“Jinaari?” Thia called through the closed door, “Can I come in?”
She waited for a response, but he didn’t answer. Twisting the knob, it turned easily. That’s odd, she thought. “Jinaari?” she said as she slid into the room.
“Just a minute,” his voice came from the door on the other side of the large bed.
Thia shut the door, leaving the key in the lock. The room was furnished with dark, polished wood furniture. A fire burned in the hearth, chasing away the winter chill.
“What’s going on?”
She turned her head toward him. He stood in the doorway, a towel in his hand. An arrowhead, threaded with a cord, rested against his bare chest. “You forgot rule number 2,” she teased him. Why isn’t he wearing his medallion?
He blinked at her, rubbing the towel against his wet hair. “Huh. I must be tired.”
The unease she’d felt since they left Almair began to rise. “So, Jinaari. How are things with you?” she asked him as she leaned against the wall, her arms crossed.
“That’s an odd question,” he replied. “Do you know where my pack went? Adam wouldn’t give it back until I proved I was me, but it didn’t make it into my room.”
It’s not Jinaari. He wouldn’t have answered like that, left the door unlocked. And he never removes his medallion. “I, um, think Gnat had it. Which means it’s in Adam’s room. I can get it for you.” What’s different? What could be the real aspect that sets the illusion? If I keep him talking, maybe he’ll tell me where Jinaari really is.
“Later,” he said. He took a few steps toward her. “What did you need?”
“I was worried, wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Jinaari, you just spent time being a prisoner. You said Alesso was there. How’s that even possible? You killed him.”
“I’m fine, Thia. All of Garret’s Paladins are trained to survive hostage situations. As to Alesso, I don’t know how. I don’t have the stores, let alone the knowledge, you and Adam do when it comes to magic.”
“What’s that?” She pointed to the necklace. That’s got to be it!
He looked down, one hand raising the arrowhead slightly. “This? I got shot with it, figured I’d keep it after I dug it out of my knee. Reminds me I’m not as immortal as I think I am.”
“Do you need more healing? I took care of your eye, but a leg wound could be dangerous.”
He walked closer. “I’m fine. See? No limp. I took care of that on my own.” His lips turned up slightly. “Though,” he said, moving closer, “I suppose you could inspect it.”
“Maybe I should start with the arrowhead. If there’s residue of a poison on it . . .” her voice trailed off as he stopped in front of her.
“It’s right there,” he whispered. “But I think any sort of poison would’ve affected me by now. It’s been a day or two since I got wounded.” He raised a hand, pushing some of her hair aside.
Her heart was racing, but she kept calm. Keep playing along, she thought. If I have to, I’ll break the illusion. But I need to know Jinaari’s okay first. She placed the palm of her hand against his chest near the arrowhead, letting one finger move across the metal. “It looks clean, not even drops of blood.”
“That’s because I washed it off,” he murmured in her ear.
She felt his lips touch her skin. They were cold, dead. Unable to control her revulsion, she closed her fist around the arrowhead and pulled down sharply, breaking the cord.
“Bitch,” Samil growled at her. His hands grabbed her arms and he shoved her against the wall. His lips pressed against hers; his teeth biting into them.
Thia reacted quickly, driving one knee up into his groin. Doubling over in pain, he released her. Grasping the back of his head, she drove it down onto her other knee. The bones of his nose crunched at the impact and he staggered backward, falling down.
She erected a shield around her, staring at his bleeding body. “No one touches me without my permission! No one!” Her voice shook with rage.
Samil began to laugh, pressing one hand to stem the flow of blood from his broken nose. Sitting up, he stared at her. “Now there’s what I expect from Herasta’s daughter. Someone worthy of being Lolc Aon’s mother. Tell me, Thia. Do you make Jinaari beg before you ride him?”
“Where is he?” She stared at him, unwilling to react to his taunt.
“Someplace safe. Don’t worry. When Stijyn arrives with the army, he’ll bring Jinaari with them. And then we’ll see how strong you really are, Thia. Because I have no qualms making him or any of your other friends suffer to get what I need from you.” He leered at her, and her skin crawled. “Perhaps we should have him stay in the room as our ‘negotiations’ are concluded. He may learn something from me about how to properly control you.” Samil smiled and then disappeared.
Thia twisted a hand behind her, fumbling for the knob, and stared at where he’d been. Dark red drops of blood stained the floor. Adrenaline and panic fought for control over her thoughts, but she got the door open. She bolted from the room, not caring if the door closed behind her. “Adam!” she screamed, shoving the broken necklace into her pocket as she ran.
The blonde man peered out of a room. “Thia? What’s wrong?”
She stopped. “It wasn’t Jinaari. It was Samil.”
“Get in here,” he said, moving aside so she could enter the room.
Thia dove into the room and headed for the closest chair. Falling into it, she leaned forward and buried her head in her hands.
“What happened?” Caelynn asked.
“Hold on,” Adam said. Thia heard chairs being drug across the wood floors, and the clink of glass followed by liquid being poured. “Here,” he said.
Raising her head, she saw him holding out a glass with amber liquid. The aroma of spiced honey rose from it. Without thinking, she took the drink and swallowed the contents.
The mead slid down her throat, dulling the edges of her panic. “I don’t know that one will be enough,” she whispered.
“Don’t worry about that,” Caelynn said. “I’ve got plenty.”
“I’ll bring the decanter over.” Adam walked away. “When you’re ready, Thia, we’ll listen.”
She took a deep breath and sat up, looking at both of them. “My aunt came to see me, told me word had come from Almair about what happened with the scepter.”
“It’s safe, right?” Adam asked as he refilled her glass.
“You know?”
“Caelynn filled me in, after we separated. Where is it now?”
“I left it in my room, and locked the door. I’m not sure it’ll let anyone else touch it, either. Anyway, I went to talk to Jinaari. From what Amara said, he doesn’t know the shield he has is that shield. I was going to tell him, explain what happened at court, give him the option to walk away. If he didn’t, then I would’ve brought the scepter over to show him. When I got there, he didn’t answer. The door was unlocked, so I went in.”
“Jinaari never leaves his door unlocked,” Caelynn said, stunned.
Thia nodded. “I know, and he even chided me about doing that when we came here the first time. Referred to it as ‘rule number two’.”
“Out of curiosity, what was rule number one?” Adam asked.
“That I shouldn’t argue with the staff.” She took a drink and kept going. “But, yes, I noticed the door was odd. I asked him about the rule, but his answer didn’t make sense. So, I asked him a different question. One he’s asked me a few times. Again, the reply wasn’t right. He was wearing this,” she pulled out the arrowhead and showed them. “He said it was the one he was shot with, that he was keeping it to remind himself he wasn’t immortal. I remembered what you said, Adam, about something needing to be real. I asked if I could see it better, but he didn’t take it off. He just came closer. He, um,” she felt her cheeks grow hot, “tried to kiss me. But it didn’t feel right, didn’t feel like Jinaari, and that’s when I knew. I pulled this off, broke his nose, and he fell back. He shifted form, became Samil, and threatened me before he disappeared.”
“What kind of threat?”
“Stijyn’s bringing an army here, that wasn’t a lie. They’re bringing Jinaari with them. Samil said he was looking forward to finding out how strong I really am, that he had no issue making Jinaari or any of you suffer if it made me agree to do what he needs from me.” She downed the rest of the drink and held the glass out for Adam to refill. She could feel the alcohol begin to work on her but knew it would take a lot more to get numb enough to take the revulsion away.
Adam let out a breath, “We figured that’s what was going to happen. I would’ve preferred we got Jinaari back first, but that’s not an option now. We’ll have to talk to the Baroness, find Drakkus, get word to Tomil.”
“What about Jinaari?” Caelynn asked. “We can’t just leave him in their hands!”
Thia stared at the mead in her glass, swirling the liquid gently. “He’ll be alive when they arrive, Caelynn. Samil thinks holding Jinaari hostage gives him an advantage over me. No one wants a war. I don’t think even Stijyn or Agrana do. I can’t do what he wants, though. No matter what.”
“Did Samil actually tell you what he wants?” Adam asked. “I know we’ve got an idea, but we could be wrong.”
“We’re not,” Thia sat back in the chair. “After I got him away from me, he said he finally saw Herasta in me, that I’d make a suitable mother for Lolc Aon.”
“Shit,” Caelynn breathed.
“It’s not happening, Thia,” Adam reached out and squeezed one of her hands reassuringly.
She turned to look at him, her voice steady despite the alcohol. “No, Adam. It’s not. I will kill Jinaari myself to keep him from being a bargaining chip. Garret didn’t train him to kill Lolc Aon so that she could return. Keroys didn’t Mark me to make it so I could give birth to a new version of her. And the scepter certainly didn’t choose me so that I can drag everyone on the surface down to Byd Cudd with chains around their waists. I will die, either by my hand or one of yours, before that happens.”
“Thia,” Caelynn began to speak, but stopped when Adam put a hand on her arm.
“If that’s what you want,” he stared at Thia, his voice solemn, “then that’s what we’ll do.”
“It’s what has to happen, Adam. It’s what Jinaari was prepared to do, on our way to Byd Cudd. I have access to so much power, it’s terrifying at times.” She swallowed, then kept talking, “Keroys wanted to make sure his sister couldn’t access it before I did. Can you imagine what I’d turn into if her will became mine, now that I can tap into it all?” Staring at him, she continued. “It’s possible I’ll have to kill Jinaari. He knows that, if I do, it’s what needs to happen. He wouldn’t want me to spare his life any more than I’d want him to spare mine. That means he won’t be able to kill me to keep Samil from having me. I need your word, Adam. Your promise you’ll do this if it comes to that.”
“This is crazy!” Caelynn whispered. “Thia, you’re drunk and not thinking straight! Adam and I love you; you’re our family! We can’t kill you! Please don’t ask us to,” she pleaded.
Thia stared at the empty glass. “I know what I’m asking, Caelynn. Remember what I said back in the cave? No more secrets between us? I can’t go into a fight with Samil and not trust you have my back. I’m going to do everything I can to beat him, destroy the part of Lolc Aon he carries. He is, however, Marked. The same as I am. And,” she took a deep breath, shifting her focus to Adam, “he’s had training in warlock magic. By one of the best.”
He stared back at her, nodding slowly. “If there is no other option, Thia, I will do what you ask.”
“Even if we free Jinaari, Adam. Saving his life is meaningless if Samil wins. You know this.”
“I do, and so will he,” he whispered.
Caelynn jumped up and started pacing, her arms gesturing wildly. “Great! What’s the point of saving Avoch if we lose the people we care about the most in the process?”
“What’s the point of living in a world devastated by evil when we know we could’ve stopped it from happening?”
Thia watched her words hit Caelynn hard. The pink haired woman sat back down, tears in her eyes, and her shoulders slumped in surrender. “You’re right,” she whispered.
Relief washed over Thia. “Let’s not tell anyone else, this stays between the three of us. If we come out of this alive-”
“When we come out of this,” Adam corrected her.
She smiled at him. “When we come out of this, we can tell Jinaari about our decision. But not until then. Even if we free him, Samil can’t have me. Agreed?” She looked at her two friends, who both nodded.
Relief, working with the alcohol, chased the last threads of anxiety and fear from her. Yawning, she stood up. Her body swayed, and the other two grabbed her arms to steady her. “Adam, why don’t you bring Jinaari’s pack and shield to my room? Something tells me it’ll be safer there.”
“Only if you let Caelynn help you get there,” he said. She opened her mouth to protest, but he shook his head. “You’re drunk, barely can walk, and were attacked. You need sleep, Thia. Tomorrow, we figure out who needs to know what, get people started on defenses for the city. And figure out the best way to get Jinaari back and keep you alive.”
Thia nodded, and watched Adam leave the room first. Caelynn kept the pace slow. “I know your reasons, Thia,” she said, her voice thick with unshed tears, “and I see your point. But please don’t make us do that. I can’t lose you a third time.”
“It’s not my first choice, any more than killing Jinaari is. But the alternative--”
“I know, it can’t happen.” They stopped in front of Thia’s door. “I need your key.”
Fumbling in a pocket, she pulled it out and tried to put it into the keyhole. Laughing, she finally got it on the fourth try. Once the door was unlocked, she pulled it out. “Don’t let me go to bed until I lock it.”
“Nonsense,” Caelynn replied. “Adam’s bringing Jinaari’s gear, remember? We’ll make sure it’s locked when we leave, but you need to sleep.” Gently, she guided Thia to the bed.
Sitting on the edge, she worked the short boots off her feet while Caelynn moved the blankets aside. The door opened, and both women looked up as Adam walked in. “Where do you want this?” he asked, holding up a pack and the shield.
“On the bench,” Thia replied, gesturing to the foot of the bed, “next to my stuff. Put the shield near the scepter.”
He walked around and put the pack down first. “Is there a reason?”
“Dunno,” she said, “just a feeling. They were made to be used for the same purpose and have been separated for centuries. They probably want to get reacquainted.” Thia’s voice dropped as exhaustion took hold. Sliding into bed, she threw the blankets over the top of her.
“You talk like they’re alive in some way.”
“Maybe,” she muttered as her eyes closed.
* * *
The dull ache surrounding her skull woke Thia hours later. The room was cool, and she pulled the covers close around her chin, willing the headache to go away. The pain subsided, but she needed more warmth. Opening her eyes, she saw the fire had almost gone out. The logs were nothing but kindling now; barely enough fuel to keep the fire fed. Sighing, she sat up and pushed the blankets aside. Placing her feet on the floor, her toes curled slightly as the cold seeped up through her socks.
She ran across the room, reaching into the bin next to the fireplace to grab a new log, and tossed it carefully onto the glowing embers. Yellow and orange sparks flew up as the burned wood crumbled to ash under the weight of the new piece. She waited, rubbing her hands together to keep them warm, for the fire to take hold before adding a second log.
Staring at the flames as they grew, her mind worried about Jinaari. Are you warm? Do you know where you are? Samil promised you’d be coming with your brother, but not that you’d be treated well. She remembered the discussions on the way to Byd Cudd between her, Adam, and Jinaari. You tried to prepare me, keep me from panicking if it happened. I know you’re strong enough to survive, but not if I’m strong enough to do what I may have to do.
The room began to warm up and she straightened. Looking back at the bed, she thought about trying to get more sleep. No, I’m awake now. There’s a puzzle here, and I need to solve it. Samil’s not going to bring Jinaari out where I can see him until it benefits him, when he wants to force me to choose if he lives or dies. He doesn’t think I’ll let him die, either. So, how do I keep Jinaari alive but make Samil think I don’t care if he is? And keep myself safe at the same time?
Her gaze went to the shield resting against the bench. His shield, the one he’d used more than once to keep her safe. Walking across the room, her fingers ran along the top edge. She knew almost every scrape and dent on it, just like his sword. Just like him.
Thia’s eyes flew open, and her lips curled into a small smile. It could work! I need to practice, talk to Adam, but it could work!
She grabbed a chair, placed it in front of the shield, and got to work.