Scent of Magic

by Maria V. Snyder

  When the onslaught stopped, I came to my senses. Lying on the floor, I panted as sweat dripped down my back.

  Noelle’s panicked voice pierced my fog. She swore she hadn’t lied.

  “I know,” Tohon said. “I just wanted to see your reaction. Very conflicted, and not quite what I expected. Come here.” He reached a hand to her.

  I scrambled to my feet and blocked her. “Don’t touch him.”

  Tohon grinned with pure delight. “Now, that’s what I’d hoped to see. My dear, why didn’t you tell me you had a younger sister?”

  He was quite aware that his question destroyed any hope that I might make trouble for Tohon. “The topic never came up,” I said. “Besides, her loyalty is with Jael.”

  “I see.” He focused on Noelle. “And now Jael has flown the coop, leaving you behind. Where do your loyalties lie?”

  She hesitated. I felt a bit of comfort from that. And as much as I would have loved for her to throw her lot in with me, I knew that’d be the worst thing she could do right now.

  “With you,” Noelle said to him.

  Tohon laughed. “I like this girl. I’m going to keep you close. You can be the first to swear allegiance to me.”

  After Noelle took the oath, Tohon presided over Estrid, her staff and the high-ranking officers’ vows.

  When everyone but me had sworn their loyalty, Tohon asked Noelle if there was a ballroom in the house. “We need to celebrate this momentous occasion.”

  “There’s one on the second floor,” she said.

  “Good. Please escort everyone there, and then bring the rest of the dinner guests to me. Once they take the oath, they can join in the dancing. Cellina, will you talk to the string quartet about relocating from the dining room?”

  They all hurried to obey. Before Sepp left the room, Tohon caught his attention by tapping his fingers against his thumb. Sepp nodded. The death magician had a smug gleam in his eyes. The smugness wasn’t unusual, but the gleam...

  When they were gone, I rounded on Tohon. “They’re not going to dance. Sepp’s going to encase them all in a magical stasis, isn’t he?”

  “Would you rather I kill them?”

  “Of course not, but—”

  “I’m far too smart to trust their pledges. However, Estrid and her staff might prove useful in the future, so I’ll keep them alive. For now.”

  “Including Noelle?”

  “Don’t worry about her, my dear. She won’t be harmed.”

  “As long as I cooperate, right?” I verbalized the unspoken threat.

  “No. She’s interesting. Out of all the people here, her emotions are the most complex. A puzzle to figure out.”

  I didn’t like the sound of that. “Won’t you be too busy ruling your new kingdom?”

  “There’s always time for a few side projects, including your little miracle, my dear. I’m sure there’s more to it than Kerrick sharing his energy with you. But that’s a discussion for later.” He stroked my arm.

  A shudder ripped through me.

  Noelle arrived with the remaining dinner guests. Tohon enjoyed watching them kneel in front of him and swearing their allegiance. Once everyone had had a turn, he sent them to the ballroom with most of his bodyguards.

  “You will attend me like you had Jael. Understand?” Tohon asked Noelle.

  “Yes, sire.”

  “I will be in Estrid’s suite. I expect you there at dawn.”

  “Yes, sire.” Noelle bowed and made a quick exit without glancing at me.

  Tohon stood and made a show of stretching. He gestured to me. “Shall we retire for the evening, my dear?”

  For a moment I froze in pure terror. Then I said, “I need to check on my patients.”

  “All right. Lead the way.”

  Oh, no. I avoided Tohon’s outstretched hand, breezing past him as I headed toward the door. Trailing four bodyguards, Tohon followed me to the infirmary and waited while I made my rounds. A few patients teased me about my gown. Others asked about my companions. Not many of Estrid’s soldiers had actually met Tohon before. Fear swirled in their gazes when I told them. No help for it, they would have to swear allegiance to him eventually. I wondered when Tohon would force me to take the pledge. All he’d have to do was threaten Noelle, and I would do it.

  I prolonged my interactions with my patients. However, Tohon caught on and ordered me to finish. I was amazed that he was being rather...well, pleasant for him. Considering all that I’d done to ruin his plans—killed his Death Lily garden, stolen Danny and Zila and rescued Ryne—I’d expected him to punish me as soon as we were alone.

  Unfortunately, the night was still young. I didn’t spend as much time with my last couple of patients. And before he could say anything, I said good-night, shot out of the infirmary and strode to my room.

  “Not so fast,” he said, catching up to me at the door. “You’re staying with me tonight. I want to hear about your adventures.”

  Numb with horror, all I could say was, “I need to change.”

  “No need. That dress suits you far better than your usual clothes.” He scanned my body as if appraising a gemstone. “However, if you want to collect your things, I will allow it.”

  I entered my room. Tohon leaned against the door, letting in the lantern light from the hallway. Pausing near my bed, I gathered my courage. I’d expected this, and even had my pack ready to go. Yet now that my fears had turned real, I balked.

  “Avry.” His tone warned.

  I pulled my pack from underneath the bed. Clutching it to my chest, I followed Tohon. He chatted about...I’d no idea. All my energy was focused on moving my feet forward despite the panic building inside me.

  Estrid’s expansive rooms had been decorated in the same elaborate and ornate style as the rest of the manor house. Oversized furniture filled the space, and rich drapery covered the windows.

  A serving girl waited in the receiving room. Tohon ordered her to fetch us some tea. Then he circled the room, examining the decor. “Not bad if you like gold and gaudy. Good thing we won’t be here long.”

  “Where are you going?” I asked.

  He ignored my implication. “I need to establish my rule in all the towns that have been previously occupied by Estrid, set up my people and soldiers to keep them in line. I also need to find Jael. That little whore will kneel before me and acknowledge me as her king.”

  Good luck with that, I thought, knowing better than to say it aloud.

  When the girl returned with a tray, Tohon waved me into one of the armchairs. “Sit and relax, my dear.” He waited until the tea was served before dismissing the girl.

  I perched on the edge of the chair, holding my tea. Tohon’s mood could change in an instant. In my experience, his friendly act wouldn’t last long.

  Tohon lounged in the chair opposite mine, sipping his tea. A brief hope that someone might have poisoned his drink died when I remembered his life magic kept him healthy, counteracting poisons, plagues and other sicknesses.

  “So, my dear. What did you think of my little trick?”

  “With your dead soldiers surrounding the camp?”

  He nodded.

  Best to stick to the truth. For now. “It was brilliant.”

  “It was,” he agreed. “But you figured it out before I could spring it, didn’t you?”

  “I...” I considered.

  “Be honest, my dear.” A hard edge sharpened his tone.

  “I found the clues, but Ryne put them together in time to escape your trap.”

  “And he left you behind.” He tsked. “The woman who saved his life.”

  If he was hoping to hurt me, it wouldn’t work. I shrugged.

  “Just how did you survive the plague?” Tohon leaned forward.

  Time for some creative stretching of the truth. “I didn’t. I died and Kerrick brought me back.”

  His body tensed at Kerrick’s name. “Impossible.”

  “You need to change your definition of impossible. I
once thought that about your dead soldiers. Yet they’re here.”

  “My magic—”

  “Keeps them from rotting, but you inject something into them that animates them. What is it? Death Lily toxin?” It was the wrong guess, but I wanted to see his reaction.

  His teacup clattered when he placed it back in the saucer. “I’m impressed by your effort to trick the answer from me. No one knows the substance, and that’s the way I intend to keep it.” Tohon relaxed back. “And you managed to change the subject. I believe you were going to tell me the real reason you survived the plague.”

  “Does it matter? The plague is gone.”

  “No more stalling.”

  “A Death Lily saved me.” I explained how I’d been in excruciating pain and sought the release only the Death Lily’s toxin could give me. All true, except I failed to mention the Lily had spat me out within seconds, and a Peace Lily took me. “I died inside its petals. When it ejected me, I woke in Kerrick’s arms.”

  “That’s more believable than Kerrick saving you. I’m sure he was happy about your recovery.” He crinkled his nose. “I can smell his scent on you. Good thing he’s dead. Otherwise, I’d be jealous.”

  Without thought, I brought my arm up to my nose, hoping to catch a whiff of spring sunshine and living green. Nothing. Fresh grief tore through me.

  Tohon paused with his teacup inches from his lips, which curled into a smile. “Too bad the ufas ripped him to pieces. I would have liked to display his body in one of my glass coffins.”

  I stared at my hands, struggling to keep the burning tears locked tight.

  Sensing my emotions, Tohon kept going. “Handy creatures, those ufas. Alive, I can only control one, but dead...they’re so much easier to work with. Cellina has been training them to track by scent. Kerrick was their first kill.”

  The desire to run away pulsed in my chest. I glanced at the door. Two of Tohon’s bodyguards blocked the exit. Perhaps I could zap them before Tohon reached me.

  “You won’t get far, my dear.”

  Sagging back in the chair, I acted as if defeated. But I plotted in my mind. Too bad all my ideas for escape ended the same way—recaptured. I needed to keep him talking. Plus, there was a question I had to know the answer to. “Did you send your ufa pack after Belen?”

  Tohon laughed. “No. That big oaf stumbled onto them on his own.”

  “Did he... Did they...” The words clung to my tongue, refusing to be spoken.

  “Belen is in one piece.”

  I straightened as hope sprang inside my chest. “Then he’s—”

  “Dead.”

  Shocked, I gaped.

  “It’s not all bad news, my dear. I rather liked Belen, so he’s still lumbering around. Once he’s finished with his training, I can have him be one of your...escorts. How’s that?”

  Worse than death! I jumped to my feet and lunged at him, intent on wrapping my hands around his throat. He caught my wrists. But instead of pushing me away, he pulled me closer as heat raced across my arms and through my body, liquefying my muscles.

  I sank to my knees before his chair, leaning over his lap. His face was inches from mine. An intense expression—cruel and mocking—darkened his gaze. His magic pulsed through me. The sensation teetered between pain and pleasure, robbing me of speech.

  “I should blast you until you scream for mercy, then take your life,” he said. “You have wrecked my plans, slept with Kerrick and have been actively helping my enemies. Both Cellina and Sepp strongly advised it. It’s sound advice. I should heed it.”

  Sharp daggers of pain pierced my skin. I yelped.

  His expression softened. “Yet...when Cellina informed me you still lived, joy touched my heart. Not only did you survive the plague with the help of a Death Lily, but you’re also smart. And you react to my touch like no other.”

  The pain turned into desire in a heartbeat. Goose bumps tickled my skin as a warmth spread along my stomach and between my legs. He slid his hands under my loose sleeves, up my arms and around my back, pulling me closer. Tohon kissed me, sending a blaze sizzling along my spine. I groaned and climbed into his lap, straddling him and deepening the kiss.

  The smart side of me acknowledged that my healing magic made me far more susceptible to his life magic than any other woman. That I still despised him despite the part of me that wanted to yank his pants down and ride him. Too bad logic had no control of my body.

  He broke off the kiss. The force of his magic eased a bit.

  “As much fun as it would be to have you quivering under me every night, you would no longer be you. You’d be a...what did you call it before?”

  “A drooling mess?” My voice sounded husky. “Scatterbrained?”

  “Yes. And I don’t want that. I want to woo you.”

  I leaned back in surprise. “You do?”

  “Yes. Kerrick was nasty to you and you forgave him. Ryne’s rumors and accusations caused the death of every healer in the Fifteen Realms except you, and you died for him. It’s only a matter of time before you see me as I truly am and fall in love with me.”

  Biting my lip, I kept from saying that his actions—using the dead and experimenting on children—were unforgivable. He took my silence as...I’d no idea.

  “This is how it’s going to be,” Tohon said. “I can’t trust your word, so I won’t ask for it. I also won’t force you to make love to me. However, you will stay by my side. And—”

  “What about my patients?”

  Annoyance creased his brow. “Wait until I’m done. You can work in the infirmary, but you will be guarded at all times.”

  Still shocked, I mulled over his words. “What if I try to run away?”

  “What happened when you tried to run away from Kerrick?”

  “That was different.”

  “How? He basically kidnapped you so you could heal Ryne. When you tried to run, he chased you down and dragged you back. Right?”

  “How did you know?”

  “When you were in my dungeon, my guards paid close attention to your conversations with Ryne.”

  “So you’ll do the same? Drag me back?”

  “Not me personally, but one of my men.”

  “What about my sister?”

  “What about her?”

  I huffed. “Aren’t you going to use her to ensure my cooperation?” Not that I wanted to give him any ideas, but it needed to be said.

  “I told you before that I won’t.”

  “Then you’ll let her go?” I tried to keep the hopeful tone from my voice.

  “If she wants to leave, she can. But where would she go, Avry? She’d be alone.”

  True. I thought quickly. “I know a lady who owns an inn in Sectven Realm who would gladly take her in.” And Mom would heal her in ways that I couldn’t, maybe even earn her trust.

  “Fine. We’ll ask her in the morning.”

  I slid off his lap and stood. “Just like that?”

  “Yes.”

  “Uh-huh. Is this part of that whole...wooing thing?”

  He didn’t answer, just smiled that killer smile.

  Cellina arrived without knocking. She strode in still wearing her purple gown but stopped when she spotted me and Tohon.

  “Should I escort her up to the ballroom? She’s missing all the fun, and Sepp’s been waiting to dance with her,” Cellina said with a touch of malice.

  “No. She’s staying with me.”

  “She’s dangerous and you know it.”

  Tohon stared at her.

  “At least have Sepp freeze her. There’s too much—”

  “You’ve made your point. Did you want something?” he asked in an icy tone.

  She shot me a poisonous glare before answering. “The dinner guests have all been...taken care of. Do you want me to help with the...uh, swearing in of Estrid’s soldiers in the morning?”

  “No. I need you to gather your ufa pack. You’re going on a hunt.”

  Cellina’s anger slipped a
bit. “Who are we hunting?”

  “Ryne and Jael.”

  “Which one first?”

  “Avry? Who should we find first?” Tohon asked me.

  “Jael.” Her magic could probably handle the pack. And if not...oh, well.

  Tohon chuckled. “I see there’s no love lost between you two. However, she’s bound to be farther away and will be tricky to capture. While Ryne is probably quite close.”

  Ryne might be closer than he thought. Fear swirled in my heart.

  “Do you want me to bring him in?” Cellina asked.

  “Oh, no. Let the ufas tear him apart, just bring me a souvenir.”

  KERRICK

  The night insects buzzed and trilled. An owl called for a mate. A raccoon rustled, foraging for food. Kerrick detected no sounds of a person moving within the forest.

  He fingered the stem of a tuble flower. One of its blue-green petals had been bent back, indicating someone had brushed past it on his or her way east.

  Kerrick paused a moment as a wave of exhaustion swelled. He’d been searching the forests around Krakowa most of the night for Rakel and her captor or captors. Noak, Canute and Olave waited for news at the edge of town. Danny had been sent to bed.

  It had taken Kerrick nearly an hour to convince the tribal leaders to let him search alone and not with hundreds of warriors bumbling around the woods. Not only would that many people interfere with his magic, but they might ruin any trail signs left behind. It had been a difficult concept for them to understand, having lived all their lives in the flat wildlands.

  And asking for his sword had caused another intense debate. The last thing he wanted was to run into a couple rogue warriors and be unable to defend himself. Kerrick rested his hand on the hilt of the sword, its familiar weight a comfort.

  Pushing his magic as far as he could to the east, he connected with the living green, seeking any irritations or sore spots that would indicate another person walked among its home. Nothing, except the hollow void that meant a cave about a mile away.

  He smiled, remembering Avry’s aversion to them. Unlike Kerrick, who held a certain fondness for them since they had made love for the first time in one, and the second time and the third... Before he could wallow in his memories, he returned his attention to the problem at hand.