Her Knight's Quest: A Warriors of the Mist Novel Page 28

  Clearly the other man had been horrified by her use of powerful magic, but what had he expected her to do? Back in the woods, the guards had been attacking Duncan all at once, making it unlikely he would’ve survived the battle. When she’d seen Duncan cornered and outnumbered, she’d done the only thing she could. At least she could draw comfort from knowing she hadn’t killed anyone.

  Later, both Murdoch and Sigil stared at her in horrified fascination as she destroyed the medallion she’d found tucked in that guard’s pocket. She’d carried it some distance away from everyone else, careful not to touch it directly. Using the same spell she’d used to destroy the coins and the medallions, she’d crushed it with her own magic.

  There had been a brief but painful backlash that caused her to stumble a step or two. Sigil had also been affected by the blast of magic, wincing as if in pain. She found that odd, but some people were more sensitive to magic of all kinds. Right now she was too weary to make sense of much of anything.

  Duncan guided his horse closer to hers. Once again he was carrying a sleeping Sarra. All three men had been trading off carrying her whenever the riding had become too much for the little girl. It also allowed them to rest one of the horses.

  “We’ll be stopping soon where Murdoch and Sigil abandoned their camp when they realized we would come under attack. After a few hours’ rest, we’ll make the final push to the keep.”

  It was testimony to how exhausted she was that she hadn’t even questioned how Duncan’s friends happened to arrive at exactly the right moment.

  “If they were this far away from us, how did they know we were about to be attacked?”

  It was Sigil who answered. “I sensed something dark and evil hunting for you.”

  “You have a gift for magic? I wondered when you reacted to the destruction of Duke Keirthan’s medallion.”

  His face turned stony. “I wouldn’t know.”

  She watched as he spurred his horse ahead, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake.

  “Did I say something wrong?”

  Duncan waited until Sigil was some distance away before answering. “He was one of the duke’s men sent to take back control of Lady Merewen’s keep on behalf of her uncle. At the end of the fighting, Lord Fagan tried to kill his own wife and Murdoch, but Sigil threw himself between Fagan and his intended targets. The blow Sigil took destroyed the medallion he wore around his neck, and with it any memory of who he is.”

  They both stared at the warrior for several seconds. Even with her mind clouded with exhaustion, it wasn’t difficult to make the connections.

  “It must have been one of the same talismans that the guards who attacked the abbey were wearing. That would’ve given Ifre a great deal of power over Sigil’s actions.”

  It was another example of her half brother’s abuse. “Interesting that Sigil could’ve broken free of that control long enough to protect the lady and Murdoch. It speaks well of the man’s character and his inner strength.”

  Then she smiled at Duncan and once again lapsed into silence, concentrating on staying in the saddle long enough to reach the campsite.

  * * *

  Duncan agreed with Lavinia’s assessment of Sigil. He’d already proven himself to be a worthy ally, another reminder that this calling was different. The Damned rarely allowed outsiders to get too close, but their list of allies was growing longer by the day: Lady Merewen, Lady Alina, Sigil, young Sarra, and Lavinia herself.

  Duncan could only hope that when they reached the keep, Gideon would accept the necessity of Lavinia’s mage craft to the success of their cause. Murdoch had already made his feelings on the subject all too clear. He’d come to terms with Lady Merewen’s gifts. They all had. Breeding top-quality horses was something familiar, safe.

  Lavinia’s magic could be used as a weapon, both dangerous and powerful. So far, she hadn’t used it to kill, but that day would come.

  As Murdoch had said, it would be up to Gideon what role Lavinia would be allowed to play in their war against her half brother, if any. Duncan would tell him about how the Lady of the River had appeared before both him and Lavinia, and that she’d also spoken directly to him.

  Once Gideon had made his decision, then Duncan would have to make his. He prayed that it wouldn’t come down to a choice between his duty to the Damned and his love for Lavinia. He’d yet to speak to her of his feelings, but he would. In all his long life, he’d never expected to find love, and here he had. She’d saved not only his life but his sanity, giving him a new purpose to fight for. He wouldn’t leave this earth again without Lavinia knowing that although his soul belonged to the goddess, his heart belonged to Lavinia.

  She deserved that truth, but not until they were both rested and someplace private. Soon, though. And that thought kept him moving forward, one weary hour at a time.

  * * *

  Sarra had been remarkably talkative once she’d gotten a good night’s sleep. She divided her time between all three men pretty equally, making them smile with her constant questions and comments. Right now she was giggling over something Murdoch had said to her.

  On the other hand, the farther they rode this morning, the more solemn Duncan became. Clearly he wasn’t looking forward to reuniting with his captain. There could be only one reason for his concern, and that was Lavinia herself. Was he regretting his decision to bring her back with him? Hadn’t he insisted they had no other choice?

  Sigil slowed his horse to drop back even with her. “We should be able to see the keep when we clear that next rise.”

  “That’s good. I’m looking forward to walking on my own two feet for a while. I’ve never spent this much time on horseback in my entire life.”

  “I would never have guessed that. You and Sarra have handled this brutal pace as well as any soldier would have.”

  The compliment surprised her. “Thank you.”

  It was the first time she’d really had a chance to study the handsome soldier for any length of time. There was something familiar about his looks, although she was sure she’d never met him before. His dark blond hair and brown eyes were nothing distinctive, especially in Agathia. There was just something about his profile or perhaps in the way he moved that stood out to her.

  Before she could follow that line of thought any farther, Sarra started screaming and holding her head. All four adults charged toward the distraught child. Murdoch dismounted and grabbed the reins of her horse to keep it under control.

  “Sarra! What is it?”

  The little girl’s hands dropped away from her head, her eyes wide with horror. When her mouth opened, she wasn’t the one speaking. Murdoch stumbled back a step or two, but then he held his ground while Sigil stared at Sarra as if he’d never seen her before.

  She sought out Lavinia. “He’s going to kill the horses again. We’ve got to stop him. They’re so scared.”

  Duncan kept his voice calm, but then he’d had previous experience with Sarra’s guides. “Where do we need to go?”

  The little girl pointed straight ahead, toward the keep. “That way. The horses are in a pasture behind the keep.”

  Sigil was already riding hard while Murdoch remounted after handing the reins to Duncan. He spurred his mare off after Sigil.

  “Hold on tight, Sarra.”

  She nodded and grabbed on to her horse’s mane with both hands. As soon as she was settled, Duncan led the charge toward the keep.

  They rode at a bone-jarring pace across the grassland and then through some rocky outcroppings. When they reached the keep, the gate was already opening. Looking for an enemy who was nowhere to be seen, men-at-arms charged out into the bailey, swords drawn.

  Lavinia followed Duncan straight through the bailey, barely giving Lady Merewen’s people a chance to get out of the way. When she reached the pasture, she dismounted to join the men at the fence. None of the horses appeared to have been hurt, but they were clearly agitated. A woman, who could only be Lady Merewen, stood with an old man as th
ey tried to calm the restless animals.

  Another man stood with his hands on Merewen’s shoulders. Duncan and Murdoch immediately flanked him, marking him as Captain Gideon himself. Sigil picked up Sarra and carried her toward the group, leaving Lavinia to follow on her own.

  But when she stepped into the pasture, the stench of Ifre’s filthy magic clogged her throat and her mind. She brought all of her focus and energy to bear on clearing it out so that she could focus. Ifre’s attack was approaching at speed from outside the palisade.

  Lavinia ran to the center of the pasture and turned her back on the cluster of worried people to study the sky to the north. There! In the distance, she could pick out the glow of light that shouldn’t be there.

  Glancing back over her shoulder, she yelled, “Duncan, get everyone away from here! Now, before it’s too late!”

  Leaving it to him to make that happen, she returned her attention to the approaching light, by now much larger. It was now clear that what she was seeing were several balls of light clustered together.

  It had to be the same weapon that Ifre had used against the abbey. The thick stone walls had held up against the assault, but the fragile flesh of horses and people wouldn’t stand a chance of survival.

  Raising her hands palm up, she called on the gods to aid her. Then she chanted the strongest words she knew, injecting into them every bit of power she could pull from the ground around her. Normally, she controlled the flow, keeping the channel open and providing a path for the power to follow as water did a riverbed.

  This time she took no such precautions, opening herself up to the burning hot pain of her magic unleashed. Someone was hollering. Duncan? Yes, she heard his voice amidst the clamor of noise in her head.

  She paused in her chanting to say, “Ward them. It’s the only way.”

  The light was coming in fast and low, aiming right for where she stood. The world and her life narrowed down to this single moment where she would do battle with her brother. Whether she lived or died, Ifre would suffer for his wickedness. She’d make sure of it, her only regret being that she couldn’t remind Duncan how much she loved him.

  With her skin on fire and her throat raw from the burn of power, she ripped away the last bit of caution left in her and sent her first blast of power heading skyward.

  Chapter 30

  Gideon stepped in front of Lady Merewen, planting himself between her and Lavinia. “Duncan, what in the name of the gods is she doing?”

  “She’s trying to stop the attack. Now do as she said, and get out of the pasture.”

  Nobody moved one step closer to the fence. Merewen was fighting Gideon’s efforts to get her out of harm’s way, insisting she needed to calm the horses. Murdoch stared at Lavinia, his fear of her power all too clear. When he started toward her, Duncan blocked him.

  His friend glared down at him. “The goddess forbids the use of dark magic. You might be willing to risk your soul for her, but I’m not.”

  Duncan went for his sword. “You will not touch her, Murdoch.”

  Gideon had joined them. “You would choose her over your duty? Over us?”

  He laid the truth out for them. “Only if you threaten her in any way. She is my duty. The goddess said the magic was Lavinia’s burden to bear, but that we need her.”

  She looked to him then. He couldn’t hear her words, but her meaning was clear. He needed to ward his friends from the impact of her magic and Ifre’s.

  “Stand close together while I do what I can to shield all of you.”

  Gideon might not have liked Lavinia’s magic, but he would do anything it took to keep his own lady safe. He wrapped Merewen up in his arms, ignoring her struggles to be free. Murdoch stepped close to the captain while Sigil took the other side, holding Sarra with her face buried in his shoulder. The old man who’d been helping with the horses huddled next to them.

  Duncan met the gaze of each of his friends and then started chanting himself. He ignored Murdoch’s curse when he saw the shimmering ward building around them. Once the circle was complete, Duncan strengthened it just as he had in the woods when the goddess had protested his actions.

  This time, there was no warning or response from his goddess, perhaps because she knew she could lose three of her five warriors if Lavinia’s efforts to block her brother’s attacks failed. Once he had the ward grounded, he stepped through it and ran to where Lavinia faced off against a powerful enemy.

  He wasn’t sure his touch would help her, but he wouldn’t let her stand alone. If this was to be the end of his life, he would face it at Lavinia’s side.

  The balls of light were almost upon them. He braced himself for their impact just as Lavinia shouted to the heavens above and launched her counterattack.

  The world exploded in a crack of fire and thunder. Duncan was blind, deaf, and very possibly dead. But as the noise faded and the dust settled, he was still standing, his friends were safe, and the woman he loved was crumpled on the ground at his feet, her eyes wide and unseeing.

  “Lavinia!”

  Duncan dropped to his knees at her side and shook her shoulders. “Lavinia, don’t you dare leave me! Not now.”

  No response. Desperately, he looked around for help, for someone who could do something. As soon as he dropped his ward, Lady Merewen came running. She joined him on the ground and put her hand on Lavinia’s forehead.

  Gideon followed, taking Merewen’s other hand in his. Murdoch came next, then Sigil and Sarra. Even the old man added his gnarled hand to the chain, taking Sarra’s small one and then reaching out to Duncan. Duncan completed the circle by taking Lavinia’s cold hand in his.

  Time stopped as they all prayed and offered up their pleas to the gods to bring Lavinia back to the living.

  Then the Lady of the River whispered in Duncan’s mind. “Your woman is a warrior, Sir Duncan. She should be rewarded for her bravery.”

  As her last word faded away, Lavinia stirred, her skin warming to the touch, her chest heaving as she drew in a shallow breath and then another. Then her beautiful eyes opened to stare right into Duncan’s, full of love and wonder.

  “Your Lady led me back to you.”

  Everyone else sighed in relief and moved back as Duncan gathered Lavinia into his arms and held on with everything he had.

  “That’s because we belong together, Lavinia, for all the days I have left, however few they may be. But know this: I will love you forever.”

  Tears trickled down her cheeks. “And I will love you with every breath I take.”

  Gently, not wanting to hurt her, he sealed their pledge with a kiss.

  Chapter 31

  Hours later, Duncan left the library, barely resisting the urge to slam the door. He longed to get back to Lavinia and check on her recovery, but first he needed to walk off some of his frustration. Rather than return directly to their room, he headed downstairs and straight out the door. Once he reached the bailey, he paused, trying to decide which way to go. It was unlikely anyone would be wandering out in the garden at this hour, making it the best choice.

  As soon as he turned in that direction, Kiva called out in warning as he swooped down out of the trees. Duncan held out his arm, bracing himself for the impact. He carried the owl over to the bench and let the bird step off before sitting down beside him. Duncan connected with his avatar’s thoughts and smiled.

  “I’m glad you found the hunting good.”

  The owl turned his head to face Duncan and sent him an image of Duncan’s hand and his own feathers. Taking the hint, Duncan began stroking his companion’s feathers. The connection gradually calmed them both. He enjoyed the brief moment of solitude, knowing it wouldn’t last long.

  A few seconds later, Gideon stepped out of the shadows. “Thought I’d find you out here.”

  Kiva immediately took off, probably figuring he’d done as much as he could to soothe Duncan’s own ruffled feathers. Gideon took the bird’s place on the bench. They both sat in silence for several minut
es. Something else that wouldn’t last.

  “Are you all right?”

  “What do you think?” Duncan asked, but then answered his own question. “No, I’m not. Lavinia saved all of our lives at nearly the cost of her own. She deserves our gratitude, not our mistrust.”

  “That she does, Duncan. I think we’re all feeling unsettled at the many changes in our lives.”

  Gideon leaned back to stare up at the starlit sky. “When have we ever had this many people we care so deeply about, starting with Lady Merewen? And anyone can see Murdoch and Lady Alina have strong feelings for each other.”

  Duncan let his frustration show. “Does he not understand that I feel the same way about Lavinia? I believe these new bonds are blessed by our goddess.”

  “He probably hasn’t thought it through yet.” Gideon paused before continuing. “If Murdoch doesn’t figure that out for himself, I’ll explain it to him myself, even if I have to use my fists. And it’s not Lavinia he mistrusts, but the magic.”

  “I realize that, but his doubts only make it harder on her.” Duncan shared another of his burdens. “I’m also concerned about what will become of Sarra when all of this is over. I can’t sleep for worrying about what will happen when I’m not there to protect them.”

  As he spoke, a cloud passed in front of the rising moon, casting the garden in near-total darkness.

  “Who knows, mayhap Sigil will be able to help with that. My instincts say he’s an honorable man at heart, even if he’s made poor decisions in the past.”

  That was something the two of them understood all too well. Duncan stood up. “I should return to Lavinia. She’ll be wondering what was decided in the meeting.”

  His friend and leader fell into step with him as they returned to the keep. When they parted at the top of the stairs, Gideon clapped him on the shoulder. “I’m glad you are back. I missed you.”