“You want them to let us come to the island place.”
“It is the only way you’ll be safe from these people in the future.” Romana told the girls. “If you can control your powers, you’ll be able to protect yourselves, and you’ll become less of a target.”
“And what about other girls?” Casey asked. “Are there more like us?”
“Yes.”
“Can we find them?”
“I don’t know.”
“I could help.”
“You’re not trained well enough to be able to run a search like that.”
“Do you have anyone who can?”
“Maybe.” She replied. “I shall see.”
“You’re powerful, can't you listen to the air.” Casey requested.
“I could, but it would leave me defenceless, and I don’t trust the good prince’s curiosity not to come out and reveal my face.”
“But you’re glamoured.”
“He can see through it.” She explained.
“Please.”
“I will ask the Lady of the Isle.” She finally replied. “Maybe another queen can be sent in my place for the day. Then I will have to find somewhere safe to leave my body.”
“Or, you could send for Romana to do it. Marten would protect her while she did it.” Casey replied. “She’s an air wytch too right?”
“Yes. She is.” Romana confirmed. “But now I have to talk to your parents, would you like to come with me?”
They all nodded, and she opened the door to let them out first. Hannah swiped a handful of sweets before she followed. Romana led them along the corridors and down stairs to the smaller conference room Marten had told her he was using.
Chapter Fourteen
WILL YOU?
When she opened the door, eight people rose instantly. The ninth had been in the corner, his hair and eyes unmistakeable was Keenan.
She held the doors open as the girls filed in, and watched as they ran towards their parents and were hugged and kissed to death. Hannah, however was simply nodded at when she came to stand by Keenan’s side
“Ladies and Gentlemen, if I might have your attention please.” She announced, standing in front of a chair closest to the door. They all quieted at her words. “Please have a seat.” At that moment, Marten slipped through the door and came to sit next to her. “I know you all know that your girls were taken from you over the last month or so, but what you might not know is why. Each of them is strong magically.”
“And who are you?”
“I am a wytch queen of the Isle of the Gifted.” She replied. “You will know it as the sorceress’ isle.”
“Why should we listen to a wytch?”
“If you won’t listen to her then listen to me.” Marten interceded. “Your daughters are all strong magically, and this made them a target for a man who was going to take their powers which would kill them.”
He had their attention, or at least, he had most of their attention. Keenan was focused on her. This was why she didn’t want Kate sending her here; everyone was bound to recognise her at some point.
“They have powers which I’m told are so strong that without training they will die or render them insane.”
“What are our options?” Keenan asked, his eyes still locked on her.
“Allow the wytches to teach them to control their powers. Or let them die.”
“Is that not against the Ancients’ wishes?” One woman spoke out.
“Not at all.” Romana assured them. “The Lady of the Isle is an Ancient. She takes a hand in all training.”
“How long does training take?”
“Anywhere from two months to a year.” Romana replied. “But when your daughter comes back I guarantee you she will not have changed other than to be less vulnerable to these people who want to steal their powers.”
“I want to go.” Casey said quietly, obviously shy about speaking in front of all these adults. “The wytch queen of dragons says that I’ll be able to protect my family if I learn properly.”
“The what of what?”
“The wytch queen of dragons.” Casey repeated, and Romana inwardly cursed.
“You have a title?” One of the parents asked.
“Among my people it means that I am one of the most powerful wytches and I belong to an upper tier of power. It is an honour, and I was pronounced the queen of the dragon elements fairly recently, after much training.” She explained. “The upper tier of wytches is for those so powerful that there is no other way to ensure they stay constantly training than to allow them governance over the rest of the wytches.”
“And what exactly are you in charge of? Would you teach our children?” The same parent asked.
“Each of your children would receive a mentor, who would be in charge of all of their training. In addition, we have a temple devoted to the Ancients.” Hell, she sounded like she was advertising a school.
“What about living quarters? Would she be with girls her own age?” they asked.
“Study is mostly solitary, but it’s fun. After I’m sure she would be able to play with her friends, as long as her mentor knew where she was going. As for where they will stay, most students take a room in their mentor’s house, which are mainly in the town. There are some rural houses, but those are for the farmers who supply our food.”
“Will we get reports of her progress? Will they teach her other things?”
“We will send you whatever information you wish to know of your child’s progress. And she will be taught a variety of languages, reading, writing, numbers along with riding and horticulture.”
“Are there any more questions?” Marten asked and when the answer was silence he continued. “You’re all welcome to stay here in the palace overnight if you need time to think about it, we’re well guarded here, but if you’ve decided now then I think it might be a case of the sooner the better.”
He stood up then, and she followed his example walking from the room together to regroup outside in the hall.
“Tell me that they really will be better off there.” He implored her.
“I vow that the Isle of the Gifted is the best place in my opinion for them to be safe and learn.” She replied. “We give education that most of those people won’t be able to afford, and they’ll learn to defend themselves.”
“Thank-you.” He replied. “I couldn’t bear to send them away from their families otherwise.”
She nodded, and followed him back into the room. Keenan was standing back in his corner, but Hannah rushed up to her.
“Squad leader and I have decided that it is best for my future to become a wytch and that there will be greater opportunities in the ranks of the thieves for me if I am magically powerful.”
Romana nodded, and looked at Keenan. “We will look after her.”
“And she will be well fed too, no doubt.” He replied, and Romana almost melted right there. Marten knew something was wrong, but Keenan knew who she was. Hell.
“Casey would like to go with you as well.” Ewan told her.
One by one, each of the parents told her that their child would be accepting their place at the Isle, and Romana thanked each of them.
When they left, and Marten showed them out, the girls piled around her, asking questions about the isle. But they all quieted when Keenan reappeared and asked to borrow her.
“Wytch queen of dragons huh?” He asked, as they walked in the gardens.
“If I’d stayed I would have taken out most of the city.” She replied. “I was lucky I got out while I did.”
“You know that Marten had me detained for helping you.”
“I paid you though.” She informed him, and then her tone turned serious. “I can’t let you know who I am. I can’t be a wytch queen with even one person knowing my identity.”
“Relax, we ice-fey are gifted you know.” He gave her a wink. “I programmed my mind to delete any knowledge of the connection between you and the wytch queen of dragons
if I ever try to tell anyone or if my mind is searched. Even I can’t undo that kind of programming.”
“Can I trust you not to write it down and forget where you left it?” She teased.
“You can.” He replied. “Hannah will be properly cared for, I trust?”
“It’s wonderful there Ky.” She told him, using the name she’d heard Jerry use once. “I love it there. But Kate says I need to face my fears, and so here I am.”
“They’re lucky to have you.” Keenan replied. “But you do understand that if I hear anyone else call me by that name then I will have to kill you.”
“Threatening to kill one of the thirty most powerful wytches on the Isle?” she asked. “I could burn you to toast before you even began to ice me.”
He laughed. “When do you have to go?”
“As soon as possible. I want to be there when Kate introduces them to their mentors.”
“Are you mentoring anyone?”
“Yes, a telekinetic called Bronwyn. She’s only six, and so shy. But she was abused by her parents for being able to do the things she can do.” Her tone became sad. “I wish I could stop it but she still blames herself for their behaviour.”
“Hey. No self-blame.” Keenan warned her. “You’re probably making her the happiest girl on the planet. “I only asked because I wanted to know if you could take Hannah under your wing.”
“I don’t get to choose. There’s a ceremony that tells us who is best suited to who.” Romana told him. “I can tell you that I’ve never met anyone on that Isle who isn’t a wonderful person. But what gave me away?”
“The way you move. I doubt anyone but a thief would notice, because we’re trained to notice everything about everyone. So you’re safe on that front.”
“I have to go. Say hi to everyone from me.”
“A commander cannot simply go up to members of his squad and say ‘Romana says hi!’ I’d be a laughing stock.” He informed her.
She smiled. “Bye Ky.”
“Bye.” He replied, even as she teleported back to the girls.
“Are you ready?” She asked, quickly checking that Kate was free with a mental knock, the answer was positive. The girls nodded and she teleported them all to the midway point on the bridge, where they could see the entire Isle. “This is the Isle of the Gifted.”
“Wow!” Casey breathed, looking over the edge and down to where the rock joined the rest of the cliff.
She teleported them straight to the fountain room, once the girls had seen their fill of the island. Once they were there, Kate had already got out the bowl and the crystal and welcomed the girls with a smile.
But when they were settled there, Kate made a shooing motion with her hands.
You have duties to perform. There is still a healing centre that requires building.
I understand. Romana replied. But I promised their parents that they could have some kind of progress report or letter every now and again.
Concerned parents, Kate mused, I don’t think we’ve had many of those. Mostly the women here ran away to join us. But perhaps it is time to share our knowledge with others. Maybe we should use the centre as a way to monitor the city for young wytches. We could save hundreds if the centre lasts for just half a decade.
More if we were to set up centres in other cities.
We shall start small. Besides, with our open action against Kobos, we have more threats than just the dragon queen on our hands.
Has he said anything, made any threats?
His minion, the traitorous snake, was used to convey a message before she was assassinated by another wytch over a long distance.
How did they get past the shields?
Kobos punched a tiny hole in the veil, too small for me to worry, and then sent another man through to kill the woman and then himself.
What did she say before she was killed?
Kobos knows you left him an inferno in place of his little office and gives you one more chance to join him or die. He also sends his compliments on your appointment as wytch queen, and threatens to give Marten the information if you don’t co-operate.
I can wipe Marten’s mind in an instant.
Yes, but will you?
Chapter Fifteen
RETRIBUTION.
The question haunted Romana through that night, so much so that she couldn’t sleep no matter how hard she tried.
Mother? Icarus asked. Will you fly with me?
I would love to. Romana replied, getting up from the sofa where she’d been sitting and envisioning her dress and cloak becoming the trousers and top she’d worn while riding.
She left the room to find Icarus waiting for her in the hall. He wore the saddle that had been fashioned for her and he kneeled to help her up. When she was seated securely they walked out to the hangar, the steady jostling motion of Icarus’ legs underneath her as he walked was more relaxing to her than a week spent at the hot springs would have been.
When they opened the door and Icarus’ wings unfurled on either side of her, she felt the breeze against her face and relished the speed that was about to accompany it. Icarus leapt out into the night with no hesitation, diving down the cliff until they were nearly smashed upon the ground before he beat upwards sending them soaring along the air currents and through the mist veil into the open air.
Where to? Icarus asked.
Anywhere! She exclaimed joyfully, loving the feel of the wind’s fingers through her hair.
They swooped over lush forests and grassy prairies, past rivers, heading inland, until the plants began to give way to sand.
Where are we going? She asked, her joyful mood erupting as she sensed his thoughts.
To the desert slave shop. Ash will join us there.
Why? She asked, although she thought that she might know.
To kill the slave master and take back that which is yours.
Why now? She asked.
Because you are ready.
I’m not too sure about that. But you are supposed to be the clever one so I’ll trust your judgement. She scratched gently at the scales she could reach.
Stop distracting me. Icarus told her with a laugh.
She laughed too, but her breath cut short when she saw the rise of a building among the sand dunes.
A sweep of air brushed against her right side, snapping her out of her panic, a flash of white wings. Ash was here with her as well. She wasn’t alone, and she was far more powerful than she had been.
They landed inside the courtyard, and she dismounted, to face the large number of guards running towards her. As she stepped forwards to meet them, her clothes turned back to the short dress, long boots and hooded cloak that declared her a wytch queen. They shrank back.
“I require an audience with that slime that calls himself the slave master.” She told them. “I will have it out here and there will be no-one else present.”
“Who are you to order such things?” A guard asked.
“I am the wytch queen of dragons, and if you want to stay alive, you’ll do as I say.” She used the menacing image of the isle to her full advantage, summoning fire to coil in her hands as if she was about to strike while the dragons behind her growled.
“Right away, uh, your majesty.” The captain said, his troops practically fleeing to their posts.
It took five minutes for the slave master to respond. Five minutes of playing with her fire in an absentminded fashion. Then he was in front of her, fear played at her heart, she shouldn’t feel like this anymore, she shouldn’t dread him now.
“Leave us.” She told the captain.
He bowed and she looked into the face of the man who’d made her fear intimate touch. She recoiled slightly, her stomach contorting in terror. Damn, she couldn’t feel like this now. No, she just couldn’t.
“It’s an honour to meet you, ma’am.” The slave master said nervously. “If you’re here for slaves then I can have several out here in moments.”
“I am not here for sl
aves, slave master. I am here for what my mother left me, the object you held over my head for the time I spent here.” She told him, lowering her hood. “As you can see, you have no choice in the matter, and either way you lose your life tonight.”
The fool just stuttered in fear, clearly not used to ex-slaves coming back for revenge. He wasn’t going to be any use, she realised, even as she tore into his mind and took the information she wanted. Unlike with the other peoples’ minds that she’d entered before, this time she wasn’t gentle, and she didn’t mask her presence. She let him feel everything, and the experience sent him to his knees.
But she had what she wanted, and she knew where it was.
“Up.” She told him. “Or I burn off one of your hands.” She would do that anyway, she decided, burn off the hands he’d used to touch her, and other parts of him too. He moved quickly, leading her directly to his office. “Open the door.” She told him, pointing him in the direction of a hidden door.
He pushed it forwards, and flicked a switch.
“It’s here.” He choked, pulling open the door, and leading her into a secret room.
Inside were hundreds of shelves stacked full of paper, divided by partitions and labelled with different serial numbers. The slave master searched rapidly through the shelves, eventually coming to one with her old code on it. There was just one envelope there, and it appeared to be stuffed full of something.
“Do you know what’s inside?”
“No!” He squawked. “I don’t I swear. Please Romana. Please.” His mouth forming her name, she cut off his air supply as she took the envelope.
“That’s Princess Romana to you. I was important to a lot of people who won’t care if you end up dead. For example, my mother, the queen of the elves, and maybe we could add the wytches to that list. I’ve even grown on Prince Marten.”
“Don’t kill me.” He begged, using the last of his air, and reluctantly she gave him just enough to keep him conscious. “I can help you. I can sell information.”
“I know enough.” She replied, ringing her palm in fire, forcing open his jaw, and burning his deceitful tongue. “Find me Katelyn Marshall’s files, along with anything you have of Georgiana Davies.”
Kate's Legacy (Soul Merge Saga Book 2) Page 11