Lone Star Magic (13 page)

Alrick chuckled. “Merry’s perfectly safe. I
promise you.”

Carly eyed the horse again. Nearby, the black
horse stood looking at them. “I swear that damn horse is
laughing.”

“Let me help you up.” Moving to the mare’s
side, Alrick cupped his hands. “Put your foot here.”

“Bareback?” Eyes wide, Carly hung back. “I
don’t think—.”

“Don’t think. Just do.”

“That’s easy for you to say.” She made no
move to go near the mare.

“Did something happen to you to make you
afraid of horses?”

“Afraid?” Carly sniffed. “I’m not afraid.
Just cautious.”

“Caution is a good, healthy trait. Most of
the time. But you run a horse ranch. You need to learn to
ride.”

“One horse does not a horse ranch make.”

“Two. You have two horses now.” Alrick
motioned with his hands, still cupped.

“What do you mean?”

“We’re bringing one of the pregnant mares
back with us. To get your breeding operation off to a good start
and,” he grinned, “pay off my stud fee. Come on, Carly. If you’re
ever going to do this, you have to do it without thinking.”

Chewing on her bottom lip, she marched on
over and stepped into Alrick’s hands. He vaulted her up on to the
horse’s broad back.

“Geez.” Clutching Merry’s mane, Carly froze.
“It’s slippery without a saddle or anything.”

“You’ll get used to it.” Alrick took Merry’s
lead rope. “Are you ready?”

With a suspicious expression, she squinted at
him. “Ready for what?”

Still holding the rope, he climbed on his
mount’s back. “To go for a ride.” Without waiting for an answer, he
urged them into a brisk walk. Merry followed.

Alrick glanced back. With a grim expression,
Carly gripped the mane with both hands and held on. Merry moved
calmly, her gait unhurried.

“What do you think?”

“This feels like a rocking chair.”

Alrick laughed out loud at her analogy. “You
look good on her. She’s the right size for you.”

They did a brisk walk for the entire length
of the pasture. When they’d reached the back fence and turned,
Alrick handed the lead rope to Carly. “You control her now. Let’s
go a little faster. Ready?”

She nodded.

They increased the pace to a slow jog, or
trot. This was a bit more bouncy, though not too bone-jarring.
Without a word of protest, Carly held on. He could tell by her
expression she was concentrating on maintaining her balance.

When they were back where they’d started, he
reined TM to a halt.

“Hey!” Carly grinned at him. “I’m not even
breathing hard. Let’s do that again.”

So they did, riding several times across the
length of the field. When both horses’ coats were beginning to
lather, he signaled a halt. “Tomorrow, we’ll move up to a canter.”
If they were still in Rune, that is. He kept that thought to
himself.

The idea didn’t seem to faze her. “In Western
lingo, that’s a lope.”

“All right. Tomorrow, we’ll move up to a
lope.”

“Why wait until tomorrow? If the horses
aren’t too tired, I’d like to do this today.”

He was glad he was not within touching
distance of her. More than anything, he wanted to plant a quick
kiss on her wide, laughing mouth. “Your enthusiasm surprises
me.”

“It surprises me too.” Carly grinned back at
him. “But we might as well strike while the iron’s hot. I want to
learn everything about riding horses today in case we have to go
back tomorrow.”

So she knew. He jerked his head in a quick
nod and nudged his horse forward.

They rode the across the grassy field, back
and forth, again and again, until the horse’s were well lathered
and Carly finally agreed to quit.

Walking them out to cool them, they walked in
companionable silence back to the barn. Together they rubbed the
horses down, passing the single curry brush back and forth.

One of the stable boys approached him, bowing
before handing Alrick a note.

It was from the Mage. Requesting an audience
with them both that evening. As Alrick – and Carly too, apparently
– had realized earlier, no doubt the Mage would inform them the
time had come to leave Rune.

When he showed her the message, her
enthusiasm went out like candle wick in wind. He felt the same –
glum. Grim. They handed the horses off to attendants and, without
speaking, walked back to the palace, side by side. Halfway there,
Carly picked a tulip, a massive blossom the color of a ripe peach.
“To remember Rune by,” she said.

Impulsively he plucked another, small flower,
and tucked the bright yellow carnation behind her ear. He didn’t
have the heart to remind her how quickly blooms fade.

The closer they drew to the castle, the more
bleak became Alrick’s mood. Once they reached the massive,
sparkling doors, they parted ways. Alrick went to his room to
change his tunic and try and make himself ready or, at the very
least, to pretend he had the right frame of mind. No doubt Carly
did the same.

At the appointed hour, he headed down to the
section of the palace – level one, east wing – where the Mage
lived. By odd coincidence, Carly arrived at the Mage’s chambers at
the same time. She changed from her riding pants to a frothy gown
in a pale shade of yellow. Though she still wore the bright bloom
he’d given her, her expression looked as grim as he felt.

“Are you all right?” He touched her arm.

She raised her gaze to him. Once again he
couldn’t help but notice how lovely her cat-shaped, emerald eyes
were and how unclouded. “Yes,” she said. “We have no choice.”

That she should be the one to remind him of
this struck him as the ultimate irony.

Before he could answer, the Mage opened the
door and beckoned them inside. Incense burned on both braziers,
filling the small room with a heady, pungent aroma.

Once they’d entered, he closed the door. The
flickering light of two dozen candles lit his silver hair with
streamers of gold.

“You look magical.” Carly made a slow turn
around the room, taking in the rich tapestries depicting fearsome
dragons and the mages of the past who’d battled them. When she’d
finished, she turned back towards the wizened man and waited.

Standing close to the door, Alrick did the
same. “Why did you wish to see us?”

“You must go in the morning.”

Carly sighed. “You don’t beat around the
bush, do you?”

“We have no choice. I have heard from one of
my contemporaries. The Warlord is working on increasing his
power.”

“You can communicate with people in the
future?”

“Yes. Not an easy task, mind you, but
doable.”

“So he’s increasing his power. What does this
mean to us?”

“Next time he appears in your world, your
time, I believe he’ll be strong enough to remain. If he is, he will
be able to bring the full brunt of his power against you – and your
people. The world will be in grave danger if you don’t stop
him.”

Not good. Alrick crossed his arms. “Is she
well enough to go back?”

With a half-smile, the mage gave them both a
regretful look. “Unfortunately, she is.”

“Then we need to prepare.” Alrick had gone
half-way to the door before he realized Carly hadn’t followed him.
She still stood rooted in place, staring at the mage.

“There is more, isn’t there?”

The mage nodded. “I had hoped to avoid
telling you.”

“We need to know everything.” Alrick went to
stand behind Carly, showing his support by resting his hands
lightly on her shoulders. She looked quickly up at him before
turning her emerald gaze back to the Mage.

“Please, Mort.” The reluctant fear in her
voice showed how much she dreaded whatever information was
coming.

Pacing – something Alrick had only seen the
Mage do once before, when he’d asked the King’s help in saving the
future – Mort appeared to be trying to gather his strength. Was it
so difficult, whatever information he had yet to impart?

In a moment, Alrick had his answer.

Coming to a halt between Carly and the door,
the Mage touched her face with a trembling hand. “I had hoped to
avoid revealing this, but in light of the Warlord’s new powers,
cannot.”

“Out with it,” Alrick barked, hating the
trepidation in Carly’s eyes.”

The Mage ignored him, still focusing intently
on Carly. “Rumor has it that the Warlord has said your death alone
is no longer enough.

Carly glanced from the Mage to Alrick and
back again. “I don’t understand.”

Now the Mage looked at Alrick. “He has
learned of the Fae’s involvement.”

Alrick shrugged. “And now wants to kill me.
I’m not worried.”

“Your father the King will be.”

“No. He trusts my strength or he wouldn’t
have sent me. He knows I can easily defend myself.”

“Wait.” Carly shook her head. “You’re not
finished yet, are you?”

For the first time since they’d entered, the
Mage would not meet either of their gazes. He studied his hands,
twisting them together. The smoke from the incense swirled around
him, moving of its own accord, as there was no breeze. “No, I’m
sorry to say I am not.” He took a deep breath. “What I’ve learned
is more horrible than anything I could have imagined. By my
involving you in the future battle, I’ve brought the evil of the
future to my own people. Your own people.”

His own people? “To Rune? What do you mean,
Mage?” “Yes to Rune, to the Fae. The Warlord has said he plans to
make the Fae pay for helping Carly. Once he has taken care of
eliminating her, he intends to hurt Rune. Your Rune, of your time.
He wants revenge.”

“Let him try.” Alrick shrugged. “We have our
own magic, and there are many of us. We will build up our own
defenses against him.”

“The Fae have not fought a war in over three
hundred years. The Warlord is powerful – and ruthless. If he
wishes, he can cause a lot of damage while slipping in and out of
time.”

Alrick straightened. “We must find my father
and notify him.”

“I have already sent messengers.”

“What about Cenrick? Does he know?”

“Not yet. I wanted to discuss this with you
first.”

Carly cleared her throat. “Doesn’t he worry
about the repercussions? I’m no scientist, but it seems to me if he
were to kill one of his own ancestors, he could wipe out his own
existence.”

Both Alrick and the Mage stared.

“I’m guessing you don’t watch much television
here,” she said finally. “Or read Ray Bradbury.”

Alrick shook his head. “I don’t think the
Warlord cares much about that. If he wants revenge, he’ll take it.
I must rally my men, make them ready. Prepare them to fight.” He
strode to the door. “I’ll summon my captains. We’ll start training
immediately.”

“Wait.” The Mage’s command stopped Alrick in
his tracks. “Not you.”

Turning slowly, Alrick bared his teeth,
feeling hunted and furious about that. “What? Of course I will lead
them. Who is better qualified than I? Certainly not Cenrick.”

The Mage shook his head. The smoke seemed to
grow thicker, more cloying. “Someone else will have to do it.”

The certainty in the old man’s voice made
Alrick clench his jaw. “No. This is my responsibility. Summon my
father. Ask him. He will agree with me.”

“No, he will not. You have given your word to
complete another task. You cannot stay. You must return to the
human world and protect Carly.”

Carly. Remembering the woman who was the
reason for all this, Alrick turned to face her, barely able to see
her through the smoke. Waving her hand to clear the air, she looked
him full in the face, her huge eyes full of unshed tears.

“I release you,” she said, her voice strong
and sure. “Mage, I release Alrick from his task. He doesn’t need to
come back with me. Find someone else. Alrick is a Prince. Let him
stay and protect his people. It’s what he was born to do.”

HER SHORT discourse had rendered them both
speechless. Even the Mage, who always seemed to know the right
words, had nothing to say. Alrick either, but Carly had expected
that.

She didn’t know what else she could do. She
was used to fending for herself, being on her own. After all,
everyone left her sooner or later. Her mother had moved to Seattle.
Liam had left her by dying. Alrick would go sooner or later, so why
not free him now, when his people needed him so badly?

Finally, Mort had stirred himself to move. “I
will have to speak with the King. Only he can decide.”

“No need.” Alrick strode back into the room.
“You are right, future Mage. I’ve given an oath and I will not be
foresworn. Cenrick is a good fighter, even though he prefers to do
other things. He can lead the captains, form the armies, and make
ready the defense.”

Carly couldn’t believe it. “But all those
things are actions of a king,” she whispered. “Isn’t that what you
want more than anything else?”

Alrick appeared startled, then angry. “How do
you know this?”

She managed a shrug, not easy when she felt
as if she was shattering. “Lucky guess.”

Stepping between them, Mort waved his hands.
Instantly, the incense smoke vanished, though the heady scent
remained. Carly supposed this was the reason why she felt so
dizzy.

“Prepare to leave in the morning.” With a
nod, the Mage dismissed them. “I will have the horses and the dog
brought to the courtyard. Meet me there at sunrise.”

Carly made it to the door before Alrick,
though he was close behind her. Once in the hallway, she took great
gulps of the unscented air.

“Come on,” Alrick growled, leading the way
down the cavernous hallway. They navigated the various twists and
turns in silence, nodding politely any time they came across other
Fae.

In their glittering gowns, they nodded back,
letting their gaze drift curiously over Carly before dismissing
her.