“The Marshalls fly to defend Lladrana from the Dark. What does the Tower Community do to defeat the evil?” The soldier sneered.
“I reported to the Marshalls of the Tower’s efforts this morning,” Jaquar said. “The Marshalls are responsible for sharing the information.”
Marian raised her chin. “We destroyed a mass of frinks in the clouds yesterday,” she said.
The soldier’s expression softened. She gave a little bow to Marian. “Our thanks. Exotiques are such a boon in these dangerous times. Thank you for coming to help us.”
Marian nodded, flushing. She was a fraud. She’d been learning her Power and playing, and the only help she’d given was inadvertently. She hurried with Jaquar through the Castle gate and into the Lower Ward.
There she saw great activity. More Chevaliers, even a Sword and Shield Marshall Pair, ran to the stables and Landing Field, continuing to respond to the silenced alarm.
“What am I going to do?” Marian murmured under her breath. Lladrana needed her. Alexa needed her. Surely Marian should fill the position of Tower Exotique as Alexa had that of Castle Exotique.
The longer Marian stayed, the more she was torn.
Andrew needed her. How could she abandon her old life? Andrew? Her mother?
How could she turn her back on this new opportunity that fulfilled her more than her life on Earth had done?
“Come,” Jaquar said, as if he felt her agitation through their sex bond. He led her through Horseshoe Close, to the stables and inside to a small training ring.
There stood a lovely roan volaran watching a tiny cream-colored foal. The beauty of the sight caused new tears to sting behind her eyes. The little flying horse was practicing running, stretching its wings, and now and then hopping into the air and gliding a few feet. The mare looked on indulgently.
Jaquar leaned against the rail. “Bastien asked the mare if the foal, which is a filly, can stay with him and Alexa and train to be Alexa’s mount.” Jaquar chuckled. “By the time the foal is adult, Alexa should be ready to fly on her own.”
Marian watched the small horse, exploring as all babies explore, learning new things every minute. She knew Jaquar had brought her here to give her pleasure, and the visit had, for a moment, but now all the uncertainties of Lladrana’s future seemed emphasized.
“She’s going to be a battle mare, then.” Marian choked, her gaze following mother and child as they circled the ring.
Jaquar drew her into his arms. “Yes. We live in a difficult time. An era that wouldn’t have been so hard if our ancestors had concentrated on discovering the nature of the Dark and defeating it.” He snorted. “They studied its creatures, deduced how to contain the invasion of the horrors and, when that worked in general, went on with their lives. A terrible mistake.” A hint of bitterness emanated from him.
Marian circled him with her arms, leaned against him and closed her eyes. The solidity of his tall, strong body comforted her—the woodsy scent of him, but most of all she was reassured by his determination to find out the nature of the evil that threatened Lladrana and work with others to destroy it.
“I can’t stay.” Marian opened her eyes and stepped back, repeating the words that had become her mantra. “I must return to Andrew.”
Jaquar smiled sadly, brushed a thumb over her cheekbone. “I know. So we have a short time together. But I will help you, Marian. Bossgond and I will make sure that you return home.” His voice lowered. “Perhaps you could consider coming back…and bringing Andrew if possible. As you saw, Exotiques are prized.”
He leaned forward, brushed his lips against hers, back and forth, sensitizing them. “Before you leave, we will generate a plan for you to come back. Please consider, Marian.”
She swallowed. “You think we could do it?”
His eyes fired. “We can try.”
Slowly, she shook her head. “I don’t know if Andrew is strong enough.”
Jaquar dropped his arms. “Bossgond watches other dimensions. He knows a great deal about the Dimensional Corridor and will try to make all the Exotiques’ trips safe and easy in the future. He is studying Summoning Power and Ritual to the exclusion of all else. I am a master of plane-walking. Between us, and with Alexa, we should be able to bring you back, and Andrew, too. The gate soldier was right, Marian—Lladrana needs you.” Jaquar grasped her hands, lifted one and kissed its back, then did the same with the other. “And I think you need Lladrana, as well.” He shook his head. “I don’t know much of your life on Exotique Terre, but the Song wouldn’t have chosen you for the Tower Exotique if you couldn’t enjoy a life on Lladrana.”
Marian withdrew her hands. “I’ll think about returning. But only if I can bring Andrew and if this place would be good for him, too.” She met his eyes. “I’ll want to see all your plans and Rituals for Summoning us before I decide.”
He chuckled and swept her a bow. “I’ll ensure that you do, Scholar Marian.”
That reminded her. “You told the Marshalls I was a Fourth Degree Scholar.”
“I lied.”
“What!”
Setting his brow against her forehead, he snagged her gaze with his. Such beautiful blue eyes he had, and now they were open and earnest. “When we left Mue Island you were a Fourth Degree Scholar. You have Circlet status now, I think perhaps as much as second degree already. You learned to control the lightning ride—that should have made you Circlet status…There was something more, too—when you found and faced and defeated the frinks in the clouds.”
Her breath came heavy, but she couldn’t look away from him. “Second Degree Circlet?” What would her mastery of Water lift her to?
He straightened, nodded. “Yes. But it is Bossgond’s place to Test you, and you won’t come into your full Circlet Power until you raise your Tower.”
Marian shivered. “So quickly.”
Jaquar took her right hand again. “Lladrana needs you, so the Song found the most Powerful Exotique in your land.” He chuckled. “And you have good study habits.”
She nodded. “A thirst for knowledge. I always have.”
“Circlets of the Tower are like that.” He turned to go, tugged on her hand.
Glancing back, Marian saw the little filly nursing. So young, so tender, such a huge fate in store for her. The mare’s gaze, wise beyond that of a mere horse, met Marian’s. “She might die in battle with Alexa,” Marian said of the foal to Jaquar, envisioning a hideously bloody volaran and rider, dead and pale.
Tho. The negative grated in Marian’s mind. With a jolt, she realized it was from the mare.
Jaquar halted. His head lifted and turned, looking at the mare as if he, too, had heard.
He and Marian stared at the mare.
The volaran observed them with steady eyes. Alexa and Fleche will not die in battle together.
Releasing her held breath, Marian said, “Is that her name, Fleche?” It meant Arrow.
The mare snorted. Alexa named my filly Cloud, but her True Name is Fleche Obscur, “Arrow for the Dark.” The volaran’s words Sang of Power, of fate. I was sent to foal here by the head wild stallion. Fleche is his filly, too.
Jaquar bowed to the mare. “Thank you for sharing your knowledge. We take our leave, now.”
The mare dipped her head to nuzzle her filly, but kept one shining eye on them. I would not tell you more. It is not for you to know. You are not Our Exotique.
Marian’s stomach turned over.
Jaquar nodded. “The Chevalier’s Exotique, the Exotique of the Field.”
The mare lifted her head and neighed a laugh. The Volaran Exotique. Then she turned away from them and focused on her baby.
Marian was glad to hurry away from the stables, matching Jaquar’s long strides. “Chevalier Exotique,” she found herself muttering.
“Swordmarshall Alexa is the Marshalls’ Exotique, the Exotique of the Castle Community. You—” Jaquar squeezed her fingers “—are Circlet Marian, the Sorcerers’ and Sorceresses’ Exotique, the
Exotique of the Tower Community.”
“And one will come who is the Chevalier Exotique.”
“Or the Volaran Exotique—depends on your point of view, I suppose. Do you have people well versed in volarans in Exotique Terre?”
Marian thought of all the ranches in Colorado, of the rodeos and horse shows, the breeders and associations, even of the polo club. Her mother stabled two horses. “We don’t have volarans. But my land, Colorado, has many horses.” She drew in a deep breath. The scent of volaran clung to her gown, the Song of the mare and her filly still played in her mind. “Alexa comes from the largest city in our area. I come from a smaller city close to Alexa’s that is a seat of learning. But we have horse breeders and horse farms. We are well known for our ranches.” What sort of person would be Summoned as the Exotique for the volarans? Would it be another woman or a man this time?
If it was a woman, would she accept her destiny on Lladrana or seek to return like Marian? Since she’d be a Chevalier, too, would she form a stronger bond with Alexa? Alexa would have another close friend, then, a woman who had belonged to both worlds, too. Envy swirled through Marian. She had no close friend like Alexa at home.
Marian wished Andrew were a horseman.
“How many?” she asked blankly. She should know, but was a little too shaken by the pressure of fate, of options spinning in her head to recall right now. Maybe if she waited, Andrew would be Summoned.
Jaquar ushered her from the Lower Ward into Temple Ward and they made for the Keep. “How many Exotiques can be Summoned in the next two years? Why, the same amount as there are communities of Lladrana. Six. Obviously the Song has a master plan, but what it is, the Singer hasn’t told us.”
She glanced at him and saw that though his voice was light and ironic, his eyes were narrowed and his lips had an irritated curl to them. “Six.” Marian sighed.
He pressed her fingers in reassurance. “And obviously you two ladies are here to provide a link between the communities, so we will be able to combine and function as one. Perhaps we can destroy the Dark.”
“Two years,” Marian breathed. Everything might be resolved in two years. An incredibly short time.
Jaquar walked fast, whether out of suppressed anger or some other passion, Marian didn’t know. “Probably more. Each Exotique must learn of Lladrana, complete her own task, whatever that is.” He definitely sounded angry.
But Marian didn’t know why he was furious, and since it didn’t seem aimed at her, she ignored it, still caught in the idea of other Exotiques, the grand plan that might be unfolding. What would she be doing on Earth in a little over two years? Even working to fund her last years, she should be finished with her doctorate and cozily settled into an academic career path.
How flat that sounded.
Andrew might be fairly healthy and active. Or he might be dead.
She shuddered. She’d been thinking that leaving through Ritual and being Summoned back might be a possibility. Jaquar had spoken as if such magic could be done. But she was deluding herself into thinking it could be quick and easy. Or cheap.
The Tower had paid the Marshalls to Summon her. Those very Marshalls were out fighting today and would continue to battle. Some could die, and the strength of the Marshalls’ Power diminished.
They reached the cloister walk outside the Keep and Jaquar said, “Sit with me, Marian,” in a tone that made her blood turn cold.
Marian looked at him, eyes wide, and stilled. Her Song fluttering, she sat.
Jaquar joined her and took her hands. “I wanted you to concentrate on your studies, but there are things you must know. Just before you came, I followed the sangvile who killed my parents back to its nest—the home of the Dark.” He told her everything, and as he watched, her skin went pale, even her lips took on a tinge of white. It was fascinating—and wrenching—to watch.
Her breasts rose and fell with quick breaths, her hands went cold in his. He folded his fingers around hers, sent warmth to them.
She finally said, “My task is to plane-walk to the maw and destroy the nest?”
“No!” He believed that with every note in his body.
She tilted her head, frowned. “It must be.”
He thought back to what Bossgond and Bastien had said, both men less emotionally involved with the nest and Marian than he. “It can’t be now. Your bond with Amee is not strong enough to plane-walk.”
“But the horrors—”
“The horrors have invaded Lladrana for centuries. We are watching and waiting, and planning. Every Apprentice, Scholar and Circlet in the Tower Community knows how to kill sangviles with fire. Some wear amulets. You—” he leaned forward and kissed her brow “—my lovely Circlet, Summon fire with a thought.”
“It must be my task,” she repeated.
“But not now,” he said firmly. “No one could expect you to rise to Circlet so soon.” He rubbed her hands. “I’m working with Bastien and Bossgond.” He wanted to hear, soon, if Bastien had any ideas. They must speak as soon as possible.
“Bastien?” Marian looked startled. “This is a Tower problem.”
“No, dear one. This is a Lladranan problem—you taught me that. I think your task must be to organize us to be a viable force against the Dark.”
“I see,” she said. She leaned against him for a moment, then stood.
He was grateful when she dropped only one of his hands and they linked fingers with the other.
“I want to go up to the suite, now.” Her smile was lopsided. “I’d like thick walls around me.”
He kissed the top of her head. “You are so brave.”
She wasn’t brave at all, but once again buried under a huge amount of information—and expectations.
Jaquar wrapped an arm around her waist, but she still felt cold. She wanted to be in a quiet place where she could shove aside her emotions and begin to think logically.
As soon as they reached their suite in Alexa’s tower, Jaquar flung open the door.
Loud chimes rang a few notes of Bossgond’s public Song, then his peevish voice boomed. “Where are you two? Do you know how difficult it was to find you? It took me time away from my studies. I need to consult with Jaquar. Contact me at once.”
Bossgond would not speak with her. When she’d called him via the crystal ball in their suite as Jaquar was changing into more everyday clothes than his formal Circlet robe, Bossgond had painted a strained smile on his face and his eyes had shifted away from her. He’d wanted an in-person meeting with Jaquar as soon as possible but had not invited her.
Marian continued to mull over different scenarios as she rode double with Jaquar back to Mue Island on a huge volaran that Bastien’s squire had loaned them. Apparently the Pegasus had never flown over the Brisay Sea and wanted the adventure.
Bossgond must have known all along about the Dark and the maw and the imminence of it opening and spewing out monsters and how she might be able to harm the nest. But he hadn’t said anything. That comforted her. Wait! He had said something. He’d told Jaquar that Marian couldn’t plane-walk. Furthermore, she knew Bossgond had treated her like a regular Apprentice. Every time she had asked any Circlet what they wanted of her before, they’d said “learn.” She had, but she wouldn’t be around to pay them off, not quickly. When she came back…She lifted her chin. When she came back, she’d fight—in her own way.
The trip didn’t take long enough to sort everything out. Jaquar explained that Powerful volarans, and Bastien’s were all very Powerful, had “distance magic” that shortened the flight, as if each beat of wings carried them many miles instead of yards. Soon they were circling down near Jaquar’s Tower.
Wait, wait, I am here, cried Tuck’s voice in her mind.
Jaquar cocked his head and the volaran’s ears flicked as if they’d heard her hamster, too.
Oh, how she wanted her hamster! She pinpointed Tuck: to her horror, he was outside. Not only that, but he was beyond Jaquar’s security forcefield. She wanted to
scream and carry on, but since he was obviously safe, she suppressed the urge, though both Jaquar and Tuck must feel her distress through their bond with her.
Sure enough, Jaquar tightened his arms around her and soothed. “He’s fine.” Jaquar chuckled. “He isn’t stupid. He has Nightsky with him.”
“Oh.” Marian let out a relieved breath.
See, strange beastie? The volaran they rode turned his head back, blinking with curiosity.
“Yes,” said Jaquar. “Look for your fellow volaran, Nightsky.”
Their volaran angled toward the far side of the island. It was easier to see Nightsky, of course, than Tuck. Nightsky galloped down the beach, stopped and lifted his wings in greeting to the one they rode.
As they descended, Marian finally saw Tuck jumping up and down on a rock jutting into the ocean, waving his paws and squeaking madly. I am here!
Since he appeared so delighted with himself, she could only smile. Their volaran gently spiraled down. He nodded at Nightsky, then delicately stepped over to Tuck. Lowering his head slowly, he eyed the hamster, then snuffled at him.
Tuck squeaked with laughter, patted the volaran’s big nose with a tiny paw. Pretty vo.
“Vo?” asked Marian.
“Volaran,” Jaquar said, dismounting and helping Marian down. She stood a moment, leaning on him until she got her legs back from the ride.
“Of course,” Marian said.
Their communion done, the volaran lifted his head from Tuck, then turned and greeted Nightsky, nickering. Marian sensed the other, telepathic communication between the two volarans, but could not understand it.
Jaquar hunkered down so he was close to eye level with Tuck. “Well, Master Tuck, did you have a good time outside? You certainly scared Marian and me with your adventuring.”
Tuck looked away. “Not speaking to you.”
Raising his eyebrows, Jaquar stood. “Is that so?” Without waiting for a response, he went to the volaran they had ridden in on and stroked him from nose to tail, singing. Marian observed how the coat seemed to gleam, how the volaran moved more easily. Jaquar had groomed him and given the flying horse more Power, to make the return flight.
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