FORBIDDEN TALENTS (28 page)

“
I’ll go,
”
Celia said, her voice clear and firm.

Dahleven turned sharply to her.
You will not
! Somehow he found the strength not to say the words aloud.

“
The Tewakwe are sending their own loved ones. If they think I should go, how can I refuse?
”

Dahleven opened his mouth and shut it again, almost strangling on what he wanted to say. According to Celia, the Tewakwe held the decisions of their women in high regard—otherwise he wouldn’t have invited her and Utta sit in on this council. He couldn’t forbid her in front of them without giving offense to their visitors. And experience had taught him that forbidding Celia anything was not a good plan.

“
I’ll go, too,
”
Utta said.

Ragni turn sharply toward her.
“
What?
”

“
Daughter!
”
Magnus said.

Solveig laughed.
“
You can hardly complain, when Sangor praised Lady Celia as a Valkyrie! And Lady Utta is just as courageous, I’m sure.
”

“
This is fitting,
”
Tiva’ti said.
“
By sending our best we honor the Spirits, and they will respect the seriousness of our quest.
”

Have all the women of our family gone mad
? Dahleven glanced at Ragni, but his brother was looking at Utta with a faint smile on his lips.
“
I will give the matter all due consideration,
”
Dahleven finally ground out.
“
Preparations for the journey shall begin immediately.
”

*

Ragni hadn’t felt Dahl in such turmoil since Celia had been kidnapped. As the last person left the council chamber, Ragni shut the door and started talking before his brother even turned to face him.
“
I know how you feel, but—
”

“
Do you?
”
Dahleven said, turning swiftly.
“
She’ll be
known
as Fey-marked if you succeed in finding the Elves! She’ll never be accepted as my wife—if she comes back at all. It’s going to be a harsh winter. Just look at this storm, and it’s early in the season yet!
”

Dahleven’s rant fell like a blow, hammered home by his fear. Dahl’s words could just as easily apply to Utta, or Saeun. Except his lover was already dead. Ragni’s stomach clenched. He’d tried to hold on to the hope that Saeun hadn’t been Found because she had a concealing amulet, but he couldn’t any more. He’d talked to Thora. She’d known of no such amulets circulating among the Daughters of Freya in Quartzholm. He needn’t worry any longer that Saeun was slowly freezing in the snow and wind. She was beyond that now. Wirmund was right. Celia couldn’t Find Saeun because she was dead. His lover was sitting at Baldur’s table in Niflheim.

He wouldn’t think about that now. If he let them, sorrow and grief and loss would overwhelm him.

“
And what about you?
”
Dahleven turned, gesturing broadly.
“
You can hardly afford to be Fey-marked. You’re my heir, until Celia—
”

His brother clipped his words short. After a moment Dahleven continued.
“
What about your place as Wirmund’s Second?
”

Some of his grief must have shown on his face, because Dahleven stopped abruptly and ran a hand over his eyes.
“
Oh, gods. I’m sorry, Ragni.
”

They were silent for a moment, not meeting each other’s gaze. He didn’t want Dahl to see how hard he struggled to stay in control. Usually his brotherly affection was a subtle constant, taken for granted. Now it surged with concern, laced with grief and regret. It was too much—almost. Surprised that his unruly emotions allowed his Talent work at all, Ragni took it in, accepting his brother’s sympathy as the gift it was.

“
It’s all right, Dahl.
”
It came out sounding half-choked and Ragni cleared his throat roughly.
“
I have something for you. Something that may make it easier for you to let Celia go.
”

*

Celia greeted Dahleven with a hug when he finally came to her room. His face was tired and drawn. As the acting Jarl of Quartzholm, he’d been busy all day, and since that morning’s meeting with the Tewakwe she’d seen him only briefly at dinner. The evening meal had been a subdued affair, with only the highest ranking Nuvinlanders and Tewakwe present. Talk had centered on the impending quest. Dahl had carefully avoided any specific reference to whether Celia was going along or not, and she’d decided not to push the subject in front of the others. After the meal he’d disappeared again to continue overseeing the preparations for the Spirit Walk. It was beneath an acting Kon to do so, but she knew he couldn’t leave her safety in the hands of others. She loved him for it, and her heart ached that he was so unhappy about her choice.

Dahleven’s arms went around her and Celia snuggled in close, enjoying the firmness of his chest, the strength of his embrace. He kissed the top of her head, then without saying a word, he moved to sit in front of the fire, pulling her into his lap. He still didn’t say a thing, he just kissed her. Gently. Thoroughly.

We need to talk about the Spirit Walk
, a part of her whispered.
Later
, another part replied, warmed by the touch of his lips and tongue. She felt at home in his arms. Safe. She didn’t want to leave, especially since they’d been apart so much already.

He deepened his kiss, and stroked her upper arm in the place where she’d eventually wear the marriage bands. It was an invitation to play, and her pulse picked up. When his hand cupped her breast she stopped thinking and leaned into his touch. His thumb rubbed over her peaked nipple, sending a jolt of pleasure through her body.

“
Don’t go,
”
he whispered.

Celia stiffened.
“
What?
”

“
I want you here, with me.
”

She sat up straighter so she could look at him.
“
And I’d like to stay here with you, but I can’t.
”

“
You can.
”

Dahleven’s fingers continued to play over her breast, making it hard to think. Celia put her hand over his and his movement stilled.

“
I said I would go.
”

“
You have other responsibilities.
”

Celia looked at him dubiously.

“
You do. Mother is occupied with nursing Father. Someone must be hostess to our guests.
”

Celia shook her head and rolled her eyes.
“
Oh, please. Your sisters are more than capable of filling in.
”

His face clouded and he gave her a little shake.
“
I can’t protect you out there! You told me
Tucson
is a desert where it seldom snows. You don’t know how dangerous winter can be. The snow can be deeper than I am tall. And that’s only the weather. Baldur’s Balls! You’re seeking out the
Elves
!
”

Celia moved her hands to his shoulders and looked him square in the eye.
“
You can’t protect me from life, Dahleven. There are dangers everywhere. I could fall down the stairs. I could slip in the bathtub. I could choke on a piece of meat. And staying in Quartzholm won’t mean that you’re any safer than I’ll be on the quest. The Elves have their spies here already. And we still don’t know who murdered Eirik.
”

Dahleven clenched his jaw, then forced a smile.
“
Maybe you should stay here to protect me.
”

She heard the stiffness in his joke, but loved him all the more for trying to make it.

She shook her head.
“
Even if I did stay behind, you have too much on your plate to worry about me.
”

His fingers tightened on her waist.
“
I will
always
worry about you. I love you.
”

Celia rested her forehead against his, savoring the warmth his words kindled in her heart. She knew he didn’t say them lightly.
“
I know. I love you, too. But I can’t protect you from every threat any more than you can protect me.
”

He was silent for a moment, his jaw tight. Then his lips softened.
“
If you go, who will help me find Eirik’s killer?
”

That was low
. He knew she wanted to help with the investigation.

She sat up straight again.
“
I guess you’ll have to find someone else to help you. Maybe Fender.
”

“
If you go, Fender will go with you.
”

“
But you need someone you can trust, someone who already knows about us being Fey-marked. The investigation could turn up something that has to do with the Elves. Fender’s the only one.
”

“
So don’t go.
”

“
I have to. I may not have sworn an oath, but I said I would go. My word won’t mean much if I don’t follow through.
”

He clenched his teeth and looked away.

Direct hit
. She couldn’t find much joy in it though.

Dahleven nodded.
“
I know, and I honor you for it. I just hate the idea of you being out there, where I can’t help you, having to wait for your return. I don’t like feeling so
…
helpless.
”

She couldn’t resist.
“
Now you know how it feels.
”
She smiled as Dahleven grimaced at the resurrection of their old argument.
“
Aren’t you as strong as a woman?
”
she teased.

“
Maybe not,
”
he said, pulling her tight against his chest again and kissing her until she could barely breathe. His touch was urgent, possessive, and Celia responded with a powerful flare of desire.
God, I don’t want to leave him
. She wanted to stay here forever in his arms, with his strong hands roaming over her breasts, her back, pulling her close.

They didn’t get much sleep. They’d had so little time together, and now it was too short.

Reluctantly, as the morning sun peeked through the breaking clouds, they pulled themselves out of bed and dressed. Dahleven drew a small black bag from his belt pouch and poured the contents into Celia’s palm.
“
These are Dream-doors. Ragni made them.
”

Celia held one of the crystal stars up to the sunlight so its heart glowed red.
Beautiful
.

“
I’ll show you how to use it. They’ll allow us to enter each others dreams. We can stay in touch while you’re gone.
”

“
Wonderful!
”
Then she sobered with sad understanding.
“
He meant these for Saeun and himself, didn’t he?
”

Dahleven nodded, his expression grim.
“
Yes. And because of that, it would be best not to let anyone know we have them.
”

*

A breakfast tray waited for Saeun when she awakened, just as it had the day before. The food, as usual, was delicious. Sharp, sweet juice dribbled down her chin when she bit into the fruit.
How do they have fresh fruit in the winter
? The meat was drizzled with juices and a savory glaze. She ate, no longer worried about the effects of Elvish food. It tasted too exquisite, and that horse had left the stable.

A candlemark later, no one had come for her. She tidied her small chamber, but there was nothing, really, for her to do. Saeun paced three steps from her bed to the wall, then back again. She’d expected Valender to escort her again, though he hadn’t said he would. She went to the draped doorway again, pulled aside the heavy curtain of moss, and looked down the twisty way formed by the intertwined trunks and branches. There was no one. She wasn’t sure if she should venture out alone, though it did seem the Elves had left her free to wander at will. Apparently they didn’t care if she stumbled upon their secrets or strange Elven magic. Or perhaps they would just punish her after the fact, if she saw what was not meant for her mortal eyes.