Raging Sea and Trembling Earth: Disciples of the Horned One Volume Two (Soul Force Saga Book 2) (31 page)

D
arkness surrounded Mikhail
. He couldn’t breathe or move. There was no sound and all he smelled was scorched earth mingled with sulfur. He feared, feared for the first time since abandoning his mortal self, that the intense heat would consume him. Mikhail never should have doubted the master’s power. Despite the pain his armor had kept him alive.

The boy had tricked him again. Twice he’d lost to a mere whelp. A child! If the heat didn’t kill him the embarrassment might. He let the anger rise and pushed out with hellfire. His left arm came free and soon after his right popped free as the dark fire carved out a pocket of space around him. In less than a minute Mikhail’s body was free of its stone tomb.

He straightened his legs and banged his head on the stone above. The tiny space he’d made for himself was barely adequate. He’d lost his sword somewhere in the earth. Mikhail didn’t care how long it took, he wouldn’t leave until he regained it. Bad enough the master had had to provide him a new arm, he wouldn’t return without his weapon.

Mikhail concentrated and soon sensed the blade. It was as much a part of him as his hand or foot and every bit as important, maybe more important. He followed the connection, burning away earth and stone until after an unknowable time he reached the hilt of his weapon. Mikhail grabbed it and ripped it free of the confining rock. Now he felt whole again. There remained the task of burning his way free. He had no idea how deep his tomb was.

Mikhail growled in the back of his throat. He would kill the boy next time. There was no question of it.

He raised his black sword and flames poured forth. Foot by agonizing foot Mikhail rose through the crumbly black stone. Hours later, exhausted and nearly drained of soul force, the tip of his sword burst through the outer crust of the lava field. Mikhail smashed the last of the stone away and climbed out.

All around him looked like a scene from the end of the world. Black, still-warm stone covered everything. The mountain where the weak druid and his servants worked had collapsed into a pile of rubble. He would give the boy this much credit: when he destroyed something he did a thorough job. Mikhail appreciated that.

He turned first toward the druid village then back north to the master’s library. Conflicting desires warred in him. Mikhail badly wanted to slaughter the villagers, but he also needed to hurry back and warn the master that his enemies may now know where his library was hidden.

Mikhail willed himself into the air and grimaced. He hated flying without a proper mount, it was beneath his dignity as a knight, but he had to do what he had to do. Mikhail turned north. The villagers would have to wait.

D
amien watched
Sig fly off and shook his head. What had he gotten himself into? Or more accurately what had Karrie gotten him into? Sig was a problem for later. For now the king needed to know what had happened.

“That wasn’t the sort of greeting I expected,” Jen said as they walked toward the castle.

Damien shrugged. “Whoever expects to be challenged to a duel to the death?”

The guards opened the outer doors for them and Damien nodded as they strode past.

Jen glanced his way. “I wonder whatever possessed Karrie to tell that idiot you agreed to marry her.”

“That’s an excellent question. After we finish talking to Uncle Andy and my master I intend to find out.”

The next set of guards opened the door to the throne room. The king sat on his throne, the archmage on one side and the captain of the guard on the other. Damien had expected to see his father, but there was no sign of the king’s champion. Instead a giant of a man in blue and white fur-trimmed robes waited in front of the throne and a little to the left. Damien didn’t know the man, but judging from his size and dress he was probably Sig’s father. This could be awkward.

Damien and Jen stopped ten feet from the throne and bowed. “Majesty, we’ve completed our mission,” Jen said.

“Report,” Uncle Andy said.

Between them Jen and Damien gave a full accounting of the past few days. When they finished his master was smiling her evil smile. “Now we know where to find the son of a bitch. I’ll need two days to assemble a strike force. With your permission, my king.”

Uncle Andy nodded. “By all means. The sooner we can put an end to Connor Blackman the better I’ll feel.”

The archmage bowed and hurried out to, Damien assumed, send messages to both The Tower and whatever other sorcerers she might need. He hadn’t seen her so eager in weeks. Not that he blamed her—now that they had a solid lead on the warlock’s location they needed to act. That made Sig’s challenge seem even more of a waste of effort.

“There’s one other thing, Your Majesty,” Damien said.

“It’s about my son, right?” the big man said.

Damien glanced his way. “You’re Sig’s father?”

He nodded and the king said, “Damien, this is Duke Iceborn. He came south to thank you for what you did in the war last winter.”

“Nice to meet you, my lord.” Damien bowed to the duke. He wanted to ask how he raised such an ass of a son, but that didn’t seem politic. “Sig just challenged me to a sorcerers’ duel to the death.”

The duke flinched and made a strangled sound. “What did you say?”

“I accepted, of course. Tomorrow at noon between the forest and the north gate.”

Uncle Andy sighed and shook his head. “I know Sig made the challenge and not you, but would you mind backing out?”

Damien cocked his head. He didn’t especially care about Sig one way or the other, but he didn’t want to have to spend the rest of his life looking over his shoulder, especially since Sig would eventually become a duke. If the king made it a direct order he would have to, but Uncle Andy made it sound like it was his choice.

“I don’t know how I can and retain my honor. He struck me in front of a courtyard full of witnesses. If I back down it will make me seem a coward.”

The duke grabbed his arm and spun Damien around to face him. “Please. I know my son can be difficult and overly proud, but I love him. Please show him mercy.”

The show of fatherly warmth surprised Damien. It appeared even Sig had at least one person that would miss him. Damien sighed. “Do you have another child, my lord?”

The duke flinched and Damien understood how he might have misinterpreted the question. “I have a daughter, three years younger than Sig. Why?”

“I’ll make a bargain with you. You must know Sig lacks the temperament to be a good ruler. If you name your daughter your heir I won’t kill Sig in the duel tomorrow.”

Everyone in the room stared at him.

When he regained the ability to speak the duke said, “You want me to disinherit my son?”

“I don’t care what he inherits as long as it isn’t authority. Bad as he is now, can you imagine Sig with real power? I don’t say this to be cruel, but he’s a bully and as a duke he’d be a nightmare. In your heart you must know what I say is true.”

The duke groaned. “I do know it. I’ve known for years Sigurd wasn’t suited to rule the north, I just lacked the courage to do anything about it. I accept your terms. I’ll name Ingrid my heir and you back out of the duel with Sig.”

“No. I said I wouldn’t kill him and I won’t. But I can’t let him insult the princess and strike me in public. If he gets away with it once he might do it again. And I swear if he touches me again it will be the last time he touches anyone.”

The duke hung his head. “So be it. Excuse me, my king.”

The duke slunk out of the throne room like a whipped dog. When he’d gone the king said, “That wasn’t terribly diplomatic, Damien.”

Jen swatted his shoulder. “Bargaining with a duke, that’s rather bold, little brother.”

Damien looked from one to the other. “I thought I was pretty generous. By law I’m within my rights to simply kill Sig in the duel tomorrow. That would have eliminated him as heir and threat in one go. I figured offering the deal would put the duke in your debt. Should I have just killed him?”

“No, Damien.” Uncle Andy shook his head. “What you did wasn’t the real problem, it was the way you did it. Offering a bargain then dictating the terms to a man as powerful as Duke Iceborn was rude. He’s used to a more subtle touch.”

This was why Damien hated politics. “I’m not good at subtle. I prefer direct and honest. Unless you need me for anything I have to talk to Karrie.”

Uncle Andy waved his hand. “You’ve got a busy day tomorrow. Take the rest of the day to rest. Outstanding work, both of you.”

They both bowed and left the throne room.

When the doors had closed behind them Jen grinned. “I wonder what Karrie will have to say.”

K
arrie paced
and chewed her lip. John was right, if she kept this up she’d wear a hole in the rug, but she was too nervous to sit still. A servant had just left after informing her of Damien’s return. It also seemed he’d run into Sig on his way in and they had a confrontation. Sig must have told Damien what she said. He was probably furious.

Someone knocked and she spun to face the door. From the sewing room her mother said, “Get that, won’t you, dear?”

“Yes, Mom.” She straightened her hair and dress, took a breath, and opened it. Damien leaned in the doorway, a little frown on his face. He didn’t look furious, but he didn’t look happy either. “Hi.”

“Hi. Got a minute?”

She stepped aside and waved him in. Karrie went over to the couch and he sat beside her. She clasped her hands together. “How’d your mission go?”

“Fine. I caused a volcano to erupt. It was a first for me. Anything interesting happen while I was gone?”

Talk about a loaded question. “I heard you ran into Sig.”

“I did. He threatened to kill me. Apparently he’s under the impression you and I are engaged. How do you suppose he got a crazy idea like that?”

“About that, I admit I told him. He barged in here and started making demands. He said I was going to marry him like I had nothing to say about it.”

“Imagine that.”

“I know, the irony wasn’t lost on me. Anyway I said the first thing that popped into my head, that I was already going to marry you. He didn’t take it very well.”

“No kidding. I had barely landed when he burst out of the castle and challenged me to a duel. He said the winner would marry you.”

Karrie gritted her teeth. “What did you say?”

“I told him you weren’t a piece of meat for us to fight over and whatever happened you were free to marry whoever you wanted.”

He’d stood up for her. Even after she used him to deflect Sig. Heaven’s mercy, she loved him. Karrie didn’t deserve to marry someone so decent. “You said that?”

“I have an offer for you. If you’re willing to handling the politics and let me stay out in the field as much as I want I’ll accept your proposal.”

Her heart stopped for a moment. He was accepting. Even if he had conditions she couldn’t believe he was accepting. “You’ll marry me? Really?”

Damien nodded. “I can’t stand the idea of anyone treating you the way Sig tried to. I don’t love you, I won’t lie about that, but I do like you. You’re a sweet girl and you deserve better than to be treated like a prize pig at auction. We’ll get engaged and if between now and your eighteenth name day you find someone you prefer, well, that’s fine with me. Deal?”

She stared at him. It wasn’t the most romantic proposal, but he was giving her what she wanted and Karrie wasn’t about to complain. It was really going to happen. She couldn’t believe it.

Karrie leapt at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Damien held her gently and she kissed his cheek. There was no passion in his reaction, but that was fine. They’d made a start and they could build on it. The important thing was they’d taken the first step.

After a moment he let her go. “I need to clean up. Will you be watching the duel tomorrow?”

“Since you’ll be fighting for me it would be rude if I didn’t.” She looked away then back. “Will you be okay? Sig’s really going to try and kill you.”

Damien snorted at that. “I suspect I’ll be fine. It would be easier if I was fighting to kill, but nevertheless I think I can handle it. See you later.”

He stood up and walked out. When the door had closed behind him Karrie leapt up and turned a pirouette. She’d won! Damien would be hers. She heard a noise and a moment later her mother’s arms wrapped around her from behind.

“Congratulations, Karrie. I told you Sig or John would be the key to convincing him. Who would have imagined protective instincts would beat out a hunger of power? He’s a rare boy. As long as you don’t mess up you’ll never have to fear anything again.”

Karrie clasped her mother’s hand. Damien
was
a rare boy. He wanted nothing from her and he’d even gone out of his way to stand up for her. Karrie wasn’t sure she was worthy of someone like Damien, but she’d do her best to make him happy.

D
amien woke
after an excellent night’s sleep, calmer and more relaxed than he had been in weeks. Making a decision about Karrie took a huge weight off his mind. He wasn’t at all certain he’d made the right choice, but he’d committed now so all he could do was follow through and hope someone swept her off her feet before the vows were spoken. He held little hope of that, but stranger things had happened.

He dressed, headed to the kitchen to collect a pair of breakfast sandwiches, and walked downstairs to check in with his master. Her door was partway open so he stuck his head in.

She looked up from the paper she was reading. “Don’t just stand there, come in. Do I smell bacon?”

He guided the bubble with her sandwich over to the desk. “I figured you’d be so wrapped up in planning that you’d forget to eat, again.”

She devoured a quarter of the sandwich in one bite. “You were right. How come you never bring orange juice?”

He shrugged and dropped into the empty chair. He’d gotten comfortable enough in her presence that he could sit without feeling like it was a breach of protocol. “I didn’t know you liked orange juice. How’s the mission planning going?”

“It’s done. I sent a summons to everyone I want. With any luck everyone will be assembled no later than tomorrow at noon. Speaking of noon, did you really have to fight that blond idiot the day before a major action?”

“It wasn’t my idea. Don’t worry, I can handle Sig and still have plenty of time to recover before tomorrow. I assume you want me to come along?”

“You assume right. You’ll be leading the first squad through the door.”

Damien looked up from his food. “I don’t think caves have doors.”

His master scowled at him. “You know what I mean.”

“Yeah. Are you coming to watch the duel?”

She waved a greasy hand. “I don’t have time to waste on that foolishness. Just be careful. Even a weak opponent is dangerous if you underestimate them.”

He stood up. It didn’t look like she had anything for him to do today. “I never underestimate my opponents. What time is the muster, tomorrow?”

“An hour after noon, but I expect you in my office by ten at the latest.”

“Understood. If you need me just send a message.”

She waved a hand and turned her attention back to the papers on her cluttered desk. Damien went outside for some fresh air. He hated the time before a battle. The minutes seemed to drag by.

He traveled the back corridors, meeting no one, following the same path he took last winter when he went looking for Lane. Damien stepped out into the courtyard and flew up on to the wall. He walked the perimeter, looking out over the bustling capital. When he reached the north gate Damien squinted, trying to see past the outer wall. Was Sig there waiting? The arrogant noble didn’t seem like the type to arrive early for a fight.

He sensed a presence a moment before John landed beside him. His old friend had dark circles under his eyes. It didn’t look like he’d gotten much sleep of late.

“I thought I might find you here,” John said. “I can’t believe he challenged you again.”

“Me either. He wanted a duel to the death, but I made a deal with the duke to spare him.”

John cocked his head. “Deal?”

When Damien finished explaining John stared, dumbstruck. “You might better kill him. If his father disinherits him Sig will be devastated.”

Damien couldn’t dredge up much sympathy for the giant Northman. “If he challenges me a third time I’ll do just that.”

John flinched. “Did you talk to Karrie?”

“I agreed to marry her. She seemed pleased.”

“I bet. You don’t seem all that thrilled.”

Damien shrugged. “Not thrilled” described how he felt pretty well. “It’s done now. Maybe it won’t be so bad. At least she won’t be nagging me all the time.”

“Not about that at least.”

They shared a laugh.