Prince of Magic (38 page)

Again two came at her at the same time—the one she had wounded and another—and she tensed, lifting her sword to meet the one nearest the front. The blade nicked the stone that hung against a chest which was mostly covered with chestnut hair, and the spark that resulted was almost blinding. The wounded thing shrieked and jumped back, then landed on all fours.

"What was that?" Sian asked crisply.

"I don't know."

When a large brown creature tried to move in from the side, Sian waved his knife-wielding hand in that direction. A large rock flew up from the edge of the path and hit the creature in the snout. It dropped, dazed and bloody.

Ariana could not even think of trying to move a weapon with the magic Sian had taught her, while continuing to fight with her blades and maintain anything of the shield. There was no way she could concentrate enough to accomplish even sending a pebble into an attacker's eye. Her accuracy had never been consistent, in any case. No, she could rely only on the weapons in her hands and the protection of her empath's shield.

She knocked another creature back with her sword, and when he was down, she took a moment to assess the situation. Her heart lightened. At least four were dead. The wounded were backing away. She and Sian might actually win, even though when this battle had begun, the odds had been a disheartening eight to two. The catlike beasts were violent and had an advantage in numbers, but they didn't seem to have a plan and they did not work together. They just pounced and crouched, baring their teeth and slashing with their claws.

Just when Ariana was sure she and Sian would win this battle, six more of the creatures came over the hill, dashing her hopes. How many were there? How long would she and Sian come close to winning only to see more of the hideous creatures headed their way? For all she knew, there were hundreds of them, and they would keep coming and fighting until she and Sian were dead. All she could do was take them on as they came, one—perhaps two—at a time. She took a deep breath and resumed her fighting stance.

Without warning, rocks that had been lying on the ground all around them lifted into the air. Large, small, sharp, and round, they rose up off the path as if lifted by invisible hands.

Sian.

The beasts were taken aback by the display of magic, that was made clear by their tentative stances and puzzled catlike eyes. The floating rocks began to whirl about in a circle, effectively protecting her and Sian from attack. The rocks moved quickly, high and low, spinning in a defensive orbit. How long could Sian maintain this effort? Ariana pressed her back to his and did her best to assist him, to add her strength to his. After all, they were connected deeply, to the soul, to the heart… they were one in many ways.

One beast tried to break through the shield, and a stone whacked alongside its misshapen head. The thing squealed, making a horrible sound as it backed away. Ariana could feel the effort radiating from Sian's body and from his beart, but the stones which circled about did not slow or drop.

Another beast rushed forward, suffering only a minor collision with a smallish rock. Sian's sword was ready, and he cut the animal down with precision.

"I won't let them have you, Ariana."

"I know, love," she said. She believed him, she truly did, but she also knew that he could not defend them with these swirling rocks forever. If the beasts did not grow tired of waiting and run away, if they were not frightened away by Sian's magic, then she and Sian would eventually face them all with only their swords for defense.

Their swords, and their love, and their determination not to give up the fight.

Ariana expected the swirling rocks to slow or begin to fall as Sian tired, but they continued without pause. His back against hers seemed overly warm, and she caught an occasional tremble that passed through his entire body, but Sian did not give in to the exhaustion he had to be experiencing.

The rocks spun as if caught in a whirlpool, and eventually the catlike creatures began to back away.

Out of the corner of her eye, Ariana caught sight of an unexpected swarm of scantily dressed and very large men toting spears. Anwyn.

The feline creatures that remained alive scattered in the face of the new and less advantageous numbers. They screeched and bounded across rocks into the mountainside, scurrying away from the path. A few of the Anwyn made as if to follow, chasing the creatures away, but they quickly returned to the path to join the winded but unharmed couple, who gratefully lowered their blades.

Ariana turned her attention to the Anwyn in the lead, a very large man wearing a traditional short kilt. His dark hair was caught in a tight braid, and his striking gold eyes marked him as Anwyn more surely than the clothes or his remarkable size.

He offered a courtly bow, long leg extended and one arm sweeping. "Tryndad Romney of the Dairgol Clan, at your service. Queen Keelia sends her greetings to you and your husband."

"How does she…" Sian began, and then he paused and shook his head. "Oh yes. Psychic."

"Very," Ariana murmured. She extended a hand toward the body of one of the odd creatures. "What
is
that?" she asked the Anwyn, who was obviously this party's leader.

"I'm not sure." Tryndad's brow wrinkled. "We have seen a number of these atrocities over the past few months. The Queen says they were once Caradon, but some evil changed them. Now the creatures are lower than even the lowliest Caradon."

Ariana dropped down to study the rough stone that lay on one motionless chest. The talisman looked innocent enough, but since they each wore one, it probably had some significance. She reached out to touch the stone, but Sian's hand quickly caught her wrist.

"Don't touch that," he commanded.

He drew a square of cloth from his pocket, and used it to cover and protect his hand as he snatched away the talisman. He wrapped the rock securely and dropped it in his pocket. "We'll study the stone later, but you will not touch it or anything else related to these creatures. It might not be safe."

Ariana studied the area, searching for a wounded animal. Sian was insistent that she not touch anything connected with these monsters, and in truth she'd like nothing better than to follow that command. But could she snatch back a soul from one of these creatures? Had they ever possessed souls? Maybe they were Ciro's Own, like the soldiers the sentinels had defeated, but then again, perhaps they were simply a sign that the world was taking a dark turn. She saw a few dead creatures, but the wounded had escaped or been dragged away by their comrades, so there was no opportunity to find out.

"We will go now," Tryndad said. He turned and headed back the way he'd come, and Ariana and Sian followed. They were quickly surrounded by the men who had come to their rescue. No wonder the Anwyn had not given chase when the creatures fled. They had been sent here not to fight, but to protect.

After a few moments, Sian said, "You're very brave, Ariana."

"We must all be brave in the coming months and years. It takes great courage to love with conviction in difficult times."

Sian wound his arm through hers and pulled her close to his side as they tromped along the rocky trail. His smile warmed her heart. "Yes, it does, love."

Ciro hadn't slept in many days. Men needed sleep… the Isen Demon did not. He sat in the cabin he was already beginning to hate, and reached out for his Own, those who had not yet come to him. He saw what they saw. He spoke to them and soothed them and guided them.

When he saw what had happened in the mountains too near the Anwyn Queen, he barked a curse that had a curious Diella turning his way. "What's wrong, my prince?"

"The wizard Chamblyn is lost."

"Lost?"

"To us, he is lost," Ciro explained. "His soul no longer dances on the edge. He's turned, and that turn will not bring him in my direction."

Diella seemed unconcerned. "How very regrettable. I should've killed him when I had the chance."

"Yes."

"Don't be so gloomy." Diella closed the short space between them and sat on his lap. "There are other wizards in Columbyana and beyond, and I'm sure many of them have greater powers than Sian Chamblyn. You will find the one you seek, in time."

Diella was trying to comfort him, which he found almost funny. He did not seek comfort from anyone. He did not
need
comfort.

Inside him, what little was left of Ciro shuddered. This bit of human that still remained, so precariously, needed comfort. Rayne would offer that comfort to him when the time was right. When she understood and embraced all that they could be and do, she would gladly offer him all that he needed.

"I know what will make you feel better," Diella said brightly.

Ciro almost growled. If she offered him her body again, he would kill her. He'd snap her neck and toss her outside for his own soldiers to play with. He wouldn't even drink her blood, such was his distaste for her at the moment.

But Diella did not offer her body. Instead she reached into a deep pocket of the ill-fitting gown she wore and drew out a vial of Panwyr.

Panwyr she must've stolen from him.

Ciro did not need or want sleep, the solace of a woman's body, or the wizard Chamblyn. The Panwyr was another matter entirely. His mouth actually watered. He hadn't indulged in his weakness for many days, and looking at the offering, he realized that he had denied himself for too long.

Diella put a healthy sprinkle of the drug on the palm of her hand, and held it beneath his nose. Ciro closed his eyes and sniffed the drug so that it traveled up his nose and flooded his system.

The drug infused the body that had once been Ciro's, as well as the demon who had become addicted in the depths of Level Thirteen. Each soul it took there had been hopelessly addicted, so it was only reasonable to expect that the demon would share in that craving.

For a human, the advantages of the drug faded after a number of uses, though the addiction remained as it destroyed the body one day, one hour, at a time. For Ciro, for the demon he had become, each dosage took him to a finer, more exciting place. Mentally, all was sharp and colorful. Physically, it seemed that this body he possessed was finally truly alive. The power he sought flowed through his veins, making him stronger. Making him darker.

The faces and thoughts of his own soldiers and their failures faded, and he thought of Rayne. Thanks to the Panwyr, she seemed real for a moment, and he grabbed for her, finding Diella in the pretty village girl's body instead of the woman he planned to make his empress, the woman who would bear his child.

He opened his eyes and looked into Diella's face, and he saw Rayne.

"A man like you need not save his seed for any woman." Diella's voice—Lilia's voice—drifted to him from Rayne's face. "You'll make more before you are reunited with the woman you have chosen to bear the child."

"True enough." He caressed her breast through rough fabric.

She leaned into him and laughed hoarsely. "I knew we were meant for this, my prince. I knew all along."

He hated the sound of a voice that was not Rayne's coming from this woman who looked like Rayne, who felt, beneath his rough hands, as he had always known his chosen would feel. "Say another word, and I will break your neck."

Rayne opened her mouth to answer, and then closed it again. His answer was a simple nod of her beautiful head.

The Anwyn soldiers who had escorted Sian and Ariana to The City and the Palace of the Anwyn Queen tried to take them to their assigned quarters before they were presented to the Queen herself. Sian could understand why. After so many weeks of travel, he and Ariana were not fit for being presented to a Queen or anyone else, but these difficult times called for a setting aside of common courtesies.

Ariana laid her hand on the big man's arm and insisted that she needed to see her cousin immediately. Tryndad apparently saw the determination in her eyes, and quickly acceded to her wishes.

They walked along a fine stone corridor, flanked by large men. Sian had always heard that the Anwyn men were of a size. Though he was tall by most standards, some of them stood a full head taller than he. He could only imagine what size they might be when they were transformed into wolves which would run beneath a full moon.

Sian knew a little about the Anwyn people, but not much apparently. He had certainly not been told that they preferred to pass the day more naked than not.

Ariana, who had once been so proper, seemed not to notice.

Raised voices reached their ears, and Tryndad tensed. His step increased, and soon they were all running down the corridor toward the alarming sounds. Sian and Ariana had to run hard to keep pace with the long-legged Anwyn soldiers, and soon they found themselves in one of the largest and most magnificent rooms Sian had ever seen. It was fashioned of fine stones, and sported columns which were true works of art. At the other end of the large room was a dais where two thrones sat, side by side. They were both empty. A petite blond girl was surrounded by yet more Anwyn soldiers, and she was obviously hysterical.

He was a little disappointed. She didn't look much like a Queen. .

When the girl saw Ariana, she sobbed and broke away, running from the guards, who were now as agitated as she.

"Ariana, thank goodness you're here!"

Ariana tensed. "Giulia, dear, what's wrong?"

Giulia? Not the Queen, then.

The blonde threw herself into Ariana's arms and sobbed. Ariana wrapped her arms around the girl and did her best to soothe her. "What's wrong?" she asked again.

Tryndad and the other soldiers rushed toward an exit at the rear of the room, their visitors and the sobbing girl forgotten.

Giulia lifted her head and sniffled. "Someone took Keelia!"

"What do you mean, took her?"

"Took her! We were laying out our clothes for supper tonight, since we had a feast planned to celebrate your arrival. Keelia said we wouldn't feel like celebrating for a very long time, so we might as well enjoy this night. We were examining a selection of gowns which were laid across my bed, because I could not decide what to wear, and a man wearing a
mask
came up behind Keelia and grabbed her!" The girl's voice was quick and very young, excited and verging on breathless. "He told me if I screamed, he would kill her, and then come back for me and the rest of my family, so I was still and quiet. I thought the guards would stop them before they got far, or that Keelia would escape from his grasp. There are guards everywhere!" The small girl stomped one slipper-clad foot. "Why didn't they see anything?"