Rogue's Pawn (27 page)

Chapter
Thirty-One

In Which I Fight a Couple of Battles of My Own

Starling awakened me in the pre-dawn darkness for the battle, ready with my black dress and heels, along with some kind of eggs for us to eat. The heels were still in stiletto mode, but they matched my mood so I left them that way. We perched on the pillows, cross-legged, eating in silence.

“Starling—I’m sorry about yesterday.”

“Don’t discuss
her.
”

After Titania vanished, the camp had immediately returned to its usual level of hilarity. Starling nattered on about nothing. Even Darling refused to discuss what had happened, distracting me by attacking the yellow rubber ducky instead. I didn’t blame them, really, but I found their denial disconcerting.

“No, I know you won’t talk about that. I meant, mostly, about Rogue and what I said. I’m sorry if I was abrupt with you.”

Starling shook her head at me, her hair pink in the pillow light. “Gwynn, this isn’t about me. It’s you I’m worried about. Especially now.”

“Well then,” I answered brightly, standing up, “we have no problems because I am perfectly fine.” I would be fine, too. I was sorry for them, living under an onus like Titania’s, but this was not my world. More than ever, I wanted out of this insane place.

Larch met me with Felicity outside the tent and she snorted at me in greeting. I stroked her silky white mane, pleased to see her, too. Darling was already waiting on the traveling pad.

“No armor this time?”

He flicked his tail at me and looked away.

Starling handed me my stick and dagger to strap to the saddle. Liam didn’t trust me not to slice myself open with the sun-and-moon wheels yet, so those were staying behind.

“I’ll see you at the victory feast tonight,” she said.

“There’s already a victory feast planned? What if we lose?”

Starling and Larch laughed. Silly me.

“General Falcon wants the camp moved to the front and then everyone will celebrate the advance tonight,” Larch put in. “They’re setting up special tents for everyone. We’re to be there in armor, with evidence of glorious battle upon us.”

Charming.

“You guys have to move all this stuff in one day?” Now I kind of felt bad that I’d created and accumulated so much stuff. “I could poof some of it.”

“It’ll be fine, Lady Sorceress,” Starling said.

“Be careful with the dragon’s blood—both the vial and that residue. I’m still not sure if it’s toxic or what.”

“Don’t worry.”

“Maybe I should put my grimoire in my saddlebags?”

“Lady Sorceress Gwynn, we’ll handle it.” Now Starling sounded more like her usual brisk self. “This is our job—now go do yours.”

“Um—about those wings.”

Larch looked grim. “We’ve stored them. Best that you keep them. Just in case.”

Boy howdy.

We rode out and I craned back for a last look, feeling oddly nostalgic to leave my brief home. If I’d known, I would have walked out to visit the dryad at the oak tree last night. Not that she would care. Still, I’d kept the leaf Rogue had handed me. Pressed it between the pages of the grimoire.

Silly, I know.

I maintained my cool shell, but under it, all these conflicting emotions roiled.

Titania’s words haunted me. What had Rogue risked with me? And why the hell would I spend a moment feeling, what? Was this guilt? It certainly wasn’t love, no matter what the Starlings of the world thought. He’d tried to make me a pawn in his games. It would be a terrible thing, if his own bargains were with Titania. But if he failed, that was on him.

What really ate at me was, would trying to get home be breaking my oath to Rogue? Probably. But Titania’s power would be limited to this world. So if I wanted to get home, I’d have to make sure I transitioned really damn quick, so I wouldn’t be an oathbreaker in this world long enough for her to get me.

And do her version of plucking my wings out.

Logically, I owed Rogue less than nothing. It seemed more and more clear he’d dragged me into Faerie to suit his own purposes. Or the Black Dog had, clearly at his direction.

This game will be over too easily, if you lose so soon.

She expected me to break my bargain with Rogue. Eventually. No wonder he’d been so eager to get going on delivering that impregnation.
Guess what, boys and girls? I’m not playing your games.

When we converged with the human soldiers, I looked for Liam as a distraction from my dark thoughts. I’d thought I could pick out his bronze curls in the rising light, but so many of them were wearing their helms. The air around the men buzzed with excitement for the coming battle. Cheers rose up when the men spotted me. It felt wrong to be kind of thrilled by it, especially given everything that had happened. They saw me as some kind of romantic heroine, which was a lot better than my recent roles. Hell, I should play that up. Enjoy the sorceress gig for the moment.

“Lady Sorceress!”

“Officer Liam!” I trotted Felicity over to where Liam led his unit. He was some sort of sergeant or lieutenant, then, because he marched just outside the ranks of men. I didn’t really understand the military hierarchy—here or back home.

“You have your dagger and your stick then, lady?” Liam eyed the weapons tied to my saddle with approval. “Though you’d be smarter to have the dagger in your hand as you ride. It would take you far too long to get at it there.”

“Yes, sir.” I grinned.

“Be careful today, Lady Gwynn.” Liam eyed the men, verifying their disciplined march. “I’m told we’re to have an easy victory, but don’t get lulled into a false sense of security. Always be on the lookout.”

“I will.”

“If you get tired of fae wine, send your man to us. We’ll set you up with a real drink.”

“Now there’s an offer to warm a girl’s heart,” I told him. “Are we talking whiskey, here?”

“You mean there’s another real drink besides that?”

I laughed. “No, surely there’s not. You be careful today, too.”

“I don’t have to be careful—why’s that?”

I opened my mouth, my confusion cut off by the roar of the men.

“We’re strong! We’re vigilant! All fall before us!”

Liam winked at me. “Now be off with you, Most Valiant and Powerful Lady Sorceress, lest you insult my men again.”

“We’re strong! We’re vigilant! All fall before us!” They boomed again. A kind of good luck charm against the coming conflict.

I kind of wanted to salute the men, then realized it probably made no sense here. Oh, well. So I waved and trotted off as if I knew where I was going. Behind me, the bastardized “Proud to Be an American” chant welled up. Whee—my theme song. That was where I belonged—with humans.

We rode for a couple of hours this time, so the sun was well into mid-sky before Puck fetched me to ride up with the pack of nobles, all in their circus armor. No Promontory of Magic for me this time.

“Lady Gwynn.” Falcon greeted me with a somber nod. He appeared no different for having turned into a bird lately. I wanted to ask how long he’d stayed that way, and if he’d meant to shape-shift or if it was an involuntary response to the injury I’d caused. From the hints he’d dropped about Rogue, my current hypothesis was that the change to this magical animal form was subconsciously triggered.

“Good morning, General Falcon.”

“I trust you’re planning to abide by instructions today?”

Ulp. Oh yes, indeed.

“To the best of my ability, General.”

He gave me a narrow look, so I knew my uncertainty had leaked through my careful wording.

“Very well, then.” Falcon turned his horse and the nobles parted, all watching me with great interest. I moved Felicity up next to Falcon at his pointed glance. Our group sat on the edge of a bluff. Golden fields spread out below, bordered by scrubby brush here and there. In the distance glimmered the sea, dazzling aquamarine.

The enemy streamed into the plain below, obediently lining up for the coming conflict. I didn’t see our men, but thought they must be coming around from the side somewhere.

“Push them to the sea, Lady Gwynn.”

I glanced obliquely at Falcon. His craggy profile pointed to the distant water.

“Push them?”

“To the sea.”

And he turned his horse to rejoin the rest of the nobles, a spectator’s distance back, leaving me at the edge of the bluff. Even Larch stood back with them. Apparently I didn’t need much protecting at the moment.

So much for all those spells I’d planned for blinding, frightening or otherwise quelling the enemy.

I studied the army filling the plain.

How to move them? Preferably without bringing on the dragons.

“Lady Sorceress Gwynn! I shall never get my naval battle at this rate—could you hurry it up?”

“She’s baffled. We should bring in my monsters. That will move this army.”

“Perhaps we should break out lunch? Have our picnic now while we wait?”

Ah, my fan club’s voices behind me.

“Lady Gwynn.” There was Falcon’s malicious drawl. “Are you reneging on our agreement?”

Shit, shit, shit.

This was like the bad dream, where you were taking an exam and hadn’t gone to class for the entire semester. Felicity stamped restlessly, huffing into her bit. Darling sent me a picture of me as a blank-eyed idiot.

“Lady Gwynn?”

“Just working out some of the subtleties of the spell—it requires concentration.”

“All hold silent while the Powerful Sorceress Gwynn works her magic!” Larch’s surprising baritone rang out.

They all subsided. Even Felicity.
Thank you, Larch.

If only I could make the opposing army want to go so easily.

Okay,
think.
Push, Falcon had said, but pulling could work, too. What could pull them to the sea?

Darling pictured a mermaid. Never mind that he thought about chomping into her fishy tail.

Sirens. The irresistible lure. Of course they had mermaids here. They had everything else from every story I’d ever read. I rubbed Darling’s ears and he purred. But were they in
this
ocean? Darling mentally shrugged and washed a paw, wondering if they tasted more like fish or girl.

I glanced behind me. The fae all held statue-still and silent. As if made of wax, just a plume rippling in the breeze here and there.

“Umm, Larch? Could you come hold Felicity?”

Larch scampered alertly up, taking the horse by the bridle. I dismounted, slightly wobbly on the stilettos. I made a show of stretching and turned my back on the nobles.

“In the ocean there,” I muttered under my breath, “are there mermaids, sirens—that kind of thing?”

“If my lady wishes it to be so, I’m sure there shall be.”

I wanted to snap back that I could hardly create a whole race of creatures. Besides, Larch had a point. Just trust in it.

I wished for mermaids. I pictured them on diamond-white sand, their jeweled tails in the surf, waves tangling their long locks as they sang. Sing for the men, I thought. Sing your songs for the soldiers. No fighting today. Bring them to the sea. When the first man reaches the shore, stop. Let them wander the beach, but take none of them with you.

I threaded it through with my own longing. Caribbean blue days and tropical nights. The whimsical beat of steel drums. Sunshine flooding my skin. The sexual heat of magic flowed through me, into the spell.

It called to me. Sweet with simple pleasure.

The enemy army reversed its flow, streaming away again, like a river running to the delta. The men followed the siren call. All the men—ours, too.

I followed behind them, drunk on the song.

We all followed.

Chapter
Thirty-Two

In Which I Quench My Thirst

Fortunately my spell worked exactly right.

As soon as the first soldier set foot on the diamond-white sand, the song stopped. At least, it seemed clear that was what happened, because it had to have been one of theirs who got there first.

At any rate, our army fetched up midstride when the song ceased. The sun declined in a grand blaze of peach and red wine over the water. And serendipity had us at the site of the new camp. Fortunately, none of the camp-setting-up folks were sucked in by the siren song. I’d kind of forgotten they would also have been in range.

As it turned out, it was as if I’d planned the whole thing.

At Falcon’s table, they toasted me, the guest of honor. And I was pleased enough with myself to enjoy the moment. So nice to have something go right for a change, I didn’t even care that the only point of pushing the enemy to the ocean was to get to play with boats. Even the nonsensical conversation didn’t bother me as much. Victory was indeed sweet.

So was the damn wine. Way too sweet. I wanted whiskey in the worst way. I didn’t want to send Larch for it either. I wanted to get it myself. Be around the humans. Say hi to my handsome Officer Liam.

For research purposes, of course.

Starling, who sat far down the table, stood when I did. I waved that she could stay where she was. She looked lovely in a dawn-pink dress, her glossy hair warm gold in the combined pillow and torchlight. I didn’t really want to mention where I was going, since she’d undoubtedly disapprove, given her fantasy about me and Rogue.

Besides, she looked like she was having fun and I could use a little walk by myself. Fortunately, Darling had taken off in search of a mermaid who might give him a nibble. I told him that they were probably all off swimming, but he seemed undeterred. He deserved his own version of celebrating. Not unlike my idea.

The camp rang out with more hilarity than usual. Pathways between the tents were lined with glowing pillows, some pulsing with the music. There had to be thousands of the things now. How they’d been set to auto-pulse, I had no idea.

A cluster of Dragonfly girls scurried past, naked and giggling hysterically. Recognizing a familiar tune from the next tent, I hummed along.

The human side of camp wasn’t hard to find, now that I knew what to look for. I moved through the buffer of night separating the two, a brief respite of quiet starsong. Which was interrupted by the rough songs of humans and the squeals of camp followers. No blinking pillows here. I slipped around the edges, making for the bright torches of what I hoped was the main party area.

A number of younger soldiers manned the tent, no doubt set on sober keg duty for some infraction. But they looked cheerful enough, pouring ale into the tin cups, mugs and drinking horns of the men who came through.

I stepped into the light of the tent. The roar of male laughter abruptly died and they all snapped to attention, party forgotten.

“Lady Sorceress!” One saluted me as the others followed suit. “How may we serve you? Are you lost—”

His question ended on a choke as his companion sharply elbowed him, muttering, “She’s a bloody sorceress, numbskull—she can’t get lost!”

I smiled easily, charmingly I hoped, and held out the crystal glass I’d brought from Falcon’s table. “They’re serving that awful sweet wine in our tent. Officer Liam promised me whiskey if I stopped by. Is he around?”

Silence.

My stomach sank. I hadn’t thought.

“Oh no—he wasn’t injured today, was he? I’d heard we had no fighting at all.”

They gaped at me, clearly at a total loss, sliding looks at each other.

“Snap to, boys!” a deep voice behind me rang out, while the boys did indeed snap to even sharper attention, if it were possible. “The Lady Sorceress has asked a simple question—what is the delay?”

“Officer Liam, yes, sir!”

“Is there a reason we can’t give the Lady Sorceress what she’s looking for?” Liam gave me a warm grin of welcome.

The soldier who knew I couldn’t get lost—if only that were true—stepped forward, bowed and reverently eased the goblet from my hand. I tried to catch his eye, but he flushed and ducked away.

“Thank you, Officer Liam.” I smiled up at his caramel-brown eyes.

“Lady Sorceress.” He bowed deeply. “We are beholden to you for a peaceful maneuver today.”

The young soldier handed me the glass again with a whispered, “My lady sorceress.” I thanked him, then frowned at the lightness of the glass before I thought to school my face. Officer Liam peered at the bare half-inch of whiskey in the bottom.

“Would you prefer more than that, Lady Sorceress?”

Despite his look of grave inquiry, I could swear he suppressed a grin. For a moment I wasn’t the Sorceress, victor of the Battle of the Birds, not to mention the Plain of No Trees, sworn to love Rogue eternally. Instead I was the college girl I’d once been, standing over a keg with a cute guy. Oh yes, I wanted him to get me more.

“Yes, please—it
is
a bit of a walk over here.”

The boys scrambled to retrieve the tankard, muttering frantic apologies, while I watched with great dignity—coed pretending to be sorceress. They filled the glass nearly to the brim this time—an amount I doubted even I could drink. But it should last me a while, anyway.

I sipped. Then sipped again, closing my eyes as the smooth warmth fell through to my stomach and spread with lovely fingers into my bloodstream. The ebb of it dissolved away the edges of my horror over Titania and the residual bitter taste of Rogue. The sensual buzz of the magic today rode through my blood with it.

I opened my eyes to see the men all watching me, smoky lust drifting across the floor.

I was in control again. Better. I nodded at them with noble serenity and they settled back into their roles. “It’s lovely, gentle soldiers. I thank you, and I’ll take my leave of you.”

They bowed deeply, yet again, clearly waiting for my departure so they could attend to the growing queue of jubilant men wanting their share. I stepped back out of the ring of light.

“Lady Sorceress.” Liam followed me. “May I escort you back to the nobles’ feast tent?”

“It’s not necessary, officer. I can find my way.”

He offered his right arm. “I hear our sorceress has the eyes of a cat, but allow a humble warrior the satisfaction of knowing you safely seated with nary a drop of whiskey spilled.” His tone was all humility, but I felt the thread of laughter through it. “Besides, General Falcon would have my hide if I did not assist you.”

With a bit of a thrill, I slipped my left arm through his. He felt warm and muscled, totally unlike Rogue’s wiry steel. I couldn’t help remembering how his body brushed mine in weapons practice. I took another sip of whiskey, raised my glass to the carnival lights of the fae side of camp. “Let us proceed.”

We picked our way across the hummocky ground and I found myself clinging to him as my heels sank into the damp earth while I balanced the precious whiskey. I could hear him wondering why I didn’t have an escort. Or why I hadn’t sent Larch to fetch for me.

“I like doing for myself. And I had a powerful thirst.”

He glanced down, a cautious smile playing on his lips. “I should mind my thoughts around you.”

“Apologies.” Since we seemed on even ground for a moment, I took another sip of whiskey. “I don’t try to pick up thoughts, but sometimes they waft by, like the smell of dinner cooking.”

He nodded thoughtfully and we continued quietly for a bit longer. I didn’t mention I’d picked up much more salacious stuff from him than that.

“Was that terribly out of line,” I wondered out loud, “for me to come to the soldiers’ tent?”

Now his laugh boomed out, generous and vital. “I think my men may never recover from the shock, Lady Sorceress. They’ve only seen barmaids tipple whiskey—and I wager none drank so deeply, with such a look…” He trailed off, remembering himself.

“What look?” I nudged the arm he escorted me by, my fingers tapping his ridged forearm. “What look—you’ve come this far.” In the dark between the human and the fae camps, a strange intimacy settled.

This felt simple and easy. Familiar, even. No games. Or, only the usual kind.

“Like a woman looks when a man touches her,” he admitted softly, a bit rough.

He stared resolutely forward into the night when I glanced up at him, looking down only when I stopped walking. “I’ve offended you—forgive my impertinence, Lady Sorceress—drunk on siren song and a beautiful woman on my arm…” He shook his head. “I’ve lost my head.”

Warmth coiled in my stomach as I watched his mouth in the reflected light of the torches on one side and pillows on the other. I wanted just a taste of him. I had made no vows to Rogue that I wouldn’t kiss anyone else, just that I wouldn’t bear anyone else’s child first.

One kiss broke no promises.

This was for me and no one else. I needed something for me.

I slipped my arm from Liam’s and he moved as if to step back, but I reached up to touch him, my fingertips white against his sun-bronzed cheekbone. He hesitated a moment, then bent his head so I could touch my lips to his.

Ah, the breath of a man on my tongue, that first touch of flesh I’d never before felt. His taste, a wisp of smoke, tang of musk, filled me. Making me nostalgic for a simple man.

The magic surged up, wanting a place to go.

I tore myself away. “It’s my turn to ask forgiveness. I’m not sure why I—”

Liam slipped his hand behind my neck, his fierce kiss stopping my words. He kissed me hard, thoroughly. I clutched at his arm with one hand, the other still balancing the whiskey. His lips were hard and soft, a day’s growth of beard sharpening the edges, a rough delight. He drew away, eyes gleaming darkly.

“I know I made the invitation,” I whispered, “but I have to go back to the feast. I’m expected.”

He nodded, understanding duty. His warrior’s fingers brushed the nape of my neck as he slid his hand away, and I released his powerful arm. We stood a moment.

Then he held his arm out as before—”Lady Sorceress?”—and I draped my fingers across his forearm again and we walked in stately formality toward Falcon’s tent cluster.

Kissing Liam had been lovely. Unthreatening. Should Rogue return, I could cope with him better if I had taken the edge off. As many teenagers could attest, there was plenty to do without actual intercourse. And I could investigate—under more controlled circumstances—the effect of orgasm on magic.

It was on my list, after all.

I glanced up at Liam and he met my look. Then stopped. We were just outside Falcon’s tent. Dappled pillow light glinted off Liam’s bright curls.

“If I could find a place tonight,” he whispered, “someplace completely discreet, where no one would ever, ever know, would you…?”

“Yes.” I answered without hesitation, without thought. And the grin I’d felt in him before flashed across his face like the sunshine he was born of.

“Just like that,” he whispered in wonder.

“But, it can only be tonight and there will be rules. I can’t…”
go all the way.
Okay, that would sound really dorky.

“A good warrior always knows his limitations. I will send someone to your tent later, to guide you.”

With a wry look he handed me into the torchlight, where Falcon hailed me.

“Ah, Lady Gwynn, we were about to send out a search party, but I see our noble Officer Liam has rescued you already.”

Everyone laughed uproariously. A fine joke at the human’s expense.

“Thank you, officer.” I inclined my head at Liam as he bowed.

“My pleasure, Lady Sorceress,” he murmured correctly.

“Well served, officer. Now off with you—I’m sure you have your men to attend to.”

Falcon waved him away, just as I’d waved Starling to stay where she was. Liam disappeared back into the darkness, while I settled onto my seat to nurse my whiskey through the remainder of the feast, careful not to look directly into Starling’s inquiring gaze.