I hadn’t really expected him to, but it bothered me. Whoever it was, is far better at sneaking around than I am, I thought. That wasn’t very comforting. I was used to thinking of channelers as inept, except when it came to healing. In general their gods didn’t spend a lot of time letting them practice ‘borrowing’ their power to learn practical skills. “I didn’t think you would, but I’m glad you searched,” I replied. “Did you really think Penny or my mother might be in danger?”
“I couldn’t afford to think anything else,” he replied.
That didn’t really add up in my mind and I wasn’t used to Dorian reaching conclusions before I did. I made my doubt plain, “I still don’t understand your reasoning.”
Dorian gave me a look that indicated I might have been born naturally slow. Then he explained, “You have to remember Mort, the Thornbears have been protecting the Lancaster family for several generations now, not just Lancaster Castle. I learned quite a bit from my father. What do you think the easiest way to hurt you would be?”
I could see the direction his thoughts had taken but I still wasn’t sure I agreed. “That might be true, but anyone that hurt my family would only earn themselves painful retribution.”
Dorian snorted, “I doubt the dark gods are that frightened of you, but that is beside the point. Anyone that wants to control you has to be giving serious thought to kidnapping your family.”
His words struck me like a thunderbolt as I realized how clueless I had been. Rose patted me on the shoulder and added, “That’s what I love about Dorian, he’s often a lot smarter than his simple exterior would lead one to believe.”
I almost felt bad for him. Dorian’s moment in the spotlight went from calm and in control to red and embarrassed almost instantly. His mouth formed a perfect ‘o’ as he stared at Rose. Eventually he looked back at me, shaking his head before he spoke again, “Anyway, I think your mother should move into one of the rooms adjacent to yours and we need to post extra guards on both doors and the stairs leading to this floor.”
“Will it matter if our intruder can move about without fear of detection?” I asked. I didn’t really think guards would be very useful if magic was involved.
“He may be able to sneak about in safety but I doubt he can take someone out of here by force without a struggle. With you nearby that would be the most foolish thing anyone could attempt,” Dorian replied, his face was gradually returning to its normal color.
I was flattered by Dorian’s confidence in me and I had to admit he had a good point, “Alright, I agree with you. What else do you think we should do?”
My mother had other ideas however. “Now wait a minute!” she interrupted. “Are you telling me that I have to move into the castle?” I knew already she wouldn’t be happy about leaving the small house she had shared with my father. Dorian and I exchanged helpless glances, neither of us wanted to be the one to force this on her.
Luckily Rose intervened, “Miriam, I’m sorry but Dorian may be right. Would you want someone to use you as a tool to coerce your son?” I started to say something to support her but Penny gave me a look cautioning me to silence.
“Well of course not,” replied my mother after a brief pause. “I just don’t think it is right to have me barging in on them. They’ve only been married a few months and now Penelope has to put up with her mother-in-law living right on top of her?”
Penny spoke up then, “No Miriam, that’s not a problem! I’d love to have you closer to us.”
I watched the two of them carefully. I had never suspected that might be the reason my mother had refused to leave her house before. Now that the veil had been drawn I found myself watching Penny as well. Perhaps it would bother her, even though she denied it now. The more I learned of the world of women the less I understood.
In the end my mother agreed to move into the adjoining rooms, though she swore up and down we’d never know she was there. The entire process involved quite a bit of hugging and even a few tears as the ladies (all three of them) shared their love for one another. Meanwhile Dorian and I quietly worked out the other arrangements which primarily involved having guards following my wife and mother everywhere.
There really wasn’t a practical way to stop the movements of a channeler that could hide his presence from anyone, so we decided the best thing we could do was make sure it would be nearly impossible to kidnap either of them.
Later that evening, as I lay in bed listening to Penny snoring, I couldn’t help but wonder at the turns my life had taken. A year or two ago I would never have imagined that power could make me so vulnerable. I resolved to look in my father’s library and see if I could find ideas on how to protect my family better. Some sort of ward to alert me to intrusions while sleeping would be good. As it was I could hardly sleep. Paranoia seemed destined to become my new bed companion.
Chapter 12
The cool linens were soothing against Cyhan’s skin. The large man slept with little more than a sheet despite the crisp night air. His body had always seemed to produce far more heat than he needed.
Glancing upward he couldn’t help but be glad to be home again, if his room in the palace could truly be called home. Residence would probably be a better word. Even so, two months in a dungeon had given him a new appreciation for a proper bed and fresh sheets. Not that he would have ever admitted such a thing where anyone could hear it.
“I must be getting old,” he mused aloud. Truthfully the cell he had occupied in Lancaster hadn’t been bad… as far as prison cells went anyway. The good duke had made sure he was properly fed and given fresh water daily, but it had not been a comfortable existence.
Despite the fact that he was back in his accustomed place he still found little peace. Mordecai’s words bothered him. Cyhan had always been proud of his service, training the next generation of Anath’Meridum (when there had still been the possibility someone would need one), and serving his king when that was no longer necessary. He had also prided himself on not second guessing himself once he had given his oath. His life had been built around the principle of fidelity.
Intelligence and wit were meant to serve a purpose. Little was to be gained by debating a choice over and over after it had been made. Yet the older he got the harder it was to maintain his rigid principles. Life seemed determined to color him in shades of gray.
Though his eyes were closed his room was softly lit by moonlight coming from the balcony facing the royal gardens. A flicker made him open his eyes slowly. Had something just blocked the light momentarily? He kept his body relaxed and still while his ears became more sensitive. If there was an intruder his hand already knew where his blade was… he felt no need to reach for it yet.
A hint of sandalwood came to his nose and he smiled in the semi-darkness. The sharp cold edge of a blade pressed against the skin of his neck and he could see a shadow leaning over him. “Has your time away made you soft zaihar? ” The voice that spoke was soft and sultry.
“If you had come to kill me I doubt you would have worn perfume,” he answered without moving.
“When I kill you it will be while the jasmine is blooming and your nose is already filled with its scent,” she said, leaning in close enough to see his face in the dim light.
Her hair fell around him as she leaned down and the smell of sandalwood grew stronger. Moving slowly Cyhan slid his hand up the outside of her thigh, tracing her curves. The knife pressed harder against his throat, its sharp edge warning him. “Careful zaihar, your life is in my hands,” she told him, her face mere inches from his own.
“I’ll take my chances,” he replied as his hand roamed into more sensitive zones in the darkness. A moment later the woman gasped and the pressure on the blade let up for a moment. With a twist he took the blade from her hand and tossed it across the room. A brief struggle ensued, earning him a few bruises and a scratch. His opponent was naked but for a sheer nightgown.
The woman was much stronger than she appeared and a capable wrestler, but she still proved no match for him. He was nearly twice her weight after all. Forcing her into an armlock he held her captive against the mattress. His other hand continued to roam even as she growled at him. “Has my time away made you soft Ruth?” he
