FORBIDDEN TALENTS (12 page)

Celia bit her lip, aching for Ragni. Lover. Family. Faith. How could he choose between them?

Gudrun’s lessons had been thorough. She’d arranged for Sangor and Wirmund himself to instruct Celia in history and religion. The history of Nuvinland’s rift with Nuheimjord was entwined with the rise of the church of Baldur and the condemnation of unsanctioned magic. Jorund’s treason had inspired Wirmund to root out religious rebellion, and he pursued that purpose with a passion. If the Overprest knew that Saeun had practiced Odin’s Forbidden Art, she was screwed.

Celia didn’t know much about the young woman except that she was quiet and pleasant—and a Daughter of Freya. Most of the Daughters only wanted equal protection under the law, but they weren’t well tolerated and most of those women kept their affiliation hidden. Celia had kept Saeun’s association with the Daughters secret even when Kaidlin had confided her delighted suspicion that Saeun and Ragni were lovers. Had that been a mistake? And that wasn’t the only question, or the only secret, nagging at her.
“
What does he mean, that’s how you found me?
”
she asked Dahleven.
“
You said a Tracker followed us from Jorund’s camp.
”

Ragni shook his head.
“
The Trackers were blinded by something the first time you were taken—probably an amulet. Jorund didn’t stop using whatever had worked before. No one could Find or Track you. Saeun must have conjured him a vision of where you were. A vision he could use his Pathfinding on. Is that how it was, brother?
”

“
Something like that,
”
Dahleven growled.

“
You lied to me? Why? Why didn’t you tell me?
”

“
I didn’t tell anyone.
”

“
And because you didn’t speak, I asked an apostate to be my
elskerinne
.
”
Ragni snarled.

Dahleven’s softened voice still held steel.
“
How could I expose her, when she offered me help at such great risk to herself?
”

“
She
helped
with forbidden, unsanctioned magic!
”
Ragni gestured widely.

“
She found Celia!
”

“
As glad as I am of that, I can’t condone—
”
Ragni’s voice broke and he swallowed hard.

“
It doesn’t matter if you condone what she did. You love her,
”
Celia said.

“
Quartzholm and Nuvinland need more than sentiment to remain safe and strong.
”
Ragni’s voice grated over the words.
“
There is more to life than love.
”

“
And much less,
”
Celia said.

Ragni’s mouth compressed to a thin tight line.

“
So you’re going to let some stupid rule ruin your lives?
”
she demanded.

“
The Laws of Sanction exist for a reason!
”

“
What will you do, then? Will you expose me?
”
Dahleven asked.

“
Of course not! How could you think it? But by the gods, Dahl, if Saeun is caught, Wirmund will wring the truth from her. You’ll need Baldur’s Blessings to keep from being stripped of your Talent and Outcast.
”

TORCHLIGHT FLICKERED IN the courtyard as Dahleven strode down the steps to greet his father’s oldest friend in the open area at the base of the stairs.
“
Lord Magnus! Welcome! You made good time.
”
A few of the merchants who’d remained overnight watched from a distance as he grasped the other man’s forearm.
“
We had not hoped for the pleasure of your company, and that of the lovely Utta, for a day yet.
”
Dahleven smiled at his future sister-by-marriage.
“
Father and Ragni will be pleased.
”

Utta returned the smile but didn’t blush, at least as far as he could tell in the uncertain light.
Good. She’s not too shy—though Ragni could surely charm her out of it if she were
. Dahleven had never paid much attention to Utta. Now he looked at her more closely. She was pretty enough, with her brown eyes and hair. He hoped she could distract Ragni from his ill-fated infatuation with Saeun.

Magnus, solid and square, clasped Dahleven’s forearm in return and thumped his shoulder with his other hand.
“
We’d hardly dawdle with such uncommon visitors awaiting!
”

As soon as he’d known of the Tewakwe’s impending arrival, Neven had sent word to Magnus that he might want to arrive earlier than Winterfest, when they would confirm their children’s betrothal.

Servants were already unloading their horses of baggage under the watchful eye of Utta’s maid. Magni, Magnus’s grandson and heir, would no doubt arrive later to celebrate his aunt’s betrothal, along with the carriages and wagons carrying Utta’s ladies and her dowry.

“
Come in out of the cold!
”
Dahleven continued, glad of the heavy cloak he wore over an embroidered green velvet vest and full sleeved shirt. It would snow soon. The wind had shifted in the afternoon, slicing down from the mountain passes.
“
I’m sure you’re anxious to meet the Tewakwe, but perhaps you would prefer to go to your rooms tonight and greet them well rested in the morning?
”
There’d been no chance to speak to Father about Wirmund and Saeun before they’d gathered for the meal. If Magnus joined them at the feast, he and Neven would closet themselves afterward to confer on matters great and small until the dark hours before dawn.

Magnus cocked a shrewd eye at him.
“
You are a considerate host indeed, Lord Dahleven, but we are not so tired by our journey that we cannot join the feasting.
”

Resigned, Dahleven broadened his smile. It had been a thin chance, at best.
“
Excellent! Father will be glad to hear your journey was an easy one. Let us go in. No doubt you’ll want to change from your traveling clothes.
”

*

Ragni paused outside the door as he escorted Utta to her room. He’d had no opportunity to speak with her at the feast. She and Magnus had been seated beside Neven, and afterward she’d been surrounded by the women of his family. That was fine by him. But Father and Magnus wanted them to make not just a good political match but a happy one, too. So he’d sought her out as the evening waned, made himself pleasant, and then accompanied her from the feast.

He leaned toward her, lifting his hand close to her upper arm where she’d eventually wear his marriage bands, but not quite touching her. She probably wouldn’t refuse an invitation to make love, but he didn’t use his Empathy to find out. He had other things, urgent things, to do this night.
“
I’m glad you and Lord Magnus came early, my dear.
”

Utta turned her soft brown eyes up to his, meeting his gaze directly.
“
As am I, Lord Ragnar. If we are to enjoy some measure of happiness together, we would do well to get acquainted as early as possible.
”

Had he thought her eyes soft? Weary, maybe, but a definite glint of intelligence firmed her gaze.
“
You must call me Ragni, as the rest of the family does.
”

She gave him a small smile.
“
Perhaps tomorrow. Tonight we have only taken the first small steps toward familiarity.
”

“
‘A wise woman is a scarce treasure,’
”
he said, quoting the old saying.

Utta snorted delicately.
“
I rather think the perceived scarcity is due to a lack of observational skills.
”

Ragni laughed.
“
I’m sure my mother will agree with that sentiment.
”
He inclined his head.
“
Until tomorrow then, my Lady Utta.
”

Ragni waited until Utta’s door latched behind her, then walked down the hall and up the stairs to the family wing. It was late, but he didn’t stop at his own rooms. Instead, he continued on to his younger sister’s. He hadn’t had a chance to speak to her privately, and she’d left the feasting early.
This can’t wait until tomorrow
.

Ragni rapped softly on Kaidlin’s door. It opened after a short delay. His sister’s eyes looked puffy with interrupted sleep.

“
I’m sorry I’m so late, Kady. Utta didn’t retire as early as I hoped, and there was the toasting, and, well, you know.
”

Kaidlin nodded sympathetically.
“
You couldn’t abandon her. I understand.
”
She gestured him into her rooms and shut the door.
“
What’s so important it couldn’t wait until morning? Bjorn rises early.
”

Ragni grinned. His two-year-old nephew was a force of nature and his sister didn’t delegate much of his care to servants.
“
He keeps you busy, doesn’t he?
”

Kaidlin smiled.
“
And every day he’s more like his father.
”

Ragni looked at her closely, touching her with his Talent. Her husband, Sven, had died fighting Tewakwe Renegades, but she seemed serene now, even joyful as she spoke of her son. The sharp-edged sadness she’d carried in her heart for a year had faded to a gentle sorrow. Ragni was relieved that the arrival of the Tewakwe hadn’t honed its bite. Suitors had started sniffing around some months ago, but so far she’d shown no interest in marrying again. Their father, wisely, had put no pressure on her.

“
So?
”
she prompted, crossing her arms and leaning against the closed door.

He felt coldly sober, despite his belly full of wine and mead.
“
Saeun will soon be arrested. We must distance ourselves from her.
”
He winced. Somehow he hadn’t thought the words would hurt so much coming out of his own mouth as they had coming from Wirmund. He’d been wrong.

“
What? Arrested! Why?
”
Kaidlin straightened away from the door, stiff with surprise.

“
Equipment for ritual magic was found in her room.
”

“
Oh, no! Oh, Ragni! I’m so sorry.
”
Kaidlin put a comforting hand on his arm.

Of course Kady knew about the two of them. Her sympathy soothed his raw nerves.
“
Aren’t you the least bit dismayed that she’s been practicing magic?
”

Kaidlin waved her hands dismissively.
“
I’m more dismayed she’s in trouble. Saeun would never harm anyone.
”
She paced a few steps across her sitting room, then turned back to Ragni.
“
What is she going to do? What did she say when you warned her?
”

“
I haven’t.
”

“
What? Why not?
”
Doubt and suspicion flowed out of her.
“
Surely you don’t go along with this?
”

Ragni clamped down on his Talent. Kaidlin’s near accusation churned his already conflicted feelings. Of course he wanted to protect Saeun. Did his sister think him a monster, that he could ask a woman to be his
elskerinne
one moment and Outcast her the next with scarcely a twitch? But he was a priest, by the gods, and a Jarl’s son, as well. Did no one understand he had a duty to the Law and to Baldur? That his personal feelings alone could not determine his actions?

Ragni forced his clenched jaw to relax. Kaidlin’s words and feelings arose from her concern for her friend, so he addressed the practical problem.
“
As Wirmund’s second I’m watched, as she must be. Celia said she’d get a message to her.
”

Kaidlin’s alarmed concern settled.
“
Good. Celia has a good heart.
”

As opposed to mine
? But he said nothing.

“
You talked to Celia first?
”

“
She was there when I told Dahleven,
”
Ragni said. Anticipating her next question, he continued.
“
I had to talk to him about something else, or I’d have told you first. And this affects the whole family.
”