keep her warm and certainly had not been chosen to protect her modesty.
“Is that a custom I missed?”
The woman, who appeared to have been walking quietly along the avenue, smiled and shook her head. “Only an opportunity.” Slowly she pulled away the shawl. “But there are always other opportunities, other chances, for the right man.”
He stood his ground even though a part of him urged swift retreat. Before Gwen, he had never been better than inept with women. Cabe was still not certain how he had been so fortunate as to marry her. “I’m flattered, but I’ll have to decline.”
She hesitated for a brief moment, almost as if she was confused by his response. Then she advanced toward him again, growing somehow even more desirable than she had before.
Again, Cabe sensed that something was amiss. He blinked, then stared carefully at the girl. She mistook his expression for a positive response to her advances and reached out to him. The warlock took her proffered hand . . . then reached out with his power and froze her where she was. He allowed her only to speak.
“Let me go! What are you doing?”
“There are certain things an enchantress should be careful about doing and one of those is picking the wrong victim to use your spells on.” Cabe led her by the hand to the side of the stable, where they would not so readily be seen. The would be seductress followed, walking in jerky movements. He now controlled her actions; she could do nothing but breathe, see, and hear. Even her ability to talk hinged on Cabe’s desire. He disliked having to do this, but he could not take chances with so wild a sorceress. There was no telling what other tricks she might know.
When they were safely ensconced, he whispered, “You will speak softly. I won’t hurt you if you don’t try anything and if you answer me honestly. Understand?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” Even with her spell of seduction removed, it was difficult for him to stand so close to her. If he backed away, however, he knew she would notice. That would throw some of the advantage back to her, which was not what he wanted. “Who are you? Why did you seek me out?” He studied her hair. His eyes had not been augmented for the dark, but up close, he should still have been able to see it.
“You may call me Tori, warlock, and what I wanted-and still want-is simply you.” Her smile was dazzling. Understanding his confusion, she added, “The streak is on the left, buried beneath another layer of hair. All it takes is some artful combing.”
That would not serve her forever, the warlock knew. Soon, the mark would make itself so evident that nothing short of false hair or a hood like his would be sufficient. However, that was not so important now as what she was doing here. “Why? Why do you want me?”
“Are you serious? What sort of life have-”
He waved her to silence. “You know that’s not what I meant. There were certainly better choices in there than me.”
She cocked her head to one side. Cabe had not realized that he had allowed her more mobility. That was a bad sign; it meant that she was either stronger than he had supposed or her influence on him was. Either way, it spelled trouble. “True, there were men who were
He understood now. “And someone with skill in the art of sorcery.”
“Yes. Very much so. Not just for the sake of that power, though that certainly sweetens things, but because I want someone who understands what it’s like to be so . . . superior and different. I want someone of the same world as I. When I saw you, I sensed somehow that you were like me, that you were the one I was searching for. All my patience and sweat have been for something after all. I was beginning to believe that I would be working in taverns for the rest of my life, searching for someone else like me. Someone like you.”
Although it seemed that each week brought rumors of new mages, they were still few and far apart. Cabe understood Tori. Here she was, with skills she had not been tutored in the proper use of, trapped in a place where there was no one else like her. Or was there?
“There must be at least one other spellcaster here, Tori. These markers are magical.”
“There are a few, master warlock, but they are hardly the company I would keep. Besides, they work solely for Zuu and I will have my own life. You would be wise to watch that marker. It lets them know if a mage is in the city. That’s how the king recruits.”
“Recruits?” All thought of Tori’s attempted seduction faded.
“King Lanith wants magic users. He hasn’t decided what he wants to do with them, but he wants them.” She put a cool hand to his chin. “You know, there may have been some prettier ones, but I like the character and strength in your face more. You could teach me how to use sorcery properly and I could-”
“That’ll be enough of that. There’s a certain enchantress, the mother of my children, who might take offense. She and I are very protective of each other. If you want training, then something can be arranged.”
“With you?” With the swiftness of a feline pouncing on her prey, she was against him. Cabe started to push her away, but then both of them stopped and turned their attention to a sound coming from beyond the street. Tori glanced up into his face. “You had best be leaving, my love. I carry a false marker, so I’m safe, but you must have been using much magic tonight. Those little toys aren’t usually so efficient.”
“What is it? What’s coming?”
“Lanith’s hired mages and the city guard.” Even under the circumstances, she took the time to run a finger slowly over his chest. “They are not much to look at and separately they’re inept, but the three of them together with the guards could give you trouble . . . and I wouldn’t want that. We
She leaned up, gave him a swift but powerful kiss, and vanished before he could ask her his next question. Tori had the potential to be a very adept mage, it seemed, if her skills were honed so well already.
Disconcerted, Cabe stood there for several seconds. He had come to Zuu for information, not in order to be involved in some enchantress’s wild notions or another king’s murky ambitions. Legar was beginning to look more and more inviting with each passing moment.
There was a clatter in the street, a clatter with a very definite military sound to it. Cabe felt the presence of other mages. Unlike Tori, they made no attempt to mask themselves. He sensed them draw upon the natural forces of the world, but draw upon them in such haphazard manner that it was a wonder they did not accidentally unleash some wild spell on themselves.
“He’s around, he is,” came a gruff female voice.
“Well, it’s your task to find him, mage. Do so.”
“Do not proceed to tell us our duties.” This voice, male, was more cultured than that of either of the previous two.
The warlock pressed himself against the wall, a frown on his lips. His best choice was to teleport to Darkhorse and for the two of them to leave instantly.
Thought was action. Cabe materialized a few stalls down from where he had left Darkhorse. The warlock purposely chose a spot near the stable wall, the better to avoid being seen by some boy or groom. Other than the horses, though, he saw no one. Cautiously he stepped away from the wall and started toward the shadowy steed.
“Dark-” The warlock bit off the rest of the name as he found himself staring at a tall figure clad in a long, flowing robe of white. The man stood like one of the storybook wizards Cabe had grown up hearing about, the ones that only existed in tales. He even had the long white beard.
The man stared at him. After a breath or two had passed, Cabe came to the realization that the man was not staring at him, but rather at the spot where he stood. He did not see the warlock at all. Becoming daring, the bemused warlock waved a hand in front of his counterpart’s countenance. The bearded mage might have been a statue for all he noticed.
“He came barging in all important,” mocked a voice from behind the still figure. The gate to Darkhorse’s stall opened of its own accord and the demon steed trotted out. “I think he must have been looking for you but sensed me instead. Then, just as he had decided to give up, you came along. His powers are not that great, not by far, but he
