The Blue Flame [Book 1 of the Daradawn Series]

by Barbara M. Hodges

  Regan pulled her hand from her sister's and frowned.

  "What you do for Daradawn, you do for Peter, Rourk and every person here,” Kelsey said.

  Regan stared over Kelsey's head, refusing to meet her eyes.

  "If you won't do it for Tessa, will you do it for me? I'm going to be stuck in this bed for awhile, and while I am Dirkk will continue to hurt people I love."

  Regan's gaze became flat and hard. “He'll pay for what he did to you. He and Thomas both."

  Kelsey relaxed back against her pillow. “Then go speak to Tessa. See what she wants from you.” Kelsey closed her eyes.

  Regan touched her sister's shoulder. “Kelsey?"

  "What?"

  "You will wake up again, right?"

  Her sister's eyes remained closed, but her lips smiled. “Of course I will."

  Regan walked to the door, then looked back again before she walked through and closed it behind her.

  Peter, Ben and Tessa waited for her in the hall. Their eyes questioned her as she approached. “She's gone back to sleep."

  Ben turned away. “I'll tell Margeaux that she's regained consciousness. I'm sure she'll want to see her."

  Peter did the same. “I will go with you. Rourk must..."

  "Where is Rourk?” Regan said. “I thought he would be here with Kelsey."

  "He doesn't know about Kelsey. He rode out in search of Black Viper stragglers,” Angus said.

  "We will find him and tell him,” Peter said.

  Regan waited until they were out of sight, then turned to Tessa. “I'm sorry. What I said in there was uncalled for."

  "You were frightened for your sister. Will you listen to me now?” Regan opened her mouth to answer, but Tessa continued on, taking her acceptance as fact. “The people know of Kelsey's condition. We tried to keep it from them, but...” The queen's shoulders lifted, then dropped. “Although you've been among us for only a short time, you must be able to see that your sister is the heart of our fight against Dirkk."

  The queen paused, searched Regan's face, then went on. “Now they are close to panic. They want their commander back.” Tessa frowned and moved to Kelsey's closed door. “Something they cannot have.” She glanced at Regan. “So we will give them the next best thing ... her sister."

  Regan's stomach tightened. “What do you have planned?"

  Tessa turned to face her. “You will speak to them."

  Regan's stomach rolled. “How many is ‘them?’”

  "All of Daradawn."

  Regan turned and moved to Kelsey's door. She inched it open and looked at her sleeping sister. I promised you, but this?

  "You will not be alone. Peter and I will be beside you."

  Regan turned back to Tessa, a wry smile on her lips.

  Tessa frowned at the smile. “Yes, I remember what happened before, but this time it will be different.” She closed her eyes and rubbed her temple. “It has to be."

  "When do you want me to speak?” Regan asked, resignation in her voice.

  Tessa opened her eyes. “Now."

  "Do I have time to change?"

  Tessa laughed hollowly. “Can you change ... enough?” Regan said nothing and Tessa abruptly silenced her laugh. “They wait for you outside. I thought it best that you address them from my balcony."

  Regan nodded.

  "Then come. Let's get this over with.” Tessa turned and walked down the hall.

  Regan remained where she stood and watched Tessa stride away. Half way down the hall, Tessa stopped. She didn't look back, just waited. Regan glanced at Kelsey's closed door, then forced her feet to follow.

  * * * *

  Regan stared at the open doors that led onto Queen Tessa's curved balcony. The queen stood on the balcony addressing the crowd below. “Yes, I know your fears,” she heard her say, “but giving in to Dirkk is not the answer."

  Regan hadn't seen the crowd yet, but she had heard their welcoming cheer when their queen stepped out onto the balcony. Their voices had rolled over her, chilling her to the bone.

  "There must be hundreds of people out there. How can I face them?"

  "We all do what we must."

  She turned and saw Peter standing just inside the queen's sleeping chamber. He walked to her and looked deep into her eyes. “You have faced a dragon, Ru'taha, and Dirkk himself. These are just frightened people."

  She swallowed and nodded, not trusting her voice. Through the open doors she heard Tessa mention her name and from the crowd a voice yelled “Regan! Regan!” Another joined the first, then another, until the air rang with the chant of her name.

  Peter stepped around her and opened the balcony doors wide. She stepped to the side, but not quick enough. “There. There she is,” a woman's voice cried. The chanting grew louder. Peter caught Regan's gaze and waved her forward. She closed her eyes. Kelsey, help me, she prayed.

  She stepped out onto the balcony. The chant rose to a crescendo, then slowly faded as Regan stared silently into the new day dawning above their heads.

  "Here is Kelsey's sister,” Tessa said in a rush, breaking the tense silence. “The same warrior blood flows in her veins. Already she's come up against Dirkk and sent him slinking.” She finished with a too-bright smile in Regan's direction.

  Regan felt the hand of fear grab her throat and start to squeeze. She darted a glance behind her to the open doors.

  "Commander Regan, how will you defeat Dirkk and his hell spawn?” a voice cried from the crowd. She looked down into a sea of faces, her mind a black void of panic.

  "Why does she just stare at us?” a shrill voice asked.

  "She has no plan,” another voice answered the first.

  A frightened swell of sound formed in the back of the crowd and surged forward like ocean waves rushing toward a beach. When it reaches me I will drown, she thought.

  "I told you we must accept Dirkk as our King. It's the only way we will not all die,” a voice cried from the crowd. Murmurs of acceptance melted into the wave of fright rushing toward her.

  In the wave's wake, a woman's strident voice screamed and other voices joined. The scream wasn't one of fear, but of disgust and loathing. The crowd split down the center. A narrow alley formed that ended beneath Tessa's balcony. Curiosity squelched a portion of her fear, and she moved to the balcony's edge and looked down.

  The thing lurched along the path between the throng of people. Its black skin moved and flowed, then she realized it wasn't skin, but a horde of buzzing black flies. A breeze kicked up and the rotted stench of spoiled meat floated to where Regan and Queen Tessa stood on the balcony. Tessa raised her hand to cover her mouth and nose.

  The flies lifted and Regan saw that what stumbled toward them was a Ru'taha, or what was left of one. Its head listed to the side, almost resting on a shoulder, held on by one thin strip of oozing flesh. Below the shoulder, its arm ended in a black, crusty stump. The other complete arm and hand waved a makeshift flag of ripped cloth. It must have once been white, but now brownish, dried blood covered all but a few splotches.

  The Ru'taha shuffled to a halt below the balcony and its head lolled back to look up at Regan. The flesh of the Ru'taha's face blurred and Regan knew what would happen next. Beside her, she felt, rather than saw, Tessa's shock as Dirkk's features and cold green eyes stared up at them.

  His soft voice flowed over them. “Tessa, my love. I've come to offer you my terms."

  Tessa backed away from the balcony's edge. “Get away from me, demon."

  The head lolled to the other side of the Ru'taha's neck and the flies swarmed upward, then alighted again. “Demon? Is that the way to talk to your future consort?"

  Regan heard a choking gag from beside her, then Tessa turned and ran from the balcony. From below, a gurgling laugh drifted upwards. “That leaves just me and you, my dear Regan."

  Peter stepped forward. “You have forgotten me."

  The Ru'taha's body shook and a black cloud of flies lifted and hovered above. “You?” The Ru'taha
's hand dropped the stained square of cloth, then reached out and grabbed a handful of buzzing flies. Dirkk's green eyes glittered in the Ru'taha's head as the hand squeezed. The Ru'taha opened its hand and held it out toward Peter and Regan. Oily black coated the palm, along with a few fluttering pieces of gossamer wings. “I will crush you."

  The crowd on either side of the Ru'taha knitted closer, widening the gap between them and the walking dead.

  Dirkk's eyes probed Regan. “Where is your sister, the powerful Queen's-Commander? Did my pets finally send her to hell where she belongs?"

  Regan felt the blood drain from her face, then rage brought it rushing back. She leaned over the balcony and locked her gaze with Dirkk's. “Your pets died last night by the hundreds, and today so will you ... along with the rest."

  Dirkk's howling laughter fueled Regan's anger. “Who will destroy me? You and the puny mage who stands at your side?"

  Her fingers dug into the railing she gripped. “I will. The same way I shattered your globe of souls."

  Dirkk's laughter stilled. “My souls. Yes, I will have to punish you for that.” The Ru'taha's cracked lips parted in a smile. “But afterwards I will forgive you, and give you pleasure beyond your wildest dreams, pleasure you will come to crave as you sit by my side throughout eternity."

  Beside her, Regan heard Peter's sharp intake of breath. “I thought Tessa was to be your queen?” she said.

  "I will have you both."

  "I will die before I rule by your side,” she said.

  The Ru'taha's shoulders rose and then fell. “I said nothing of ruling but, if you wish to die, so be it."

  Her glare swept over the crowd that ringed the Ru'taha. “Why do you just stand there with this piece of rot in your midst? You could have already killed the walking shell and Dirkk with it."

  A frightened murmur drifted up to her and the crowd drew further back from the Ru'taha. Dirkk's laughter rang out again. “They are but sheep without a shepherd and you a Judas goat that will lead them to their deaths."

  Then Caroline Witherspoon stepped from the crowd. “The commander's sister is right. It is but one, and a walking dead one at that."

  Regan felt it start to grow, the dangerous blood thirst of crowd mentality. Her glance darted back to the Ru'taha and saw Dirkk's green eyes darken with fear. He met her eyes and she smiled. His green gaze flared with hate, then vanished.

  "Kill it!” someone screamed and as one mass they surged forward. Peter pulled her from the balcony, and then shut the door behind them.

  * * * *

  Queen Tessa stood in the middle of the room, staring at a tapestry on the far wall. “I'm sorry. I could not face him."

  Peter moved to lay his arm across her shoulders. “It is all right, my queen. Not even you must do it all."

  Tessa shuddered, then turned to face Regan. “What is to be our next step?"

  "We have to get Dirkk's pendant and my notebook,” Regan answered.

  "Why? We can recite the spell and destroy all of the Ru'taha and vipers,” Peter said.

  Regan rubbed the back of her neck with her hand. “No, we can't."

  Peter and Tessa frowned at her. “What do you mean, we cannot?” Peter asked.

  Regan stared out the balcony doors. “The spell has to be written in the notebook to work. I found that out when Darrian held me captive."

  Tessa frowned at her. “When you found out, why didn't you write it in the book?"

  "I did, but I discovered that Peter must write the portion he created in the notebook himself."

  "But how...?"

  Regan cut off Tessa's question. “The words I wrote glowed. When I wrote Peter's, they didn't."

  "I see, and the pendant?"

  "As long as Dirkk wears the pendant, he can shape more Ru'taha and vipers."

  "Then we will take both from him,” Peter said. “And I know how we will do it."

  * * * *

  In the Queen's forest, Regan stood beneath dripping trees, her braid still swaying with the vehemence of her refusal. “You will not do it alone."

  Peter bent and touched a yellow and scarlet flower. “What kind of vine do you think this is?"

  Regan inhaled rain-scented air and counted to ten. “I don't know."

  "Call Da'kar."

  "Not until we settle this."

  He bent, sniffed the flower, then turned to face her. “It makes no difference if Da'kar will not help."

  "It's a good plan, but certain death without me."

  "If Da'kar does his part, I will have only Thomas to contend with.” He grinned at her. “Do you think I cannot handle him?"

  She itched to grab Peter and shake him. “Of course you can handle Thomas, but what if Dirkk returns early?"

  His grin faded. “He will not."

  "He could.” Regan locked her gaze with his and held it. This was a battle of wills she planned to win. She had to.

  He turned his back to her. “What could you do if you were there?"

  Regan swallowed her quick flare of anger. Nice try, but insulting me won't work. “I can watch from the entrance."

  "You will watch only?"

  "I won't interfere.” Unless I have to, she added silently.

  "Then we will both trap the spider in his web."

  And hope that neither of us turns out to be a fly, Regan thought, hiding a stab of fear behind a wide smile.

  "Now will you call Da'kar?"

  "I am here.” The silver-tinged thought drifted to Regan.

  "How long have you been with us?"

  "Since you stepped through the door."

  She felt a hand grab her arm. She blinked, then refocused her eyes on Peter's frowning face. “I'm sorry. What did you say?"

  His frown deepened. “I said, would you call Da'kar?"

  "No, he..."

  He released her arm and stepped back. “Then I will find him myself."

  She flushed. “I don't have to call him. He's already here."

  It soothed her temper to see Peter's face turn as red as she knew hers was.

  Da'kar approached through the trees. The unicorn stallion stopped inches from them and tipped his gold-spiraled horn. Regan looked at Peter and he cocked an eyebrow at her.

  "You knew I was going to call you,” she said. “You understand the speech of humans."

  "I understand your words, but am unable to speak them."

  "Do you know why we wanted to speak to you?"

  "You wish my help with Thomas and Dirkk."

  Regan met Peter's gaze. He nodded, urging her on. She turned her gaze back to Da'kar. “We wish to use Dirkk's hatred of unicorns to destroy him and all his evil."

  Da'kar tossed his white-and-silver streaked mane. “What must I do?"

  "What do you want him to do?” she asked Peter.

  "If I know Dirkk as I think I do, then showing himself will be enough."

  "Dirkk's hatred is that strong? Just seeing a unicorn will draw him out and away?” She heard doubt in her own voice and mentally cringed.

  The smile faded from Peter's lips. “Dirkk's hatred has festered for many years."

  Regan hurriedly turned back to Da'kar. “You must let Dirkk see you, then lead him away, and keep him away."

  "Do you wish me to kill him?"

  She felt her face grow pale. She turned her green gaze on Peter and swallowed hard.

  He stared into her face. “What is wrong?"

  She licked her lips. “He asked if we wanted him to kill Dirkk."

  Peter stared at the unicorn. Regan saw Peter's body go very still. Then he shook his head. “No, this may be our only chance. We must be sure it is done right."

  She faced Da'kar. “We'll take care of Dirkk and Thomas."

  The unicorn tipped his horn. “When?"

  Regan glanced at Peter. “Now."

  Chapter 26

  REGAN REINED GILDA in at the edge of a breeze-rippled field of ripening wheat. Da'kar stopped beside her. She glanced up at Thomas's cave. “He doe
sn't even have the path illusioned any more."

  Peter rode Skylar a few feet beyond them, then looked up also. Regan couldn't see his face, but she knew it was stony with resolve, a resolve that had hardened as they rode through Fertile Isle Valley on their way to this spot.

  The condition of the valley had surprised her. She'd expected wanton destruction, but everything looked the same. Yes, the valley was strewn with bloated bodies of Ru'taha, vipers and humans alike, but the crops still waited in the fields for harvesting and the livestock, still secure in their pens, stared at them as they rode by. The serene, everyday sight had chilled her. Dirkk does not destroy what he plans to make his, she had thought with a shudder.

  Peter swung down from Skylar's back. “We will walk from here."

  She slid off Gilda and moved to stand beside him on the spongy ground.

  "Will you tell the horses to wait for us back at the camp?"

  She petted Gilda's velvet nose, then twined one finger in the mare's forelock. “Lady, your attention please."

  Gilda turned her brown gaze on Regan. “You and Skylar will return to the camp and wait for us.” Regan saw the mare's eyes grow darker. “No arguments. Your presence will endanger us when Dirkk comes."

  Gilda tossed her mane, then turned away from Regan and butted Skylar's shoulder with her head. The stallion looked from the mare to Peter, then sidled closer to the mage. Peter placed a hand on each side of the stallion's head, smiled into his eyes and pushed him away. “Go."

  Gilda stretched her neck and nipped the stallion in command, then started to walk back toward the camp. Skylar tossed his head, then followed her.

  Peter glanced at the unicorn. “Tell Da'kar we are ready."

  Regan faced Da'kar. “We're ready."

  The unicorn pawed the ground. “I will do my part,” he sent, then trotted by them, tail held high.

  * * * *

  Regan and Peter stood, backs pressed against a lop-sided boulder. By leaning out a little from the rock's shadow, they had a good view of the ledge before Thomas's cave. They watched as Da'kar strutted up to the base of the mountain, then rear and scream defiance. There was a moment of total silence, then even from where Regan and Peter waited they heard Dirkk's bellow of rage.

  They looked up as Dirkk charged from the cave's entrance. He came to a halt at the ledge's lip, looked down, then screamed obscenities at the unicorn below. Thomas ran out behind him and grabbed Dirkk's arm. Dirkk whirled and slammed Thomas against the mountainside. Da'kar reared again, screaming a clear challenge. Dirkk turned and disappeared from their sight.