Chasing Bloodlines (Book 4) (5 page)

She was swathed in a blanched blue dress made of the finest fibers Gabriel had ever seen. They were so delicate they were nearly see-through and moved around her legs like mist. Her arms were bare, but her neck was covered by a broad silver choker with the image of the moon in the center.

She stopped before him and folded her slender fingers. Despite his penchant for attack, he felt unnaturally calm around her and lowered his battle-ready hands.

“Well met, Head Mage,” she said with an undulating sing-song voice struck with a strange accent. “It is time I made your acquaintance.”

Gabriel felt himself sink to a knee and bow his head. “You must be one of them, my lady.”

“I am Sofiya in this Age, Thalassa and Avonmora in another, but I call myself Water. Please, rise.”

He stood, matching her eye for eye. “I had hoped to meet you.”

She smiled her teeth as white as pearls. “I have been watching you. I am pleased to see our talents have not gone to waste.”

“
Your
talents?”

She nodded speaking slowly and calmingly. “Have you never thought it strange that a Class Ten be born in this Age? An Anomaly is one thing, but a Creator as well?”

“I have wondered. Arding would not explain.”

“It was not yet time, nor is this. We created you, Head Mage. We selected your bloodlines and wove them. We strengthened your Class and your abilities. We shaped your leadership and humility, gentleness and justice, mercy and wrath. It is because of the Elements that you live. Your mother tried to expel you from her womb as she had with the first pregnancy but we prevented yours.”

He stared at her in shock. “Who would my sibling have been?”

She smiled faintly, and her voice dropped to a whisper. “A girl. A Class Five Earth Mage.”

“Why did you not save
her
as well?” Gabriel breathed, feeling his eyes gloss over.

“Had your mother birthed her, she would have been all too careful, and you would never have been conceived, and
you
were the one chosen for this path.”

He stared at the floor. “Do you know the future?”

“No. We feel pivots. We understand when important things will happen, and we know how to shape them as we did with you.”

“And what is my purpose?” His voice had dropped to a whisper.

She reached out to stroke his cheek with cool fingers. “You have many. Defeating Ryker is one of them. Leading Jaden is another. As is furthering the Mage line.”

His upper lip curved into a sneer. “I’ve done that already.”

“You have eleven children.”

“Possibly, eventually once I marry Robyn…”

“You misunderstand. You fathered eleven children with the Arconians.”

His mouth fell open, and he sputtered for words. “All of them?
All
of them conceived?”

“And two are having twins.”

He bent over at the waist. “I’m going to be sick.”

She laughed a melodious tune and placed a hand on his neck. “It is nothing to be overwhelmed about. This is a great honor and magnificent addition to the Mage bloodline. You are shaping this Age to be a powerful one.”

He straightened, and she kept her graceful hand on him. “You are meant for wondrous things, Gabriel Lenis, and we will be with you every step.”

“If you see…pivots of the future, do you see me beating Ryker?”

“I have faith in the skills we gave you.”

“Do you see me happily married and no longer in pain?”

She ran her hand down his arm and took up his palm. “First you will endure more unhappiness, but all will be well.”

“My trials are never ending.”

She laughed again. “Of course not. Trials shape us. They make us stronger.”

He slowly looked up and met her deep blue eyes. “Did…did you know I would be put in a Castrofax?”

Her mirth fell away. “We knew something worse than death would happen to you,” she said quietly. “But we knew it would shape you for the better once you healed.”

“And am I healed?”

“Not yet,” she smiled. “But you will be soon.” She leaned in and softly kissed his cheek. She smelled like the still air before a rainstorm. “I have a gift for you before I go.” She pulled out a folio from seemingly nowhere. “No Mage since the firsts have been strong enough to handle these patterns. We believe they will aid you. If nothing else, they will put on a good show.”

He opened the folio to see a dozen patterns in Water, Earth, and Fire. “Thank you.”

“I must leave you now, Head Mage Gabriel. But I will be close by whenever you leave the protective wards of Castle Jaden. It has been my pleasure to finally meet you face to face. I shaped your eyes, you know; the color is of my purest oceans.” She slipped from his hand. “Don’t give up, you’re about to come alive.”

She turned, her long misty dress trailing behind. Her hair faintly sparkled in his blue light. As soon as she touched a puddle, she dissolved into a wall of water, vanishing without a splash.

Chapter 4

Robyn spent hours with Gabriel discussing his month in the Castrofax. She had a thousand questions for him, but she remained calm and only asked the ones she felt he was ready for. “How had it felt?”, “When did you accept your fate?”, “Did you think no one would come for you?” He seemed more willing to divulge as time passed, and slowly he began to trust her again.

She could still not forgive herself for letting him go so easily. She risked life and limb to free him, and it should not have been so simple to say goodbye.

She sat in her beautiful quarters in Castle Jaden, trying to cross-stitch a pillow with mild success. Gabriel knocked and let himself in.

“When did you start knocking?” she asked.

He made no reply and came to take a knee before her chair. “I have something to tell you.”

She swallowed back her sudden influx of fear and nodded. “Go ahead.”

“When you asked if I laid with the Arconians, I lied. I did.”

She felt the tight smile rise to her lips as her eyes pricked with tears. She touched his face and stroked his cheek with her thumb. “I forgive you,” she whispered as a tear slipped loose.

He smiled and kissed her hand. “I’m going to Anatoly City to see Aisling. Would you like to join me?”

“After
that
?” she wiped her eyes with the edge of her cross-stitch. “No, go without me.” He nodded and his hair and eyes became white. “Gabriel,” she called before he vanished. “Thank you.” He smiled and winked, departing into the spirit world she couldn’t wrap her brain around.

She returned to her cross-stitch but was interrupted moments later when Gabriel reappeared. He marched to her wardrobe and flung it open, selecting a creamy dress with a gold sash she used for special occasions. “Put this one on.”

“Let me send for my maid,” she replied, standing.

“I can help you.” He stepped to her back and unlaced the bodice.

“What is going on?”

“King Victor of Arconia is in your palace, and Aisling wants me to bring you back.”

She put a hand to her forehead. “He’s come looking for his son. Oh, Gabriel, what do we tell him?”

“The truth.” He slipped the last lace free and grabbed the top of the dress to widen it. “Step out.”

She grabbing the cream dress and held it against her. She wore undergarments of course, but he had no business seeing them. With some difficulty—and his eyes closed—he helped her into the dress and laced the back up. Robyn smoothed her hair and made sure her face powder was in order. He put a soft kiss on the side of her neck as he tied the laces, making her squeal in surprise.

He, as always, wore a fine coat that did not need changing. One of Lael’s most loved things was well-tailored, fancy coats. Since he commissioned most of Gabriel’s clothes, they could be sure that any coat he grabbed would be regal enough to meet a king.

Gabriel took her hand and slipped her into Void. Robyn had still not gotten used to the strange images that whizzed by without color. Before she could think of a topic to start, they arrived outside the doors to her anteroom. Gabriel had set wards around them that not even he could cross.

The guards jumped as usual but calmed when they saw who the arrivals were. One man opened the door for them, and they swept in to see Aisling and Cordis in deep conversation with an older man. He had a white beard dressed in brown and crimson. They all stood and gave appropriate bows to the newcomers.

“King Victor, I have not had the pleasure of meeting you,” Robyn said and extended a hand in greeting.

He took it and kissed it. “Your Grace, the stories of your loveliness do not do you justice.”

“You are gracious. Please, sit. You have come a great distance. How can I ease your mind?”

King Victor looked at Gabriel standing behind her. “I come because of him, actually.”

“I keep hearing that,” Gabriel replied. “How so, Your Majesty?”

“I am told you have my son.”

Gabriel gave a shallow nod. “I do not.”

“As I feared,” Victor nodded. “A man and woman claiming to be Mages of Jaden came to me a week ago. They reported you had taken my son and would kill him as retribution. I found it odd that Mikelle did not come with them, nor did they arrange a meeting, nor offer proof.” He looked to Robyn. “I came here to ask who truly has him, as I suspect you saw him last.”

“It is no lie your son has been taken from here, but it was not by Jaden Mages,” Robyn began. “I warrant the same man who came to you was the same who stole him from here, Arch Mage Ryker Slade.”

Victor lowered his eyes, familiar with the name. “When did this happen?”

“A week ago.”

“And what did this Arch Mage want with my son?”

“He did not want him. He came for me, but I was not here. Virgil was his consolation prize.”

“Consolation prize,” Victor murmured. “Oh yes, I understand the word.” He looked to Gabriel. “The Arch Mage asked me to march my army on your castle.”

“When?”

“Today.”

Gabriel folded his arms and looked at the floor in thought. “You sidestepped here? With how many men?”

“One hundred Mages, two hundred soldiers.”

“I think you should sidestep outside Castle Jaden as requested and prepare to attack. If Ryker wants you there on Virgil’s behalf, there is a chance he will bring him.”

King Victor nodded slowly. “And if doing that puts my son’s life in danger?”

“I will be there to protect him, I swear it.”

“Then I will attack your castle at noon.”

“Sidestep just outside the gates and demand to see me. Throw a few warning patterns if they stall. Make it believable.”

“What do you think Ryker Slade’s motive is here?” Aisling asked. “Break up your alliance, kill a possible heir, see Gabriel in jeopardy?”

Gabriel took a seat on the edge of the couch and stared at the table. He looked up at Aisling. “Break our alliance. Ryker knows I may need to call on strong Arconian Mages in the last battle, and if our kingdoms are not on speaking terms, it severs my strength and my options.”

“Ryker could just be trying to lure you out of the castle,” Cordis added.

Gabriel shrugged. “He’s had plenty of opportunities until this point.” He stood. “Please excuse me. I must ready my Council. If all this goes awry, and Ryker does not bring Virgil, sidestep back here, and I will take further measures.”

“Of course, Head Mage,” Victor nodded.

“I’ll be back for you before noon,” he said to Robyn, and he shifted away.

“In the meantime, King Victor,” Robyn said. “I would like to discuss our new alliance. Your son has done a great deal for me, and I must repay him for his goodness. More wine as we talk?”

Chapter 5

Gabriel quickly rounded up his Council still in Jaden and ran through the afternoon’s impending events and implications. “I want no one going through that gate until this is over. I envision Ryker trying an attack at the gate.
We
all know the gates are the least warded spot in the castle, but I doubt Ryker knows that.”

“He tortured two Council Members,” Penny interjected. “He
may
know.”

Gabriel drummed his fingers on his arm. “Prepare for anything and inform me as soon as you see Virgil or Ryker.”

Gabriel retired to his room and stood at the windows with his arms folded. From this height he could see people on the road for miles and had a good view of the inside of the gates.

He watched the sun climb with nervous tension.
‘If a dozen Water Mages could get the jump on me, what could an Arch Mage do? No, no….They were just Mages with inflated histories. I can defeat them just as easily as any other Mage—with a touch more force, perhaps.’

He returned to Kilkiny to retrieve his parents and Robyn, giving her strict instructions not to leave his rooms during the debacle. She gave him a sarcastic pat on the shoulder that said she would do whatever she pleased.

Lael joined him shortly before noon and pointed out the Council’s stations across the walls and streets. They also discussed their back-up plan should Virgil not show. Gabriel had tried several times to find Maxine in a different location than her mansion. He shifted there one night and found an illusion-pattern covering the entire structure. He dared not trip wards, so he left without confronting her. There was no way to tell if Ryker was inside, but judging by the kinetic energy given off, not many people had been abducted within. Maxine still did not know he had one of her hairs, and he was just waiting for her to shift to Ryker’s.

The Arconian army arrived right on time a quarter mile down the road. Their presence was known and gave ample time for Ryker if he was watching. The soldiers moved like a sea of green. Mages of Arconia did not wear black cloaks, rather signifying their Class and Element with cloak pins often hung around their necks or pinned to coats. From this distance Gabriel could see several dresses blowing in the cold mountain air. There was a good chance some of them were the women that had taken him.

Gabriel marched his way onto the castle wall, so they could see him coming, Lael in a red coat marching beside him. Their eyes scanned the surrounding hillside for any sign of movement, but if Ryker was watching, he did not make his presence known.

Something white moved atop the gates so quickly Gabriel blinked and almost missed it entirely. A commotion started at the gates, and suddenly some of the Arconians rushed forward. Mages inside the castle forced the gates open. The gates were no easy thing to open, standing as tall as a redwood and half as thick. It took many Earth and Air Mages to move them. People atop convened in one location and threw patterns at something on the other side. The people below threw patterns upwards.

Gabriel broke into a run with Lael, shucking his coat as he went. He had half a second to make the decision, and in a heartbeat he jumped on the merlons and seized Void.

“Don’t!” Lael screamed and reached a hand for him.

“Trust me!” Gabriel shouted and leapt off the wall, laying the wings-pattern as he fell. Being careful to couch them in as they ripped out his back, he extended them quick enough to slow his descent and bank upwards, soaring back up the wall. He heard Lael shout something unintelligible as he rocketed towards the gates far faster than he could run.

He released Void to get a better look at the surroundings. He lowered his flight path and banked hard right, swooping around the towers supporting the gate. By the look on the Arconian’s faces, he would not expect an attack from whatever hung off the gates.

He had a second to react as he swooped around the tower and came face to face with the gates. Virgil hung by his neck from the top of the wall, the rope wrapped around a merlon. Above people tried to cut it while others below tried to shoot earth or ice for him to step on. But the gates had a hundred wards in them to prevent such a thing. The rope was so long Virgil hung in the center, and even though they pulled, they would not be able to get him over the wards. They sawed at the rope, but it would not fray.

Gabriel took the scene in and flared his wings. He stopped right before slamming into the gate, wrapping his arms around Virgil who hung lifeless, his hands tied behind his back. He was still dressed in his palace livery, though a goodly amount had been ripped and shredded from him. Gabriel could see blood between the slashes.

He pulled with all his strength, knowing he could not lift a body. Virgil easily weighed as much as he if not more and Gabriel’s wings were meant to hold only him. He beat his wings with every ounce of strength he could muster, feeling blood already in his throat. Slowly he climbed, knowing he had to get enough slack in the rope, so the men on the wall could slip it over the merlon.

Someone below him sent a Harlon-shot pattern towards him, and Gabriel put a foot on it to push himself off. The rock pillar trembled as the Mage forced it higher, and he could hear the strained cry of the woman holding it. She managed to raise it just a little further, but it was enough. The Mages on the wall slipped the rope over the merlon, and Gabriel’s strength gave out.

He hit the ground harder than he intended, breaking Virgil’s fall with his own body. Arconians and Jaden Mages both ran to them. They pulled Virgil off and unbound him while others helped Gabriel sit up, stepping around his wings that couched over his head. He spat blood onto the ground and gasped.

He pushed himself to his knees and knelt beside Virgil, sinking delve patterns into his chest. “I need an Air Mage with a breath-pattern!” he yelled as he mended the lesions and cuts. Virgil’s hands were bloodied from defense wounds, and his wrists were raw from fighting the binds, but a few patterns made them flawless. Someone rushed up and pumped a breath-pattern into his lungs.

“Does he live?” King Victor gasped in Arconian as he ran up.

“He does,” Gabriel replied, feeing blood rise in his throat as he panted. Virgil had a few fractures and many bruises, but nothing too hard to mend together. “He will be fine as soon as he wakes.”

“You were right, blessed stars, you were right.”

Gabriel doubled over and hid behind his wings as he coughed and spat blood onto the stones, wiping his mouth on his sleeve. White clothes made it hard to hide blood, but thankfully it melded with Virgil’s, so no one could tell the difference.

“Cut the breath-pattern, he’s breathing on his own.” He looked up to see who was helping him. His eyes widened when he saw Lace. She smiled sweetly and wiggled her fingers at him. He looked down at her belly and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her swathed in a bulky cloak.

She took a knee and leaned in. “Baylyn and Skylar are both here,” she whispered. They were two of the women who had him, both Class Sixes.

He nodded in acknowledgement. “Forgive me for not visiting again.”

She grinned and reached out a finger to stroke a feather. “I see you have been busy.”

Virgil coughed and moved, drawing Gabriel’s attention. For good measure he stitched up the clothes as Virgil’s eyes fluttered.

“Stars above,” the Prince muttered in Arconian, then saw Gabriel. “Did you save me?”

“Yes.”

“What
are
you?” he whispered and looked at the wings. Gabriel grinned.

“Can you stand? Let’s get you inside Jaden.” He helped Virgil to his feet and supported him with both arms. “Get everyone in the castle! I don’t need another attack today.”

Mages inside opened the gates and checked every Arconian face before allowing admittance. King Victor walked with his son, putting and arm around his shoulders.

“What happened?” Gabriel asked him.

“A man in white suddenly appeared on the front of the gate and dropped Virgil off. It happened in a moment, so we could not see his face.”

“Ryker in a shift, undoubtedly.”

“And he wanted to look like you.”

“Oh yes, I expected as much.”

“How did he get up the gate?”

‘The gate isn’t as warded.’
“With a shift pattern. He can get up but not over.”
‘Not entirely. He got a rope over so maybe it’s not as protected as I thought.’
Jaden’s wards prevented anyone from throwing anything in the castle, but this was something different.

The gates closed behind him and made him feel safe.

His Council filtered through the crowd. “Stars above! Look at you!” Lael shouted, his face as gleeful as Gabriel had ever seen.

“Those Void patterns paid off, Head Mage,” Galloway remarked with a smile.

“Lewis, please find Prince Virgil a room in the infirmary,” Gabriel said as he strode up. Two Arconian soldiers came to support Virgil, and Gabriel passed him off.

“Thank you, Head Mage. You are an honorable man.” Virgil said as they broke apart.

Gabriel seized Void to cut the wings-pattern, but too many people were crowding around to fondle them. He could not bear to deny them, so he let them drape behind him.

Someone called his name, and he saw Robyn pushing her way to him. “That was amazing!” she exclaimed. “Bards are going to write songs about such a feat.”

“I’m just glad Virgil lived.”

“You have done a great service to your kingdom.”

Gabriel felt a hand touch his waist and slip around his hip. He looked down to see Baylyn Kay, a Class Six Spirit Mage. She had not been one of the gentle ones. “The look suits you, Gabriel,” she said with a low tone and thick accent. “Will you not introduce me to your new paramour?” She had a cloak wrapped around her shoulders, but he knew she was pregnant.

“
This
is Queen of Anatoly,” he hissed.

“You have moved up in status, no?” She turned to Robyn who looked ready to claw the girl’s face off. “I hope you enjoy him as much as I did. I can say, of all my pillow partners I have never had one so satisfying.”

“Shame you only had him once,” Robyn breathed lowly.

“Oh, three times,” Baylyn smirked, then lowered her voice. “I am having a girl.”

Gabriel bowed his head to her level. “I don’t care,” he whispered.

She tittered and removed her hand from his hip, patting his cheek, and she walked away in a chuckle.

“I will make it look like an accident,” Robyn whispered.

“No, let her go,” he said and pulled her into his side. “She has no power over me anymore.”

“Did she hurt you?” Robyn whispered as he led her away. The crowd dispersed some going to the market street or popping in for a mug at the hop houses.

He glanced back at the beautiful red-head who had used her teeth quite explicitly. “No.” She had, of course, but it was in the past. He had suffered through and risen a stronger person. Now he could comfortably say the guilt was no longer his burden to bear.
‘You are not healed yet, but you will be soon.’

The Arconian army stayed within Castle Jaden long enough for the Council and King Victor to discuss the events of the day. Robyn used the time to seek Virgil out. She found him in the infirmary. He had washed and dressed in fresh garments and lay in a bed with a mug of tea. He sat up when she entered, but she put a hand on his shoulder and pushed him back as she sat beside him.

“I am glad you made it here,” he said, his voice not as strong as usual. “I was so worried for your safety.”

“You should not have been. I was very well. I was more worried for you. I understand Ryker took you instead of me.”

“I would much rather have been taken than you.”

She gave a sad smile. “Did he harm you?”

“Nothing I could not handle, Your Grace.”

“Nothing
I
could have handled?” He slowly nodded. “Thank you for keeping me safe. I wish to reinstate your alliance treaty and speed you homeward.”

His mirth slipped away. “I would rather stay in Kilkiny.”

“I know, but I cannot have you there as a temptation.”

“Temptation?” he smiled.

“I cannot deny my affection for you, but I love Gabriel and that will never change.”

Virgil nodded nobly. “I am grateful for your sincerity. I hope we can meet again in my lands someday. You are not the type of lady I would go a lengthy time without seeing. Perhaps you would come to our Eventide feast at the end of the year? It has been eleven years since an Anatolian Queen attended. We would be honored to have you.”

“I would be delighted to attend.”

“Good, because we have an archery tournament every year. I would love to see you compete.”

“I will be there,” she smiled. “Rest, and I will see you before you leave.”

She slipped out and worked her way back to Gabriel’s rooms. She spotted Lace across the hall. The fair blonde Mage sat on a bench watching the open hallway of the Lodge as people milled in the foyer. She looked up as Robyn approached and smiled.