by Candace Sams
Blain whistled as he showered, changed and hurriedly left his room. He was in the hallway and on his way back to Afton when Shayla, Hugh and Lore approached him from the far end of the corridor. His good spirits sank when he saw their leaden expressions. They stopped as soon as they drew close.
"What is it?" Blain asked, his gaze moving to each of their faces. "Is it the other injured people?"
"No. Pluck and the other injured guard are going to be all right," Shayla told him, "but there's something you had better know."
"Is something wrong with Afton you haven't told me about?" he asked, anxiously.
Shayla placed her hands on his forearms. "No. This has to do with Rhiannon and her mother, Hannah."
"I don't give a damn about them." Blain tried to step around the Sorceress only to have Hugh and Lore block the way.
"You'd best know, lad," Hugh said.
There was a kind of barely controlled anger in his uncle's tone that immediately alerted Blain. Shayla beckoned him and the others to follow. He anxiously glanced back down the hallway toward Afton's room, but it was clear he wasn't going to be able to go back there until whatever business Shayla had planned was over.
They walked, continuing a steady course down corridors, stairs and winding passages. A floor below ground level, Shayla stopped before a large oak door where two herculean guards stood watch.
"Go in," she ordered.
Blain looked into the Sorceress' eyes, hesitating when he saw the anger there, then entered the room. Inside, Rhiannon was secured to a heavy chair, her hands tied behind her. The rest of the room was empty of any furnishings. Its stone-gray walls and floor confirmed the place had once been a dungeon. Herb bundles lay on the floor, circled around Rhiannon. Blain guessed they were warding off whatever magic the woman might use. The Sorceress wasn't taking any more chances with her.
Rhiannon smirked when she saw him. "Well, well. I was wondering when you'd come."
He'd have turned and left, but the heavy door slammed closed. Apparently, he was supposed to stay and hear her out. "I take it you have something to say to me? 'Cause I sure as hell don't have a damned thing to say to you."
"I imagine your Sorceress wants me to tell you what I told her."
"And why would I care?"
"You should. You see, Shayla intends to pronounce judgment on me for coming here and attacking and killing her people." She paused, then continued when Blain didn't respond. "You know what that means?"
"I've got a pretty good idea, but you made that bed yourself."
"Yes, well, before she has me killed, I wanted you to know the entire story."
The smile she gave him could only be described as sickening. Something in the pit of Blain's stomach turned. "Get it over with," he bit out.
"Do you know why your father and mother stopped moving on after reaching Harvest?"
Again, Blain didn't respond. He didn't like the expression in her eyes, or the maliciously evil tone in her voice.
"They knew they'd finally been found by those of the dark side. They intended to stop running and make a stand."
Blain turned to leave. His heart throbbed out a warning, and he wanted to get away from her and back to Afton and her pure brightness. But Rhiannon's next words stopped him.
"You were on a trip to purchase seeds when your father suddenly died. Don't you wonder why your parents insisted that you go on so many trips alone?"
Though his heart was turning to ice, Blain turned back around to face her. "Go on," he responded in a low voice.
"Arthur had never been ill, had he? Syndra told you he just dropped dead while working." She stopped long enough to toss her long hair over her shoulder, smile wickedly at him and let her words sink in. "That story Hannah told you and everyone about being angry over the sale of her land was the truth. But not all of it. You see, Jediah, my bastard of a father, sold the land to Arthur without my mother's knowledge. Since Father put the deed in his own name, it was easy enough to do. Jediah was a Druid just like your father, but like my mother, he was a practitioner of the dark powers. He left the Order the same day mother did."
"Get to the point."
Rhiannon continued as if Blain had never spoken a word. "I think Father once actually thought he loved Mother, but that quickly passed. He was afraid to go back to the Order, even though he wanted to, and one day he started drowning his sorrows in booze. Later, he found out he was dying. I think he correctly suspected that Hannah was slowly killing him with magic and potions. He couldn't do a thing to stop her or find a way to safely leave. He was a weak man, and there was no room in Hannah's or my life for weakness."
Blain's throat went dry. The clean forest called. He wanted to be anywhere but standing in this gray cell.
Rhiannon tilted her head back against the chair and continued, "Hannah had a plan. After she finally found Arthur and Syndra, she was going to kill them, lure Shayla to Harvest to protect you, then kill Shayla, you and your uncle. We knew there would be those of the Order who would never accept us, so we decided to buy up all the land in the area and start our own version of the Order. A place where only those of the dark arts could reside. With all our powers put together and Shayla dead, we could eventually attack the Order, finish off anyone who tried to stop us, and regain control. But that stupid father of mine came to believe that if he got the land out of the hands of those practicing the black arts and into those using white magic, he could redeem himself for whatever afterlife awaited, and, of course, take revenge on my mother for poisoning him. So, he made a deal with your parents behind Hannah's back and mine."
"What happened?" Blain angrily asked as he stepped closer to Rhiannon.
"When Jediah thwarted her plans, Hannah passed around that trumped up story about Arthur buying the land from her drunken husband who'd wasted all his money. It was the only way to explain why the best farmland in the area was suddenly sold. It also garnered my mother sympathy from the townspeople. Some believed the poor widow-woman had been taken advantage of by Arthur. Hannah planned to later use that sympathy when the rest of her cronies were supposed to arrive and take up residence. A lot of strangers in a small town encourage gossip. She wanted people to think they were old family friends come to help her in her time of need."
"And where were you while all this was happening?" Blain questioned. The tone in his voice should have warned Rhiannon, but she kept going.
"Here and there. New York, Massachusetts and sometimes down to Harvest to visit dear old Mom. But the rest of the community never knew I was Hannah's and Jediah's child because we were never seen together." She paused and tilted her head. "But that's not important. What is of interest is the way your father and mother really died."
Blain's hands clenched into fists. His heart was beating so hard it almost hurt.
Rhiannon smiled when she saw him go pale. "Jediah ruined everything my mother planned. He simply admitted that he was a black magic Druid and told your parents that masters of the dark arts were preparing to gather nearby. Somehow, he was able to convince them of his sincere motives for their safety. Frightened for your future, Arthur and Syndra decided to stop my mother's plans. They were tired of running Of course, they sensed the presence of evil long before they knew its source. Up until Jediah decided to spill the beans, Hannah did a good job at keeping them from knowing who she was and what was going on Just like we did a good job of hiding everything from you, Shayla and everyone else."
Blain took a threatening step toward her, but she shook her head. Warnings echoed from deep inside him He didn't want to accept what his mind was already telling him.
"You need to hear the rest of this, darling," she drawled "Before Arthur could learn more, we decided to take action. One day, we found him working alone. Arthur couldn't defend himself against both of us. His death looked like a heart attack, and the local authorities didn't question it. Your mother wouldn't have said anything to the contrary because no one would have believed her. Then, she had to worry about
you. You had absolutely no knowledge of the Order or any powers you might have. She couldn't tell you what was happening without you believing she was insane. Or worse, you might actually believe her and try to fight us. I suspect that was her worst fear. Taking us on would have meant certain death for you. So, without your father there, Syndra did the best she could to fight us with her puny fairy power, but it was only a matter of time before the amulets which weakened you killed her. Your parents were dead with no one the wiser."
Blain was frozen with pure fury He could do nothing but listen to the horrible sound of her voice.
"But you know it wasn't your parents we really wanted, lover. We needed them out of the way, because it was you we were really after. We could have killed you sooner or later, though your powers are stronger than we expected But keeping you alive, yet ill, was the easiest way to carry out our plans There would be no resistance from you because you had no idea what you were up against, which made you so much easier to deal with than fighting your parents. And you were what we needed to draw Shayla out We knew Hugh would find you when the magic wasn't there to hide you any longer. Your loving uncle would try to help you when he knew you were being hexed, and the best way he could help you would be to summon the Sorceress. Shayla would soon show up, and if we could kill her, the Order would one day fall, because there wouldn't be time to find someone powerful enough to replace her. We'd have our revenge against your parents and get Shayla out of the way all at the same time."
Blain began to shake, and something in his soul broke down and screamed in grief. He knew hatred the likes of which he'd never felt. It was as real as the air he breathed.
"When Mother screwed up and got herself killed, Shayla wasted no time bringing you back to the Order. So, I had to come here to try to kill the Sorceress by myself."
"You 're lying!" Blain spit out through clenched teeth. "My parents died of natural causes."
"You know that isn't true, and if you're honest with yourself, you've probably known for a long time. You're in what's called denial, but Shayla knows I'm telling the truth. Why do you think she sent you to see me? And she knows one more thing." She paused for effect, smiled slyly, and then said, "You see, Blain, no matter what happens to me, Syndra and Arthur are still dead. But you want to know what the funny part is?"
Blain was so overcome with rage, he couldn't speak. He felt no remorse in knowing Shayla would kill her.
"I see the cat has got your tongue." She leaned as close to him as she could. "You see, lover, Syndra and Arthur kept themselves so well hidden that they never knew Shayla was the new Sorceress. For whatever reason, that drunk father of mine never told them that old Freyja was dead. I suspect Jediah thought that if they knew the truth, Syndra and Arthur would leave for Britain, and he'd have no one to help him get even with Mother—no way of getting back at her for slowly killing him.
"But several days after your clueless father was dead, I paid a friendly little visit to your mother. I told her that her dear friend, Shayla Gallagher, had been in charge of the Order for years Then, I placed the most powerful binding spell on her I could. It was my once in a lifetime, best achievement with black magic. That spell left her physically incapable of contacting the Order and warning Shayla, and there was nothing Syndra could do to fight it Again, she wouldn't tell you because you'd most certainly try to avenge your father's death She probably believed you'd get yourself killed trying. So she fought until the last and tried to hide it all from you. Your mother died knowing that she and Arthur had run for no reason. That if they'd only gone back, or contacted people they'd once called friends, the two of them would be alive today And I told her that once we were done getting Shayla to come to your aid, you were next It was my little way of sending her off, and a rather inventive way to punish her one last time for running from Freyja and bearing a half-breed like you. Brilliantly cruel, don't you think? You see, my love, I'll always find a way to win. You still lose!"
Blain finally understood why his mother had told him someone would come to defend him and be on his side Why her last words had been so odd They were both a warning and a message of hope She hadn't the strength to say more It ripped his heart into a million pieces knowing she'd died fearing for her son's safety.
When Rhiannon saw his stricken expression, she smiled and began to laugh
The chilling sound of it echoed off the stone walls and into Blain's heart. He slowly turned, walked to the door and opened it. The guards were gone, and the hall was empty His battle axe was leaning against the far side of the corridor He reached for it and mechanically walked back into Rhiannon's cell. The laughter died on her lips when she saw the massive weapon
Blain raised it and swung once. The double blades sang out as he slowly lowered it back to his side.
***
After Blain trudged out of the castle dungeon, word quickly spread that Rhiannon was dead and the Sorceress had sanctioned the circumstances surrounding her demise. Those members of the Order who were waiting for him silently parted as he made his way from the main castle entrance. Blain didn't look at their faces and didn't respond to their questions. He only stopped when he saw someone put Myers into the back of a large black sedan and drive him away.
"Myers is being taken to an asylum where he'll be anonymously left," Lore explained. "He was an unwilling dupe in this situation, but his mind is gone."
Blain didn't respond. He simply stared at Lore then turned his attention to the woods.
"Come back inside," Lore pleaded. "It's over, and there's nothing anyone can do now."
Blain simply walked away and didn't turn around when
Lore called out to him.
***
For almost two days, Afton watched Blain from a castle window. He stood like an oak, facing the forest and refusing to communicate, eat or rest. The battle axe was still in his hands. He gripped it as though he was ready to swing again, and she was afraid he might lose his mind. To kill someone in the heat of battle was one thing, but what had happened with Rhiannon was grisly.
After learning how Syndra and Arthur died, she couldn't Blaine him. Some of the Order even held him in awe because of his actions. But that wasn't helping Blain. She couldn't begin to imagine what he was feeling, or the kind of pain that was tearing him apart. What had happened to his parents made no logical sense, and that was the most tragic part of the story. They didn't have to die. They could have come back at almost any time.
But even if they'd known about Shayla being in charge, Afton believed they might have wanted peace for themselves and for their special child. Perhaps contacting the Order again would have been too difficult once Blain was born and became accustomed to the outside world. And maybe they needlessly blamed themselves for the fighting and death their running had instigated, although that battle would have had to be fought sooner or later. Or maybe they thought any old comrades or family they contacted, like Shayla or Hugh, might suffer for befriending them.
Despite Rhiannon's confession, Afton knew the real reason Syndra and Arthur never contacted the Order lay dead with them. But because of the man Blain was now, she also knew Syndra and Arthur had loved him fiercely. They had raised him to be strong and good, and she knew instinctively that they would have given up everything to keep their son safe. Perversely, fears for Blain's safety might have blinded his parents to the possibility that things might have changed within the Order. It was a tragedy no matter how one looked at it.
Afton understood she and everyone else could speculate forever about Arthur's and Syndra's motivations. Blain was still suffering and she couldn't stand it any longer. From her window in the castle, she watched as Lore approached him time and time again. Blain acted as though the man wasn't present. Finally, word came to her that the Sorceress had ordered him to be left alone until he was ready to speak. Even Shayla's efforts to communicate with him had produced no response. And all Afton wanted to do was hold him. To let him know he wasn't alone.
"How are you feel
ing, Flower?" Gawain put a concerned hand on her shoulder.
She shook her head. "I'm worried sick about him. How long can he keep this up? Can't someone please try again?" she tearfully asked.
"You chose a good man. His conscience is probably eating him up, though he knows his parents were murdered and he would have been used to kill the Sorceress. This is one of the saddest things I've ever seen happen to one man."
Afton turned to her older brother and saw the look of sympathy on his face. "Gawain, help me go to him. I'm still a bit weak, but I could make it if you helped me."
He considered her request for a moment. "All right. I'll take you. I don't think the Sorceress would object if you talked to him."
"Would you do me a favor and go to the cottage first? I need the package that's under my bed," When Gawain looked as if he'd question her, she raised her hand. "Just get it for me, please?"
"Sure. Anything you want."
Afton impatiently waited for him to complete the errand. When Gawain returned, he handed her the small package, and she cradled it as though it were priceless. "I'm ready now."
Gawain carried her most of the way. When they got to the foyer, he gently put her down and watched her walk toward Blain. As soon as she was within a few feet of Blain, Gawain closed the castle doors. His little sister didn't need his protection anymore.
Afton stood before Blain waiting, searching his face for some sign of recognition. His expression seemed tired and distant, as though he didn't want to be where he was.
She put out her hand and touched his arm. "Blain, I love you. We all do. Talk to me." For a very long time he didn't respond. Afton was a second away from going back to the castle when he slowly turned toward her.
"She killed them, Afton. She killed them over something that happened years ago, before she was even born."
She moved closer to him. "Don't let her win, Blain. As long as you go on with your life, she can't win."
There wasn't another soul on earth who knew what Rhiannon's last words had been, but Afton's assertion flowed into him like water over the top of a dam. Deep inside, the horror, anger and pain came to the surface. Tired and confused, Blain sank to the ground. As he did so, the heavy battle axe fell beside him. He covered his face with his hands and wept.