The Master and the Sorceress Read online

  Kat couldn’t think how to respond to those statements which seemed irrelevant to her right in that moment. She experienced an aching sadness for Hetty though, all alone in her sickness. “I will think on what you have said—and I’m coming to look after you.”

  Hetty’s eyes widened in alarm, and a massive coughing fit seized her. Kat looked on, helpless to do anything and mortified she had caused this distress.

  When the old woman’s coughing subsided, she sat up in bed, her hand outstretched. “You must promise me not to come, child. It’s too dangerous.”

  “Hetty—”

  “Promise! I can’t lie here worrying about you on the road with elves, and night hounds, and the Goddess only knows what dangers. I remember how impulsive you are. Do not come to Brightcastle!”

  Kat was again lost for words. She could not sit here in comfort when her friend might be dying. But Hetty wouldn’t rest if she thought Kat was risking herself. She would have to lie and make it damned convincing.

  “If you are certain you are on the mend, I promise. But only if you are certain.”

  “I am on the mend, child. I’ve looked after myself since before you were born. Stay where you are, and I can rest quietly knowing you are safe.”

  Kat didn’t like to lie to Hetty, however, in this case, she had no choice. “Very well. Please get well soon. I promise to hold all your advice close to my heart.” And I will be at your bedside as soon as is humanly possible.

  Hetty’s image faded from the flames, and a shiver ran up Kat’s spine. The room was suddenly frigid without the old woman’s company.

  Kat got up from the fireplace, fetched her saddlebags, and began stuffing her clothes into them.

  Chapter 6

  James pulled his pony and trap up to the rail in front of the feed store and climbed down. One of his mares had taken ill, and the shop owner here had potions he hoped might be helpful. He scowled as he tied the pony to the rail. He would never get his projects finished at this rate—what with night hounds, the loss of Eva’s babe, and now a sick horse—he hadn’t finished any significant pieces of jewelry for weeks.

  He stepped up onto the porch in front of the store and was about to pass through the swinging doors when a flurry of dark hair and tunic clad arms ran into him. He almost went down in a heap but caught himself and the lady in question—one hand on the door frame and one around her waist.

  “What the demon are you doing?” James asked. “Charging around like the hounds of hell are on your tail. I could have injured you!”

  “Good day to you too, Master Tomel,” Katrine said, the silver flecks in her eyes sparkling in the sunlight, before a cloud chased the life from her eyes. “How is Eva?”

  “As well as can be expected under the circumstances.” James would never forget the sight of poor Eva cradling her dead baby. “In the end, we had to forcibly remove the child. I admit to being unsure how to help, however, the midwife came, and she and Mistress Lary have been wonderful.”

  “That’s good to hear.”

  He couldn’t help noticing the movement of her throat as she swallowed. “Are you well?” he asked.

  She drew herself up, shoulders back, and looked him in the eye. The sparkles in her eyes swirled hypnotically. “I’m fine. I was upset yesterday, but today I feel better.”

  James realized she wasn’t as fine as she asserted. Goddess, he wasn’t, and he hadn’t gone through the harrowing ordeal that Katrine had. However, he had no choice but to take her at her word.

  “Then I shall be on my way. May the Goddess keep you safe.” He bowed and stepped around her.

  “I wish I could say it’s been a pleasure, but we both know it wouldn’t be true.”

  James turned at her words and watched as Katrine strode to her horse. It was only then he noticed the animal was loaded for travel with bulging saddle bags, and Katrine was tying what looked like a bag of oats across his rump.

  “Wait a moment,” he said. “Where are you going?”

  If he was right, the lady was supposed to be helping the old Delacost couple prepare to move north.

  She turned to face him. “I’m departing this morning for Brightcastle, not that it’s any concern of yours. I have a friend who is ill and needs me to care for her.”

  “You said nothing of this yesterday.”

  “As if I had the chance to. Besides, what I do is none of your concern.” She stood with hands on hips, statuesque in her form-fitting breeches and tunic. She would draw the attention of every rogue on the journey to Brightcastle.

  He approached her, determined at first to talk her out of the trip. But why should he interfere? This was Katrine’s decision, and she could handle herself somewhat. Still, he couldn’t leave the matter alone. “Who are you traveling with?”

  She appeared to look down her nose at him even though he was taller than her by a head. “No one.” She turned and mounted her spirited stallion who stamped and tossed his head. “Demon will take care of me. He’s a trained war horse.”

  Impossible! Walk away, man. She doesn’t want your help. “I can’t allow you to travel to Brightcastle by yourself. At least take an escort. Mason! He can accompany you.”

  “Mason is needed to move my friends. Now get out of my way.”

  She turned her horse and proceeded up the street at a brisk walk. She is going to get herself killed! It was at least a five-day ride to Brightcastle, and the weather was getting colder by the day. Add to that the risk of night hounds and dark elves, and it was sheer lunacy for Katrine to travel by herself. But it’s not your concern!

  He jogged after her nonetheless. “Lady Aranati! Lady Katrine!” People were looking at him, noting how the master jeweler ran up the street after a woman. “Wait!”

  She stopped again and waited for him to come alongside her. “What is it now?”

  “If you delay your start I’ll see you have an escort.”

  Katrine frowned at him. “You can’t interfere in my life like this.”

  Does she have no concept of danger? “Look, lady, it’s not safe for you to travel alone, especially not with those creatures on the prowl.” He was rewarded by a look of unease on her lovely face. “Wait while I organize some guards. I have a few at my disposal.”

  Her mouth hung open. She appeared lost for words.

  “Is that agreement?” he snapped.

  She sighed. “Very well. Organize your guards, and I’ll wait for them at that tavern.” She pointed to one of the better establishments in the town and rode away.

  Kat sipped an ale as she waited for James’s guards. She had already been here two hours. Long enough to polish off a fish pie and warm herself by the fire. She had also endured more than one proposition from other patrons. In the end, her hunting knife placed on the table before her kept them away.

  She sighed, swallowed the last of the ale, replaced the knife in her boot, and stood. Time to be on the road, or she would never make it to Brightcastle. Kat pushed open the door and strode to Demon. She removed his nosebag and stowed it under the bag of oats, then mounted him. An icy wind made her draw her wool lined cloak around her. It would be a cold trip over the next week.

  As she heeled her horse away from the inn, she spied a horse drawn dray and six armed men coming down the street. On the seat of the dray was James.

  “I see I was right to worry you wouldn’t wait.” His broad shoulders were hidden under a heavy cloak, but nothing could mask the magnetism of the man. Kat didn’t understand how he was only a tradesman. He looked so much more dangerous. And why had the Goddess sent him to pester her?

  “I have waited over two hours, jeweler. What are you doing here? You said guards.”

  “I got to thinking. It’s not right for a lady to go off with armed guards, so I am offering myself as part of the escort. I promised I would see Princess Benae of Brightcastle to fit her for a coronet. And I have someone else I need to visit as well.”

  She wouldn’t ask him who. She didn’t care. It loo
ked like the thorn in her side wasn’t so easily dislodged. “What about your responsibilities here? Your business, your staff, Eva?”

  He shrugged. “My staff will take care of themselves and everything else.”

  Was he running away? Was she? Lately she had seized the chance to escape her life at each opportunity. That goal had brought her to Costa and, in part, drove her to Brightcastle.

  She gave him one last glare and set herself on the path out of Costa, west to Brightcastle.

  James admired the woman on the horse in front of him. She seemed determined to keep her distance, riding a good ten paces in front of him. Well, let her! He didn’t need to be by her side to protect her. He kept asking himself why he had changed his plans and come on this trek. He was never impulsive, and there was a mountain of work awaiting him at home. He shook his head and thumped his thigh with a fist.

  One of the guards, Dael, rode close to the dray. “Who is the chit, Master Tomel?”

  James flicked a look his way. “Someone I met on the road and keep running into.”

  The man grinned. “I can see why you keep running into her.”

  James ground his teeth. Dael was always free with his opinions. “Keep your eyes on the forest, man.” This seemed a worse idea by the minute. And it would be damned uncomfortable sleeping rough tonight. At least tomorrow there would be an inn where they could spend the night.

  Kat reined in her horse and turned off the road toward a clearing she had used before on the way to Brightcastle. She didn’t much care what James did. This was her trip he had muscled his way into, and she would damned well decide where they camped. It took only ten minutes to arrive at her destination, and she paused to survey the clearing with its fire pit and thick bed of pine needles.

  She dismounted and tied Demon to a tree on the edge of the clearing, then placed his nosebag on. She removed his saddle then rubbed Demon down so his coat shone. By the time she brought her saddle and gear back to the clearing, James and his six guards had set up the camp.

  She stood with hands on hips and surveyed the camp before meeting James’s gaze. “I trust this meets with your approval?” Damn it! Why did I have to say that? As if she cared about his approval!

  One side of his mouth quirked up. “Isn’t it early to stop for the night?”

  “It’s early, but the next suitable clearing is three more hours ride, and, by then, it will be dark.”

  “I happen to know of several I would have told you about had you cared to ask.” James had unhitched the horse from the dray and was rubbing him down.

  “Oh,” Kat said. “Well, I’ve already bedded my horse down so this will have to do.”

  Four guards saw to the horses while the other two soon had a meal cooking over the fire. Kat lay back on her bed roll and watched the efficiency with which they went about their chores. The six were a well-oiled team.

  She stood and retrieved a towel from her saddle bags. “I’m going to wash up before dinner.” She pointed into the forest. “There’s a stream a short walk through there.”

  Kat fetched a water bag and left without further explanation. She was soon at the creek and filled the water bag before stripping off her shirt and breeches. She removed her boots and socks and stood in the cold water using a smaller towel to wash off the dust of the road. The sun sent its last rays into the forest, silent except for the running water. Her skin pebbled with goosebumps as she completed her wash and dried herself with the larger towel. It felt good to be clean. She was sitting on a rock drying her feet when a whisper of sound alerted her to an intruder.

  Kat stood and turned, expecting one of the men. Fear surged through her at the sight of the night hound perched on a rock above her. It was at least as large as the one she had fought in Costa, but its short coat was black. Red eyes gleamed at her and saliva dripped from savage canine teeth. Rather than give herself over to fear, Kat reached within to the roiling pool of anger which was never far away.

  “Hound of hell,” she said. “Back up and leave this place for I can fry you where you stand.” She gathered her power, sensed it well up from the place within, and prepared to launch a fireball. Kat met the baleful scarlet eyes of the hound and held its stare as the fire built within her. Just a few more seconds… She drew her right arm back, then whipped it forward as the beast leaped at her. A fireball the size of a small boulder hit the beast, and Kat dived to the side to avoid the burning creature as it flew past and into the stream. Kat rolled over in time to see the hound floating away, thrashing in agony, steam rolling off it as the water quenched the flames. A tormented howl echoed across the rocky stream as the hound disappeared.

  She gritted her teeth to stifle the cry that rose from her gut. Again, savage grief struck and she covered her face with her hands, sucking in deep breaths, fighting her reaction to killing the hound. Something within her rebelled against killing these creatures, but why? She had killed men before and never experienced this desperate sadness.

  “Katrine! Are you well?” James stood above her, his gaze unfathomable in the darkening forest. “I heard a growl.”

  Kat pushed herself to her feet, still breathing deeply to bring her turbulent feelings under control. He must not know I can defend myself with magic. He will never understand. “Another of the hounds,” she said, pulling on her shirt and keeping her face averted. “I managed to dodge it, and it was carried away in the stream.”

  He jumped down and stood before her, his eyes scorching up her bare legs. Kat shivered. They were rivals, but she wondered how it could be between them. There was something primal in him that called to her. She thought he must feel it too by the look he gave her. Better get your breeches on woman!

  Kat dressed and pulled on her boots, all the while conscious of his eyes on her.

  “Tell me what happened, Katrine.” His voice was low, determined, and suspicious.

  She turned on him. “It is gone!” She stormed past him and back toward the camp. “We must prepare for more.”

  James sat wrapped in his own thoughts. Katrine was asleep in the dray. That had been a monumental battle. He wouldn’t allow her to sleep on the ground when there was an elevated platform to hand. Of course, he had planned to join her, but she curtailed those plans with one well directed look. He had meant nothing by the suggestion—merely sharing a space. Katrine glared at him as if he was the worst libertine in recorded history.

  Not that intimacy with Katrine hadn’t crossed his mind. She was beautiful and the glimpse of her long legs before she had pulled on her breeches made him hard. Totally inappropriate! To distract himself from the thought of her legs, James pondered what had occurred with the hound. She didn’t wish to tell him how the beast had landed in the water— and there was the distinct odor of burning hair and flesh. He shook his head. Where had the smell come from? He had searched the banks of the stream and found nothing to explain it. And he had not imagined her distress when he had found her on the bank of the stream. What was she hiding?

  James didn’t like things he didn’t understand, and he most definitely had no understanding of Katrine or the blasted hounds. Why was a beast not seen in the kingdom in half a century now stalking them? One thing was certain. If the hounds kept trailing them, sooner or later someone might die. Two of his guards slept beside him—he didn’t understand how they were able to wrap themselves in their cloaks and sleep as if they hadn’t a care in the world—and the other four patrolled the forest surrounding them, though two of them stationed themselves in trees on his suggestion.

  James suspected he wouldn’t get a wink of sleep this night, between thinking of a certain bewitching woman and worrying about his guards out there, placing themselves at risk. He paid them well and they knew the risks of their profession. He had warned them of the added danger of the night hounds. However, he would blame himself if any one of them was harmed.

  As he lay, ears straining for any foreign night sounds, James pondered the changes in his world over the last few days. Ka
trine Aranati was the catalyst of all the events—well most of them. He couldn’t blame her for Eva’s tragedy. But the rest… he had no experience of women like her and suspected there was no one like her. She rode like a man, dressed like a man, had the face of a goddess from his most erotic fantasies, and there was a world of pain in her extraordinary eyes. He wanted to discover more, but that would be inviting chaos into his previously ordered existence. Besides, he wasn’t free to pursue anything with her. No, he would see her safely to Brightcastle then cast her from his mind forever. In fact, he needed to stop thinking of her right now.

  James rolled over and closed his eyes for the hundredth time, but nothing could shut out the picture of the hauntingly beautiful Katrine Aranati.

  Chapter 7

  Katrine sat up in the dray and stretched her arms above her head. The chill air sent a shiver down her spine. It was quiet, the dawn light beginning to filter through the trees, and there should have been bird sounds. She shuffled to the edge of the wagon, pulling her cloak about her as she went. Her boots hit the dirt of the clearing with a soft thud. Casting about for James, she saw his bed empty, the blankets scattered about. A guard stood silent at the far side of the clearing—he raised a finger to his lips.

  She struggled to swallow the lump in her throat. What was afoot? She pulled her powers to the fore, seizing them in case she needed to defend herself, and stalked toward the guard.

  “What is amiss?” she hissed.

  “Hendel didn’t return from guard duty, lady.” The man’s eyes flickered to her and back to his surroundings. “The others are looking for him.”

  Kat drew a deep breath. “Do you think it’s the hounds?”

  “Heard nothing, lady.”

  Damn him! Surely he had more to report. She surveyed the clearing. Nothing seemed amiss. One of the horses nickered, and Kat crossed to their lines and spoke quietly to them, rubbing each nose as she passed. They all settled except Demon who fixed her with a fierce eye and tossed his head. Let a night hound tangle with him and it would know what for! He had no fear of anything, unlike her.