Legend of the Sorcerer (21 page)

F
or the next four days, Cai spent as much time with Jordy as possible. It still wasn’t enough. He’d held her through each night, making love to her until they both lay spent in each other’s arms. He resented the sun for rising, knowing he’d have to share her with the rest of the world then. They had made certain they were down at breakfast while Dilys was still busy preparing it in the kitchen. Not that she wasn’t aware of what was going on, but because he knew Jordy was a little uncomfortable with the situation. They couldn’t keep their eyes off of one another as they ate, stifling laughter as Dilys eyed them knowingly the entire time she served them.

Still, the real world managed to rudely intrude. The post office box number had proven nonexistent, as had Union Parcel. Cai hadn’t said anything to Jordy about the last e-mail, nor had he forwarded it to Kuhn. He had heard nothing from the agent and Cai no longer trusted him to handle this. Not that he was any more certain he could handle it himself. But he did his best to maintain a vigil over those he cared about while trying to figure out what to do next.

Nothing else had happened in the intervening days. Cai made regular morning and evening runs through the mangroves
and despite the reason behind them, had come to look forward to the quiet time spent on the water with Jordy. They’d talked about the dragon she was going to start for Alfred. She was excited, but she’d been unable to hide her fear that when it came right down to it, she wouldn’t be able to find the creature in the clay.

Her supplies had come in and she’d begun preliminary work on the formative structure she’d build the piece on. He’d wanted to stick close, watch her work, not simply for safety, but because he wanted to be a part of that reawakening. But he better than anyone understood she needed the time alone, to find her way back in. Cai had given her that space, had used the time to try and find his way back into his own neglected work. He had actually managed to write a few pages. He wasn’t all that happy with them, but it was a start. He might have accomplished more if he weren’t so worried about Alfred. He wasn’t recovering as fast as they’d hoped. Dr. Fashel had been out again, and could find nothing wrong with him, but agreed it was best for him to set his own pace.

Not for the first time, Cai was faced with his grandfather’s advancing age, but this time it really hit home. They’d all expected Alfred to be up and about long before now, brandishing his cane and sermonizing.

At best Dilys managed to get him into a chair by the window for an hour or two, where he could look out over his garden. He’d said nothing else about Margaron or the symbol. Cai had been relieved at first, but now he’d begun to wish that something would shake his grandfather out of the stupor into which he seemed to have willingly fallen.

Cai refused to believe that his grandfather might never return to his old self. He hoped now that Jordy had begun work on his sculpture that it would spark some interest and life back into him. Again he was faced with how important her place in their lives had become and again, he’d worked
to ignore the growing clutch in his heart at the knowledge that she’d eventually leave them. It would tear a hole in their lives he wasn’t sure could ever be filled.

Cai fought the need to go to Jordy at the cottage for the hundredth time today. Today was the big day, when she actually began working the clay. He wanted to be there to support her, but she hadn’t asked. So he’d stayed in the house.

He forced his attention back to his computer screen, then impulsively clicked on the icon to retrieve his e-mail. No note from Margaron, thank God, but nothing from Kuhn either. Dammit!

These past four days had taken a toll on him and on Jordy. She felt as helpless as he did in this mess. Cai felt a tiny stab of guilt for not warning her of Margaron’s most recent threat, but as long as she was here on Crystal Key, under his care, she was safe. She had enough to worry about right now. Today was a huge step for her. He refused to put more pressure on her.

But he couldn’t escape the feeling that time was dwindling. Margaron wasn’t simply going to sit and wait for him to figure out the next step in this macabre dance she’d begun.

But, dammit, what could he do? Leaving Alfred now was absolutely out of the question.

Then again, maybe he didn’t have to go anywhere.

Cai sat up straighter in his chair as the idea formed more fully. He could set up a meeting with Margaron and simply have the police, or whoever, show up in his stead. Surely someone could pose as him and nail her. He kicked himself for not thinking of this sooner. Kuhn would be mad as all hell, but fuck Kuhn. Cai was done with waiting around while Kuhn strutted about with his Special Investigative Agent finger up his ass.

Cai pulled up the last e-mail, the one threatening Jordy, and hit
Reply
.

He punched
Send
. His wait for a response was brief. The mail came back as undeliverable. No account in that name.

“Shit.” If he
had
been insane enough to take on this task of hers when she first contacted him, how in the hell did she expect him to find her once he’d done it?

He shoved away from his desk and stormed out of his office. He hadn’t realized his intended destination until he was standing in front of the cottage door. He raised his hand to knock, then pulled it away. He needed her, needed to touch her, hold her, reassure himself he was doing the right thing by keeping her here by his side, but he couldn’t intrude. Not today.

He reluctantly turned away, but stopped as his gaze passed the small front window. She was working chunks of clay around the armature she’d erected. Her back was to him at the moment, though she moved around the work-table as she continued the task. It was a much larger piece than he’d realized, almost two feet tall. He couldn’t imagine how she looked at that mass of clay and envisioned the dragon she planned to create.

Just then she looked up and saw him standing there. She grinned and motioned for him to come in.

It was a simple thing, the instant welcome, and yet it meant everything to him. Whatever guilt he felt for intruding was overwhelmed by his need to be with her.

He stepped inside and she met him at the door. “I really
didn’t mean to interrupt your work.” He smiled when she raised an eyebrow. “Okay, so, I did. But I was trying to leave. Honest.”

She grinned. “It’s okay. I’m just beginning.”

She had clay rubbed into her jeans. Her hands and arms were smeared with it, a dried, powdery smudge streaked her forehead and chin. Her eyes were shining.

“You’re incredibly gorgeous,” he said.

She laughed. “You can come around all the time if you say things like that.” She reached up and kissed him lightly on the lips, then backed away when he would have pulled her tight for more. Much more.

“I’ll get you all messy.”

“Maybe we’ll both get a little messy.” Her eyes went dark, the way they did when she wanted him. He hardened immediately. “Jordy.”

She backed further away. “You have to behave in here. You promised.”

“I was in a weakened state when I said that.”

“So am I, all the time. That’s why I haven’t asked you to come out here.”

He felt better than he had in hours. “How is it going?”

There was no faltering in her beaming expression. She swept her arm out. “Pretty damn good, actually. What do you think so far?”

He dragged his gaze away from her. “Well … It’s …”

“A lump of clay, I know. But I’ll tell you a secret.”

He moved closer. “I want to know all of your secrets.”

She grinned slyly, but wisely stayed just out of his reach.

“There’s a dragon in there,” she whispered. “But not for long.” Her eyes danced gaily. “I’m going to set him free.”

He shifted at the persistent pressure she aroused so effortlessly, wishing she’d free him as well. He forcefully
turned his attention to the clay. “I’m glad you can see him in there. I don’t know how you do it.”

“I don’t know how you create those stories in your head and transcribe them into words either. It’s magic, I guess.”

“Magic, yes,” he agreed, though he wasn’t thinking about his writing. “It’s bigger than I’d expected.”

“Me, too.” She shrugged at his confused look. “I hope Alfred doesn’t mind. But when I started building the armature, he just sort of grew on me. This is just how big he is.”

“Sometimes my characters lead me instead of the other way around. I guess it’s sort of the same thing.” He wandered around the rest of the room. It smelled of freshly painted walls and of sawdust from the recent addition of shelves.

“I’m still waiting on a few more things. Dilys said she’d make a run over to Mangrove tomorrow.”

There was a workbench running the entire length of one wall, with drawers underneath. He pulled one open and there were trays of neatly stowed tools. He removed one, a small curved blade and tested the edge.

“Careful,” she warned, but it was too late.

He sucked the small bead of blood from his fingertip. “Remind me to be more careful around you. I didn’t know you were armed.”

“Maybe we’ll get you to behave in here yet.”

He raised his hands. “I’m behaving, I’m behaving.”

She grinned as she tucked the tool back in the drawer. “I saw Alfred this morning. I told him I was beginning the piece today. He was happy about it.”

“He was sleeping when I went in. So, he seemed better to you?”

Worry entered her eyes. “Not as good as I’d hoped. I thought he’d be more energized, but he seems just as drained as yesterday, and the day before. He was asleep
when I left. I know Dr. Fashel said this wasn’t entirely abnormal for a man his age, but I can’t help but worry.”

“I know. I wonder if we shouldn’t try and get him over to Mangrove and run some tests or something, just in case Fashel is missing something.”

“I thought you’d already asked Fashel about that and he said he didn’t think it was necessary?”

“Well, maybe it’s time to ask him again.” He paced the room to the window overlooking the gardens. “You said he was excited about the sculpture. It was all he talked about before … before he got ill.”

She came up behind him and wove her arms around his waist, resting her cheek against his back. “He asked some questions about it, said he approved, but there was no spark in his eyes like usual.” She hugged him. “I can only imagine how hard this is on you. I’m so sorry, Cai.”

He was silent for a moment, staring out the window.

“What about your grandparents? Did you know them?”

“No. They died when I was young. My dad, too. I was only a baby.”

“You lost your mom young, too. I can’t imagine not having anyone.”

Jordy squeezed more tightly. “I’m glad for all the time we did have, though. It was her dream that I graduate and do something with my art.”

He covered her hands with his. “And you did.”

“Yes. I did.”

He tugged her around in front of him. “And you will again.”

She lifted her chin and looked him in the eye. “Yes. I will.”

He respected her courage and determination. Yet at the same time, there was a pang deep inside his chest. Her success meant her eventual return to Virginia.

“I cherish the time I’ve had with Alfred,” he said. “But even now it seems like it’s running out too soon.”

“He is proud of you, too, you know. You two have created quite a legacy.”

“I don’t know about that, but I do know he is proud of my work. I’ve never taken that support lightly.” He found a smile. “And now he’s spread that support to you.”

“I know. It’s somewhat intimidating, having someone like him as a patron, or whatever you’d call it.” She stepped away from him and looked out the window. “I so want to prove to him his faith and investment in me is a worthy one.”

“You’ve earned his respect. Just enjoy finding your muse again and that will be enough.”

“I’m doing my best.” She turned to face him. “And I am excited. But I’ll feel even better when he’s up and around again. I guess I sort of figured he’d be out here, popping in and checking up on me. At first I was worried how I’d handle that. I don’t usually like anyone to see my work until it’s done. Now I’d give anything to see him walking up the pathway to the door.”

For once, the tension in the room wasn’t sexual and Cai felt bad for coming out here with his worries. “Maybe I should go check on him and let you get back to work.”

“Okay.” But concern was still present in her eyes. “I’ll come up and sit with him later this afternoon, tell him about my progress.” She waited until he was at the door, then asked, “Any word on the investigation?”

“No.” Cai stood on the threshold and debated telling her that he’d tried to contact Margaron. The e-mail hadn’t worked, so there was no reason to upset her. He realized he wanted to anyway, that he wanted to share all the details of his life with her, important or not.

She rubbed her arms, as if suddenly cold. “I wish there
was something else we could do. This can’t go on indefinitely.”

“I’m beginning to wonder,” he muttered.

“Has Alfred said anything about it at all?”

“No, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

“Well, I was just thinking that—No, never mind. It’s foolish.”

“Say it. What?”

“He was so worked up over the symbol that he collapsed. He obviously knew what it meant since he figured out about the kidnapping.”

“He saw Margaron’s first e-mail, before she threatened to do that. He just put it together. And we already know what the symbol means.”

“I know, but I can’t help but feel there’s more to it than that. Remember I told you he acted like he knew her, had known her for a long time.”

This wasn’t the first time she’d brought up the subject, but Cai had always managed to distract her from it. He didn’t want to think about Alfred’s possible connection to all this, he couldn’t. It would mean believing there was more to Alfred’s ranting than that of a man whose mind was slipping. It was too difficult to consider. He simply couldn’t go there.