A Magic King (7 page)

"Well, yes. Your sword is rather heavy."

"But you didn't."

"No. I waited, terrified out of my skull. If it weren't for you, I think I would have bolted when the creature first showed up."

He grinned, inordinately pleased she would stay with him, even in terror. Then the thought hit that he had received homage from the pantar. This was turning out to be a great morning-night. Tev used to get homage all the time. Cats, dogs, bears, they'd all stop by to bow regally to him. But this was Daken's first.

"Quit grinning, Daken. It's not funny. I was really scared."

"I'm grinning because I feel good. I'm rested. I'm lying in a beautiful woman's lap. And a pantar paid me homage. Why shouldn't I be grinning?"

Jane gazed down at him. "You really think I'm beautiful?"

His grin grew even wider. Even his odd little fool was a woman at heart after all. "Yes, I do."

She blushed and shifted restlessly beneath him. Then her expression changed, slipping into slight irritation. "You're trying to distract me."

"Not at all."

"You're much nicer this morning," she said. "Or rather tonight."

"I'm allowing myself to be distracted. But not for much longer. I'll give you five more minutes, then we must go."

"Go? Go where?"

"I already told you. To Bosuny." He was losing his patience. Not with her, although from the look on her face, she certainly thought so. He was losing his temper with himself. How much time had he lost to dally with this Jane? How many people were dying on his home lands? Were there any left at all?

"We're not going anywhere until you answer my questions," she said firmly.

"You cannot stop me, woman, so I suggest you ask quickly."

With his ear pressed into her stomach, he felt her grumbled oath more than heard it, but still the sound made him smile. She was so different from all the women he knew. She didn't attempt to hide herself—her irritation or her passion. She was open and free, and so very vulnerable because of it.

"Okay. Question number one: How can a soul inhabit a stream? And how can it talk to me?"

He rose up on one arm. "It talked to you?"

"I'm not sure." She pressed him back down into her lap.

"What did he say?"

"I'm not sure." She glanced down in irritation. "And I'm asking the questions here."

He sighed, wondering how she could have lived so long without knowing the most simple things. "A soul lives in the stream because that is its home. I don't know how it spoke to you, only that it sometimes happens."

"Great. A non-answer."

Daken folded his arms across his chest. "If you don't like my answers, then perhaps we could start walking."

"Not yet. Question two: How can a cat give homage to you? And why?"

"That was two questions—"

"I don't care, Daken. My sanity's slipping by the second, so just answer me, okay?"

She was so beautiful when agitated. It was as though she had no artifice in her. It struck him that she was perhaps the most honest person he'd ever met.

"Daken!"

"Hmmm? Oh. The pantar gave me homage because she knew I healed the stream which in turn healed her. It's really very simple."

"But how can you heal a stream?"

"I'm—"

"A healer. I know."

"A King."

"I thought they were the same thing."

"They are."

She groaned.

"The healing skill runs through the royal line. That is how you know royalty. My father was a King, but he was killed. My brother then became King, and he too, was killed."

"Which leaves you."

"Which leaves me." He tried not to let the pain seep through his words, but she was smart. She heard it in his voice or saw it in his features. Before he could sit up or stop her, she bent down, dropping a kiss on his forehead.

"I'm sorry," she whispered against his skin. "It must have been very hard."

"Don't be sorry," he grumbled, pushing her away as he struggled to stand. "Help me get to Bosuny."

She sighed. "You are a moody creature today."

"I am an anxious creature who should be in Bosuny by now."

She folded her arms across her chest, watching him with the exact same expression his old tutor used to have. "One last question. What are you going to do in Bosuny?"

He felt himself grow cold, his insides freezing into the old patterns of anger and suspicion. He would not be stopped or deterred from his course.

"That is none of your concern," was all he said.

Chapter 3

"She's following us." Jane worked hard to keep the nervousness out of her voice.

"Who's following us?"

"The panther."

Daken turned around, his scowl sour enough to curdle water. Jane pointed behind them, knowing the gesture was unnecessary. He could hardly fail to see the large black cat walking silently behind them. She wanted to say the animal was stalking them, except the cat's stride was slow, almost lazy, as she moved in their wake.

"What should we do?" Jane kept her voice low.

"Do? We walk to Bosuny. If she wants to come along," he shrugged. "Let her."

"But aren't there people there?"

He stared at her like she'd just sprouted green antennae.

"I mean, won't those people get a little upset when we walk in with a black panther on our heels?"

He glanced back at the cat, then bent down to grab his gear. "She's a smart cat. I'm sure she can take care of herself."

"That's so reassuring. Especially since I, too, am following you."

Daken spun to face her, his expression dark and forbidding in the murky light. "I didn't ask for your company or hers. If you want to follow me, fine. If she wants to follow me, fine too. But don't expect me to delay my task just because you don't know an inhabited stream from a dead one."

"Well, excuuuse me. And here I thought I'd just spent the day taking care of you. Far be it for me to expect a little gratitude."

He advanced on her, his fists tight against his sides. "You wouldn't have had to take care of me if you hadn't walked into the stream without asking permission!" He threw up his fists and stalked away. "By the Father! Why did I get saddled with a lackwit?"

Jane bit her lip, annoyed and hurt, but still very aware he was right. She was a fool, and in more ways than one. Throughout their time together, he had made it abundantly clear she was a burden to him. A fool he did not suffer gladly. But still, her romantic heart wanted to believe they were starting to get along. That maybe he could like her a little.

Clearly, she was wrong. Jane squared her shoulders. Fine. If that's the way he wanted it. This wasn't the first time she'd bottled up her pride, swallowed her self-esteem, and generally humiliated herself in order to accomplish a larger goal. First it had been with a boyfriend, but she quickly realized the futility of that. Then it had been on the job with pencil-pusher Dr. Beavesly. Getting him to approve the latest protective hardware had been like begging for crumbs from a rich man's table, but eventually she had won.

And assuming she ever made it back to Boston to find out, she would bet her next paycheck that her special hardware was the only thing keeping the computer running after that tremendous explosion.

Jane stopped in her tracks. When had she remembered the explosion? She saw it clearly in her mind, replayed in sharp detail like a new video. She heard the boom, then saw herself poised in front of a rip in space that sucked her in.

She had been transported through space. She'd thought about it, toyed with the idea, but she hadn't really believed it. Not until now.

She pressed her hand against her mouth, holding in a scream. Was she really in a completely different world? Panic clutched at her throat. Her scream pushed through her mouth and slid through her fingers, but only as a terrified whimper.

"Jane?" Daken turned around, his expression shifting from frustration into concern. "Are you well?"

She stared at him, unable to fathom that he was a person from another place, a totally different planet. They didn't have magic translator spells or inhabited streams on Earth. Then suddenly she realized—in this land, he wasn't the alien. She was. She was the stranger thrown here by some quirk of fate. Her friends and family lost to her forever unless she could find a way to get back.

Assuming she could get back. She didn't even know where she was. What if she was in a totally different galaxy? Or universe? Hell, what did it matter? She could be on Moon Colony, but without a spaceship how could she get home?

She moaned softly against her hand.

Daken stepped to her side, his movements stiff and awkward as he tried to apologize. "I'm sorry, Jane. I shouldn't have yelled at you. My people are in trouble, and I..."

She shook her head, the panic still pulsing in her veins. She knew if she tried to talk, it would come out as a hysterical scream. So she held her hands over her mouth, squeezed her eyes shut, and tried not to remember.

"Jane?"

She felt his hand brush her forehead, and she jerked away. She didn't know if a healer could read minds, but she certainly didn't want to find out now. He'd made it clear what he thought of her. His little fool.

Well, this little fool was rapidly wising up. She stamped down the panic within her as she remembered who and what she was. Jane took a deep steadying breath, slowly letting her hands fall from her face.

Okay. She was a stranger in a strange land who was probably vulnerable in countless ways. But she was smart, capable, and a quick study. From now on she would dedicate herself to learning everything she could about this new world. Even in the enlightened United States, an outer space alien would have turned the world upside down. Nutcases and legitimate scientists alike would have sold their souls to exploit an alien.

She wouldn't allow that to happen to her. She would not be victimized. She sure as hell wouldn't tell her secret to Mr. Kingly Arrogance. It wasn't that he'd abuse her. He'd actually been quite kind, in a gruff, macho sort of way. But how would he react to a space being?

No, it was much safer if he thought her crazy. Later, after she found a way to get home, then she would explain it all to him.

"Jane?"

"Uh." She swallowed. "Sorry. I... I'm okay now. We can go on."

"Are you ill?"

She couldn't look directly into his eyes and lie. So she watched the panther, pretending to be entranced by the cat cleaning a paw. "I'm fine. Just a little tired." She tried to smile. "You may have gotten a nap, but I didn't."

Daken was silent, clearly waiting for her to look at him. She didn't. She watched the panther. Then he twisted abruptly toward the horizon. "We should make it to the main road soon and an inn soon after. Can you make it another hour?"

"Yeah. Sure. Lead on."

"You feel healthy?"

"I'm fine." She could sense the heavy intensity of his gaze, and she slowly faced him, giving him her version of a blank stare. The gold in his eyes reflected the moonlight with an eerie glow. Then, abruptly, he spun on his heel and walked. She followed directly after him, a couple paces behind, needing the space to think.

To their right, the panther slipped in and out of the trees, her steps silent and stealthy.

* * *

The inn was quiet, but not deserted. Jane judged it a little after midnight. Most of the patrons had already left. It had been eerie walking down the road, her footsteps echoing through the deserted street. The black panther had long since disappeared into the shadows surrounding the sleepy village.

Daken pushed his way into the inn, and Jane followed, squinting as they stepped into a cozy main room with tables and a bright fire. The whole setting reminded her of a pub at a Renaissance fair she'd once been to. There were a few people around—a woman and her daughter cleaning tables, two patrons who looked very drunk, and a young boy singing softly while plucking a tune on a crude guitar.