Sorceress of Faith (41 page)

“I’m
sorry,” she said.

His
smile was crooked. “I know that your childhood wasn’t pleasant, either.”

Marian
shrugged. “How many people do you know who had a great childhood? Alexa
didn’t.”

“Of
the Circlets? Most, I would say. Extraordinary Power tends to show itself
early. If their own parents weren’t of the Tower Community, they’d be fostered,
then apprenticed to a Circlet while still young. For instance, both Chalmon and
Venetria had an easy childhood and student life.”

As
he said it, Jaquar felt another tingle at the back of his neck, as if they were
being watched. He’d experienced it a couple of times since they’d entered
Castleton—once when they’d entered the city gates on the way to speak with
Masif and again when they’d left the stonemason’s home.

They
were in a busier portion of the town, with small shops and narrower streets.
Mentally, he stretched his Power, and caught a flicker of pulsing Circlet Power
and a glimpse of a tall, lanky youth and the bright green cape he wore.
Chalmon’s recent student who’d raised his Tower and advanced to Circlet had
chosen that color green as his own.

Jaquar
set his arm around Marian’s waist. They were lovers now. He knew a little more
of her mind, and how completely unaware she was of some aspects of Lladranan
culture, like the competition between the Towers. He’d protect her.

The
Marshalls’ Council Meeting this morning had not gone well. He’d told them of
the plane-walking and the dark maw and the master—but not all of the master’s
words—and they’d demanded information about where this evil place was, despite
the fact that he’d told them the Tower wasn’t sure of the location.

He’d
spoken of the Circlet observers and the Marshalls had insisted that they
receive all previous and future reports of the watchers. The Marshalls wanted
the
Tower Lorebook
. As usual, the Marshalls did not listen but
commanded. Jaquar had hoped this would be different now that Alexa was part of
the Marshalls, but tradition and ingrained distrust of the Tower were too
strong to overcome, at least in one meeting.

Marian
sighed and leaned into him, and Jaquar realized that they’d just passed through
the city gate and onto the road up to the Castle. He’d been lost in thought.

She
hadn’t demanded to know what he was thinking, hadn’t chattered or tried to
converse while he was in deep thought. A jewel of a woman. Truly a Scholar and
a lady.

As
she kept step with him, the Song they’d made between them resonated low and
potent. Her body brushed against his, hip and thigh. Under his arm her waist
was soft and supple. Her fiery hair, different in texture than any he’d known,
caressed his cheek. The fragrance of her rose to his nostrils and he inhaled,
believing that he could never get enough of that scent.

But
she was bent on returning to Exotique Terre. Now that he’d bonded sexually with
her, he knew firsthand of her love for her brother, how much Andrew meant to
her. Jaquar could not keep her from the young man. If Jaquar’s parents had been
alive, or if he had stronger bonds with other Circlets and they had the time
and incentive, he’d have proposed that they Summon Andrew. But even then, the
young man’s health was too fragile for that. Not that the Circlets of the Tower
worked together well. They simply didn’t join together often enough to practice
merging their energies. They hadn’t had a strong enough outside reason to
cooperate.

Until
now.

The
sangvile and the threat of many sangviles all feasting on the rich Power of
Circlets in a few days scared Jaquar down to the bone. And he was sure he
wasn’t the only one. Even Bossgond had expressed a fear of the monsters. Time
to consult the old mage. He’d help with a plan.

Marian
hummed a little tune and Jaquar’s focus returned to her. The tune, like so much
else about her, was unfamiliar. He liked it.

He
liked
her
. More—she fulfilled him. Sex with her wiped his mind clean of
concerns. Her conversation stimulated him. Her joy in learning her Power
reminded him of his own past, helped him recall lovely moments between himself
and his parents, instead of remembering them as gray husks echoing of emotional
torture.

She
stumbled and he steadied her, held her close, noting with wry amusement that
his heart rate sped up at the contact.

Marian
smiled up at him and his thoughts scattered.

He
wished she could stay. He’d court her if she stayed.

The
idea terrified as well as delighted him. He’d been spoiled by his parents’
Pairing. They were a rare Circlet Pair—equal, trusting partners. Much more
likely was a string of lovers, or a live-in lover who wasn’t a Circlet, or the
bickering and mistrust shown by Chalmon and Venetria. Before Marian, he’d never
thought he’d be so lucky as to find a Circlet who’d complement him. His rough
early childhood had made him cynical enough that he hadn’t aspired to a
Pair-bond with a woman.

Now
there was Marian.

Her
hand slid into his and the touch of her fingers along his palm fired every
nerve in his body. He was completely, achingly aware of her and aroused.

He
glanced to the side of the road. No wonder, this was the place they’d appeared
last night.

Blood
had rushed under Marian’s skin, too, and since her coloring was so much paler
than a Lladranan’s it was easier to see. Enticing.

How
fast could they get back to their bedroom?

24

A
s they walked up
to the gate, a deafening alarm shrieked.

Alexa
passed them, screaming, “Let me by!” People got out of her way, fast. The
Chevalier she’d been talking to ran with her. The Castle guards stiffened,
became more alert.

Bastien
appeared at the far end of the thickly-walled entrance tunnel, grabbed Alexa
and dropped a chain-mail tunic over her. Two other people came to dress her in
armor. An instant later the sound of volaran wings beating the air reached
Marian. People tilted back their heads and looked up. At least twenty volarans
took to the sky in the first wave. Marian recognized several Marshall Pairs, as
well as noble and independent Chevaliers, flying singly and in twos.

“Let’s
go!” Bastien said, and whistled. A huge dappled volaran strode into view.

Marian’s
heart clutched. Her friend was going into battle. She didn’t know what to say,
what to do, could only stand and stare. Though Bastien’s face was creased in a
wide, fighting grin, Alexa looked pale under her helmet as she squared her
shoulders.

“Good
luck!” Marian shouted.

“Merci!”
Alexa called back, in Lladranan.

Bastien
dipped his head to Marian, picked his Pairling up by her waist and tossed her
onto the volaran. He leaped to the flying horse’s back behind Alexa. “Fly!” he
cried.

The
volaran’s muscles bunched, wings extended. He took to the air, disappeared
behind the Castle walls, then soared above them. Other volarans flew in
formation behind Bastien and Alexa. Marian saw Pascal and Alexa’s new
Chevaliers, Koz and Perlee, all riding beautiful volarans. Under her helmet,
Perlee’s hair showed red in the sun and she stroked her volaran’s neck and
laughed with excitement. Koz glanced over at her and smiled. They looked years
younger than the desperate couple Marian had first noticed at the Nom de Nom
the night before.

Alexa
and Bastien were the only ones who rode double—because she didn’t ride well,
didn’t fly well, Marian remembered.

The
klaxon stopped and the great silence pressed on Marian’s ears, not mitigating
the dread in her stomach. People moved around them, going in or out of the
gate, on their daily business. Marian clutched one of Jaquar’s hands in both of
hers.

More
shouting came from beyond the gate, and another wave of volarans rose. This
time their leader was Luthan Vauxveau in his pristine white fighting gear. His
hair was wet as if he’d been bathing when the alarm sounded. No woman rode with
him and his expression was severe.

Marian
gulped. “Alexa’s gone,” she said, her voice raspy.

Jaquar
slipped his arm around her waist. “Yes.”

“I
thought since she found the answer to the fence posts, there would be fewer
battles!” The connection between Alexa and her grew every day, as did their
affection.

Marian
and Jaquar were now alone on the road.

He
urged her forward. “The Marshalls can now raise more fence posts and energize
the magical boundary that keeps the horrors out, but there are still old gaps,
and the ancient posts continue to wear out and fail.”

They
came to the gate and the Castle soldiers looked at Marian, intrigued. Then one
stared at Jaquar and her eyes hardened.

“The
Marshalls fly to defend Lladrana from the Dark. What does the Tower Community
do to defeat the evil?” The soldier sneered.

“I
reported to the Marshalls of the Tower’s efforts this morning,” Jaquar said.
“The Marshalls are responsible for sharing the information.”

Marian
raised her chin. “We destroyed a mass of frinks in the clouds yesterday,” she
said.

The
soldier’s expression softened. She gave a little bow to Marian. “Our thanks.
Exotiques are such a boon in these dangerous times. Thank you for coming to
help us.”

Marian
nodded, flushing. She was a fraud. She’d been learning her Power and playing,
and the only help she’d given was inadvertently. She hurried with Jaquar
through the Castle gate and into the Lower Ward.

There
she saw great activity. More Chevaliers, even a Sword and Shield Marshall Pair,
ran to the stables and Landing Field, continuing to respond to the silenced
alarm.

“What
am I going to do?” Marian murmured under her breath. Lladrana needed her. Alexa
needed her. Surely Marian should fill the position of Tower Exotique as Alexa
had that of Castle Exotique.

The
longer Marian stayed, the more she was torn.

Andrew
needed her. How could she abandon her old life? Andrew? Her mother?

How
could she turn her back on this new opportunity that fulfilled her more than
her life on Earth had done?

“Come,”
Jaquar said, as if he felt her agitation through their sex bond. He led her
through Horseshoe Close, to the stables and inside to a small training ring.

There
stood a lovely roan volaran watching a tiny cream-colored foal. The beauty of
the sight caused new tears to sting behind her eyes. The little flying horse
was practicing running, stretching its wings, and now and then hopping into the
air and gliding a few feet. The mare looked on indulgently.

Jaquar
leaned against the rail. “Bastien asked the mare if the foal, which is a filly,
can stay with him and Alexa and train to be Alexa’s mount.” Jaquar chuckled.
“By the time the foal is adult, Alexa should be ready to fly on her own.”

Marian
watched the small horse, exploring as all babies explore, learning new things
every minute. She knew Jaquar had brought her here to give her pleasure, and
the visit had, for a moment, but now all the uncertainties of Lladrana’s future
seemed emphasized.

“She’s
going to be a battle mare, then.” Marian choked, her gaze following mother and
child as they circled the ring.

Jaquar
drew her into his arms. “Yes. We live in a difficult time. An era that wouldn’t
have been so hard if our ancestors had concentrated on discovering the nature
of the Dark and defeating it.” He snorted. “They studied its creatures, deduced
how to contain the invasion of the horrors and, when that worked in general,
went on with their lives. A terrible mistake.” A hint of bitterness emanated
from him.

Marian
circled him with her arms, leaned against him and closed her eyes. The solidity
of his tall, strong body comforted her—the woodsy scent of him, but most of all
she was reassured by his determination to find out the nature of the evil that
threatened Lladrana and work with others to destroy it.

“I
can’t stay.” Marian opened her eyes and stepped back, repeating the words that
had become her mantra. “I must return to Andrew.”

Jaquar
smiled sadly, brushed a thumb over her cheekbone. “I know. So we have a short
time together. But I will help you, Marian. Bossgond and I will make sure that
you return home.” His voice lowered. “Perhaps you could consider coming
back…and bringing Andrew if possible. As you saw, Exotiques are prized.”

He
leaned forward, brushed his lips against hers, back and forth, sensitizing
them. “Before you leave, we will generate a plan for you to come back. Please
consider, Marian.”

She
swallowed. “You think we could do it?”

His
eyes fired. “We can try.”

Slowly,
she shook her head. “I don’t know if Andrew is strong enough.”

Jaquar
dropped his arms. “Bossgond watches other dimensions. He knows a great deal
about the Dimensional Corridor and will try to make all the Exotiques’ trips
safe and easy in the future. He is studying Summoning Power and Ritual to the
exclusion of all else. I am a master of plane-walking. Between us, and with
Alexa, we should be able to bring you back, and Andrew, too. The gate soldier
was right, Marian—Lladrana needs you.” Jaquar grasped her hands, lifted one and
kissed its back, then did the same with the other. “And I think you need
Lladrana, as well.” He shook his head. “I don’t know much of your life on
Exotique Terre, but the Song wouldn’t have chosen you for the Tower Exotique if
you couldn’t enjoy a life on Lladrana.”