FORBIDDEN TALENTS (40 page)

The Jarl grasped his forearm, then turned away.

“
Magnus.
”

The older man turned.

“
You’ll be doing me a favor if you take command on the south wall.
”

The gleam in Magnus eye told Dahleven that he’d like nothing better than to get into the fray.
“
I thought you’d never ask.
”

Dawn brought an end to the snow, but no sun. A gray sky hung low and menacing over the parapets as if it were suspended there like a canopy.

Dahleven went up to the battlements. He moved among the men there, speaking, rebuking when necessary, being seen. Looking for their foes.

The air was clear and cold, but all around the base of the ramparts a mist curled at least twenty feet deep. Dahleven kept a calm, confident expression on his face. He would far rather be able to see his enemies. Be able to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of their position. But no. They hid themselves like cowards.

Like master tacticians.

He’d hoped his Fey-marking, his
“
twilight eyes
”
would allow him to see through the unnatural murk, but no. It was something other than illusion or glamour.

His failure to see was an unwelcome reprieve. How would he have explained to his men when he directed their arrows’ aim? He clenched his jaw, wishing he had that problem. For now they would bide their time. But unless things changed, eventually they would be shooting blind.

Dahleven kept his expression calm, almost unconcerned, as he made his rounds. His men were nervous. They were brave men all, but no one wanted to fight the Fey. Even worse was this waiting, the not knowing what kind of twisted magic the Dark Elves might throw at them. How powerful were they? Could they trick his men into killing each other? The stories said they could, one-on-one. Could they deceive an entire garrison?

“
My lord?
”
The armsman looked as though he was bearing unwelcome news.

Now what
?
“
Yes?
”

“
Lady Angrim asks to speak with you.
”

Dahleven clenched his teeth on an oath. How stupid was the woman? Could she really be trying to play her games during a siege?
“
Tell her—
”
to take a flying leap. He took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and spoke again.
“
Tell her that I’ll speak to her when I have a free moment.
”
Which will be never, until this situation is resolved
.

Dahleven continued on around the walls. Quartzholm had grown as needed in the early centuries, leading to an irregular shape. The battlements were not contiguous. The wall jogged in various places where interior buttresses strengthened it. At least the design allowed a clearer field of view than if the buttresses had been on the outer wall.
Or it would, if we didn’t have this blasted mist to contend with
. The idea of having Stone Shapers connect the parapets had been tossed around during the last four Jarls’ reigns, but nothing had ever been done about it. Strategic construction had taken a low priority during the long peace. Now the lack of it meant he had to climb down to a tunnel carved through the buttress, then climb back up. A few of the ramparts were connected by towers, but in other places he had to descend all the way to the ground, walk around, and ascend yet another stair to each section.

Inefficient
. The design would slow the distribution of arrows and reinforcements.
When I’m Jarl, I’ll fix this
. He grimaced at the reflexive thought. He was Jarl, for all practical purposes. But he wasn’t sure how long he would remain so. Or have a Jarldom to rule.

He stopped as he mounted a section on the west face, brought up short by a strange sound.
“
What’s that noise?
”
he asked the first armsmen he came to. The three of them startled at seeing him and stepped away from the brazier where they’d been warming themselves. And not keeping watch.

“
I don’t know, my lord. It started just a short while ago.
”
The man looked nervous but steadfast. The others had faded back to positions on the wall.
“
Commander Hahlf is over there.
”
The man gestured halfway down the ledge.

Dahleven nodded and clapped him on the shoulder before moving on.
“
Keep a sharp eye out.
”

The armsman stood up a little straighter.
“
Aye, my lord!
”

“
Commander Hahlf. What is this?
”
Dahleven tilted his head to indicate the crunching sound floating up out of the muffling mist.

“
I don’t know, my lord. I sent a volley of fire arrows down, hoping they’d let us see something, or that at least we’d hear a yelp or two, but nothing.
”

Dahleven leaned out of an arrow slit, peering down at the swirling mist. The seamless stone felt cold and damp.
“
Let’s try again.
”
Maybe with a little extra light down below, his Fey-marked eyes could see something.

The Commander looked skeptical.
“
Aye, my lord.
”

Several archers prepared and loosed flaming arrows. The missiles disappeared into the murk as if shot into a lake. It sounded as if some of the shafts skittered along stone instead of sliding soundlessly into the snow. Dahleven saw nothing beyond a faint localized glow, which quickly went out.

“
What if we got some of the Dryers up here?
”
an armsman suggested.

For a moment Dahleven considered it. If they could dry the mist, disperse it, even in only a spot or two
…
But no. The women who worked in the laundry had to be nearly touching what they Dried.

Commander Hahlf must have come to the same conclusion.
“
What would we do, Dierke? Lower the women over the wall on ropes? That would surely strike terror into the hearts of our foes.
”
He snorted derisively.

“
But keep thinking,
”
Dahleven said.
“
If you, or anyone else comes up with something
”
—he looked around, including the other armsmen standing near—
”
tell me, or Commander Hahlf. No matter how foolish it may sound. New ideas could mean better defenses.
”

And they would need something new, he feared, to prevail.

*

Celia clutched at Ragni’s arm, gasping. The cold air cut at her throat, and she couldn’t seem to get enough of it in.

“
They’re under siege, Ragni! The village! Only half of the people got in!
”
Celia wept, remembering the weight of Dahleven’s grief.

“
What’s the trouble?
”
Rovdir asked, from his bedroll.

“
I know. I know. Shh.
”
Ragni pulled her close against his chest.
“
Take a deep breath, now. Good. Another,
”
his voice soothed.

“
Lord Ragnar?
”
Masale asked.

“
Quartzholm is under siege. By Elves,
”
Ragni said in a cold voice.

“
It is not our people,
”
Valender said, kneeling beside Celia.

“
So you say!
”
Rovdir exclaimed.

Valender ignored him.
“
How do you know this?
”
he asked her.

Celia gulped back her tears and glanced at Ragni. Dahleven had said not to tell anyone about the Dream-door.

“
Tell me about the magic you used,
”
Valender asked again.

Ragni nodded.

“
I dreamed it,
”
Celia said.

“
My grandmother!
”
Tiva’ti clasped Celia’s shoulder.
“
Is she all right?
”

Celia turned to the younger woman.
“
I don’t know, but I don’t think anyone inside the castle has been hurt yet.
”

Tiva’ti visibly pulled herself together, then speared Valender with a look.
“
Why have the Spirits done this? We are here to parley with you, to seek the gods’ will. Why do you attack?
”

“
It is not the Light Elves who mean you harm. My folk have not moved against yours.
”

The entire camp had gathered around her. Celia searched their faces until she found the one she wanted.
“
Saeun?
”

Saeun moved closer and knelt at Celia’s feet.
“
My lady, I don’t know what to say.
”
She cast a quick apologetic look at Valender.
“
Treskin saved me from being taken by another Elf and her warriors. Valender healed my broken head. The
Lios Alfar
have clothed and fed me and treated me with kindness. I trust them. But I’ve only known them for a few days. You’ll have to decide for yourself.
”

Celia turned from Saeun to Valender and looked into his eyes.
His people kept me and Dahleven from being blinded
.

“
How can we trust them? They’re Elves!
”
Rovdir exclaimed.
“
They don’t even show us their true faces! Do you think this is what they really look like? They’re using their glamour to deceive us. What else are they hiding from us?
”

“
Then what was the point of us coming out here?
”
Ragni asked.

“
Indeed,
”
Che’veyo said.
“
Until they are proven false, we must believe in the truth of their words if we are to parley with them.
”

Valender nodded acknowledgment of the Shaman, then said,
“
Would it help you to see us as we are? We don this guise to put you at ease, but if you would prefer
…
?
”

Celia watched Ragni look around at their companions, taking their measure. She put her hand over his where it rested on her shoulder.
“
They are not so frightening,
”
she said softly. She saw him remember that she could see through their glamour.

“
Please,
”
Ragni said.
“
I think it would help.
”

Celia saw no change, but Ragni’s hands tightened on her shoulders. She heard the others’ quickly indrawn breaths and startled murmurs and knew the Elves must have revealed themselves.

Ragni flexed his fingers.
“
Thank you.
”

Valender inclined his head, then returned his gaze to Celia.
“
As Lady Saeun has said, I am a healer. Will you allow me to see to your hurt?
”

“
I’m okay.
”
Exhausted and short of breath, yes. But not hurt.

“
The magic you have used has taken its toll on you. If you continue, you will weaken further, harming both you and the child.
”

Celia’s hand went to her belly.
“
Child?
”
God, what day is it
? In all the confusion of Neven’s illness, Ragni’s betrothal, and the bustle of preparing to leave, she’d forgotten to drink the contraceptive tea, hadn’t she? She’d been so careful, and now she was pregnant anyway. She wasn’t ready for this.

“
He’s barely a spark, but he burns bright. In years to come he will be a great leader and Elf-friend, but for now he needs your strength. Let me restore it.
”

Celia stared, stunned and speechless. A child. Dahleven’s child. A sudden overwhelming flood of protectiveness swamped all other considerations.
“
Do it.
”
She would do whatever it took to keep this child safe.

“
Give me the Dream-door.
”
Ragni held out his hand.

“
But—
”