Lone Star Magic (9 page)

“Yes.” Cenrick’s violet eyes, the only
discernable difference in the two men, looked troubled, even as he
clasped his brother back. “I see you have brought the woman here.
That cannot be good.”

“She is gravely wounded. I had no choice.”
Alrick let his arm fall.

“I agree, but father will not be pleased. You
are fortunate he has traveled across Rune to visit
grandmother.”

Alrick acknowledged that remark with a quick
nod. “Help me carry her. And be gentle. She is mine to
protect.”

With the Mage leading the way, together they
carried Carly down the winding path. Kayo scouted out ahead of them
and TM followed docilely after. Directing them to his own, private
chambers, the Mage summoned another, younger Mage and his acolytes,
then shooed Cenrick and Alrick from the room.

After a quick glance at each other, they
obeyed.

“Where to?” Cenrick stopped in the hall,
waiting as he’d always done for Alrick to lead the way.

Alrick had wondered if circumstances might
have changed Cenrick in his absence. Apparently not.

Alrick sighed. While he wanted more than
anything else to be named heir, he loved his twin. Often he’d tried
to teach his brother to be more like him, with little success.
Cenrick’s nature was different. Where he was a warrior, Cenrick was
a scholar.

“Come on.” Alrick pushed the crystal door
open and stepped outside. Cenrick followed. As always.

Alrick sighed again.

“What’s wrong?”

“I am weary. This human woman is…” He tried
to find the right words.

Cenrick tried to supply them for him.
“Special? Unique? Exceptional? Extraordinary? Astonish—.”

“Stop. You don’t even know her.”

“Ah, but I know of her exploits.”

“Future exploits.” Alrick passed a hand over
his eyes. “She doesn’t even believe we have the right person.”

To his credit, Cenrick kept his face neutral.
“Perhaps that’s to be expected. You did appear out of nowhere and
you can be very intimidating.”

“I am not intimidating.”

With a chuckle, Cenrick shook his head. “You
haven’t looked at your reflection lately, have you?”

Stung, Alrick had to admit he hadn’t. Still…
“The ladies never find me intimidating.”

“Ah, but their world is so different from
ours. And it follows this woman is different than ours.”

“She is. But she doesn’t appear to be afraid
of me. Then again, she doesn’t exhibit fear over anything.”

“Even the Warlord?”

“She doesn’t take him seriously.”

“Even though he’s attacking her?”

A headache began in the back of his temple.
Alrick rubbed with two fingers. “She’s wasn’t even sure the Warlord
existed, until she saw him with her own eyes. Thus far, he hasn’t
managed to transport himself completely across time.”

“Then how was she hurt?”

“He caused an explosion. This would have
killed her, had she been closer. Instead, she was injured.”

Cenrick nodded.

“I must see TM settled.” Alrick started
toward the barn. “And make sure Kayo is all right.”

Cenrick followed “Is TM the horse? Or
Kayo?”

They’d reached the palace barn. As different
from Carly’s ranch as night was from day, the immense barn was made
of crystal, and could house over fifty horses.

“TM is the horse. Kayo is the dog.”

Hearing his name, Kayo leaped in the air,
tail wagging. After he’d greeted Alrick, he did the same for
Cenrick.

Alrick was surprised to feel a pang of
jealousy. Now he understood how Carly must have felt, when both
Kayo and TM seemed to prefer him.

Something must have shown in his face.
Cenrick laughed. “Come on, the dog is fine. Let’s take care of the
horse so we can talk. Though you’ve only been gone a few days,
we’ve a fair bit of catching up to do.”

Grumpily, Alrick allowed his brother to lead
the way, wondering if Cenrick was even aware he had taken the lead
for once.

Finally, after settling the animals and
checking on Carly one more time, they settled in the great hall, in
two huge chairs near the crystal hearth. Though normally he found
the sparkling beauty of the palace amazing, he now wondered if the
brilliance shone overmuch, if the clear walls would feel like ice
to Carly.

He accepted a cup of honey-mead from a
servant. Leaning forward in his chair, he eyed his brother. “How is
our father?”

“His mood has been strange since you left.”
Cenrick took a deep draught of his own mead. “He says he is
devising a task to test me once you have returned from your
challenge.”

At this news, Alrick scowled. “Test you?
Why?”

“I know not. I have told him over and over I
have no desire to become King.”

“Still he will not listen?”

“No.” Draining his mead, Cenrick grimaced.
“You know how our father is. Once he gets an idea, he fixates on
it. After you left, he tried to forbid me my studies.”

Now
this
was not good. All knew
Cenrick lived for his piles of dusty books and his parchment.
Alrick couldn’t imagine what their sire had been thinking.

“What did he want you to do instead?”

“Who knows? At least he didn’t make some big
proclamation out of it. He came to my chamber late one night while
I was burning the midnight oil, and asked me.”

“
Asked
you? Not ordered?”

“Asked. Nice as you please, to knock off with
the books.”

“Such actions are unlike him. What did you
say?”

“Equally polite, I told him I would consider
his request. Then I promptly ignored him, of course.”

“But he gave no reason for asking?”

“No, though I think he wants to stir things
up. Rune has been rather quiet with you gone. You always liven
things up around here. I think since our father decreed
you
must travel to the future, he is taking his boredom out on me.”

“Boredom?” Alrick forced himself to relax.
“If that is all it is…”

“Worry not, brother.” Correctly interpreting
him, Cenrick shook his head. “I have no desire to take your place.
Father knows this. He knows you are meant to be king. Shades of
Hathling, brother. We all know it.”

Alrick pretended to be interested in his
drink, though he was pleased. He had been born first, and
technically the older twin was always named heir. Simply because
his father believed in giving each son equal rights did not make
Alrick’s burning desire to become ruler less. If anything, his
father’s stubbornness made Alrick desire the title more.

Cenrick finished his mead and signaled for
another. The serving girl, a wispy fae maiden with hair the color
of moonlight, brought them each a second cup. Alrick watched her
drift away, thinking dispassionately how lifeless her hair seemed
compared to the vibrant red of Carly’s.

“Any other news?”

“Oh yeah. I wasn’t finished, by half. Father
wants me to find a bride.” Cenrick’s glum tone spoke of how well
he’d received this order. And, knowing the King, this request had
been an order.

A bride! Things got worse and worse. Alrick
began to wish he’d never left. “What?” He clenched his fists. “If
he wishes you to marry, that means he will also start on me. Any
idea why?”

“No.” Waving his hand at the empty room in
general, Cenrick grimaced. “He’s threatened to bid all woman of
marriageable age to compete for me.”

“Is he joking?” Usually it was the other way
around. The men would fight for the woman. Their father knew
this.

“I don’t know.”

“He must be. Alrick breathed a heavy sigh.
“Worry not. He’s toying with you, brother.”

Cenrick looked hopeful. “Do you think
so?”

“Why else? Women competing for your hand?
That’s ridiculous.”

“I don’t know. He seemed serious enough.”

“Put this worry out of your head,” Alrick
advised. While he had no idea what his father the King was up to,
he supposed this was another attempt at amusement. He could see no
reason for him to force Cenrick to marry. Especially since Alrick
himself, whom all knew to be the rightful heir, was still unwed.
The King had never mentioned anything about finding a wife to
him
. Nor had he made any such threats.

“I’ll try.”

Alrick watched as Cenrick shifted in his
chair, visibly trying to relax. Alrick tried to do the same,
inhaling deeply.

Expression troubled, Cenrick stared at the
hearth. When he lifted his head to meet Alrick’s gave, his face was
inscrutable. “Enough about me. Let’s talk about you. Tell me more
of the human woman.”

“Carly?”

“Yes. She is comely, is she not?”

“Comely?” Alrick thought for a moment. “Her
flame colored hair is unusual, yes. And her face is pleasing, if
you like freckles. Her form—.”

“Freckles? You have been so close to her to
notice that?”

“Of course I have.” Alrick hadn’t meant to
sound so defensive, but he wasn’t sure what his brother was
implying. “And yes, she may be comely, but it’s not for me to
notice. Nor you. Remember, she is to be the mother of our some
miracle child.” To his surprise, he found he liked it not that his
brother found Carly attractive.

Cenrick laughed again. “No fears, brother. I
do not lust after your woman.”

This was how rumors got started. “She is not
my woman.”

“You forget how well I know you. You’ve never
been able to pass up seducing a pretty woman.”

“That was here and now. This is then and
there. I have a task to complete, a job to do. I must keep Carly
safe. Nothing more.”

“I see,” Cenrick mused. “Hmmm. So you don’t
desire her, eh? I’m certain she must look favorably on you.”

Alrick shrugged. “We’re Fae. All humans find
us desirable.”

“You more than me.”

“We look exactly the same,” Alrick growled.
“You know that.”

“True, but most women seem to prefer you.” A
grin tugging at his mouth, this time Cenrick merely lifted his cup
for more mead.

The teasing bickering was familiar – and
welcome. Lifting his own glass, Alrick grinned back. “Not all
women. Some prefer the challenge of your bookish ways.”

“True.” Cenrick’s grin widened. “But most
desire only the fierce warrior. You. The man who will be king.”

Was that a trace of bitterness in his twin’s
voice? Alrick studied Cenrick closely, but saw nothing but
amusement in his face.

No matter. He concentrated on drinking up. He
had a task to do and, once Carly was healed, they could return to
her world so he could complete it.

“When will you return?” Cenrick’s question
echoed Alrick’s thoughts.

“As soon as she is better. I thought to keep
her on the move to make it more difficult for the Warlord to find
us. He found us anyway.”

“Will you still go on the run?”

“Unfortunately, since our pickup – the
machine we used to travel – has been destroyed, I see no choice but
to return us to her ranch.”

“A pickup?”

“Don’t ask.”

“You don’t ride the horse?”

“He is a young stallion, not yet trained. I
could manage him, but I can not risk Carly.”

“You need another mount, then both of you
could ride.”

“She does not have another. TM is her only
horse.”

Cenrick shrugged. “You have plenty of mares
here in Rune. Take one back with you.”

Take one back. Alrick brightened. “I hadn’t
thought of that.” He liked the idea. “Since I have to use magic
again to return us, bringing along another horse wouldn’t be
difficult. I will. Thank you, brother.”

“You’re welcome.”

They both lifted their cups and drank in
companionable silence. But Cenrick wasn’t finished. Alrick should
have known better than to assume he would be.

“Tell me, what is your plan?”

Alrick shook his head, returning his
attention to his suddenly serious sibling. “Plan?”

“Yes. How do you plan to vanquish this
Warlord? Obviously, hand to hand combat is out.”

“I have to wait until he is able to transport
himself fully. Then we’ll fight.”

“How?”

“I’m working on that.”

Cenrick’s violet eyes widened. “You don’t
know?”

“Not yet. I’m still considering the man. I
haven’t been able to scrutinize him yet.”

“Scrutinize him? Just kill him.”

“It’s not so simple. This Warlord appears to
be fearsomely powerful. Before I can even sense him, he
strikes.”

“I can’t believe you have no plan.”

“Do you want to take over this task?”

Cenrick blinked. “No. But I think you should
have a plan.”

“Really?” Alrick set his cup down on the
floor with a thunk. “Then enlighten me, oh wise one. How should I
take this Warlord down?”

Cenrick snorted. “Don’t try to get me to
solve your problems for you. We’re not schoolboys any longer.”

“That means you don’t know.”

“I haven’t had the opportunity to study him.
You have.”

“I just told you I haven’t.”

“Pretty damned powerful, is he?”

Alrick grimaced. “Appears to be. He has me
worried.”

“You? Worried?” Clearly enjoying himself,
Cenrick leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs at the ankle.
“That’s a new one. You’ve always been a magical master. Some said
you could have become the next mage if you weren’t in line for the
throne.”

“As you know, there are restrictions. Magical
use in the human world causes shifts in their weather. But the
Warlord doesn’t seem to care.”

“Of course not. Bad guys never care about
anything but themselves.”

“Your highnesses.” The mage’s sonorous voice
made them both look up. “The woman—.”

Immediately, Alrick pushed himself to his
feet. “Carly? Is she awake?”

“Yes.”

Trying to read anything in the Mage’s serene
expression was futile. After all, they didn’t even know the man
that well. “Will she recover?”