A Kind Of Magic (20 page)

“Then men are waiting for us.”

“For what?” she asked as she lifted the hem of her skirt and prayed she didn’t tumble down the narrow stairs.

“We must prepare for the harpies.”

Elle stopped. The harpies. How had she forgotten about them? She looked around the great hall and thought of Mina and Hugh and the people of Stone Crest. Her thoughts then skidded to Val and Roderick. Would they all come out of this alive?

“Elle?”

She looked down at Mina’s questioning gaze. “I don’t know how to use my weapon.”

“That will be rectified this morn.”

Elle followed Mina into the bailey, quickly tying her cloak while juggling her bow and arrows. Her eyes immediately scanned the crowds until she found Roderick.

The sun glinted off his golden waves, and she itched to run her fingers through the shoulder length locks again.

Suddenly, he turned and looked at her. They shared a secret smile before he and Val walked toward her.

“Up already?” Roderick asked.

Elle was hard pressed not to laugh while she shivered. “Actually, I’ve been up awhile. I found a few…interesting…items in my room.”

“Aimery brought her a few things,” Mina explained. “The chest is filled with gowns and a few other things.”

“Other things?” Val asked. “Like what?”

“Personal items,” Elle said and glanced at Roderick.

Val grumbled beneath his breath. “We need to go.” Roderick turned and motioned to someone Elle couldn’t see. He turned back to her. “We are going to the monastery and the Druid ruins.” Elle didn’t answer him, just looked at the horses being brought to them. It had been a long time since she had ridden, and only with a western saddle. She didn’t know how she was going to manage in a dress.

“You’ll do fine,” Roderick whispered as he walked her to a small gray mare and hooked her bow and arrow on the saddle. “She has a sweet disposition, and I promise that I will not let anything happen to you.”

“You better not,” she said over her shoulder as she reached up to pat the mare.

“She’s pretty.”

“Not as beautiful as you,” Roderick whispered right before he lifted her onto the horse.

Elle didn’t have a chance to reply as he walked to the white horse beside her and mounted. Butterflies flew madly around in her stomach, and all she could think of was leaning over and tasting his scrumptious mouth again.

Lord, the man could kiss.

Just thinking about it made her a little dizzy and managed to warm her a tad. He should have a warning label next to lips.

She giggled at her thinking that turned into an outright laugh as Val looked at her strangely. “Nothing to worry about. My wits are about me,” she told him.

“I hope so,” Val said as he nudged his horse and rode out of the gates.

She turned to Roderick. “Isn’t he going to wait for us?”

“He will scout the area to make sure no one is lying in wait.”

“Oh. All right.” She was so ignorant of the goings on of a castle, but she realized most twenty-first century women would be as well.

They waited a moment longer until Hugh joined them with five other knights.

Elle had the suspicion that they were going to be doing more than just looking at the monastery and the ruins, but she could be patient when needed.

She not so eagerly nudged her gentle mare to follow Mina out of the bailey. A glance over her shoulder showed Roderick behind her as well as half of the knights Hugh had picked. The other half were with Hugh in the lead.

Since this was her first time out of the castle walls, her arrival not counting, she soaked up the beauty. Despite the icy fingers of winter grasping at her, the snow atop the trees and on the ground was a marvelous site. On the road, the snow had turned from white to brown with all the travelers, but Elle didn’t mind. It was a part of life, a life that everyone accepted and made the best of.

In truth, there wasn’t much about Houston that Elle missed. A toilet, hot shower, and her Diet Dr Peppers were the most missed. She wondered how long it would take her body to realize it was without caffeine and hit her with a headache.

She blew out a breath and watched it cloud in front of her. This kind of cold she rarely experienced in Texas. With the high humidity and nearly constant ninety degree heat, it was no wonder she was a walking icicle.

“Is the cold bothering to you?”

She turned to find Roderick had moved up beside her. “What clued you in? My teeth chattering or the fact that I can no longer feel my toes and fingers?” He chuckled and unlatched his cloak. With only his knees as a guide, he moved the stallion to her mare and threw his cloak around her.

Instant heat surrounded her. She sighed and gave him a grin over the fur at the collar of the cloak. “Thank you.”

“Think nothing of it.”

“Won’t you become cold?”

“I am accustomed to this weather. You are not.” She couldn’t argue with him there. How she wished for a hand warmer and thick, wool socks for her feet. And a hot cappuccino.

“I gather Aimery left you something you greatly approve of?” Elle chuckled. “Oh, yes, and I think you will like it as well.” His eyes darkened, and he leaned closer. “Is it your lacy underthings?” She nodded and heard him growl low in his throat. “Wait until you see all of them. I don’t know how he knew, but I could kiss him for it.”

“Don’t say that too loud, he might just ask for that.”

“Trust me, Roderick. A kiss would be a small thing to ask after bringing me something like my bra and panties.”

He smiled. “He did me a service as well. Think you he might wish for a kiss from me as well?”

“I doubt it,” she said through her laughter. She sobered as they entered the forest.

“What is it?”

She glanced at him to see his face lined with concern and shrugged. “I don’t really know. I’ve always loved trees. Where I grew up it was nothing but trees, sometimes so dense you couldn’t see but a few feet in front of you.”

“And now?” he prompted.

“This forest doesn’t seem to be,” she searched for the right word and finally settled for, “normal. I can’t name it, but there is something off.”

“Aye, I feel it, too,” Mina said over her shoulder.

Roderick tightened his fingers on the reins. He had felt it before they entered the forest, but the deeper they ventured the more it penetrated him.

“What is it I’m feeling?” Elle asked him. “Is it the harpies?” He shook his head. “Nay. Evil lingers here.” Which was odd since it had been several months since the gargoyle had been killed.

Elle slowed her mount. “There is something here then?”

“Nay. Just a lingering presence of evil,” he told her.

“What fun,” she said under her breath, yet Roderick still heard her.

By the smile on Mina’s face, she too heard Elle.

Finally, they reached the Druid ruins. He saw Elle press her lips tightly together as he dismounted.

“I don’t like it here,” she said.

Mina quickly dismounted and looked at Elle. “Really? This has always been a favorite place of mine, except for the fact my brother and sister brought one of the creatures from here.”

“Wow. Really.”

Roderick hid his chuckle at Elle’s dry tone. “We won’t stay long. Hugh wants to get the men set up in their positions so everyone will know where they are supposed to be when the time comes.”

She turned her clear blue eyes to him. “Don’t leave me.” Her words hit him like a battering ram. He lifted his arms as she easily went to him. With a gentle tug he brought her against his chest and slowly lowered her to the ground. “I will only leave if you ask me to.”

“That won’t happen. I need you.”

And he needed her, more than she realized. Maybe later he would tell her, once the harpies were taken care of and he had a few moments before another assignment was given to him.

“Roderick. Elle. Over here,” Hugh called.

Roderick gave her a little shove to get her going as he quickly grabbed her bow and arrows. He caught up with Elle before she reached the others. ‘Twas then he noticed the smaller version of Hugh’s massive crossbow.

“How did I know Aimery would give you that?” he asked Mina.

She shrugged and glanced at her husband. “Aimery knows me well.”

“Not to mention she has talked me into firing my crossbow on a few occasions,” Hugh added.

Roderick turned and handed the small bow and quiver of arrows to Elle. “’Tis time.”

“For what?” she asked hesitantly.

“To start your training.”

She visibly swallowed. “In front of all these people?”

“The knights will not stay here,” Hugh said as he walked towards her. “’Twill be just the five of us.”

Roderick waited for her to agree. She gave him a small nod, and Hugh and Mina walked some distance away to start her training. “’Twill be Val and I that teach you how to use the bow.”

“Too bad Gabriel isn’t here,” Val said as he approached. “He is a master at the bow.”

At Elle’s worried look, Roderick was quick to assure her. “We are also good, Gabriel is just better. Just as we can all use the weapons, we each excel in something.”

“Makes sense,” she said and fingered the bow.

Val handed her his bow. “First, I want you to try and use mine.” Roderick crossed his arms over his chest and watched as Elle took the bow from Val.

“I’ve seen people do this on TV, and I even held one at a Renaissance Faire, but I’ve never used one.”

“Here,” Roderick said and walked to her side, molding his body to her back. He placed her hands on the bow and used his hands and body to show her proper placement.

He found it hard not to lean down and place a kiss on the hallow of her throat or cup her shapely breasts. His rod, having a mind of its own, had grown hard at the thought of contact with her, and now that he was snuggled against her back he was finding it hard not to rub his aching rod against her.

“I feel you,” she whispered.

Ah, ye gods, Roderick silently moaned. He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to focus.

“Do you need me to instruct her?” Val offered.

“Nay,” Roderick all but yelled.

At Val’s chuckle, Roderick knew Val knew just what he was going through. But Roderick would have his revenge later.

“Now, steady your left arm and pull back on the string with your right,” he instructed Elle.

She tried three or four times. “I can’t budge it.” Roderick took the bow from her and handed it to Val. “Let’s try yours,” he said and retrieved it. He realigned himself at her back and turned her until she again had the right bearing.

“Do you remember where your hands go?” he asked.

“Of course,” she said through her chattering teeth.

He really was going to have to do something about keeping her warm, he realized.

Maybe he could find some thicker socks for her or gloves to keep her hands covered but nimble enough to still use the bow.

When she had placed her hands correctly, Roderick raised her arms until she was in position. “Now, pull back on the string.” This time she was able to not only move it but pull it back as far as she needed to.

She let out a little squeal of surprise and happiness.

Roderick released her as she turned towards him.

“How?”

she

asked.

“My bow,” Val explained, “was made on this realm. I have had it since my days in Rome. ‘Twas made for a man’s strength.”

“So mine is made for a woman?” Elle asked.

Roderick shook his head. “Not necessarily. The Fae make each weapon for a particular person. Not everyone can use all their weapons. Aimery took into account your size, what strength you have, and also just why you would need this weapon.”

“For example, you could easily use my halberd,” Val said as he tossed her the weapon. “And you might even be competent enough to wound or kill someone, but because it is my specialty and because that weapon was made for me in particular, it responds better for me.”

“There is magic in them?” she asked, her eyes wide.

Val smiled widely. “Of course.”

Roderick turned her back around and handed her an arrow. “In other words, Elle, this weapon knows what you can and cannot do. It senses if you are hurt and cannot ready it as you normally do.”

“So the more I use it, the better it will know me.” He smiled down at her. “Exactly.”

“Then show me,” she urged him.

Roderick and Val spent the next half hour showing her how to correctly notch an arrow standing, sitting, lying on the ground and even rolling. Elle was a fast learner, impressing Roderick tremendously.

“I could do this better in pants,” she grumbled as she yanked her skirt out of the way. “This is such a beautiful gown, too.”

“Don’t worry,” Val told her. “The gown will be as good as new tomorrow.” She stared at him a moment as if seeing if he was jesting or not. When she turned to him, Roderick nodded. “’Tis the way of the Fae.”

“I see,” she said. “Can I shoot the arrow now?”

“Aye, I think it’s time.” Roderick unclasped his hands from behind his back and again placed himself at Elle’s back. And just like every time before, his body raged to life.

“I think we’ll have to do something about that.” He groaned at her words, happy Val couldn’t hear them. “Hush or I’ll take you now.”

“Promises, promises,” she taunted.

“Ready yourself,” Roderick said. Once she had complied, he moved his right hand from her arm to his side. “Keep your left arm steady, pull back on the string until your right hand is even with your ear, and think about where you want the arrow to go.”

“Anywhere I want it to go?” she asked.

“Anywhere. Line up the location with the end of the arrow and release.” She took a deep breath and did as he asked. They watched as the arrow embedded itself in one of the enormous fallen pillars.

Roderick looked at her. “Is that where you aimed?” She slowly nodded. “Sort of. Beginners luck?” she asked.

“Not exactly,” Val said with a laugh.

“Try again,” Roderick said.

This time he stood back and let her do it herself. Each time she came closer and closer to her goal, until finally she hit her mark.