The Spark of a Feudling (15 page)

Life did not return to normal as Christian predicted. Instead, Ada took it upon herself to protect him and Charity both, which meant she spent as much time with her father as possible. She used every ounce of physical and emotional strength, spending all day training with Richard and then, according to Charity, memorizing spell books long into the night. And his little Ada was becoming so powerful that training with her was exhausting Richard as well. He had no more energy left at the end of the day to test anything on anyone. He sent Christian through his paces and left, retiring early almost every night.

“I am afraid for Ada,” Charity said late one night, several weeks after they had returned home. Christian's heart froze.

“Is he experimenting on her now?” A weird form of jealousy fought the fear in his chest for place in his heart, but the fear held strong.

Charity dropped her apron on the hook near the door and turned to face him, tired and drawn. “No, he isn't, as far as I can tell. She's had no episodes like mine, and she isn't in such agony when she's through that she can't recall her past hours like you.” She frowned at him. “But she isn't eating, she's battered and bruised and so tired.”

“Is no one healing her?” Christian half-rose from the chair he sat in, setting his book aside.

“No, no one is healing her.”

“Why ever not?” he yelled, the angry flames surging to the surface. He fought them back down.

Charity raised an eyebrow, coming to sit across from him. She waited while he waged his inner battle. “She will not let them. She says her healer is gone from her.”

Christian stood up, walking across the small room to the window. Pulling the heavy curtains aside, he peered up at Ada's room. The rest of the manor was dark, but a flickering light still burned beyond her window.

“She's very conflicted.” Charity moved to stand beside him, staring into the darkness. He could see her reflection next to his, like pale moonlight next to the dark of shadows. Ada, had she been with them, would have been the sun. “She loves her father very much. She craves his approval, as she always has. But she also seeks to protect us from him, from the horror she is certain he is committing.”

“I didn't ask for her protection.”

“She loves us. She will always protect us.”

****

Ada spent much time in the gardens as of late. It was peaceful there. Her father had retired to his study after their training session, glowing with pride that she had picked up the spells so quickly. Amused, but slightly irritated, that she had bested him once again in their duel. And he was in need of a healer.

As much as she despised herself for it, she had basked in his pride. She did not tell him that she had spent hours and hours and hours practicing the spells he thought he was teaching her so that she could “learn” them as quickly as he wanted.

She had overheard him boasting of her power and her beauty both, to Governess Buttercroft. She hated herself for being a fraud and hated herself for being happy that he boasted of her.

“You need to be healed.”

Christian's voice, heard so often only in her memory, nearly frightened her out of what was left of her skin. She almost wished it would, for how much it hurt.

“I do not.”

Christian left the shadows in which he blended so well, crossing the dirt path to stand at her side. “I see the burns, Ada.”

“I should ask you to call me Miss Aleshire.” She sniffed, glaring at him. But she gave up, sighing. “Can you even heal any longer, Christian?”

Her words wounded him, she could see. Pain flashed across his face, and he looked away, stuffing his hands in his trouser pockets. “Yes, Miss Aleshire. I can still heal.”

Ada moved away, wandering the gardens, knowing he would follow her. “If not me, then my mother. Or one of the other Carules in your father's employ.”

She trailed her hand along the vines of a rosebush, deliberately pricking her finger on a thorn. “If you can still heal, then heal this.” She held her hand out and watched him with narrow eyes.

Christian slowly took her hand, wiping the blood away with the pad of his thumb. He brought her pricked finger to his lips and kissed it, ever so gently, and she felt the healing warmth come from his mouth.
Well. That is new.

He lowered her hand, watching her with those dark, dark eyes. “I still heal.”

Ada pulled her hand away hastily. She couldn't afford a repeat of what had happened in London. For one thing, it was broad daylight and there were servants everywhere. For another thing, she didn't think she had the strength to tell him no twice.

Instead she lowered her eyes, peeking at him through her lashes. “Thank you, Christian. I—” she was cut off by the sound of wheels rattling down the tree-lined drive. “Another attack?” she asked, forgetting her anger and this horrible awkwardness she had in his presence now.

“That will be the third or fourth since you left for London,” Christian said. Ada gaped at him but he ran for the courtyard, leaping rosebushes and dodging the low hedgerow.

“Third or fourth?” she asked no one, since he was well beyond her hearing. She picked up her skirts and raced after him, but her short legs would not jump rosebushes, so she was forced to go around, cursing her height the entire time. She was not positive whatsoever that she had the strength to fight another battle, but there was no way she would let Christian fight alone. Not after she'd nearly killed herself trying to protect him. She rounded the corner and came up short. It was not a party of assassins. It was one single carriage — and she recognized the seal clearly.

“William?”

****

Not only William, but Lady Charnock as well. Ada paused in the doorway to the parlor where her mother served them tea and chattered like a completely daft squirrel. Lady Charnock noticed her first and raised an eyebrow, giving her an amused smile.

William noticed her next. “Miss Aleshire.” His cup rattled just a bit when he set it on the saucer and he rose to his feet, bowing quickly and nearly falling over.

She'd seen this nervousness in him before. She prayed it didn't mean what she thought it meant, except for that very small part in her heart that prayed that it
did
. “Mr. Langley.” She dipped into a curtsy. “This is a pleasant surprise. You are back from London early.” She crossed the room, letting him take her hand and press a kiss against her knuckles.

“Everything worth being there for, left. A few weeks ago.” His dark brown eyes met hers, shocking in their intensity, before he flushed and looked away. Ada's heart raced in her chest, butterflies doing suicidal acrobatics in her stomach.

“William has come to speak with your father. But thus far Hilda hasn't found him.”

Almost subconsciously, Ada raised a hand to her burned, battered face. “We were training. He is probably resting in his rooms.”

William's eyes scoured her face, studying the injuries. Ada grimaced and looked away. “I am a warrior,” she said quietly.

“I wouldn't have it any other way.” His voice was low enough that only she could hear him, and her gaze raised swiftly to meet his again. She was certain her heart would pound right out of her chest, and everyone in the room must be able to hear it.

“William, is it?” Her father's voice nearly growled from behind her, and Ada jumped, stifling a gasp.

“Yes, sir. I would like a word with you, if you have the time.” William crossed the room, his hand outstretched, and Richard took it with a suspicious smile.

But Ada only glanced at them. When William had moved, she had a clear view of the wide front window, and Christian, who stood in the courtyard watching them. Sparks burned from his fingers, and the well-manicured grass at his feet was on fire.

She wasn't sure how she knew the attack was coming, only that she did, and her own hands moved to burn a warding spell without hesitation. The wall shimmered to life in front of them just as Christian's spell smashed into it, exploding into a rain of sparks that fell to the carpet. Lady Charnock gasped. Vivian screamed. Behind her, William and Richard both swore. Ada alone stood silently, staring in horror at the boy she used to love. The one who had just thrown a
lirik
at her heart.

****

Christian sat alone in the practice room, chains that hadn't been used for over a decade clasped to his wrists and ankles. It was dark, and he didn't care. He didn't care if he ever saw the light of the sun again.

He'd tried to kill her.

He didn't even remember what had happened. His last coherent memory was telling her in the garden that she needed to be healed. The next memory he had were of
liriks
from several guards flying at him all at once, and Ada,
Ada,
his darling Ada, at once protecting him and trapping him with wards. Through the wards it had been hard to hear, but she burst out of the broken window, hands up, screaming that something was wrong, he wasn't in his right mind. He'd watched as she begged her father, reading her lips mostly —
he would never do that to me. Something isn't right.

So now he sat in the darkness, wishing for death. When the heavy wooden door creaked open, he didn't even raise his head. “I would rather you stay away from him, Ada. He is not to be trusted.” His Grace's voice.

The angry flames awoke, slithering hungrily through his veins.
I am not to be trusted and it is because of you.
Sparks threatened to burst from his fingers but he fought them.
I am a healer. I am a C
a
rules. I am a healer.
But that was not all he was anymore.

He'd become a monster.

“I am not afraid of him, Daddy.” Ada came down the steps, a torch held high in her hand. Steady, too, so that if she was afraid, she hid it well. Her father followed, staying behind on the steps.

“You tried to kill me today.”

Of all the things he expected her to say, that was not one of them. Her voice was calm, quiet, and full of pain, but there was no anger, no accusation.

“I do not know what happened. I don't remember,” he said weakly, but knew she couldn't believe him. Only a fool would.

“It is as I assumed.”

Christian felt his eyebrows raise in shock. He had not taken her for a fool. “How can you believe me after what I've done?” She opened her mouth to respond, shadows flickering across her face from the torchlight, but he continued before she could get a word in. “
Everything
I've done. How can you believe me now?”

“Because.” She lowered her voice. “My Christian is still in there somewhere. I can feel him in my heart.” She rose to her feet, skirts swirling across the dirt floor. “Daddy, release him.”

“What?” Christian had never heard His Grace sound surprised. Usually bored or angry, or when talking about Ada, amused and proud, but never surprised. Until now. “I cannot release him — he almost killed you!”

In the darkness her hair looked almost entirely black. The red streaks seemed to hide in the shadows, and he just caught a glimpse of them when she nodded. “He did.”

Richard's mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out. Christian watched it all, horrified. “I would rather you not release me,” he croaked.

Ada glanced at him over her shoulder. “He needs to be healed. Something is not right, and we will find him a healer.”

Richard came down two more steps, laying a hand gently on Ada's shoulder.
Now
her torch trembled, but she didn't lower it. “Ada, healers can't fix… whatever is wrong with him.”

Ada jerked away, fingers sparking. “Then I will. You gave me away today, Father. Let me do this before I go. Let me heal him.”

The angry flames hissed in his blood, snapping angrily, and he was suddenly on his feet, straining against his chains and screaming like a madman. Were he able to raise his fingers, he would burn the spell again, but he could not.

“Christian Buttercroft! Stop it right now!” Ada stomped her small foot, putting her free hand on her hip and glaring furiously.

The sparks died abruptly and Christian felt himself coming back, and with it, the pain. “You are betrothed, then?” he asked, his voice breaking.

“Apparently. Without my consent.” She scowled at her father. Christian remembered, not long ago, when she had been terrified of him. What had happened that she suddenly had him wrapped around her finger, so much so that when she glared at him and snapped at him and generally disrespected him, he only looked at her fondly?

“William is an excellent match, Ada. Joining our lands will be beneficial to us all. We will have a stronger front against the French and Spanish invaders.”

Ada's eyes narrowed, visible even in the darkness, and Christian could see the distrust there. Even if the duke had changed, she had not. If that glare was any indication, she still suspected him of all the evil she'd set out to prove in the first place.

“William and I barely know each other and he is not whom I would have chosen for myself.” Her eyes flickered, barely noticeable in the darkness, toward Christian, and the angry flames retreated a bit further.

“As your father, I am doing what is best for you.” Richard puffed out his chest and Ada sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. “Are you going to release him or do I have to find a way to break his chains when you aren't looking?”

Christian froze, waiting for the duke's reaction, but Richard merely threw his head back and laughed. “Here, little one. Free your healer.” He paused, though, and all merriment was gone from his voice. “But you — you stay away from my home. Your place is the stables or your cottage.”

Richard turned on his heel and left. Ada took the key ring and rushed to his side, sliding the torch into the notch on the wall.

“He wants you to die.”

Her eyes widened and she looked up at him. “Why would you say such a horrible thing?” she gasped. Her hands that were so busy trying to find the right key froze. The clanking of metal on metal echoed through the darkness and was gone.

“He left you alone with me.”

“I think you forget, Christian, who it was that stopped your spell today.” She sat back on her haunches and squinted at him. “I do not need my father to protect me. Or William. Or you.” After staring him down for several seconds, she bent her head toward the key ring, trying each one in the lock at his wrist. Finally, there was a loud click and the manacle screeched free. “Give me your feet.”

It took her only seconds to free him completely, and she rose, offering him a hand. “I was supposed to heal you. Now you've saved me again.”

She shrugged, grabbing her torch and walking deeper into the dungeon.

“Where are you going?”

“I think we should not go out the main exit. You are not hugely popular right now with the guards. Or the staff. Or… anyone, actually.”

Sighing, Christian followed her to a small door across the room, one he'd never noticed before. It led to a tunnel with at least a foot of water covering the floor. “What is this place?”

“My father built it in case he was ever locked in his own dungeon.” She didn't hesitate, his little warrior. Lifting her skirts with her free hand, she sloshed into the tunnel and waded into the darkness. Christian followed, wondering how on earth she'd found this little door in the first place.

She didn't seem inclined to speak at all, so he spent their walk studying her and trying not to fall over into the water. She had changed in these weeks since she'd returned from London. She hadn't gone mad, as he had, or trapped inside her own mind, as Charity had, but Richard's training had changed her just as much as it had them. She had lost her innocence, her playfulness. “Now you're a warrior before all else.” He didn't realize he spoke aloud until she answered him.

“That's because in London, I forgot that. I forgot that I was different. I got caught up in the dresses and dances and beauty and attention. I forgot who I was.” She risked a glance over her shoulder at him. “You showed up with your angry sparks and reminded me who I am supposed to be.” Sighing bitterly, she notched the torch again and turned a heavy metal handle laid into the wall, shoving hard on the slab until it swung open. “Now, my parents seek to marry me into that world and take what I am away from me. But I will heal you first.”

Christian swallowed hard. Grabbing her hand, he stopped her before she stepped out into the light. “I've lost you forever, haven't I?”

She froze for several seconds before turning slowly to face him. There was no expert sweep of her skirts now, they tangled around her feet and she stood silhouetted in the doorway. “If my Christian is still there and can win over this completely mad Christian that keeps taking over, then perhaps love will find a way.” She shook her head, pulling her hand free. “But right now, my Christian is lost and I only see glimpses of him. Enough to break my heart every single time.”

She left him in the darkness, jerking her skirts out of her way as she stumbled into the light. He followed her, temporarily blinded. When his eyes finally cleared, he found them to be in the forest behind the manor, emerging from a knoll.

“You—you still love me?” he asked, hating how timid he sounded. Ada was small, yes, but powerful. Whatever timidity she'd had once was gone, driven out of her by her parents.

She sighed, turning toward him. “Christian, I will always love you. You tried to kill me and here I am, still trying to save you. But that doesn't mean we should be together.”

“Because of William,” he said bitterly, his fingers sparking.

“No,” she snapped, whirling away. She turned her back on his sparks.

Very brave. Or very foolish.

Somehow, he wrestled the flames back under control and hurried to catch up to her. “Because of what my father has made you. Because you embraced what my father made you. And because if we were together, my father would always be hunting you.” She said all this without turning toward him, marching resolutely through the forest. She extinguished her torch in their pond, which had, sometime during his madness, been cleared of all the briars.

“I am not afraid of your father.”

She whirled on him, her face a mask of fear and rage. “You should be. Do you not realize what he's done to you? You should be fearful of him!” Sparks, just a few, escaped from her clenched fists. He wondered how she could control her angry flames when he could not, why his overtook him and nearly destroyed him and hers only made her more powerful, more beautiful, more
Ada
.

She searched his face, and whatever she found there was not what she hoped for. Her head fell, her shoulders slumped in defeat. “I will walk you to your cottage. It is safe for you there.” She turned on her heel and stalked away, and he had nothing left to do but follow her. “Do not leave without me until the servants and guards… and my mother… have realized you are not to be feared.”

She left him at his door, promising to return in the morning. And return she did, like a miniature drillmaster. She put him through test after test — not the painful kind her father did, but different words or spells or emotions that would trigger his anger.

And then she would make him control it.

“I can teach you to be a warrior, Christian, if that's where your heart truly lies. But this—” she waved her hand toward him, “this is not a warrior. This is madness. Madness gets killed because it has no sense.”

Christian bent over, his hands on his knees. He gasped for breath and glared at her through his lashes. “This is supposed to cure me?”

She smiled, mischievous in the face of his mental and physical exhaustion. “Yes.”

“You have a lot of faith in my ability to control it. What if I lose my mind and try to kill you again?” As it was, she was hiding him in either his cottage or in the dungeon because no one had forgiven him for his last attempt.

She shrugged, but her eyes still sparkled. “Then I will simply have to move faster than you do.” She raised a teasing eyebrow. “And let's do be honest, shall we? I doubt that you have enough energy to muster a
lirik
that would do more than sting quite a bit.”

He growled half-heartedly before it hit him. She was exhausting him on purpose — the exact same method she'd used to control her father. The dark eyes watching him read his realization and she nodded slowly. Sometimes, he was positive she had a bit of Charity's gift.

“So. Let's begin again, shall we?”

Christian flopped on the ground, groaning. “Ada, you have won. I am tired.”

She crossed the dungeon, kneeling next to him in the dirt to peer into his face. “I am certain you will survive.” Her smile played around the corner of her mouth, but he refused to rise. Instead, he closed his eyes stubbornly. “I'll tell you what. If you can control your angry flames for the next several words, I will teach you a new spell.”

He cracked an eye open and studied her. “New spell, you say?”

“Yes. In fact, if you are a good student and behave, I will teach you a new spell every day.”

Ada had found his weakness, perhaps his greatest weakness besides her. He wanted the power, the knowledge, the ability that came with Edren spells.

“One day he will take those spells you teach him and create an army of Carules to rise against the Edren tyranny.”

Christian turned his head in the dirt to see Charity grinning from the steps. She was more pale than usual, and her silver eyes glowed a bit, but her smile said she was not caught in a vision. She was safe.

Ada stood, offering him a hand to pull him to his feet. He rose, falling forward just a bit. He caught himself by placing a hand at her waist. It was the closest he'd been to her since that night in London, and he felt the flames roar to life, smothering his Carules blood. Ada must have seen the change in his eyes and she backed away, throwing the ward up before he could even think about burning a spell. When he was surrounded, she stood back, arms crossed, chest heaving, and nodded once.

Giving him permission.