Heart of Fire (21 page)

The man who disgraced his mother had
once lived in Shaldar City. Concentrating on how he would punish
the blackguard once he found him, Ertemis lost himself in thoughts
of revenge.

* * *

Jessalyne’s joy at reaching Shaldar
City faded as she realized Ertemis would be leaving her there. She
would never see him again. Not that he cared. Sorrow welled up at
the thought. She glanced back at the angry set of his jaw. Did he
have to make it so obvious how much he despised her? He would be
rid of her soon enough. Maybe that would make him happy. She know
it would make her happy to be rid of him. Happy to be rid of him.
She repeated the phrase over and over. It wasn’t very
convincing.

“What did you say?” Ertemis pulled
along side.

“Nothing.” She nudged Petal and
moved away from him. Had he heard her thoughts again? She
distracted herself by thinking about how much Sryka would teach
her. At last, someone would show her what to do with her gifts.
Wasn’t that what she always wanted?

“Jessalyne.”

Ertemis’s voice pulled her back to
the present. “Yes?” Maybe he was finally going to
apologize.

He gestured up the road, past fields
of blonde wheat and green-gold hops. “There’s a village ahead.
We’ll stop to eat there.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“I am.”

“It’s not my fault you didn’t eat
breakfast.”

“Actually, it is, but you don’t want
to have that discussion with me.”

“Fine.”

A group of children playing on the
road ahead stopped to watch the pair approached. They stared at
Ertemis, little mouths agape. One boy whispered something to the
lad next to him before calling out. “Sir, why are you that
color?”

Ertemis grinned at the huddled
group. “Because I sassed my mother and failed to do my
chores.”

The children looked at one another
and took off running toward the village.

Jessalyne slanted her eyes at him.
“Does that amuse you?”

“Trust me, their mothers will think
them angels for the next few days.”

They dismounted before entering the
village, walking the animals in. Ertemis pulled his hood
up.

An old woman, her face weathered and
rough, sat outside a thatched cottage, shelling peas. Ertemis
approached her. “Old mother, might someone here sell us a
meal?”

She gazed up through clouded blue
eyes. “Coin will get you just about anything. I’ve a pot of stew on
for me own supper but I’ll sell it to you for a handful of coppers
or a piece of silver.”

“Have you bread?”

“Aye, and so will you for a few more
coppers.”

Ertemis filled her palm with a mix
of silver and copper coins.

She smiled a toothless grin. “Come
in then.” She sniffed the air. “You have beasts?”

“Aye.”

“Brynden!” She yelled.

A young man, well tanned by
fieldwork, came round the back. “Aye, Grams?”

“Feed and water the animals,
lad.”

He nodded. “Aye, Grams.” He bowed
his head in Jessalyne’s direction. “My lady, you’re the fairest of
the lot what’s passed through here in many seasons.”

“How sweet of you. Brynden, is it?”
She smiled at the young man’s compliment.

“Aye.” He nodded shyly. “You’ll win
the prince’s hand for sure.”

She furrowed her brows. “What do you
mean?”

“Haven’t you come to vie for the
prince? To be Shaldar’s next queen?”

Ertemis stepped forward. “Nay,
sapling. That’s not why she’s come.” Brynden stepped
back.

“Brynden! Chatter don’t get the
animals tended.”

“Aye, Grams.” He snuck another
glance at Jessalyne as he took Dragon and Petal to the village
trough.

Ertemis and Jessalyne followed the
woman into her cottage. The savory smell of hot stew greeted them.
She motioned for them to sit at a small table near the
fireplace.

“What’s your name, old mother?”
Ertemis asked.

“Magda.” She felt along the counter
for bowls.

“Mother Magda, you don’t see
clearly, do you?” Jessalyne’s heart went out to her. How hard her
life must be.

“Aye, the years have taken most of
my sight. There is some light, bit of color if it’s bright. Not
much else. Brynden is my eyes.” She ladled the stew out
carefully.

Jessalyne stood. “Mother Magda,
please come sit for a moment. I think I can help you.”

“There’s naught that can be done for
an old woman.”

“Please, let me try.” She took the
woman’s arm and led her to the chair.

Magda’s filmy blue eyes stared
blankly across the room.

“Close your eyes, now. I’m going to
touch you for a moment.” When Magda shut her eyes, Jessalyne gently
rested her palms on the woman’s lids and called magic to her
hands.

She drew the woman’s blindness into
herself. A veil of darkness fell over her eyes. Magda’s blindness
was now hers. Jessalyne imagined the film burning away and saw
Magda’s eyes clear and blue as a young child’s. A sudden piercing
pain racked her head. Her lungs ached with the effort to breath.
Then, a long warm pulse of power ran through her body and it was
done. Her hands dropped to her sides. “Open your eyes.”

The old woman blinked several times.
A smile lit her face. “My lady, I don’t know what you done, but I
can see. I can see clear as day!” She stood up and hugged
Jessalyne. “Thank you, my lady.” Her smile disappeared. “I’ve
nothing to pay you with.”

“I don’t want payment.” Jessalyne
staggered back, reaching out to steady herself on the table. If
only the room would stop spinning. Her gut twisted, but
fortunately, she’d not yet eaten and had nothing to vomit. She blew
out a breath and the nausea with it.

Ertemis jumped up. “Are you all
right?”

“I’m fine. Just winded is
all.”

Magda stood and held Jessalyne’s
face between her calloused hands. “Child, you are most beautiful.
Surely, you could win the prince if you wanted.” She hesitated.
“Tis a pity one such as you would end up with the likes of him,
though.”

“She’s going to the city to study,
not wed some blasted prince.”

Magda glanced over at Ertemis and
stiffened.

Ertemis’s hood had fallen back and
his ears were visible. He raised a hand, “Not to worry, old mother.
I mean you no harm.”

“I’ve heard tales of your kind...”
She stopped as if she shouldn’t have said anything.

“I’m the lady’s hired shield,
nothing more.” A slight smile softened his face. “We only want a
meal and then we’ll be off.”

“Aye, your meal.” She relaxed a
little as she hurried two bowls of stew and half loaf of brown
bread onto the table. “My pardon, Master elf. If you travel with
the lady...I meant no disrespect.”

“None taken. All is well, you have
my word.”

Magda left, glancing back over her
shoulder.

“That was a great kindness you did,”
Ertemis said.

“Look around you. Her life is hard
enough already,” Jessalyne shrugged. “It seemed right.”

They walked back outside after
finishing their meal and

Magda rose to greet them, still
smiling, “A thousand thanks for giving my eyes back, my
lady.”

Brynden stood holding Dragon and
Petal’s reins. “Aye, ‘tis a great gift you’ve given my
Grams.”

Magda held a handful of coins out to
Ertemis. “You gave me too much for the meal, master
elf.”

He shook his head. “You undercharged
us. Keep it.”

“Be well, both of you.” Jessalyne
wished her gifts could transform the thatched hut into something
better.

Ertemis took the reins from the boy
and mounted up, holding Petal’s reins until Jessalyne mounted as
well. She looked toward Shaldar City and then back at him. He
tugged his hood down just as their eyes met.

Jessalyne turned back toward the
city. It was definitely time to move on.

* * *

Ertemis finally broke the silence.
“Near the horizon. Can you see them?”

Jessalyne squinted. “I’m not sure
what I am looking for.”

“The spires of King Maelthorn’s
keep. Castle Ryght is known for its tall north and south towers. I
can see the pennants streaming in the wind.”

She stared off into the distance,
her face a mask.

Wondering what kept her so silent,
Ertemis opened his senses. She was a confusing mix of happy and
sad. Wasn’t she excited to be reaching Shaldar City?

The countryside changed the closer
they traveled to the city. Fields of crops and cattle dotted the
landscape. Small hamlets gave way to villages. At last, Jessalyne
answered, “I see the towers now.”

“Aye, we are close.” Close to her
forgetting him.

Before long, the city came into full
view. Granite walls encompassed a colorful scene. Bright pennants
flew along the wall walk and the dark shapes of guards patrolling
passed beneath them. Castle Ryght rose from the city center, a
majestic stronghold built of blue stone, glowing in the late
afternoon sun.

“It’s so much more beautiful than I
expected.” Jessalyne stared, eyes sparkling.

Ertemis wrinkled his nose. Cities
stunk, regardless of their size. Knowing his mother’s disgracer had
lived within those walls made the stench of Shaldar City even
harder to bear. He pulled his hood down as far as it would go.
Despite the danger, he would go to the castle gates with her.
Leaving Jessalyne to navigate the city alone didn’t sit
well.

The massive wood and iron gates of
the main entrance were swung wide for daily traffic. Ertemis and
Jessalyne passed through with a multitude of others; merchants and
farmers with carts full of goods, carriages bearing wealthy nobles
to and from the city, travelers on foot and horseback.

Ertemis read the crowd around them
for greed or ambition, anything that might indicate someone was
thinking of collecting on the Legion’s offer. There was some
apprehension, but it was mostly an undertone to the steady wave of
curiosity. He scanned the crowd. Strictly human. He channeled his
magic to blur his image in their minds, the best he could do in
bright sun.

Jessalyne stared at each new sight
drifting by in the sea of swirling activity. Her head swiveled in
every direction.

Ertemis touched her arm lightly.
“Mind your staring. You mark yourself as a green traveler. Thieves
look for such signs.”

“Thank you, I will be more careful.”
She glanced around, her eyes darting from woman to woman. A subtle
smile lit her face. Smoothing her skirts, she announced, “I believe
I will fit in well here.”

He grunted. “Don’t lose yourself in
this melee, Jessalyne. Things are very different here. This is not
Fairleigh Grove, not by any stretch of the imagination.”

She pursed her lips. “I realize
that. I am not a simpleton. I know life here will be
different.”

“I was not implying...never mind.”
He didn’t have it in him to argue with her. Leaving things unsaid
between them knotted his insides. The last time his gut had twisted
this way, his mother was kissing him goodbye while a Legion
commander backhanded him to stop crying. To the commander’s credit,
he’d never shed another tear since.

Jessalyne’s voiced snuffed the
memory. “I need to check my dagger.”

“The king’s magewoman will be in the
castle.”

“I just want to be sure.” Sneaking
the dagger out, she held it in her lap while she grasped the hilt.
She turned it until the lunestone leapt to life. The line of the
blade arrowed straight at Castle Ryght. She glanced at Ertemis to
see if he had noticed.

“Where else did you expect her to
be?” His gut twisted a little more. “Let’s get this over
with.”

Her eyes were fixed on the stone
monstrosity. “I’m going to live in the castle.” It came out as a
breath but Ertemis heard.

“Beware, Jessalyne. The men in the
king’s court are treacherous.”

“I didn’t think you
cared.”

He started to reply but shook his
head. He was done bickering.

Two pairs of the king’s men,
resplendent in black and gold, guarded the castle gates. Their eyes
locked onto Ertemis, hands tightening on their sword hilts and
stances widening. He redoubled his efforts to disappear in their
minds. After a moment, they relaxed.

Ertemis halted Dragon and
dismounted. He motioned for her to do the same as he approached the
nearest guard. “The lady has business with the king’s magewoman,
Sryka. She seeks entrance alone.”

The guard nodded and called his
superior over. They exchanged a few words and the senior guard
waved his hand. The gates opened and the guard called out,
“Entrance granted for the woman alone.”

Jessalyne turned to face him, her
lavender eyes bright with anticipation. The air was too thick. He
couldn’t breathe. Someone had thrown a blanket of hot, wet wool
over him. She was leaving.