FORBIDDEN TALENTS (14 page)

He tightened his focus, concentrating on the ritual’s words as the air vibrated around him, drawing his fading strength into the Working. With the last word, his hands spasmed on the rune-sticks and he clutched them to his chest. Then his knees buckled and the world went black.

*

Saeun surfaced from an uneasy drowse and huddled deeper into her cloak. The wind blew like Angrboda’s icy breath. Thank the gods Gert had found them a place to rest out of the worst of it. The overhang sheltered them from the frozen blades, but the rocks carved the wind into moaning voices.

Gert snored softly beside her. The memory of snuggling close to Ragni under down coverlets and the feel of his quiet sleeping breath warming her cheek rose unbidden. Grief threatened to choke her. All the dreams she had barely dared hope were dead like stillborn children.

Why hadn’t she rid herself of the quicksilver and scrying bowl? Her possession of them had endangered her as surely as a sword in an untrained hand. Now she was cut and bleeding. Her use of them had helped Lord Dahleven save Lady Celia and Quartzholm, but she’d put them away afterward. She’d thought of burying her tools in the forest when Ragni had shown interest in her, but his reputation had assured Saeun that his attentions would soon wane. When she’d known herself in love with him, she’d thought of it again. Why hadn’t she? If only she’d acted then. If she had, she’d be sleeping in Ragni’s arms tonight instead of shivering under a rock. Why hadn’t she rid herself of her tools when she had the chance? She could have wailed her grief, adding her voice to the moaning wind.

But she knew why, and she knew there had never really been any chance she would let go her tools of divination. They were all she had left of her mother, and her mother’s blood ran strong in her. She might put away the quicksilver and scrying bowl for a time, but they whispered to her and called her name. She could never leave them unused for long.

Saeun looked up at the stars and the weak moonlight angling through the trees. Did Ragni know about her yet? Did he know she had fled?

Something snatched her attention. A change in the air? The wind still howled. The hairs on Saeun’s neck rose. She lay as still as death and listened. She heard no footfall, no snuffling of bear or growl of mountain cat.

Gert’s snoring abruptly stopped.
“
What—?
”
she whispered.

Their sheltering rock split open with a scream.

On hands and knees Saeun scrambled away, legs tangling in her cloak. She turned and reached for Gert. Her maid scuttled backward off to the left, staring at the black maw that opened in the rock.

A woman appeared there, followed by two tall men. They looked huge from Saeun’s position on the ground. The lady stood nearly as tall as her companions, clothed in a low-cut, dark gray dress encrusted with gems that sparkled in the faint moonlight. A silver amulet glinted on her breast. The woman’s straight dark hair fell nearly to her feet and contrasted sharply with her milky skin. She smiled at Saeun and looked at her with eyes as black as a moonless night. Holding out her hand she said,
“
Do not fear. I am Edelstena.
”

Dark Elves
! Saeun didn’t take the woman’s hand.
Freya protect us
!

After a moment, Edelstena lowered her hand gracefully back to her side. She took a step forward, allowing her warriors to step out of the rock to either side of her.
“
You are cold out here under this open sky. My halls are warm. Come within.
”

All Saeun’s life she’d heard stories of the Elves and those taken by them. Usually those legends were told to keep children from foolishness. Tales that happened to someone else, somewhere else.

Now the Elves were here, and they had come for her.

Somewhere Saeun found her voice.
“
My thanks, Lady Edelstena. You are most generous, but I must decline your kind invitation.
”
It can’t hurt to be polite
.

The warriors began gathering her carry sacks.

“
Here now! Leave that be!
”
Gert spoke up, reaching for a bag.
“
You heard my lady. We thank you kindly for your offer, but we’ll not be going with you.
”

Gert had scrambled off to Saeun’s left when the rock face opened. Lady Edelstena turned her head slowly to her right to see the maid. She didn’t smile this time.
“
You were not invited.
”

Saeun got to her feet as the men continued to gather their few bags.
“
I won’t be going anywhere without Gert.
”
She held out a shaking hand to the nearest man. She didn’t care if they noticed her fear.
“
May I have those, please?
”

Lady Edelstena nodded sharply. The man grabbed Saeun’s wrist and jerked her to him as easily as if she were ribbon floating on the wind. Sharp pain flashed in her shoulder, then she was held fast with her back to his chest, her right wrist still pinioned in his firm grasp. The lady came closer.

“
No!
”
Gert sprang up and pulled at his arm. She might as well have been pushing at the mountain for all his grasp gave way.

Edelstena struck Gert a sharp, back-handed blow. Her head snapped back with shocking force and she fell motionless on the cold earth.

“
Gert!
”
Saeun struggled, but to no effect. She kicked out, connecting with Edelstena’s knee. The woman gasped but didn’t go down. She came closer. Her limp gave Saeun a small satisfaction.

“
You will suffer for that.
”
The elf’s dark eyes absorbed all light.

Saeun seized Edelstena’s silver amulet with her left hand and invoked her Talent—her useless Talent that her brothers had ridiculed.

Edelstena screamed and jerked back, pulling the amulet from Saeun’s grasp. It was too late—the silver amulet and its chain had turned to iron. The Elf dropped her glamour and her appearance blurred, revealing a pale face that was all sharp angles and large black eyes.

Edelstena yanked at the chain, then released the links as they burned her skin, shrieking as the ferrous metal fell back upon her chest. She lifted the necklace again, juggling it from hand to hand as it continued to sear her flesh. Finally she pulled it over her head, her face twisting with pain. The iron necklace caught in her long tresses and the stink and smoke of scorching hair arose, then was whipped away by the frigid wind. One of her warriors sprang forward and with a slash cut the amulet free.

Held fast, Saeun couldn’t retreat as the Dark Elf leaned close. The burned and frizzled strands around her face did nothing to detract from Edelstena’s menace.

“
You are mine now, mayfly,
”
she snarled.
“
You will pay for that with every breath of your short li—
”

The point of an arrow suddenly protruded from Edelstena’s side, stopping her words. Her eyes widened. Saeun’s massive captor thrust her aside and lifted a stone mace. She stumbled and fell over Gert’s crumpled form.

Wild shouts filled the night as tall warriors rushed into the small level space, swinging bright swords. The Trackers had found her. Then what felt like a mountain fell on her and the battle no longer mattered.

DAHLEVEN STEPPED INTO Neven’s private chambers and concealed a start of surprise at his father’s weary appearance. Neven sat at the table awake and dressed, just as Dahleven expected, but not with his usual erect posture. No matter how late his conversations lasted, how wearing his business, Neven always rose early, and he never showed the effects—until now. Now he slumped, elbows resting on the arms of his chair, cradling a steaming cup of bitter chocolate. Dark circles shadowed the wrinkles under his eyes.

He’s getting old
. The truth of it had never struck Dahleven so forcefully before.

“
Lord Dahleven.
”
Gris nodded a bow.

Dahleven acknowledged Neven’s chamberlain with a glance.
“
Gris.
”
It was hard to like the man, but there was no denying that he served Neven’s interests without reserve or stint.

Neven raised an eyebrow.
“
Have you broken fast yet?
”
His weary appearance stood in sharp contrast to the piercing gaze that still held power.

Dahleven relaxed a little; tired or not, Neven was still strong. Then he remembered his business and tensed again.
“
No. I’ll eat later.
”
The smell of the food alerted his stomach, but he ignored its demands. He didn’t want the interruption of a servant bringing another set of dishes.
“
I need to talk to you, Father.
”

Neven’s brow rose again, but he asked no questions.
“
Very well.
”
He turned to his chamberlain.
“
We’ll conclude this later, Gris.
”
Gris stepped back against the wall, but didn’t invoke his Odin’s Veil Talent of unobtrusiveness. Neven turned back to Dahleven and gestured with one hand to another chair at the table.

Dahleven sat, assuming a relaxed posture. It wasn’t that he felt like a boy lying about an error to his stern-faced father—not much anyway. He was also a vassal concealing a crime from the Kon.
It’s nothing I haven’t done before, and it’s for his own protection
. If Dahleven’s participation in Saeun’s crimes came out, it would be better if a Truthsayer Talent could verify that Neven knew nothing of it.
What was it Celia called it
?
“
Plausible deniability
.
”

“
Ragni meant to be here, but there’s no need to delay for him.
”

Neven waited, silent and attentive.

“
Wirmund is likely to arrest Lady Saeun today for possessing tools used in unsanctioned magic. Ragni said he’d warn Kady last night so she could dismiss Saeun beforehand.
”

Neven stroked one braid of his beard thoughtfully.

Wirmund should have told Father this himself
.

Neven finally spoke.
“
So. The Kon of Nuvinland is ignorant of what goes on within his own household.
”

Dahleven winced inwardly, but kept his face neutral and said nothing. There was a great deal more that he wanted Neven to remain ignorant of.

“
That is what my enemies will say, is it not?
”
Neven added.

“
Your eyes and ears cannot be everywhere, Father.
”
And Saeun was discreet
.

“
No, they cannot. But that is hardly a persuasive defense.
”

“
There’s another possible complication,
”
Dahleven said.

Neven raised his brows in apparently calm inquiry. His deceptively quiet anger was unnerving. It always was.

Baldur’s Balls
!
Where is Ragni
?
He should be the one to tell Father
.
“
Ragni asked Saeun to be his
elskerinne
.
”

“
When?
”
The single word sounded like a whip-crack.

“
I’m not sure. The day before yesterday, I think.
”

“
Did she accept?
”

Dahleven paused, caught off-guard by his own ignorance, then his thoughts were interrupted by Kaidlin bursting into the room.

“
Father! Good morning!
”
His sister went to Neven’s side and kissed his cheek.

Neven granted her the barest edge of a smile.
“
Have a seat, Kady. This involves you.
”
Then he returned his attention to Dahleven.
“
Did she accept?
”

Dahleven opened his mouth, but before he could speak Ragni arrived, looking even worse than their father.

“
Saeun is gone,
”
Ragni announced without greeting or preamble.

Kaidlin’s eyes brightened, but Neven’s attention was on Ragni, so their father didn’t see. She quickly resumed a neutral expression.

So Ragni got her out. Good
.

“
Why would your
elskerinne
flee your embrace?
”
Neven’s tone was mild.