9781618851307WitchsBrewShayNC (13 page)

“Her crime? What has she done that is heinous enough to
command her death?” Talon fired the questions back at his father. No way in
hell was he giving up without a battle.

“She
isn’t formally charged with anything,” Teek replied in his brusque voice.

Talon whipped toward his uncle. “Ordering her death
without charging her is an outrage. If it’s a crime to wield magic with no
knowledge of what you’re doing, then okay, charge her with that. If she has not
been formally accused, then she’s free and no one may harm her.”

Teek lifted a thick, auburn brow and tugged thoughtfully
on his bushy red beard. “It isn’t that simple. She crossed between worlds,
nephew. She came from the
illumrof
world into the Ru-Noc realm as if it
were nothing for her to cross the barriers that keep our worlds apart. That in
itself is a crime punishable by death and has been since 1692. Only
Futhars,
wakens,
or warlocks travel between worlds without this threat over their
heads.”

“Maybe the witches don’t agree with your rules. And what
about this
illumrof,
Hannah Miller?” Talon asked for what he knew was
the umpteenth time. “She crossed our borders as well. I wouldn’t want her death
on my conscience either, but if anyone’s a threat to us, it’s this female.”

Teek paused, pondering over the truth of the statement. He
took a long time scratching behind his ear before he spoke. “The witch is our
priority. No one knows who she is or who she descended from or what kind of
powers she may possess. Even your
Futhar
could not find information in
the archives. It’s as if she appeared, fully grown, without a single page of
history written of her existence. That is unacceptable.”

“She has a past,” Talon said instantly. “Everyone has a
past. You’re totally ignoring the fact we have an
illumrof
among us.”

“The
fact
,” Teek said, narrowing his pale green
eyes, “is we have no knowledge of this Winslow witch’s magical skills or her
heritage. With her bumbling, she could accidentally bring down the walls
separating our worlds and the mortal realm. It’s bad enough that the vampires
dwell among the humans, but for mortals to discover all the magical realms that
exist, would be the Salem catastrophe all over again.” He slammed his palm down
on top of the table. “This not knowing could prove far more hazardous to Ru-Noc
than worrying about a mere
illumrof
who has no magical abilities for us
to fear dwelling amongst us.”

Grandfather Saul cupped his ear and leaned forward. “Winslow?”
He croaked out the word in a wispy voice. “Did someone say, ‘Winslow’? I know
that name.”

“Where do you know the name from, Papa Saul?” Talon asked
patiently. He dearly loved his mother’s father, even if the old
waken
was stubborn as hell. Saul had been the father to him that Darak hadn’t had
time to be.

“Eeehh?
Did you say something, Grandson?”

Talon
leaned closer and shouted, “I asked where you know the name from.”

“What
name?” the old man shouted back.

Talon
winced. “Winslow,” he replied gently. “Where do you know the name Winslow
from?”

“Never heard of it,” Saul said his voice grumpy. “Did you
say the hens are slow?”

Talon saw the mischievous twinkle in the old man’s sharp
blue eyes. Going along with the game, he replied, “No, Papa Saul. I said—”

“No need to shout,” Saul declared irately. “I’m not deaf.”
He glowered. “Boy, you need to learn some manners when speaking to your elders.
And you need to know when to walk away.”

Talon
met the old man’s steady gaze. He wasn’t certain what message his grandfather
was trying to give him. Did he want him to walk away from them or walk away
from Saylym? “You and Eldora Waters should get together, Papa Saul. You’re both
ornery as Titan.”

The old man reared back as if he’d been shot. “Eldora
Waters? That old witch is still breathing?” He grinned, rubbing his chin. “I
haven’t seen her in centuries. There was this one time during Beltane that she
and I…humph…well, we…really…” As if realizing he’d said something he shouldn’t
have, he dragged his words to a slow halt, made a big production of clearing
his throat, then mumbled, “Henslow. Henslow. I know that name from somewhere.”
He rubbed his chin. “I suppose it’s possible this witch grew up in the
illumrof
world and has just discovered the ability to cross into our realm.”

“She could have brought this
illumrof
, Hannah
Miller, with her,” Teek inserted, his voiced threaded with impatience.

“No,” Talon said. “I was there yesterday when the two of
them met for the first time. Saylym didn’t bring Hannah into our realm.” He
rubbed his head. “I believe the witch who is part owner of the pastry shop
brought the mortal here. They’re friends.”

“Then we need to find out who that witch is as well,” Teek
stated. “If she brought the
illumrof
creature into our world, then
she’ll have to be terminated, too. She broke our laws bringing a human into our
midst.”

Talon
snapped his fingers as he suddenly remembered the witch’s name. “Kirrah. Her
name’s Kirrah Walker.”

“Never heard of her,” Saul said, “doesn’t sound familiar
at all. I don’t recall a dab of history of a female witch with the surname
Walker.”

“But you recognize the Winslow name?”

“Eeh?” Papa Saul cupped his ear. “Did you say Warslow?”

“No, Papa Saul,” Talon said wearily. He didn’t know what
game his grandfather was playing, but the old man had no intention of admitting
he recognized the Winslow name for some reason.

Talon returned his attention to the other members of the
guild. “You think Saylym might have left our realm and grown up as an
illumrof?
”
Talon’s forehead creased with confusion. “Why would she do that? What could
have happened to make her do such a thing?”

“Maybe
she was never in our realm to leave it,” Sage suggested.

Talon
searched his cousin’s face before agreeing. “Maybe.”

Darak nodded. “It’d be unusual, but a possibility. As you
know, in times past, witches took
illumrof
mates. Though only the gods
understand the reasons, some chose to dwell in the mortal realm with their
mates and raise their children there. That might account for the lack of
records in our archives.”

“If that be the case,” Teek said, “then her immortal half
would be slow to develop, perhaps even cursed at some point in her life. But
now that her powers are enhancing, she’ll be drawn to all things magic. The unintentional
spells she’ll invoke will make trouble for all of us.” Teek hesitated, sending
a look of sympathy toward his nephew. “However,
illumrofs
simply can’t
cross between realms. Not without aid. There’s no way this Hannah Miller
arrived in our world without immortal assistance. She now knows of our realm,
our existence. She must die. The three of them must be terminated.”

“Instead of killing them, we need answers.” Talon spread
his hands in a gesture of appeal. “It’s a dangerous thing not having all the
facts. I suggest we bring Saylym before the guild members and question her.”

“It isn’t our way. She’s an
Impure
, son,” Darak
said. “She might have a witch’s aura, but she’s a bumbler of magic, a crime
which carries an automatic penalty of spirit removal.”

“No!”
Talon snarled.

“She has no control of her witchy-ways,” Darak replied.
“Observers
witnessed her bumbling.”

“Spies,
you mean.” Talon shook his head, disgusted.

“Observers
. Without them guarding our portals, we’d
all be destroyed. A bumbler of magic is not a great threat only to our realm,
but to the mortal realm as well.” Darak thrust fingers through his hair.

“She’s
been under observation since her arrival, nephew,” Teek said calmly.

Talon
frowned. “Then why weren’t the younger
wakens
informed of her presence?”

His uncle held out his hands in a peaceful gesture. Always
the peacemaker, but gods, the woman was harmless enough. She was more apt to
injure herself than someone else.

Maybe,
Vox taunted.

Talon shook off the provocative taunt. He damn well didn’t
like the idea of the ghostly
Observers
spying on Saylym. They were the
only race with the ability to cross the protective spell surrounding Sanctuary
from the
wakens
. There was the occasional rogue
Observer
who went
rabid and attacked a witch without provocation. He didn’t want this happening
to Saylym.

Darak cleared his throat. “The ancients decide when and
what you need to know. If you hadn’t claimed her, we would have continued to
monitor her to make certain she harmed no one. You cannot be involved with an
Impure
.
You’re a prince.” He hesitated. “Of course, now, we have a mortal among us.
Things are just too rocky to allow these disruptions to continue.”

Talon gritted his teeth. “You’re saying it’s my fault?
That’s bullshit, and you know it! You’d have had her terminated eventually. You
were waiting for a better reason so you wouldn’t feel guilty for terminating
yet another witch. I gave you that reason by claiming her. There’s no way you
or the guild would ever allow Saylym to live. I know how your mind works.” He
flashed a look of abhorrence toward the elders.
“All
your minds.” Talon
stepped back, his chest heaving as he drew a ragged breath. “I’m telling you
for the last time, I will not steal her soul.”

“Easy,
Talon,” Sage whispered. “Keep your temper in check or they’ll make you leave.”

Talon’s
stomach knotted with rage. His heart raced. Sweat trickled down his temples and
dampened his shirt. He wiped the perspiration from his face with the back of
his shirt sleeve. Damn it! She was an innocent. Couldn’t they see for
themselves? Overwhelmed with his inability to change the ancient’s locked minds
he glanced at his cousin, helpless.

“Do not be so ill-mannered as to whisper, Sage. If you
have something to say, just say it,” Darak ordered, temper in his words.

Hot color swept up Sage’s face.

“Chin up,” Talon muttered softly. “He’s only a king. He
can’t eat you.”

Sage slanted a wary glance at Talon, his lips twitching.
“I’m not so sure of that.” He lifted his head, turning to face his uncle. “I
just thought Talon should reconsider his words and not allow his anger to
influence his judgment.”

Darak
frowned. “There’s nothing left for Talon to consider. The witch is a bumbler.
Her spells are weak. Any magic she attempts, whether knowing or not, will work
only half-way. She could cause entire villages to burn down. She’ll create
nothing but havoc. Judgment has been passed, her punishment ordered.” He turned
his censorious gaze on Talon. “Therefore,” he continued, “if you refuse to
assassinate this witch, we will assign someone else to terminate her.”

Pain sliced through Talon’s heart. It felt as if a knife
had been driven deep in his chest. He immediately shielded his mind against the
elders’ possible probing. He didn’t want any of them prying into his feelings
for Saylym, especially his father.

Darak
shot him an odd, penetrating look. “Talon?”

Talon
shook his head. He had to think of something quick, anything, to prevent
another assassin from taking his place. Unfortunately, his mind refused to cooperate.

“Talon?”
Darak repeated. “Is there a
problem?”

“Besides the obvious one?” Talon choked.

Darak
turned red. “Are you personally involved with this witch? Have you mated with
her? Have you conceived a child with this
Impure?
You shield your mind
from us.”

“None
of that is your business, Father.”

Dead silence filled the room.

Well, he’d done it now. He’d flung down another gauntlet.
He might as well go all the way. “My personal feelings for the witch are my
concern, not yours or the members of the guild. But no, I haven’t touched her
intimately...yet. There’s been no risk of conception. I’m not stupid, Father.”

“Involvement
with this witch could manifest itself into a catastrophe, Talon. You cannot
care about this
Impure
. You cannot mate with her. I forbid it!”

“You
forbid?
It’s too late, Father.” A muscle
ticked in Talon’s lean jaw. “I’ve already marked her. She’s mine for the
season. As my king, I owe you allegiance. You have that. I’d never do anything
to betray you or place you in peril. As my father, you have no right to probe
my personal thoughts, feelings, or forbid me anything. I won’t breed her,
Father, but I
will
mate with her. I
do know how to be careful.”

“Talon.” Sage placed his hand on his cousin’s shoulder.
“You can’t take the risk of mating with a half-witch. A child with her would be
disastrous. The weaker the bloodline, the more unpredictable the magic becomes.
You’re not thinking straight.”

Talon shrugged off his cousin’s hand. “Yes, I am. For the
first time in my life, I’m thinking very straight.” He turned back to his
father. “Is she aware she crossed realms?”

“Invalid point, Talon, she might have been seen by an
illumrof
when she crossed realms. Another war could erupt between mortals and
immortals. This must be prevented at all costs, even if it means the spirit
removal of this witch you’re protecting.”

“Might have…could have? You want to take a witch’s life
based on possibilities or what ifs?” Talon felt ill. There was just no way to
make them see the injustice of their commands.

“Whether she’s aware she crossed realms or not, is not the
question,” Darak replied. “Without the proper guidance here, what she did is
forbidden.”

“What
isn’t?”

Darak shot him a stern look. “I don’t like your attitude,
Talon.”