by Megg Jensen
His hands tangled in my hair as I reached to the bottom of his shirt and slid my hands underneath, running them along his chest. He sat up and pulled his shirt over his head, throwing it to the side.
I reached out for him, pulling him back down to me. His lips settled on my neck, sending chills down my body to my toes. I’d never felt this way before, never been affected so deeply. I wondered if this was what Mags had felt the one night she’d been with her lover. Was this the way it was supposed to feel? If it was, I never wanted it to end.
I pushed Bryden back and sat up, scooting as close as I could to him. Taking his hands in mine, I placed them on the loops of the strings holding my bodice together. His eyes widened, as he touched the strings, but not my body.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
I nodded my head, leaning in for a kiss and waiting to feel the release of the strings holding my clothes in place. Instead, he turned his head, breathed out, and scooted away from me.
“You’re still with Kellan,” he whispered.
I’d forgotten about Kellan again. I’d spent most of my life thinking about him and now that I had him I couldn’t stop thinking about someone else. What was wrong with me?
I nodded, not able to say it out loud. We were still together, at least as far as he was concerned. I knew I was done with him, had been for some time now — even if I hadn’t realized it. With nowhere else to turn, I’d gone the only route I knew, but now, I realized it was the wrong direction.
“I can teach you about magic and how to use it, but I won’t get in between your relationship,” he said, reaching for his shirt and pulling it back over his head. “We need to figure out what you’re going to do to save the queen tomorrow.”
I felt the flames flicker again, but this time I couldn’t control them, calm them. It hurt too much, knowing I had a choice to make. Bryden was right. It wasn’t fair of me to do this to Kellan, even though, in my heart I knew I had to break things off with him. He wasn’t the same boy I’d loved growing up and I knew now it was because he couldn’t control his fire.
He had changed. It was his hope that I’d change too and that had brought us together. He didn’t want me, just the girl he thought I’d become. But I’d learned to control myself. I didn’t lose sight of what was important to me: friendship, love, and trust. Kellan had given in to his fire. I couldn’t do that.
But I did have to figure out how to save Mags. That part of my heart hadn’t changed.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“Have you ever seen an execution?” I asked Bryden. I sat on my rock as he settled on the grass. We both tried to ignore what had almost happened between us. The moment had been broken, but I couldn’t stop thinking about him. If I could save Mags, then maybe I could have the time to figure out everything else. I needed to let Kellan go so I could move on with Bryden.
He nodded. “Once. I went about five years ago. I couldn’t stomach it and never went again. It literally made me sick. The man had been beaten within an inch of his life.”
Bryden’s shoulders shook as he shuddered. He was only a kid when he saw it, no wonder he’d never been back.
“But that wasn’t the worst of it.” He paused and took a deep breath. “The executioner missed.”
“What?” I gasped. I’d never heard this story.
“Oh, he hit him with the axe, but he missed the man’s neck. He had to go for a second swing. The crowd went wild, cheering. You would have thought the executioner did it on purpose. Maybe he did, as a lesson.”
“I’m so sorry you had to see that.” I wanted to reach out, put my arms around him, but that would only lead to something we shouldn’t do. Not yet. Not until I had everything sorted out.
“But the setup has always stayed the same,” he said, continuing as if he hadn’t just told the most horrifying story. Bryden had amazing control, something I hoped I could learn soon enough. “King Rotlar usually sits on a throne set in the middle of the dais. The person who is beheaded is not far in front of him, but far enough to be outside of the blood splatter zone. He likes to be close at the beheadings, to ensure they go off without a hitch. I think it makes him feel more powerful. Then the crowds are allowed to gather in the square and watch.”
I closed my eyes, trying to imagine the scene. All I saw was the Dalagan men with the beads in their hair, staring into the distance. But theirs was a hanging, Mags faced a different fate.
“How can I get close enough to rescue Mags?”
“If I use my magic to knock down the executioner, the king and his guards, you can free her. Then both of you can escape. You don’t have to kill anyone.”
“You’re going to help me?” I was stunned. Kellan wouldn’t help me. He’d encouraged me but refused any direct involvement. Yet Bryden, with his bum leg, wanted to help. “But you can’t run away with us. If we get away, how will you keep up?”
Bryden shook his head. “What’s important is that you and Mags get away. Let me take care of myself. I’d do anything to save you. Let me do this for you.”
“They’ll kill you.”
“Not if they don’t know it was me helping you. If I can hide they may think you did it all yourself. I can keep you in my sight the whole time, but make sure they don’t see me.”
“I could use my magic too,” I insisted. “You don’t have to put yourself in danger for me.”
Bryden shook his head. “No, you don’t have control yet and you can’t count on yourself to even make the magic work. I can’t rely on my body to cooperate just like you can’t rely on your magic. Neither of us can do it without the other. We’re a team, Lianne.”
I thought for a moment. It could work. But we’d forgotten one important person.
“Trevin,” I said. “We can’t leave Trevin behind. Mags would never leave without him and I can’t trust Albree to help us. She’d turn us in.”
“Do you know anyone else who can help us?”
I thought for a moment. The only other ally I had was Kellan. No one else knew my plan. I couldn’t trust anyone else.
“Don’t say Kellan,” Bryden warned. “It has nothing to do with any relationship you have with him. I just don’t trust him. I haven’t for years and I don’t want you to trust him either.”
“But he’s been helping me plan to save Mags this whole time.”
“And yet you had no plan other than to kill the king. We can do it without killing him. All we need to do is get Mags and Trevin away from here. Who cares if the king lives or not? What you should ask yourself is why Kellan wants him dead.”
I opened my mouth to explain, but then closed it. Bryden had a good point. Why did Kellan want the king dead? It wouldn’t help our people, I could see that now. What it would do is start another war, with me being the one responsible.
“I know you don’t trust him, but you don’t think he was setting me up, do you?” I asked. It was nearly impossible for me to believe. All those nights we spent together, all the times he held me in his arms. Was it all to convince me to do something I would never have considered before my Awakening? Maybe it was all a lie.
Bryden didn’t answer.
“Do you?” I pressed. I had to know what he was thinking or if he knew anything.
“I don’t know anything for sure,” he said, “but something isn’t right, Lianne.”
I’d forgotten how Kellan had urged me to kill the king before I found out about Mags’ fate. How he’d encouraged me after she was sentenced. How he said he couldn’t help me, but urged me to go ahead on my own.
I didn’t understand his goals or why he had to use me to accomplish them. Why couldn’t he do it himself? Maybe Bryden was right and I had been a fool to trust him.
“Until I know exactly why Kellan wants me to kill the king I can’t bring him in on this plan,” I said. “If I can’t trust him, I certainly won’t put Mags and Trevin’s lives in his hands. We need to do this together.”
“There is one more person who can help us,” Bryden
said, “but you’re going to have to talk to Mags tonight.”
“Who?” I asked.
“Trevin’s father. She has to tell you who he is. If he truly loved her, like Mags thinks he did, then he might be willing to help Trevin escape.”
“She won’t tell me,” I said, shaking my head. “I already tried to find out who he was and she says that part of her life is over.”
“It’s never over as long as Trevin is in danger. Even if she doesn’t want to save herself, she’ll do anything to save her son. You know it and I know it. You just have to make sure Mags knows it too.”
Again, Bryden was right. There were only two of us and we needed to be there to save Mags. Neither of us could do it alone, but that meant neither of us could care for Trevin, nor spirit him away. We needed a third partner and Trevin’s father might be the only person willing to help us.
“I’ll get in and talk to her tonight if they allow me to. And then, well, I’m not sure where I’ll go tonight. I don’t feel right going back to Kellan anymore.”
Bryden reached out and took my hand. “You can always stay with me. I have my own room at the Bristly Boar Inn.”
“You do?” Funny how we’d lived in the same town our whole lives and I’d never thought about where Bryden lived in the years after he’d turned me away.
He nodded. “Last year I moved out of the scriptorium since I was able to support myself. There’s more space and I don’t have to listen to the monks snore all night.”
I giggled, picturing an old man sleeping with his mouth open, a rolling snort passing over his lips. But then another picture entered my mind, one of Bryden and me in his bed. Shivers raced through my body. All this time I’d slept with Kellan, his arms around me, and never once had I felt this uncontrollable urge. I hadn’t known it could be like this. It excited and scared me at the same time.
“After I talk to Mags, then,” I said, “I’ll come to you.”
Bryden’s thumb caressed my hand, making me wish I could forget everything else and jump into his arms.
“You need to talk to Kellan too,” he said, his eyes boring into mine. “You don’t have to tell him about the plan, but you do have to tell him you’re moving on. I won’t sneak around with you. We’ll either be out in the open or we can’t be together. I won’t live a lie with you, neither of us deserves that.”
I smiled. Everything with Kellan had always been the opposite of how it was with Bryden. I wished I’d known then how someone else might have treated me. All I wanted was Kellan’s attention, but I only ever had it on his terms. With Bryden, I felt like we were both getting exactly what we wanted.
“I can do that,” I said. “He’ll be mad, but he needs to understand that I’m not a toy for him to play with. I can make my own decisions.”
I squeezed Bryden’s hand. “I’ll see you tonight, okay?”
He kneeled, put his arms around me and kissed my cheek.
“Tonight,” he whispered.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
I walked back into town and headed straight for the dungeon’s entrance. A guard stood in front, sheltering himself from the setting sun with his arm. He wasn’t holding his weapon in a steady hand, but based on the width of his shoulders and muscles, I had no interest in trying to fight him. I was skilled, but someone that strong could easily overpower me. The time wasn’t right for a fight and I had to curb my instincts.
“I’d like to see the queen,” I said, keeping my voice strong and steady. I didn’t want him to question me.
“You were already here once today, weren’t you? You don’t exactly go unnoticed in this town.” His teeth gleamed as his lips parted. Was it a smile or a threat? I couldn’t tell.
“I was, but, I forgot something,” I said.
He looked behind me and side-to-side, his eyes squinting. “Okay, I don’t see anybody. If you can be in and out really quick, I’ll let you in. I always had a soft spot in my heart for the queen and I don’t think she deserves this. If it gives her any peace to see you again tonight, then I’ll allow it.”
I fought the urge to hug the big brute and instead smiled back at him. “Thank you so, so much.”
“But be quick. If you aren’t out in a few minutes, before my shift is over, I won’t be here to explain anything to the next guard on duty.”
I nodded and slipped in the doorway, which he opened slightly for me. I ran down the dirty hallway, searching for Mags’ cell. Fifth door on the right, I remembered from my earlier visit. I was glad I paid attention.
“Mags,” I whispered through the tiny window with bars. The straw crunched and I hoped she heard me. “Mags,” I whispered a little louder this time.
“Lianne? Is that you?” A yawn enfolded her words. She’d been sleeping, but I didn’t care. I needed to talk to her now.
“I only have a couple minutes and I need to ask you something. It’s really important. Come closer to the door.”
The straw crackled again, popping faster as she scurried toward me.
“What is it?” she asked.
“I need to know who Trevin’s father is,” I whispered. “If there is any chance he’ll help us tomorrow, you have to tell me. He may be the only person who can rescue Trevin while I rescue you.”
“Lianne,” she said, sighing. “I can’t tell you.”
“You have to,” I insisted. “He may be our only ally. You have to tell me.”
Mags silence overwhelmed me. It was a simple question with a simple answer. She needed to share with me quickly or I’d be caught.
“It’s Aric.”
“Aric?” I gasped. “Kellan’s father? But he’s so old.”
Mags’ laugh, so strange in its juxtaposition to the dungeon, rang out in the hallway.
“Don’t forget I’m a few years older than you and he took in Kellan when he was a young man himself. Yes, he’s older than me, but he’s the kindest man I’ve ever met.”
I had to concede that. Aric never hesitated to help me. The more I thought about it, I wondered why I hadn’t considered it before. He’d been interested in why Mags was imprisoned, a little too interested.
“I know he’ll help us,” I said. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning, okay? Try not to worry. I have everything under control.”
“I trust you Lianne,” Mags said. She stuck her fingers between the bars, a ribbon hanging from them. “Take this to Aric. He’ll know I told you the truth.”
I touched my fingertips to hers and slid the ribbon into my palm.
“Get some sleep,” I said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” I turned and ran back down the dark hallway. After a quick knock on the door, I heard the hinges groan as the guard opened the door.
“Thank you,” I told him again.
“I hope you got what you needed,” he said.
I nodded before turning and running off into the town.
I hurried through the spreading darkness to Aric and Kellan’s home, my head still spinning with the news that Aric was Trevin’s mystery father. He was older than her by a good fifteen years, but because of his position he was very fit. I could see why Mags would feel an attraction to him and he’d been alone since his first wife died at a young age. I wondered how their love developed so quickly. I chuckled. Who was I to question the speed after my new feelings for Bryden?
The dirt kicked up from my scurrying feet. I stopped running, knowing it would draw too much attention, but I walked as quickly as I could. I hoped to get to Aric before Kellan was home from cleaning up after practice. I’d promised Bryden I’d talk to Kellan, and I meant to keep that promise, but I had to talk to Aric first, and alone. If Kellan couldn’t be trusted, then Aric needed to know that too.
I slipped behind the house and through the window into Kellan’s room. The bed I’d lain in for the last few weeks didn’t call to me like it used to. I didn’t even want to touch it, knowing what I could have done with Kellan. I couldn’t imagine it now. All I could see was Bryden when I closed my eyes.
; I slipped through the doorway and into the kitchen. Aric sat at the table, nursing a mug. From the smell, it was mead. I wasn’t sure if inebriation was a good or bad idea for this conversation.
“Aric,” I said, catching my breath and sitting down at the table across from him. “There’s something I have to tell you.”
He looked up at me, tears in his eyes. He slid his hand across the table, grasping mine tightly.
“I’ll listen to anything you need to tell me, but at the moment my heart is aching. I’m a warrior, I have been my whole life, and I’ve learned to control my emotions. But there are times when I need to let go. I’m losing someone important to me and even though I lost her once before, I don’t know if I can do it again.”
“Mags still loves you too,” I blurted out. His eyes popped open and the tears that had been hovering on the corners of his eyelids fell in a steady stream. “But there’s more you need to know. I plan to rescue Mags tomorrow before she’s executed.”
“It’s not possible,” he said. “I’ve spent the week in a fog plotting ways to save her and carry her away to safety, but I can’t do it. I can’t fight the whole army. I trained them and I know that alone I’m no match for them.”
“You don’t have to. Bryden and I have a plan to save Mags.”
Aric broke out in a peal of laughter. “I’m sorry, sweetie. You’re a great fighter, but you’re no more a match for the army than I am. And Bryden? The boy is crippled! What can he do?”
I squeezed his hand, still holding mine across the table.
“You have to trust me that we have a plan. We will succeed. I won’t let my best friend die for something she didn’t do.”
Aric raised an eyebrow at me.
“Okay, she did do it, but she’s not a traitor to the kingdom. Her love for you did nothing to harm the king.” I fished around in my pocket for the ribbon she wanted me to give to Aric. “This is for you.”