by Donna Grant
“How long have you been listening to me?”
He drew in a breath and slowly released it as Malene’s face came into view. She had long, flaxen hair done up in a myriad of different-sized plaits. Gray eyes the color of a stormy sky stared at him from a face of unearthly beauty. The wisdom he saw in her gaze left him dazed.
“The first time was when I was a small child. It took a great deal of effort,” he admitted, still astounded that she could hear him.
“But it’s gotten easier, hasn’t it?”
Brom paused, unsure how she knew that. Then again, this was Malene, the Lady of the Varroki. “Aye.”
“I know what you have.”
He remained silent, not wanting to admit or deny anything.
Malene sighed loudly. “I understand why you don’t wish to reply. However, it would behoove you to tell me.”
Though she hadn’t said the words, Brom knew that Malene could send one of her Varroki warriors after him. He had no reason not to trust her, but since he had never told anyone—not even his mother—what he had found, he was hesitant to do it now.
The silence lengthened as Malene watched him intently. Finally, he asked, “What is it you think I hold?”
“A bone of the First Witch,” Malene replied immediately.
Brom nodded.
Malene quirked a brow. “You were able to listen to us for a long time without the bone. That means it wasn’t the bone that gave you the power to do so. That means you are a warlock.”
“I am.”
“Why do you not live with us?”
He licked his lips and shrugged. “My father spent time with my mother one summer. She didn’t find out that she carried me until after he left.”
“You could’ve come to us.”
“I know. I almost did.”
“What stopped you?”
Brom looked away, unsure how much to say.
“I don’t know how many of our conversations you overheard, but you know quite a bit about us and what we’re planning. It’s only fair that you share, too,” Malene told him.
He knew she was right, but his instinct to protect Runa was strong. His gaze slid back to Malene. “I chose to follow someone instead of coming to Blackglade.”
“That someone wouldn’t happen to be Synne’s sister, would it?”
“How do you know that?” he demanded.
Malene smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “You aren’t the only one with magic. Besides, the request you sent out via the trees carried much farther and stronger than you could have imagined.”
“You can talk to the trees?”
“Unfortunately, I can’t. But I heard you just the same. You have significant magic, Brom, despite being only half-warlock. That, coupled with the bone of the First Witch you carry, has added much to your power.”
He’d never thought of that. His hand slipped into his bag, where his fingers curved around the rib bone. “Runa needs my help.”
“Do you have any idea how close you are to the Coven and the multitude of Gira?”
“Pretty close by your tone,” he replied.
Malene gave him a hard look. “How much do you know of Runa?”
“No’ a lot. I had a dream with her face in it and a woman telling me to find her. It didna take me near as long as I expected. I continued following her until I saw her injure herself during a blizzard. That’s when I helped her. We spent a night holed up in a cave until the storm passed.”
Malene nodded slowly. “You healed her.”
It wasn’t a question. “I did.”
“And you didn’t worry about her telling others you’re a warlock?”
“I’ve never told another person what I am, but it felt right to tell her. I can’t explain it.”
Malene’s expression took on a faraway look. “You don’t have to. I understand perfectly.”
Brom watched her for a few moments until she blinked and focused on him once more. Then he said, “Runa knew of magic. She told me she was going to save her family.”
“When did you figure out that Synne and Runa were sisters?”
“Only recently. Runa is doing her damnedest to keep me from tracking her. I’m not sure how she’s doing it, either. She must be skilled at climbing trees. That’s the only way I can see her disappearing like she does.”
Malene frowned. “Runa didn’t tell you of her origins.”
“You say that as if it’s bad.”
“You speak of her as if she means something to you.”
Brom shrugged, briefly looking inside himself to gauge his emotions. “I’d be lying if I said I didna care about her.”
“After spending only a short time with her?”
“Aye. When you meet someone you connect with instantly, you just know.”
Malene smiled, though there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. “That you do.”
“If you know something about Runa, please tell me.”
“I’m wondering now if I should. It might change your mind about helping her.”
Brom shot the Lady of the Varroki a flat look. “That could never happen.”
“Runa’s father was a Gira.”
The words were so shocking that, for a moment, Brom couldn’t digest them. He blinked, letting them turn over in his head. “She’s a…Gira?”
“Half,” Malene corrected. “Just as you’re part Varroki.”
“A Gira,” he repeated, then thought about the time they had spent together. There wasn’t anything Runa had done or said that made him think she was anything but human. But he’d known she wasn’t a witch.
Malene called his name in a gentle voice. “That doesn’t change who Runa is.”
“I know,” he stated, anger infusing him that Malene would think otherwise. “I never saw anything that said she was half-nymph.”
“She probably made sure you didn’t.”
Brom ran a hand down his face, his other hand holding firm to the bone. “She’s going to the Gira, isn’t she?”
“Her grandmother is a Gira.”
“Asrail,” he said, putting the pieces together.
Malene bowed her head in acknowledgement. “Synne just discovered Asrail.”
“And thought Runa was dead,” Brom finished. “But Runa knew of Synne. I doona know for how long, but she’s known.”
“You believe Runa is going to help Asrail and not join the Gira?”
Brom started to answer but hesitated. “She never mentioned the Gira or the Coven. She said only that where she was going was dangerous, and that I shouldna come. I took that to mean that she was going to help her family as she told me.”
“Yet there is a chance she’s going to join them.”
“Why would she do that?”
“Because they’re powerful. Because they have her grandmother, and it might save her sister. Because there was no way she could go there and not be killed almost immediately.”
Brom wanted to shout his frustration. Instead, he swallowed the bellow and pressed his lips together. “Runa is a good person. She wouldna join the Coven.”
“Joining the Gira isn’t the same as aligning with the Coven.”
He got to his feet. “Can you tell me where she is?”
“The magic Sybbyl uses prevents me from pinpointing anything near the Coven, which is where Runa is. It’s how I know how close you are. The last thing you want is any of the Coven learning you are a warlock. Sybbyl wanted one of my fiercest warriors, Jarin, as hers. He managed to get away, and I doubt Sybbyl will allow a second warlock to slip through her fingers.”
“I can’t leave Runa.”
“She might be gone from you.”
“I’m not leaving her,” he stated.
Malene sighed and shook her head. “Stay where you are.”
19
Runa didn’t get far before Gira surrounded her. She stared at the nymphs, daring them to attack her. But they didn’t. They just stood there, watching her.
“What do
you want?” she demanded.
As one, the Gira went down on their knees in the thick snow and bowed their heads. “Our queen,” they said in unison.
Runa shook her head. She hadn’t wanted to believe Asrail’s words because they had seemed too preposterous. Now, she realized she should’ve heeded her grandmother. “I’m not your queen.”
Five of the Gira got to their feet and came to stand before her. The number of nymphs around her was staggering, but she had a feeling this was only a fraction of them. She steeled herself as the five blinked back at her. Four of them were women. There were very few male Gira. She didn’t want to think about the reasons for that at the moment. Not when there was so much more to fill her head.
“We’ve been waiting for you,” the male said.
Runa lifted her chin. “The Gira murdered my parents and tried to kill me and my sister. You’ve not been waiting for me to claim a throne. You’ve been lying in wait to finally take the life you sought to end so many years ago.”
“Maybe,” one of the four females said. “It would’ve been our mistake.”
Runa didn’t believe that at all. “You killed my parents,” she stated again.
The female on the end shrugged. “It isn’t allowed.”
“What? A human and a Gira?” Runa asked.
The male nodded. “That’s right.”
“But I’m a product of that. How does that make me your queen?”
“You were chosen,” another female said.
Runa wanted to laugh at the irony. “If you had succeeded in killing me, you would find another queen.”
“Synne,” the entire Gira crowd said in unison.
Runa’s blood went cold. “Neither of us will be your queen.”
The female on the end smiled. “One of you will. You were chosen.”
“Why?” Runa demanded. “Tell me.”
“Do you really need to ask?”
Runa’s hands itched to hold her swords. “I’ve killed your kind.”
“Which makes you perfect,” another female said. “You are feared for your skills at tracking nymphs down.”
“I’ve killed you because of what you did to my parents.”
The male smiled. “You’ve shown every Gira your courage and triumph and power. We were beginning to think we’d never have another queen until the bones of the First Witch were found. It was her magic that allowed us to find you.”
Unease rippled through Runa. “Any of you could’ve come to me at any time. I just recently accepted a mission to hunt one of you down. Why wait?”
“We were waiting on something,” a female said with a smirk.
The more Runa spoke to them, the more uncomfortable and nervous she became. Something was going on. Asrail had warned her to get away, and now, it was too late.
“Get your hands off me!” a woman shouted.
Runa peered into the darkness through the trees to try and see who it was. The Gira parted as a group of nymphs held a woman by her arms and legs as they carried her. The woman struggled, but it did no good since the Gira’s hold was nigh unbreakable once they latched on to someone.
When the nymphs and the woman came closer, Runa glanced around, wondering if she could get through the Gira and break free. She didn’t get the chance as the Gira threw the woman before her. The human rolled in the snow, tangled in her cloak and skirts. Her hood came up, covering her head. On instinct, Runa reached back and grasped her swords. She pulled them free of their sheaths and twisted her wrists as she pointed the blades at the newcomer.
The woman yanked the hood away and got to her feet, facing the Gira. “I’m going to rip every one of you vile creatures apart!”
The five Gira stood together, smiling, not the least bit afraid. In fact, from what Runa could see, none of the nymphs appeared worried about the threat at all. That made Runa take a closer look at the woman. She noted the blond hair, but she knew the woman wasn’t Asa because of the shrill voice and the English accent.
“Do you know who I am?” the woman demanded.
Runa said, “Why don’t you tell us?”
The woman whirled around and looked Runa up and down, dismissing her immediately. “Who are you?”
“No one.”
The woman rolled her eyes and glared at the five nymphs. “Give me back what was taken.”
“You mean what you stole, Avis?” one of the females asked.
Runa was instantly intrigued. The Gira appeared to have some grudge against Avis, and they clearly wanted Runa to witness this. While she was curious, she knew the Gira didn’t do anything without reason.
Avis crossed her arms over her chest and glowered at the five. “I killed to get it. Sybbyl did the same. You follow her, but attack me? Why?”
Instead of answering, one of the five motioned with a hand. Once more, the nymphs parted as a male made his way through the throng. Once he passed them, they closed ranks behind him. The moment Avis saw him, she dropped her arms and formed magic. Without missing a beat, the five quelled her magic in an instant.
Runa looked between the witch and the five. The power struggle had been short-lived. Runa wasn’t sure why Avis believed she stood a chance against the nymphs. Maybe it was because of exactly what she said. The Gira followed Sybbyl, so why not Avis? Although, Sybbyl had killed to get the Staff of the Eternal.
Runa’s mind halted as her gaze swung to the male coming toward her. She noted that he carried a sword. Her heart skipped a beat as he held the sword in both hands and offered it up to her as he fell to his knees.
“The finger bone of the First Witch is within the pommel,” the male told her.
One of the five said, “It’s our gift, Your Highness.”
“Highness?” Avis repeated shrilly. She looked between the five and Runa twice before her eyes widened and she tried to take a step back.
But the nymphs were there to stop her.
Runa didn’t take the sword, though she wanted to. A bone of the First Witch. For her. It didn’t seem possible. She pulled her gaze from it and looked at the five. “Why not give it to Sybbyl?”
“We have as much right to a bone as anyone,” they said in harmony.
Runa wanted to refuse it, but if she could free Asrail and make sure her sister wasn’t harmed, she would need the sword. She returned her weapons to their sheaths. Yet she still didn’t grab it.
“Why do you hesitate?” the male before her asked. “We tracked down Avis and got this for you.”
Runa looked at the five. “If I take this, it means I accept being your queen.”
They nodded.
“And if I refuse?” she asked.
One of the females said, “As we said, we have a second option.”
What choice did Runa have? While they hadn’t said they would kill her, she didn’t think the nymphs would allow her to decline their offer and then just walk away. They would take her life.
At least, if she were queen, she could halt anything done to Asrail as well as keep the Gira away from Synne.
“I have stipulations,” she announced.
The five smiled. It was the male who asked, “And they are?”
“First, tell me what you’ll do with her,” she said, pointing to Avis.
One of the females said, “She betrayed Sybbyl. We’ll turn her over to the Coven leader.”
“Without the sword?” Runa asked. She shook her head. “Not smart. Sybbyl will ask for it. If she suspects we have it, she’ll attack.”
The nymphs laughed at her remark, but Runa didn’t find anything she’d said humorous.
“The Gira are stronger than witches,” one of the females said. “We aren’t afraid of them. Not even Sybbyl.”
Runa thought that was idiotic, but she kept that to herself. “The Gira should deal with Avis.”
The five looked among themselves before they faced her and nodded together.
Well. That was easier than she’d expected. Though she didn’t think everything would go that well.<
br />
“Wait,” Avis said and gave Runa a pleading look. “You can’t mean to let them kill me.”
Runa cut her eyes to the witch. “Where did you get the sword?”
“A Highlander.”
“Just some man you came across?”
Avis frowned and shook her head. “Of course, not. I was after a Hunter. He just happened to be with Synne.”
The moment her sister’s name was mentioned, rage filled Runa. “Did you hurt either of them?”
Avis shrugged. “Of course, I did. I killed the Highlander and made the Hunter watch his life draining away.”
“Why?” Runa asked in a soft voice.
“Because she dared to hunt us. She was one of the last of her group, and Sybbyl sent me to dispatch her.”
“But you didn’t kill Synne, did you?”
Avis narrowed her eyes on Runa. “I got more satisfaction from ending the Highlander’s life. The two had fallen in love, so Synne will feel the pain of that for a long time.”
One of the five said, “Except Lachlan isn’t dead. Synne and the trees saved him.”
Runa couldn’t dismiss the fury that swirled through her at what Avis had attempted. She stalked to the witch. “You went after my sister.”
“Sister?” she asked with a frown. “Elin said you were dead.”
Runa stared down at Avis. “Where is your sister?”
“I don’t know,” Avis said, fear filling her visage.
Out of the corner of her eye, Runa saw the nymphs begin to crowd around them. They seemed to sense her rage and were feeding off it.
Runa held Avis’s brown gaze. “Anything else you’d like to add?”
“I can be an ally. I know much about Sybbyl.”
“So do the Gira,” Runa said as she stepped back.
The nymphs quickly converged on Avis. Runa turned her back on the witch and walked away, even as Avis’s screams filled the forest. Runa’s stomach tightened. In all her years, she had never killed a human. And while it wasn’t her hands taking the witch’s life now, she hadn’t stopped it either. Which made her as much to blame as the Gira.
If she were to see this through, she would have to remember that this wasn’t about her. It was about her family. Even as that thought went through her head, an image of Brom filled her mind. How she longed to be back in the cave with him. None of this was what she had expected, and she wasn’t sure she was doing the right thing. Yet, when all her choices were taken away, there was nothing left for her to do.