Beyond the Boundary Stones (The Chronicles of Tevenar Book 3) (21 page)

Vigorre shook his head hard, trying to dislodge her gentle, persuasive voice from his ears. “I won’t listen to your flattery.”

“No, I suppose you won’t.” Her mouth twisted into a rueful grin. “Will you listen to this, then? There are people sick, dying, in pain. You’ve seen them, you’ve helped them when you could, you’ve comforted them when you couldn’t. I want to help those people through you.” She nodded to the eagle perched motionless on Vigorre’s wrist. “And through this animal, who could be your familiar, if you accept her.”

He’d forgotten the bird’s presence—it seemed to have no weight in this place, or vision, or whatever it was. He shook his arm violently, but he couldn’t dislodge it. It didn’t even flap its wings, but clung to him as if they were glued together by their mingled blood. “I don’t want one of your demons!”

She kept talking as if he hadn’t spoken. “She would control my power. You would be its channel. That’s how I ensure my power is never used against my will. Animals have no free will of their own, but must follow mine. If you should ever try to compel her to violate my Law, or abuse the privilege of your position, she would break your bond. If you doubt me, ask Elkan or Josiah; they’ve seen it happen.”

Vigorre blinked, his interest piqued despite his best efforts to ignore the being’s words. Such a system might work quite well. It would allow the Mother’s power to be used while making the abuses the ancient wizards had committed impossible…

He caught himself and slammed the door shut on that line of thought. “I don’t believe you.”

“Very well.” An edge of impatience sharpened her tone. “I’ll give you one more opportunity. Tonight this eagle will depart. She’ll return to you after a time. Between now and then I suggest you carefully observe everything that transpires. Speak to those who wield my power, and judge for yourself whether it’s a force for good or evil. Listen to those who seek to distort my truth, and delve into the reasons for what they do.” Her eyes grew infinitely sad. “Even those who love you, who love me, who act with the best of intentions, can be misled, can mislead you. I could tell you how and why, but you wouldn’t believe me any more than you believe anything else I’ve told you tonight. Only if you exercise your free will and discover the truth for yourself will you accept it.”

Her voice returned to firmness. “When I judge you’ve had sufficient opportunity to reconsider your decision, I’ll make the same offer again. But that choice will be final. If you still reject my power, I’ll seek others to take the role I meant for you. They won’t fill it as well as you might have, but they’ll do their best, and perhaps the good I intend for my children will be accomplished.” Her eyes narrowed as they gazed into his. “Or perhaps it won’t.”

She gave a sharp nod. Gold swirled before Vigorre’s eyes and rapidly faded to black.

A harsh scream echoed in his ears. Talons shoved hard against his arm as the eagle launched into the sky. For a moment he could make out her dark wings beating against the stars. Then she was gone.

Blood dripped from the cut on the back of his wrist. Numbly he pulled out his handkerchief and pressed it to the wound. He stood, head bowed, panting, trying to understand what had just happened.

He had faced the Lord of Demons, and he had triumphed. Despite the monster’s best efforts to deceive him, his will had remained firm. The demon who sought to enslave him had fled, driven away by his unshakeable devotion to the Mother.

Or—he had stood before the Mother, and he had rejected her. Despite her best efforts to show him the truth, he’d clung stubbornly to his false beliefs. The familiar who would have allowed the Mother’s power to flow through him in healing golden waves had withdrawn, driven away by his refusal to serve the Mother.

Which had it been? The first, surely. He could hold his head up, proud of his accomplishment. Had anyone else the Lord of Demons sought to enslave ever escaped his grasp?

Had anyone else the Mother asked to bear her power ever turned her down?

He buried his head in his hands. He must not let his faith waver because of what he’d just seen. Nothing had changed. Nirel had witnessed the demons devour a man. Kevessa had admitted the truth—he’d heard her. He’d seen the squirrel drop its disguise and transform into a menacing, demonic beast.

Even those who love you, who love me, who act with the best of intentions, can be misled, can mislead you.

Vigorre groaned and dug his fingers into his temples.

Overhead a bird’s distant cry floated through the night.

Twelve

B
lessed sleep was stealing over Josiah when a commotion arose in the hall outside his room. He groaned and buried his head in his pillow, trying to ignore the noise. The Matriarch had insisted they stay at her table and watch the entertainments long after both he and Elkan started nodding off. Ordinarily he would have enjoyed the musicians and dancers and acrobats, but thoughts of the rapidly approaching dawn and another exhausting day of healing made him glad when Elkan finally rose, rebuffed the Matriarch’s continued urging that they stay with a note of hard determination in his voice, and ordered Josiah to accompany him to their quarters.

The voices rose. Josiah put his hands over his ears, but it was no use. Curiosity destroyed any chance of slumber. He rolled out of bed, pulled on his tunic and breeches, and padded barefoot to crack the door open.

Gevan was shouting furiously at a disheveled, bleary-eyed Elkan. “I knew something like this would happen! I swear, if any harm comes to her I’ll turn you over to the Purifiers myself! Curse the day a Ramunnan ship touched your blighted shor—”

Tobi thrust her head under Elkan’s hand and golden light shot out to surround Gevan, cutting off his tirade mid-syllable. Elkan scowled at him. “I can’t help unless you speak clearly enough for me to understand what’s happened. Now, start over from the beginning.”

Josiah scooted closer as the Mother’s power winked out. Gevan’s chest inflated and his mouth opened, but at a sharp look and half-raised hand from Elkan he contained his outburst. Instead he spoke with exaggerated enunciation, his fists clenched at his sides. “The Purifiers have Kevessa. They captured her yesterday and threatened her to compel my silence and cooperation. Tonight I reported to Yoran Lirolla as ordered, and they used me to force her to do something.”

All sleepiness was gone from Elkan’s gaze, although deep weariness still lined his face. His fingers dug into Tobi’s fur. “What?”

“I don’t know! I couldn’t see her, except as a shadow in a window far away. She was using a window-glass at first. Later I think they must have made her open a window so she could watch what they were doing to me.”

For the first time Josiah noticed the stiff way Gevan held himself. Elkan’s eyes narrowed. “Are you hurt?”

Gold light spilled from his hand again; Gevan brushed it impatiently away. “Only bruises. They took care none of them would show. She gave them what they wanted before it went any further.” He fingered his ear.

Elkan frowned but let the Mother’s power wink out. “Where are they holding her?”

“In the western outskirts of the city, several miles from here.”

“Too far for a window.” Elkan turned back to his room. “Can you lead us there? We should take some of the Matriarch’s soldiers with us. You collect them while I’m dressing and meet us at the palace gate.”

Gevan nodded curtly and strode away. Elkan vanished into his room, Tobi at his heels. Josiah scrambled to shove his feet into his boots.
Sar, wake up! We’ve got to rescue Kevessa. The Purifiers are holding her prisoner.

Sar snorted and shuddered his skin all over as he roused, but he didn’t argue. He pressed close to Josiah’s side as he headed out the door. Elkan and Tobi emerged from their room a moment later.

His master eyed Josiah with an air of resignation. “I take it you heard? Come on, then. I know better than to think I can make you stay behind. And we’ll probably need your help.”

The situation really was grim, if Elkan was willing to put him in danger for the sake of having another wizard at his side. They’d known there would be trouble with the Purifiers eventually, but Josiah had never expected they’d strike so soon and so brutally. Even with all the power the two familiars could call on, could they hope to prevail against such a ruthless foe?

Josiah trotted to keep up with his master’s quick stride. He should have known something was wrong. Kevessa would never have deserted them, even to go to her family. All the time he was fuming at her for laziness, she’d been languishing in the clutches of those crazed fanatics.

A whole troop of soldiers waited with Gevan at the gate. If they resented being called out at such a late hour, they were too disciplined to show it. Their commander conferred briefly with Elkan and Gevan, then led them into the night.

Josiah wound his fingers in Sar’s mane.
Gevan said they hurt him to make her cooperate. He said she must have given in, because they stopped. What do you think they were trying to make her do?

Most likely it was Nina they wished to compel.

Josiah gulped.
To use the Mother’s power against her will. But they couldn’t have. So how—

As he trailed the soldiers around a corner onto a street that led inland, a faint cry reached his ears. He jerked around. Far downhill toward the docks, a figure in skirts ran toward them. A flash of gold light flared from her waving hand.

“Elkan! It’s Kevessa!” he yelled. Without waiting for a response he darted toward her.

Gevan outran him before he’d covered half the distance. Kevessa threw herself into her father’s arms with a sob. He clutched her close and mumbled choked reassurances into her hair.

She pulled back as Josiah drew near, followed closely by Elkan and the others. Light poured from her hands to envelope Gevan. “I’m so sorry, Father,” she said, her voice shaking. She turned her face to press her cheek into Nina’s fur where the squirrel perched on her shoulder.

“It’s not your fault.” He submitted to their healing. Josiah saw his tense shoulders relax with relief from the pain of his injuries. “How did you get away from them?”

“They let us go.” Nina chittered and Kevessa stroked her. “After…”

Elkan pushed forward. “After what?”

Kevessa turned to him, biting her lip. “I couldn’t let them hurt Father more. It won’t matter anyway, will it? Yoran already believed the familiars were demons.”

Icy fear gripped Josiah. Elkan stiffened, but his voice was gentle. “I’m sure you did the best you could. Please, tell us exactly what happened, Kevessa.”

She poured out the story. Josiah was horrified, but he couldn’t think what he might have done differently in her place. Still, the thought that their enemies now believed they had proof of their twisted theories sickened him.

Gevan kept opening his mouth to interrupt, but Elkan’s hand on his arm stopped him. Elkan listened tight-lipped. When Kevessa finished her account, he remained silent for a moment. Then he ran his hand through his hair with a sigh. “Show me what you did to deceive him.”

Kevessa glanced from him to her father to the gathered soldiers. Reluctantly she held her arm out. Nina scampered to perch on her forearm. The squirrel’s back arched, her fur stood on end, her bared teeth gleamed in a fierce grimace, and light blazed from her eyes. The soldiers cursed and stumbled back. Gevan froze and stared. Even Josiah felt a qualm. Nina really did look like something demonic, although the light from her eyes was more pink than red. He doubted Yoran Lirolla would quibble over that detail.

Elkan studied them for a moment, then nodded. Nina dropped the act and burrowed in Kevessa’s arms. Elkan stepped close and stroked the squirrel’s head with a gentle finger. “You’re sure only Yoran and his accomplices saw you?”

Kevessa screwed up her face in concentration, then relaxed it with a firm nod. “Yes.”

“All right.” Elkan turned to the soldiers. “Back to the palace.”

Kevessa skipped to catch up with him as he strode away. “Wait. You’re not going to confront him? At least you could watch what happened through a window. Show the Matriarch and everyone else what he’s up to.”

Elkan shrugged. “What purpose would that serve? I’m sure your account is accurate. All a window could show the Matriarch is seeming proof that what Yoran says is true. I don’t see any way to demonstrate that you were faking the effect. A demon could reproduce that show on command just as easily as you can.”

“I guess.” Kevessa’s shoulders drooped, and she plodded behind Elkan with heavy steps.

Josiah bent his mind to the problem, but he feared Elkan was right. The soldiers were still muttering and shooting Kevessa and Nina hostile glances.

Elkan caressed Tobi’s head. “Obviously we can’t leave with the ships as he demanded. I won’t violate our bargain by sneaking off, and the Matriarch will never agree to send the food under any other terms than me staying until she bears a healthy heir. We’ll just have to be ready to counter whatever attack they launch.”

Josiah shivered. At least they had a week’s grace before the Purifiers released their onslaught. He wrapped an arm around Sar’s neck. The familiars would surely be the first target.

Elkan nodded decisively. “I think our time is best used getting what sleep we can tonight, and our energy is best spent continuing the healing work we’ve begun. If that fails to convince the people of Ramunna we’re not demons, nothing will.”

He tilted his head, his expression lightening. “I suppose there’s no further purpose in keeping your wizardry a secret. You can join us in the square tomorrow and use the Mother’s power openly.”

Kevessa brightened, and Nina bounced up to peer at Elkan. “That’s right! I hadn’t even realized. Thank the Mother. I hated having to hide.”

Gevan made a strangled sound. Elkan turned to him. “Am I missing something? Is there any reason you can think of to continue the pretense?”

“No. You’re right. I just hate—” Gevan shook his head.

Elkan put a sympathetic hand on his arm. “I want to protect her, too. But at this point I think letting it be known she and Nina can defend themselves with the Mother’s power is the best safeguard we can offer.”