by J. M. Kearl
Sweat began to bead at his temples as he tried again. He concentrated, he pictured himself at the top of that hill and still he didn’t move. Maybe it wasn’t working because he didn’t truly believe it was possible to make his body disappear. He grunted, balling his fists and said the spell again. Nothing. Attempt eight, Gruncia Jonbee with her shock of wild red hair, stood alone at the peak of the hill. She turned around and threw her fist into the air with a loud, “Yes!” And then moments later she lurched forward and puked.
Boaden and Rorin looked at each other and rolled their eyes. “Girls,” Rorin said. “I ain’t going to puke.”
“Puke or not she beat us, and if she can do it, so can we.” Boaden closed his eyes again, filled his lungs with air and slowly let the breath part his lips. He said to himself, you can do this. “appearus,” he whispered and all at once he felt a pressure, like being squeezed through a tube much too small, then he felt weightless and boom his feet hit the ground. He knew it worked.
A small fist punched his shoulder. “You did, Boaden,” Gruncia said.
He opened his eyes and grinned at her, seeing that he was the second to make it, and then a wave of nausea swelled up inside. He cupped his hand over his mouth and silently willed the bile back down. He wouldn’t embarrass himself in front of the entire class.
“Deep breaths,” Gruncia said, breathing in through her nose dramatically and out her mouth.
Boaden copied her and found that it helped. Once he was sure he wouldn’t lose his breakfast, he attempted the spell again, and popped up beside Rorin. “Come on, Rorin, I’ve done it twice now.”
That was all the motivation Rorin needed.
Boaden folds his arms watching Daelyn while she runs her fingers through her hair with a loud huff. “Why is this spell so hard?”
Boaden doesn’t want to encourage her uncertainty. Even a shred of doubt will cause her failure. “It’s not hard. You’re making it seem hard.”
She narrows her eyes at him with a sneer before she closes them again. “Appearus.”
Boaden checks off another tally mark in his mind: three. He wonders if she’ll beat Gruncia or himself. “Come on, Daelyn, you can do it. It’s literally five feet away. You’ve seen me jump a much greater distance.”
Daelyn rolls her shoulders back. “Let me guess, you got it the first try,” she says flatly.
“Not quite. I’ll tell you once you’ve gotten to me.” Boaden moves to the spot where she’s supposed to appear. “Make it here and you earn yourself a kiss.”
Daelyn laughs. “I can’t have one otherwise?”
He shakes his head enjoying the playfulness of her tone. “Nope. My lips are off limits until you get the appearus spell.”
Daelyn steps closer to him with a smirk on her face.
Boaden wags his finger moving further back. “No, do the spell.”
Daelyn runs around the bed but just before she can reach him, Boaden disappears and reappears in front of the fireplace. “You’ll never catch me.”
“Is that a challenge?” she says, prowling over top the bed like a cat who’s seen a mouse.
Boaden’s body responds with arousal, seeing the primal look in her eyes. He wants her to pounce on him, but the more dominant part of him sees this is a game he wishes to win, at least for now. “Definitely a challenge.”
She swings her legs onto the floor and he pops up across the room by the door.
“You’re really going to make me work for that kiss, aren’t you?” she says as she saunters towards him.
“It’s really easy, my love.”
She lunges at him and he’s gone in an instant. Apparently anticipating where he was going, she appears on the bed beside him seconds after he lands there. Her thighs wrap around his hips and she presses her lips to his. “I win.”
“You did the spell,” Boaden says, pushing up on his elbows.
“Guess I just needed the right motivation.” She tugs her shirt overhead.
Boaden can’t keep his hands away. “I missed seeing my two friends.”
Daelyn shakes her head laughing and drives her lips into his.
48. Daelyn
After the night in Colden’s house, Boaden and Daelyn are called down to breakfast with the Warlord. They sit at the table waiting for the food to arrive, drinking more of the herbal tea, getting to know each other better.
Colden is younger than Daelyn would have thought for a warlord. He’s only ten years older than her father at fifty one and looks as young as any one of them. Daelyn still finds it strange that magical people don’t age as everyone else does. She knew her mother looked remarkably young but she thought it was singular to Madison until she came to Delhoon.
Colden’s light hair is pulled up in a bun and he has braids in his dark blond beard. His eyes linger on Daelyn for a few beats too long then he turns his attention to Boaden. “I’m surprised the both of you chose to marry so young.” He glances at Daelyn. “You can’t be more than twenty.”
Daelyn doesn’t know when the customary age is for Delhoons to marry but her parents were married younger than her. She doesn’t think it’s odd, but then if a magical being can live for hundreds of years then she supposes it is very young. “I knew he was the one for me,” Daelyn says and holds his hand under the table.
“And you Boaden-- Nerendae, and the queen’s champion at twenty eight; marriage seems a bit premature.” He sets his tea cup down at the look on Boaden’s face. “Not that it’s any of my business.”
“Our marriage was quite fast but Daelyn is everything to me. I knew I couldn’t let her get away. She’d have men vying for her, they still do.” He eyes the Warlord like he knows something Daelyn doesn’t. “She’s beautiful and a remarkable woman in many ways.”
Colden nods. “I agree. I’m still amazed at what you did during the battle, Daelyn.”
Two women and a man come through a far doorway carrying trays of food. They set them down simultaneously and the two women leave. The man places one hand in the other; “This morning we have roasted ham, perfectly seasoned fried potatoes, and an array of fruits and vegetables.”
Colden eyes the food and takes in a deep breath through the nose. “Thank you, Martins. It smells wonderful.”
“Is there anything else I can get for you and your guests, Sir?” Martins asks.
“That will be all for now.”
Martins nods to Daelyn and Boaden and leaves the room.
Each of them dishes up and begins eating. The only sounds that can be heard for several moments are silverware scratching and clinking against plates. Colden finishes chewing a bite and wipes his mouth with a napkin. “I’m curious, has Queen Kyria seen the extent of your magical abilities?”
“She knows what I did in Hesstia.” Daelyn shrugs and stabs at a potato on her plate.
“You know, seven of the thirteen warlords voted against starting this war with Hesstia, I was one of them. Kyria broke the laws of our kingdom; Queen or not she is not above the law.”
With ham on the end of his fork, Boaden pauses before it reaches his mouth. “We’d heard that. Are you and the other warlords in conversations about a repercussion?”
“For now we are fighting for our continued freedom. If Hesstia were to win, all of the magic users who survived the battles would become slaves instead of just the ones born in Hesstia who we’re supposedly fighting to free.”
Daelyn gives Colden a confused look. “Supposedly? You don’t think that is why Kyria started the war?”
Colden takes a drink of water and sets the glass down. “It became apparent to me a few years ago that Kyria wanted to rise above her mother in reputation. Without a war that wouldn’t be possible. But we’ll win, and she’ll think she has her glory, yet she’ll have to face what she’s done sooner or later.”
Boaden sets his fork down and he and Colden eye one another. “When we win, many won’t care that she went against the majority vote of the Warlords. Magic users will be free. What are you sugges
ting?”
Colden’s eyes flick to Daelyn and his lips break into a smile. “That’s nothing we need to discuss at the present. As I said, we need to win this war first. You’ll be leaving soon, yes?”
“Yes,” Boaden replies.
Daelyn didn’t miss Colden’s glance at her. What could this situation with the queen possibly have to do with me? Other than Kyria wanted Boaden for herself but was that widely known among the Warlords? Maybe he thinks I’m in danger.
After breakfast Boaden and Daelyn head back to the room to gather their belongings. Something occurred to her during breakfast that hadn’t before. “When you went to see Kyria about breaking the curse, what did she say to you?”
Daelyn had asked him that night but he said she happily broke the curse for him and that didn’t feel right to her then and doesn’t now. Boaden had told her how angry she was that he’d married Daelyn, so much that he had to deal with Lord Everon now, and then suddenly she was “happy” to help him? She let it go at the time because what reason would Boaden have to lie to his wife?
Boaden grabs his bag off the floor and sets it on the bed. “We talked about this already. She was happy to break the curse so we could go on this mission.”
Daelyn chews on that for a moment. That’s exactly what he said before. “That was it? No more anger towards you for marrying me?”
Boaden looks down, folding a piece of clothing. “I guess ‘happy’ is the wrong word.” His voice sounds slightly different than usual, higher, and even a little shaky. “She did it willingly. She knows how important this mission is. I told her the curse was on me, not you.”
Daelyn knows he’s nervous about something. And of course she did it willingly or the curse wouldn’t have been broken. “And because she loves you, she did it.”
Boaden’s head snaps up. “She doesn’t love me. She—she only wanted me because I’m a good match for a queen on paper.”
Daelyn doesn’t believe that. The two of them went to school together; Boaden himself said they’d been friends. Rorin even let slip that Boaden had liked her at one time. She caught what Rorin meant when he said “Boaden likes the royal types”, even though Boaden tried to brush it under the rug.
“What was your relationship with the queen?” Daelyn asks, folding her arms. She doesn’t like that he’s hiding something from her.
Boaden sets his bag down and looks her in the eyes. “I am her warrior, she is my queen. At one time I thought we were friends but I no longer believe that.”
“Just friends?”
Boaden lets out a sigh. “I liked her when I was sixteen years old. It was a boyhood fondness, nothing more. You’re my wife, you have nothing to feel insecure about.”
Daelyn’s cheeks flush with heat. “I’m not insecure about our relationship. I want to know if the queen wants to hurt me because of you.”
He pauses. “I was worried about that at first. Kyria admitted to me the day we got back, her plans to marry me. She kissed me—”
“She kissed you!” Daelyn eyes shoot wide trying to process what he said. She can’t believe that he hasn’t told her this until now. That had been weeks ago. She pictures that red headed wench with her lips on Boaden’s and rage builds inside. The magic inside her begins to buzz with hot anger. She squeezes her eyes shut as her hands tremble.
“It meant nothing. I backed away and told her it was over, that you’re my wife.”
Daelyn’s eyes pop open. “If you said it's over that implies there was something there. I can’t believe you are lying to me.” She heads for the door and places her hand on the knob; she needs to take a walk alone and calm herself before her magic gets out of control.
Boaden puts his hand on the door holding it closed. It takes all Daelyn has not to push him away, not to slap him in the face. That’s something her mother would do.
“I’m not lying to you.” His voice is low and his eyes never move from hers. “I should have told you about the kiss sooner but I knew you’d be upset and it meant nothing.” He doesn’t take his hand from the door and she doesn’t release the handle. “Lord Everon assured me that Kyria will never hurt you.”
Daelyn’s head whips toward him. “How could he know that? He can’t see the future.”
“Your mother can and she’s said nothing.”
“Maybe she’s keeping secrets from me, too. Wouldn’t be the first time from either of you.”
Boaden’s face hardens and he steps away from the door. Daelyn knows comparing him to her mother stings but she wanted it to. She wants him to know that it’s not acceptable for him to lie and keep secrets. They’d had enough of that in their relationship already in the beginning. She had enough lying and deceit over the years with her mother to make her sick thinking about it.
Daelyn throws the door open and just before she shuts it behind her she says, “Don’t keep secrets from or lie to me anymore.”
Soon, Daelyn finds herself alone in a sitting room. Angry tears slip down her cheeks. She shouldn’t be angry with him, but she can’t shake the feeling of betrayal. Withholding what happened with Kyria meant there was something between them. When Verra kissed Boaden right in front of her, it was shocking but not hurtful, she saw the way he responded. But with the queen, he kept it a secret which made her wonder what else he might be keeping from her.
A door creaks open and she slowly looks over her shoulder. Ehvas’s smile drops when her eyes fall on Daelyn’s face. She stands in the doorway for a moment, probably debating on leaving, and then strides into the room.
Daelyn wipes her tears with the back of her hand and forces a trembling smile. “Hello, Ehvas.”
Ehvas sits beside Daelyn and they both are quiet for what feels like a long time. She turns from staring at her hands to Daelyn. “It’s probably not my place but may I ask what is wrong?”
Daelyn wipes another tear and sniffles. “It’s a lot of things to be honest. I’m a little overwhelmed with all this. I haven’t had a chance to know you yet but I’m not--” Daelyn searches for the right words. She’s caught onto the Delian language well enough now but how does she explain everything? “I’m not a warrior. I’m just a girl who grew up on a farm in Hesstia whose life was completely changed months ago.”
Ehvas raises an eyebrow. “You are a warrior, even if you don’t know it yet. I know what I saw during the battle yesterday. You saved us. And if you were Hesstian until a few months ago then I applaud you for fighting against them. And no offence but I’m quite surprised my brother would marry a Hesstian woman, though you do look like one of us.”
Daelyn’s mouth curls. “Well, I guess I never was Hesstian. Both my parents were spies for Delhoon. I just never knew that growing up.”
Ehvas crosses her legs and leans back in the seat. “Please, tell me that story. I’m curious to know how they kept it a secret from you and how you met my brother.”
So she does. For whatever reason, Daelyn feels comfortable enough to share much about her life. About how she felt the day she thought her father died. How she wished she could have saved him sooner. How it hurt when her mother hit her or belittled her, and how the lies and distrust hurt worse than the physical abuse. And then it came to Boaden. It was easy to talk about how she fell in love with him, when they danced at the festival, and that he saved them from execution. But since their wedding, she felt their lives had been chaotic. When Daelyn brings up Verra and how she’d set fire to their cabin, Ehvas jumps to her feet.
“You’re not serious!” she says, boisterously. “I should have dealt with that girl a long time ago. She ruined my brother’s teenage life.”
Daelyn holds back a chuckle at Ehvas’s reaction. “You were there at the academy during that time?”
Ehvas puts her hands on her hips. “I’m two years older than Boaden so yes. I mostly stayed out of his business but I knew that girl intimidated anyone who mentioned Boaden at all. The only one she left alone, for obvious reasons was Queen Kyria.”
A lump rises in Daely
n’s throat hearing her speak of the queen in context with Boaden. “I’ve heard a little about Boaden and the queen. Did they like each other when they attended the academy?”
Ehvas hardens her jaw for a moment. “Boaden liked Kyria. He never told me but I could see as much. I was never sure about her, and since she’s the queen I bet she wasn’t allowed to date. But that was a long time ago. He married you.”
Daelyn glances down and nods at that. He did marry her. He wouldn’t have done that if he still harbored feelings for Kyria. “She kissed him.” Daelyn can’t make herself look up. “After we were married. She told him she wanted to make him King of Delhoon.” Tears well up in her eyes again.
Ehvas sits back down on the couch beside Daelyn. “Even if she did, Boaden is here with you, not her. If I know my brother, when he said those wedding vows, he meant them forever. Not even enticing him with being King would change that.” Ehvas clears her throat. “That is a bit shocking Kyria wanted to marry my brother.”
“My sister knows me well.”
Both Ehvas and Daelyn turn to see Boaden standing in the doorway.
“And I was just as shocked when Kyria told me.”
Ehvas and Daelyn smile at each other. “You’ve been eavesdropping,” Ehvas says.
Boaden steps forward. “I only heard-- almost everything. I liked the way you told about our first meeting. Thinking I was just some scoundrel who wanted to get your dress off.”
Daelyn’s feelings of sadness melt away as he approaches her. “I never said you were a scoundrel.”
Boaden squats down in front of Daelyn putting him at eye level with her. “No more secrets. I promise.”
Daelyn presses her forehead to his and closes her eyes. She can feel the sincerity in his words and it warms her chest.
He pulls back and his gaze meets hers. “So I need to tell you what she said to me before we left and my other suspicions.”