Emergence (Book 2) (35 page)

"No more." Ciara had heard that tone from Nialyne before. Even Bolin tended not to argue with it. "You expressed a desire to talk with her, against my counsel. That much I will still allow. Nothing more."

Ciara looked up at Nialyne standing ramrod straight, shoulders tight, head high. Only a fool would argue with her now. Or an emperor.

"Nialyne, it's all right," Ciara said. She didn't know the penalty for
disagreeing with an emperor, probably lashes at the very least, certainly nothing she wanted Nialyne to have to face on her account. "I'm fine. Really."

"She is much stronger than you think, Danya," Thadeus said. The mage pulled one of the chairs over to more directly face Ciara. He lowered his slender frame into it with care, the first indication of age Ciara had noticed. "Were she not, the Lord General would have been lost to us."

Nialyne's face pinched. Her eyes swept over Ciara and settled on Thadeus. For a long moment the two only stared at one another, though Ciara didn't doubt they were communicating.

"Very well." Nialyne sat beside Ciara. "I expect this will not take long. We are both weary from our
recent trials."

Thadeus awarded the Galysian elder a very genuine smile, one that lit up his eyes as well. "Of course, Danya. Of course." He turned that same smile to Ciara. "I apologize
that your welcome wasn't more, well, welcoming. I won't keep you overly long. I need only understand what happened to the General, and what your part in it was."

"My part?" Ciara blinked. She didn't know whether to blame the journey, her lack of sleep, or the alcohol, but now that the adrenaline had stopped flowing, and she found herself settled into a comfortable chair in front of a low fire, she had a hard time maintaining focus. All those things combined led her to question Thadeus's meaning. Had he just accused her of something? "I'm not sure what you're getting at."

"My apologies, my dear," Thadeus said. "Do you understand what happened? What you did?"

Ciara shook her head. Admitting she had acted on impulse, with no clear idea of what she'd been doing--

We reclaimed him from the Darkness.

Ciara jumped. Her view of Thadeus wavered, and the room darkened as the shadowy form of Andrakaos settled around her. She heard Nialyne's quick intake of breath, and noticed with startling clarity the wards that immediately enveloped the Emperor and his sister. Only the ancient mage seemed nonplussed by Andrakaos's sudden insertion into their conversation.

The dark one sought to claim him but could not hold him. He was shattered, and the Darkness found him. We did what was necessary.

"The dark one?" The Emperor asked.

An image of Donovan flashed through Ciara's mind, but even as she said his name the Emperor nodded, as though seeing the image as well.

"How did you do it?" Thadeus said.

We used all we possess. The white magic, the words of binding, all that we are. It was...difficult.

Thadeus swiveled his attention to Ciara. "You used your earth magic as well as the young one?"

"Yes. And Nialyne lent us her strength as well. It was like picking up pieces of shattered glass. Each one so fragile and so sharp. It hurt. But I bound them together with my earth magic and brought him back through the veil. It didn't work, did it? I mean, he came back to us, but something was still wrong. He told me as much but he wouldn't let me do anything more."

"I doubt you could have. Not that you don't have the power, mind. It's the knowledge you lack. Both of you."

Andrakaos sniffed at that.

"Is Bolin going to be all right now?" Ciara asked. "Were you able to finish what I started?"

Thadeus flicked a gaze the Emperor's way, and Andrakaos swiveled his head as though following an unspoken exchange.

He has been marked.

"What do you mean?" Ciara said, and by the looks her comment drew she realized Andrakaos's thought had been for her alone.

The ancient one is worried the Darkness
lingers, that it will try to take him again. That it will try to take us.

Ciara looked deep into Thadeus's clear eyes. She read nothing there but calm surety.

Are you worried,
Ciara asked silently, hoping only Andrakaos heard.

The shadowy form rose up and encircled her, then sank back into his ethereal chamber.
I do not worry here.

***

It took Bolin a long time to pry his eyelids apart once he dragged himself up to a functional level of consciousness. The dull ache behind his eyes assured him the pounding would be worse once they were fully open. He squinted at the sunlight playing across the beams in the flat ceiling. Not his rooms in the tower, then. Some guest quarters on the lower level if he had to guess, which took more effort than he cared to give it.

A weight shifted beside him, and Bolin rolled his head on the pillow to find the source. A woman sat on the bed, long ebony hair hanging forward over one shoulder, legs curled up under her skirts, a
n open book balanced across her lap. Ariadne could never claim to be anything other than the Emperor's sister, they looked enough alike to have been twins, though four years separated their births.

"Don't look at me like that," she said in response to Bolin's raised brow. "The bed is far more comfortable than a chair, and I've been here a while."

"How long?" Goddess's blood, how did two words become so difficult to voice? He felt raw. Parts of him still scattered.

Ariadne glanced at the window. "Let's see, you arrived last night, passed out in the yard shortly thereafter, and it's now late afternoon the following day. How do you feel?"

His arm seemed to weigh more than it should as he lifted a hand to massage his forehead. "Foggy."

"Do you remember Thadeus being here?"

"No. And trying to just makes my head pound worse."

"Hmm." Ariadne closed her book. "He was quite impressed with what Ciara did for you. A bit worried as well, I think."

She chewed the inside of her cheek, and her blue eyes clouded. Bolin knew the look. "What is it?"

"Nothing."

"Ari?"

Her gaze flicked away.

"You're trying very hard not to tell me something," Bolin said. "And I'm not really in the mood to play guessing games."

"It's not often anyone sees Thadeus as bothered as he was last night," she said. "What exactly happened to you? Danya Nialyne mentioned something about Dominion magic, and Ciara said you were scattered about like bits of broken glass."

"Then you know as much as I do."

Ariadne scowled. "Liar."

Bolin flicked the blankets back and swung his legs off the opposite side of the bed, belatedly grateful to be still wearing a tunic and britches. He kept his back to Ariadne. "Where's Ciara now?"

"Resting, I would hope. I chased her and Danya Nialyne out of here late this morning. You were being doted over, and I know how you hate that."

"I need to talk to Dain." He shoved off the bed, catching himself with a palm against the wall as the room spun around him.

"I'll send a messenger." Ariadne tugged the bottom of his tunic
, and pulled him back down to the bed. "You're in no shape to go tottering around the castle looking for him."

Bolin sat only because he had no other choice. Ariadne called for a servant without getting up, and sent them scurrying after the Emperor. She laid a hand on Bolin's shoulder and tried to get him to lie down, but he reached up to draw it away.

"Leave off, Ari."

She let out an exasperated breath. "Still as stubborn as ever, I see."

Bolin glanced back at her. "Unlike you in what way?"

"I'm not stubborn
. I'm determined," Ariadne said. "Stubbornness implies a certain unreasonable attitude, and a refusal to see common sense. I am neither unreasonable, nor lacking in common sense. Whereas you, on the other hand, succumb to both with annoying regularity."

Bolin would have liked to argue the point, but given his recent behavior he found it hard to do so. Ariadne put her book aside and slid across the bed, settling in beside him
, and linking their arms. She slipped her hand into his.

"We missed you, you know?" she said. "I'm including Dain in that sentiment because he likely won't admit as much himself, and even if he did, you wouldn't believe him."

"Your brother seems to have done fine in my absence."

"Goddess above, you're exasperating."

"That does seem to be the general consensus of late."

Ariadne cocked her head, and her mouth twisted as though she were trying to suppress a grin. "Of late? At least you're finally beginning to recognize it. Perhaps that means there's hope for you yet."

"Some people think as much. For myself, I'm not so sure."

Bolin glanced down at their interlaced fingers and rubbed his thumb across hers. He made it a point not to waste time on regret. The past and choices made within it could not be changed, only accepted and set aside. Goddess knew he'd find plenty to wallow in if he chose to do so. Chief among them would have been choosing duty over the woman beside him. But they were both guilty of that. A politically motivated marriage benefitted the empire far mo
re than their union would have.

He had no such quandary where Ciara was concerned, so why did he find it so hard to accept what everyone else saw as obvious? He'd proven he could resist the allure of her power. And he had to admit that when he thought of her, magic was no longer the first thing that came to mind. Still, there could be no doubt she needed more than he could offer
. She deserved more than he could give.

Goddess above, what he wouldn't give for a simple life.

And he hadn't even allowed himself to think about what had happened at the inn. Donovan may have been the instrument of that near disaster, but something else had taken notice. Something dark and seductive had touched upon the scattered bits of his being and begun to gather them before Ciara snatched him from its grasp.

Ariadne bumped his shoulder. "You're very far away."

"I'm tired, Ari," he said, and knew she took his deeper meaning. She read him as easily as Nialyne could. He squeezed her hand then and disentangled her arm from his, standing slowly this time to insure the room stayed still. "And if you ask Garek, I'm the village idiot as well."

Ariadne laughed, a sound as pure and clear as a summer day. "I've heard him call you worse."

A knock at the door stopped Bolin's reply. Danyer, the Emperor's personal assistant, bowed himself into the room as he greeted them. "Your Royal Highness. Lord General, wonderful to see you again. His Royal Majesty will receive you in his private office if you are up to it."

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

The last time Bolin had stood before the Emperor in his office had been the last time he and Dain had talked face to face. The memory didn't rank as one of Bolin's better ones, and he hoped not to repeat it.

"I must admit, I dreamed of your homecoming many different ways. You falling on your face in the yard wasn't one of them." Dain rose from behind his desk and greeted Bolin more warmly than he expected, linking forearms and clasping his shoulder with his other hand. A smile on his face. "Welcome back. How do you feel?"

"Well enough," Bolin said. In truth, he
wanted a bath, a shave, and at least five days of uninterrupted sleep. At least Danyer had the foresight to send someone for a clean change of clothing. The aide would have been beside himself if Bolin had appeared before the Emperor in a sweat-stained tunic and road-worn britches. "For the record, it's not exactly how I intended to arrive either."

Dain snorted. "You intended not to arrive at all. Had I not sent Garek to make sure you followed my orders, I suspect you wouldn't be here." He leaned his rump against the edge of his desk and regarded Bolin solemnly. "Tell me, when did Nisair stop being your home and become someplace you hate to be? Or is it just me you hate these days?"

Bolin sighed. "Do we really need to do this, Dain?"

"According to my sister, no. Ari's lectured me several times on letting the past lie."

"She's on a rampage then. I've been lectured on being a stubborn ass."

Dain studied him with a thoughtful frown. "I could have you charged with insubordination, you know?"

"Not dereliction of duty? I believe you mentioned that in one of your messages."

"That was Arnok's idea," Dain said. "He was never fond of you, and your absence only made it worse for some reason. But I'm relieved to know you not only received, but actually read, my messages. A pity you didn't see fit to honor my requests."

"I returned to Nisair several times."

"Yes, timed to coincide with my being elsewhere. Coincidentally enough, the same thing happened at Trombachu, Guldarech, and most recently, Ranstone. Do you think me fool enough to suppose that was unintentional?" A flicker of anger touched the Emperor's cerulean eyes, then just as quickly disappeared. He waved his hand in the air before Bolin could formulate an answer. "It doesn't matter, I suppose. You had your reasons. Now that I've met Ciara, I can at least begin to understand them."

Bolin stiffened. "Meaning?"

"Meaning it's no wonder you desired to keep her well hidden." This came from Thadeus
as he entered the office through a side door. He peered at Bolin over the top of a scroll. "How do you feel, my boy? You still look pale. Danyer, send to the kitchen for a mug of hot water." The mage winked as the Emperor's aide headed for the door. "I'll fix you something sure to put a bit more color in you."

Bolin started to object, but Thadeus waved the now-rolled scroll at him in dismissal.

"I understand why you kept her hidden," Thadeus said. "But that doesn't mean I agree with it."

"With all due respect," Bolin said, "I find that rather irrelevant at the moment."

The mage seemed nonplussed. "And it is. It is, at that. We can't alter what is done, only deal with what is."

"Like the fact that Donovan is in the city?" Bolin had an overwhelming desire to steer the direct focus of the conversation as far from Ciara as he could.

Thadeus, however, seemed unwilling to oblige. "Do you have any clear idea what that girl did for you? Or how she did it for that matter? I know the nature of her power. It's disturbing and exciting all in the same breath. What she can do with it is equally as intriguing. Did you know she blended it with her earth magic to reclaim you? No healer's magic alone could have done that. Had I been on hand, or the Emperor, we may have been able to affect a rescue. Note," Thadeus held up a finger to emphasize his point, "I said 'may have' and 'rescue'. I've no certainty we could have accomplished the task. Without that girl and her power, you, my boy, would not be sitting here at this moment. I would hope Commander Garek would have had the good sense and personal fortitude to put a knife through your heart, or you would have become a bigger threat than this empire has faced in an age. And you wouldn't have been in Donovan's hands. His touch was on you. No doubt he was the catalyst of what befell you. What sought to lay hold to you, however, is something even he could not stand against. And now, I'm afraid, it is very aware of you. But not only you. It is now conscious of Ciara and Andrakaos. That, my boy, is far more worrisome to us at the moment than Donovan being in the city. Especially given that I'm not convinced you're completely whole."

Whatever Bolin started to say prior to Thadeus's last statement left his head as though it had never been there. "Excuse me?"

Thadeus peered at him from beneath his white brows with eyes clearer and sharper than his age suggested they should be. "What do you remember of that night?"

"Nothing I want to explore at the moment," Bolin said. "And as much as I appreciate your concern, has any effort been made to locate Donovan? Because he is the first threat we need to address. Unless you're comfortable with him laying claim to Ciara's power?"

"We're still trying to locate him," Dain said. "Arnok has done little else since receiving word, and even has Reinhold assisting him at this point."

"How hard can it be? He's been using magic within the walls, the city wards must be screaming at the affront."

"And yet," Dain spread his arms to the side, "they're not."

Bolin blinked. That shouldn't have been possible. Nisair's wards were as old as the castle itself, fortified by the empirical blood line and the Order of Mages over the course of centuries. Only benign magic could be used freely within the walls. Even that sent a small trickle through the wards. Power such as Donovan wielded should have had them screaming louder than the Greensward's when Bolin brought the witch's magic across its borders.

"And neither of those things concerns you?" he said.

"Of course they do," Thadeus said. "But the truth of the matter is, I don't believe the girl and her power can be separated. Not without killing her, that is."

Bolin's jaw clenched. "And you think Donovan will care if that is the outcome?"

Thadeus blinked as though that possibility had honestly never occurred to him. Bolin flexed his hands open, only then aware he'd had his fists clenched tightly enough to cause his fingers to cramp.

"I believe I can still track the witch--"

"No."

Bolin and Dain both jumped at the forcefulness of Thadeus's objection. The mage shook his head as though they may not have heard.

"I would suggest you stay away from the ethereal for a time," Thadeus said. "In fact, I'm afraid I must demand it. I'm extremely concerned by your condition."

"My condition? Thadeus, I assure you, I'm fine."

"You say as much, of course. But until we can further explore exactly what happened, and compare your memories of the event to what I perceived, we cannot risk it. You see Donovan as the greatest threat because he has been a thorn in your side for some time. I see Donovan as inconsequential faced with what I touched upon last night."

Had anyone but Thadeus said those words, Bolin would have been inclined to dismiss them. That the mage expressed such concern sent a spike of alarm through him. Bolin had purposely not given much thought to the last few days because, quite frankly, he had no desire to explore the depths of his rashness, and what the cost had been. Power such as he'd toyed with that night--magic of any type for that matter--never came without a price. And he'd been one breath away from dead. Or worse than dead, if Thadeus's words and the look in his eyes meant anything.

Bolin rubbed his jaw. "Then we need to find another way to locate Donovan. I'm sorry, Thadeus, but he
is my priority right now. He's within the city walls plotting a move against the empire."

"What of the woman?" Dain asked, a quietness to his voice that slid across Bolin's nerves like the sound of a sword clearing its scabbard.

"Ciara? What of her?"

"Is she a threat?"

"She came to Nisair on your request," Bolin said, his temper held in check by determination alone. "At great risk to herself and, I may add, those who accompanied her. Two of whom have gone to the Halls, and one who had the blessing of the Goddess and remains in the hands of Galys Auld's master healer."

"Donovan came to Nisair of his own free will. That doesn't preclude him as a threat."

"What are you getting at?"

Dain held his glare. "If she would move against us--"

"She won't."

"She isn't in complete control of her power, Bolin.
You've told us as much. If she would move against us, for whatever reason, I need to be sure where you stand."

"I will protect you and the empire on my life," Bolin said, the words forced past the rage threatening to strangle him. "As is my oath. Is there some reasoning that causes you to question my loyalties, Your Majesty?"

"I'm not questioning your loyalties," Dain said.

"Forgive me then. I must have
mistook your meaning." And then something in Dain's expression pushed a sudden thought through his anger. Bolin closed his eyes and rubbed a hand across his forehead. "You've been talking to Garek."

"He gave me his full report early this morning. To be quite honest, it's not my safety I'm concerned about. You won't defend yourself against her, will you?"

Bolin said nothing.

"And will you defend her?"

He didn't hesitate. "On my life."

"Well, that could put you in a bit of a bind, don't you think?" Dain folded his arms across his chest. "I guess we'll have to see it doesn't come to that, then. I've no desire to lose you now that we've just gotten you back. Not on the empire's behalf or my own. Or yours for that matter."

"Then we need to find Donovan," Bolin said. "Sooner than later. Because he's going to move on her, Dain. And I don't think any of us can predict the outcome."

***

Ciara strolled through the castle gardens in the company of Nialyne and Ariadne and thought she had never felt so out of place. Outside of the fact the women
flanking her were tall, slender, and beautiful, they moved with an innate grace and elegance Ciara couldn't have mimicked if she tried. And she did try, for all of a dozen or so steps before giving up.

Even the so-called 'gardens' were something she could
never have imagined. Stone walkways wound through manicured lawns dotted by carefully tended flowering bushes, decorative trees, fountains, and shrubs trimmed to represent animals and figures. There were no furrows of fresh turned earth. No rows of vegetables or herbs. Not a single useful or edible plant that she could see in the whole expanse of it, an expanse Ciara wagered would have comfortably held her aunt Meriol's house, herb garden, and half the barn. Obviously there had to be actual gardens some place. The castle inhabitants needed to eat. There had to be a healer who would need herbs and such.

Then again, maybe here in the capital city, everything they needed could be found at the market. It would have to be an immense market to provide for all the people housed here.

"My pardon, Your Royal Highness. Ladies."

Ciara turned at a man's voice, relieved to find Berk had come up behind them. He bowed low from the waist as he greeted them.

"General Bolin asked that I escort Lady Ciara to him," Berk said. His eyes swept past Ciara to meet Ariadne's, then lowered in deference.

"I thought you would have a few days off," Ciara said.

Berk offered her a quick smile, but his characteristic dimples remained hidden. "Light duty, for now."

Ciara frowned at that. If anyone deserved time to rest and heal it was Berk. He looked pale, shadows h
ung heavy around his eyes, and a fine scattering of stubble covered his otherwise clean-shaven jaw. Purple and yellow bruising colored the skin around the stitched gash on his forehead, and even though Ciara had set him on the path to healing, she knew each of his injuries and guessed they pained him even yet.