FORBIDDEN TALENTS (15 page)

Ragni cast a dark glance at Dahleven, then looked Neven straight in the eyes.
“
I asked her to be my mistress before I knew of her perfidy.
”

“
No one knew, Father.
”
Kaidlin put in.

“
Before or after I suggested you save your attentions for Utta?
”
Neven held up a hand, forestalling Ragni’s reply.
“
Never mind. I trust you will denounce her at Wirmund’s side?
”

“
Can you doubt it? I’m none too pleased to be made a fool of.
”
Ragni put just the right amount of snarl into his voice. He almost convinced Dahleven of his anger and disgust.

“
Nor should you be. How could you allow this to happen? How
could
it happen? To you, of all people?
”
Neven’s neutral tone was gone. His voice was scathing.

Ragni’s jaw clenched once, but he kept hold of his temper.
“
I don’t read thoughts, Father, only feelings, and a woman’s feelings are a mess at the best of times.
”
Ragni ignored Kaidlin’s sputter of outrage and essayed a tight, lopsided smile.
“
My pride is as healthy as any in this family. I misinterpreted her fear. I thought she was afraid of losing me. I tried to allay that fear.
”

Neven shook his head.
“
Magnus must be told about your
elskerinne
, of course. He may not care to betroth his only daughter to someone of such questionable judgment, not to mention criminal connections. If he chooses to cancel the betrothal, better that it be done quietly before the ceremony.
”

“
She’s not my
elskerinne
. She never accepted me.
”

“
She didn’t? The fool!
”
Kaidlin exclaimed.

“
Thank the gods she was a fool,
”
Neven said.
“
There’s no need to tell Magnus of this, then.
”
He fixed Ragni with a sharp look.
“
Offer Wirmund any assistance he needs to find her. The woman betrayed our trust and broke the law.
”

Trust
. Dahleven glanced at his father’s weary face, then looked away, trying not to think of Neven’s shame if Saeun’s service to his heir became known.

*

Saeun’s shoulder ached and a continuous blinding pain throbbed in her head. Someone with a steady tread carried her in strong, sure arms. Someone warm, who smelled of sunlight and pine trees. She tried to open her eyes but all she saw was a dark, unfocused blur that sent her head spinning. She wanted Gert. Gert had nursed her hurts since she was a child, and she felt so small now. She tried to call for her, but her voice was small too, too soft to be heard from the dark well she was in. She couldn’t even see the top now, and the water was rising. It was too hard to stay afloat. Saeun sank again, down into the deep waters lapping at her mind.

*

Saeun surfaced abruptly, like a bubble breaking free of deep water. The large warm hands of a warrior lay on her shoulder and brow. They were more than warm, they were hot; but the heat was fading, and with it her pain. She lay on a soft pallet in a large bower of spruce trees. She felt completely well.
How could this be
? She’d thought she was dying last night.

The owner of the warm hands smiled down at her with tired brown eyes.
“
Welcome back.
”

The man had one of the kindest faces Saeun had ever seen, but she felt at an uncomfortable disadvantage lying on her back. The man shifted his hands to steady her as she sat up. After a few moments the tilting world righted itself.

She sat on a pallet of blankets in a bower some three paces wide. Boughs were bent overhead and laced together with no apparent fastenings, creating a dense shelter that filtered the soft gray light. The wind still howled around them and an occasional gust of wind slipped inside along with a bit of snow.

“
I am called Valender,
”
the man said.

Saeun hesitated. If he’d been sent after her, he already knew her name. If he hadn’t, she shouldn’t leave a trail by revealing too much.
“
You’re not a Tracker. You’re a Healer.
”

“
That is true.
”
His dark green eyes crinkled at the corners. There was a quiet calmness about him that made her want to tell him everything.

Saeun crushed the thought.
“
You’re not from Quartzholm, are you?
”

A short laugh made her turn. Two men sat against the thick boles of the trees that formed their shelter. One seemed almost a boy, the other was vaguely familiar. Both held strong bows across their bent knees and were dressed in fine though well-worn leathers.

“
No. We are not from that place. These are Joori and Treskin.
”
Valender introduced his companions.

“
I’m
…
Synda,
”
Saeun prevaricated.
“
Was it you who saved us last night? I wish I could thank you as your deeds deserve.
”

Joori’s grin broadened.
“
No thanks are necessary
…
Synda. It is a joy to fight our enemies when we can. It only made the pleasure sweeter to rescue a lovely lady as well.
”

Saeun almost giggled at the young man’s flowery speech, but she only smiled. He’d helped save her life, after all.

Treskin gave Joori a long look.

Saeun turned back to Valender.
“
Were you there, too? I don’t remember you, but then I don’t remember much.
”

“
No, lady. These two brought you to me afterward to heal your hurts. And it was well that they did. That stone-warrior did you great harm when it fell on you.
”

“
Stone warrior?
”

“
How did you come to attract the attention of Edelstena?
”
Treskin asked.

They know an Elf’s name
?
Who are these men
? What men fought Dark Elves and called them enemies? And what had they been doing on the mountainside in the middle of the night?
“
You know her?
”

“
We know of her. She seldom comes above ground.
”

“
And if she had not escaped us, she would now be one with it,
”
Joori said.

Treskin cuffed the young man on the shoulder.
“
Enemy or no, her years deserve more respect than that.
”

Joori lowered his head.

Saeun’s eyes widened in surprise. Though it wasn’t uncommon to praise a valiant foe, she’d never heard anyone speak with respect for a Dark Elf. The memory of Gert falling beneath Edelstena’s blow suddenly surfaced and she
glanced around.
“
Where’s Gert?
”

Treskin answered in a low voice.
“
She breaks fast with Baldur this morning.
”

Gert was dead? The pain of loss was almost physical. Saeun shut her eyes on the tears that welled. Gert’s warm, competent presence had comforted her for as long as she could remember. Saeun had left behind everything she’d known and loved, and now Gert had been taken from her, too.
She was truly alone now. Lost in the mountains with no woodcraft skills and a long way to go. But worst of all, alone.

Valender lay a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“
We’ll not leave you in the forest, Synda.
”

Saeun attempted a smile. He’d said just the right thing.
He must be an Empath like Ragni
.

“
Our home is not far, and you will be welcome,
”
Treskin added.

“
It will be nice for a change not to be the youngest,
”
Joori chimed in.

Did she look so small and lost as that? She was surely older than Joori, but she forbore to point that out to the young man.

Treskin cuffed Joori again.
“
Mind your tongue.
”

Saeun wanted to accept their offer, but she knew it was too dangerous. She wasn’t that far from Quartzholm, and those searching for her would soon find her if she didn’t move on. And kind as they were, when her rescuers found out what she’d done, they’d give her up, and gladly.

“
Those who search will not find you, unless you wish it. You will be safe among us,
”
Valender said.

Startled, Saeun turned wide eyes to Valender.
How does he know I’m hunted
?

Valender answered her unasked question.
“
Two women alone at night on the mountain? It is not a common event. If you do not wish to be found, you may hide yourself among us.
”

She shook her head.
“
If they find me, your hospitality could cost you much.
”

“
Then we won’t let them find you.
”

It was a risk. She didn’t know anything about these men, not really. Their generosity was a virtue, but she couldn’t help wonder what they might expect in return. She looked at each in turn, weighing her dwindling options. They had saved her and had offered her no insult. The alternative was freezing in the blowing snow.

*

“
Did you really breathe life back into that boy?
”
Nai’awika’s granddaughter, Tiva’ti, asked Celia, referring to Sangor’s tale of her first days in Alfheim.

Celia shrugged, embarrassed. She was giving Tiva’ti and Che’veyo the nickel tour of Quartzholm to supplement the official one Gudrun had given Nai’awika the day before. In the day and a half since they’d arrived, this was the first opportunity Celia had had for what could be called a casual conversation with any of the Tewakwe. Gudrun had warned her not to let down her guard and to remember that she was a member of the Kon’s family. She no longer spoke for just herself. Whatever Celia said could have consequences. Nevertheless, she’d come to feel at ease with Tiva’ti and Che’veyo.

“
He wasn’t really dead. Not quite. His heart was still beating. I could teach you what I did, if you like.
”

Tiva’ti’s eyes widened and she smiled, lighting up her heart-shaped face.
“
I would be honored to learn this from you!
”
Then she looked at the Shaman.
“
But perhaps it is something you should teach to Che’veyo instead? He is the healer, not me.
”

“
I’d be happy to teach you both. You don’t have to be a healer to learn CPR.
”

“
It’s true,
”
Fender said, winking at Tiva’ti.
“
She even taught me, though I’ve had no reason to use the knowledge, thank the gods.
”

“
CPR
?
”
Che’veyo asked.

“
Cardio
—
”
Celia caught herself and grimaced. Latinate terms didn’t translate here.
“
Chest compressions and rescue breathing.
”

“
Lady Celia!
”

Celia turned at the sound of her name. So did Tiva’ti, Che’veyo, and Fender. Thora was hurrying toward them.

“
My pardon, Lady, for the interruption, but I wanted you to know I couldn’t do as you asked.
”

Celia tried to keep a neutral expression, but she felt a chill run through her.
“
No?
”
Thora hadn’t been able to deliver the message to Gert. Had the maid been taken already, along with Saeun? Ragni and Dahleven hadn’t been specific, but they’d implied that if Saeun were arrested it wouldn’t be long until Wirmund would have the whole story from her about Dahleven’s use of unsanctioned magic.
“
It’s not important. Thank you for trying, Thora.
”
She hoped her words didn’t sound as stiff as they felt.

Thora dropped a minimal curtsey and bustled off.