Heroes Return (17 page)

But surely Taro wouldn’t seriously flirt with someone else right in front of me? He wasn’t that tactless.

But then, he had been acting somewhat strange since we’d come to Flown Raven. Maybe he didn’t really know what he was doing.

I just wished I knew if Taro was serious in his flirting. I had been expecting him to lose interest in me since I first started sleeping with him. Was it actually happening?

Just thinking about it caused a burning sensation in my stomach.

“Can I convince you to break from your labors for a little while?” Taro asked in his smoothest voice. “You’ll be the fresher for it.”

“Ah, I am, uh, honored,” Reid stammered. “But I’m here by the Duchess’s grace. I wouldn’t feel comfortable taking more time than is absolutely necessary to translate this book.”

“Well.” Taro leaned forward and touched his shoulder. “Let me know if you change your mind.” He slid off the table and gave me a hard look.

I tried to tell him he was being an ass with the power of my gaze. It didn’t seem to make any impact on him. I was happy to see him leave the library.

“I’d like to stay here to read,” I said to Reid. “There is something soothing about reading in a library. Will that disturb you?”

“Not at all. I enjoy the company.”

So he went back to his book, and I cracked open mine. Only a few pages in, I realized the story was about political intrigue. That was not my first choice for light reading—all the alliance-making and betrayal made me tense—but the author had a light, wry touch that I enjoyed.

It was not much later when the First Lieutenant swept into the room with a confidence that made me clench my teeth. This was someone else’s home he was swanning about in. A home to which he had not been invited. How dared he stride about so easily?

“What are you reading?” he demanded of me.

“A novel.”

“Does it address casting?”

Oh, how ridiculous. Even fictional accounts of casting were under suspicion. “It doesn’t seem to.”

“You will tell me immediately and hand the book over to me the moment you suspect casting will be addressed.”

Really, who the hell was he to be giving me orders? No one, that’s who. But I had to respond to him to get him to leave me alone. “Understood.” Not that I was actually going to do as he demanded. The prat.

“Don’t take that book from the library,” he told me. “Don’t take any books from the library. We don’t want any of them going astray.”

“Understood.” Was it my fault he wasn’t asking if I had already removed any books from the library?

The First Lieutenant turned to Reid. “What is the nature of the book you’re studying?”

Reid looked him straight in the eye and said, “I haven’t determined that yet.”

“How is that possible? You’ve been working on it for days.”

“The wording the First Landed used is not natural to me, and I have to be very careful not to mistranslate any part of it. This will take me weeks.”

“I’ll see your notes, then.”

Reid gathered them up and held them to his chest. “These notes belong to the Duchess.”

The First Lieutenant scowled. “I am here on behalf of the Emperor. When I speak, it is as though he were speaking.”

“So you say. To me you’re just a soldier. The Duchess has retained me, and if you want to see these notes, you’ll have to address that with Her Grace.”

“I’m ordering you to give me those notes.”

Reid abruptly stood and left the table, striding to the fireplace in which flames danced with crackles and pops. Reid held the pages over the flames. “I’ll burn them right now and write nothing more.”

“You do that and I’ll have you arrested.”

“For what?” Reid challenged.

“For obstructing an Imperial investigation.”

“I’m not obstructing anything. If you want to see these notes, you need merely apply to the Duchess. She will then direct me.”

“There is no need to ask her. Everything that belongs to the Duchess belongs to His Majesty.”

“Not according to the Icene Treaty.”

It was clear that the First Lieutenant didn’t know what the Icene Treaty was or how it restricted the powers of the monarch. He looked furious. “You’re choosing a very dangerous path, Academic.”

“Standing up for one’s rights should never be dangerous.”

That, I thought, was ridiculously naive, but it seemed to make an impression on the First Lieutenant. He glared at Reid before making a neat turn on his heels and striding out of the room. I released my held breath and let the tension flow out of me.

“That was risky,” I said to Reid.

He shrugged. “I despise bullies. I’ve encountered too many of them in my life.”

Still, that had been brave. It was another reason to admire him.

Chapter Thirteen

The day Taro was dragged out whaling, before dawn, no less, I received a second letter from the Triple S council, complaining that I hadn’t responded to the first one yet. I thought they hadn’t waited a reasonable length of time to get any response. And I hadn’t known what to say about our last channeling. On the one hand, it had been successful, in that no damage had been done. On the other, it hadn’t been successful, as people had been able to feel it.

I didn’t know what to tell them, so I was tempted to say nothing. Really, what could they do if I didn’t respond to their letters?

I dressed and went down to the family sitting room to eat with whoever else was there. For some reason, in Flown Raven I found I preferred eating with others if that was an option.

Fiona was there with Stacin. She was alternating between eating morsels of bread and cheese and watching her son eat slices of apple. “Good morning,” I said as I crossed to the breakfast side bar.

“Good morning,” Fiona said. “Stacin, say good morning to Dunleavy.”

“Good,” he mumbled around his current slice of apple.

“Good morning, Stacin.” I stifled the urge to ruffle his hair, baffled as to why I felt it in the first place.

He continued to munch on his apple. He had his priorities straight.

“I know I should make him eat in the nursery,” Fiona said apologetically. “I enjoy having him with me.”

“He is your child and this is your house. I would say the only person’s opinion that counts on the matter is yours.” I scooped up some omelet, some toasted bread, some apple and some cheese. I was always so hungry in the morning, and I really liked this idea of having food ready-made when I woke up.

It was because of the servants that this food was ready-made, I berated myself. Don’t get used to it.

“Some people feel the presence of children shouldn’t be inflicted on them.”

That prompted an unworthy thought. “Did one such person happen to be the Dowager Duchess?”

She grimaced. “She’s poisonous, isn’t she?”

“I can’t believe Taro is her child.” Though he was probably spared much of her influence. That was one good thing about him being locked away during his formative years.

There were more important topics than the Dowager to discuss. “How are you feeling?”

“Tender,” she admitted.

“What happened to the man who attacked you?”

“I stripped him of his land and banished him.”

“Really? He’s lost his home?”

“Of course. He’s lucky I didn’t fine him on top of that.”

“What about his family?”

“It is unfortunate that they suffer with him. I have spoken with his partner and offered her a place without him, but she has chosen to tie her life with his.”

Of course she would. She had children with him. Everyone would think less of her if she chose security over him. “Will they be able to get land from another titleholder?”

“Perhaps, but if any such titleholder contacts me for information about why Callum left, I will tell them the truth.”

That was harsh. I didn’t blame her for her choice of punishment, and I certainly had no sympathy for anyone who would attack another person so brutally. Still, he had gone from operating his vessel under the rules he assumed the titleholder approved of, to having lost everything, all in a matter of weeks.

Tarce wandered into the room, looking tired and lazy. Despite appearing as though he was a couple hours’ short of much-needed sleep, his hair was perfectly coifed and he was sharply dressed. He helped himself to the coffee but didn’t touch the food.

Fiona grinned. “My, my, dear brother. You’re up early. What’s the occasion?”

Tarce glowered at her. “The wind was screaming last night.”

“Really? I didn’t hear anything. Did you, Dunleavy?”

“No, not at all.” That didn’t mean it wasn’t. I could sleep through such things.

“Well, it was. Kept me up all night and then I couldn’t get back to sleep.”

“Poor boy.”

“Shut up.” He took a seat a little away from us.

It was true that Tarce hadn’t yet joined us for breakfast since I’d come to Flown Raven, but I had no reason not to believe Tarce about the reason why he was there, until Radia was escorted in. Then I had to hide my smile with my coffee cup. Now, how had he known Radia was going to visit?

“My Lady Westsea, Lord Tarce, Shield Mallorough,” she greeted us.

“Good morning, Roshni,” said Fiona.

“Good morning, Wind Watcher,” I added.

Tarce said nothing.

“Please help yourself to some breakfast.” Fiona waved her hand at the breakfast bar and Radia smeared some jam on toast before taking a seat. “Do you have any news for us?”

“Nothing of any real note, my lady. The weather has been fair.”

“No strong winds last night?” Fiona asked with an impish glance at Tarce.

“Not that I noticed. Nothing sufficient to make the wind rock swing.”

“How would you know the wind rock is moving while you slept?” I asked.

“There are clappers attached to the sides. They cut through the wind and I’ve gotten used to waking when they sound.”

“So you never sleep soundly?” I asked, appalled.

She smiled. “Don’t worry, Shield Mallorough. I sleep well enough.”

“If you had a partner,” Tarce said suddenly, “you would have someone to share the load.”

“No doubt,” said Radia. “But that’s no reason to acquire a partner.”

I imagined it would be hard for a wind watcher to find a suitable partner. She was rather isolated in Flown Raven. The tenants would need a partner who could move in with them, not the other way around. A partner for Radia would have to give up their home and work to live in the tower. That probably wouldn’t appeal to many.

It was becoming increasingly clear that Tarce would be willing to make that sacrifice, but he was the clumsiest suitor I’d ever encountered. I didn’t understand his difficulty. He was handsome, he appeared reasonably intelligent, and he was wellborn. Why was he so bad at this?

There was a pause as we waited to see if Tarce would come up with something clever in response. He didn’t.

“I received a letter from the Earl of Gray Rocks,” Fiona said. “He wanted to know if you would weave a tapestry for his daughter. She is getting married. He has indicated his preferences as to form and color.”

Radia nodded. “What is he prepared to offer?”

“The first foal dropped by Swiftfoot.”

Radia looked surprised. “You’re thinking of participating in racing?”

“Not at all, but the foal’s descendants will be very valuable.”

“When does he want it?”

“That’s the hitch. He wants it in time for the wedding.”

Radia pursed her lips. “That will depend on what he wants.”

Fiona took a folded piece of paper and handed it to Radia.

“You’re using her, Fi,” Tarce chastised her.

“I am happy to contribute to the wealth and prestige of Flown Raven,” Radia muttered as she read the letter.

“You spend all your time weaving. It gives you no opportunity to do anything else.”

“I enjoy weaving.”

“What else would you have her do?” Fiona asked him with a grin.

“Anything that’s more pleasant.”

“I enjoy weaving,” Radia repeated.

Seriously, Tarce was so very bad at this. It was painful to watch. No wonder Radia was completely disinterested.

And right then, I felt Taro’s protections fall. I raised my Shields just as a slew of forces came blasting through Taro. “Oh, gods,” I said.

“Dunleavy, is something—”

I put up a hand to stop Fiona. “Channeling,” I explained curtly. Then I wrapped my hands around the arms of my chair, and hung on.

I needed to hang on. The pressure of the forces gave me the impression that I was going to be swept away. The water filled my mouth and nose, making it difficult to breathe. The crashing against the rocks was so hard I thought my bones might shatter. The screaming of the birds was so loud and so constant it flooded my mind and made it hard to remember what I was doing.

Pounding pounding pounding.

Hold on hold on hold on.

I could barely feel Taro through all the chaos. I remembered he was on a boat. Whale hunting, of all the imbecilic ideas. Someone had better be looking after him. If he drowned, I’d find a way to mete out some punishment before I died.

Then the water swirled harder in my brain, and I couldn’t think of anything more than keeping my Shields up. The forces rushed on and on, Taro’s mind and body working harder and harder to channel them.

Was that something bursting? Were my Shields failing? I scrambled as best I could, but I couldn’t hold on.

The tremors returned. Damn it, we couldn’t make it work. We were failing.

And then, suddenly, I felt nothing from Taro at all. I gasped and opened my eyes to see Fiona, Radia, and even Tarce looking at me with concern. I was curled up in my chair, my hands white-knuckled on the arms of the chair.