By Vengeance Guided (The Lost Shrines Book 1) (3 page)

Lia tore her eyes away and reluctantly looked over her shoulder at the sprawling manor house. A few pale candles glowed here and there among the multitude of shadowed windows. It sat like a beckoning oasis in a sea of darkness, silent and still.

In the bright light of day, though, it was a hub of activity. Surrounded by lawns and fields and orchards and pastures in the distance, it employed a good portion of Hara Dale.

That was her responsibility now. Taking care of the people who inhabited the manor as well as those in every home in the valley. That was her job. Whether she'd been ready, or even willing to have it thrust upon her, she was doing her best by them.

With a long sigh, Lia turned away from the woods that represented freedom incarnate to her. A freedom she'd given up six months ago.

The steps back toward the house were slow, her feet heavy and dragging. The lightness of her joyful run disappeared and each inch closer to her home dragged her down more. As if the stones of the manor anchored themselves to her shoulders, one by one, with every step.

Lia ignored the imposing, and loud, front door, wanting to drag out the little time she had to herself. Instead, she meandered around the back side and quietly entered through the kitchen.

Lia moved as softly as she could up the stairs. Almost forgotten muscle memory allowed her to walk through the dark halls without tripping or stepping on the squeaky floorboards that would wake Nel.

The exhaustion of the day pulled at her, but Liadan bypassed her own door to slip into the nursery where her niece slept.

A single lamp glowed from the dresser, casting warm light over the golden curls and tiny body of Tanis. Barely three and already the hope of the valley's future.

Lia dropped to sit on the floor beside the bed and adjusted the blanket, careful not to disturb the sleeping child. The stones of duty weighing her down eased a little.

This was her true responsibility. This was the true charge thrust into her unready hands with her sister's unexpected death six months earlier.

Lia would keep the legacy and secrets of their little valley safe for Tanis. She would help it grow and prosper so her niece would one day inherit a thriving heritage. Would find a way through the tangled and dangerous political situation her sister had created before her death.

She had to.

The alternative was unthinkable.

A few minutes later, the yawns could no longer be suppressed and her eyes grew heavy. Dragging herself to her feet, Lia let herself out and shut the door with soundless care. Turning towards her room, she stopped abruptly when a figure moved in the shadows.

"Who's there?"

Even while she demanded an answer, the shadow stepped close enough for her to recognize the lanky form of Gui Enreiv, her sister's widowed husband. What Marta had ever seen in the conceited airs and foppish fashion, Lia still could not understand.

"What are you doing here, Gui?"

"Checking on my daughter, of course. I saw you go in, however, and didn't want to disturb you."

Lia bit her cheek to keep her impulsive tongue from asking since when Gui concerned himself with his daughter when he didn't have an audience. The last time he'd spent more than a few moments with Tanis had been during the full moon festival, when the entire valley had been present for the celebrations.

Even then, he had handed off the girl as soon as the wine and spirits began to flow.

He took another step closer and looked her over in the pale light of the dim wall sconce. A deep line appeared on his forehead and a frown darkened his charming mask.

"Please tell me you weren't outside at this time of night? Like that?"

Lia remained silent. Despite what he seemed to think, she was still in charge of the valley and he had no authority over her.

He shook his head, ruffling his artfully arranged black hair. "Really, Liadan. Some of the elder families are already concerned about your inexperience, your lack of preparation and your, well, misspent youth."

He took another step forward and invaded her space. She straightened her spine, refusing to back down, refusing to give an inch, knowing he would take it as a victory.

Lia gritted her teeth when Gui ran a cold, too smooth finger down her cheek in an insincere gesture of affection.

"I've been thinking. Perhaps it would be better for you, and the valley, if we appeared to be more…in accord." Gui's voice dropped on the last word, hinting at something that made Lia want to shudder in disgust.

For several seconds, she was speechless at his gall.

His wife had barely been dead half a year. And Gui had never hidden his view that he considered Lia wholly inappropriate and unladylike.

Not to mention, he was the one who'd talked her sister into the marriage contract that had the future of their valley teetering on the edge of disaster.

The political mess she was losing sleep over had been entirely Gui's idea. He had to know what any hint of an inappropriate relationship between her and any man would mean to Daen. In turn, what consequences it would have for her and the entire valley.

Acidic words tried to fight their way past her lips but she swallowed the bitterness. He was Tanis's father, and Tanis would one day take her proper place as leader of the valley. Antagonizing Gui would only make the situation messier.

Lia pasted on a smile and sidestepped, slipping easily around him. "Perhaps. We should talk about it in the morning. I'm sorry, I'm terribly tired."

"Of course. I look forward to sharing breakfast. Sweet dreams."

He turned and headed toward the east wing and his suite of rooms. It didn't escape her notice that, not only had he failed to check in on his daughter, he hadn't even glanced at her door when he'd walked by it.

Lia leaned against it now and whispered to the sleeping child.

"I will fix this, Tanis. You will have a valley to lead one day. One free of the political ax hanging over our head at the moment."

-2-

Daen stood in front of the Baronet's fireplace, gripping a crystal glass of brandy so tight in his fist, Caerwyn worried it might shatter.

"I'm sure of it now, looking back. She's a pretty enough girl, in a provincial sort of way. Not my usual type at all." A large gulp of brandy soothed a little of the Prince's jagged energy.

Daen had been erratic since he'd begun explaining his predicament to Caerwyn and his men. The calm, composed man from the clearing vacillated between edgy anger and needy crying while he spoke of the circumstances of his betrothal. A slight edge of unease curled in Caerwyn's stomach when the man's obvious obsession chased logic from his eyes.

Something about his demeanor did not sit right with Caerwyn. Something seemed off with Daen's demand for vengeance against a woman he felt so strongly about. Regardless of Caer's concern however, he listened. If the man had been wronged, he was entitled to be heard by the Lord of Vengeance. The uneasiness could simply stem from sorcery if it had indeed been used.

"You believed she used sorcery, then? That she used unnatural means to subvert your will?" Caer asked, making sure they were clear on the details. His particular Attribute was not one that should be unleashed without careful review of all the facts and evidence.

"Of course, she must have used sorcery against me. Why else would I have asked for a betrothal agreement drawn up almost the very moment I saw her at the naming ceremony of my cousin's daughter?"

"You have proof sorcery was used?" Maddyn asked calmly from where he stood in the shadows.

The reminder of the eldest Hound's presence made Daen blanch and take a step back before he recovered himself enough to stand his ground. Caer grimaced at the unintended slight against his best friend. It was a common reaction to any of the Hounds, considering their shared Attribute as harbingers of death.

"Obviously I have no proof. How could anyone have proof of something so ephemeral as sorcery?"

Madd rolled his eyes and shared an exasperated glance with his Lord. There was always proof of sorcery if one was smart enough to look for the signs. Unfortunately, Daen was too pampered, privileged and self-absorbed to look at anything outside his own desires.

"So she trapped you into a marriage contract because she wanted to be princess?"

"Yes. Once her sister had a daughter, she was out of the running in the odd matriarchal succession in their archaic little valley. My cousin's land borders theirs. When I met Liadan at the ceremony, she must have decided I was a good bet to move up in the world." Daen frowned, and, for a moment, his eyes cleared. "She is exquisite, though."

Just like that, the smitten look returned and Daen contradicted his claims from only a few minutes before.

From the corner of his eye, Caer caught Phelan and Ranulf exchanging smirks and bit back his own when the two younger Hounds disappeared into the shadows to hide their amusement.

"Now she has refused to marry you. Why?"

"She hasn't refused. She has demanded the traditional year of mourning after her sister's unexpected death. I fear, however, she will continue to find ways to postpone now that she is acting as regent for her niece."

"I'd think you'd be happy since she tricked you into the engagement to begin with?"

"Happy?" he repeated. "How can I be happy when I can think of nothing but being with her? Whether this is sorcery or my own treacherous heart, I must know the truth. If she has played with me in this matter, then I deserve justice."

Daen twisted and began to pace in jerky angry steps back and forth across the carpet in front of Caerwyn. His fingers curled and flexed at his side as if he crushed something invisible within his grasp.

Deciding he'd heard enough about Liadan and her valley, Caer asked the real question weighing on his mind.

"How does any of this involve Tresk?"

Daen paused in his pacing and blinked at Caerwyn. It was amazing to watch rationality slowly seep back into Daen's eyes. Something was definitely amiss, though whether it was sorcery or madness, he could not tell yet.

"I'm not sure that it does. But he is the one who will gain the most. Her brother-in-law is from the Warlord's lands. Our wedding would mean the valley would be attached to my kingdom through marriage. In an attempt to protect it, she may have turned to Tresk for help. Or they may have been working together the entire time, to give Tresk an excuse to invade Galwei."

The edginess drained from him and he seated himself in the well-worn but still comfortable chair across from Caerwyn.

"The Hara valley has been a buffer for generations between Tresk’s land, Galwei, and the Argine Republic. Tresk wants to expand Marnak but is not powerful enough to take me on alone. If he can convince the Republic I am threatening them by taking over the valley, they will likely band together to prevent me having it."

"What's in it for her? It sounds like, either way, she would still lose control of her land?"

"Tresk is capable of offering her anything. A promise of keeping Hara Dale free forever. Money, power. If she is indeed a sorceress, no doubt his pet sorcerer, Hafgan, could offer her a great deal of knowledge."

Caer stiffened at the mention of the evil wizard. Daen didn't notice his reaction but Madd stepped forward anyway. "What would you have my Lord do?"

"The same as he did for the girls tonight. Track Liadan down. Judge her. If she is guilty, punish her and free me from this curse."

"Those girls already had the knowledge to call for my help. You do not. I chose to give them the words that would unleash my Attribute. I will not give that to you."

Daen narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth to speak, but Caerwyn held up a hand to forestall him.

"I am not saying no, but I will need some time to think on it."

The Prince glanced from Caerwyn to his three Hounds in human form and nodded. A grim smile graced his lips when he spoke. "Of course. I'll check on our host and see if he's managed to scrounge up suitable accommodations."

As soon as he exited the room, Maddyn was at Caerwyn's side, shaking his head in exasperation. "You can't seriously be considering getting involved in this human's mess?"

"Yeah," Phelan came up to flank his brother's side. "The guy's obsessed with some girl. The girl gives him the brush off. Now he's out to prove it must be her fault, not his. Story old as time."

"I think there may be more going on here," Caerwyn said.

"No," Maddyn said, putting a firm hand on Caer's bicep. "You want there to be more going on here, just because Hafgan's name came up."

"Seven years," Caerwyn growled, standing toe-to-toe with Maddyn. "Seven years I have been denied vengeance."

"It's our oldest law," Phelan said calmly, trying to get between the two snarling men. "We cannot use our Attributes in service for ourselves."

Caerwyn closed his eyes and allowed his posture to soften. His anger wasn't at Maddyn. He knew the Hounds had loved his parents as much as he had. That they wanted Hafgan to pay as much as he did.