Cursed by Fire

by Jacquelyn Frank

  All the while she came to Dethan most nights. They were by far the best moments of her days. The only time she avoided him was after Grannish took his fists to her. She was too afraid he might discover the truth. Thankfully he never questioned her or complained about it. He simply took it in stride and took Hanit’s excuses at face value.

  Dethan walked into the fortress and went in search of the grand. He strode into the grand’s offices and found him, as usual, in conference with Grannish. There were scrolls of information lying all about them and Dethan wondered about it. He wondered just how difficult it would be to take over the reins of this government. Grannish was so deep into it, his roots reaching far and wide. The damage could be unfathomable. But he would not worry about that. If he had to tear it all apart and rebuild it from the ground up, it wouldn’t be the first time and it wouldn’t be insurmountable. In fact, he would prefer doing things from scratch. It would help him get a better handle on the workings of the city.

  “Your most honorable,” he greeted Luzien, as usual ignoring Grannish. “Your army is ready for action.”

  “Finally,” Grannish said. “It has taken you nearly two wanings of the moon to get them ready.”

  “Armies are not built overnight, or easily. Even with the time taken, it is not enough. But they have heart and we are out of time.”

  “You mean you are out of time,” Grannish said, just this shy of snide. “The agreement was you had until turntide. It is nearly upon us.”

  “I am aware of the time,” Dethan said coldly. “It grows very, very short.”

  Grannish was no fool. He heard the undercurrent in those words. It was a threat. It made him bristle, but he forced himself to remain calm.

  “So we are to action, then. You will give me reports,” the grand commanded.

  “Will you not watch from the walls?” Dethan asked.

  Luzien looked appalled. “And risk the leader of the city to some stray arrow? That would be most unwise.”

  “I see,” Dethan said. And he did. Not only was Selinda’s father a blind puppet, he was a coward as well. “We will begin at dawn.”

  “At dawn, then. Good luck, Sor Dethan.”

  “Thank you. I look forward to victory.” He looked directly at Grannish. “And my prize.”

  Selinda was pacing her rooms anxiously, her hands clasping tightly and then releasing, over and over again. The news of the next morning’s action had filtered down to her relatively quickly. Grannish was not the only one with household servants loyal to him. In fact, she had relied on those connections more over the past weeks.

  When the door opened and the mem walked in, she hurried over to her.

  “Mem, please … He goes to fight the Redoe in the morning. You must teach me how to help him! I am a magess! What if they have one of their own? What if their numbers prove too much?”

  “He?” the mem asked, one fine-lined brow rising.

  Selinda stilled. She had not meant to give herself away, but in her panic she had said the wrong thing.

  “I only meant … General Dethan. He fights for us and so must I. You must teach me how to help him.”

  “I cannot teach you what you want in so little time. It takes years to become a practiced magess. Certainly to become one of use in a war. No, I am afraid you must be like the rest of us and wait and pray and hope. Perhaps if we pray to the goddess—”

  “No! Prayer is as good as doing nothing!” Selinda snapped, pacing back and forth again.

  “Prayer to the gods cannot hurt and it may actually help.”

  Yes, but which gods? They were at war with one another. And she would not call forth their attention. Not after knowing what they did to Dethan night after night.

  “The gods are cruel,” she whispered.

  “Some are, it is true,” the mem agreed, surprising Selinda. “Come, child, stop your pacing. You are making me dizzy.”

  The mem reached out in a rare moment of contact, surprising Selinda. She caught her by the wrist and pulled her to a stop.

  “You must realize that we cannot—” The mem broke off, her eyes going suddenly wide. “You are with child!”

  Cold shock and fear slammed into Selinda. “I am not!” she cried, jerking her hand away from the mem. “Th-that’s impossible! You know I am chaste!”

  “I know it is expected of you,” the mem said calmly. “But if you are with child, then I also know it is not true.”

  “Stop saying that!” Selinda leapt for her dressing table, snatching the trimming blade off the table and rushing at the mem with it, holding it under her throat. The mem leaned back a little, to avoid the bite of the blade, but she did not recoil from it. “Say it again and I will cut your throat!”

  “And then you will be with child and a murderess,” Josepha said.

  In the face of her fearless calm, Selinda’s fingers went lax and the blade dropped to the floor. She collapsed to her knees and her eyes filled with tears.

  “Do not mistake me,” Selinda said fast and soft. “I am glad of it. Truly glad of it. But to speak a word of it would mean the death of not only my child but me and all the ruling family. You must not say anything!”

  “I have known for two wanings that you are a magess. Has it gotten back to you that I have said anything of it?”

  Selinda shook her head.

  “Then know you can trust me.”

  “I do not have the luxury of trust. Not as long as Grannish lives.”

  “I can see why that would be. But Grannish does not own me, however much he has tried.”

  “He’s tried?” Selinda asked with surprise. Then she rethought the emotion. “Of course he has,” she said with a sigh. “How is it that you were able to turn him away?”

  “Because he holds no power over me. I am beholden to no one but my goddess. Luckily the other mems are of like mind and they did not pressure me otherwise. I am here to help you, my lady, however you need me to. Now, touch my hand again and let me see your child.”

  Selinda slowly placed her hand in the mem’s. Josepha closed her eyes and concentrated. “It is a healthy child. Have no fear of that. Nearly a full two wanings old. You will start to show soon. Have you felt any sickness? Weakness?” She opened her eyes and looked at Selinda, who shook her head. “It is going easy for you, then. Good. You must be careful, though. The beatings you suffer could easily dislodge the child.”

  Selinda felt cold dread enter her soul. It was one thing to think she was the only one to suffer, but this changed everything.

  “Oh gods,” she breathed. “He must win. He must! I will not be safe until he does.”

  “So the father is the general, then?” the mem surmised wisely.

  “Please, I beg of you … My life’s in your hands. This information will mean my death if—”

  “I can only reassure you so much, my lady. Besides, even if I were a spy, it would already be over, now wouldn’t it? Unless you are willing to kill me, the minute I walk out that door I would report to Grannish.”

  Selinda swallowed. “What else do you see?” she asked. “Do you know if it’s …”

  “A boy,” the mem said with a laugh. “It will be a son. Firstborn of the grandina of Hexis and a fine young prince if ever there was, yes? You and your fierce general will see to that. I have heard much of this man. He has the respect of the people.” The mem leaned in and whispered, “They want him to win so he will have your hand and not Grannish.”

  “They want their lands back,” Selinda said quietly.

  “That as well. But the people love you and despise Grannish. Is it any wonder they wish you to be with the general instead?”

  “A son,” Selinda said, a sudden soft smile running over her lips. “I will give him a son.”

  “Yes. But the beatings must stop, Grandina.”

  “After the battle … they will, one way or another.” Her tone was fatalistic.

  “It is clear you do not have much faith in your man.” The mem tsked.

  �
��I have faith in him, but I know Grannish. I know this will all get worse before it will get better. I know I may be as good as dead right now.”

  “Do not spend your time expecting the worst. If you do so, it will be easier for your expectations to come true. Now, let us focus on other things. Let us practice your magery and discuss what you will name your son.”

  CHAPTER

  TWENTY

  Dethan sent word to Selinda, via Hanit, that she was not to come to him tonight. After he healed enough from his burning he would need to be among the men, readying for the battle to come.

  He had no idea it would spark her instant appearance in his headquarters. She walked into the room and every man in there fell over themselves to get to their feet and bow to her with respect.

  “General,” she said briskly, “I wish to speak to you alone.”

  Dethan raised a brow at that. She was always so afraid of them being seen or suspected of being alone together. And here she was, in front of witnesses, demanding the very same.

  “Kyran, take the men to the training yard. Come back to me in an hour. My lady, where is your pagette? Is this not unseemly?”

  “She is just outside. With your page, no doubt. I believe they have begun quite a flirtation. This is all seemly, I assure you. The door will remain open and there is a barracks full of men just beyond. I think my honor is … as safe as ever it was.”

  That made him smile, but he waited until they were alone in the room before chuckling and coming around the desk to her. She stayed him with a hand and a look, then moved to the door and closed it as far as it would go without the latch actually catching. Then, as soon as they were sealed away as safely as was allowed by propriety, she rushed across the room and into his arms. Taken by surprise, he caught the headlong rush of her body against his and wrapped his arms around her tightly.

  “Here now, what’s all this?” he asked, feeling the desperation of her emotion.

  “I couldn’t let you go without seeing you,” she said, her words nearly sobbing out of her. “I am trying to be strong. I really am! But there is so much at stake and I fear for my family!”

  “Do not be afraid,” he said soothingly. “I told you, I will not let anything happen to them.” He hugged her tightly once more before setting her away from him. He did not want someone to come into the room and catch them embracing. They still needed to be careful until this was all over. He would not be foolish and endanger her any more than he already did by calling her to him at night.

  “I am …” She hesitated, unsure if she should tell him or not. But after all, hadn’t he said this was one of the desired outcomes he had hoped for? Still, he was about to go into battle and did not need details clouding his mind. “I am proud to be your woman,” she said softly, her hands reaching to brush across the width of his chest. “I cannot wait until I can be so publicly. I only regret that we cannot have this night together.”

  He chuckled at that. “You have come to have quite an appetite,” he teased her.

  She flushed and smiled. “It is true. I admit it gladly,” she said. “You have done as you have said and proven yourself an excellent lover. I will be happy to have you to husband, now that I know what I am getting.”

  “Well, that is good to know, since I will be winning your hand by the time this is over. But Selinda,” he said, falling suddenly serious, “watch the battle closely. Once you see it turn entirely our way you must go to the fortress and secure your brother and father. Take them somewhere Grannish will not look for them, and make certain they stay there until I can get to your side. Grannish may lash out the minute he realizes he has lost you. However, I believe he has spent so long manipulating things that he will still believe he can find his way around my victory. One thing I can say is that I have not seen him have fits of rage or temper. He is quite in control of himself. He thinks about the overall picture and not satisfying his immediate emotional whims.”

  Selinda blanched. She had to tell him! She had to tell him he had it all wrong!

  “My lady!” Selinda started and looked over her shoulder to see Hanit standing there, a panicked look on her face. “The jenden is coming this way!”

  Dethan saw her pale and he reached to cup her elbow in his hand, afraid for a moment she was going to pass out. He went to support her further, but she pushed herself away and out of his hold.

  “I must go. Please …” She looked at him and a world of fear and desire was in her eyes. “Please be safe. I would keep you safe if I could, but … I am not strong enough.”

  “I do not need you to keep me safe,” he assured her gently. “And you are strong in your own ways. Now go. Do not let him see you leave. Leave from the rear of the building.”

  She nodded and she and Hanit hurried off. The jenden was entering the rooms as Dethan watched from the windows and saw her hurrying away, undetected. There had been something, something in her behavior that had concerned him. Almost as though she had wanted to tell him something but had not had the power or time to do so.

  Whatever it was, it would keep, he thought. It would have to. He had many preparations to make.

  “General Dethan,” the jenden snapped when Dethan didn’t respond to his address of him right away.

  Dethan turned to him. “What can I help you with, Jenden?”

  “When exactly is this action beginning?”

  “Why do you need to know that?” Dethan asked absently, looking back out the window.

  “I wish to be on the walls to watch.”

  “At dawn,” Dethan said.

  “Will you be on the walls as well?”

  Dethan frowned and looked at him. “I’m going to be where I should be. On the battleground with my men, a sword in my hand and armor on my back.”

  “No, of course you are … I meant where … that is, what is your first move?”

  Dethan forced himself to be more present in the moment, putting worries about Selinda aside. “Do you really think I am going to tell you that?”

  Grannish demurred. “Now, I know we haven’t always seen eye to eye, but we are for the same cause here,” he said.

  “Are we?” Dethan asked coldly. “I am not for the same cause as you are. Your cause is for yourself. It always has been. I can safely say that makes us very much on opposing sides.”

  “Very well,” Grannish said, turning a moment to shut the door. “Since we are being so candid … I think you should know I have no intention of allowing the grand to simply hand his daughter over to you. He will, in the end, listen to what I say. He always does. So if you do this, know it is for nothing. Save maybe some compensatory gold. But that is a lot for someone like you.” He all but sneered the last.

  “Someone like me? What am I, in your estimation? Let’s, as you say, be candid.”

  “A grasper,” Grannish hissed. “An opportunist. Lowborn filth that has somehow managed to talk his way into a high position. If you think I am simply going to hand Selinda over to you without fighting you tooth and nail, then you are underestimating me.”

  “Then we are each underestimating the other, aren’t we?” Dethan surmised. “It seems to me that you are seeing quite a lot of yourself in me. You think I am nothing more than filth and I think you are a coward. Let us see who is more correct, shall we? Ride into battle tomorrow … for the sake of your cause.”

  Grannish blanched, then recovered himself with a chuckle. “I will not let you bait me into some foolhardy action. I admit my forte is not with the sword. My strengths lie elsewhere. I think I will remain with the grand, tucked safely behind walls, and let the foolhardiness be on your head. Maybe if I’m lucky you’ll die straightaway and put an immediate end to my troubles.” He leaned in with a wicked smile. “But I do hope it takes longer than that. A nice slow death.”

  Dethan smiled. “So be it,” he said before moving around his desk to get face-to-face with his enemy. “But let me caution you. If anything happens to Selinda or her family, I will be holding you responsib
le. You say you do not think much of me and that is fine, but I know you have had me watched and I know they have told you that my strengths do lie with a sword … and I will turn that sword on you if so much as a single hair on their heads is bent.”

  “You’ll have to survive through tomorrow first,” Grannish sneered. “And as good as my spies tell me you are, you are still outnumbered and your men have no armor on their backs to protect them.”

  “Luckily neither do the Redoe,” Dethan said. “Now, if we are done trading insults and threats, I have a battle to plan.”

  Without another word, Grannish turned and left.

  “Tonkin!”

  Tonkin was at the door in a heartbeat, entering the room.

  “What did he want?” Tonkin asked distastefully.

  “To wish me well. Do you still have that page at the fortress whom you think you can trust?”

  “Blummy. Yes. He’s got no love of Grannish. Grannish had his father killed right in front of him.”

  “Tell Blummy he’s to keep Grannish in sight at all times tomorrow. If he thinks something is even the slightest bit crucial for me to know, tell him to come find me. No matter what and no matter where. Think he’s brave enough to wade through the chaos of a battlefield?”

  “I think he is. Hard to tell. Half these men here won’t know until they’re out there.”

  “True. Go on. Find him and ask him if he’ll do it. From dawn to dusk, he’s to have no other task.”