A Kind Of Magic (19 page)

“I think ‘tis yours.”

Elle studied him a moment before she turned toward the weapon. It looked somewhat like a bow and arrow but much smaller.

He moved beside her and picked the weapon up. “The Fae have many weapons.

This is one that Aimery thought would suit you.”

“But I don’t know how to shoot a bow and arrow.” He shrugged and smiled. “Looks like you better learn.” She held the magnificent weapon in her hands. It was light but sturdy. She pulled back on the string as if she had notched an arrow. It fit her hands perfectly, as if someone had measured her.

Upon closer inspection, she saw many designs that looked like Celtic knots that were so popular in her time, but different, more fantastical and intricate.

“It’s

beautiful,”

she said and ran her hand over the wood.

“Everything the Fae does is beautiful.”

She raised her eyes at his tone, as if he were remembering something. “Have you ever been to their realm?”

He shook his head, a sad look on his face. “Few are allowed there. Hugh has been summoned a few times, and his descriptions are incredible. I would love to see it sometime.”

“I bet you’ll get your chance.”

A knock sounded on her door then.

She glanced at Roderick who stood stock still. Since he refused to look at her, she padded across the cold stone floor to the door.

“Who is it?” she asked.

“Lady Mina said you might need a bath this morning.”

“Yes, please,” Elle replied and unbarred the door.

The servant hissed and ran towards the hearth. “The fire went out, milady,” the maid said.

“I’ll tend to that,” Roderick said.

Elle jerked around, hoping he had covered himself, only to find him standing with his clothes on. She shivered in the blanket, not used to the cold climate of England. A fire would be nice, not that she had noticed while snuggled up against Roderick.

The maid hastily moved out of the way as Roderick bent down and began to rekindle the fire. While the wooden tub was brought in and filled with water, Elle stood back and watched.

With steam rising from the tub and a fire crackling, all Elle wanted was to be alone with Roderick. And it seemed he was of like mind.

“Out,” he ordered the servants.

When the door closed behind the servants, Roderick walked to her and took her in a toe curling kiss. She sighed and melted against him, letting the blanket fall at her feet.

He pulled back and gazed down at her. “I need to see Val and Hugh.”

“I understand,” she said, hoping he didn’t see too much disappointment in her eyes.

He made a sound much like a growl. “You must know I wish to stay.” She laughed when he rubbed his stiff rod against her. “I know. I just didn’t want the night to end.”

“It won’t,” he promised and released her to retrieve his weapons. “I must go before I throw you on the bed and ravage you again.”

“If I can’t tempt you, then you had best leave,” Elle taunted as she lifted one leg and placed it on the edge of the wooden tub.

“Don’t be long,” Roderick said before he slipped out the door.

Elle sighed as she sank into the hot water. Not because the heat helped melt some of the iciness from her bones but because she looked forward to seeing Roderick.

Roderick raced to his chamber. He stripped his clothes and tossed them in a corner as he hurriedly washed with the cold water left in a bowl for him. He and the other Shields never worried about clothes. The Fae took care of all of that.

He lifted the lid to the trunk by his bed and found clothes just to his taste. And as he knew they would, they fit perfectly.

With his boots back on, he stood and gazed at his bed. Images of the night before flashed in his eyes, and he longed to return to Elle, but there was much to do. Just as he reached for his sword, he felt something behind him. His hand closed over the hilt the same time he swung around.

Aimery easily side stepped the blade and cocked a brow at Roderick. “Do I take that to mean you didn’t want your weapons returned?” Roderick cursed and lowered his sword. “I had no idea it was you. I felt something and attacked.”

Aimery frowned. “Have you ever felt my presence before?”

“Nay,” Roderick answered as he strapped on the scabbard and sheathed his sword.

“Strange, don’t you think?” he asked.

Roderick raised his gaze to the Fae commander. “Aimery, things stopped being strange the moment I became a Shield.”

Aimery chuckled, a sound Roderick rarely heard. He eyed the Fae again as he ran his hands through his hair.

“Thank you for giving Elle her weapon,” Roderick said after several moments had passed and Aimery hadn’t spoken.

He shrugged. “There was no real reason to deny their request. If able, ‘tis her and her people that will end the evil here, as well as giving you a clue as to how to end it on your realm.”

Roderick closed his eyes. While he had been with Elle, he had forgotten the awful pain he lived with every day, the yearning to return to his realm to see his family again, but more than that, the forgiveness he needed to beg for. Instead, he had only thought of her and the happiness she had given him.

He opened his eyes and looked at Aimery. “You delivered the weapons?” Aimery

nodded.

“Aren’t you going to say anything?”

“What is there to say?” Aimery asked. “You are grown men. I don’t stop any of you from finding what little happiness you can while during your duty.”

“But this is different,” Roderick argued. “Elle is different.” Aimery dropped his arms and took a step toward him. “Aye. She is. More than you realize.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Roderick hated it when Aimery gave hints to things but never spoke. “Don’t do this, Aimery. Tell me.”

“You already know,” the Fae said.

“By the gods,” Roderick hissed and turned away to pace. “Lecture me on keeping away from the very women that could aide us, reprimand me on keeping my mind on my duty and not on … other things.”

“It wouldn’t do any good,” Aimery spoke calmly. “Besides, what you and Elle shared was mutual. You did not take advantage of her. She wanted you as much as you wanted her.”

Roderick stopped pacing and ran a hand through his hair. “Then why do I feel as though I have betrayed you and the Shields.”

“Only you can answer that,” Aimery said.

“I want her.”

Aimery nodded. “I know.”

Roderick sank onto the bed. “Yet, I cannot have her, can I?” Aimery didn’t reply, which was all the answer Roderick needed.

“No one really knows the future,” Aimery finally said. “Only time will tell.” When Roderick raised his gaze, Aimery was gone. There was no use cursing the Fae since he wasn’t there to hear it. Instead, Roderick rose and walked from his chamber. He had a sinking feeling that the harpies would attack very soon.

“There you are,” Val called as Roderick stepped into the great hall. “Hungry?”

“Starving,”

Roderick

answered, though it wasn’t food he wanted. What he yearned for sat in a hot bath upstairs.

He tried to ignore Val’s watchful gaze as he helped himself to the platter of food on the table. Finally, he could take it no more.

“What?”

he

asked.

Val shrugged. “I know not. You look … different.”

“What are you talking about?” he asked before taking a bite of the warm bread.

“I have no idea,” Val said with a grumble. “Have you spoken to Elle this morning?”

Roderick stopped chewing and glanced at Val. “Aye. Have you?” Val shook his head as he took a drink. “I wondered how she fared during the cold night. She isn’t used to this weather.”

“She fared fine.”

He waited for Val to ask him how he knew that, but thankfully, his friend didn’t.

“My weapons were returned last night.”

“I figured they would,” Val said. “I also think we need to finish preparations.” Roderick set down his knife and turned to Val. “I agree. I think our time is about to run out.”

“Do you know something?” Val asked, staring at him closely again.

“Nay,” Roderick answered and turned away. “I just have this … feeling that the harpies are closing in.”

“You have never had anything like this before.” Roderick rubbed his neck. “I know.”

“What do you think it is?”

“I haven’t a clue, but I sincerely hope I’m wrong.” Val tapped his finger on the table. “I don’t think you are. In Rome, we learned to listen to the instincts of the people that were able to channel certain things.” Roderick chuckled and looked at him. “I am not a seer, Val.”

“This I know,” Val said. “However, you sound convinced of your feelings, and I have known you long enough to trust you.”

Hugh walked up and stood between them. “Trust Roderick for what?”

“He thinks the harpies will be here soon,” Val answered.

Roderick turned his face to Hugh and his questioning gaze. “I cannot explain it.”

“No need,” he replied. “Let us start immediately then.” Val and Roderick scooted their chairs back and rose from the table to follow Hugh from the hall. Suddenly, Hugh stopped and turned to them.

“Roderick, did Elle receive something this morn?”

“Aye,” Roderick answered. “Aimery gave her a weapon. And Mina?”

“Her as well.”

“I knew he would,” Val said and walked from the hall.

Roderick waited for Hugh to continue for it was obvious something bothered him.

“What is it?”

Hugh shrugged. “I am not comfortable with Mina being involved with this.”

“Me either, but we need both her and Elle. If it were up to me, I would lock them away until it was all over.”

Something changed in Hugh’s gaze as he stared at him, and it made Roderick uncomfortable. It was as if Hugh could see into his soul and what he and Elle had done the night before.

“How did Elle fare last night?”

Roderick ground his teeth. “She fared well.”

“Good,” Hugh said and smiled widely.

Thankfully, Hugh ended the questions and turned to exit the castle. Roderick followed but stopped at the door and looked back. He had hoped Elle would have come down by now, but he suspected Mina had trapped her.

He shut the door behind him and stepped out into the chilly air as snow began to fall. His gaze lifted to the sky, listening for anything odd. So far, nothing, but he knew, knew just as he knew the moon would rise that night, that the harpies were on their way.

“Roderick,”

Hugh

called.

He hurried to Hugh and Val and the handful of knights that Hugh had personally picked.

Elle hated to rise from the warm water, but she had no other choice if she didn’t want to turn into an icicle when the water began to turn cold. She jumped out of the tub and stood before the roaring fire on a rug and hurriedly toweled off.

The towel wasn’t the fluffy, soft cloth she was used to, but she made do. Her teeth were chattering as she wrapped her arms around herself and ran to where she had discarded her clothes and lingerie the night before, only to find them gone.

Since she was turning blue, she grabbed the blanket she had used earlier and wrapped it around her. That’s when she spied her clothes neatly folded on a stool near the wall. They looked clean, as if someone had washed them.

Remembering how Aimery had taken care of the weapons, something urged her to check the chest at the foot of the bed. She opened it to find her lingerie inside. She squealed with delight at spying her expensive garments.

“Thank you, Aimery,” she said.

“What are you thanking him for?” Mina asked as she stepped into the room.

“Your weapon?”

Elle laughed. “Well that, too, but this,” she said and held up a sapphire blue bra.

Mina’s eyes widened. “What is that?”

“My

lingerie.”

“What?”

Elle laughed again and decided it best to show instead of tell. She dropped the blanket, not caring that she was nude beneath and clasped her bra in place and tugged on the matching panties.

“The saints,” Mina said in awe.

“They are wonderful,” Elle said, delight pouring through her.

Mina knelt at the chest and shifted through them. “So, Aimery brought these to you?”

“I guess. And I didn’t even ask for them.”

“And the gowns?”

Elle was about to put on her gown from the day before but stopped at Mina’s words. “What clothes?”

“These

gowns.”

She walked to Mina and the chest and looked inside to see the beautiful gowns.

“Oh, my,” she said as she held up a dark blue gown.

“Put it on,” Mina said as she stood.

Elle hurried to comply and wasn’t surprised when it fit. “Amazing.”

“Aye, the Fae are like that. The color brings out your eyes.” Elle bit her lip as she thought of Roderick.

Mina laughed and began to lace up the back of the gown. “And Roderick will love you in it.”

“What?” Elle tried to act as though she had no idea what Mina was talking about, but she knew she failed miserably.

Mina tied off the gown and walked around Elle until she faced her. “I’m not as blind as my husband or Val. I could practically see the tension between you and Roderick. And since you’re smiling this morning, I gather everything has worked out.” Elle had never been so embarrassed. In her own time, sleeping with someone that interested you wasn’t a bad thing, but this was Medieval England. Things were different.

“Please, don’t think badly of me.”

“Why would I?” Mina asked, her lips turned down in a frown. “You are my friend.”

“But things are different here.”

Mina laughed and rolled her eyes. “Not so different.” Elle blew a breath out of her mouth, unaware just how much Mina’s approval meant to her until that moment.

She sat and let Mina brush her hair and pull it into a thick braid that fell to the middle of her shoulder blades. Elle stood out with her bangs, but she didn’t mind. She still loved the haircut, which was something that occurred maybe once every ten years for her.

“We must hurry,” Mina said as she walked to the door.

Elle grabbed her new weapon and followed her. “Why?”