Finding Valor (47 page)

Josh called a camp-wide meeting and explained the situation. “I won’t hold anyone under the age of eighteen accountable for triggering Chastity’s defensive magic. As long as it’s accidental.”

A young mage, that appeared to be about fourteen, raised his hand. “How will you know whether it’s accidental or not?”

“Have you been zapped yet?”

The boy’s face and neck flamed red, but he maintained eye contact. “Yes, sir.”

“Was it worth it?”

“No, sir. It hurt like a son of an empty.”

“Good. Keep your shield down around my wife.”

“What about the fellas that’s older’n eighteen?” This mage was in his mid to late twenties, and had the same kind of cocky attitude as Eric Rickmond. Josh didn’t know the guy, but he knew he didn’t like him.

“It takes more than a passing glance to arouse a man that’s past puberty so any adult male that gets zapped must have a death wish. Meeting adjourned.” Josh wouldn’t kill a man for looking at Channie, or even lusting after her, as long as he didn’t act on it, but he had no intention of letting anyone else know that.

The same fourteen-year-old mage raised his hand again. “Ms. Enchantment says all us kids younger than sixteen ain’t allowed to train with guns.”

“That’s my rule. Not hers.”

“Most of us fellas’ve been hunting with a twelve-gauge ever since we was big enough to carry one.”

“I don’t care what you do in your own families, as long as you’re not endangering anyone’s safety. But I’m responsible for the camp as a whole and I’m not comfortable letting anyone younger than sixteen use firearms while under my command. The CDC is voluntary. If you don’t like my rules, you don’t have to participate. You’re free to go.”

Once the boys understood what was triggering Chastity’s magic, it happened a lot less often. They still grumbled about not being able to train with weapons but none of them quit the CDC.
 

As the days passed, life settled into a predictable pattern. Josh kept waiting for a crisis to rear its ugly head, but none of the patrols discovered any more of Dominance’s prison camps. Tim cut the number of habitual complainers by cutting the rations of anyone that brought a frivolous complaint to arbitration. Refugees and recruits poured into camp on a daily basis, but the Bowling Green mages continued to meet their needs with regular shipments of food and supplies.

Aside from a few horny, gun-loving teens; everything was going great. Until Wisdom showed up.

She timed her entrance perfectly and strode into camp five minutes before the chow line opened so everyone was present. Josh had his arm slung over Channie’s shoulders, talking to the people behind them when he spotted Wisdom, two apologetic guards on either side of her.
 

“Aunt Wisdom!” Channie ducked out from under Josh’s arm and ran to the traitorous bitch.
 

He glared at the guards, but said nothing. He’d deal with them later.

Wisdom’s supporters gathered like chicks to a mother hen as she made her way across the compound. She stopped about three feet from Josh and dropped to her knees. Twin puffs of dust rose from the dirt. “Forgive me, my prince. I was blinded by love for my sister. It even overpowered the influence of my power-name. I sincerely regret any inconvenience caused by my error in judgment and place my life in your hands.”

“Inconvenience? Error in judgment?” Josh’s voice rose in pitch and volume with each word. “Are you freakin’ crazy?“

“Josh!” Channie darted in front of him and fisted his shirt in her hands. “Don’t say anything in anger. Please. Think about the consequences.”

He trembled with rage, but Channie was right. He’d learned enough about mage law to understand that Wisdom had turned this confrontation into a trial. She’d addressed him as ‘prince,’ knelt in the dirt, and asked for forgiveness.

She’d committed treason. The penalty for that was death. He depended on the loyalty of his people to strengthen his magic. Without it, he’d never be able to defeat Dominance.
 

Even before Wisdom’s betrayal, she’d had more enemies than friends in camp. If Josh forgave her, how many of them would stop supporting him? How many would turn against him?
 

He could banish her for the lesser crime of disobedience, but even that would break Channie’s heart.
 

She released his shirt and slid down his body, kneeling beside Wisdom. “Please, my prince, show mercy.”

Josh closed his eyes and fought back a groan of despair. This was a no win situation.
What should I do?

The words from the new Book of the Dead floated across his mind…
You’ve been blessed with a powerful mate,
Willing to share your trials and fate.
Do not deny her deepest desire
Or keep her from the refiner’s fire.
Cling to the hand of your warrior bride
And fight every battle with her by your side.

He leaned over and clasped Channie’s upper arms then lifted her to her feet. He pulled her against his side then faced the crowd. “How many of you have heard the tale of how Enchantment was nearly slain by her own mother?”

Everyone lifted a hand.

“This was a direct result of Wisdom’s foolish decision to relocate her prisoner.” Josh hoped that by reminding everyone that Wisdom was the one that had originally captured Prudence, they would accept his suggestion that she had the right to ‘relocate’ her prisoner. It was a stretch. He kept his tone neutral, but used his “royal vocabulary” to give more weight to his words.

“As my wife, and our future queen, Enchantment shares the privileges and burdens of leadership. And since she was the one most harmed by Wisdom’s ‘error in judgment,’ she is uniquely qualified to determine the fate of the healer.”
 

Channie jerked her head to the side and stared at Josh.
 

“Choose wisely, my love. Your word is law.”

Josh was certain Channie would grant Wisdom immediate and total amnesty.
 

Apparently, so was Wisdom. She smiled as she stood and brushed the dust off her knees.
 

Channie didn’t so much as glance at her. “Place the accused in the cage and guard her night and day with a master mage while I consider her fate.”

Josh’s mouth fell open.

Channie closed it by prodding his chin with her finger. So much for his “royal” image.

She leaned in close and whispered. “That’s what she gets for knocking you out with a rock.”

~***~

Channie kept Aunt Wisdom locked up for two weeks while she drove herself crazy trying to come to a decision. She sought the advice of everyone she knew, and all the council members, but they all said the same thing. “It’s up to you.”

She knew that everyone, including Aunt Wisdom, expected Channie to just forgive her and be done with it. But she
had
committed treason. Not only had she disobeyed Josh, she’d attacked him. Channie understood why she’d done it, but she couldn’t let her get away with it.

She brought Wisdom into the center of camp and proclaimed her sentence in front of everyone. “I forgive you for your negligence that resulted in the escape of your prisoner.”

Wisdom’s smile lit up her face. “Thank you.”

“But,” Channie held a hand up, index finger extended. “Your blatant disregard for the authority of our prince, and future king, cannot go unpunished. You will remain in the cage and under guard until December first.”

“Channie!” Aunt Wisdom’s eyes brimmed as they widened in shock.

“During this time, you will continue to serve as camp healer. The medical tent is to be relocated adjacent to the cage.”

Aunt Wisdom’s shoulders sagged, but she bowed her head and nodded.

At first Aunt Wisdom had lots of visitors, but as the long, hot days of summer dragged on, fewer people made the trek up the steep hillside, unless they needed her healing services.
 

The only exceptions were Channie and Vengeance Veyjivik.
 

Besides Aunt Wisdom, there were only four master-mages in camp so all of them had to take turns guarding Wisdom. They all complained about the waste of their valuable time, except for Vince.
 

He seemed to be on duty every time Channie visited. And he was always arguing with Aunt Wisdom.

Channie finally confronted him. “Why are you still here? Your shift ended hours ago.”

Vince shrugged. “The other master-mages have wives and families. I don’t.”

“You have Josh.”

Vince laughed. “And he has you.”

Channie’s cheeks flushed. Josh was overwhelmed with responsibility, but every free moment he had, he spent it with her. “And I suppose you’re taking the other guards’ shifts out of the goodness of your heart.”

“Channie.” Aunt Wisdom gripped the bars of the cage. “Don’t be rude.”

“Me?” Channie snorted. “He’s the one badgering the prisoner.”

“He’s not badgering me.”

Channie narrowed her eyes. Her gaze darted between Aunt Wisdom and Vince. Surely they weren’t
flirting?

Channie wrinkled her nose at the thought.

Vince turned and headed down the trail. “I’m sure you’ll be fine, but I’ll stay in range in case you need me.”

Aunt Wisdom sighed. “Was that really necessary?”

“What?”

“It took three weeks before he’d even talk to me.”

“So?”

“I like him.”

“You like him? Like, romantically?”

“Lower your voice.” Aunt Wisdom gave Channie a disapproving scowl. “Is that so hard to believe?”

“But…” Channie lowered her voice to a whisper. “His face.”

“Do you know what I see when I look at him?”

Channie shook her head.

“I see a man that was tortured and nearly killed by his own mother.”

Channie sucked in a quick breath as the memory of Momma slicing into her chest flashed across her mind.

Aunt Wisdom raised her voice. “I see a man that fights his power-name every day because he doesn’t want to be a vengeful person. I see a man that cringes every time some thoughtless mage stares at his scars, or worse, refuses to look at him. I see a man that wants to free the very people that shun him. I see a man with a fascinating mind and a big heart. I see a man worth loving.”

“But…you’ve always said that healing people and running the school was more fulfilling than getting bossed around by some man.”

“Vincent isn’t just some man. And he knows better than to try to boss me around.”

“Well, he does have very nice eyes.”

Wisdom smiled and reached through the bars to cup Channie’s cheek. “The bluest I’ve ever seen.”

Channie smiled back at her and placed her palm over her hand. “Like the halo around a new moon.”

“Like a still lake at midnight.”

“Like sapphires.”

“Like father, like son.”

Channie nodded. “Yeah. I guess I can see how you’d fall for him.”

~***~

Vince clapped outside Josh’s tent.
 

“Come in.” Josh knew it was Vince because out of all the people in camp, he was the only one that announced his presence before just sticking his head through the flap and asking permission to enter.

“I was wondering if you might consider working on my scars?”

“Sure.” Josh had offered to try months ago, but Vince always refused, claiming it would take too much energy and that once people found out Josh was capable of such miraculous powers, they’d never give him a moment’s peace. “What changed your mind?”

Vince ducked his head and ran his gloved fingers back and forth over the brim of his hat. “I just…it’s…um…it’s really hot.”

“I’ll bet.” Josh suspected Vince's change of heart had more to do with a certain prisoner than the hot, humid weather.

Vince tugged on the fingers of his right glove. “Let’s start with my hands.”

Josh held Vince's hand in his and compared them. He had much better control of his magic than when he’d healed Liz, so it shouldn’t be that hard.
 

These are old scars, caused by a powerful mage. There will be pain.

Josh frowned. He didn’t want to confess that he was hearing voices, but he needed to warn Vince. “When Rider healed my wrist, it hurt worse than when I broke it.”

“That’s not unusual.”

“I’m afraid this might hurt.”

“I’m sure it will.” Vince took a deep breath then nodded. “I’m ready.”

Josh pictured Vince's hand identical to his own as he called up the magic in his stomach. It raced towards his heart, mixed with the energy there, then flowed into his sapphire. The gem pulsed three times then expelled a burst of pure energy.

Josh jerked away from Vince and screamed. His right hand felt as if he’d plunged it into molten lava.
 

When he regained consciousness, Vince was patting his cheeks. “Open your eyes, son. You’re okay.”

The pain was gone, but Josh was afraid to look at his hand. He ran his fingertips over the back of it and felt smooth, pliable skin. He held his hand up and examined it. It was perfectly normal. “What the hell happened?”

“I don’t know.”

Josh sat up and grabbed Vince's hand. It was also completely normal. “It worked!”

He reached for Vince's left hand, but he jerked it away from Josh.
 

“No. No more.”

“But…
it worked.”
Josh wiggled his fingers. “Give me your other hand. The pain didn’t last very long. I can handle it.”

“Well, I can’t.”

“You felt it, too?”

“As bad as when I was being fried alive.”

“But it was worth it, right?” It would’ve been to Josh, if he were the one living with the scars.

Vince trailed his healed fingertips over the arm of his coat. “I’m not going to put you through that again.”
 

“I said, I can handle it.” Josh gritted his teeth. “At least let me do your face.”

“No.” Vince stood up and shoved his hand in his glove. “End of discussion.”

“No, it’s not.”

Vince bowed his head and sighed. “At least wait until the war’s over. Even if healing my hand hadn’t caused you so much agony, it used too much energy. You need to save your strength.”

“When this is over, I’m doing it all. It might take a few days, but we can do this.”