03 - The Eternal Rose (46 page)

He kept talking as they moved into the building. “This is what I
believe,
but do not know for certain. I believe Torchay Reinas is right, that the demon must be close—I do not know how close—to attack directly. Which likely explains why it has not attacked before now. Whatever the reason, I believe the damage Kallista dealt it gives us some time. How much time, I can't say.” He paused, suddenly looking his very young age. “I would plan for less and hope for more."

“Thank you, Gweric Naitan.” Torchay bowed to him, grateful for every bit of help and information they could get. “Could you perhaps stand watch? Warn us if the demon comes this way?"

The young naitan gave a brusque nod. “I will, Tayo."

Torchay blew out a gusting sigh, striding after Joh as he carried Kallista deeper into the embassy. Leyja trotted at his side, trying to check their Reinine's condition.
Now what?

“Goddess, what a mess.” Obed voiced Torchay's own thoughts, scowling at the floor as he stalked along beside him.

“Truth.” Torchay heaved some of the burden onto his ilias. “What should we do? What
can
we do?"

“The embassy is as secure as arms, men and warding magic can make it. What's left is—” Obed hesitated.

Torchay waited for him to admit the truth to himself.

“It's Kallista,” the dark man finally said. “She is our weak point. Her stubbornness..."

“Could get us all killed.” Torchay followed Obed into the room they both shared now with Kallista, where the ilian had gathered. All the players were present, though Kallista was still unconscious. This behavior wasn't like her. He did not understand it. Nor did he know what to do about it.

Joh laid her carefully on the bed. Torchay looked round. “Where's Padrey?"

“Next room,” Keldrey said. “He kept tryin’ to follow. Actin’ wild. I finally had to lock him up."

Torchay glanced at Joh, then to Fox. Their long-queued ilias had been in prison when he'd been marked, had tried to claw his way through the walls to reach Kallista. Fox had walked hundreds of leagues, most of them in a daze of compulsion to find the Godstruck. “Did it hit you so quick?” Torchay asked.

Joh frowned. “It's hard to remember that time, but no—I don't think so."

“Fox?” Torchay asked for confirmation.

“I couldn't tell you. I was injured, healing. It was weeks before I could move at all. Who knows what was injury and what was the mark? But the need to find her seemed to build slowly."

“If the madness
has
hit him sooner than expected,” Aisse said, “what does it mean?"

Torchay didn't know, didn't want to say what he suspected.

“It means we are out of time,” Obed said. “I think that if we had the luxury of time, Kallista would eventually accept what has happened. She knows that this is the One's choice, the One's gift. Her heart is sore, but it is soft. And she is wise. Her resistance would wear away in a few days’ time."

“But we don't have a few days,” Joh said. “Do we?"

Torchay sighed. He didn't want to do this. Only the One knew whether Kallista would ever forgive him. “We may not have even a full chime of the clock. We also have no choice."

“No choice about what?” Leyja's eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“We have to force it. We have to make sure she ... links with Padrey.” Torchay felt sick at the thought, as if he would disgrace himself on the nearest boots.

“We should at least give her the choice first,” Viyelle protested. “Wake her up, explain. Then, if she still doesn't..."

“Should we wake her?” Obed brushed his fingertips across her forehead. “
Can
we?"

“I agree with Viyelle,” Keldrey said. “Give her one more chance."

“Yes.” Aisse climbed onto the bed, patted the unconscious woman's cheek. “Wake up. Kallista, wake up."

Consensus apparently reached, for no one tried to stop Aisse, Torchay leaned against the wall, arms folded, trying to control the sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. Over the years he'd done thousands of things “for her own good"—forced food down her, slipped sedatives into her wine so she would sleep, carried her to safety over her furious protests. He had been her bodyguard for almost a decade before he became ilias. But he'd never gone this far.

Because it had never mattered so much. And she had never been so stupidly stubborn.

They wouldn't be doing this if she hadn't forced them to it. Ironic it was, given that Torchay had usually been the stubborn one before. He pushed himself off the wall.

"Kallista."
He used his sergeant's voice, loud without shouting. “It's time to wake. Duty calls."

He didn't know whether it was his old call from their army days or Aisse's cold, wet cloth on Kallista's forehead and neck, but their Godstruck ilias struggled to consciousness.

“Stop.” Kallista pushed Aisse away. “Why are you getting me all wet? Stop it."

Torchay glanced round at the others, but he couldn't lay this task on them. He'd been with her longest, he knew her best. The whole palace, including their ilian, acknowledged him as her second, no matter what Viyelle's official title might be or who bore the name of steward. He had to do this.

“Kallista.” He sat next to her on the bed, took both her hands in his. “You're out of time. I wish we had more to give you, but we don't. You
must
link with Padrey."

"Must?"
She set her jaw and glared at him. “There is no
must
to it. I don't need him."

“Yes, you do. The demon's no’ destroyed, and it knocked you flat. Knocked you out. We could have done nothing to stop it, if it decided to—to do anything at all. You need Padrey. You need what his magic will give you."

“Why
him?
” She jerked her hands out of Torchay's and flung herself off the bed to pace. “Why him and not Keldrey? Kel's already one of us. Why couldn't he have been marked?"

“I don't know, Kallista.” Torchay's patience felt more like weariness. He was simply too tired to fight any longer.

“I've had a thought about that,” Joh said, and all eyes turned his way. “Perhaps there's a quality in the person that has to mesh with the magic they carry. You say Fox's magic carries order—and our Fox has a very strong sense of what's proper. Perhaps Padrey fits better with the sort of magic you need him to carry. Perhaps Keldrey is—well—"

“Goddess knows, I'm nothin’ like Stone,” Keldrey said.

“If anything, you're too much like Kallista,” Leyja said. “Both of you stubborn and hot-headed."

Kallista came close to them in her pacing, her eyes snapping sparks. “That—that
thief
is nothing like Stone.
Nothing
.” She spun away again. “No. No. We don't need him. I can do this with what we have."

Torchay took a deep breath. He'd reached the end of his patience. “I'm no’ going to argue any more."

“Good. Now what we need to do—” Kallista swept past him and he snagged her wrist, pulling her in.

The contact with Padrey had to be skin to skin. Harder for her to avoid it if all she wore was skin. Torchay slid his hands under her tunic to peel it off her.

“What—what are you doing?” Kallista struggled to free herself and Obed came to help undress her. “We don't have time for this.” She tried to pull her tunic back down, her trousers up. “Sex is a very bad idea right now. Demons, remember?"

Aisse was at her feet, hauling off her boots. Fox picked her up to make things easier, and in seconds, Kallista hadn't a thread of clothing left her.

“I remember.” Torchay hoisted her, rump up, over his shoulder. “That's why.” He headed for the door and Kallista understood what he meant to do.

“No!” she screamed, kicking out, twisting her body to throw herself free. She wasn't a small woman, almost as tall as the men in the ilian, and strong. Torchay lost his hold. Obed caught her. They carried her between them out of the bedroom and a short distance down the corridor.

Kallista fought them viciously. Fox, then Joh and Keldrey had to help, keep her from breaking free, from hurting anyone. Viyelle ran ahead and unlocked the door. It took all the women to open it against the weight of the man slumped against it.

At the sight of him, Kallista fought harder, desperate to stop this. She couldn't do it, wouldn't touch him, refused to know him.
He wasn't Stone
.

“No-oooo!” Her scream became a wail as they carried her to the bed, tossed her down, holding her there. “Please don't do this to me.
Please
. Torchay, please."

He lifted his head without loosening his grip a fraction and looked her, his eyes soft with pity, his face hard with determination. “Will you do it yourself then?"

“
I can't
.” She wept, ignoring the tears. “Don't, please don't make me."

“Goddess, Kallista.” He looked away, across the room. His throat moved as he swallowed something down. When he looked back, she could see no softness at all, only grim determination. “I have to."

“
We
have to.” Obed's voice called Kallista's attention past Torchay to his dark, sorrowful face. “
You
have to. There is no other choice."

“We always have choices."

“And you made yours seven years ago, on that broken wall in Ukiny,” Torchay said.

“I
can't
.” She knew she was whining, but she couldn't help it. It hurt too much.

"Stop this."
Keldrey crawled up her body, grabbed her shoulders and shook her. “You're the Reinine, for the One's sake! Before that you were the Godstruck, and before that a soldier, a naitan in Adara's army. You're the only one who can destroy this demon. The. Only. One.” He punctuated each word with a little shake. “Without you, we all die.
All
our kids will be slaves, just like Sky. Is that what you want?"

“No!” How dare he suggest that she did?

“Unless you have all your magic, that's what's going to happen. So just stop this stupid messin’ about and do it.” Keldrey flung her down and rolled off the bed.

In the gap between Torchay and Obed, Kallista could see Padrey. The women had stripped him down, with Joh's help for the heavy lifting. Now, Joh held Padrey up at the edge of the bed, the dazed look in the young man's eyes fading as he focused on her. He was lean, but not as thin as she'd thought, his shoulders broad, arms and chest well muscled. Her magic stirred, scenting him on the air. It liked the way he looked. No,
she
liked the way he looked, especially as the flush of arousal crept over him.

She turned her head, hating herself for betraying Stone this way. “I can't,” she whispered.

“It's not betrayal.” Viyelle knelt at the side of the bed, murmuring in Kallista's ear. Had she read her mind? “Do you truly think Stone would begrudge you any pleasure? Would he want to see you like this, or would he be teasing you out of it?"

“Stone was a Warrior,” Fox said. “He knew that when one warrior falls, another must take his place."

Kallista squeezed her eyes shut. They were confusing her. The magic churned, making her dizzy, even lying down. The emotions seeping through the links confused things more, filled with worry and determination and—and love. So much love.

She felt for the empty place, the stump where Stone's link was severed and found more love. Faint and sweet, with a hint of distant laughter and a taste of “what are you waiting for?"

Your approval,
she thought.

Silly woman. You know I always approve of sex. Even if I don't get to play
.

Her choked laugh ended in a sob as she felt that last, faint touch of
Stone
leave her. She couldn't go back, couldn't have things like they were. Not ever again. Moving on wasn't a betrayal of what had been. No one could ever take Stone's place, but—the One had marked this new man. The One's judgment had never failed yet. Perhaps they could make a new place for him.

Kallista sighed and opened her eyes. “Touching his hand would have worked just fine. Don't you think all this is a bit overkill?” She gestured at her own nudity and Padrey's.

“I figured the more skin exposed, the more likely it would actually happen.” Torchay searched her face. “You'll do it?"

“Padrey.” Kallista tried to sit up, and warily, they let her. She reached out to the naked ex-thief. “Padrey, come here."

He blinked, shook his head. Not in a “no", but to clear it. “My Reinine?” His eyes went wide as he seemed suddenly to realize his state of undress and hers. “
Oh shite
. Saints and all the holy sinners, I—"

With a laugh, Joh caught him round the middle and tossed him onto the bed as Obed scrambled out of the way. Padrey bounced, giving Obed time to prevent his attempted escape.

“I shouldn't be here. I shouldn't—I can't—Oh Goddess. Oh Ulili and Khralsh and—” Padrey babbled, calling on all the names of the One as he tried to scoot away.

“Shh.” Kallista eased down into the bed again.

“We should leave,” Leyja said. “Shouldn't we?"

Aisse shrugged. “We will be part of it, I think, whether here or elsewhere."

“I'll just go. I should go. Really.” Padrey crawled toward the foot of the bed. Fox blocked that escape.

“Padrey Emtal.” Kallista used her Reinine's voice, which was nothing more than her major's voice, six years older.

He went still, peeked at her over his shoulder. “My Reinine?"

“Did you, or did you not pledge yourself to my service?"

He swallowed hard. “I did. My Reinine."

She offered him a smile, fleeting because she feared he would try escaping again if she softened too much. “And did you offer yourself to the One, for whatever use you might be?"

“Not in those exact words. It was more like—"

"Did you?"
she interrupted, insistent.

“Well ... yeah. I guess I did. More or less."

“And the One accepted the offer and marked you, correct?"

He shrugged, looking around at the other godmarked. “That's what
they
said. But I don't—"

Kallista held up a silencing finger. “Who is the Reinine here?"