Susan Spencer Paul - [Enchanter 01] (26 page)

They were all odd people at Castle Tylluan; odd and bewildering. Niclas wasn’t sure he would ever sort out the relationships and how they truly felt about each other.

Uncle Ffinian was perhaps the simplest to understand. He was merely a wild man, half-mad and entirely determined to have his own way in all things, no matter how insensible. Among Seymours he was the rarity who possessed no magic at all, though Niclas had often thought that his grizzled uncle’s uncanny ability to charm females might possibly be tied to his Seymour blood. But he had proved, through the birth of his sons by a wife who’d been mere mortal, that powerful magic could be passed along despite a Seymour’s lack of gifts.

Dyfed was a bit more complicated than his father, but not overly. He and Kian were identical in physical features, but entirely different otherwise. Dyfed was a gentle soul, patient and even-tempered. He wasn’t above helping his older brother start riots or wreak havoc, but left to his
own pursuits, Dyfed seldom caused trouble. He was a dreamer, thoughtful and bookish. More often than not he did his utmost to talk Kian out of the wilder pursuits that had made the brothers famous in London. The problem, so far as Niclas could tell, was that he didn’t appear to possess the ability to extricate himself from such wildness once it had been set into motion.

Dyfed’s gift, which Niclas had always thought one of the most welcome among their family, was that of being able to speak without words, directly into the mind, or minds, of anyone he wished—even those who were merely mortal. It had been a problem when he was a child, for Dyfed hadn’t learned to speak until he was nearly seven years old, but had relied entirely upon his mental powers to make himself known.

Kian was the opposite of his brother. He was wild and boundlessly active, highly intelligent though not bookish, and never had the least difficulty accepting responsibility for his actions. Indeed, he actually seemed to glory in his misdeeds, save when some unfortunate bystander had been harmed. But despite the numerous times Niclas had been obliged to get him out of trouble, it was difficult not to admire the lad.

Kian possessed what Malachi called “a noble soul.” He was neither cruel nor mean-spirited, save with Loris, and was ever quick to make friends with almost anyone he met. He had an open, generous, and affectionate nature and a searing wit that could either make one smile or send one scuttling for the nearest place of refuge.

As for magic, Kian was second in power among Seymours only to the earl of Graymar. But he was still a young man, and his abilities would continue to mature as he
aged. They were enough now, thankfully, to have successfully retrieved Julia, but one day he would possess almost unimaginable powers.

As far as Niclas knew, extraordinary wizards never reached any kind of finality in regard to the magic they wielded, but continued to increase in strength until their physical bodies died and they passed into the spirit realm. In this manner no heir to the head of the Seymour clan could successfully challenge the current head, for no matter how much the one increased, the other would increase, as well.

Not that Niclas thought Kian would ever challenge Malachi. For one thing, he wasn’t exactly pleased at being heir to the earl of Graymar, and for another, he worshipped the ground Malachi walked on. One day, Niclas believed, Kian would make an excellent
Dewin Mawr
.

Loris was perhaps the most intriguing piece of the puzzle to be found at Castle Tylluan. She had been orphaned at an early age and left in the care of a nefarious innkeeper in London, and had been but thirteen when that same innkeeper had decided to sell her into prostitution. But Kian, who had then been seventeen (and already in the bad habit of visiting the worst hells in town), had challenged her new master to a game of dice and come away with Loris as his prize. Malachi, who had become involved, hadn’t told Niclas everything, but evidently the fellow who’d lost believed Kian guilty of cheating—which was possible, of course, given that the boy had used magic to win in such games before, though it was strictly forbidden by the rules of their kind. A fight had ensued and, in typical Seymour fashion, yet another tavern had been damaged. Kian had drawn blood on Loris’s
behalf, and a blood curse had been placed on her, though she’d been entirely innocent of any of that night’s events. Malachi had done everything in his power to lift the curse, just as he had for Niclas, but to no avail.

Loris had come to live at Castle Tylluan as Ffinian’s ward and, despite her youth, had immediately taken up management of the estate. Tylluan had been in dire need of a female’s knowing touch for a long while, ever since Niclas’s aunt had died, and even at the age of thirteen Loris proved that she possessed the natural talents required for overseeing such a large dwelling with very few funds at her disposal. The castle was kept meticulously clean, despite the old and somewhat shabby furnishings, and the meals to be had at Tylluan were among the best in Wales. Ffinian, Kian, Dyfed, and all their men were kept well in line—which was something of a miracle, considering the wildness they displayed when left to themselves.

Loris was a sweet and mild-mannered young woman, and lovely to behold, tall and slender, with an elegance of form and face that had always made Niclas wonder who her family had been. There was nothing coarse or low in her manner, as might have been expected of a girl left orphaned in a filthy dockside tavern, and she was as beautiful as any diamond of the ton. Her dark hair, which she generally wore unbound, was long, thick, and curling, streaked with a multitude of golden strands that shimmered beneath light, sometimes giving the illusion as she moved that Loris was glowing. Her eyes were the color of cinnamon, neither brown nor rust nor gold, but a mixture of all three.

Loris and Dyfed had recently become betrothed, which surprised Niclas, for he had never been able to discern any
particular passion between the two. Dyfed was certainly fond of the girl, as any observer could see, and Loris made a great show of affection for Dyfed, especially when Kian was present. But Niclas couldn’t feel a matching emotion in her breast. Her strongest feelings were all reserved for Kian, and those were always far too angry and muddled for him to sort out.

“Look,” Loris said, gazing at Julia, and he could feel excitement rise within her. “I think she’s beginning to wake.”

They all gathered near in anticipation, even Kian, who threw off his boredom and pushed away from the door to come close. Niclas gathered Julia’s hands in his and leaned over her.

“Julia?”

She
was
smiling; Loris had been right about that.

“I’ve had the most wonderful dream,” she said, and opened her eyes.

“Thank God,” Niclas said as she blinked up at him. For one overwhelming moment he felt as if his eyes might start to fill with tears, he was so deeply relieved.

“There you are,” she said sleepily, a tiny bit of chiding in her tone, though she smiled a little more widely. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere, Niclas.”

“I’m here,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

“I know,” she whispered, and pulled one of her hands free to touch his face. “I could hear your voice calling me. I tried so hard to find you, but you were always just a little too far away. But the search was so lovely, because you kept telling me that you—” She suddenly seemed to realize that they weren’t alone. Blearily, she gazed at the other faces looming over her. She looked for a long moment at
Dyfed, then at Kian, finally saying, “Why, Mister Seymour, did you get back safely, then?”

Kian proffered one of his rare smiles. “I did, indeed,” he replied warmly. “It’s good to see you again, Miss Linley. Welcome to Castle Tylluan. I hope you’ve had a pleasant sleep.”

“Thank you, sir,” she said politely, if yet wearily. “I did. The best of my life. I had such lovely dreams.” She closed her eyes and sighed, then looked about the room once more, taking in Ffinian, Loris, and Dyfed. Especially Dyfed, whom she looked at for a particularly long moment.

“Niclas,” she murmured, touching his arm.

“Yes, Julia?”

“They’re not like those other brothers, are they? The wolves?”

He laughed out loud, and Loris tried bravely to stifle a giggle. Behind them Ffinian harrumphed, Kian snorted, and Dyfed muttered something indistinguishable.

“Not exactly,” Niclas said, grinning at Julia’s disconcerted expression.

“They’re worse,” Loris said, laughing once more. “Much worse.”

Julia looked at her questioningly, and Loris smiled. “No, they’re not,” she amended. “You have nothing to fear, Miss Linley. I’ll make certain that they leave you in peace.”

Niclas introduced all those in the room and then gave a brief explanation of what had transpired since they’d left Steffan’s camp, of their hurried passage through the hills and of Kian’s journey to the spirit world to find and bring Julia back, of his immediate return and Steffan’s eventual return, and of the days of waiting for her to wake.

“And my aunt?” she asked. “You’ve contacted her?”

Niclas nodded. “She was here yesterday to visit you. Did you not hear her voice? She spoke to you for some length of time.”

“No, I only heard you,” she said, blushing slightly at the murmur of knowing approval from Ffinian and his sons. Niclas scowled at his relatives.

“Will she be coming again soon?” Julia asked. “I don’t want her to worry. And Jane? Is she safe?”

“Jane is with your aunt, completely recovered,” Niclas said soothingly, lightly rubbing the hand he yet held. “She and Abercraf are there together, and he’s taking very good care of her. They both came yesterday with your aunt, and I promised that I would send word the moment you woke.”

“I’ll send a rider to my darling Alice at once,” Ffinian said. “If I know my dear girl, she’ll be here tomorrow, ready to scuttle you back to Glen Aur where you’ll be protected from our wicked ways at Tylluan.”

Niclas and Kian exchanged looks, and Kian said, with care, “I’m not certain that Miss Linley should leave Tylluan just yet,
tad
. She’ll be safer here than at Glen Aur.”

“Oh?” Ffinian remarked, glancing from his son to Niclas to Julia. “Of course, we should like nothing better, Miss Linley, if you would consent. Our dearest Loris would enjoy the company of another female, I vow.”

“But—” Julia began.

“And Lady Alice may come and visit you as often as she desires,” Niclas added quickly. Until he knew that Cadmaran had accepted the loss of Ceridwen, Julia would be staying where Kian’s powers could keep her safe. The only problem was that the suggestion pleased his uncle far too well.

Ffinian straightened and looked at Julia in a fatherly manner. “You’ll be staying at Tylluan until ’tis safe for you to leave, and that’s that. I’ll go now and send word to my beloved Alice, and you’ll see her come the morrow. Come, my lads, and darling Loris. We’ll leave these two lovers alone for a space, for ’tis clear Niclas is longing to kiss his lady fair—”

“Uncle!” Niclas uttered in disbelief, while his cousins laughed, Loris smiled, and Julia blushed hotly.

His uncle merely winked at him. “And is loath to do so before an audience. Welcome to Castle Tylluan, Miss Linley. When you’ve rested up fully from your ordeal we’ll have a grand feast to celebrate your coming.”

“Welcome to you, Miss Linley,” Dyfed said in his usual charming manner, smiling and nodding as he left the chamber, and Kian followed suit, stopping a moment to lift one of Julia’s hands and kiss it. Loris, gathering up her bowl and cloth, said, “I’ll return in half an hour to help you bathe and dress, miss. Water is heating for a proper bath and your clothes have been cleaned. I’ll bring some bread and wine and a thick broth when I come, for I’m sure you must be hungry.”

“They’re wonderful,” Julia murmured when they’d gone. “And you led me to believe they were wild.”

“They’re a pain,” Niclas replied, smiling down at her. “But my uncle was right in one thing. I am longing to kiss you.”

“Are you, Niclas?” She stroked his cheek with the backs of her fingers. “Why haven’t you, then?”

“I’ve been too busy being relieved at your waking. You’ve been asleep a long time, Miss Linley.”

She grinned. “Then you’d best make me glad I came to, for I do hate to leave such lovely dreams behind.”

Niclas lowered his mouth toward her own. “I’ll do my very best,” he murmured, “to make you forget them altogether.”

A
re you certain you’re feeling well enough to walk, my dear? We can sit here on this bench beneath the tree, if you like. It’s rather shady for such a cool day, but the view is lovely.”

“Oh, no, Aunt,” Julia assured Lady Alice, who was strolling slowly beside her, her arm linked with Julia’s. “It feels good to be out of doors and walking. It was such a strange, long sleep. I feel as if I’ve just returned from a lengthy journey.” She glanced at her aunt. “Do you wish to sit, Aunt Alice? I should be glad to do so if you’d like to stop.”

“For a few moments, perhaps,” Lady Alice said, and Julia thought she detected a hint of relief in her tone. “If you don’t mind.”

“No, not at all.”

Castle Tylluan was set on a hill, and the gardens, which were beautiful, if somewhat wild and overgrown, provided a view of the valley below, where Glen Aur lay.

“It is lovely,” Lady Alice said at last, sighing. “I have
lived here for the better part of my life, yet I never grow weary of it. I’m glad you’re able to enjoy this particular view, Julia, for you’ve never seen it before now, often as you’ve come to visit me.”

“It is beautiful,” Julia agreed. “Castle Tylluan was once very grand, was it not?”

Lady Alice nodded. “A long time ago, my dear. Hundreds of years ago it was counted among the finest castles in Wales, but it’s fallen far from that glory, I fear. Ffinian wants to renew its splendor, but, unfortunately,” she said with a chuckle, “he wants to use my money to do it, and I fear I can’t allow that.”

Julia gazed at her with surprise. “You don’t intend to wed him, then?”

Lady Alice looked at her with surprise. “Who, Ffinian? Of course I don’t. What put such an idea into your head, my dear?”