The Royal Hunter (33 page)

Archer sat forward. “You said before that Emrys likes to toy with you. Are you saying his dealings with Gwendolen so long ago, and now with Talia, the queen, and Chamberlain, are all part of some game he’s been playing?”

“Yes.” Baleweg rose and went to the counter, slowly preparing another cup of tea.

“Why?” Archer and Talia demanded simultaneously.

“What is his connection to you?” Archer demanded. “Why the games at all?”

Baleweg took another moment before turning to face them. “I was his mentor, of sorts.”

Talia’s mouth dropped open. “You taught him?”

A faint smile ghosted his lips. “You find that so hard to believe?”

“No. I mean, I’m not surprised that you could teach him. But you said he was … evil. He couldn’t have learned that from you.”

Baleweg shook his head. “Not evil. Not in the sense you mean. Soulless maybe.” He sighed, as if struggling to find the words. “He lacks morality, or a sense of it. As I said before, his powers expanded easily and quite far, very quickly and with frighteningly little effort. He enjoyed stretching those powers, applying them to amusements that had little to do with learning and more to do with entertaining himself. He doesn’t see himself as being on the same plane as mere mortals. He sees himself as above all that.”

“What happened between you?”

Baleweg’s expression shuttered then. “I felt he should focus on finding out the extent of knowledge that was out there for him to obtain.” He fell silent for a long moment, then sighed again and said, “What I didn’t realize, at least until it was too late, was that by pushing him to discover just how far-reaching his abilities were, I was enabling, enhancing even, his natural proclivity for the rest.” He looked to them. “I learned that you can reach to the farthest boundaries of the mind’s ability and discover wondrous amazing things. But you cannot learn to have a soul if you were never born with one.” He sat down heavily across from them. “My greatest failing was not realizing that until it was too late.”

Archer took Talia’s hand and held it tightly. “How long ago did you two part ways?”

“A great deal longer than you could possibly comprehend.”

Talia shivered then, or maybe it was Archer.

“I take it the parting wasn’t amicable?” Talia asked quietly.

Baleweg shook his head. “He enjoyed mocking me, mocking my dedication to the educational aspect of the skills we possessed.”

“How did you hook up with him in the first place?” Archer asked. “How could you know he had the same abilities you did?”

Baleweg looked down at his hands. So quietly they almost couldn’t hear him, he said, “He was born of me.”

“He’s your son?” Talia asked in a stunned whisper.

Baleweg looked to her. “No. More a … scientific experiment.” He sat heavily. “I suppose I must tell you the whole of it.” He folded his hands and closed his eyes. “A very long time ago I was consultant to a king. It was another time, another place. Distant from here, from all you know. I was young then, naïve about the powers of the mind, but I was obsessed with learning more. And perhaps I was a bit reckless in how I went about doing so. I agreed to some rather … questionable studies in return for the funding of my own interests. Emrys was the result of those studies. The geneticists named him. It’s a Welsh form of Ambrosius.” He opened his eyes then. “It means
immortal
.”

Talia clutched at Archer’s hand. “So what exactly is he?”

“In your time, I believe he’s called a clone.”

Talia slumped back in her seat. “Born of you. Literally.”

Baleweg nodded. “Only enhanced, biologically, supposedly to emphasize my strengths and minimize human weaknesses. Things didn’t go as planned.” He shook his head. “But then, they rarely do.”

Archer tried to digest it all. Baleweg’s hermit-like existence and his aversion to all things royal made far more sense now. “So he helped Gwendolen because he knew of your affection for Eleri?”

Baleweg nodded and turned to Talia. “I didn’t have a great deal of contact with her, but I came to feel a great deal for her anyway. She was impossible to deny. She had such energy, such desire to learn. I admit, I was lonely. Starved for such stimulating interaction.” He seemed to sink into himself. “Emrys had left me alone for some time at that point, pursuing his own pleasures, if you can call them that. I thought him bored with my simple life and pursuit of knowledge.” He shook his head. “I suppose no matter how much I learn, I can still be a fool.”

Archer stood. “Okay, so we all screw up. I don’t think anyone blames you, Baleweg, but people’s lives are at stake, lives your—whatever you want to call him—is presently amused with. So why don’t you tell us what we can do to stop him?”

Baleweg said nothing, turning to Talia instead. “There is so much more for you to deal with than we knew. I’m sorry I couldn’t have prepared you better. Had I known of your father I would have understood your lack of healing abilities. We never spoke of such things. Our time together was spent in learning.” He smiled then and a glimmer of strength returned to his eyes. “I do know that she was overjoyed to discover herself with child, despite her fears for her safety, and therefore yours. Our kingdom was in chaos at that time and anyone close to the king was in peril. Parliament was a den of snakes and the threat of a takeover was very real. Naturally, I
assumed her fears were political in nature, but once I successfully helped her to safety, I retreated heavily into my studies with no interest at all in the state of the monarchy.” He reached for Talia’s hand. “Forgive an old man his broken heart.”

“Oh, Baleweg, I don’t blame you.”

But it was clear he still blamed himself. “So what is to happen now? What are the queen’s plans?”

“She wants me to raise her son,” Talia said quietly. “She’s going to die and leave him to my care.” She raised her eyes to Baleweg’s. “The future king.”

Baleweg’s expression gave away nothing of what he might be feeling. “You will heed her wishes, then?”

Talia opened her mouth, then shut it again and lifted her shoulders. “I’m … I have no idea what to do, or what I can do. I didn’t come here planning to stay.”

Baleweg touched her arm lightly, sending his comforting tingle humming down the entire length of it. “Do not worry about this now. There is much yet to come.”

Archer’s gaze narrowed as he stepped closer. “What do you mean? Do you know something we don’t?”

Now Baleweg smiled, though it did not reach his eyes. “I think I can safely say that is the case most of the time.”

Archer swore. “This is not a joke.”

Baleweg’s smile vanished. “I do not believe I have treated it as one.”

Archer paced the room. “If you plan to help, the first thing you can do is tell me what Emrys looks like, so at least I can warn the queen.”

“A description of his appearance will mean nothing
to you, or to the queen, as he can change it rather well.”

“He’s a shifter?” Talia asked, then looked to Archer. “I didn’t know they existed in human form.”

“They don’t,” he said shortly. “At least not that I am aware of.”

Baleweg shook his head. “They don’t. He is merely quite skilled in the art of deception. He understands how the human mind perceives threat and is amazingly adept at … shall we say, blending in.”

“Okay, okay,” Archer said, impatience clear in his voice as he paced the room. “So this whole thing, his game, is about hurting you. He helped Gwendolen find Eleri to hurt you. And now he has drawn her daughter into this little drama of Chamberlain’s hoping to hurt you by hurting her? Can you stop him?”

“I would be willing to try, but as I said, his powers far surpass mine. I know little of his activities and will not unless he intentionally reveals himself to me. I can feel the disturbances, but beyond that, I have little power where he is concerned.”

“If he realizes that I’m not a healer, will he leave the queen and the baby alone now? Will he abandon his game with Chamberlain and just come after me?”

Baleweg shook his head. “I have no way of knowing. If he’s amused by playing chess with royal lives, he might very well continue. Or if he thinks he can find a way to torment you through them, and therefore torment me … he is capable of anything.”

“Surely you must have some theory on what he will try next?” Archer asked.

Baleweg shook his head. “His mind works in a way that is far different than mine. Quite literally, I could not imagine what he might have planned.”

“Then you must come back with us,” Talia said, grabbing at his hand. “Help us from within the castle. Surely you’d know if he was there, if he was planning something?”

“Oh, he’s planning something. But I would not be able to stop it.”

Archer slapped the table, startling Talia, but Baleweg didn’t even flinch. “Then what would you have us do? Sit and do nothing until he strikes?”

Baleweg calmly shook his head. “I would have you leave Talia here. With me.”

Talia looked first at Archer, then at Baleweg.

“Why? What would that do?”

Archer went to stand behind Talia. “I won’t leave her unprotected. Why don’t you come with us?”

“Because Emrys would like nothing better than to draw me to a place he knows I detest. I can do nothing to protect or help the queen, but I can help Talia. But only from here, where my strength is most powerful. Now that I understand the gist of his game, I realize it would be best if Talia and I remain close together until I determine a way to confront him.” He stopped Archer’s argument before he could speak. “Even with your protection, were you to take her back to the queen, he could—and would—find a way to take Talia and use her as a pawn against me. She must remain here.”

“Then you think Emrys is in the castle?”

Baleweg nodded. “Somehow. Somewhere.” He looked to Archer. “It is quite possible that getting Talia out of there today saved her life. Although I doubt he would have made his move until the royal birth was imminent. He relishes melodrama.”

“If Talia stays then I stay,” Archer said.

“But I can’t just leave Catriona,” Talia cried. “She is my only family.”

“If you truly want to help her,” Baleweg said
calmly, “then you will remain here, for you own safety, which is what she’d want, and Archer will return to the castle to observe and stay close to her. He can alert us to anything that happens.” He paused, then asked, “Does anyone else know of your bond to her?”

Talia shook her head. “No.”

Archer laughed. “You know as well as I do that if anyone in the castle knows something, the information will find its way to Chamberlain.”

“Then there is no need for further argument. She is at risk from both Emrys and Chamberlain now.”

Talia felt her throat constrict again. “Then what do we do?”

Baleweg reached into the pockets of his voluminous robes and withdrew a small blue orb. He held it out to Archer. “You will carry this.”

“What is it?” Archer said, studying it, but not taking it. “I thought you simply knew things without needing any gadgetry.”

“I can sense a great deal. But I cannot absorb all disturbances and ferret out the source, especially with Emrys opposing me.” He placed the orb in Archer’s hand and closed his fingers over it. “This is something I’ve worked on, privately, for some time. I doubt Emrys has any idea of its existence. I have not yet been able to test it well, but I am fairly certain it will hold up to the demands we will place on it.”

“Fairly certain?” Archer said, staring at the blue lump of glass.

Baleweg ignored his skepticism. “It functions as a focal point for the specific energy of the one who holds it, a projection unit if you will. If you hold it enclosed in your palm, I will feel the energy coming from you. I will then be able to direct my focus immediately to wherever you are. As long as you hold
the orb, nothing can prevent that connection.” He held Archer’s gaze. “Nothing.”

“Why can’t you just do something from here, now?”

“Without knowing what his plans are, I have nothing to focus my efforts on. It is not a foolproof plan, Archer,” he said, for the first time losing a bit of his patience. “Nothing in life is foolproof, as we have all so painfully learned. You want my help; I am offering it. No guarantees. But it is far better than nothing. Which is the only defense you have without me.”

Archer swore beneath his breath.

“What if he simply kills her?” Talia asked.

Baleweg shook his head. “Chamberlain would not be so foolish as to have her murdered in her own bed. Else he could have accomplished that far earlier.”

Talia shook her head. “I’m confused. If she can’t leave her bed and he won’t kill her there, just what harm can he impose other than to wait for her to die?”

“That may well be his plan. But I imagine Emrys has another. He has little patience for waiting out nature’s course. He much prefers to have a hand in directing fate when and where he can. Do not underestimate him.” Baleweg looked to Archer. “Chamberlain will not want to risk being connected to the queen’s death. Emrys is ingenious. If he’s still interested in toying with royal intrigue, and I assume he is, especially as Talia is now linked directly to them, he’ll find a way to let Chamberlain into power without drawing suspicion to him. Accept nothing at face value.” He moved to the door. “It would be best if you made a quick return to the castle.”

“Wait a minute, what if this is the trick I’m supposed
to be questioning?” Archer asked. “How do I know I can trust you? That you aren’t somehow in on this?”

“Is that what you truly believe?”

“That’s not an answer.”

“You survive by listening to your instincts. Do your instincts tell you I am the one to mistrust?”

Archer wanted to say yes, just to see what the old man would do. But it was almost impossible to lie when looking into those spectral blue eyes of his. Finally, he shook his head.

“Continue to follow them, Devin. They will always serve you well.”

Talia turned back to Archer. “You should go. The queen will see you, listen to you. She’ll trust you to stay by her side. Tell her—tell her I’m here waiting and …” She took a deep breath. “And that I’ll do whatever I can to take care of her son.”