Enchanter (9 page)

“
Just a touch, but Faith warned me, so I didn’t burn anything. Sorry about not getting to show you around. What’d you get up to without me?
”

“
I took another swim at your beach. Oh, I see the chocolate brownie. You’d better hurry or I might start on it.
”

“
Don’t you dare.
” I picked up my pace, fairly flying down the passageway. Whoa. Too fast. Not like me at all. I almost took out the vase of white roses perched on the recessed wall shelf as I skidded around the doorway into my kitchen. Bending over, I grabbed in a breath. “Phew, I’m here. Fingers out.”

Grinning, he licked his thumb. “Too late, and I thought you said five minutes.”

“My speed’s up.” I grabbed the brownie. “Look at that hole. I’ll tell your mother you did that.”

“Yeah, she won’t be surprised.” Still grinning. “Hey, you want to work on your fire skill tomorrow? I’ll be done with my day’s duties by the time you finish school, and I found this amazing spot about twenty miles farther down the beach from where we were today. It’s secluded and perfect for what you’ll need.”

“Sounds great.” He was the best, for wanting to help me.

He tucked the shirttails of his loose-sleeved white shirt into his brown rawhide pants. He must have dressed on the run. “I can’t wait to see all you can do. You could whip some serious butt with your skill.”

“You mean burn it.” I nudged the lasagna dish toward him and kept the warm brownie in my hands. “Zip-zap, please.”

“You got it.” He scooped up the dish with one hand and held my arm with the other. “Be prepared for a lot of noise. That’s the only warning I’ll give you.”

I laughed as we ’ported, and moments later we arrived on the stony road between the woodland ranges and the village of Merodyne. I adored the countryside, the remoteness and the quiet. Moonlight bathed the tree tops a silvery hue, and from a sprawling wooden-shingled home, smoke rose eerily then vanished on the wind.

“How gorgeous.” Lanterns lit the square-cut front windows, sprinkling a yellow glow over the beamed porch railing. “I can just see you running about these woods as a kid.”

“Yeah. But I’m not sure where all the noise I promised you is.”

“Do you come home often?” He had rooms in the village closest to the castle where an arena, training facilities and a dining hall provided all our protectors needed.

“A couple of times a week, but only for a short—”

“Zayn!” A girl of about ten bounded out the front door and across the front yard dotted with yellow flowers. Her blond ponytails bobbed and her grin slashed from ear to ear. She plowed into him, puffing from her mad dash. “Oh my goodness, that smells yummy. Please say I’m allowed to eat that now. Is that cheese on the top?” Her nose was in the dish.

“Yes. Giggi, say hi to Silvie.”

“Hi, Silvie. Mmm, what have you got? That smells like chocolate.” She wafted across to me.

“It’s a brownie, with loads of gooey chocolate for sure. It’s nice to meet you, Giggi.”

“Same. Can I take that for you?”

“Be careful, it’s heavy.” I passed it across.

She winked and rushed back to the house. “Last one inside misses out.”

“Well, she’s a delight.” I’d always wished for a sister, but it was only Silas and me. Thankfully Faith had filled that void.

“Giggi’s always on the go. Come and meet everyone else.”

He led the way up the front step and through the opened door. The heat blasting into the entrance from the living room drew me toward the doorway. A fire blazed in the hearth. I’d never want to leave this room if I lived here. Two teens lazed on knitted throw cushions, and three younger ones sat cross-legged on colorful mats playing with thin painted sticks. Each took a turn, adding their stick to the growing platform. This was a game of skill, and one I’d loved playing with Silas as a child.

I leaned into Zayn. “I always won this game. Silas had such big hands and always knocked the sticks down.”

“I had the same problem. I’ve won that game twice, ever, and that was purely by chance.” Lifting his hand toward his siblings, he called out, “Hey, everyone, this is Silvie.”

A chorus of hellos came at me, and I waved back.

“Come on. We’ll take this dish through to the kitchen.” I had to force myself to follow him down the hallway and away from the fireplace’s heat, the only incentive being he’d said
kitchen
. “Here we are.”

Oh, nice. Brass pots and pans hung over a wood-fired stove, and beside it, a cane basket overflowed with kindling. “Since your home has two fireplaces, I believe I might move in.”

He chuckled. “I’m taking you to the next village bonfire night. You’ll love that.”

“Yes, please, if you can drag me out of this room.” His mother’s kitchen was clearly the hub of the home. On the scuffed wooden countertop, a pail overflowed with ripened red apples. Tasty. And beyond, a wide dining area held a chunky pine table draped with a crocheted cloth. Giggi knelt on one of the slatted bench seats before it and set the brownie on top.

“Where’s Mum, Giggi?”

“I don’t know, but I’ll go find—”

“I’m right here.” Zayn’s mother swished into the room in brown skirts and an apron. Long golden hair, the same shade as Zayn’s, swung in a thick braid down her back. His mother’s eyes widened as she took in the dishes. “Oh, that looks delicious.”

Giggi pointed to the corner of the brownie. “I didn’t do that.”

“I’m sure you didn’t. Thanks, hon. You go and call your father in. He should be out by the woodshed. Let him know we have a guest.” She smiled at Zayn. “Pop the lasagna on the table, Mr. Taste-tester.”

Zayn grinned and slid his dish where she’d said. “It’s gets a ten out of ten, if you’re wondering.”

“I’m sure it does.” She crossed the room and grasped my hands. “Lovely to meet you, Silvie. Thank you so much for bringing dinner. I can’t believe this is the first time we’ve met, although I do remember seeing you in the arena stands at Zayn’s rising. I’m Briarlee. Zayn speaks about you all the time.”

“He does?” Zayn’s cheeks had flushed.

“Mum, what did you do to your hands?”

“I picked berries today.” She twiddled her stained fingers in the air. “I’ll try and have another scrub at them.” At the sink, she picked up a slab of soap, one close to a half pound of butter in size. “Tell me all about your day off, hon.”

“Silvie took me to her favorite beach.”

“You two went out together?” She peered over her shoulder at him. “That sounds intriguing.”

“It’s not what you think.”

“How do you know what I’m thinking?” Her hands disappeared within the mound of bubbles she’d built.

“It’s obvious. Anyway—” He scratched the back of his neck. “—Silvie came into her fire skill today.”

“What?” She flung her hands into the air and suds flew. A blob landed on Zayn’s head. “The fire skill, but that’s— Wow. We haven’t seen that skill in far too long.”

“I didn’t have very good control of it. First day and all.” But I would.

“That’ll only take a little training.” She nabbed a towel and patted Zayn’s head. “The fire comes from your fingertips, right?”

“Yep.” I lifted my hands, and with barely a thought, the fire flickered to life.

Eyes wide, she reared back. “Oh, that’s incredible.”

I waved my hands in front of me and the glowing red and orange sparks licked higher.

“Okay, that’s also hot.” She edged further away. “How do you put it out?”

“Thinking of cold stuff, or getting doused in water. I prefer neither.” Still, I got down to the nasty business of conjuring the iciest winter day possible. A chill soon penetrated my bones, and I shivered and stamped my feet. Ick.

“That’s very clever. Your flames are out.”

“You controlled that quickly.” Zayn examined my hands, turning them over. “It’s obviously better for you to get a handle on things as soon as the fire appears. We’ll practice whenever you wish. You’ll need to be ready for your rising when it comes.”

Oh boy. I didn’t want to think about my rising, the time when our skills came to fruition and burned at three times the strength. I would need a mountain of control for that. “You’re really up for helping me train?”

Briarlee patted my shoulder. “Of course he is. My son won’t have a problem keeping an eye on you.” She pinched Zayn’s cheeks. “Ahh, my firstborn who has the battle skills. I’ll never forget your rising.”

I’d been there that day in the arena too, just a few months ago. A massive crowd had gathered and packed the spectator’s seating, eager to see him become a fully-fledged protector. It was an honored occasion, when one relied on their closest to get them through the long hours ahead. Down on the sandy-floored arena, Zayn had worn his black combat leathers, headgear and guards. His power that day had been phenomenal.

One’s rising was the most spectacular event to watch, and Zayn’s just so as he’d drawn his sword against one opponent after another. Even Davio and Silas had taken turns, not long past their own risings, but neither had been able to keep up with him.

“I hope I manage mine as well as you did yours, Zayn.”

“You will, and if you wish it, I’ll be there.”

“That will be a sight to see.” Briarlee smiled. “As is your dinner. I’ll go check on where Giggi got to. I can’t let your food spoil.” She hurried away.

“Your mother is lovely.”

“She’s also nosy, and probably won’t stop quizzing me about you from now on.” His blue eyes twinkled. “Have you thought about joining the protectors once your rising is done?”

“I have culinary school. It’s not something I want to—oh, she’s fast.” The sound of stampeding feet was impossible to miss.

“Another warning.” Zayn whisked me off my feet and tucked me into the corner behind him. “Beware of the tribe.”

5

“
Oh my goodness. I did not see that forewarning coming.
” Faith’s voice rang clear in my head.

“
You see everything, so that’s impossible. And I hardly call what you saw a forewarning. You were being nosy. You shouldn’t spy on other people. It only means you’ll see things you shouldn’t.
” I yanked my yellow cotton sleep-shorts on and hauled my white singlet over my head as I readied for bed. “
I’m going to sleep. It’s been a long day.
”

“
Zayn’s becoming too attached to you. He had his hands on you during the family dinner.
”

“
Not in the way you’re implying.
” She was totally overreacting. “
He’s kind and considerate, plus I have to move on.
”

“
With Zayn?
”

“
We’re friends, and I’m not supposed to be with Guy.
”

“
I get that. Hold on.
” She was gone one moment then back the next. “
Oops, the water beckoned to Hope and she just walked straight into the watering hole, boots and all.
”

“
You’re in the outback?
”

“
Yeah, she was driven to have a moonlit swim. Crazy, anyway, you’ve got enough to do right now without adding any further complications, that being Zayn.
”

“
Zayn’s offered to help me train.
”

“
Then I’ll ask Guy to.
”

“
What? No.
”

“
Yes.
” She broke our connection.

Argh, unbelievable. I had to spend less time with Guy, not more.

I slid under my bedcovers and stared at the overhead lightshade. The crystal drops teetering from the edges of the delicate chandelier shimmered with gold from the light, like a small burst of sunshine.

“
Silvie.
” Guy’s deep voice rumbled inside my head.

“
Let me guess. Faith just spoke to you?
” She and I really needed to have words. That’s if she’d ever listen to me.

“
It’s just as well she did.
” His words held a lethal undertone. “
Are you seeing Zayn?
”

“
He’s a protector. I need his aid.
”