FORBIDDEN TALENTS (32 page)

From his father’s chair, Dahleven regarded the men the chamberlain had announced. For a quick moment he wondered if he would always think of the chair so, as his father’s. His rubbed the armrests, worn smooth by Neven’s capable hands. His father had made many of the decisions that had made Quartzholm strong in this very chair. But Neven was not recovering, and for now, the chair and the decisions were Dahl’s.

Angrim’s brothers stood stiffly before him. They were lesser lords from a small holding on the edges of the Jarldom and their finery showed the wear of several seasons. This was their first visit to their sister since she’d been blinded five months ago. Angrim may have sworn fealty to Dahleven, but her collusion with Jorund had cast a shadow of disgrace on her family. They’d not disputed Dahleven’s right to keep her in Quartzholm, nor had they even suggested she would be better cared for at home.
So why are they here now
?

“
You asked to speak with me?
”
Dahleven prompted.

The younger of the two opened his mouth, then shut it and looked at his brother, giving him precedence.

“
My lord, we’ve come about our sister, Angrim.
”
Finnkir, the older brother said.

“
So I guessed.
”

“
Then you know why we’re here.
”

“
No.
”

Finnkir looked nonplused and shifted his bulk from one foot to the other.
“
But you said you guessed
…
”

Dahleven frowned. He would so much rather be with Celia now than enduring a series of tedious interviews.

Pell shook his head, clearly disgusted with his brother.
“
We want to know what you’re doing to keep our sister safe.
”

“
Why do you believe Angrim is in danger?
”

“
News of Quartzholm reaches even the distant borders of the Jarldom, my lord, and tales of murder travel faster than most. We know that skald was killed, and that he and our sister were both connected to that Firestarter, though Angrim won’t say how. She shamed the family, but she’s still our sister. We can’t sit by and let her be murdered, too.
”

“
What do you want? To take her home to Finnkill?
”

“
No!
”
Lord Finnkir exclaimed.

“
We’re a small holding as you know well, Lord Dahleven.
Everyone works,
”
Pell explained.
“
We’ve no one to spare to care for a blind woman. Nor do I think Angrim would be happy there.
”

Pell was smart as well as smooth, and knew his sister well. Dahleven couldn’t imagine Angrim back on the farm, either, sighted or not.

“
We just want to know that you have her well guarded, my lord.
”

“
And that we’re watching you,
”
Finnkir added.

Pell’s eyes widened.
“
Finnkir!
”

“
Oh?
”
Dahleven kept his face and his voice bland, though his ire was piqued by the implied accusation.

“
Well, there’s some that say that skald was too much trouble to keep around,
”
Finnkir muddled on, oblivious to his danger.

“
And?
”
Dahleven let a hint of steel edge his tone.

“
Well, uh
…
”
Finnkir seemed to be searching vainly for his lost wits.
“
It’s just that Angrim can be troublesome, and I, we, that is—
”

The fool was one step away from accusing him of plotting Angrim’s murder. Dahleven fought the urge to teach Finnkir what trouble really was.

“
She may not be a source of pride, but Angrim is our sister, whatever she has done,
”
Pell interrupted.
“
Whatever befalls her befalls our family, and touches our honor,
”

That, Dahleven could respect. He’d do the same for Kaidlin or Ingirid if the tables were turned, may Baldur forbid. He stood and the two brothers took a step back.

“
Rest assured, your sister is well protected. I have no wish to see her share in Eirik’s fate.
”
Whatever she may deserve
.

“
Thank you, my lord,
”
Finnkir said cheerfully.

Pell’s face showed the relief of someone who’d undertaken a dangerous task and knew he’d had a narrow escape. He bowed deeply, then looked Dahleven in the eye.
“
We shall carry your assurances to our father. Please accept our family’s sincere wishes for Kon Neven’s full recovery.
”

*

Ragni took Utta’s gloved hand, helping her over a rough spot in the so-called trail. It was a good hand, solid and strong. She might be petite, but her energy never flagged. Celia, their Valkyrie, was having a harder time, but Fender was keeping a sharp eye on her.

The going was even rougher than he’d expected. The snow almost reached their knees, drifting higher in some places. Fortunately, they’d only had to take off their snow shoes to climb for a short space, but neither Celia nor the Tewakwe were skilled in shoeing, so their progress was slow. Truth be told, he was feeling the effort, too.
I’ve spent too much time at my priestly duties and not enough time training
.

Masale, the Tewakwe guard in front with Baruq, called a halt. Everyone welcomed the rest. Ragni felt all their gratitude and frustration without having to delve very deep. They wanted to lie down, or at least sit as much as he did, no doubt, but they couldn’t without either unpacking their ground cloths or getting wet.

A cutting wind picked up, pushing a bank of heavy clouds before it, obscuring the westering sun. The sky looked low and burdened. Dahl’s words protesting the wisdom of a winter trek kept running through his mind like a bitter litany. But winter or no, they couldn’t ignore the risk of Ragnarok.

Could the Dark Elves really pull together enough power to force the hands of the gods and shift the balance of the Nine Worlds? Did they have to? Or did they merely need drop a pebble on an unstable slope, bringing an avalanche of destruction? Could one hold back an avalanche? He hoped the
Lios Alfar
had a plan, because he surely didn’t.

Ragni shook his head as his lips twisted in an ironic grin. Hadn’t he told Celia not to worry? Apparently he was better at giving good advice than taking it.

“
What’s so funny?
”
Utta panted, her breath puffing like smoke.
“
I could use a laugh.
”

He would
not
burden her with his concerns.
“
I was just remembering a joke. A Nuvinlander, a Tewa, and an Elf go into a tavern—
”
He broke off as Utta whapped him with her mittened hand.

“
I’ve heard that one, and it’s not fit for mixed company.
”
She grinned back at him, her eyes twinkling.

“
I can see I’ll have to watch my step with you.
”
He rubbed his arm dramatically.

“
Don’t you forget it. I had an older brother. I know how to keep a man in line.
”

Ragni sobered.
“
I remember your brother. He was a good man.
”

Utta’s mouth curved in a wry smile.
“
He was. He was funny, too. And he’d never approve of anyone moping over him. I even felt guilty at first for mourning him—until I imagined the ribbing he would have given me over it.
”

Ragni laughed. The memories she had of her brother Magnusson made her heart light. It was a pleasure to share those feelings.

“
So then I went ahead and felt sad for as long as I needed to.
”

His confusion must have shown in his face.

“
I never did what he told me to do when he was alive, so why should I start after he died?
”

Ragni grinned.
“
You’ll fit in well with my sisters. They don’t listen to Dahl and me, either.
”

“
You don’t expect, nay,
demand
, that your wife obey you in all things?
”
she asked, half teasing.

Ragni’s short bark of laughter puffed out in a misty cloud.
“
Can you imagine anyone
demanding
anything of my mother? Even the Kon? No. I
hope
my lady wife will choose to find common ground with me on matters of importance. Any man who expects more than that will be sadly disappointed, I fear.
”

Utta smiled, and he enjoyed the flash of her surprise, followed by relief and amusement.

Their brief rest ended. Brol took over as lead, followed by Tiva’ti and Masale. The track opened up a little, and he and Utta were able to walk side by side. They shoed along in relative silence for a time, saving their breath. Behind them Utta’s guard, Rovdir, crunched over the snow. Celia and Fender trudged several steps behind. Ragni glanced sideways at Utta. She was bearing up quite well under the hardships of the trail, but that could just be what she wanted others to see. He respected her for not wanting special treatment, but if she needed consideration, he wanted to know. Ragni reached out with his Talent.

She was happy. Not in a giddy way, more of a strong satisfaction and sense of wellbeing. Ragni was glad his Talent didn’t flow both ways, because Utta would surely have felt his surprise. Most of the others were tired and anxious. He could use a little happiness. Indulging himself, he slipped deeper, and found a frisson of sexual tension buried deep.

He smiled. Her spark of desire was banked. When it was time, he’d fan the flame higher. He knew how to please a woman.

Saeun
.

Sudden, sharp, painful, the thought of her surfaced. They had fit together so well, knowing just how and when to speak, to touch. It was ridiculous, but he felt disloyal thinking of bedding Utta. Even if Saeun had lived, he would still have taken Utta to wife. He could almost hear Utta’s brother laughing at him. It wasn’t wrong to find happiness with his betrothed. Nor was it wrong to give her happiness in return. So why did he feel guilty? He shouldn’t. He wouldn’t.

Forcing the feeling away, he glanced at Utta, who stared at the backs of Tiva’ti and her guard walking just ahead beside Masale. As he reached out he felt Utta clamp down even more firmly on her desire.

Is she really so shy about her passion
? She seemed open enough about other things.
“
You needn’t hide your heart from me, Utta,
”
he said just loudly enough for her alone to hear.
“
Or from yourself. Your feelings are natural enough. Don’t be ashamed of them. Though I admit this isn’t the most convenient place for their expression.
”
A rueful smile curled his lips.

Utta looked at him with wide eyes, alarm flaring.

He’d scared her again. She wasn’t used to being close to an Empath.
“
Forgive me for prying. I just want to know you better.
”

Her mouth gaped open, then shut, then opened again.
“
And you don’t mind?
”

“
Mind? Of course not.
”

He could see as well as feel her doubt, but her tension eased. She looked ahead to where the Tewakwe walked, then turned back to him. She had tears in her eyes.
“
I will be a good wife to you, Ragni,
”
she said softly.
“
I swear it.
”

Why so serious
? Thinking to turn the tone back to their earlier banter, Ragni started to laugh and say,
You already did
, but the expression on her face stopped him. Instead he said,
“
I know you will.
”
And I hope I can help you find some joy in it
.

Utta flashed him a grateful smile, then winced as the wind sharpened and flung stinging sleet into her face.

“
The storm is here!
”
Fender called out cheerfully, eliciting a variety of rude remarks.

“
This ain’t no storm,
”
Rovdir said, raising his voice to be heard over the wind. His tone held the teasing boast of a tall tale.
“
Now the year of the Keltar, that was a storm.
”