Scholar of Magic Read online

  There hadn’t been time, but he asked anyway, “Would you have believed me?”

  “Probably not,” she admitted. Then she gave him a serious look. “I have to call the constable. You killed someone.”

  “Something,” he corrected.

  “You can say it was self-defense. They’ll probably believe you, especially if I testify on your behalf.”

  “I was defending you, not me,” he replied dryly, “so I don’t think it’s technically self-defense.”

  “Either way, you won’t hang for it,” said Laina. “But you still have to answer for assaulting Darla.”

  “She shot me first,” snapped Will, his patience thinning.

  Laina shook her head. “You pulled your sword out, then she shot you. I saw it.”

  A new voice entered the conversation. “I was going to shoot him anyway.” It was Darla. Her words were clear though her voice was weak. “I thought he was after you. We misunderstood each other.”

  Laina went on, “But you did save her life, so perhaps we can pretend it didn’t happen.”

  His sarcasm was thick as he accepted. “That’s very gracious of you.” He froze as his eyes caught a flash of turyn across the street, from not one, but four separate places. Four men appeared, rising from the ground as though it was no more solid than water. Each of them had three elementals, one of earth, one of fire, and one of air. They were dressed in dark gray tunics that covered what was probably a chain shirt and gambeson beneath. More people? How many were watching this house?

  The men moved cautiously toward him, taking different vectors so he couldn’t keep his eyes on all of them. “Put the sword down and kneel,” ordered one of them in an authoritative tone.

  Will got quickly to his feet. The gate that opened into Laina’s front yard was still open. He moved in front of the two women and spoke to Laina from one side of his mouth. “Help Darla inside and close the gate.”

  “Neither of you move,” barked the stranger, then he focused on Will again. “Don’t make me repeat myself. Drop the weapon and kneel, now!”

  He was moving his head back and forth, trying to keep all of them in sight, though it was impossible. “Or what? Who are you?”

  “Your worst nightmare, child. Surrender or you might not walk away from this.” The man was close enough that Will could see his eyes now—they were cold and hard.

  “I’ve seen several nightmares. You aren’t even close to making my list,” Will shot back.

  Laina’s hand touched his arm. “Will, stop. They’re the king’s men, the Driven.”

  He had no idea what that meant, but her tone implied they were part of some special force. “They aren’t wearing any livery or insignia,” he replied cautiously, weighing his options. He didn’t want to fight if they were servants of the king, but he still wasn’t convinced.

  “Enough of this,” said the commander impatiently. In the blink of an eye a source-link snapped out, and to Will’s surprise, managed to connect to him.

  Without thinking, he snarled and wrested control of the link away from the man. He paralyzed the fellow before he could react and watched him fall, feeling a sense of satisfaction. One of the others sent something hard flying at his head, but he blocked it with a point-defense shield and then turned to drive his sword at the man who was rushing at his back. Almost by pure chance, his blade skipped up the front of the man’s chest and sank into his unarmored throat. The unfortunate soldier fell back, blood spraying from the wound.

  The fourth was about to unleash a spell, something involving air from what Will could see, but there wasn’t much he could do about it. If it’s a wind-wall or something similar I’m dead, he thought grimly as he tried to create a force-lance, but he knew he’d be a second too late.

  “Unleash that spell on my son-in-law and I’ll see you dead, lieutenant.” The voice belonged to a fifth man, who had only now chosen to reveal himself, rising from the ground just as the other had before. It was the king.

  Will didn’t know whether to be relieved or terrified. This can’t be happening.

  King Lognion walked resolutely toward them and the remaining soldiers—the two who weren’t wounded or paralyzed—became still while somehow also conveying a sense of respect and deference to their sovereign. From the corner of his eye Will saw Laina drop into a deep curtsey.

  The king’s eyes flicked down to take note of the burning corpse and the man hemorrhaging from his throat. The one who was bleeding had already lost consciousness and would probably be dead in another minute at best. Then Lognion’s eyes went to the paralyzed commander before finally coming to rest on Will. “I see your habits haven’t changed in recent months, William. Have you no knee for your monarch?”

  Will’s brain had finally settled on muted terror for the emotional backdrop of his mind, and consequently his common sense began to suffer for it. The last time he had met the king in person had been when he had confronted the man about his daughter. As the months had passed peacefully, he had begun to secretly hope that perhaps he wouldn’t ever have to meet Lognion again. Rationally he had known that wouldn’t really be possible—he had pledged to kill the man, after all—but even so, he wasn’t mentally prepared to face Selene’s father again.

  Naturally, he said something stupid, “I thought perhaps family weren’t required to do that sort of thing.”

  A faint quirk appeared at the corner of Lognion’s mouth then vanished quickly. “Only in private, assuming I choose to allow you such freedoms, and only if you’re prepared to speak to me in a familial manner. Are you suggesting you’d like to call me Father?”

  Several awkward seconds passed as Will tried to figure out a response. Apparently he had two options, but he certainly didn’t feel like calling the devil in front of him Father. He bowed instead. “Your Majesty, I didn’t expect to encounter you here.”

  “Nor I you, William.” He glanced at the paralyzed commander once again. “Would you mind releasing my man?”

  “Oh!” Will had forgotten. He dropped the source-link spell a second later.

  Meanwhile, Lognion’s attention had turned to Laina, who still had her head down and knees bent as she maintained her curtsey. “Miss Nerrow, be at ease. I trust you are safe and sound?” Before she could answer, the commander finished standing and the king held up one hand. “One moment before you answer that.” He turned to the commander, and without warning his arm lashed out, backhanding the soldier and sending him tumbling to the ground. “Your idiocy almost cost my daughter a husband. Get back on your feet.” The king’s face shifted from rage to utmost calm as he faced Laina once again. “Where were we?”

  Will’s half-sister seemed disturbed by what she had seen. Swallowing to clear her throat, she answered, “I’m unhurt, Your Majesty. Thank you for asking.”

  “Glad to hear it.” Lognion addressed the commander again. “The one on fire was our target wasn’t it?”

  “Yes, Sire.”

  The monarch sighed with obvious irritation. “An interrogation is unlikely now, but perhaps the body will give us some answers. Detail one of the men to see that the remains are recovered.” Then Lognion’s focus shifted. “Is this the one you mentioned before?” He waved a hand in the direction of Laina’s fallen bodyguard. The woman’s wounds had finished healing, but she hadn’t risen to her feet yet.

  The commander stiffened. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  “Seize her,” ordered the king. It happened so quickly that Laina barely had time to yelp as the two soldiers on either side stepped forward and grabbed Darla. The woman offered no resistance as they pulled her to her feet and dragged her to stand in front of the King of Terabinia.

  Lognion’s eyes lit with excitement and he drew a poniard from his belt. “Hold her.”

  “Your Majesty!” protested Laina. Will started to step forward, but Lognion turned his gaze on them and he froze.

  “I merely wish to confirm the lady’s identity,” said the king with a sneer. Then he whistled and four
more men stepped into the light near the street corner. They were dressed identically to the other soldiers. The men joined them, and the commander detailed two of the newcomers to keep an eye on the burning remains while the others stayed alert in case trouble broke out.

  Laina deflated and Will stepped back, unsure what to do. Starting a fight now would only endanger his sister.

  The king brought the dagger up and inserted the blade into the collar of the woman’s tunic then pulled downward. It cut for only an inch before meeting a hidden layer of mail. A chain vest was sandwiched between layers of linen. Undeterred, Lognion kept working, moving the blade to either side and cutting away the fabric. After a moment only the mail vest and the padding beneath it remained. Darla’s eyes were flat and empty. “Keep her still,” he ordered the two men holding her.

  Lognion formed a spell and turyn began to glow around his hands. Reaching out, he grasped the top of the vest and pulled. The riveted steel links began to part and the gambeson beneath it tore. Darla’s demeanor shifted instantly. Her right leg came up, but Lognion was ready for her. Releasing her vest, his left hand caught the woman’s knee while his right drove forward into her belly. Laina’s friend sagged, but the king barked another order. “Hold her up.”

  Then he resumed his task, ripping the vest and gambeson away to reveal the woman’s bare chest. A dark tattoo in black and red showed between her breasts, a stylized spider. “As I thought, one of the Arkeshi. Your life is forfeit, assassin, as it has been from the moment you stepped onto Terabinian soil.”

  “She’s an exile,” declared Laina suddenly.

  Lognion turned his head slowly, with a predator’s grace, until his eyes had locked onto the newest target of his interest. “You know her?”

  Laina blanched, but she wouldn’t disavow her friend. “She’s an exile. She no longer owes allegiance to the Great Khan. I hired her to serve as my bodyguard. She’s here on my behalf.”

  The king’s lips curled slightly at the corner and Will felt his heart shrink. He had seen that expression on the cruel man’s face too many times in the past. “Let me rephrase that for you, Miss Nerrow,” said the monarch, his eyes flicking over to study Will for a moment, gauging his reaction. “If you take responsibility for bringing this assassin into Terabinia then the crime is yours.”

  Will could see his sister’s hands begin to visibly shake. She linked them together to hide her fear. Then she asked, “If I do, will you spare her life?”

  A deep chuckle resounded in the king’s chest. “Do you think your status as the daughter of a lord will keep you from punishment? Someone must pay when a crime is committed.” There was an evil light in his eyes.

  “What would my punishment be, if I claimed responsibility?”

  “Laina, no!” snapped Will. “You have no idea what he’s capable of.”

  King Lognion smiled with mock sweetness. “Such a touching reunion, William. You know what I’m capable of, don’t you, and why?” His eyes flitted to Laina for a second, then back to Will.

  He’s threatening her to get to me, thought Will. What does he want? Before he could say anything, Darla spoke out. “Let him kill me, Laina. Death means nothing to me.”

  “Your guardian is both loyal and wise, Miss Nerrow,” said the king. “If you choose to take responsibility, I will grant her amnesty for so long as she serves you, but you will have to accept punishment and I doubt your father will be pleased. Ten lashes in the public square will be a mark of shame on your family’s honor.”

  Laina’s face went white, and her lip trembled when she answered, but her voice was clear. “I accept responsibility. Please spare her life.”

  Will’s heart sank, and Darla cried out, “Laina, no!”

  Meanwhile the king smiled cheerfully and then gave the order. “Seize her.” Darla struggled to escape the men holding her as the commander took Laina’s arm.

  Unused to such roughness, Laina automatically tried to pull away. “Unhand me!” she commanded. “I’ve already surrendered.”

  Lognion took one quick step forward, then slapped Laina with such force that her head whipped to one side. Stunned, she stared back at him, blood dripping down her cheek where one of his rings had cut her skin. “You’re a criminal now, Miss Nerrow. Don’t expect to be treated as a woman of gentle birth. You’ll spend the night in a cell. Once you’ve taken your lashes you’ll be released. Until then”—the king paused, relishing the words—“please resist.”

  Will couldn’t take it any longer. “Let her go.”

  Lognion Maligant met his gaze. “You have no standing to interfere, son-in-law.”

  “Yes, I do,” said Will flatly. Lognion is one of the few people who know that Laina and I share blood.

  “Perhaps you do,” said the king with a twisted grin. “Would you like to beg leniency on her behalf?”

  “What is it you want?” asked Will.

  The king’s fist lashed out, and Will had to steel himself to keep from using a point-defense shield to protect himself, then he was falling. “That’s for showing disrespect yet again.”

  Sullen anger smoldered in Will’s features as he looked up. “What is it you want, Your Majesty?”

  “I have five questions,” said Lognion. “For each one you answer I’ll deduct two lashes from the punishment. For each question you refuse, I’ll give you the lashes instead.”

  Stubborn and angry, Will responded, “Agreed.” He already had a bad feeling he wouldn’t like the questions, and he knew from past experience that the king was a seemingly flawless lie detector.

  “Where is my daughter?”

  Shock ran through him. He knows she’s gone! Will’s eyes widened, and he struggled to think. From the corner of his eye, he could see Laina studying him with combination of horror and interest, since she also desperately wanted to know the answer. Lying wouldn’t work. His mind ran in circles for ten seconds or more before he finally made the only choice available to him. “I refuse to answer that.”

  Laina gasped audibly, and Lognion held up two fingers. “How delightful. Very well, here is my second question: Where is Selene?”

  He started to answer when Laina broke in. “Will, stop. This is stupid. He’s her father, just tell him.”

  You’re more worried about finding out yourself than you are with me taking your punishment, thought Will sourly. “I refuse.”

  Lognion held up two more fingers. “Third question, where is my only living child?”

  Will felt a cold sweat beginning to form on his body. He’d been beaten with a coachwhip once as a child, ironically enough because he had saved Laina from a snake the first time they met. The coach driver had thought he had attacked her and had laid into him several times before Selene had stopped the man. He still had the scar on his cheek.

  He’d almost taken lashes while in the army, but Tiny had taken the blame for him. Will had seen the damage done to the big man’s back and he was sure it was worse than what had happened to him. “I refuse.”

  The king arched his brows. “How noble of you. Before I ask the next question, you should know I plan on administering your punishment personally. I like to make every stroke count. I also like to soak the whip in brine. Some say that’s just cruel, but it’s a mercy really. The salt helps the wound stop bleeding more quickly, though it does make the cut agonizingly painful.” He paused to let his words sink in, then asked, “Where is your wife?”

  Something snapped as fear overloaded Will’s mind. “Why don’t you summon her and ask her yourself?” The world went black as Lognion’s fist drove him into unconsciousness. When he awoke, he was being held by two men in much the same fashion that Darla had been a few minutes earlier.

  “Are you awake?” asked the king. “I don’t like beating unconscious men. Too much effort for no reward.”

  Groggy, Will answered, “Yes, and that was your fifth question.” Even as he said it, he knew the remark would earn him a more severe beating, but he couldn’t help himself. Probably
too much time spent around the fae, he decided. That sort of thing would work with them.

  Lognion remained still for a moment, then began to chuckle. “All right, fine. You made me laugh. I’ll count that one as a question answered.” The smile on the king’s face was genuine, which made it all the more terrifying.

  He really is insane.

  “This is why I love dealing with you, William. You’re so much more entertaining than any of my other servants or enemies.” Lognion patted his cheek affectionately. He nodded to the two men holding Will up. “Follow me. We’ll take him behind Lord Nerrow’s house.”

  Laina squeaked in surprise. “Here? Now? You were going to take me to the square—”

  “Remember your place, Miss Nerrow.”

  She dipped her head. “Your Majesty.”

  Lognion nodded happily. “The difference, Miss Nerrow, is that William is my son-in-law. A public flogging would bring embarrassment to the throne, so we will have to make do with a private affair. In all honesty, I prefer it this way. As I said, I do enjoy administering the punishment myself.” He led the way toward the Nerrow home.

  Chapter 9

  The Nerrow household fell into chaos at the sudden appearance of the king. The baron’s servants were running to and fro, and Mark Nerrow was clearly working hard to hide his dismay at having such an auspicious visitor with no warning.

  When Lord Nerrow spotted Will among those who entered, a moment’s panic flickered behind his eyes, but he recovered quickly. A look of deep concern entered his face when the circumstances were explained. Will’s father stared at his illegitimate son’s face, but Will had no idea what the man’s expression represented—shame, worry, embarrassment, or perhaps fear of discovery.

  Will looked away. Currently he and Laina were standing in the kitchen, he with two guards holding him. Laina was free to do as she pleased, but for some reason she remained in the room. Why is she here? Will wondered. Shouldn’t she retire? Darla had been taken upstairs already, where apparently the bodyguard already had a room of her own.