Sworn To Transfer (27 page)

“I have seventy-seven dead men, women, and children, plus a regiment of men heading into uncharted territory,” he replied with no warmth.

Christian dropped his pretenses. “We have someone inside—a girl named Ciardis Weathervane. And quite frankly we fear her powers might erupt just when they aren’t needed.”

“Curious,” said a voice from the doorway. “Many people, including a certain dragon, have Ciardis Weathervane on their minds recently.”

Three heads snapped up from the map, and instantly Gabriel Somner leapt out from behind the table and stood at attention in front the Prince Heir to the realm, Sebastian Athanos Algardis. Sebastian acknowledged him with a quick, “At ease, Commander.”

“The question is why you are so interested in Ciardis?” Sebastian said with piercing green eyes fixed on Christian.

Taking a deep breath and once more ruing the responsibility that came with being an older brother to a headstrong man like Christian, Gabriel said, “Forgive me, sir. This is Christian Somner, my brother, and beside him stands Stephanie Copier.”

Christian gritted his teeth just before he spoke. There was no good way to tell the Prince Heir that the mage who’d saved his inheritance was being set up as the conduit for a war, particularly if the Prince Heir was also sixteen and just entering a growth spurt. Young boys never tended to react well. It would help if he knew if the boy was infatuated with her or simply interested in her as a powerful ally. Half the courts couldn’t figure out their relationship, and the betting odds in the parlors said infatuation.

Christian wasn’t so sure.

Deciding that there was no time like the present, Christian tested the waters. He told the Prince Heir of their adventures, of the girl’s actions in court, and of the dragon’s interest in her as
sarin
. He watched as the Prince Heir’s face revealed no emotion. He waited for surprise to kick in.

But he was the one who was surprised.

“And?” asked Sebastian crisply. “All of that is very nice, but a good portion of that can also be attributed to an inept mage-in-training. Particularly one with Ciardis’s powers. Why would her small pushes start a war?”

Sebastian was eyeing the man with keen interest. He could see Christian Somner sizing him up like all of his opponents and allies did. They usually came away with the conclusion that he was young, excitable, and foolish. They were always wrong.

“Milord,” said Gabriel Somner solemnly, “I apologize; my brother has woven quite a tale, but I’m sure nothing of the sort is happening.” Gabriel had his private doubts on the matter, but nothing of substance that he could bring as evidence to the Prince Heir’s attention.

Stephanie cleared her throat. “If I may speak?” All three male heads turned to the woman who up until this moment had been silence incarnate.

Stepping forward at Sebastian’s nod, she leaned over the map spread out and pointed at a town on the outskirts of the Ameles Forest that was close enough to the
kith
road to receive trade from travelers. “This is Borden. There have been reports of widespread disappearances in the area, but no deaths.”

Sebastian knew that only he, his father, and the regiment commander had been privy to knowledge of any kind of disturbance in the area. He had to wonder how she had gotten hold of it.

Continuing after a pause, she said, “That could mean that the villagers decided to relocate to an outside town and leave no notice right in the middle of fall harvest, or they’re all dead somewhere
.
Regardless, Borden is the town closest to the Ameles Forest, and one of the few with all human residents.”

Reluctantly Sebastian spoke while moving forward to eye the ten-mile distance between Ameles and Borden. “You seem to know more about the situation than anyone else outside of my father’s inner circle.”

Before anyone could issue denials, he raised a halting hand and said flatly, “I don’t care for platitudes right now. Let’s suppose the bodies were here at court. What does that tell you?”

“That someone wanted the court to find them, for the nobles to know about the massacre,” Stephanie said without hesitation.

“But why?” said Gabriel Somner. “The nobles don’t care for the poor.”

Hastily, he added, “Not to include yourself or those close to you, Lordship.”

Sebastian ignored the comment and said, “It gives them a reason—a reason to invade Ameles. The nobles have been trying to annex that forest since my forefathers set it up as an independent principality centuries ago. They want the forest.”

“And Ciardis is the oil to light the flame,” Christian concluded, “They didn’t need her before. But now the bodies are gone, out of the nobles’ reach. They need another reason to start a war. What’s a better way than sending the Companion of the Prince Heir to her death?”

“Who ordered her there, Milord?” asked Gabriel Somner point blank.

“I did,” said an authoritative voice from the doorway.

The regiment commander was beginning to get a headache. Where were his guards and why weren’t they guarding the blasted door?

After a pause, Stephanie smoothly stepped in. “Your Highness, Regiment Commander, and Christian Somner, may I present Maree Amber, Head of the Companions’ Council and Guild?”

Her presence filling the room, Maree Amber stepped forward. “I sent Ciardis to the forest ahead of me to build fortitude. I see I may have made the greatest mistake of all.”

Turning piercing eyes on young Christian, she said sharply, “You believe she is to be murdered?”

“Or forced to use her powers to kill more humans,” he said.

“Where is the second nearest town after Borden?” she said crisply.

As one, Stephanie, Sebastian, Gabriel, and Christian pointed to Hartspoint, which sat just southwest of the forest.

“Very well,” she said, “Milord, you’ll send a detachment of troops to the town immediately to secure the premises and evacuate all residents if necessary. We will go directly to the
kith
forest to end this foolish war before it begins.”

Eyeing them all and turning to Prince Heir Sebastian, she said, “If that suits you, Milord?”

What could he say to that? He knew that Lady Amber had been handpicked by his father, and besides, she was right. “It does,” he replied.

Turning to the Regiment Commander Sebastian asked, “Sir, how soon can your regiment be ready?”

“On the move by morning.”

“Good; there’s little time to lose.”

A
n entire week went by before Ciardis and Terris felt well enough to venture outside their guest homes again. When they did, Ciardis decided to have a quiet day exploring the noonday market. As she stared down at the intricate fabrics laid out on a blanket outside a weaver’s shop, Ciardis was impressed. She picked up a particularly beautiful robin’s egg blue piece that had golden thread stitching on the border in a rose pattern. Footsteps behind her warned that someone had come up next to her, and a hand slipped into the crook of her elbow. She was quick to show Terris the beautiful design she’d found.

“Yes, yes, it’s beautiful,” said Terris, impatient with excitement. “But we need to go. The golden griffin is birthing her kits.”

“Hmm,” murmured Ciardis as she appreciatively looked over a deep red scarf that would go perfectly with the red ball gown she already owned. She wasn’t ready to go yet. But Terris wouldn’t take no for an answer, and alternatively tugged and cajoled her into heading to the healer’s birthing center. When they reached the door and stepped into the airy facility, they saw the laboring griffin in the corner.

By her side was the head midwife. The same stout human female with a thick waist and no-nonsense attitude who had hustled the group out of the healing center when Raina had first arrived. Helen had her sleeves up to her elbows and her messy hair thrown into a bun on top of her head as she positioned herself to ease the delivery of a third griffin cub.

She turned to face the door as they walked in. She pursed her mouth as she saw Ciardis. The girl was dressed in spotless attire that looked easily dirtied.

“I’m about to be arm-deep in a griffin, girls. This had better be important,” she said pointedly.

“I know,” stammered Terris. “We came to see if we could be of any help.”

Ciardis raised an alarmed eyebrow.
We did?
Blood, birthing fluid, screaming—this was not going to be good.

Helen looked them over for a moment and finally said, “I can’t handle the two cubs over there and take care of their mama. And she seems to like you, so come over here and lend a careful hand.” Terris was practically vibrating with excitement, while Ciardis was more inclined to start backing away slowly.

“Like us?” said Ciardis in a whisper, “How does the healer know? The griffin hasn’t said a word.”

“Precisely. If she had disliked us, we wouldn’t be standing here. She can project a powerful screech that will echo through your body in a wave. It’s so powerful that the shock has been known to crack bones,” whispered Terris.

“What?” said Ciardis in a harsh whisper, “And the kits?”

“Don’t be silly,” replied Terris. “They’re
babies
.”

Ciardis noticed that she hadn’t said they couldn’t project the shock screech.

As they walked over, Helen, the head midwife said, “Your clothes. Change them.” As they both turned, she said, “Just Ciardis. Terris, your practical ones are fine.” 

As Terris came over and Ciardis was directed to a back room, Helen said, “And no speaking during this process. I’ll need to soothe Mama Griffin with vocal magic.”

Ciardis took in her options in the workroom and opted for the cleanest. She changed into patched brown breeches and a too-large, far-from-immaculate tunic. They were plain and clearly belonged to someone who was indifferent to measuring tape when cutting hems.

Oddly enough, these remind me of home. It’s been so long since I’ve worn something so...simple.
She felt free for the first time in a long time. Irritated with where her thoughts were going, Ciardis hurried back outside. Going to a bowl at Terris’s indication, Ciardis rinsed her hand in the healer’s mixture of vinegar and rose water to cleanse them. Walking over to the griffin kits, she copied Terris’s motions. While holding each griffin kit in a thick blanket, Ciardis was careful to avoid the claws on its feet as she wiped it down from head to tail to get rid of the birthing fluid surrounding it.

Looking over at Ciardis, Terris motioned for her to first wipe the fluid from its eyes and to use an inflated pig’s skin to suck out the fluid from its nose. As she finished that task and slowly wiped down its body, the little griffin raised its head blindly search for the human holding it. Terris cooed in awe. Ciardis was less inclined to praise it, but her hands stayed gentle and focused. Standing up once their kits were clean, Terris motioned for her to follow her and they walked over to a large fenced-in area in the corner.

It was lined with blankets and thick scarves that had been sewn together and stuffed in odd shapes. Carefully, Terris laid her kit right next to one of the odd pillow creatures and they watched as it snuggled up to it, clutching the thing with its claws. Ciardis did the same and they walked back to their station, taking on the newly birthed kits. Hours later, the mother griffin had given birth to eight kits, all told. All healthy and some even beginning to mew.

“Kits are hungry,” said Helen in tired satisfaction. “Let’s leave them to their mother now.”

The mother in question had already gotten up and begun to move over to the nursery area where her kits lay. It was large enough for her to comfortably lie down in a corner.

“In a few weeks they’ll be crawling and crying,” said Helen fondly.

When Raina passed by Ciardis and Terris, she spoke. Ciardis nearly jumped when words came flowing out of her beak. It had been long since she’d heard from the griffin, and even in the forest it had been mind-to-mind.

“You have my thanks,” she said. Carefully, she picked two shining golden feathers from her wings. Holding them in her beak, she motioned for Ciardis and Terris to take them. And then she turned her focus on her kits mewling for milk.

With a smile pasted from ear to ear, Helen shooed them to their baths with thanks of her own. Tired, aching, and covered in birthing fluids, Ciardis was happy to be gone. Terris, with a lingering look over her shoulder, followed less eagerly. As they walked outside, Ciardis took in the scenery. Next to the healer’s center was an herb garden, ordered and organized with a military general’s precision. It lay mostly bare now, but she suspected in would be vibrant with rows of green herbs and plants in the summer. She was surprised to see some very large bushes cordoned off to the side of the herb garden. While nothing else was much taller than her waist, these arched up above her head.

Poking Terris, she pointed them out. “Hart’s birth,” the girl replied with a yawn, “They’re incubators for the
cardiara
.”

Ciardis sighed in relief as they finally reached the cluster of low buildings on the forest floor that served as housing for the soaking and bathing pools. Walking in and taking towels from the stack laid out in the center of the open atrium, they could feel the steam wafting in from the hot spring on the other side.

An attendant said with a chiding smile, “Been at the birthing center, I take it?”

They nodded with tired smiles.

“Well,” she informed them, “the steam room is on the other side of this wall. You’ll be able to discard your clothes for washing and loosen up the gook in your hair.”

Dismayed, Ciardis reached up with a tentative hand and felt her locks, hoping in vain that there wasn’t any birthing fluid in the curls. It would be impossible to get it all out. Unfortunately she could feel her curls already stiffening in the goop.

Damn
, she thought. Even though she was irritated, she still felt mildly impressed at the stiffness of the curls; the stuff could double as holding spray for hairstyles. If you could get past the “ick” factor.

“Beyond the steam room are the shower stations and bathing stations, and after that you can relax in the soaking pools.” The attendant quickly added, “There are bathing pool attendants who can help you with your hair. They have a special shampoo that they use whenever Helen comes in—works every time.”