Into the Fray: Volume 1 of The Sorcerers of Jhanvia Series (37 page)

“There were
so
many soldiers in town. I never expected that we would be facing such a formidable force.”

Kaitra had never felt such uncertainty in her mate. For Kidreyli’s confidence to wane even a bit was completely out of character, and it gave her pause. She replied, “We both knew that this was not going to be easy from the beginning. A plan will present itself and things will work out. Of this I am certain.”

“I’m not so sure anymore.”

“Maybe we should consider Culain’s offer to go to my father for assistance. I’m certain he would send as many soldiers as we needed.”

Kidreyli squeezed Kaitra’s hand, “I’m just getting this overwhelming sense that I’m about to lose you.”

“You’re not going to lose me.”

“Whenever a premonition hits me like this one has, it nearly always comes to fruition.”

Kaitra got up and sat on Kidreyli’s lap facing her, wrapping her legs around her lover’s waist. “Then maybe you should hold me tight for a while.”

Kidreyli was still serious, “I wouldn’t be able to live without you.”

“I promise that you’ll never know what that’s like.” The sorceress kissed her passionately.

With lingering concern in the background, Kidreyli smiled and replied, “I’m going to hold you to that.”

Zakrell slowly worked his horse through a thicket of pines and undergrowth, and eventually came upon a small clearing that had been described to him by the messenger that had found him several hours earlier. The sun had crossed into the underworld, and the surrounding forest was dark and quiet in the cold evening air. In the center of the clearing was Dubhni, wrapped in a dark purple cloak, laying a course of stones to form three circles, the smallest surrounded a small fire pit, the next was larger and the last larger still, arranged so that the fire would be at the center of all three circles.

The big man dismounted and looped the reins over a low branch.

As he approached, she said, “You got here much quicker than I expected.”

“You summoned and here I am,” he smiled as he embraced and kissed her, nourishing his longing passion for her.

She caressed his cheek with her fingers, “My gentle warrior, I am so glad you are here. I have sensed that the one you seek is on a different path than originally planned, and events may be upon us.
I want to seek the truth in the winds, and I want you to experience this with me.”

“I think I would rather lay you in the tall grass and have my way with you,” he said with a devious smile.

Dubhni laughed as she ran her fingers down his arm, “First things first, my love. There will be plenty of time for that later. I need some firewood. Would you mind gathering an armful for me while I finish here?”

“If I must,” Zakrell said with an anticipatory smile as he walked toward the trees on his assigned task. It took him only a few minutes in the dense, primitive forest to gather a sizable amount of dried wood and carry it back to the circle that the sorceress was completing.

As she laid the last few stones, she looked up to see his approach, “Just put it in the small circle.”

He positioned the wood piece by piece in an overlapping pattern, surprisingly well-organized, she observed, for a young warlord known for his ability to wreak havoc.

She explained, “Before we begin, I need you to place your sword and your knives outside the confines of the outer circle. The blood from all they have touched will interfere with the spell.”

Zakrell unbuckled his leathers that held the scabbard on his back and placed it along with the throwing knives he carried on the ground as instructed. With her right hand, Dubhni made a spiraling motion up from the ground, and her magics caused the wood burst into flames. Then she unfolded a cloth on the ground that contained several different types of dried herbs and some selected fresh leaves. She took a small vial from a pouch that was tied to her waist belt and placed it on the cloth.

She instructed, “I want you to kneel on the ground opposite me. Don’t say anything, but listen carefully to what I say. Sometimes in this trance I don’t remember all the details, so you will need to pay attention.”

Zakrell knelt as instructed and confirmed, “I understand.”

She continued, “And whatever happens, don’t interrupt the spell. Just stay in your place until I tell you it is complete.”

“Very well.”

“We shall begin,” she announced.

Zakrell watched her through the flames as she stood with her eyes closed, breathing deeply, summoning up her energies from within. She circled her hand above her head and a dim golden energy field formed at the outermost circle of stones and then just seemed to disappear. She knelt down with the unfolded cloth between her and the fire.

She picked up a small amount of herbs from one of her piles and sprinkled them slowly on the fire, repeating the phrase “Bila tana,” three times.

Then she picked up some herbs from a different pile and sprinkled them slowly on the fire, repeating the phrase “Crial trana” three times.

She placed one of the broad fresh leaves in front of her and poured a few drops from her vial on to it, drops of Kaitra’s blood she had taken earlier. She carefully placed the leaf onto a burning piece of wood and said three times, “Trali tranan sil forun.”

Zakrell had never heard these words before, but it entered his mind that they seemed very Clannya-esque.

Dubhni passed her left hand back and forth over the flames with her eyes closed. She shook and trembled a little as the effects of the spell took hold. In her mind she began to see images playing through, bouncing about and disjointed. She tipped her head from side to side, feeling out the images for a coherent path to the truth.

She began to verbalize what she was seeing and feeling, “Unconditional love…old friends thought lost…painful death…the border that flows north…a deep well of hope…descending darkness….”

Dubhni stood with her eyes closed, terror evident on her face, “No… no…it cannot be. I didn’t mean to intrude. No! Stop!”

The sorceress threw up her hands as bright white tendrils of powerful magics descended on her defenses, crackling through the night air
and collapsing them with seemingly little effort, knocking her onto her back unconscious.

Zakrell jumped up and came to her defense, placing himself between her and the magical energies that hovered just above. After a brief moment of hesitation, the magics retreated back into the darkness and disappeared.

The warlord leaned over her and placed his ear next to her nose. He could hear her breathing, so he sat next to her and held her tightly in his arms for nearly twenty minutes before she finally began to come around. Her eyes opened and she started to jump up, but Zakrell held on to her.

“Dubhni, be calm, I’ve got you,” her tried to reassure her.

“The magics that attacked us…?” she blurted out with eyes wide.

“They are gone. You’re safe now,” he said softly.

He let go of his grip on her as she shifted around and knelt facing him.

“My arms are still tingling. How long was I unconscious?”

“A while. Maybe a little over a quarter of an hour. What
was
that?”

“Someone very powerful is using her…influencing her actions. When I got close to her, that mage attacked to keep us from interfering with his work. No one has ever been able to take down my defenses with such ease. Have you heard of anyone that might wield such power?”

He thought for a moment, and then it hit him, “It must be the sorcerers that Satreka hired. They have exhibited significant talents, far beyond those demonstrated by others we have encountered.”

“Tell me about them,” she demanded.

“I don’t really know that much. There are three of them. The Councilor of Jhanvia recommended them to us. He told us that they were very powerful, so we gave them an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and they performed with unexpected skill. Satreka hired them and they now operate out of the castle.”

“If this was caused by them, I can assure you that they are very powerful. I also sensed that they have an agenda, which may or may not be compatible with yours. I recommend caution. Were you aware of their magics being used on this girl you seek?”

“No. And Satreka has not mentioned anything to me about it either. He may not be aware.”

“Disturbing,” she concluded. “Just be careful around them.”

Zakrell smiled at her concern for him, “I will. Did you find her?”

She replied, “I think I did. They were planning to go to Tyrkamani, but I see them traveling due north.”

“You said something about a ‘border that flows north’ and a ‘deep well of hope’.”

Dubhni thought for a moment, pondering under her breath, “A border that flows…that usually means…the River Nayleena. It separates Dhoya from the Valtyr. They’re traveling along the River Nayleena toward Lynbuañan. The Valtyr believe that Lynbuañan holds healing powers, hence the ‘deep well of hope’. Her wounds seemed inconsequential, but maybe she was injured worse that I had perceived.”

“That area is on the fringes, distant from either the Dhoyan or Valtyr influence. Getting her might be easier than we had previously thought. I’ll send some scouts to get a look at the area. Nice work, my dear.”

Dubhni smiled her acceptance of the compliment. “Shall I wait for you in Triami?”

Zakrell walked over and picked up his weapons. “You know, I’ve been thinking that its time you came out of the shadows.”

“What are you saying?”

“I want you to come with me. I’ll get you a horse and you can ride by my side.”

“Are you sure?” she asked with a hopeful smile.

“Absolutely. I don’t know why I didn’t do this sooner. You know I love you. I don’t see any reason to keep that fact hidden from the world any longer.”

She ran over and leapt up, wrapping her arms around the big man’s neck and gave him a passionate kiss.

A hint of caution came to his voice, “One thing though. We might want to keep your magical talents a secret for now.”

She replied seductively, “As you wish, my gentle giant. Now, what was that you said about the tall grass earlier?”

It was later in the evening, and while a few of the villagers were just finishing their meal, most had been sated and were mingling about, awash in conversation of the day. The children scurried about the fire, staying close, anxiously awaiting the promised theater the princess had described to them earlier.

Keril came over to Kaitra and asked, “My lady, shall we have the story you spoke of earlier. Our little ones can barely contain themselves.”

Kaitra took a large drink of her ale and said, “Of course, Keril. Whenever you are ready.”

Kidreyli got up and said to her, “I’ll listen from over there,” pointing to a place behind the tables.

Kaitra nodded as Keril announced, “Everyone, Princess Kaitra has promised a story to our children. Anyone who wants to listen should gather over here,” he said pointing to the grouping of tables nearest the fire. The children ran over a plopped themselves down in front of her as several of the adults gathered around.

Kaitra said, “Right, I shall tell the story of Lord Cordriann and his encounters with the beautiful enchantress Doirenn. On a bright shiny morning, Lord Cordriann set off with his men toward the eastern island of Rodal in search of riches. It was a great rocky spire that jutted up from the rolling seas….”

Kidreyli saw Culain a few yards away, standing at the back of the gathering. She came up from behind him, touched him on the elbow and whispered, “May we speak privately?”

The old soldier nodded and followed her to the other side of the village behind a hut, where they were out of sight and far enough away to not be heard.

Kidreyli said, “Please excuse me for a moment.”

Culain watched as she closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. The depth of concentration was evident on her face as she slowly let the air escape from her. A short moment later, her deep blue eyes opened wide signaling the completion of her spell.

She looked over at his confused eyes and smiled, “I want to have a private conversation with you and that’s a little difficult having bonded with Kaitra. You see, now she hears my thoughts and feels my feelings. I have just cast a spell that blocks our mind links so that we may speak freely without her knowledge.”