The Shadow Games: The Chronicles of Arianthem VI Page 19

  It was a euphemism, for most of the time Signe was not lying down. She might be on her knees, or even on all fours, or perhaps chained to the wall. But one thing was certain, Eydis would wring pleasure from her with a skill that was astonishing, doing exactly as she pleased and bringing both of them to a thundering release.

  But today Signe would be lying down, for her love had put her on her back, strapped that contraption that she adored around Signe’s waist, and was now riding her vigorously in a manner that gave Signe the perfect amount of pressure between her legs while she watched those beautiful breasts glow with a sheen of perspiration and bounce in perfect rhythm. And the sorceress cried out with no inhibition, enjoying the strength in those slender hips as they came up to meet her, then lose control as climax overtook the girl and caused her to thrust deeply inside. And that was all that was needed, for it pushed the sorceress past her control and she bore down on the contraption and the girl beneath her until she collapsed on top of her, exhausted.

  A jab to her side woke her up, and Syn sat upright in the back of the wagon, blinking against the light. They had come out of the coolness of the forest into a large clearing, one containing several structures including a barn, a mill, and what looked to be a small castle. There were fields of grain, an orchard, a vegetable garden, a flower garden, some cattle, chicken, and sheep. In short, almost everything anyone would need for a self-sustaining compound, right in the middle of the Deep Woods.

  Syn scrambled down from the cart and began to unload the goods. Outwardly, it appeared she was daydreaming, disinterested in everything around her and not particularly interested in the work, either. In short, she appeared a mediocre employee doing a mediocre job.

  But Syn was analyzing everything around her, memorizing the layout, the guards, the farm workers. She was calculating staffing, distances, elevations and angles. And mostly she was looking for any sign of Skye or the sorceress. She was keenly interested in the house, or rather castle, but it was far away. The wagons had stopped close to the mill and the barn, but that put her at some distance from the main structure.

  She rifled through the inventory in the back and came up with a bag of flower seeds that she hefted upon her shoulder.

  “That’s got to go to the garden,” Parker said gruffly, nodding toward the gated, groomed area near the house.

  “Got it,” Syn said, and shuffled that way. Parker was surprised the woman had not found an excuse to avoid the trek, so listless a worker was she. Her sluggish pace across the field did not surprise him.

  Syn walked as slowly as she could without generating any attention. She held the bag of seeds close to her face so she could examine the castle in depth. It was more a stone mansion than a castle, two stories, a terrace, several balconies, a lot of windows. The sun was at a favorable angle, not striking the planes of glass directly, so she could somewhat see inside. It was luxuriously furnished and had Syn been here on her usual business, she might have taken a quick tour inside.

  But she could not risk that, given what was at stake. She sought to commit everything to memory.

  Signe splashed water on her face and combed her fingers through her hair. In days past, Eydis had exclaimed that she should take greater care with her appearance, attempting to coif her hair and powder her skin. Now she just looked at her in that sensual manner and proclaimed she liked her just the way she was. Another welcome change, as far as Signe was concerned. She pushed through the double doors out onto the second floor balcony.

  The caravan was here, one of the few events of curiosity in the unchanging landscape of the estate. Eydis had forbidden her to go near the wagons and Signe had obeyed, although it would have been fun to speak with someone new, or really, anyone at all. Even the farm hands were largely off limits to her. She watched with interest as a young woman approached the garden with a bag over her shoulder. There were hardly any women on the estate, and those were all advanced in years. No women ever came on the caravan. This was the first time Signe had seen anyone close to her own age, well, in long as she could remember.

  “What are you looking at?” Eydis said. She came up behind Signe and put her hands around her, pulling her close.

  “The caravan is here,” Signe said offhandedly, glancing down at the woman carrying the seed. She was glad to see that the woman had disappeared into the garden. That was good timing. Eydis had begun to display a streak of jealousy that felt dangerous. “I was just watching them unload.”

  Eydis put her finger beneath Signe’s chin and turned her head so those hazel eyes looked up at her. She held her gaze for a long moment.

  “Are you sure that’s all?”

  Signe knew she was a terrible liar. She had figured that out very quickly. But fortunately, when Eydis turned her chin, her cheek was pressed into that magnificent bosom and her eyes went magnetically to that deep, round cleavage. She did not have to lie if she was completely distracted.

  “What?” Signe asked, her senses befuddled.

  Eydis leaned down and kissed her deeply, burying her tongue in that compliant mouth, still holding her tightly in front of her. She thought about taking her on the balcony floor, and was again incredulous at her lust for this girl.

  “Let’s go back inside.”

  Syn’s heart thudded in her chest. First off, she could not believe that she had seen Skye. But Skye had looked at her with no recognition at all, and Syn had forced herself to look away. And then the sorceress had walked out, who surely would have recognized her, and Syn ducked into the garden under the load of seeds. She watched between the slats of the trellis as Ingrid embraced Skye, kissed her as if they were lovers, then with one last look around, took her back into the house. She walked back to the wagon, wanting to run, but forcing herself to move as lethargically as she had on the way out.

  The unloading was accomplished quickly for Packer did not wish to stay any longer than necessary. He signed the bill of lading, said a brusque goodbye to the foreman, and they were off. Syn lie in the back of the wagon, staring at the estate, trying to commit as much to memory as possible. Thankfully, Packer forgot about the blindfold, and they were far into the forest before he insisted she put it back on.

  Syn lie back down and pretended to sleep once more, but this time sleep was nowhere near. She stared into the blackness of her blindfold, her thoughts racing and time crawling by as the horses drawing the wagons picked their way home.

  “I found her!”

  “What?” Dallan exclaimed, leaping to her feet. “She was there?”

  As soon as they arrived, Syn had ducked out of sight from the caravan and sprinted toward the inn. She was breathing hard.

  “Yes,” she said, trying to catch her breath. “She was there, at some estate. And the sorceress was there. And—“

  Syn paused frowning, for as many times as she had framed this conversation in her head, it still sounded wrong.

  “It was almost like they were lovers.”

  “What?” Rika said in disbelief.

  “Skye looked right at me and it was like she had never seen me before in her life. And then the sorceress came out and held Skye, and they kissed, and then they went back inside. I think she has her bewitched or something.”

  “Maybe you were right, Rika,” Dallan said. “Maybe she has taken Skye’s memory.”

  “If she did,” Rika said, “she could fill her head with anything she wanted.”

  “That makes things a little difficult,” Jorden said, “what if Skye doesn’t remember any of us?”

  Dallan’s face fell. “Surely she would remember me, surely she would know Rika. We’ve been with her for years.”

  “I think she will remember you,” Torsten said from the doorway, “she loves you both with all her heart.”

  “Torsten!” Dallan said, leaping to her feet. She went to hug the Tavinter scout, happier to see him than she had ever been. “Sh
e will remember you, as well. You’re her best friend and have known her all her life.”

  Torsten had only caught the tail-end of the conversation, and he turned to Syn.

  “So you found her?”

  “Yes, she’s on an estate some distance from here. Four days out, three days back unladed. We did not stay more than a few hours.”

  Jorden spread out the maps on the table once and Torsten examined them carefully.

  “The scout went missing here, and we’re here. Aeric, Flynt,” he called over his shoulder, and two more Tavinter slipped into the room. “I say she is somewhere in this area, what say you?”

  Aeric nodded, his handsome features grim but excited, and Flynt’s grizzled face grinned with anticipation.

  “How was the place staffed?” Dallan asked Syn. “Were there many guards?”

  “No,” Syn said, shaking her head. “The entire place was lightly staffed. Its strength is its isolation. I think the sorceress thought no one would ever find her.”

  “We should leave now,” Rika said.

  “Do you think that’s wise?” Jorden said, trying to be the voice of reason. “Idonea should be here any day, and Raine was adamant she should be the one to deal with the sorceress.”

  Dallan was indecisive. “How many Tavinter do you have, Torsten?”

  “I have twenty or so scouts, all hardened veterans. These men and women will die to get Skye back.”

  “I’d rather do this without anyone dying,” Dallan said, frustrated.

  “The sorceress fled from us before, remember?” Rika said. “When we charged the tower where she kept Skye, she left the Garmlain Chancellor behind and disappeared. Perhaps she’s not so powerful.”

  “I doubt it will be so easy this time,” Jorden said. “But I will go if that is your word.”

  Dallan turned back to Syn. “Is there any chance your presence was detected?”

  “I don’t think so. But…”

  “What?”

  “When Skye saw me, the sorceress came out and questioned her intently. The witch never saw me, but right before she walked back in, she looked around the estate, almost as if she had sensed something.”

  Dallan’s heart fell. “It has taken us months to get this close to Skye. If she moves her again, we may never find her.” It was enough to push her to make the decision.

  “We leave now. Torsten, we will leave a trail as we go. Leave a scout behind to bring Idonea as soon as she arrives. Maybe they will catch us before we find the estate, for we will have to move slowly to search the entire area. We can always stage from a distance once we find it, then wait for Idonea.”

  “It will be done,” Torsten said.

  “I think I’ll go change into my armor,” Jorden said.

  Ingrid sipped from her goblet as she gazed at the unconscious beauty in the bed. It was a double delight to fornicate that little Tavinter into exhaustion, then drain her blood after putting her out with a mild sleeping spell. She didn’t even need the doctor any longer; she could perform the procedure herself.

  Ingrid took another sip, reveling in the power that coursed through her. Before, when she had captured the girl from that Ha’kan encampment, she had only been able to enjoy her for a short while before her friends came to her rescue. Now, she had been leisurely consuming her blood every day for months, and the dark magic in her had grown strong. Her skin was pristine and glowed with health. Her step was light and her body was firm. She laughed as she thought of that ailing old man, the one who had chosen another over her, the wizard who was drifting into the great night as she lived on. She wondered if he knew how much she enjoyed fucking his great-granddaughter, or that she intended to keep his precious little girl for all of time, even by force if her memory returned.

  Ingrid laughed again. Right now, everything felt possible, for she was more powerful than she had been in her whole, long life.

  Chapter 27

  Raine stood at the base of the mountain and looked up. It had taken them days to get here, and it might take them days to get to the top. Inside this massive rock was a fortress, a winding, twisting, turning, treacherous tangle of passageways that led inexorably upward through Mithril Caverns. And at the top of it, just shy of the peak, was a chamber that housed something she was going to have to kill before it killed her.

  Unless of course, it was willing to bargain for the woman next to her.

  “Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Raine asked.

  “I am,” Aesa replied firmly.

  “I need you only to protect yourself,” Raine said, “and I will take the brunt of attacks. Stay close, but don’t endanger yourself.”

  “I know you think me a shrinking violet,” Aesa said, “but I was Pernilla’s lover for years.”

  “Oh, that’s right,” Raine said, laughing. “You’re probably more indestructible than I.”

  Aesa was quite in love with the Scinterian at that moment, for this woman laughed at danger and looked forward to battles that would cause others to quake and collapse in fear. Even now, the blue and gold markings on her arms and shoulders rose to the surface and her blue eyes gleamed in anticipation of what was to come. Raine took one last, longing look up at the highest peak.

  “If my love were here,” she muttered to herself, “she could just fly me up there and we could sneak in the back door.”

  Raine shrugged.

  “Let’s go.”

  Torsten moved silently through the forest, followed closely by Dallan. They had decided to travel on foot as horses would make too much noise. Syn had made a wild guess as to the direction they had traveled from the village, and unexpectedly she had been right. They had picked up the caravan’s trail and followed it for two days before it disappeared. Syn said the caravan had never stopped, not even to camp. She had not sensed any great deviation in their path, nor any movement that would suggest a roundabout route was being taken. Based on that, and another quick triangulation of the known points on the map, they determined to keep moving in a straight line. Although Dallan had nothing to base her feeling on, somehow she felt they were getting close.

  About halfway through this third day, Torsten stood upright and raised his hand. All the Tavinter stopped instantly. Dallan, Rika, and Jorden were half an instant behind them, but it took Syn several steps and bumping into the back of Rika before she, too stopped. Her look of chagrin went unnoticed, however, as all eyes were on Torsten who stood tensely, a look of concentration on his face. He signed something to Aeric with swift, concise hand motions, Aeric nodded, then disappeared.

  Several long moments passed and the weight of the silence was crushing. Sweat beaded on Dallan’s forehead even though the air was cool. She could even feel it run down her back beneath her armor. Her heart pounded, but then settled into the drumbeat that it always did before battle: faster than normal, but stable and steady. Her breathing was the same.

  Aeric returned and gave several excited hand signals. Torsten nodded his understanding, and indicated that they were to retreat. They retraced their footsteps for some distance before Torsten was willing to speak.

  “Aeric thinks he’s found the estate.”

  Aeric turned to Syn. “A two story stone house, balconies, windows. A barn, a mill, some fields. All that?”

  “That’s it,” Syn said.

  “Would there be another out here?” Jorden asked.

  “Probably not,” Torsten said, “but I would hate to waste time camping outside some noble’s summer retreat while Skye could be spirited away.”

  “Point taken,” Jorden said.

  “So what do we do from here?” Dallan asked. “I’d like to get a closer look.”

  “There is a spot on the other side of the fields where the forest is closest to the buildings,” Aeric said. “If we circle around, we will have a good vantage point where we can see without be
ing seen. We can send a scouting party.”

  “I wish to go,” Dallan said firmly.

  “Of course,” Torsten said.

  “And I,” Rika added.

  “That goes without saying,” Torsten agreed. “The three of us will go, and, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but you will go, too, Syn.”

  “Me?” Syn said in surprise. “You’ve seen me in the forest. I’m terrible.”

  “But Skye isn’t in the forest right now. She’s in a house. And I remember one thing she told me that I have never forgotten, that if I ever needed Tavinter stealth inside a structure, you were the one to depend on.”

  “That is true,” Jorden said reluctantly.

  “Then I will go,” Syn said. She kissed Jorden on the lips, then fell in behind Dallan. “I will try and not trip over you.”

  The four made a wide circle around the fields and found the place that Aeric described. He had picked well. Not only did they have a full view of the clearing and an unobstructed view of the house, they were still far enough away they could speak softly.

  “The sorceress could have kept Skye here indefinitely were it not for your lost scout, Torsten,” Dallan whispered.

  “Aye,” Torsten agreed, “although the vial that your mage holds would have found her eventually.”

  “It would have been slow,” Dallan said, “the vial doesn’t glow if Skye doesn’t remember.”

  All four crouched at the tree line, each looking at different things from different perspectives. It was Syn who saw her first.

  “There’s Skye,” she whispered.

  Dallan saw the fair-haired beauty wander from the house into the garden. She actually trembled, trying to control the urge to run to her, and her throat become raw and hot tears gathered on her eyelid. Rika saw her struggle and put her hand on her arm.

  “We’ll get her, Dallan, don’t worry.”

  “We can’t wait for Idonea,” Dallan said in a hoarse whisper. “If the sorceress flees with her again, I don’t know if I…,” Dallan trailed off, unable to continue.

  Torsten, too, was struggling at the sight of his beloved friend, and a muscle in his jaw jumped.