Keepers of the Flame

I don’t want to leave the Castle. Elizabeth was even more hesitant.

Bri couldn’t resist the plea. She pasted on a smile and jutted a hip. Looks like it’s me, then. Think this telepathy thing works across two miles?

Elizabeth’s eyes sharpened. An interesting experiment.

Yeah. Bri straightened her shoulders. “I’ll go.” She sent a glance around the cluster of people. “For a while. We aren’t chessmen to be pushed around.”

“Of course not,” Bastien said. “No Exotique can be pushed far.” His smile was crooked, his gaze admiring.

Alexa said, smiling, “We get to Castleton often, usually to the Nom de Nom.”

“A worthy establishment,” Sevair said, but something about the way he said it made Bri think he didn’t really mean it.

Bastien laughed. “A Chevaliers hang-out.”

Of course he hadn’t really said hang-out. Had he? Bri could hardly distinguish the English words from the Lladranan, especially since she realized that the Exotiques had already had a definite effect on the language. “Okay” was commonplace. Maybe Bastien had said hang-out.

“Lodging, food, and clothing is a priority. We will shelter and care for our Exotiques.” Sevair’s broad hand with scarred fingers gestured to Elizabeth and Bri.

“Merci,” said Elizabeth. “It’s comforting to know we have a place here at the Castle and in Castleton.”

“Not only there,” Marian said. “If you prefer Circlet Towers you can live with me or Bossgond.”

“Marrec and I have a big house at your disposal, too,” Calli said.

“Exotiques are valued,” Sevair said, “but I think you will find that no one values their Exotiques more than the Cities and Towns.”

At that moment a couple of women strode up to the group. The older one was the Marshalls’ leader, the other wore expensive leathers. Bri vaguely remembered them from the night before.

The Marshall bowed brusquely to them; she wore Authority like a surgeon’s coat.

“I’m Thealia Germain, Lady Knight Swordmarshall.”

Okay, make that the Authority of the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Thealia jerked a nod at the woman beside her. “Lady Hallard, representative of the Chevaliers.”

Bri thought it sounded like the two top warriors in the world. She stepped back. She’d avoided war zones on her travels. Poverty and disease of third-world nations was bad enough without being caught in a struggle between vicious groups.

Elizabeth nodded at them. “Ladies.”

Well, Elizabeth had served her time in emergency services and ICUs; she’d have seen plenty of wounds inflicted on people by others.

“Exotique Medicas,” Hallard said.

Thealia continued, “It’s time for the morning briefing about last night’s battle. My husband and Shieldmarshall noticed a different pattern in the fighting, as did other Shields. We also received a message from the horrors, or perhaps I should say from the new Master of the Horrors and Servant of the Dark.”

Just the titles had Bri backing up a little more, into the solid shape of Sevair. He steaded her with a hand on her shoulder, then said in voice full of suppressed fury, “You mean my ex-assistant.”

Thealia spared him an impatient “get over it” look. “All three of our groups were betrayed last year.” She indicated Hallard with a stern jerk of her head.

“Yes, of course.” Now Sevair’s voice was quiet, even soothing. “My anger and grief are not solely my own.”

“The briefing,” Thealia snapped.

“What was the message?” Marian asked. “This isn’t a good sign.”

“I prefer to speak of that in private.”

“Hey, Jean,” Bastien called to a soldier in the Castle colors, lingering on the edge of their group. “What was the Master’s message?”

“‘Our Dark plague will take you all.’”

On the receiving end of scathing stares from the Lady Knight Swordmarshall and Lady Hallard, the soldier shrank back into the dark shadows shrouding the cloister corridor in the gray morning.

“So now we know for sure,” Sevair said quietly, though he’d left his hand on Bri’s shoulder and she felt the tension run through all his muscles.

Scowling, Thealia said, “Unfortunately.”

“The Circlets must hear this news immediately,” Marian said.

“Broadcast a message by crystal sphere,” Thealia said impatiently. “I want you Circlets at my briefing.”

“Of course,” Jaquar said, slipping his arm around Marian. “We’ll join you shortly.” They moved away.

“Right,” Alexa said, holding her hand to Bastien. He made a face but took it and matched her magically rapid pace back to the keep, outdistancing the taller Marian and Jaquar.

“And you, also, Citymaster, and the Exotique Medicas.”

“Thank you, but that is not possible,” Sevair said.

A few seconds of startled silence passed. The Lady Knight Swordmarshall was obviously not used to people denying her.

“Castleton has prepared a welcome and thanks for their Exotique Medica. The morale of my city is very important. We have been much harder hit by this sickness than you here at the Castle. My people come first.” His hand grew warmer with sheer energy on Bri’s shoulder, heating it, reminding her that she was standing in damp, chilly air.

“Of course,” Thealia said in repressive tones.

The Castle medica, Jolie, stepped forward. “It’s my opinion that the Castle Exotique Medica should see our facilities and learn the basics of our methods, while we speak to her of the Power she used last night. The sooner we understand each other, the better.” She swallowed.

So Elizabeth was the Castle Exotique Medica, huh? That made Bri the—

Sevair’s fingers squeezed Bri’s shoulder gently, released, leaving a quickly cooling spot. “Both Medicas were Summoned on behalf of the Cities and Towns. I reluctantly agreed that one of the ladies stay here for training. But they are both for the Cities and Towns.”

“The medicas can reimburse you for the Marshalls fee to Summon—”

“This is not about zhiv,” Sevair said. “This is about need and priorities.”

“I understand.” The medica bowed her head.