FORBIDDEN TALENTS (43 page)

*

“
Saeun!
”
Ragni leapt to his feet from his seat beside the Elven Praefect. Saeun’s head lolled sideways, her face white as snow. Rien and Valender caught her, easing her down. Stark fear froze Ragni in place.

Valender cradled her in one arm, his hand on her brow. It seemed an eternity before he spoke, though it was only a moment.
“
She lives, but a blow has loosened her hold on this world.
”
He stood and scooped her up.
“
She will require care. Treskin?
”

“
What blow?
”
Ragni demanded.
“
What’s wrong with her?
”

Treskin was already on his feet, following Valender out of the room.

“
I will come also,
”
Che’veyo said, going with them.

Ragni started to follow. He’d do a Great Healing if she needed it.

Lord Kaeron stopped him with a hand on his arm.
“
Leave them to their work.
”

Ragni rounded on the Praefect.
“
Let me go!
”

“
You cannot help her. Not as you are.
”

Ragni jerked his arm free. They were of a height and he crowded Kaeron, getting in his face. He would have answers, and have them now, one way or another.
“
Where are they taking her?
”

Several Elves moved forward, but the Praefect raised a hand and they stopped.
“
To her room. They will care for her there.
”

“
Take me there. Now.
”

“
Come with me. I’ll direct you,
”
Rien said.
“
But if you care for her, you will not interfere.
”

Celia came with him. Rien led them at a stately pace through the twisting halls. Ragni walked close behind, as if he could make Rien walk faster, but she never hurried her step. At last she stopped beside a doorway covered with hanging moss. He could hear Che’veyo’s voice chanting softly within.

“
You must wait here.
”

Ragni started to push past her.
“
I want to see her.
”
Rien blocked his way.
“
The work that Valender and Treskin do is delicate. Do not interrupt them.
”

Ragni glared at the Elf, willing her to step aside. Her expression remained calm as she returned his gaze.

He’d have to lift her bodily out of his way to get in there.
Baldur’s Balls
! He had just enough sense left not to lay hands on her. He nodded with one stiff jerk of his head.

Rien smiled softly.
“
Valender is very skilled,
”
she said, then left them standing in the hall.

Ragni turned toward the doorway and stared at the thick greenish-gray curtain. Che’veyo’s voice droned on, exhorting balance and harmony, petitioning the spirits of light and health in multiples of five.

Why does he get to be in there
? But Ragni knew why. His heart was too knotted to even use his Talent, let alone essay a ritual Healing. Che’veyo could actually help. Che’veyo wouldn’t be bouncing off the trunks and branches of the tree walls. He didn’t like it, but he understood.

He didn’t want to understand. He wanted to be in there with her, to touch her, as if by holding her hand he could somehow pull her back to him.

“
Ragni?
”
Celia put a hand on his arm, turning him away from the door and guiding him down onto one of several large pillows that hadn’t been there before. He felt nothing from her, despite her touch. An Elf was walking away.

“
She’s done this sort of thing before. She’ll be all right.
”

He didn’t want to hear any platitudes.
“
You don’t know that,
”
he snarled.

Celia said nothing.

He stood up and paced.
“
She doesn’t deserve this. I don’t care if her magic is unsanctioned; she was trying to help us. Surely the gods know that!
”
He looked down at Celia.
“
What did she see? What happened? I couldn’t see the bowl.
”

Celia wrapped her arms around her knees.
“
It showed a large natural cavern. There was fighting. You and Che’veyo were over to one side doing something. There was an Elf with a silver staff, too, and she was swinging it around.
”

“
But what happened to Saeun? Why did she collapse?
”

“
I’m sorry, that’s all I remember. But I saw enough to be able to Find the cavern. Some of the rock formations were quite distinctive.
”

“
You can remember the rocks, but you don’t know what happened to Saeun?
”

Celia opened her mouth, then snapped it shut again.

Ragni paced to where the hall bent sharply to the left and back again. He ran a hand over his face. He was being an ass.

He came back and sat down next to her.
“
I’m sorry.
”

She linked her arm with his, giving it a squeeze.
“
I know.
”

His emotions were still high, but her touch let him sense enough. She meant it. She was full of compassion and concern. He put his hand over hers.
I hope Dahl knows what a treasure he has
.

They sat quietly, waiting, only Che’veyo’s soft words filling the silence. There was nothing to do but think, and wait.

He didn’t want to think. There were too many dire outcomes possible, and his fear dredged up every one of them. Celia leaned against him and he put his arm around her.
“
You should go rest,
”
he said.
“
You’ve only just recovered yourself.
”

She shook her head.
“
I’m not leaving you.
”

“
Please. I can only worry about one woman at a time.
”

Something about that amused Celia, but she didn’t share the joke with him.

“
I’ll be all right,
”
he added.

The chanting stopped. Alarm spiked Ragni’s heart in the unexpected silence.

Valender lifted the moss curtain and stepped out.
“
She’s sleeping now. All is well.
”

Ragni didn’t remember getting to his feet.
“
Are you sure?
”

“
Her spirit is in balance, her heart whole,
”
Che’veyo said, coming from the room.

Treskin followed him out into the hall. He looked tired.
“
She’s had a long journey, but she won’t remember it. Let her sleep.
”
He walked away.

“
You may stay with her if you wish, but let her rest,
”
Valender said.
“
Lady Celia, may I escort you to your room?
”

Celia’s grin almost washed the fatigue from her eyes. She gave Ragni a quick hug and kissed his cheek.
“
I told you she’d be okay.
”
Then she left with the others.

Ragni slipped beneath the curtain into Saeun’s room. She lay in a nest of soft pillows, embraced by the roots of a great tree. For a long time he just stood and stared. Her dark lashes looked stark against her pale skin, her normally rosy lips bled of color. Eventually he retrieved a pillow from the hallway and sat beside her. The covers were pulled up nearly to her chin. One bare arm lay out on the covers. He took her hand in both of his and held it against his lips, heedless of the tears that ran down his cheeks.

They knew where to find the Dark Elves now. Celia had said she could Find her way there.
As if either Fender or I will let her risk herself and Dahleven’s heir
. None of the women would go. Saeun had given them the information they needed. But at what cost?

Ragni watched Saeun’s chest rise and fall in steady rhythm under the coverlet. Valender had assured him that she would be well when she woke, that she merely slept now, regaining her strength.

She looks so fragile
.

He wanted to shake her awake. To see with his own eyes, hear with his own ears, to
know
she was all right. Instead, he clasped her hand and called on Baldur and Freyr and Freya to restore her strength.

He could do a Great Healing. He’d attempt it if she didn’t wake soon, regardless of the risk. Valender may have assured him that she would be fine, but he was an Elf, after all. Saeun might trust them, but he wasn’t sure he could. Not with her life. Che’veyo had said the same, but the Shaman hadn’t done much for Neven.

He lay her hand down gently on the coverlet, then bowed his head, pushing his fingers into his hair.

How long had it been? How long since her vision had felled her? He knew firsthand how taxing, how dangerous, working magic could be. He shouldn’t have let her do it. He closed his eyes.

And awoke, blinking.

He was bent over, his face resting next to Saeun’s hand on the bed. He straightened and peered at her. She still slept. But perhaps there was a bit more color in her cheeks.

“
Good eve, my lord.
”

Ragni jerked his head around. Sitting there at the foot of the bed, plain as pudding, was an old man. A mortal, if he judged aright. Ragni felt the man’s general good will.

“
Good eve.
Is
it still evening? How long did I sleep?
”

“
Well, in fact, my lord, it’s well into night. Can’t say as how long you been a sleeping, since you was aslumber when I come in, and that was some two candlemarks ago. Or so I’d guess, since the Elves don’t use candles.
”

Ragni shook his head, his mouth twisting in a grim smile.
Asleep on watch
.
Dahleven would have my ears
.

“
I hope you don’t mind me sitting here with your lady. She’s a sweet lass, and I wanted to keep my eye on her, should she wake and need a bit of something or other.
”

“
The two of you have met, then.
”
Ragni winced inwardly.
Of course they’ve met. Why else would he be here
? He rubbed a hand over his face, trying to wake up.

“
Aye. She’s a fine girl you’ve got there. You should take her to wife.
”

Ragni raised his brows, startled at the man’s plain speech. The man may have called him
“
my lord,
”
but he was clearly uninhibited by their difference in rank.
“
I would like nothing better, but matters are rather complicated.
”

“
Aye, she told me somewhat about her troubles. She needs a man’s protection and guidance, my lord.
”

Ragni couldn’t help but smile at the earnest concern he felt coming from the old man.
“
Yes, she does. But if she told her troubles to you, then you know why I can’t marry her.
”

The man frowned.
“
She said you was a noble of high standing, my lord. Can you not protect her from that man who means to harm her?
”

Ragni shook his head, wishing that it were as simple as that.
“
It occurs to me that we haven’t introduced ourselves. You are
…
?
”

“
My pardon, my lord. I’m Grov. Blacksmith to the village Tokk until two moons ago.
”
Then he added somewhat shamefacedly,
“
Or rather I lived there. I hadn’t smithied much for a year or more. My hands were too twisted.
”
He held up his two strong looking hands.

Ragni grasped the old man’s wrist in greeting. Grov’s grip was strong enough now. Had the Elves done that?
“
I’m pleased to meet you, Smith Grov, and glad to know that Saeun has such a steadfast friend. I am Lord Ragnar, second son to Kon Neven.
”

Grov stiffened, then bobbed his head in a country obeisance.
“
My pardon, my lord, if I spoke out of turn.
”
He looked Ragni sharply in the eyes.
“
But if you are so high, then surely you can protect her.
”