rumours about invasions and attacks. But she no longer ignored those feelings when they happened.
Everything looked quiet.
That was it. It was quiet. Too quiet. There should be people walking about, visiting each other, lights from windows and the sounds of people eating dinner. Instead, everything was dark and silent.