Set in Stone (44 page)

She leaned forward and kissed him softly on the cheek. "Keep it with you, and think of me."

Chapter 47

It was nearly dawn by the time Hamish arrived with Lilias at Jean's back door. Connor jumped up from the table where he sat with Jean, and his mother swept him into her arms. She held him for a full minute, and he lost himself in the comforting strength of her embrace. The fears and confusion melted away for that moment.

Once they returned to the table, Connor related events of the two failed assaults, and some of what he learned about various Petralist and Guardian powers. He left out most of the details of his own growing affinities. He'd concealed his Curse for so many years, he still struggled to speak openly about it with his friends.

When he told them about the arrival of General Wolfram and his army, Hamish frowned. "Wait a minute, how'd they get an army here?"

"I've been wondering about that. I can only guess that Ilse somehow found the trail across Mount Ingram."

"There's no trail," Jean said.

"Yes, there is. I found it just this summer. It's narrow though. . . . " Connor trailed off.

"What is it, son?"

"The trail. It wouldn't be hard to wipe it off the mountain."

"That would trap the Grandurians here," Jean said.

"I know. It might force them to surrender."

"Or fight all the harder," Hamish said.

"I'll let Carbrey decide the best course."

Lilias frowned. "This General Carbrey, I'm starting to wonder about him."

"Don't blame him, mom. How could they know Verena would have all these new powers with her Builded stones? And how could we expect another army would show up? The attack tonight would've worked."

"Easy, son. I know there's reasons for it, but a good commander should foresee problems and work to avoid them."

"I want to meet this Verena," Hamish said eagerly. "I'm on the work crew today, if they don't cancel it now that the army's arrived."

"Find her if you can." Connor's feelings for Verena were so jumbled, he was not sure what he wanted to tell Hamish about her. "Be careful. She's dangerous."

Hamish laughed. "What, is she going to hit me?"

"She might."

His smile faded. "But she tastes rocks, right?"

"Yes. Find out how it works. Any information you can gather might be very important."

"Don't worry, Connor, I'll ferret it out of her."

Jean placed a hand on Hamish's and said warmly, "No offense, Hamish, but you're not exactly the ferreting kind. More like the fall at her feet kind."

"Hey, no fair," Hamish frowned.

Connor smiled with them, but in his mind he heard Verena saying the exact same words, and the sound of her voice warmed him. He shook the memory away. He needed sleep. He was getting cracked.

Jean said, "I'm summoned to the manor house tomorrow too."

She explained that Lady Isobel had sent word that three ladies would be allowed to visit for an abbreviated Women's Circle meeting.

Connor frowned. "Mom, shouldn't you be chairing that meeting?"

She nodded and patted his hand. "Normally, yes, but I don't have access. Cinaed somehow convinced Ilse she spoke for the circle, and no one else has been allowed in to see Lady Isobel."

"Now's not the time for her games." Connor's simmering anger easily focused on Cinaed. "People are getting hurt."

Hamish spoke up, "Stuart's been bragging that his mom's going to take over as chair, that she's the only one showing leadership during the crisis."

Lilias said, "She sees only a chance for personal gain through this tragedy."

The truth of it saddened Connor, and further fueled his rage.

"I could just skip it," Jean offered.

"Oh no, dear. You must go. You're the one person we can trust to bring us word about what they're plotting."

"And while you're there, try to locate where they keep the prisoners," Connor added. "I expect there will be another battle soon, and I'm going to try to free dad and the others."

"How could you do that when the entire army can't?"

"I'm still working on it."

He hadn't really thought about it until he said it, but he realized that's what he had to do. He could no longer count on anyone else. He had this rare ability to establish affinities with multiple stones. He had to explore it further, learn all he could, and figure out how to rescue those prisoners.

"I'll try to come visit again before nightfall."

He rose and gave his mother another hug, traded shoulder punches with Hamish, and turned to say good-bye to Jean. Instead, she led him to the door.

"Connor, we need to talk."

He followed her outside. "I thought that's what we were doing."

She smiled, just a little, but it quickly faded. Whatever was on her mind, it was serious. Connor tried to imagine everything he might have done to upset her. He stopped after thinking about kissing Shona twice, wrestling so close with Verena, and . . . well, there was no way she knew about all that, did she?

Jean drew him away from the door and tucked her long, blond hair behind one ear. Connor hadn't seen her much in the past couple days, and drank in the sight of her. As much as Shona dominated his life right then, she could not match Jean's pure, innocent beauty.

"Connor, this may not be the best time to talk about this."

"All right. I'll see you later," he said, hoping she'd wait until he had more time.

As he turned to run, Jean grabbed his hand. "Don't be such a grout-for-brain. This is important."

"Jean, there are armies preparing to kill each other, and maybe all of us too. Just tell me what's bothering you and I promise to help."

She touched his cheek. "That's one of the things I love about you, Connor. So eager to help, no matter the cost."

Love? It suddenly felt very hot in the cool, early morning breeze.

She cocked her head to one side a little, like she did when puzzling over a healing mixture. "You're to be a Guardian." She sounded sad.

"I am." He had to be Guardian. It was the only way. He reached for her hand, but she slid her fingers from his.

"Connor, Guardians aren't allowed to have families."

He blinked. That's not where he had hoped the conversation was going.

Jean met his gaze, and her face suddenly looked anguished. She continued in a rush, "Connor, I can't promise to you, not Cursed, not even if you become Guardian. I couldn't have children, knowing Teagair would be refused, that they'd be taken."

She threw herself into his arms and sobbed, "Connor, I'm so sorry."

He held her awkwardly, at a loss for words, as confused emotions battled for dominance. Part of him exulted that Jean confessed she cared for him, that he was holding her close, that she seriously considered promising to him.

At the same time, her words tore at him, proving his worst fears. She could not see past his Curse, no matter her feelings.

Then again, his growing affection for Verena confused him all the more. Did he really love Jean? He had always assumed he did, but how could he feel so attracted to Verena?

What about Shona? Could she really care for him, or was he just a curiosity to him? He couldn't make head nor blade out of any of it, and that just made him want to Curse-punch something.

How had life gotten so complicated?

After a moment, he pushed her gently away and brushed tears from her cheeks. He turned her face up until their eyes met. "Jean, I don't know what's going to happen in the next day or two, but you must know you'll always hold a place in my heart."

She smiled weakly and rubbed at her face. "You're not angry with me?"

"How could I be?"

"Oh, Connor, you are a special man."

She kissed him tenderly on the lips.

Chapter 48

In the manor house, Verena stepped into the study where Wolfram stood by the window. He moved to greet her, and she handed him a small, ornately carved wooden box that he placed on the desk.

"Is it well shielded?"

"Yes."

"That was a masterful performance, Verena. Despite your father's disapproval of your presence here, if you weren't so valuable as a Builder, I would recommend you as a foreign operative."

"Thank you, sir," she said softly, her eyes downcast.

He squeezed her shoulder. "It's always hardest when we're forced to work through those we genuinely respect."

She nodded. "Why is that?"

"Because they probably wouldn't understand."

"Yes, sir."

The words comforted her a little, and she tried to hide the powerful conflicting emotions that burned in her heart. She believed in this mission, but couldn't help think of Connor's strong hands holding hers, of the trust in his eyes as he took the little stone.

What would he say when he learned the truth?

A man in a simple green coat entered the room and took up the box. Wolfram said, "I want someone listening at all times. Bring me hourly reports."

"I will see it done, general."

Verena excused herself and climbed to the empty third floor where she paced for a long time.

Chapter 49

When Connor reached the camp, a soldier ushered him directly to Carbrey's command tent. The general was sitting on his cot, still looking pale and weak. Shona sat in a chair nearby, wrapped in a thick, blue cloak, flanked by the various captains.

When Connor entered, Rory clapped him on the shoulder. "Glad you survived, lad."

"Thank you, sir."

"Where have you been?" Shona asked. She shifted and her cloak fell open a little to reveal her bandaged hand held gingerly in her lap. Her concern warmed his heart and eased some of his concern.

"They captured me again."

"That's becoming a bad habit," Captain Rory said.

"I'll work on it."