Island Shifters: Book 02 - An Oath of the Mage (9 page)

The clergyman smiled. “It is with great honor that I present to Deepstone and all honored guests, Kal Rogan and Kali Janin!”

The crowd rose to their feet with great applause. Kiernan hurriedly kissed Rogan and Janin and then stepped back to give the new bride and groom room to receive their guests. Beck and Kenley came to stand beside her.

Kiernan sighed and mentally prepared for the long evening ahead. She would need every ounce of energy she possessed to get through it. Especially, since her unborn son was already dancing a celebration of his own.

Outside in the festooned courtyard and surrounded by the flickering glow of torchlight, Beck sat back in his chair and tapped his foot in time to the lively music of a stringed dulcimer, trying very hard not to laugh as he watched a bootless Rogan attempt a clumsy reel with his new wife.

In true Dwarven fashion, the party was still going strong. Although it must have been after midnight, the celebration was in no danger of ending any time soon.

He glanced down at Kenley, asleep in his arms. She was so beautiful with her black ringlets that somehow always managed to fall in her eyes just as Kiernan’s always did. He reached out gently to tuck a tress back behind her ear with a smile. She had worn herself out playing with Reilly and Jala. Just four and three years of age, neither of the Dwarven children had displayed shifting talents as of yet, but they would. As direct descendants of a
Savitar,
there was no doubt that they would be magic users, it just remained to be seen when.

Kiernan had gone to bed hours ago but Beck stayed, enjoying his seat at the periphery of the festivity. Not surprising, Airron was still in high spirits and actively engaged in dancing with any woman he could get his hands on.

Beck yawned. It was now time for him to get some rest as well. He enjoyed many hours in honor of his friend’s wedding, but his body was signaling that it was time to go.

“Your Grace.”

Roman Traynor materialized at his side so quietly that Beck almost flinched. He had long ago instructed Roman never to kneel to him and was pleased that the Saber obliged. He was the only Saber Captain that did.

“Still up, Captain?” he asked.

Roman laughed, and it was nice to see gaiety on the Saber’s normally severe countenance. “If you are up, I am up, Your Grace.”

“Well, I apologize for that then. We are at the home of a friend, Roman, why don’t you get some sleep?”

“You?”

“Headed there now.”

Roman looked around and his narrowed gaze did not miss one detail of the ongoing party. “There are six Sabers stationed here at the palace.”

Beck’s eyebrows rose. “Six. I have not seen a single Saber tonight.”

“Your point, Your Grace?”

It was Beck’s turn to laugh. He knew that it was unlikely anyone had seen a black and scarlet tunic this night as skilled as the guards were at disappearing into the background. “Never mind. Go to bed, Roman. We are in friendly territory.”

The Saber nodded. “Very well. I will name a replacement and be at your door by sunrise.”

“That is fine.”

Roman walked off, and Beck looked down to make sure that Kenley had not awakened. When he glanced back up, a movement to the left captured his attention. He thought he saw a shadow moving among the grove of boulders that surrounded the courtyard of the palace. Alert, he shifted Kenley’s weight and continued to peer into the dark recesses. He almost called Roman back, but seeing no further activity, he finally decided that it was probably just reflected shadows from the revelers dancing or an elusive Scarlet Saber making his rounds.

Airron picked that moment to rush over and plop down in a chair next to him.

“Bloody great party, isn’t it, Beck?”

“Airron!” he whispered harshly and nodded his head down toward Kenley. “Ssh!”

Airron shrugged his shoulders and his pointed ears shrank back. “Oops.”

Beck shook his head affectionately at his lifelong friend. Since the war, Airron had made quite a name for himself as a premier Gladewatcher, the elite Calvary regiment of the Haventhal Army and King Jerund J’El’s personal warriors.

Airron leaned back in his chair and sighed, his voice hushed now. “Ah, what a life, my friend! A cup that overflows with wine and plenty of pretty girls to kiss. Who could ask for more?”

It was almost as if Airron was trying to convince himself of his great life as a bachelor rather than Beck. “Is there anything you would like to talk about, Airron? You seem on edge lately.”

The purple eyes blazed and the pretense disappeared in a flash as the chair thumped back down to the ground. “You think? You would be on edge, too, Beck, if…”

“If what?”

“There you are!” A redheaded woman sauntered over and ran her fingers through Airron’s silver hair. “Ready for another go, darling? You promised.”

Airron stood with a flourish and took the woman’s hand in his to bring it to his lips. “It would be my pleasure, fair maiden.” He took a few steps and then tossed a look back at Beck. “We will talk in the morning.”

Beck watched the duo disappear into the gyrating mob.
I will be here for you, my friend. Tomorrow, you can tell me all about your problems.
He stood, and Kenley stretched in his arms. “Time for bed, little one.”

Shadowy motion to the left caught his attention once again. “What?…”

He would never remember this later, but he remained frozen in place for several long moments, his stare fixed on a trio of large boulders.

Finally, he sat back down on his chair.

“Kenley, wake up.”

Kenley came awake with a start. “Daddy?”

“Yes, Kenley. You must wake up now. Please go into the palace and go to sleep. Maman is there and you can crawl into bed beside her.”

“What about you, Daddy? I want you to take me there.”

Her father shook his head. “I must do something else right now, Kenley. It is important.”

“But, Daddy…”

“Do as I say!” His voice was harsh. He had never been unkind to her before. Not even when he caught her with stolen cookies from the kitchens instead of working on her studies.

She nodded to him sadly and watched him walk away into the night beyond the torchlight. A tear slipped down her face. Something was wrong, but she did not know what.

Baya!

Within seconds, the Draca Cat was by her side.

Where were you?

Sleeping.
The cat opened her mouth in a large yawn as proof.
Same as you.

Daddy woke me up and left me here by myself. He walked into those boulders over there,
she said, pointing.

Would you like me to follow him?

Yes.

I will go.

I am going, too.

As you wish.

Hurry.

Baya put her nose down to the ground and stepped in front of her.
I have his scent. Follow me.

Kenley put her hand on Baya’s back and walked beside her, careful to be very quiet like Captain Franck taught her to be when tracking an animal.

Not far into the warren of rocks, she caught a glimpse of her Daddy up ahead. He was walking normally and then abruptly he stopped and turned to a voice that spoke to him. He was meeting someone! She could not see who it was, but Baya had the same idea as her and turned in the other direction to come around the boulders from the other side.

“Well, that was easy enough,” said a female voice.

Kenley and Baya crept low to the ground and then peered through a crevice in between the rocks. A woman was there, but Kenley had never seen her before. She was wearing a heavy cloak with the hood up over her head.

“Mistress,” her Daddy said, lowering the woman’s hood. Kenley watched him put both hands on her face and begin to kiss her the same way he kissed her Maman.

C
HAPTER
6

Missing

Diamond sat at her desk in her office at the Bardot Academy and listened to her fellow Sect Leaders gathered at the large table in front of her fireplace argue. The sorceresses traveled to Bardot immediately upon learning of Gemini’s death and had not agreed on much since.

It was still hard for her to believe that Gemini was dead. Murdered. Right here under all of their noses, but especially hers. As the Divination Leader, she should have foreseen this monstrous act, but instead had been caught completely unawares. It was almost as though blinders had been placed over her eyes, veiling her abilities. Of all the times for her magic to fail her, it had to happen when Gemini was murdered? She was not a fool. She did not believe it was coincidence and neither did any of the Sect Leaders, and that is what was causing them to argue so passionately.

As High Priestess, Gemini was ruler of the coven, but she was also their friend and a mother figure for many of them. With the loss of their beloved leader, Diamond worried what would become of the coven now. Who would be raised High Priestess? Maybe no one, she thought regretfully. The island had rid itself of the last Mage six years ago and now the only High Priestess was gone.

The door to her office slammed open and Sapphire, the Spell Casting Sect Leader, stormed in. Her eyes were red and puffy, but her expression was angry. Gemini had been her mother.

“You were right, Diamond. A spell had been cast over all of the diamonds used by you and your entire Sect. The traces were faint, but I can confirm without a doubt that they were there. The counterspell has been delivered and the stones are now clear.” She paused, but Diamond could tell there was more and gestured impatiently for her to continue. “Once cleared, the stones revealed devastating news. There is an army headed for Nysa’s gates.”

The arguments began anew.

“I say we step out to meet this force!” It was the new Combat Sect Leader, Citrine. Unlike her redheaded predecessor, she was dark-skinned with dark-hair. She was, however, just as fiery in temperament.

The Sect Leader for Runes, Ruby, shook her head. “No. For whatever reason this army is on the march, it will be up to King Maximus and his soldiers to deal with them. The sorceresses and shifters will have no part in this. It is the law. It is Prince Beck’s law.”