Ravs Are Rarely Wrong: The Kinowenn Chronicles Vol III Page 19

  Flying was harder than Lucy thought it would be. A falcon has instincts to fly. If she had changed into one, flying would have been natural. Transformation, however, did not bring all the natural instincts of the animal with it. You could get in touch with them, but your brain was your own, not a kestrel’s. Naturally, that meant Lucy overthought the whole process and made a mess out of it. Luckily, she caught on before Ishalla lost her temper completely. Once Lucy got the hang of it, flying was fun.

  “What happens to my clothes?” asked Lucy. “Obviously, they go somewhere because I am clothed when I return to human form.”

  “You are turning into an animal and you wonder where your clothes go?” asked Ishalla bemused.

  “Yes,” affirmed Lucy.

  “Accept it as part of the magic,” shrugged Ishalla. “Not all magical acts accompany a rational explanation. A squirrel does not wonder how its tail helps it leap from tree to tree. It accepts what is. You do not ask how you are able to change into an animal, but you are concerned about clothing? Ask better questions.”

  Lucy nodded. It wasn’t the answer she was looking for, but she wasn’t going to complain about not finding herself naked every time she shifted back to human form. Also, it wasn’t a good idea to argue with Ishalla. She would either answer Lucy’s questions or she wouldn’t. There was no point in asking again or trying to get a different and hopefully better explanation. She also did not want to risk angering Ishalla anymore than she already had that visit. Lucy learned a lot on such impromptu sessions. She did not want them to end.

  “Now, let’s work on the owl,” announced Ishalla.

  Ishalla gestured, and the falcon in the pool was replaced by an elf owl. It was only about six inches long. Lucy studied the large dark eyes, the hooked beak, the talons, the soft fluffy feathers that were dappled gray and beige. She took a deep breath, focused and changed into the elf owl. She felt surprised yet proud of her success on the first attempt and found herself hoping Ishalla could not read owl smugness. Flying as an owl was different than flying as a kestrel. The elf owl’s wings were softer and quieter. The kestrel’s wings were more powerful. After she got the hang of flying as an owl, Ishalla had her practice transforming from a falcon, to a human, to an elf owl, to a falcon, to an elf owl, and back into a human. When Ishalla was satisfied, she nodded and faded away.

  Lucy woke up from her nap. Justin was sitting next to her, stroking her hair. She smiled up at him, and he smiled back.

  “Did you have a good nap?” he asked.

  Lucy laughed. “It was productive, but I’m not sure about restful.”

  “Ishalla?”

  Lucy nodded. “Want to see something?”

  “Does it involve you leashing yourself to something scary and evil?”

  “No.”

  “Then, go ahead.”

  Lucy smiled, concentrated, and changed into an elf owl. It seemed appropriate as they were in an Elven garden. Justin’s eyes widened as she took flight and circled him.

  “Please tell me you transformed and I don’t need to figure out how to change you back.”

  “Of course. Don’t worry; I’m still me. Pretty cool, huh?”

  “Absolutely. Well done. Hard to kiss though. Mind changing back?”

  Lucy landed on the ground, transformed back into a human, and kissed Justin.

  “What other animals can you become?” asked Justin.

  “We worked on the elf owl and a falcon. A kestrel, to be more specific. She said we could work on other animals next time. A strong bird for day and one for night should help with recon and surveillance.”

  “Of course, because being leashed to the enemy couldn’t possibly be dangerous enough,” replied Justin sarcastically.

  “Do you want to be difficult or go flying?”

  “She taught you how to transform other people, too?”

  “No, I assume you know how to transform yourself. You’re Justin.”

  He laughed. “Thank you for the vote of confidence. As a matter of fact, I also enjoy being a kestrel.”

  He transformed into a kestrel that looked identical to Lucy’s except his wings were gray. They spent the next hour or so feathered and carefree flying through the trees. Fallon looked up in time to see them playing tag and smiled.

  Chapter 26

  The sun was setting over the spires of Lerramorre as Maya wove ribbons through her hair.

  “I still don’t understand why you don’t want me to go. Isn’t this what all the training is for?” asked Dulcie.

  “I don’t think you are ready to appear at a fancy dinner. Your manners are coming along brilliantly, but you are still very young,” stated Maya.

  “Yes, but princesses are expected to attend these functions younger than I am,” interrupted Dulcie.

  “But a princess performs a different role than we intend for you. A princess is meant to be shown off, paraded around, and put up for auction at an early age. You are being groomed to be a court mage. I’m sure there are rumors about you, but I see no reason to answer those rumors or put you in danger. You are learning to sense danger and use shields, but there are many threats you have no defense against and are not ready to face. You are not prepared to become a target. I like you, and to put it bluntly, you are no good to us dead. You are not ready to be a confident, magical presence appearing behind Joss as a pillar of support. Once you have more training, you will attend every function like this. There is no need to rush things.”

  “Okay,” agreed Dulcie, not sure if she should be relieved or concerned. “What do you want me to do?”

  “There is an alcove, with peepholes above the balcony. I’ll have Sam position you there. I want you to practice your shields and watch,” said Maya.

  “Just watch?” wondered Dulcie.

  “Yes,” answered Maya firmly. “I do not think you understand how important ‘just’ watching can be. You must pay attention both with your eyes and your senses. You will have a view from above, seeing movements and patterns we cannot. Pay attention to interactions between guests. Try to sense if anyone has magic. Part of being a court mage is knowing when and how to use magic. Becoming a trained observer is an excellent way to rationalize your decisions.”

  “What if something goes wrong?” asked Dulcie. She was beginning to get nervous about this. So far, she had been enjoying learning magic, and some of the rest of what Maya taught her, not dwelling on the danger aspect.

  “Your job in that situation is not to help. You must watch, remember, and come back here as fast as you can. Talk to the chickadees, and get a message to Justin. Hide yourself. You must survive so the others have your information. Information is power, never forget that. If it makes you feel any better, I’m sure the biggest peril you will face tonight is trying to stay awake,” added Maya with a comforting smile.

  Dulcie looked at her with big eyes, but did not smile back. She was saved a response by a knock at the door. Sam opened the door and Joss entered. He smiled and bowed to both of them. The other Sam extended his arm to Dulcie. It was time for her to get into position. Maya gave her another reassuring smile as she left with Sam.

  “Are you sure it’s wise for us to arrive at a formal dinner together?” Maya asked Joss.

  “Absolutely. It sets a tone for the rest of tonight. It gives you status, keeps other people guessing, and makes the evening much more enjoyable for me,” said Joss with a teasing grin.

  “Well, if it’s all in good fun…” laughed Maya, taking his arm so he could lead her to the dining hall.

  Neville and Carr followed close behind.

  “You look ravishing tonight,” said Joss kissing her hand.

  “Don’t let it give you any ideas,” teased Maya.

  “Too late,” grinned Joss.

  “I’m not sure, but I sometimes wonder if Justin can read minds. What a horrible thing to be able to do,” shivered Maya.

  “I’m sure I could find uses for a talent like that.”

  “You find uses
for any talent you can find.”

  “That’s the job of a great king, finding the best way to use what you have.”

  “What is the purpose of tonight?” asked Maya, changing the subject, or more accurately, trying to focus the subject.

  Joss wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. Maya glared at him. Joss shrugged and grinned in a ‘can’t-blame-a-guy-for-trying’ type way.

  “I want to get all the power players together in one room at one time and see what happens,” said Joss.

  “Are you familiar with the idea of ‘poking a bear’?”

  “Really, that’s not what I’m trying to do. I thought between you, me, and our little friend, we could observe something worth seeing. Who talks to whom? Who seems friendly? Who avoids each other? Also, there are many lesser nobles you haven’t met. It might be good for you to put a face to a name and for them to see you. I intend to inform everyone I’ve heard from a reliable source we had best prepare for bad things coming,” Joss added in a mock ominous tone.

  They wound through the halls to the back entrance. Joss preferred to enter unannounced; it gave the impression that he could appear anywhere at any time. They began to wind through the guests. Some looked surprised by his sudden arrival, just the way Joss liked it.

  There were many things Lucy disliked about court events, but Maya enjoyed them immensely. She loved the pageantry of it all. The beautiful clothing, the gaiety, the hustle and bustle, the music, the decadent foods, the various protocols for conversations, bowing, moving, drinking, and utensil usage. Maya thrived at public functions. She knew how to act and knew she knew how to act. A large amount of well-deserved confidence can make an impression at public events.

  Maya smiled brightly and made all the appropriate remarks, performing the role of eye candy perfectly. At the same time, she filed away everything she could about everyone she met, using her senses to discern truth from lie. The Baron Araintha and his wife seemed friendly, open, and possessed half a brain between the two of them. The Marquis Toulour seemed shrewd. Maya didn’t detect any open animosity or friendliness, but she had the distinct impression the Marquis would always come out of any situation on top, with perfectly clean hands. He was definitely someone to watch. The Baroness Swelth said all the right things and smiled in the right places, but had very cold eyes. She didn’t outright lie, but her truths didn’t feel right.

  Maya noticed a murmur shuffle through the crowd and turned her head towards it. Someone had arrived, and what an entrance she made. The woman was absolutely beautiful, in a femme fatale kind of way. She was tall, had violet, heavily lidded eyes, and wore her black hair loose down to her waist with small white flowers entwined in it. Her dress was violet to match her eyes, form fitting, bare shouldered, slit up the side to her mid-thigh, and cut low in back. She walked into the room as though she owned it. Maya, familiar with all the tricks of the trade, wasn’t sure if she should be intimidated or impressed.

  The man she entered with resembled her closely enough to be a relation. He was also tall, his dark hair arranged with deliberate carelessness. One heavily lidded eye winked at a woman as he passed; she blushed scarlet and giggled. The cut and material of his dress tunic spoke of wealth, breeding, taste, and showed off his physique. Maya could tell he was a player. Both entered the room screaming trouble to anyone with the sense to see it. Still, Maya was almost tempted to play. Not like the pitiful waifs fainting at his feet, but as an equal. She reminded herself she had better things to do with her time.

  “Who are they?” Maya asked Joss quietly, breathing the question in his ear to imply intimacy rather than ignorance. Then, she smiled at him in an alluring way.

  Joss winked back. “Scoping out the competition?” he whispered back, kissing her neck. Two could play this game, and if she was playing he was going to have fun, too. They drew attention away from the new couple as people watched their open, comfortable intimacy with interest.

  “Making sure they know they are not the only people in the room worth watching,” Maya’s eyes twinkled.

  “That’s Rixton Bathrallma and his sister Kithra,” he whispered as he tucked a fallen strand of her hair back up.

  “Hmmm. Interesting. Do you think she would play with you long before eating you?”

  Joss laughed, honestly and long.

  “I’m glad we agree,” he said in a normal voice.

  Joss kissed her hand and tucked it back under his arm as he continued to traverse the crowd introducing her. Eventually, they made their way over to where Kithra and Rixton held court. Maya was amused. The single men were looking at Kithra as though they were in a desert and she was water. A few married men were looking at her that way was as well. Kithra was calculatingly charming with just the right amount of aloofness. Maya wondered how many of these men were too stupid to know how treacherous Kithra really was when she played her games. Likewise, women were hanging on Rixton’s every word, wink, and gesture. Maya pitied them. Men like Rixton couldn’t be tamed, contained, or reformed. They were bad news from beginning to end, even if the middle could be fun.

  “Kithra, how nice to see you again,” Joss smiled kindly, though not worshipfully, and kissed her hand. “This is Maya.”

  Kithra and Maya nodded to each other. Maya read Kithra’s eyes and knew Kithra saw her as a threat and an impediment to the throne. Kithra was self-assured enough to assume Joss was too stupid to see through her games.

  “Rixton,” Joss greeted the brother, and they shook hands without warmth.

  “Maya,” Rixton greeted her and kissed her hand, smoldering his eyes in her direction.

  Maya smiled back at him with confidence, flashing her dimples in a silent, teasing challenge. He seemed intrigued and surprised by her open lack of vapidity. Rixton glanced from Joss to Maya and shared a look with Kithra. Obviously, Maya was not what they were expecting. With or without her, Joss might not be an easy conquest. Their plan had met its proverbial monkey wrench. However, Rixton and Kithra were not ready to abandon ship yet. Maya didn’t mind. She would enjoy playing their game; keeping in mind danger was always imminent. With Maya by his side, Joss was thoroughly amused and ready to watch the game unfold.

  They all sat down to dinner where the charade continued. The meal was full of empty phrases, false smiles, beguiling winks, accidental touches meant to cause rapid heartbeats, alluring looks over the tops of wine goblets, and specific, intentional ways of eating that implied other talents. The heighten sensuality caused Lady Huntinthip to hyperventilate and faint. She was taken to an adjoining room to lie down and recover.

  Maya enjoyed the evening even though it would take her some time to review everything she had seen and heard, much less process it and draw the necessary connections. She wondered how Dulcie had fared. Joss escorted her back to her room, signaling that the dinner party was over.

  “That was more fun than I was anticipating,” said Joss.

  “Yes,” replied Maya laughing. “I think we were more of a challenge than they expected.”

  “That’s what made it so fun,” laughed Joss. “I think Kithra actually purred at one point. I thought only cats did that.”

  “She struck me as being catty enough. You have ministers who actually think you should marry Kithra?” Maya asked appalled.

  “You met her. She twines ministers around her fingers in her spare time. It’s a hobby if you will, like a cat playing with a mouse,” replied Joss with a mock shiver.

  “Good thing you aren’t a minister,” teased Maya.

  They were in a good mood until they reached Maya’s rooms to see two nervous, pacing Sams.

  “What happened?” Joss asked immediately.

  “We don’t know,” said Sam.

  “What has you worried?” Joss amended.

  “It’s Dulcie,” said the other Sam.

  “What about her?” asked Maya, suddenly concerned.

  “We don’t know where she is,” said Sam.

  “Explain,” demanded Joss, looking fierce.<
br />
  “I took her to the alcove as instructed,” explained Sam, looking miserable. “I snuck down to the kitchen to get us dinner since no one was supposed to know our whereabouts. When I got back, she was gone. I waited for her to return, but she didn’t. I checked her room and she wasn’t there either. I came up here to search.”

  “I haven’t seen her since she left with Sam,” said the other Sam.

  “We were discussing what to do next and if we should send word to you or if you would not appreciate the interruption or if you would be angrier if we didn’t interrupt and where else we could look,” stammered Sam all in one breath.

  “And then we heard you coming so we thought we should await your instructions,” added the other Sam. “The garden! Did you check the garden? Maybe she wanted some fresh air. Formal events always get so stuffy.”

  “They absolutely do,” agreed Sam nodding. “I hadn’t thought of checking the garden.”

  “We are here now,” Joss interrupted the garden discussion. “Neville and Carr will stay with us in case she was taken as a distraction of some kind. We don’t know if taking her was their end game or even if she was taken at all. She may be lost, it’s a big castle. You two find some others and search everywhere for her. Everyone search in pairs. Report back here at least every two hours.” Joss sighed. He had looked at Maya partway through the Sam’s explanations. She had nodded, implying they were telling the truth. Or, at least, what they thought was the truth. It was going to be a long night.

  Chapter 27

  Lucy had been sleeping deeply when she felt a presence. She assumed it was Ishalla, even though it seemed too soon for another meeting.

  “Don’t I ever get to sleep?” Lucy asked somewhat groggily.

  “You have dream visitors often?” asked an amused and definitely male voice.

  Lucy’s eyes flew open in surprise. She was pretty sure she was not with Ishalla. Nor had Ishalla sent her here for other tutelage. This was different. She was sitting on a grassy hill, but she was certain she wasn’t really there like she was at Ishalla’s waterfall. She was in her head. If so, how did he get in? She always put up shields when she slept. He sat in the grass, his tall, lean form cross-legged, hands on his knees, his blue eyes quietly amused, waiting for her to process the situation. Even though his actual body wasn’t here, she assumed, she could still feel the intensity that radiated from him. It made her wonder if the intensity she felt was physical or mental.