Unicorn Keep

by Angelia Almos

  His eyes met hers and they were fierce in expression. “No.”

  “But you just said.”

  “I regret telling you so much. The Keep is not what it was without the unicorns. Who’s going to magically lock me in a room to prevent me from following you? Who’s going to keep my body from killing itself as it tries to escape?”

  She stared at him caught off guard by the intensity of his words. Was it really that difficult? Didn’t he hate being tied to her in such a way? She hated knowing he couldn’t leave if he wanted to.

  “I just thought you would like your freedom back. Perhaps there are other mages who could help?”

  His gaze softened. “How about if I start to grow tired of knowing you’re safe that I seek out one of those mages?”

  “You don’t need to make fun of me.”

  He shook his head. “My words might have been in jest, but my meaning was not. I have no desire to break the draw if it could be done, but if a time should arise, I’ll tell you.”

  Biting her lip, she nodded. They conducted the rest of the ride in silence until they reached the edge of the magical woods. She didn’t know how she knew the woods were magical. But the feeling emanated from them.

  “Madelen,” Herrick said behind her.

  She hunched her shoulders and turned as Herrick let his horse draw alongside Ginger. She had grown used to not being Madelen and it seemed wrong to deceive him considering all he had given up because of his magical induced devotion to her. “My name’s Jiline not Madelen.”

  19. UNICORN FOREST

  Herrick raised an eyebrow, flummoxed for a moment. “Jiline?”

  She shrugged, her gaze not quite reaching his. “My friend, Madelen, was set to marry when your mages selected her to be a keeper. I traded places with her.”

  Her explanation was so simple yet explained so much; for instance, how a dormant mage had made it past their paltry safeguards.

  The unicorns slowly disappeared into their new woods. Her gaze was focused on them. The two that had claimed her remained, waiting for her to join them. He knew in his heart he wasn’t welcome in the woods as she was. He dismounted.

  Jiline glanced at him. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m not welcome in the woods, Jiline,” he said her name to reinforce it in his mind. “I’ll make camp here.”

  She looked around them. “What if someone sees you?”

  He shrugged. “Then I’m a traveler making camp just outside these woods.” He looked at the village south of them. “I’ve never traveled this far north up the coast. No one will know who I am.”

  “And what if I never come out of these woods?” Jiline asked sharply.

  “I shall build a little cabin for myself and a corral for Eachann.” He didn’t look at her as he said it. “Looks like a nice place to grow old.”

  Ginger stepped closer to him. He hoped it was Jiline directing her pony. Maybe there was a smidgen of caring for him inside her. Even if she didn’t recognize it for what it was.

  “You’ll just stay here for the rest of your life? I’ll be safe in the woods. The unicorns told me.”

  He looked at her then. “I know. But I also know my mother will never stop looking for the unicorns. The number of searchers will go up once word spreads of her losing possession of them.”

  She still didn’t understand that he couldn’t physically leave her at this time. He wasn’t sure how the draw would be affected by the unicorns’ presence. Maybe knowing she was in the woods safe with them would ease the pressure, but at the moment his chest was tightening knowing she would be out of his sight in moments.

  The urge to grab onto her was strong, but he shackled it in. Not only would she not welcome his embrace, but he had promised himself he wouldn’t force the other part of the draw on her. She was still young. Technically, she was of marrying age, but most girls waited another year or two unless necessity forced a younger marriage.

  A small part of him had hoped that once she saw him the draw would be ignited within her. He hoped it had been hidden as her magic has been hidden. But it wasn’t. He could feel the magic flowing through her. It was a small stream, but it was there. With practice and age the flow would increase. He had no doubt she would reach mage powers within a couple of years.

  How she had accomplished freeing the unicorns was beyond his understanding. The barrier fed off the unicorns’ magic – they couldn’t direct any of their magic at it without it increasing the barrier strength. His mom had said it was so a mage or non-magic couldn’t force a unicorn to break free, but he seriously doubted the reasoning knowing what he knew now.

  Jiline hadn’t ridden off despite his silence and he turned to her. He might as well ask. “How did you break the barrier? I don’t think I could break the barrier and I, no offense, have more power than you.”

  Her cheeks turned red and he wondered what could embarrass her about his question unless she actually hadn’t had anything to do with the barrier breaking. Perhaps a dark creature had broken through and the unicorns had simply taken advantage of the situation.

  “You could have broken the barrier,” she whispered, glancing over her shoulder at the unicorns waiting patiently for her.

  Well, one of them was still, the other tossed its head occasionally.

  He didn’t answer right away, because his natural reaction was to disagree with her.

  “The unicorns explained to me that you haven’t begun to draw on their magic, right?”

  He nodded, his eyes tracking to them again. “I wasn’t old enough.”

  “Once you did, you would no longer be able to break the barrier. It would have sensed the unicorn magic within you, but until then the barrier could be...manipulated.”

  “You manipulated it?”

  “Partially.” She suddenly dismounted and patted Ginger’s neck. Her eyes didn’t meet his. “You kissed me in the Keep that night.”

  “Yes.” He was about to apologize, but something held him back as he realized she wasn’t accusing him but making a statement.

  “Bai said your magic clung to me.” Her eyes flickered to his before darting away. She shrugged suddenly. “He directed my magic along with your residual magic to bend the barrier.”

  His lips twitched as he considered the prospect that he had been integral in the unicorns’ escape. “You needed my magic to break the barrier.”

  To kiss her had been inappropriate in the moment, but the draw had compelled it. He considered the magical quality of the draw and the unicorns being creatures of pure magic. Had he somehow known what she was going to do? He had never heard of a simple kiss causing a magical transference, but that was what she described.

  She nodded. “As you said, I’m not very powerful. I didn’t have enough magic to do what needed to be done.”

  “Don’t underrate your abilities, the unicorns wouldn’t have chosen you if you couldn’t help them.”

  She finally met his gaze. “Thank you.”

  “It’s true. They certainly didn’t choose me.” One unicorn was tossing his head more furiously. “I think your unicorns are becoming impatient.”

  “I know.” Her lips curved into a small smile. But her eyes remained on him and he felt like she was finally looking at him for the first time.

  The moment seemed to stretch on forever. She broke the gaze and turned to lead Ginger into the woods. She looked back as the unicorns darted in. “Are you sure you want to stay out here?”

  No, he would have much rather stayed by her side, but this was as close as he was going to get. The magical no trespassing sign was alive and bright. Since she couldn’t sense it he knew the unicorns wanted her with them. “I’ll be fine.”

  ****

  Jiline entered the woods reluctantly. She kept glancing over her shoulder until the trees blocked her view of Herrick. She had been horrified when he had first shown up, but now she was hesitant to leave him. She didn’t know where Bai and Gwyn had darted off to.

  She stopped an
d really looked around for the first time. The woods were airy with a mixture of many types of trees. It was unlike any of the forests they had gone through before. It wasn’t even similar to the small wood strips within the valley floor. For some reason she had pictured the enchanted woods to be identical to the valley floor. But it was its own living breathing entity.

  Birds chirped and small furry creatures darted up and down the trees. She wondered if it was always this busy or if they were just noticing the new arrivals.

  At last Gwyn reappeared with Bai and Bylun behind her. They flitted through the woods in a relaxed dance before coming to stand beside Jiline.

  “Herrick says he isn’t welcome within the woods.” She bit her lip surprised by her own words.

  Gwyn dropped her head. He is a mage.

  “But he says I am as well.” She couldn’t believe she was protesting. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to question you. This is your home.”

  It is your home as well. Gwyn turned her head slightly toward Bylun. You may tell Herrick that he may enter. We might not show ourselves to him, but neither will we attack as long as we believe his intentions are true. But we will not extend that courtesy to any mage who has used unicorn magic.

  Jiline nodded eagerly. She was about to turn to go back to him when something stopped her and she looked back at Gwyn. “Why am I so concerned for him?”

  You needn’t be. Bai said. He is fine outside the woods.

  Gwyn tossed her head in reproach. You feel concern for him as he does for you.

  “Are you saying I feel this draw he talked about?”

  Only you can determine what you feel.

  “Herrick said it was magical. Can’t you sense it?”

  Bai snorted. Yes, but she won’t tell you.

  She stepped closer to Gwyn. “Please tell me.”

  There is free will within magic. If you do not wish to have a connection with him you may stop it.

  “He said he can’t.”

  He doesn’t know how. The mages don’t understand magic as well as they think they do. The draw as he described it is not something you need to fear from him.

  She thought of how he had described the mages using unicorn magic to make it go away. “Could you make it go away?”

  Yes, if he asked me to.

  Bai nodded his head. Go ask him and we will untie his bond to you.

  Gwyn swung her horn at him. It is their choice not ours.

  Bai snorted again.

  Jiline bit her lip and looked at the trees. Even though she couldn’t see him, she knew he was on the other side. “It seems unfair to him.”

  Bai stepped up next to her. I will go with you.

  Jiline turned, but hesitated. “Perhaps, I should speak with him alone first?”

  Bai gave a unicorn shrug, but didn’t step back. She led Ginger back out of the woods. Herrick jumped up when he heard her approach. The unicorns hung back respecting her wishes.

  “Jiline, what’s wrong?”

  She shook her head as he paced up to her from where he had laid out his tack and was making a campfire. He would no longer be in the unicorns’ bubble of weather protection. Clouds loomed out over the sea blocking the stars.

  “A storm’s coming,” she said in surprise.

  “Yes, looks like a big one.”

  “The unicorns said you may enter the forest if you want. They won’t attack you as long as you don’t intend on doing any harm to them.”

  Or you. Bai’s voice was firm.

  She wondered why Bai so deeply distrusted him while Gwyn appeared to trust him.

  “You shouldn’t ride out the storm on this bluff.” She tossed Ginger’s reins over her neck and walked over to help gather up his belongings.

  He frowned slightly and plucked his saddle from her arms. “If you insist.” He whistled to his horse and they stepped back in within the safety of the trees. “Looks like the storm will hit around dawn.”

  A large old burned out tree trunk with several new growths formed a ring and she led him inside. The ring was darker than the rest of the forest not allowing much moonlight in. As the clouds rolled in the moonlight would be hidden. Ginger and Eachann stopped just outside the ring.

  She bit her lip. He stood quietly behind her. She could hear him set his gear on the ground and she took a deep breath to bolster her courage. She didn’t understand her reluctance to speak since she hated the idea of him being forced to follow her around for the rest of his...and her life.

  “The draw.” She stopped and turned. His expression was expectant. She hugged her arms around her middle. “The unicorns can break it for you if you want.” She rushed on. “Of course you do.” She started to walk out to ask for Gwyn. She didn’t want Bai doing it.

  He grabbed her arm to stop her and quickly dropped it. “Say that again.”

  She closed her eyes and turned back. “They can break the magical tie you feel toward me.”

  “Why would I want it broken?”

  She looked at him in surprise. “So you can be free of me.”

  “Again, why would I want to be free of you? I admit it was a little inconvenient at first and painful even when you first left, but I can control it for the most part. I have no desire to be separated from you, Jiline.”

  “But that’s your draw speaking,” she protested. “I’m going to live in these woods for the rest of my life. Hiding with the unicorns. You can’t tell me that’s what you want. You travel all the time. One of the keepers told me.”

  “I traveled all the time to get away from my mother, the Keep Mage,” he said quietly. “I liked seeing new places, but that doesn’t change what is.”

  The wind rustled lightly through the trees.

  “Why would you want to be tied to me, to this forest, when you could be free?”

  He didn’t answer right away. “I’m more free in this moment than I have been my entire life. I want to be here, right now, can we leave it at that?”

  She drew in a deep breath to keep from protesting again. It was late. She didn’t want to argue with him any longer. What she wanted was sleep.

  Seeming to take her silence as an affirmative, he moved back to the center of the grove and began to make camp.

  ****

  Herrick leapt up, flung his arms out. “Be blinded, be gone!”

  The presence vanished in a shock wave.

  “What was it?” Jiline whispered. He was beside her in an instant and pulling her to her feet.

  “My mother,” he paused, “at least I’m pretty sure it was my mother.”

  The unicorns suddenly appeared in their small ring.

  Herrick let go of her arm immediately and dropped to his knees. “I beg for your forgiveness, I should not have used magic within your woods.”

  Alarmed by his apology and for his safety, she stepped between him and the unicorns. “He was protecting us.”

  Gwyn’s eyes were soft in the morning light. We know. We are thankful for his quick action. Was it the Keep Mage?

  Herrick slowly rose. “I believe so, mistress.”

  You may call me Gwyn. Who was she searching for? You or Jiline?

  Herrick shook his head. “I don’t know. You are blocked from her so it must have been one of us.”

  It was him. Send him away. Bai’s voice was harsh.

  Herrick stayed focused on Gwyn and Jiline wondered if he could hear Bai as well. It appeared the unicorns could speak to whomever they chose whenever they chose.

  She will continue to search for each of you. Gwyn swung her head to her son. Now that we know we can block her presence from the woods.

  Herrick bowed his head. “No disrespect, but she will simply use another mage.”

  Gwyn stepped forward. Always speak openly. You are right she will not stop looking and will use any means necessary.

  Jiline swallowed. “Then we should both leave the unicorn woods and travel as far from here as we can.” She didn’t relish putting herself within reach of the Keep Mage as bai
t, but she couldn’t stay if she would cause them to be discovered.

  No! Bai stomped his foot. He should go alone. The Keep Mage searches for him.

  If that is true, how long before she will begin to search for Jiline. If she finds Herrick, she will have the means to track Jiline.

  Bai swung his horn at Herrick. I thought you believed him to be true to her.

  He is, but he might not be able to prevent her from using his connection to find Jiline.

  We break the connection.

  Enough. Bylun’s words were final.

  Jiline bit her lip to keep from interrupting their argument.

  If the Keep Mage obtains either of them she will have the means to find our home. Magical connections or not. Bylun said. He is right in that she will keep searching until she finds us. We must allow her to find us.

  Jiline shook her head in protest.

  Herrick’s fingers grazed her arm and he leaned over her shoulder to whisper in her ear. “What’s going on?”

  They weren’t sharing the conversation with him. “They want to allow your mother to find them to protect us from her.”

  “That isn’t necessary,” Herrick said. “I’ll leave and distract her away from you.”

  Bylun stood still as statue. You would have to die for her not to find our location from you.

  Jiline stepped between him and Bylun.

  Bylun snorted softly. Do not concern yourself, child. I did not mean I would kill him. I am simply pointing out that it is not a reasonable plan. We need to fool the mages into believing they have found us, but cannot get to us. They will stop their search and focus their efforts elsewhere.

  Herrick’s hand went from a soft pressure to more firm.

  “They want to trick your mother,” she whispered.

  “How?”

  How much did she see? Gwyn asked.

  Herrick frowned and focused on the spot the presence had been. “She was here for less than a minute.” He looked around the ring. “She hadn’t had a chance to see our location or explore.”

  Are you sure she didn’t appear farther away and walk in? Bylun asked.

  He hesitated a moment before shaking his head. “She had just arrived. Her connection was unstable. I don’t know if she could have drifted away without losing it altogether.”