Rose and Thorn: Black Rose Sorceress, Book 2

by Connie Suttle

  Still, I worried I'd destroy it, and I wanted to delve further into the information it carried.

  When I was past the fright and upset my first visit generated.

  "Here goes," I whispered to the shell in my hand, tossing it lightly toward the nearest perimeter divination wall.

  It sailed through without a hitch, landing on the soft spot I'd carefully laid out for it, so as not to harm it in any way.

  Releasing a pent-up breath, I worked to calm my nerves. Now, to try it with something I hadn't spelled to exude my own power.

  I took the second object Pottles gave me-a small stone she said she cared nothing about. I hadn't handled it as I had the shell.

  I had no idea what memories it carried, and had no desire to learn.

  Retrieving the shell first, I laid it gently on the wall before tossing the stone through. An alarm screamed through my mind, making my head hurt and blasting the stone to dust.

  * * *

  Kerok

  Trust Drenn to dog-ear the pages instead of using a book mark. The third page was dog-eared, as was every other page in the entire book, until those creases ended with the last dog-ear he'd placed, roughly three-quarters of the way through.

  Curious and annoyed at the same time, I flipped the book open to that page and unfolded the crease, wishing I could remove evidence of the folds in all the pages.

  "Fuck."

  Drenn had taken a pen and underlined a sentence or two near the bottom of that page. He knew better than to mark up any book from Father's library.

  The words he'd underlined caught my eye while I considered Drenn's misdeeds.

  My book of Advanced Divination Techniques will go with me when I die, King Thorn had written. I have ruled it forbidden; it shall never be used by another, except that he be of royal blood and name.

  Kyri's visit, imagined or not, came roaring back to me then. Drenn had gone looking in the catacombs. He'd found The Rose Mark that way.

  Had he found Thorn's Book, too? The one he wrote concerning advanced divination? I never knew it existed. Thorn himself, in the passage Drenn underlined, said it shall never be used by another, except that he be of royal blood and name.

  Drenn.

  Drenn, having no power or ability to use the book himself, had handed it to the one who could use it.

  Merrin.

  I lifted my eyes from the book, expecting to find empty space between my desk and the door.

  A hooded figure sat there instead. I hadn't bothered to put up more than a small, personal shield around me, and whoever this was had stepped straight to the perimeter of that shield.

  "Who the fuck are you?" I snapped, standing in anger and preparing to level a blast if he threatened me or anyone else inside the palace.

  "Do not fear." His voice was deep. Commanding. He lifted a hand, palm outward, attempting to show he meant no harm.

  Slowly, carefully, he lifted the other hand and lowered the hood.

  Dark eyes met mine. Dark hair-long and braided, fell over one shoulder. "I am called Adahi," he said. "You call me the phantom, for lack of a better term," he added.

  "It's too bad you're only now piecing this together," he nodded toward the book on my desk. "Your brother was far ahead of you in this, and now a dangerous book is in the hands of someone who should never have touched it. He, too, has royal blood, as you well know, but the temperament to rule is far beyond him. All of this, of course, is because of one missing word."

  "A missing word?"

  "In the spell," Adahi shrugged. "King Thorn should have written except he be of my royal blood and name.

  "Why would that make a difference?" I demanded. I sent mindspeak to Hunter, to send guards to my study.

  Those unspoken words rattled inside my skull and stayed there, as if caught in a vortex.

  "My royal blood and name?" Adahi repeated Thorn's words. My royal blood. My name.

  "Fucking hell." I covered my face with both hands.

  Chapter 4

  Kerok

  "His name is Adahi? What kind of name is that?" Barth asked.

  "He didn't stay long enough to explain it," I snapped. Barth and Hunter had come running the moment I could get mindspeak to them, which was the moment Adahi disappeared from my study.

  "At least we know who the phantom is," Hunter pointed out. "It doesn't make me feel safer," he raised a hand to halt my protests.

  "He could have shown up months ago, to tell me Merrin has a forbidden book," I growled. "Although it wouldn't have helped us much, since we have no idea what the book contains or how Merrin is using it."

  I still hadn't told them that somehow, the book had been meant for me. I felt obligated to read all of Thorn's biography, now, to search for other clues regarding the missing divination book.

  "Fuck," I said aloud, when I realized I should have shouted a question at the phantom-Adahi. He could know whether Sherra was alive.

  He'd rattled me so much, appearing as he did, that my reasoning had deserted me. What I'd learned, though, aligned directly with my dream of Sherra.

  My ancestor-Thorn's Book.

  The book meant for me. Sherra warned me in my dream that Merrin had the blasted thing. "When's the last time we had a diviner with dream-visions?" I asked Barth.

  "At least forty years," Barth answered. "I met him before he died. He said he dreamed of your birth. At the time, you were preparing to take over the army. He said he saw that, too, in his dream."

  "Did he say anything else? About my birth?"

  "He said you'd be strong. That's all."

  I studied Barth for a moment. "You felt as though he were holding something back, didn't you?"

  "At the time, I ignored it," Barth shrugged. "Perhaps he saw that you'd be Crown Prince one day, and that is something that should never have been repeated, as you well know."

  "You're right," I agreed after considering his words for a moment. Neither Father nor Drenn-especially Drenn-needed to hear anything of the sort. Drenn may have sought my death sooner and more diligently, if that information were given by a reliable source.

  "I find myself wishing he were still alive," Hunter observed. "I think I'd like to speak with him about recent events."

  "Hunter, where in the catacombs is King Thorn buried?" I asked, changing the topic.

  "I'll find the map in your father's library and bring it to you."

  "That map is in Drenn's suite-with his other things," Barth interrupted. "I found it when I went through everything, and left it there, in case your father wanted to go in there, sometime. I've had Drenn's suite shut and locked since I went through it."

  "Shall we go get it, then?" I asked. "I find myself wondering more and more about my namesake, and I'm concerned by the damage that may have been done to the catacombs by my departed brother."

  "Certainly. It's time, perhaps, that you went into Drenn's suite," Barth said. "Your brother had many things that belonged in the library, or in the treasury, or in your father's suite."

  * * *

  "The box of gold coins is missing," Barth hissed as we took in the ransacked mess that now remained of Drenn's suite. Merrin had been here, no doubt, and that angered me more than anything.

  "How much?" Hunter asked, pulling his usual scrap of paper from a pocket to write on.

  "At least a thousand coins," Barth replied. Across Drenn's bedroom, drawers had been pulled out and upturned, clothing scattered and personal items were missing. Even the mattress had been flipped off the bed, to search beneath it, I was sure.

  The map to the catacombs, however-Merrin had no real use for it, and so he'd left it behind. It lay on the floor near Drenn's bed, half-covered by a shirt Merrin didn't want, because he never thought he looked good in red.

  "Send for Armon and Caral," I turned to Hunter. "She can place a shield about this room and keep anyone from stepping inside it. We'll have her place similar shields around the library and the treasury. Merrin needs to learn that we can block him if we want."
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  "I'll send mindspeak now," Hunter nodded and scribbled more on his scrap of paper.

  Less than half an hour later, Armon and Caral arrived and were ushered into Drenn's suite by Garkus.

  "What happened here?" Garkus looked around in surprise.

  "Merrin," I said. "Caral, I'd like you to place shields around this suite, the treasury and the library, please, that nobody can step into."

  "I can do that," she agreed. "I assume it will only be you, Hunter or Barth allowed to go into any of them?"

  "Yes. If that changes, I'll let you know. Set it up this way for now, and we'll shut the door again on this mess." I swept out a hand to indicate my brother's quarters. I should have guessed Merrin wouldn't be finished with Drenn-or the rest of us in the palace.

  "I'll take you to the other locations, once you're done here," Hunter nodded to Caral.

  "Thank you for coming-both of you," I told Armon and his escort. "I didn't know who else to call."

  "We are always at your command," Armon said. Silently he added, Will you be safe enough? This is frightening.

  I keep a shield around me at all times, I replied. And for this and other things, I'll see to it that Caral gets a promotion.

  Thank you-it is deserved.

  "Weren should arrive tomorrow morning for training. Caral, make sure he learns everything you can teach him."

  "I will," Caral said, her tone serious, although a smile threatened to appear. I understood then that Garkus' training wasn't going as well as I'd hoped.

  Keep trying-Garkus is thick-headed, I sent mindspeak to Caral.

  We have to make it about him, somehow, she responded. So he'll have a successful story to tell later.

  No doubt. Now I wanted to smile and couldn't.

  "I'll check the inventory list I made when I went through this suite after Drenn's death," Barth said, "and compare it to what's left. We'll see if Merrin got away with anything else, my Prince."

  "Thank you," I told him. "I'll be in my study, if needed." I walked toward the door, catacomb map in hand, while Hunter followed close behind.

  * * *

  Sherra

  "I see it's still intact," Pottles grinned as I set the shell at her elbow on the kitchen table.

  "I had some success," I admitted. "The stone is dust, though, which, oddly enough, was also a success."

  "Pfff, I didn't care about it anyway," Pottles waved a hand. "Are you well enough along to show Kyri and me?"

  "I think I will be in a day or two. This was only one such pass. I need Merrin's objects to make a full determination."

  "I see you had other ideas while you were experimenting," Pottles said.

  "I have ideas, yes," I poured a cup of tea for myself and pulled out a chair to sit with her. "A catalpa leaf floated past me on the breeze while I was thinking. It made me wonder if a shield could be shaped to also float on the breeze."

  Pottles' hand stopped halfway as she reached for her teacup. "That's-an unusual idea," she hesitated. "The other ideas?"

  "Just one other-for now. I also wondered if a bubble shield, sealed tightly enough, would float and roll on water."

  "I'm not the one to comment on either of those ideas," Pottles admitted. "I'm afraid of heights and I never learned to swim."

  "I saw Adahi," Kyri walked into the kitchen, a rough shoulder-sack thrown over one arm. "He gave me these things-said they'd been used by Merrin, and blocked from divination, also by Merrin."

  "Where did Adahi get them?" Pottles asked, taking the sack from Kyri.

  "He says Merrin ransacked Drenn's suite. Adahi took the few things that Merrin used to hone his new skills."

  "What were they?" I asked.

  "The most important thing inside that bag is an empty, rosewood box," Kyri sighed. "Taken from the treasury, emptied, and then left in Drenn's old suite. That box held the Crown Prince's coronet. Merrin certainly has his sights set on the throne of Az-ca."

  "What's the other thing?"

  "I'll show you." Kyri drew out the rosewood box, first-it was beautifully carved, with silver hinges and clasp. Kerok should have had that box, not Merrin.

  "And this." Kyri drew out an empty dagger sheath.

  "The King's ceremonial dagger," Pottles breathed. I realized she'd seen the dagger herself-long ago, when she was Queen of Az-ca.

  "Merrin has both those things in his possession, now," Kyri fumed. "Adahi, as you may guess, was more than incensed."

  "Does Kerok know?" I asked.

  "I'm sure he'll learn soon enough," Kyri breathed.

  * * *

  Kerok

  When I returned to my desk, I found a handwritten note waiting, with my name on it.

  "Who was in here?" I lifted the note and waved it at Hunter.

  "I don't know." Hunter turned and walked straight out the door to question the guards outside.

  "Nobody," he said when he walked back in.

  "Fucking hell," I snapped before lifting the flap to read.

  The Crown Prince's Coronet and King's ceremonial dagger have been stolen by your cousin. Watch your back carefully, Prince Thorn.

  Adahi.

  "Search the treasury. Immediately," I barked at Hunter. "Find the Prince's coronet and the King's dagger-if you can."

  * * *

  "I've gone through everything, and there's minor evidence that Merrin was in the treasury, but like before, the information is blocked past the initial divination of his presence," Barth settled on a chair in my study with a weary sigh. "It is as you say-the coronet and ceremonial dagger are gone. There may be more gold coins missing; I can't testify to how much, because of Merrin's divination block."

  "Caral erected her shields? So he can't step in again?" I asked.

  "Yes. I asked her to do the same around your father's suite and yours, too. You should be doubly protected."

  He knew I carried a shield around me at all times, and that Father now was shielded day and night by someone with the talent.

  "Good. Thank you for thinking of that," I told him. "It angers me that nobody is safe from his-predations."

  "I never thought we'd be fighting an enemy from within our own borders," Barth complained.

  "He probably thinks the enemy is gone for good," I said. "So he won't have to worry about them while he takes Az-ca for himself."

  "After seeing the hole where the enemy army once was, it could be a logical conclusion-to Merrin, anyway. I have my doubts," Barth observed.

  "As do I. Merrin never felt the anger and hate focused on Az-ca, as I did. He has no idea how devoted they are to the idea of crushing us. When they return, they may be angrier and more determined than ever."

  "Merrin was never one to think very far ahead," Hunter walked in to join us. "I asked for tea to be brought," he said and settled on the chair beside Barth's.

  "Merrin was never one to think of anyone except himself," I added my opinion to Hunter's.

  "True enough," Hunter agreed.

  * * *

  Sherra

  "Kyri, if I can get a feel for Merrin through the things you brought me, will you grant a favor?" I asked.

  "What favor is that?"

  Our evening meal was over; we sat in Kyri's small sitting room while she read and Pottles mended a pair of trousers.

  "I'd like to, ah, place a shield around the King's City, to keep Merrin from ever stepping inside it again, in every way possible."

  "Worried about Thorn, eh?" Pottles chuckled.

  "And others. I'd like to also place the same sort of protection around Secondary Camp, and any other place Merrin could cause trouble."

  "Show me that you can successfully get through another's perimeter divination, and I'll allow it," Kyri looked up from her book. It was one of the volumes I couldn't read-I had no idea what she was studying with such intensity.

  "I'll work on that," I assured her. I'd do anything to make sure those I loved were protected. I wished my mindspeak would reach Kerok from where I was; I'd tell him help was
coming as soon as I could bring it.

  Besides, I missed him and all the others I'd come to love. I'd been away from them for more than seven months, and it had worn me down.

  I know, Kyri sent mindspeak. We'll get to that, I promise.

  * * *

  Secondary Camp

  Caral

  "Weren is coming tomorrow morning," I told Misten. "I think he'll be easy to teach-maybe easier than Kage, even."

  "Garkus held Kage back," Misten grumped. "We both know that."

  "Yeah. We do."

  She and I shared a cabin next to the one Armon and Levi shared. Ours had two bedrooms; theirs held one.

  "Kerok told me in mindspeak that he was holding out hope until a full year passed," I said. "He said we'll have a memorial for Sherra then."

  "There are days I have hope, too," she told me. "But those aren't every day, or even every other day. Most days I realize she's really gone, Caral, and that's unsettling."

  "She bought this time for us," I said. "From fighting the enemy, so we can concentrate on the enemy inside our borders. Kerok never came out and said it while I was there, but I think Merrin has plenty of followers, and he could pull in others."

  "He certainly found a way to turn the army against itself."

  "He could have gotten all of us killed, if Sherra hadn't been watching the enemy at the same time."

  "Caral, do you think things will change for us when Kerok becomes King? I mean as far as relationships go?"

  "I don't know." I turned away from Misten, then, fighting off the urge to pull her against me and comfort her. "If Sherra were still with us, I think she might convince him. Without her, well, things will likely continue as they always have."

  "I think we were both in love with her."

  "I think so, too." My laugh was humorless. Lifting a stack of clean sheets off the kitchen table where a drudge had left them, I gave a half-wave to Misten and stalked toward my bedroom.

  Things will go as they've gone, not as they should, my older sister, Derissa, always said when I was growing up.

  She'd been born without power, and was the one in my family to take care of me after the diviner discovered my talent. I'll never forget how she'd watched over me, once a rose was tattooed on my wrist. I had no hope of seeing her again, either, as much as I wanted to.