Instead he stepped into the sunlight and shielded his eyes, leaving her in the darkness. The others were not looking in his direction, going about as if they knew nothing of what had just occurred. Well, all except Ula, who looked right at him. Of course she would, just to laugh at him.
Slowly his eyes adjusted to the light. “The cave will be dry enough for us if it rains.” He glanced at Ula, and then met her eyes. “What is it?” Her lips thinned and she looked down at the meat she was preparing. He didn’t glance back at Fiona as she stepped from the cave.
Fiona’s gaze moved over each of them as Ronan settled near Ula and took out his dagger and a stone. The scrape of the blade across the hard rock filled the air, quickly chasing the uncomfortable silence away.
Fiona figured that the boy was the one most likely to have no judgments about what had just transpired between her and the blacksmith. Ula’s gaze cutting in Ronan’s direction and Keegan’s smug little grin were expressions she didn’t really want to face. So she climbed up the boulder to settle beside Ronan’s apprentice.
“See anything?”
“No.” Arien shook his fair head. “Not even a shadow that might be that centaur.”
“That should ease everyone’s worries,” Fiona said then sighed. “I’m sorry I hurt you. I didn’t mean to. I was angry and acted foolishly.”
Arien tilted his head as he looked at her. “You think I’m sore at you?” He offered a shy smile and shook his head. “I’m not. And it didn’t really hurt.”
She smiled, knowing that it was a lie he told. “I’m glad to hear that,” she said.
“If you are hungry, come and eat,” Ula called.
Arien jumped to his feet and held out a hand to help Fiona down from the boulder. She accepted his assistance, smiling when he didn’t let go until she was standing both feet on the ground.
“You go ahead. I’m not very hungry right now. I’ll eat later,” she told him and he rushed forward to accept the food Ula had waiting for him. She could see why Ronan had such a fondness for him and why Ula was so protective of him.
Leaning back against the cool stone, she looked out at the trees, dismissing her observations of the youth. What had she done? Thestian would know she and Ronan had joined. She prayed it would not make him think she could not fulfill her mission.
Missions were what always came first with Serpentine Warriors. She was the best at what she did because she wouldn’t allow herself to be swayed. She’d learned to use her sword as well as the changeling magic that was part of her. No one was better. It was why Thestian had sent for her rather than someone else.
Her gaze drifted to Ronan, watched him as he began to eat. He was a wizard and hadn’t seemed overly surprised when she’d told him. There had been denial but no shock. In fact, he’d almost seemed angry when she said the words. What did that mean? Was he someone who was a threat to Merisgale? Thestian hadn’t thought so but why then would he refuse to acknowledge his gifts?
She blinked and looked away when his gaze darted toward her. She didn’t want to be suspicious of him. The brown of Ronan’s eyes were without ill intent. He’d even felt guilty for being abrupt with her.
She liked Ronan. She liked him the moment he’d first spoken to her in the tavern. Something drew her to him, she’d felt it when they’d ridden together.
She could not afford to care for someone. That kind of caring brought pain. Pain brought error in judgment. And there could be no error when it came to the King’s Sword. The dangers were too great; the stakes to high.
Ten
“They did what?” Diato’s voice vibrated through the Great Hall of Merisgale Castle as he stared at the young wizard with wild eyes. The maids who were serving Thestian his supper cringed and then scampered from the room when Thestian took pity on them and dismissed them with a slight wave of his hand.
“I suspected it would happen.” Thestian could see the anger rising in the captain of the guards. The man looked as if he was ready to burst, eyes wide, hands shaking, jaw clenched in an effort to control his temper.
“He must have tricked her,” Diato reasoned through gritted teeth. “Took his role in carrying the sword seriously. As if he were really a guard. She may have even protested.” He was only making himself even angrier with every word he spoke.
“There seemed to be no trickery involved,” Thestian said in a soft voice and crossed his arms. “I don’t know if they felt emotion for one another. Only that they joined. Emotion could make delivering the sword more complicated. The dark forces can use the heart to weaken people.”
Diato’s entire body was shaking. “When did it happen?” His fingers dropped to the sword that rested in the sheath on his hip. He gripped the hilt tightly.
Thestian sighed heavily. “You do not want details…”
“When?” Diato forgot himself and raised his voice.
The young wizard was not offended. In fact, he understood Diato’s anger.
“Yesterday, in a cave. In the foothills of Jobi Mountains,” Thestian told him quietly.
“A cave?” Diato laughed at that but it was not a laugh of humor. It nearly sounded maniacal. Thestian rose from his chair and moved toward the window, placing distance between Diato and himself.
“I’ll kill him,” Diato threatened. “I’ll kill them both.”
“I thought I understood that the two of you were no longer together.”
“She’s mine.” The possessiveness in Diato’s voice thickened his words.
“Well, you should remain calm. You are no use to me in this crazed state,” Thestian warned but he couldn’t be sure that Diato even heard him. When he turned from the window, the man looked changed, maddened with jealousy. Thestian could see his true nature easily now. Diato did not care if Fiona didn’t want him. He could live with that. But if he couldn’t have her, then no one else could either. And that made Diato more dangerous than Thestian had ever imagined.
Diato suddenly looked up at Thestian. “It could jeopardize the mission.”
The wizard nodded. The captain obviously hadn’t heard Thestian’s warning of the same thing only moments before.
“You said Fiona was the only one to do this mission, that she was the best person for the job,” Thestian reminded. “I trust you did not lie to me.”
“I did not but I had not considered the blacksmith would be a man of such low character that he would attempt to manipulate her with sex to do as he wished,” Diato said, clearly placing full blame upon Ronan Culley.
“She may have manipulated him,” Thestian suggested quietly. “I would guess her an aggressive woman by the way she used her sword.”
“She did not manipulate him,” Diato argued, his voice trembling. “I did as you asked. I looked into the blacksmith’s past. It seems Ronan Culley is not just a man who bends metal.”
“Oh?” Thestian’s brow arched.
“He is a wizard,” Diato continued. “An ignorant wizard but a wizard none the less. He never even went to a monastery. The sword may be in danger.”
Thestian studied Diato’s face for a few moments. “What do you suggest is the appropriate course of action?”
“Interception.” Diato did not even hesitate before answering. “I could round up some of my men and ride out tonight. We could intercept them within a week.”
Thestian sighed heavily. “It seems there is no other choice. Round up your men. Leave in the morning.” Diato bowed respectfully before leaving the wizard to do as he was bid.
–
“Damned changelings. They are taking over everything,” Arneld growled, slamming his large hand down on the table. His brown eyes were filled with cold hatred. “A man can’t get a decent job anymore. It’s all changelings or worse, half beasts.”
“Arneld, not in front of our son,” Marjorie warned softly but Arneld’s head snapped around so he could stare at his young son. The boy stared at his father with wide eyes, having never seen him so angry in all his eight years.