Keepers of the Flame (11 page)

When
the outer door opened onto the wide courtyard of the Castle, they all
hesitated.

“One
of the twins should come with me to Castleton. We have a house prepared,”
Sevair said. “The Exotique Summoned was for Castleton and the other cities and
towns.”

“Sounds
like traveling,” Elizabeth’s voice was strained. She met Bri’s eyes. A bad
feeling slicked Bri’s gut.

I
don’t want to leave the Castle
. Elizabeth was even more hesitant.

Bri
couldn’t resist the plea. She pasted on a smile and jutted a hip.
Looks like
it’s me, then. Think this telepathy thing works across two miles?

Elizabeth’s
eyes sharpened.
An interesting experiment.

Yeah.
Bri
straightened her shoulders. “I’ll go.” She sent a glance around the cluster of
people. “For a while. We aren’t chessmen to be pushed around.”

“Of
course not,” Bastien said. “No Exotique can be pushed far.” His smile was
crooked, his gaze admiring.

Alexa
said, smiling, “We get to Castleton often, usually to the Nom de Nom.”

“A
worthy establishment,” Sevair said, but something about the way he said it made
Bri think he didn’t really mean it.

Bastien
laughed. “A Chevaliers hang-out.”

Of
course he hadn’t really said hang-out. Had he? Bri could hardly distinguish the
English words from the Lladranan, especially since she realized that the
Exotiques had already had a definite effect on the language. “Okay” was
commonplace. Maybe Bastien
had
said hang-out.

“Lodging,
food, and clothing is a priority. We
will
shelter and care for our
Exotiques.” Sevair’s broad hand with scarred fingers gestured to Elizabeth and
Bri.

“
Merci,
”
said Elizabeth. “It’s comforting to know we have a place here at the Castle and
in Castleton.”

“Not
only there,” Marian said. “If you prefer Circlet Towers you can live with me or
Bossgond.”

“Marrec
and I have a big house at your disposal, too,” Calli said.

“Exotiques
are valued,” Sevair said, “but I think you will find that no one values their
Exotiques more than the Cities and Towns.”

At
that moment a couple of women strode up to the group. The older one was the
Marshalls’ leader, the other wore expensive leathers. Bri vaguely remembered
them from the night before.

The
Marshall bowed brusquely to them; she wore Authority like a surgeon’s coat.

“I’m
Thealia Germain, Lady Knight Swordmarshall.”

Okay,
make that the Authority of the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Thealia
jerked a nod at the woman beside her. “Lady Hallard, representative of the
Chevaliers.”

Bri
thought it sounded like the two top warriors in the world. She stepped back.
She’d avoided war zones on her travels. Poverty and disease of third-world
nations was bad enough without being caught in a struggle between vicious
groups.

Elizabeth
nodded at them. “Ladies.”

Well,
Elizabeth had served her time in emergency services and ICUs; she’d have seen
plenty of wounds inflicted on people by others.

“Exotique
Medicas,” Hallard said.

Thealia
continued, “It’s time for the morning briefing about last night’s battle. My
husband and Shieldmarshall noticed a different pattern in the fighting, as did
other Shields. We also received a message from the horrors, or perhaps I should
say from the new Master of the Horrors and Servant of the Dark.”

Just
the titles had Bri backing up a little more, into the solid shape of Sevair. He
steaded her with a hand on her shoulder, then said in voice full of suppressed
fury, “You mean my ex-assistant.”

Thealia
spared him an impatient “get over it” look. “All three of our groups were
betrayed last year.” She indicated Hallard with a stern jerk of her head.

“Yes,
of course.” Now Sevair’s voice was quiet, even soothing. “My anger and grief
are not solely my own.”

“The
briefing,” Thealia snapped.

“What
was the message?” Marian asked. “This isn’t a good sign.”

“I
prefer to speak of that in private.”

“Hey,
Jean,” Bastien called to a soldier in the Castle colors, lingering on the edge
of their group. “What was the Master’s message?”

“‘Our
Dark plague will take you all.’”

On
the receiving end of scathing stares from the Lady Knight Swordmarshall and
Lady Hallard, the soldier shrank back into the dark shadows shrouding the
cloister corridor in the gray morning.

“So
now we know for sure,” Sevair said quietly, though he’d left his hand on Bri’s
shoulder and she felt the tension run through all his muscles.

Scowling,
Thealia said, “Unfortunately.”

“The
Circlets must hear this news immediately,” Marian said.

“Broadcast
a message by crystal sphere,” Thealia said impatiently. “I want you Circlets at
my briefing.”

“Of
course,” Jaquar said, slipping his arm around Marian. “We’ll join you shortly.”
They moved away.

“Right,”
Alexa said, holding her hand to Bastien. He made a face but took it and matched
her magically rapid pace back to the keep, outdistancing the taller Marian and
Jaquar.

“And
you, also, Citymaster, and the Exotique Medicas.”

“Thank
you, but that is not possible,” Sevair said.

A
few seconds of startled silence passed. The Lady Knight Swordmarshall was
obviously not used to people denying her.

“Castleton
has prepared a welcome and thanks for their Exotique Medica. The morale of my
city is very important. We have been much harder hit by this sickness than you
here at the Castle. My people come first.” His hand grew warmer with sheer
energy on Bri’s shoulder, heating it, reminding her that she was standing in
damp, chilly air.

“Of
course,” Thealia said in repressive tones.

The
Castle medica, Jolie, stepped forward. “It’s my opinion that the Castle
Exotique Medica should see our facilities and learn the basics of our methods,
while we speak to her of the Power she used last night. The sooner we
understand each other, the better.” She swallowed.

So
Elizabeth was the Castle Exotique Medica, huh? That made Bri the—

Sevair’s
fingers squeezed Bri’s shoulder gently, released, leaving a quickly cooling
spot. “Both Medicas were Summoned on behalf of the Cities and Towns. I
reluctantly agreed that one of the ladies stay here for training. But they are
both for the Cities and Towns.”

“The
medicas can reimburse you for the Marshalls fee to Summon—”

“This
is not about zhiv,” Sevair said. “This is about need and priorities.”

“I
understand.” The medica bowed her head.

“I
do, too,” said Elizabeth. She smiled. “I’m used to training at one place and
working in other departments, and Bri has traveled, using her gift,
extensively.”

Yep,
Elizabeth definitely wanted to stay at the Castle. Still, Bri continued to drag
her feet. She didn’t want to leave. Even the Castle was better than someplace
new. After years of traveling, of being flexible, of modifying her behavior to
be accepted into a new society—even if it was an alternative medical structure
that she fit into better—she wanted just to be herself in one place with her
family.

Sevair’s
large hand squeezed her shoulder again, then he stepped back and made another
very courteous bow. “We of the city and towns are honored to have you here,
Exotique Drystan.”

She
looked at his serious brown eyes, let out a sighing breath. At least there was
an upside—she wouldn’t have to work to connect with the medical community here,
wouldn’t have to prove herself. That had already happened. Last night.

Clearing
her throat, she said, “Thank you.” She sucked in a breath and addressed Jolie.
“This is where your…warriors…the Marshalls and Chevaliers return, right?
Elizabeth is better with wounds.”

Elizabeth
frowned. “That’s right.” She inhaled deeply, too. “Any wounded from last
night’s battle?”

The
medica studied her. “Two. We would appreciate your opinion. It’s an excellent
way to start.” She sounded cheerful.

Elizabeth
jumped into conversation with the medica, and was walking to the big round
temple where several others waited in their red robes with a white cross.

Bri
felt abandoned.

“The
morning wears on,” Thealia said, turning to Calli.

“Marrec
and I are out of this.” She raised both hands palms outward. “Until the last
battle.”

Thealia
snorted, pivoted on her heel and left. Her bootsteps echoed through the
courtyard as she went to the keep.

“They
meet in the Marshalls’ Council Chamber,” Calli said.

“I’d
imagine so,” Bri said.

But
Calli had tilted her blond head and was studying her. “You know, the
destruction spell does demand six, and there are two of you. Maybe we will only
need one more to win the final battle.”

“We
aren’t staying,” Bri said. She was sure the phrase would be repeated like a
mantra in the coming days.

Clop,
clip, clip, clip, clop
. A large brown volaran danced up to them, neighed,
dipped its head. A series of pictures came to Bri, of herself and Sevair
mounted on the winged horse and flying down toward a spired town. With the
images came a feeling of anticipation and pleasure. The pegasus was talking to
her!

She
smiled uneasily at the volaran, but stroked her neck. Looking at Sevair, she
said, “Did you get that?”

The
clouds had returned but she saw a faint tinge of redness on his cheeks. Of
course it could have been the coolness of the air.

“Did
I hear the volaran? Not very well.”

She
thought he didn’t like admitting what he might consider deficiencies.

But
Calli was there, smiling, her blue eyes twinkling. “Mud says she’d like to fly
you both down to Castleton. I don’t fly with her often and she likes Exotiques.
They smell so good.”

“Mud?”
Bri couldn’t think of an uglier name for such a beautiful creature.

Calli’s
smile widened. “Her name is really,
‘Rich-Earth-Warm-And-Soft-From-A-Summer-Shower-To-Play-In.”

“Mud.”
Bri smiled.

“It’s
not far to Castleton,” Sevair said. “It would be a very short ride.”

Mud
batted her eyelashes at him, whickered.

“Don’t
you fly?” Calli asked.

“Ayes,
but I don’t keep a volaran.”

“Mud
can be yours. I’ll call others for you,” Calli said.

Another
bow from Sevair to Calli, this one a stiff inclination of the torso. “I thought
you and your bondmate were settled on your estate.”

“We
are,” Calli said, “but since Bri and Elizabeth have arrived, Marrec and I have
decided to come with our children to the Castle—and Castleton—at least once a
week.

“Children!”

“We
adopted. Continue to adopt.” Calli’s smile remained in place, but hurt shadowed
her eyes.

Bri
couldn’t help it—she heard a tiny tinkle of chimes in the back of her mind and
Calli’s Song became emphasized, not the Song of the Exotique Calli, the total
person, but just the physical. The murmur of her second chakra was low, or
rather, one note of that melody was missing. Calli’s ovaries were gone. She
couldn’t have children.

“You
know, don’t you?” Calli said quietly. “You can see my physical health?”

“No,”
Bri said absently. “I
hear
it.” She met Calli’s gaze. “You are in
excellent health.”

“Exceptional,”
Calli said.

“Yes.”

Sevair
shifted beside her, and Calli’s attention went back to him, even as Bri
absorbed the shock of being able to
hear
what might be wrong with a
person. Mud pawed the ground.

Calli
said, “Surely as a Citymaster, you travel.”

Nodding,
Sevair said, “I have a coach.”

Calli
looked at the streak in his hair. “You have the Power to call wild volarans. I
sense you’re an excellent partner.”

His
expression froze into an impassive mask. “My sister loved volarans. She had
planned to call one.” He lifted a strong shoulder, dropped it. “Or several.
Perhaps become a Chevalier. That didn’t happen.”

Since
he used the past tense, Bri knew what
had
happened.

“Ah,”
Calli said. “But it would be easier for you to perform your duties if you flew
with a volaran. Using their distance magic, your trips would be much shorter.
I’m surprised no one has considered this before.”

With
a lift of one brow, Sevair said, “Are you? The Marshalls have avoided telling
the Citymasters much, the Circlets—”