WINDDREAMER

by Charlotte Boyett-Compo

  "Good evening, gentlemen," Conar sighed, feeling their presence.

  They gave no answer, but even though Conar could not see them, he knew the exact moment they fell into step behind him.

  Chapter 24

  * * *

  As the night wore on, Shalu and Jah-Ma-El sat in companionable silence before the smoldering fire. Coolness had invaded the keep, and the fire felt good to their bare toes, stretched toward the flames. In their hands, they held snifters of brandy and little black Ionarian cigars Chase had brought from his homeland. A platter of cold meats and cheeses sat on a table between them.

  Jah-Ma-El laid down his cigar and took up a half-eaten turkey leg.

  "He will want to go to the Monastery alone," Shalu said. "Occultus has expressly forbidden that."

  "Why wasn't the Master at the Joining today?" Jah-Ma-El asked, grease slathering his chin.

  "Perhaps the man does not like such flipperies." Shalu frowned. "Joinings are not warrior gatherings."

  "But it was nice."

  "Aye," Shalu said grudgingly, clearing his throat of the day's sweet memories. " 'Twas well enough, I suppose."

  "You enjoyed it."

  " 'Twas all right, I said!" Shalu looked at his companion; his lip curled. "Wipe your chin, Jamie!"

  Jah-Ma-El laid down the turkey leg and swept the sleeve of his tunic over his mouth. "What if Coni finds out what we're planning?" he asked, burping.

  Shalu made a disgusted face as he watched Jah-Ma-El's lack of manners, but for once, he made no comment. "He won't find out. Every precaution has been taken. We'll guard his back, the six of us--Tyne, Rylan, Chase, Grice, you, and me. Holm and Paegan will stay with the ship, anchoring it off the coastline above the monastery where it can't be seen. Sentian, Bent, and Thom will go with Brelan and Roget up the other side of the monastery where it sits into the mountainside. Belvoir knows the way through that hidden place. Ching-Ching and Occultus will be leaving for Chrystallus on the Boreal Queen. The Master doesn't want to be where Kaileel can find him easily, should we fail at the first attempt." Shalu frowned. "I suppose we could use that Duncan fellow to guard the rendezvous point."

  Jah-Ma-El looked up. "You don't like him, do you? Is there a reason?"

  Shalu shrugged his massive shoulder. "Nothing I can name...just a feeling that he isn't what he seems. You have not told me why he originally left Boreas."

  After tossing the turkey leg into the fire, Jah-Ma-El wiped his hand on his stained breeches. He wiggled his toes and threw his hands over his head, stretched and yawned. "What do you want to know?"

  "All of it."

  Casting his friend a tired look, Jah-Ma-El sighed. "You have to understand, these are things I've gathered from Legion, Conar, and Brelan. Some from Cayn. I was at Norus with Galen, then, who had been sent there with a couple of Tribunal priests to be Regent. The twins were fourteen, I think when Queen Moira died. She had been slowly declining in health for a few months. Cayn had been doing all he could for her, testing her even for poison, but there was no indication that such was the case."

  Shalu's gaze narrowed. "But you aren't sure."

  "There are poisons and then there are poisons. No trace of any such potion was found in her system, but her illness was too vague. She had lost a great amount of weight and her hair had fallen out in patches. She had horrible cramps and moments of delirium. The King was so worried, he let nearly everything in the kingdom go to rot and ruin. He had no time for his sons. Had he noticed his heir's moodiness, he might have been able to help Conar cope with what had been done to him by Tohre and the Domination."

  "Do you think the Domination was behind the Queen's illness?"

  "I've no way of knowing, although I would not put it past them. Conar came home from the Monastery and tried to kill himself before her illness. The Tribunal looked upon Conar's suicide attempt as a stubborn refusal to go about princely duties. They insisted the King send him back to Tohre, but Queen Moira would not allow it. I believe she knew something bad had happened, although I'd wager Conar did not tell her. She even went before the Tribunal to ask for an inquiry, and as I understand it, soon afterward she became ill."

  "The Domination controlled the Tribunal," Shalu remarked. "Her interference would not have been tolerated."

  "Precisely."

  "So they may well have rid themselves of a troublemaker. It fits, doesn't it?"

  Jah-Ma-El nodded. "This was also about the time that Raja began to take interest in the young men of the keep. She had quite an influence on Conar, and soon afterward, he told the King he would have nothing more to do with the Priesthood. No matter how hard his father tried to get him to finish his instructions, Conar refused, supposedly telling his father the Lady Raja said he need not be a priest to be a good King."

  Shalu whistled. "That must have gone over well with Gerren."

  "Because of it, Conar got his first whipping--or that's what his father thought. If only the King had known how accustomed Conar had become to beatings."

  "Tohre has a lot to atone for," Shalu mumbled. "Then what happened?"

  "At that time, Duncan was living here. His mother was a highborn lady, sister to Rylan and Paegan's mother, I think. He had been training, like most of the King's sons, with Hern. He was supposedly good with his fists and had that remarkable thatch of black hair the ladies seemed to find quite thrilling. Since he was so much bigger for his age than most of the other boys, he worked part time with the stonemason. He also seemed to have a flair for sculpting. At any rate, it didn't seem all that strange when Kaileel commissioned Duncan for a small statue of Alel for the sacristy. Thinking back on what Legion told me, though, I wonder..."

  "About what?" Shalu pressed.

  "Well, obviously Kaileel had other things in mind for the boy, although for the life of me I don't understand why. Duncan didn't have the blond, blue-eyed look Tohre fancies. Legion said Duncan spent a lot of time at the Temple, sketching from the large statue there. That meant he was around Tohre a great deal. On the day Duncan left home, he'd been at the Temple with Tohre. He came home crying, running to Legion, who was in his early twenties, as I recall. He said Tohre had raped him, but he didn't want Legion to tell their father, since the King had enough on his mind with the Queen's illness. Legion vowed he would not until the Queen was better."

  "But the Queen never got better."

  "No. As a matter of fact, she died that very night with Conar at her bedside. Coron and Dyllon were too young, still in the nursery, and Galen was visiting Norus, where he would be taking regency when he turned sixteen."

  "Did Galen love his mother?" Shalu asked abruptly.

  "I really don't know. He was always cold. He probably cared as much about her as it was possible for him. Why?"

  Shalu shrugged. "No reason. Go on..."

  "Duncan went to the Queen, paying his respects as he did each day. Whatever had passed between them had obviously upset her, for when Conar entered her room, his mother began to sob wildly, holding him to her as though never to let him go."

  "You think Duncan told her what had happened? What must have happened to Conar?"

  "That would be my guess. Later, a maid told the King that her mistress had rung for her. She supposedly passed Duncan, leaving the Queen's room. The maid said the Queen shouted for her to go after her two boys, meaning Conar and Galen. The maid met Conar outside the room, telling him to hurry to his mother, while she went in search of a messenger to send for Galen."

  "Where was Gerren while all this was going on?"

  "No one seems to know. During that time, he was never that far from his wife, but he may have gone to the Temple to pray. I understand he was a very religious man. At any rate, when he returned to the room, he found his wife dead in Conar's arms. When the King found out that Duncan had caused her such distress, he sent guards after him, meaning to punish him for causing her death."

  "The boy couldn't have been held accountable," Shalu said. "Surely Gerren wouldn't have hurt him."r />
  "Duncan believed he would have, for he ran away. No one heard from him again--until now. After the burial, the King came to his senses and sent men to find Duncan, to no avail."

  "How old was he?"

  "Eighteen or nineteen. Why?" Jah-Ma-El sat forward and stretched his hands toward the fire.

  "Don't you find it strange that a boy of his age would just disappear? I would have wanted to clear my name if someone thought me the cause of my stepmother's death. Maybe I'm looking at it from my own viewpoint, but I don't think Gerren was such a tyrant that his own flesh and blood would be so scared. Unless..."

  "Unless, what?"

  Shalu stared into the fire, his thoughts dark and troubling. "Unless Duncan had reason to fear his father's wrath."

  "You think he was the cause of her death?"

  "And I think he might have been put up to doing it."

  "By Tohre?"

  Shalu nodded. "Or Tolkan."

  Chapter 25

  * * *

  As she sat by the open window, Liza plaited her hair, working the thick tresses into one fat braid. She noticed Conar watching her from the bed, his head resting in his hand, his elbow digging into the pillow beneath his chest. When his eyes lowered to her slightly swollen belly, he smiled.

  "Have you thought of a name for her, yet, Milord?" she asked.

  "I like Catherine." He cocked a brow at her grimace. "No?"

  "Too old-fashioned. I thought, perhaps, Lindsey."

  He snorted. "Too masculine."

  "Leonore?"

  "Too antiquated."

  "Adair?"

  He thought for a moment. "That sounds somewhat acceptable."

  She smiled and gave away her trickery. "Will you be staying in bed all day?"

  His smile widened. "Will you be coming back to bed?"

  Liza threw him an amused look. "I think not."

  He stretched out full length and put his hands beneath his head. "Oh, well, a man can dream, I suppose."

  "A man can get lazy, as well. We've a journey to make this day."

  His smile slid away. "Correction--I have a journey to make."

  "Don't start that again. I go with you, or by the gods, you'll not go at all."

  A shadow passed over his features. "You're with child. You--"

  "I can and I will! We'll have no more discussion!"

  "Why do I put up with you, woman?"

  "Because no one else would put up with you!" She tied a ribbon around her braid and stood, smoothing the tunic of russet corduroy over her thickening waist. "Besides, you need me, and well you know it."

  "How will I get you up the mountain? You can't climb. Not with child." He shook his head. "It's not safe, Liza."

  Something in his voice disturbed her. She sat on the bed beside him and laid her hand on his chest. "Are you sure you're ready? Are you sure you're strong enough to confront him?"

  Conar brought her hand to his lips. "There's nothing stronger than our love, is there?" When she shook her head, he continued. "Then I'm ready, Elizabeth. Together we're stronger that Tohre will ever be. With you at my side, I could defeat the whole of the Domination's forces single-handed. One man is of little consequence."

  "He is no ordinary man, love. And he isn't alone. He has Raja."

  A hard grimace settled on Conar's face. "She is chaff in the wind."

  "Never underestimate a former Daughter of the Multitude."

  "I can and will defeat them both!"

  Liza saw determination, confidence lurking in his eyes. Pride swelled her chest; her heart throbbed with love. He was also no ordinary man. He, Conar McGregor, Darklord of the Wind, was a man to be reckoned with. If anyone could defeat the Domination and Kaileel Tohre, it would be her lover, the Raven.

  She smiled. "Sure of yourself, aren't you, Milord?"

  "As sure as I am the sun will rise on our love tomorrow." His lips claimed hers in a deep, penetrating kiss. For a tantalizing moment, he seemed to draw sustenance from her lips, then slowly withdrew, his bright sapphire eyes fused with hers. "And as sure as I am that my love will last for as long as there is recorded time, and even beyond."

  "I love you, Conar McGregor," she whispered, her fingers trembling against his unshaven cheek.

  He pulled her to him and delayed his journey a while longer.

  * * * *

  Roget looked up the stairs for what must have been the tenth time. Sighing, he glanced at Brelan. "Are you sure they're awake?"

  Brelan smiled. "Very sure, du Mer."

  "Everything's ready," Grice said, coming into the room. "We've got his horse and hers saddled."

  "Those two beasts are a sight to see," Cayn remarked.

  "That is what Occultus planned," Belvoir said. "He wants the people to be reminded of the Windwarrior legend."

  "There'll be no mistaking the resemblance," Grice said. "Even the saddles and bridles Tran sent are of silver, just like the legend."

  "Now, does everyone know what we are to do?" Jah-Ma-El asked. "He isn't to know--"

  "He isn't to know what?" Conar interrupted, descending the stairs and pulling on his black riding gloves.

  He was attired in the Raven's garb: a black flowing shirt laced with black leather ties--open because of the late-spring heat--and tight black leather breeches over knee-high boots of black kid. His sword, the infamous Deathwelder, lay across his back, the black crystal pommel shining in the sunlight coming from the window. He had rolled up his sleeves to his elbows, and the leather gauntlets along his forearms strained from the hard muscles.

  "Well? What isn't he to know, Jah-Ma-El?"

  "You might as well tell him your plan," Legion drawled, leaning against the rose-colored marble fireplace. "He'll have guessed."

  "Damn you, A'Lex!" Tyne hissed. "Can you not keep your bloody mouth shut?"

  Conar laughed. "You all think to accompany us to the Monastery. One way or another, I take it. Am I right?" He stood against the newel post, one arm crossed at the wrist over the other.

  "We thought you might need help," Roget admitted. "Tohre won't be unguarded."

  Conar grinned at them for a long time before snorting with glee. A sound on the stairs caught his attention, and he looked up to see Liza descending. As usual, his breath caught in his throat, and he felt immense gratitude that she was once more his, and his alone. He held out his hand and led her from the stairs.

  "These bumbling oafs plan to accompany us, Milady. What do you think we should do?"

  A soft smile lit her face as she looked at each of the men. "I think we should consider it, for I fear they will go, with or without your permission. We can't have them wandering about the mountainside and getting into mischief while we're otherwise preoccupied. There's the safety of the townsfolk to consider."

  Grice growled. "Are you saying we're a danger to ourselves, Anya Elizabeth?"

  "That's exactly what she's saying, Wynth," Legion said, his smile looking a tad forced. "You'd better give them permission, Conar, else keep watch for them to pop out at a most inopportune moment."

  "You didn't think we'd let you have all the fun, did you, Conar?" Rylan argued.

  Conar sneered with good humor. "It never entered my mind that the lot of you would do as I asked. You haven't before--why waste my breath?"

  "Precisely so!" Jah-Ma-El said. "Waste not, want not!"

  "Occultus wants to see you both," Ching-Ching reminded Conar and Liza. "It won't take long. He's in the Temple."

  Conar and Liza made their goodbyes to those staying behind: Cayn, Marsh, Gezelle, Amber-lea, and all the others not an intricate part of the Wind Force.

  "Take care, Legion," Conar said, putting out his hand.

  Tears filled Legion's eyes. He rushed forward, gathering Conar in a strong embrace. "Please come back to us. Don't let anything happen to you."

  "Count on it." He eased Legion away and gripped the man's biceps. "Watch over my family while I'm gone, big brother. I entrust their lives to your safekeeping."

&nb
sp; Legion bobbed his head and withdrew his hands from Conar's shoulders. His eyes went to Liza. "You'll take care?" When she nodded solemnly, he sniffed and looked away.

  "Occultus is waiting," Conar whispered and took Liza's hand.

  * * * *

  Outside in the warm sunlight, people milled about the Temple steps. When at last Conar and Liza exited the building after praying with Occultus and receiving last minutes instructions, neither could smile.

  "Are you all right?" Grice asked his sister, his eyes searching hers.

  "I'm fine," she answered, palming his cheek. "It's just a big responsibility Conar and I have undertaken."

  "And a dangerous one," Conar whispered, looking across the courtyard.

  "You haven't seen your mare," Brelan said, as if sensing the troubling undercurrent and wanting to break the awkwardness of the moment. "Don't you think it's time you did?"

  Liza smiled, thankful for Brelan's insight. She bid her final farewells to those inside the keep and followed the men of the Wind Force outside.

  "Isn't she a beauty?" Sentian whispered, leading the mare to her.

  Liza stared with awe at the albino mare. Windkeeper, her beautiful mare, had long since gone on to her final pasture, but this lovely beast would be a daring partner for the black steed side-stepping beside her. Liza laughed as the mare coyly lowered her head beneath the gently nipping teeth of the big black stallion.

  "You little flirt!" she admonished, fondly patting the sleek neck. The mare jerked up her head, tossing the white mane in the air as though acknowledging the comment.

  "What will you call her, Milady?" Sentian asked, handing over the reins.

  Liza looked at Conar. "Since your steed was named Demonwind, I shall call her Seafarer, for she shall follow the wind. As I follow you, Milord."

  Conar cupped her cheek with his gloved palm. "Are you ready to go, my love?"

  She squared her shoulders. "Ready."