Mark of the Princess (28 page)

Suddenly Brennus stood upright, his look of indifference suddenly replaced with concern, “Be careful with what she tells you Alannah. No one is sure of her powers so everyone takes what she says carefully, but lightly.”

“Yes, I have heard.” She looked down at her feet nervously, “Brennus, I’d like to talk to you.” She looked back up and caught his stare.

“I can not right now. I have to meet with the King and let him know of our plans to stay.” He said coldly taking his gaze from hers.

“Do you not have a moment?”

He cupped her cheek with his hand and drew close to her face. She could feel his warm breath close to her lips, the crimson rising to her cheeks.

“No.” He pulled back suddenly and walked away.

Alannah took a few steps back in the room, furiously slammed the door and went back to her book.

It was hard to concentrate, all she could think of was Brennus. His face, his eyes, and the way his breath felt so close to her face.

~
Chapter
25~

The corridor was dark, Evyette could barely see where she was going except for a shred of light in the distance. She felt something pulling her back but she turned and saw nothing there but the darkness. She looked in the direction of the light again and there was a shadow walking toward her, the shape looking familiar to her. She kept walking toward it still feeling the pull but forcing herself to walk against it.

It was Tristan. She could see his face clear as day now. He seemed to be walking toward her but for some reason wouldn’t get any closer. He had others with him, there were three hooded faeries with him. She could see nothing of their faces apart from their noses and mouths. She could see that their mouths were moving but she heard nothing coming from them, only the voices behind her in the dark that called her. But it wasn’t just them. There was another voice calling a name she didn’t recognize. Evyette of Caelestis. She reached her hand to Tristan who reached for her also but she was still too far. The pull on her became stronger. She looked again toward the dark and saw nothing.

Tristan seemed to be getting closer now. She tried to run but her feet moved slowly, as if trying to run through molasses. The hooded faeries seemed to reach for her too. The pull was hurting now. There was nothing there but the physical pain it was giving her. She tried becoming invisible but couldn’t. Suddenly the voices all became louder. The voices from the dark and the voices coming from the light, claims, and counter claims, names and spells she had never heard. Her ears felt like they were going to bleed. She turned to face the darkness.

She sat up quickly in her bed, yelling a spell in a language she didn’t know without even realizing that she was already awake. Her heart beating so hard against her chest she thought it would break out.

“Evy.” The voice called her out of her shock.

She looked over at Tristan who was sitting on the bed next to her still holding her hand and she lunged at him. Wrapping her arms around him, holding on for dear life.

“Tristan! Oh. I have had the strangest dreams.” She pulled back slowly realizing that she had no idea where she was. She looked over to the right and saw two hooded faeries and recoiled.

“It’s ok Evy. They are The Magisters of the Magi. They have been healing you and protecting you.” She turned to look at Tristan, not understanding what he was talking about.

“Evy,” he reached his hand to hers and began to lead it to her chest. She followed his gaze, stopping at her scarred chest and reached to touch it.

Her breathing slowed as she closed her eyes. Images of the battle in the forest came rushing back to her. Velius, the trolls, Alannah’s lightning strike, and the blade… the blade she saw coming at her but could do nothing about. “But I - I should have died.”

“Perhaps, but Brennus helped to keep you alive.” Tristan nodded in the direction past the bed near where the Magisters were standing, Evyette followed his gaze looking at Brennus as well.

“You. You did something to me. I thought it was a dream but you. I heard you. I didn’t understand what you were saying but I heard you and felt you somehow.”

Magister Torin stepped forward “He transferred some of his own energy and healing powers to you. It is something that is very difficult to do and requires a lot of energy.” She didn’t say anything to him but only stared. “Oh, my apologies. I am Magister Torin. This is Magister Morcant. Brennus brought you to us for healing.”

“I appreciate it. And Brennus I appreciate what you did as well. I don’t know how to-“

“Do not worry about it. I have your admirer over there saying he owes me so much I cannot keep count. I may have to start calling in on some of those debts.” He smirked at her and she smiled back.

“Evyette, we have much to talk about but first you will need to rest a bit. You are probably very overwhelmed with all this.” She was curious to the faces that were under the hoods but didn’t ask to see them.

“
Days
?” She reached up and touched her scar again.

“Tristan.” She glanced quickly at the Magisters and back at him and spoke lowly. “I had another dream and I think the venator-animus were trying to attack me but I couldn’t even see them. You were there,” She glanced at the magisters again and then back at Tristan. “and they were there” she nudged her head at them.

Tristan smiled at her and cupped her face with his hand. “They know Evy. We actually have a lot to talk about in reference to that-“

The conversation was cut short by the half dozen people clamoring into the room. First entered Alannah completely out of breath. She had obviously run to the room upon hearing the news.

She ran to the bed and sat next to Evyette hugging her tightly. She pushed her hair out of her face and put her palms on both cheeks. “My sister. Thank God. I have missed you so much.”

Evyette smiled and wiped the tears that had silently fallen from Alannah’s eyes. Soon behind Alannah entered their father and mother and three other faeries that she didn’t recognize but knew that two must have been royalty as they were wearing crowns.

After many hugs and introductions Evyette was told of the previous days events. She had insisted on knowing more about the Venator-Animus and why they were after her.

She told them all about the dream and about the voices and how one voice that she didn’t recognize called her Evyette of Caelestis.

“Caelestis?” The crowd of people moved to face Magister Torin.

“I have not heard that village be mentioned in ages. I was under the impression it had burned down many many years ago.” He reached his hand to his chin and rubbed it for a moment. “Allow me to speak to the scholars of the surrounding lands and I will have more information to you all by tomorrow.” He motioned to the other Magister and their apprentice and they all hurried out of the room.

“We shall surely feast tonight as there is much to celebrate.” King Vadimas’s voice echoed through the room and everyone responded. “Let us prepare for dinner. Evyette. I shall assign you a handmaiden or two to help you bathe, dress and prepare. Have you energy to stand?”

“There is only one way to find out majesty.”

She turned to Tristan and took hold of both of his hands. He pulled her close to the edge of the bed and she swung her legs off of the edge of the bed, putting her feet on the floor. Tristan put his arm around her holder her up as she tried to stand on her wobbly legs.

“I am sure after a few steps my blood will be flowing properly and I will be fit to walk.”

The King nodded to her and exited the room followed by his wife and daughter.

King Cavalon stepped forward and enveloped his daughter within his strong arms. Evyette allowed her father’s grip to keep her standing. She breathed in the scent of sandalwood that she always associated with her father as silent tears rolled down her face and onto his tunic. She could hear his staggered breaths as he held back his tears and leaned forward to place his lips on the top of her head, before releasing her.

The King merely looked at her and smiled, giving her one last kiss on her forehead before releasing her into her mother’s embrace, and walking out of the room.

“How you saved her from the Venator Animus. How you and Kaleb put spells on her to protect her from them. How you had not left her side after the attacks, and how you have not left her side since she was injured in an ambush you could not possibly have expected.”

Relief spread carefully across Tristan’s face, as well as the King’s.

“That notwithstanding, I failed to keep her safe from
all
harm.” He squared his shoulders and lifted his head. “You’re Majesty. I love your daughter, and I have every intention of spending the rest of my life, protecting her’s, if you would so allow.” His head inclined.

King Cavalon looked at Tristan, his gaze running down and back up again, before crossing his arms on his chest. A smirk crept across his face. “Tristan of Talom. You have impressed me beyond words with your dedication. I do so allow.”

Tristan raised his gaze to meet the King’s with a smile.

Alannah sat on the bed with Kaleb standing to her left and Brennus to her right. Evyette looked over and saw the awkward silence that hung in the air around them.

He let her go and looked at Alannah. His demeanor was the same that she grew accustomed to over the past few days. Cold, and distant.

“Well, I should go. I have graced you all with my presence long enough.”

“Yes soon you might be expecting payments.” Kaleb said in his most sarcastic tone.

“I accept gold, silver and gems.” He said as he waved his hand in the air and walked out of the room. Kaleb walked over and hugged Evyette before heading toward the door.

Tristan looked at Evyette and she nodded approvingly. “I will be fine Tristan. Alannah will help me to our rooms and she will help me to prepare.”

Alannah stood and walked over to Evyette “It is
so
good to have you back with me.”

“Well, at least we know then that the wards that they put on you are strong as the venator-animus were not able to directly attack you.”