Keepers of the Flame (62 page)

One
evening she’d spent a full hour talking to her parents, Elizabeth and a
wide-eyed Cassidy. Sevair, using Elizabeth’s retuned mirror, had been
introduced and stayed several minutes, then excused himself.

Elizabeth
glowed. Cassidy kept his fingers linked with hers, or his arm possessively
around her waist.
He
was the one who detailed the plans for a huge
wedding on the autumnal equinox. Watching him closely, Bri was of the opinion
that he’d never let Elizabeth go, never stray, always would support her. A knot
of worry eased in Bri. They looked in love and happy.

When
she felt she’d burst into tears, she reluctantly signed off, though her father
had insisted on a weekly family talk. How Bri missed touching them, hugging
them, though the knowledge that they were well and thriving comforted her.

She
still felt trapped.

R
aine didn’t like
the Marshalls’ Castle. It was a city in itself, bounded by high stone walls.
Every couple of hours or so someone would knock on her door. To meet her or
talk with her or check up on her. The Exotique women, Circlets, Chevaliers,
Marshalls. Even Luthan of the repulsion and the white leathers came, though she
thought that was to overcome his instinctive reaction around her. While she
admired him for it, he wasn’t easy company. Faucon didn’t come, hadn’t stayed
after her Summoning ritual.

She
had, of course, been provided with paper and parchment, drafting tools and
table to design The Ship. The Ship. People already called it that. Capital
letters. The Ship. They’d already accepted that she could plan and build it.
She was still figuring out what it needed to be designed
for
. To carry
Exotiques, some Marshalls and Chevaliers, for an assault on the Dark’s nest.
She shuddered at that. But she wasn’t sure of the size of the invasion force,
and thought that they’d need to carry food and weapons, and surely needed space
for volarans.

She
had maps and strange hard-copy visuals from Calli’s and her volaran’s minds.
She had no clue how such a ship was supposed to be powered. Magic Power? She
was sure that wasn’t the energy source of most boats. She’d have heard during
those horrible months at the Open Mouthed Fish.

The
Seamasters weren’t much help. Mired in failure and guilt and pride, none stayed
after the ceremony. But for her to design and build a ship, she’d need their
knowledge. So she’d have to make the first move, ensure that they knew she
forgave them. To be sincere in that would take a while.

So
there was really only one answer to her needs. Faucon. He was intelligent
enough and knowledgeable enough about the sea and Chevaliers and the Dark’s
nest to help her. He could also be a liaison between her and the Seamasters.
But she felt this Castle wasn’t the place to work with him.

An
odd sound came at her door and Raine hesitated in opening it. She’d read the
Exotique Lorebooks, knew danger could lurk beyond a door. Then strumming came
from the door harp, but since it also sounded in her mind, she didn’t think
that it was truly physical. She stepped away from the door. “Who is it?” And
why were none of her pesky visitors around when she needed them?

Sinafinal
and Tuckerinal
,
came to her mind. The feycoocus. She knew their names from the Lorebooks
written in English, had been told that their real identities weren’t mentioned
in most Lladranan Lorebooks. But she hadn’t been introduced. They’d been absent
lately.

We
will never harm you, Raine Emma Lindley.

That
raised gooseflesh on her arms. She remembered that Alexa had said they’d known
her full name when no one else had.

They
were magical beings. Knew a lot. Didn’t reveal all. “Did you know I’d been
Summoned?” Her voice came out hostile. She didn’t care.

Ttho.
We didn’t.
There was a high whine.
We bring someone to meet you.

That
was a standard saying of people at her door the past few days. “You can’t come
in unless I invite you, right?”

Two
sighs.
Ttho.

These
were the magical shape-shifting beings. She wondered what form they’d taken.
The books and other women had talked about many.

Staying
on her side of the threshold—did reading those vampire books pay off or
what—she swung the door out and open.

Two
swans and a little ball of fluff with eyes and sharp beak and feet, not
quite
a bird, stared up at her.

They
didn’t appear threatening, but their Power was strong, their melodies
beautiful. She hesitated, gave in. “Come in.”

Merci
, came two
strong voices and a teeny one.

They
flew in, settled on her bed.

I
am Sinafinal,
said the one with a darker orange beak.

I
am Tuckerinal
,
said the other.

This
is our child, Enerin. Isn’t she beautiful?

She
was.

She
likes your Song the best of all in the Castle.

Raine’s
throat tightened.

The
little being fluffed her feathers, and squeaked.

She
would like to be your companion when she is older.

Someone
of her own on Lladrana. An image came of Faucon, but now that Raine had heard
his story, she thought that even if they worked together, he’d keep any
relationship impersonal.

“I’d
take them up on it,” Bri said from the still open door. “Pretty cute.”

Ayes
, said
Sinafinal.

Yes
, said
Tuckerinal.

Ay-yes
, said Enerin.

The
baby set up a cheeping, flapped her wings. Raine went over and picked her up.
She was soft and downy and her eyes appeared dark blue. Raine lifted her to
study her better.

Pret-ty
Song. Pret-ty Song
,
the little one hummed.

“Yours
is pretty, too.”

Louder
humming. Then Enerin’s sharp beak pecked Raine hard. “Youch!” She dropped the
bird, but Enerin hovered in the air, her wings blurring like a hummingbird’s.
She darted in and sipped the droplet of blood from Raine’s hand.

Decided
and done. We will go now,
said Sinafinal. She flew from the room, followed by
Tuckerinal and Enerin.

“Let
me see.” Bri shut the door behind the trio, strode in, scowling. “These
Lladranans and their bloodbonds.”

Raine’s
stomach clutched as she realized Bri was right. The healer took Raine’s hands
and examined the puncture, touched a finger to the small wound. A flash of
flaming green warmth and the skin was whole again.

“Extraordinary,”
Raine said over the lump in her throat.

Bri
smiled. “Yeah.” She smoothed her thumb over Raine’s hand. “But it will leave a
scar.” Shaking her head, she said, “I can’t do anything about that.”

Raine
liked Bri the best of all the Exotiques. Mostly because she was the newest, and
learning of the land and people just like Raine. Less intimidating. And they
both naturally resonated with the element of water.

The
medica glanced around the suite, stared at some ship models the Marshalls had
retrieved from storage and took a chair. “I have a proposition for you.”

Raine
smirked. “Colorado woman, you know nothing of ships.”

A
chuckle from Bri, then a shake of the head. “Very true, though I think I’ve
been on more boats and ships than the other Exotiques during my travels. But
that wasn’t what I came to talk about. Before Elizabeth and I were Summoned,
the Castleton Citymasters earmarked a house and furnished it for us.” As far as
Raine could tell, only Bri and Sevair were easy with discussing Elizabeth.
Everyone else hardly mentioned the other twin. In considering that, Raine
didn’t hear the actual proposition. “Come again?” she asked.

“Sevair
and I live in a tower built into Castleton city wall. The house stands empty.”
Bri spread her hands. “It’s not my style, but I think it would suit you.” Bri’s
Song intensified and Raine sensed that Bri
wanted
Raine to take the
house, that Raine deserved it after all she’d gone through.

Bri
said, “The Lladranans are perfectly serious when they say that they’ll give
us—you—a rich estate. Something by the coast for you, maybe.” Bri shrugged.
“Sevair and I have some land in addition to the tower. But the house in
Castleton is mine and I’d like you to have it. Or live in it until you find
something else you like better.” Bri studied her. “But I think the traditional
style would suit you fine. Very elegant.”

Raine
swallowed. “Thank you.”

“We
can move you there tomorrow morning,” Bri said.

Raine
opened her mouth to remind Bri that she was doing the bloodbond thing with
Sevair the next morning, recalled that everyone seemed to think it would be
best if Bri was blissfully unaware of the ceremony. As if she’d bolt. Eyeing
Bri, Raine thought that Sevair and the rest might be wise in springing this on
her. Bri struck her as someone who was hard to pin down.

Raine
smiled.

Bri
narrowed her eyes.

“I’ll
be there a little before dawn,” Raine said.

“You
must be crazy!”

“I’m
going to do a flyover of the coast tomorrow,” Raine improvised. “See how far
north I can get in a day, check out the currents and regular fishing lanes.
Need a very early start.”

“Oh.”
Bri grimaced. “Okay.” Her expression brightened a little and she stood. “I’ll
let the servers know that we’ll need a hearty breakfast in the house. They keep
whining that they don’t have enough to do. But, really, the place is completely
furnished.” She flashed a smile. “There
is
one purple room.”

For
a moment Raine flashed on how it would have been if being surrounded by purple
was the only bad thing that had happened to her. Bri came up and hugged her.
“I’m glad you were found and I’m glad you’re here. Fuck the Seamasters.”

Raine
suppressed a flinch. “Rather not.”

“Don’t
blame you.”

One
last squeeze and Bri headed toward the door, her short, scarlet medica robe
whirling around her, over the creamy thin silk pants. She’d started a fashion;
more and more medicas were wearing their robes like Bri. Raine smiled.

“Um,
one last thing,” Bri said, glancing up and down the corridor outside.
“Can’t-make-it-to-Girls’-Night-In-tonight. See you tomorrow at some ungodly
hour of the morning.” She left fast.

“Ayes,”
Raine said. For the first time, she wasn’t going to be the one on the hot seat.
This was going to be fun. And interesting. She rubbed her hands and laughed.

47

B
ri’s courage
failed her. She didn’t want to be with the Exotiques. She sent a note that she
was busy researching the frink and Chevalier sickness and couldn’t make Girls
Night In.

Instead
she joined the evening walk in Castleton. Breathed better. Learning the city
eased her scared inner child who still felt trapped. She wouldn’t be good
company anyway. If she was tired of herself, how much more would others be?

She’d
taken a peek at Elizabeth’s place that morning, had heard lovemaking noises and
had immediately signed off. Elizabeth’s Song had come through and it had
sounded deeply happy. Of course Elizabeth had already dealt with her
experience. Not surprising. Now it was time to grow up and Bri was having
trouble.

Alexa,
Calli, and Marian converged on her in a park near her tower. Her lame excuse
hadn’t been accepted. She should have said she would be doing an out-of-body
trance.

Seeing
their determined expressions, Bri knew that rationalization wouldn’t have
stopped them either.

“Oh,
honey,” Calli said, and hugged Bri as if she was one of Calli’s children. Bri
clutched her, wanted to cry, but stepped back. Calli kept a firm arm around
Bri’s waist.

So
Bri set her feet and jutted her chin. “I’ve been having anxiety attacks.”

“What,
we couldn’t see that for ourselves?” Alexa said, walked over and hugged her,
too.

With
a gesture, a smiling Marian herded them to a park bench. Bri sat with Calli and
Alexa on each side. When they were settled, Marian stood before them. “Let’s
consider your stress factors.” She lifted a forefinger. “Summoned to another
world.”

Alexa
snorted. “Pretty much a zillion on a stress meter. Not sure why any of our
hearts just didn’t give out.”

Marian
spared her a cool look. “Because we’re made of strong stuff.” She raised a second
finger. “You’ve been healing every day you arrived.” Another finger lifted.
“You faced the fact that only you could save a people.”

Alexa’s
foot swung. “I’ve found that to be a rough stress factor, too.”

Calli
said, “Ahem. Ayes.”

Raising
a fourth finger, Marian continued, “You’ve watched people you loved die.” That
punched everyone into silence. They’d all watched people they loved die lately.