Chapter 18
It was still dark outside when Will woke, only the one lamp still burning, although the flame was flickering a bit now. He frowned and wondered what had disturbed him, and then realized his arm refused to move. He slitted his eyes open to discern the reason for this. Kell's head still rested on his shoulder and the arm had gone numb from lack of proper blood flow. But he couldn't disturb the prince in his sleep just because he was uncomfortable, not after what they had shared.
Kell's warm breath tickled his skin, but it was a nice tickle. Will sighed deeply and flexed his sleeping fingers to get some feeling back. Kell stirred slightly and Will kissed the golden head, gods but the prince smelled good. And his body felt good too; warm, smooth skin and strong muscles, and gods, it had been a dream to touch it so freely. He had finally dared to let go of every restraint and reveled in the intimacy they had shared. He could understand why sorcerers took lovers of both genders, it had been very pleasant. He let his free hand tangle in golden strands, enjoying the smoothness sliding against his skin.
But Will was slightly surprised, almost disappointed, he had thought the prince would want to go further, considering all his persistent advances so far. Will didn't complain though, how could he? He was a novice when it came to making love with a man, and since it was their first time together he gladly settled for what he had gotten. He was sated and content.
He moved his hand down the smooth ribcage and narrow waist, made a lazy circle around a hip and then followed the thigh that was angled across his own, small hairs tickling his palm. The leg shifted under his touch, pressed down against his groin, and Will had to pull a deep breath to calm himself.
"I know what you're thinking," the prince whispered and Will started a bit.
"You're awake?"
"You're wondering why I didn't…" his voice trailed off, uncertain and faint.
"You don't have to explain, my prince," Will reassured gently.
"Yes, I do, because if I want you to sleep in my bed for all the nights to come you need to know, or you will soon find someone else that can give you everything you want."
Will held Kell closer; he sensed an unease and almost desperation growing in the prince's body now that pleasure had dissipated. "You think so little of my feelings for you?" he asked, his lips pressed to the golden head. "I won't leave you because of something as unimportant as that. I said I'll stay by your side and I keep my promises, my prince."
Kell's fingers found Will's scar and brushed up its length, making him shiver. "I almost lost you once because of stupidity, and I won't lose you again for the same reason when I can avoid it."
"You don't blame yourself for the crossbow, do you, my prince?" Will asked incredulous. "It was no fault of yours that it hit me."
Kell nodded slightly. "Not the bolt, but for the argument we had after that."
Ah, about the treatment of the highlanders and all that had happened then. "It's your temper, but I'm getting used to it." Will smiled and buried his nose in Kell's hair; it still smelled of their bodies, musk and salt, and the cool night breeze.
"We had known each other for years, practically growing up together," Kell began slowly and Will stilled and just held him. "He was a close confidant and we used to do everything, sports, drinking games. Whenever I was required to attend to matters of the kingdom and needed someone to go with me he was the one I asked. And we did more than that." Kell hesitated for a moment, as if anxious of Will's reaction, but when Will said nothing he almost blurted out, "We shared a bed from time to time. Just easy pleasure with no commitments, when no one else was available."
Will gave him an encouraging hug when he fell quiet again, sensing this was important, and Kell's arm curled weakly around his chest in response.
"But I was easily bored back then, restless, and I guess eventually what little we did together wasn't enough to hold my interest. So I told him I wanted to end it. I'm glad we were in private; I guess I was a bit tactless in my wording, but even so, he didn't take it as well as I had expected. Apparently it had meant more to him than it did to me."
Will listened in tense, almost stunned silence. Suddenly suspicions that had nagged him before started to creep up in his mind, making his gut knot. Kell continued to speak in a hoarse voice.
"He was angry with me for some time, sulking really, and kept away from all our usual activities and sports. I thought nothing further of it, figuring he must have found someone else to occupy his time." He let out a cheerless laugh. "I dallied with some of the young ladies, as was my habit when I was bored, Chaleen in particular."
Will frowned, not particularly pleased to hear said out loud what he had already known. But who was he to judge, they'd both had alliances before they met, however brief.
"Then it seemed like he forgave me," Kell continued. "He came back into my company and everything went back to what it used to be in many ways, except we never shared a bed again."
Kell shifted a little and Will was about to ask him one of the many questions that was swirling around in his head. But Kell had more to say.
"That summer we spent a few weeks at lord Khelanor's estate north of the capital," Kell continued slowly. "The lord was away on business for over three weeks and we thought it a great adventure, to have the place to ourselves and be our own masters."
Kell pulled a shuddering breath, his body tense against Will's as he came upon old memories that had been better left buried, and when he continued his voice sounded strangled and small. "I should have known something wasn't quite right, he hadn't spoken about the argument or my ending our… relationship. He hadn't mentioned anything to anyone that could have been unfavorable to my name or reputation at court. And then I found out why. He started to talk to me about support and kingship and how important good, close advisors were. He said I'd need one who truly knew me when I ascended the throne. I just…" he shrugged a little, "What was he talking about? It was years until the time would come, my father was healthy and strong, and I was not of a mind to desire the crown.
"He told me he was the one to stand by me, that he was the ultimate companion, utterly loyal, and that I should take him back. But we had never been more than playmates in bed at best, and I told him so."
Something wet fell onto Will's skin and he realized Kell was crying. "Ssh," he hushed against the top of Kell's head and wrapped both arms more securely around his shoulders. "You don't have to…"
Kell continued anyway, pressing on relentlessly now when he had finally begun to ease his torments, as if the dam had broken and could never be mended. "He just exploded." Kell's grip around Will's chest tightened, as if he sought shelter from something his mind was showing him. "He drew a dagger and came at me. I managed to defend myself by grace of training and desperation only. But he drew blood and it gave me a scar."
"It's okay." Will could only hold him. He didn't really know what to say, it was all so unreal. How could his small, useless words help? He couldn't protect Kell against something that had happened in the past, but he hoped he could ease his suffering now, if even by just holding him.
"I couldn't do anything, it hurt so much. I have no idea what went through his head as he saw me lying on the floor bleeding. But he didn't come at me again. If he had he'd have killed me, I'm sure. I guess he got scared then, thinking it worse than it was. He threatened me and my father, saying he'd do much worse if I ever told anyone anything about what had happened between us. He said he could make his father pull away all support to the king and that would have been a great blow to the throne.
"I couldn't let it happen. So I kept my silence. I respect my father too much to have him suffer for something I should have had the sense to stay out of. I should've known…" Kell trailed off in a muffled whisper Will couldn't hear.
"I complained of illness for a few days after and he kept away. I didn't leave my bed all the while, the wound bled through the bandage I had made and I had a slight fever. He didn't even send for a doctor even though his servants asked him to. They all argued it was the prince who was ill, but he knew the reason and didn't want anyone to know or get suspicious of how I'd gotten the wound.
"The lord returned a few days later and I made sure to spend as much time in his company as I possibly could. I went back home a week later and never told anyone what had happened. When my manservant asked about the scar on my hip I said I had fallen from a tree."
Will was trembling, he realized, out of horror or shock he couldn't quite tell. He reluctantly let go as Kell sat up with his back turned and discretely wiped at his eyes. "Why didn't you tell anyone? He would've had his head cut off for the deed." Will was starting to feel a deep-rooted sense of anger added to the shock.
"Because I was ashamed. I still am, and it still haunts me. Because the lord was and still is an important supporter and benefactor of my father." Kell rubbed at his neck. "Because he'd find a way to use it against me and he'd hurt me again."
With suspicion churning in his gut Will's eyes narrowed as he asked, "Who is he, Kell?" But he only got a brief, sad and hesitant glance over a shoulder before Kell slipped out of bed, snatching his robe from the floor, and disappeared into the bathroom.
Will scowled. How could anyone do this to the prince? And how could he be allowed to walk free without anybody knowing? Kell hadn't told anyone what had happened out of respect for his father, but Will was certain the king would hang the man responsible for his son's torment without hesitation if he knew. Gods of mercy! Kell was the prince heir! No man would be allowed to live after such deceit to the future king.
Kell came back out a while later, his face still a bit damp from water, and slipped silently under the covers. But he didn't lie back down next to Will and remained sitting up against the pillows and the headboard.
"It's strange how one man can make you fell so small and afraid," he murmured, his eyes distant and shadowed. "I've never felt like that since and I've never backed down from an enemy. I even challenge Rión to a swordfight." He let out a sharp laugh and rubbed a hand over his face. "Gods, I thought I had gotten over this."
Will sat up and turned to look straight at the prince, who didn't meet his eyes. "Who is he?" he asked again. So much was now falling into place, every telling glance and expression, every small flinch on Kell's behalf. Will couldn't act until he was certain beyond a doubt, his vows as a sorcerer forbade him to inflict hurt on an innocent and vengeance exacted in rage would destroy all he stood for. But at the same time his duty to the prince as his protector demanded he saw to his honor and safety. He felt torn between the two, but by the gods, he was angry!
"You cannot fight this battle for me, Will," Kell said quietly. "As much as I'd like you to, but I'm the one who has to live with the memories."
"Tell me!" or he would act anyway, forsaking all claims and honor to his name.
"You'd do something rash and then I'd never see you alive again." A note of anxiety had slipped into Kell's voice. "These are powerful men, Will."
"So am I," he replied with a calm he didn't feel. "Tell me who he is." Will locked gazes with the prince when he glanced up, and Will saw the fear and also the need to tell him. Will focused on that need with his whole resolve.
Kell pulled a startled breath and blurted out in a strangled whisper, "It's Calon." Will had to strain his ears to hear it but he did, and his gut started to burn and his throat grew tight. Kell's head fell forward and his shoulders slumped as if a heavy weight had finally lifted from him, and the loss of it had drained his strength to even sit upright.
Will suppressed a vicious growl and clenched his hands into fists. Now Kell's unease and reluctance to be with his guests suddenly made very much sense. He scolded himself for not seeing it sooner, but how could he had? He'd only thought it to be dislike and jealousy between rivaling nobles; he had never imagined anything as severe as this.
He looked at the prince's slumped posture and reached out to pull him close, Kell shied away at first but as Will murmured soothing words he let himself be held. He wound his arms around Will's waist, pressing closer to the comfort. "Promise me you won't do anything, Will," he said against his neck. "I can't bear the thought of losing you over something like this, and I need you by my side to face him."
Will struggled to find his voice, he was so angry. "I won't do anything unless he threatens you in the least, or until you tell me otherwise. I'll be by your side, my prince."
Kell sighed relieved and pushed Will down against the pillows. He followed for a kiss and Will tangled his hands in his hair to hold him close.
* * * * * * * *
Will had slipped back to his own rooms early in the morning, so as not to raise any suspicions among the nobles or the servants. When he saw the prince again out in the courtyard as they waited for the horses to be readied for their picnic, he had a tension around his blue, weary eyes that hadn't been there when Will had left his bedchamber.
The prince was quiet and distracted as they rode out. Will knew he regretted telling him about lord Calon's betrayal, but Will kept his word and left the man alone, though he made sure the lord saw every piercing look he gave him. Calon frowned and glared back, not quite knowing what to make of the pleasure boy who suddenly seemed to have lost every bit of his respect for the nobles.
Will urged his horse on to fall in between Kell's and lady Eoline's mounts. She gave him an uncertain glance and then turned her eyes in the other direction to rid herself of his crooked smile and blatant stare. He had clearly made the ladies very uncomfortable; ladies Chaleen and Reanne had yet to acknowledge his presence this morning. He hid his satisfied expression.
~This is not proper behavior for a sorcerer, Will,~ Ashiná chided him.
~I don't think they deserve any better, from me or the prince.~
~You should let him decide that. And you don't want the prince to be ashamed because of your behavior, do you?~
Will gave Kell a glance and saw the tightly pressed lips and the disapproving wrinkle between his eyebrows. Will frowned and muttered something under his breath. As usual Ashiná was right, only this time he wished she wasn't. But he had no wish to dishonor Kell, so he fell back a moment later to ride behind the nobles, side by side with lady Eoline's falconer, with the servants from the manor and lord Calon's men bringing up the rear.
The young falconer gave Will a short nod and then concentrated on the blue-winged falcon perched hooded and bound to his gloved hand. It was a magnificent bird, Will sensed the pure energies surrounding it and he wondered how anyone would want to keep it as a pet. Such an animal should be free to fly as it wished. But he refrained from commenting, the nobles disliked him enough as it was.
Lord Calon's and lady Eoline's guards spread out around their little entourage as they left the city behind, creating a defense perimeter of sorts, though Will wondered what they were supposed to protect them from.
~Mosquitoes, perhaps,~ Ashiná suggested dryly. ~Though I wouldn't mind if that petite little blond got a good bite in a disturbing spot.~
Will glanced over at lady Chaleen where she was riding close to Kell, laughing sweetly at something they were talking about. Will wouldn't mind either and he laughed inwardly at Ashiná's suggestion. ~I thought you wanted us to show the nobles our good side, and I don't think that's it.~
~Still, it would be fun, wouldn't it?~
Will knew one other person that he'd rather see bitten. Lord Calon had ridden up on lady Chaleen's other side and was giving Kell cool, stripping looks whenever he could without being too obvious. But so far Kell ignored him and exchanged amiable words with the lady instead.
They found a nice spot on a hillside at the edge of the forest, where Eoline decided they should stop for the picnic and the entertainment of watching the falcon fly. The bird looked slightly confused when it was suddenly unhooded and hurled into the air by the falconer, who was more than eager to obey his lady's word.
Reanne and Chaleen laughed and clapped their hands when the bird spread its wings and took to the first wind that brought it high above the ground. Eoline straightened her back and absorbed the praise as if she was the one flying. Will reflected dryly that she could claim none of it; he didn't believe she'd had one hand in the upbringing nor training of the bird. It was only about wealth and appearance to women like her.
"A beautiful bird, my lady," Kell said kindly, as if he'd heard Will's unkind thoughts, and Will glanced guiltily at the prince, who took no notice. Eoline smiled pleasantly at Kell and inclined her head.
"Thank you, my prince. She wasn't cheap but worth every coin. Though I can say she's not as fine as your red-winged falcon back home. He's still wining every contest, my prince. You must be so proud."
Kell nodded and smiled faintly, an expression passed briefly and Will thought he saw sadness and longing. "I haven't seen my birds in quite some time, my lady. They were just younglings when I left. I can hardly take credit for their success."
"Maybe so. But then it's good that you will return soon, my prince. To reacquaint yourselves and accept the honor as it is yours."
"Yes, the castle hasn't been quite the bright place it used to be since you left, my prince," Chaleen agreed.
Will nearly rolled his eyes at the nobles, but saw in the prince's expression he'd rather not return to the capital too soon.
The falcon shrieked from high up in the air and made a sharp dive towards the earth. They all looked up but only Will could sense the excitement the bird felt at the discovery of a prey.
"She's going to strike," Eoline announced and followed the bird's every movement.
~Will! You need to go back.~ The sudden exclamation startled Will and he jerked where he sat on the blanket. Kell gave him a questioning look.
~Ashiná? What..?~
~Now! Go. Hurry!~
Will didn't hesitate; the urgency was clear in his guardian's voice. "My prince, we need to go back to the city." He rose and gave Kell an insistent look. "Right now."
The prince blinked and was about to ask what was wrong when lord Calon interrupted.
"So now the pleasure boy gives you commands as well?" he said disdainfully. "I wonder what he behaves like in private." Kell hardly afforded the lord with a glance, which angered Calon that he didn't get a response but was ignored for someone of such lowly status.
"Can you tell me why?" Kell asked with his head slightly tilted, his gaze intent on Will.
"I'm not sure, but we better hurry." Will gestured discretely towards his head and Kell got the message.
"We leave, then." He rose and called for the guards to gather.
"You don't command my men!" Calon almost spat out and scrambled to his feet, incredulous and angry. "And especially not because a simple whore tells you we must go. He can satisfy his urges here in the open if that's what this is all about," he ground out between clenched jaws.
Kell spun and bared his teeth at the man, one hand clenching threateningly around the hilt of his sword. "You come or you stay, I don't care which. But don't you dare speak to me in that manner."
Calon blinked and snapped his mouth shut, clearly taken aback at the vehemence and threat in the prince's voice. A tense silence settled over them and Will felt the urgency grow as the two men stared at each other. Calon's sister was the first to break the silence.
"Can someone please explain what's happening?" she asked a bit anxious, as she and her ladies got to their feet, clearly uncomfortable with this new development but trying to hide it behind a cool façade.
"We're going back to the city," Kell announced and headed for his horse without another word of explanation. Will was close at his side. "Your guardian?" he murmured quietly when they were out of earshot.
"Yes. We must hurry, though she couldn't say why."
Kell frowned and swung in the saddle; his horse sensed his change in mood and took two dancing steps before Kell gathered the reins properly.
"At least let us gather out belongings, my prince," Chaleen was saying and gestured around her at the blankets and delicacies the servants were frantically putting away again. They at least sensed their liege's urgency and didn't wish to disobey him, working as fast as they could.
"Picnic baskets and blankets are easily replaces, lives are not." Kell commanded the servants to abandon it all and get ready to leave. Calon's and Eoline's guard captains gave each other one look before they gestured for their men to take a closer formation around their lord and lady, clearly this sudden change in plans was unsettling them.
"But my bird!" Eoline exclaimed.
"Call it back, we go now." Kell was merciless when he had understood the warning from Will was serious, and since he knew sorcerers never fooled about warnings he rushed his guests to get mounted.
But Eoline whimpered distressed. "She won't come." She pointed one gloved finger at the falcon still high in the sky. The falconer called and whistled for the bird but he was clearly as stressed as the lady.
"Something has frightened her," the young man said and stared up at the circling dark dot in the sky.
Will would wish the bird to fly long and far and wide, to fly free, but he knew a bird born and bred in captivity would never survive in the wild.
~Will! You need to go now!~ The distress was clear in Ashiná's voice.
~I know, but I can't leave the falcon.~ Trying to ignore the sense of urgency for now, Will focused on his spells.
"Give me your glove," he told the surprised falconer and pulled it on as he urged his horse away from the others. He both called and sent spiritkin spells out to lure the bird back. With a shriek it dove and flew straight towards Will and his outstretched, gloved hand. The nobles stared in disbelief as the falcon landed on Will's fist and he could return to them.
"That's never happened before," Eoline said slowly and stared at Will, who gave the bird back to the amazed but grateful falconer.
"Can we go now?" He turned to Kell with urgency plain in his eyes. He had no wish to wait and see what Ashiná had warned them about.
The guards had gathered and the nobles finally got in their saddles, although Calon still glared, and Kell lead them in fast gallop towards the city gates. Then there was a pained cry from behind and one of the archers fell off his horse to land in an unmoving heap in the grass. Another stopped to see what had happened to his comrade and was shot through the chest by a long arrow that he had no warning or chance to dodge.
"Ride!" the prince shouted, and for once lord Calon and the ladies didn't argue.
Will looked over his shoulder back towards the forest line and thanks to sorcerer sight saw the first of a group of hostile scouts rushing out to properly kill the two fallen archers. He turned his head to save himself the horrifying sight. There was nothing he could do to help them, not without risking the prince's life.
Kell gave him a look, his eyebrows drawn and a tenseness around his mouth. "Will we make it back in time?" he asked over the wind.
"I don't know, but I'll do my best to keep them back if I have to." And he would, anything to save Kell.
The field was wide and slanting upwards closer to the city, and the horses were breathing hard when they finally galloped up the road towards the walls. The people in the traders' camp saw their hurried flight and men called out as they rode past. Kell yelled at them to move inside the walls. A frenetic activity began and the gateway was crowded nearly before they had ridden through it.
Kell held just inside the gates, shouting up to the man in the tall gate tower, asking what he saw. The answer came that he could see large dust clouds rising from the other side of the hill.
Kell looked around and spotted the guard captain on duty hurrying towards them. "Get everybody inside the walls and close the gates and portcullises." Guards from around the gate area hurried to do his bidding even as he said it. "Have the men armed. I want every station manned and the city secured," Kell continued, holding his reins tightly as his horse danced under him in the press of bodies. "I want lookouts in the towers and word sent to me as soon as you spot them." The captain hurried away with his second on his heels.
Will kept close to the prince as they rode deeper into the city. Word had spread rapidly that something was happening, and men and women were rushing to get to their families and homes. Kell ordered one of Calon's guards to ride to the manor and inform them they were coming, and to close the gates. He sent one other to the keep with the warning they were under attack and to have every man armed. The third he sent to the bell tower by the inner wall to have every man, woman and child warned of the enemy that was coming.
"Do you really think all this is necessary, my prince?" Calon said coolly and looked at the activity boiling around them.
"Yes, I do," Kell said and yanked on the reins to avoid riding down a man rushing across the street.
"What if this is all a misunderstanding? Then you have rallied the entire city for nothing."
Kell turned in the saddle and gave the lord a harsh look. "Two of your men have just died, and you think this could be a misunderstanding?" he asked incredulous. "I care for my people and I will have them safe inside the walls. If this is all a mistake then so be it. The outer wall is too long to defend properly and it will fall if their intention is to take the city. I want every civilian inside the inner wall or much rather the keep, or we'll have a bloodbath."
Calon didn't answer that.
The bells started tolling and soon the masses were all heading towards the gates in the inner wall. Will worried for all their safety, seeing scared and grim faces of fathers and husbands, hearing the cries of children and mothers, as they all realized the war that had raged at the kingdom's borders had finally come to their homes. He hoped they would all be safe, that he could do something for them, but at the moment he was sworn to stay by Kell's side.
His knee bumped into Kell's when their horses shied for a barking dog in the crowd and Will wished the prince would go with his people to the keep. There he'd be out of harms way. But it was a ridiculous wish, he knew, the prince would do all in his power to defend the city without a thought to his own safety. In that regard they were the same and he adored Kell for his courage.
The servants in the manor were running around like ants in a stirred anthill, and only the prince's manservant seemed composed enough to understand the orders Kell gave him.
"You can stay here until I send for you. The manor is far enough inside the inner wall and the guards will be able to protect it for now, but I want you to ready the staff to leave the grounds for the keep just the same."
"My prince." Janu ran after him as he hurried through the hallway on his way to the armory. "Do we know who it is that's attacking us?"
"No, not yet. But I have my suspicions." Janu helped him don his chain mail and cuirass, and buckle a proper sword around his waist instead of the blade for show he had worn this morning.
Will caught the prince's eyes. "I have to go the keep and talk with the others."
"Yes, of course, as do I. We go together as soon as I'm done here."
Will frowned but didn't argue, even though he could feel the tension building like a tangible thing. Kell gave Janu more orders as they headed back out to their waiting horses, the man would see to it that the manor was guarded and locked down tight.
Lord Calon stood waiting for them as they came back out, dressed in a chain mail of his own and a sleeveless green surcoat with his family crest on the breast – two large, ominous looking birds with sharp beaks and talons ready to strike. Will glanced uneasily at the man, frowning. Calon ignored him in favor of the prince.
"I'm going with you, my prince," Calon said and joined up on Kell's other side. "I'm adept at strategy and not uneven with the sword, as you well know." He patted the blade at his hip.
Kell gave him a short look and got in the saddle. "I have a feeling swords won't be of use just yet, lord Calon. And the ladies need you more than I do."
"I'm sure you have the manor secured and my sister is not without resources, our guards can protect her. I'm loyal to my prince and will use my every skill to defend your life," Calon stated and got in the saddle of his nervous stallion. He made sure to give Will a superior look as he swung the horse around to follow the prince closely.
Will stayed near on the other side, knowing fully well what Kell thought about the lord and his skills. He could almost feel the tension flowing off of Kell's body.
The streets were filled with terrified and confused people as the warning bell's chimed on. Many of them shouted for the prince and his men to explain what was going on, and they were told to stay calm and move inside the inner walls. The people trusted the prince to lead them and they followed his command for it was wise.
The men at the keep had another sort of frenzied activity about them, the one that only seasoned warriors move with after much experience; organized and efficient. Wide-eyed stable boys took their horses and they hurried into the keep's main hall. Piotry, the brothers, and the commanders all met them there, maps of the city already spread out on a large table and lamps turned up high. They gathered around Kell as he walked over to the table.
Will put a hand on Kell's shoulder to get his attention briefly. "I'll be right back," he said quietly. Kell looked worried for a second but then nodded. Will hurried to his room to change into his greys, he buckled the belt with the dagger and the pouch around his waist. He'd need the herbs sooner or later, he acknowledged sadly.
When he stepped out of his room to go back downstairs he saw two of the keep's maids curled up in a corner of the hallway. It was Mirja, he realized as he got closer, trying to comfort one of her friends. She looked up at the sound of his footsteps and tried a brave smile despite the moisture on her lashes. "Master sorcerer."
"Mirja," Will said calmly, it was unnecessary to alarm them any further, and smiled at them. He put a hand on the crying girl's shoulder and she looked up from Mirja's embrace with wide, tear-filled eyes. "You needn't worry," he calmed them both. "They won't reach the keep."
The two girls nodded and Will made to leave, anxious to get back to the prince, when Mirja put a tentative hand on his arm, a brief touch that was gone just as quickly. "Be careful, master sorcerer."
Will looked into her eyes, grey and shy, and smiled. "I will."
Just as he stepped into the main hall again a soldier came running in from the courtyard, he went straight up to the prince and saluted him with a rapt gesture. Will heard every word he said as he approached.
"They're taking position west of the city, my prince, close to five thousand men including cavalry." He seemed to hesitate for a moment. "They boast the Iloron banner."
Kell cursed. "Damned, backstabbing son of a cur. I knew it!" None of the prince's commanders seemed to take offense by his foul language, on the contrary, they agreed with every word. Only lord Calon grimaced disapprovingly.
Kell saw Will approach and began issuing out orders. "I want men on the battlements of the outer wall armed and ready. We defend it only as long as necessary and keep the gates in the inner wall open for retreat. We must take into account the men still on leave and our lesser numbers, which makes the inner wall and the keep our highest priority. Make sure horn blowers are stationed and ready at every post to relay messages."
"What about Rión and his men at the camp?" Lieutenant Beyn asked.
"We can't afford to send for them, we need them where they are in case there are more troops moving out there. However, I do want a messenger sent to warn him, if at all possible."
The soldier that had come with the report shook his head. "The scouts reported that they have cut off the roads, my prince."
Kell frowned, thoughtfully tapping a leather clad finger against the map before him on the table. "We'll wait then, until an opportunity presents itself," he said finally. "Rión needs to know."
"And we?" Piotry asked.
Kell looked at him somberly. "I know how you feel about combat, Piotry, but I need every one of you for as long as you draw breath. I will not lose this city to that pig-bred king and his army."
Piotry nodded. "I agree, but do you mind if I pass command to Will? His instincts when it comes to battle are far stronger than mine, and so are his powers."
Kell considered this for a moment and then nodded consent.
Will blinked, not sure he had heard that right. "Piotry, I don't think…"
"Yes, you will and you shall," Piotry said, not unkindly, and put a hand on his shoulder.
"But Thomy or Sernan can…"
"We agree with this decision, Will," Thomy said. "You're the strongest among us; it's only natural that you lead us."
Will turned hesitant eyes to the prince and saw the proud little smile on his lips. Will swallowed. If only Aron was there… "So, we take position on the inner wall, then," he said slowly, gathering his composure. "We keep together until we know what we have to deal with."
"Good." Kell turned to Heon and Beyn. "Set up a command post at the center gate and send men out to hurry the citizens inside the inner wall, we don't know how much time we have until they attack."
The gathering of bodies around the table lessened as men rushed to follow orders, and Will looked up from the city map to see lord Calon staring wide-eyed and pale at him. So he had finally realized just whom he had offended, the almost-terror was evident on his face, and Will wondered just a bit smugly if he could make the man soil his breeches. Judging by the wide eyes following every movement he made, that was a possibility. But as much as he wanted to publicly humiliate the lord – or publicly hang him – he didn't have the time.
The battlements on the inner wall was filled with armored and armed men, soldiers from the keep as well as city guards, grimfaced and resolute to defend the city with their lives if need be. Will and his fellow sorcerers took position with the prince and his commanders in the shadow of the towers at the center gate, and the sight that met them from across the city and the fields beyond was both horrifying and impressive.
Men and horses, archers, infantry and cavalry, heavily armed and positioned in straight lines, banners flapping in the breeze, spearheads glinting in a stray ray of sun. They were still now, only the odd mounted messenger stirring up a cloud of dust as he rode from one end of the line to the other.
"How did such a large force get past Rión and our outposts!" Kell growled and his fingers dug into the railing hard enough to make the leather over the knuckles of his gloves stretch to capacity.
"Can they have gone a different route, my prince?" Piotry asked.
Kell's frown deepened as he considered this. "If they did they would have been marching for well over two weeks to get past all our outposts without notice. They look much too fresh to have been on the road for so long."
"What are they waiting for?" Will asked of no one in particular, more puzzled by the lack of action.
"They are gauging our defenses, our readiness. I don't think they meant for us to have any warning of their arrival." Kell stared grimfaced at the enemy. "I don't like this, they wouldn't attack a city this far inside enemy territory without something that could guarantee their victory. They can't know we don't have any reinforcements within reach or how many men we have." Kell's eyes narrowed as he searched the lines for the advantage that would be Adeban's undoing.
~Ashiná?~
~I don't know, Will. I… I can't see.~
~What do you mean?~ Will asked suddenly anxious, his guardian sounded so confused.
~I can't see them. I know they're there, I can sense them, but I can't see.~
"Piotry!" Will waved the redheaded sorcerer over. "Can your guardian see them? Can it determine anything about them?"
Piotry's eyebrows drew as he spoke to his guardian. "No, he says he can't see. This is not normal."
"I know. What do you think?"
"Let me take a look."
Will considered the offer for a moment; it was a risk to send even the smallest strand out to search the enemy. But it was a risk Piotry was obviously willing to take. Will decided to trust his judgment. "Be careful. We need your healing skills when the battle begins."
Piotry nodded and braced a hand against the battlement wall as he fell halfway into a meditative state, sending out tendrils of his mind. A moment later he cried out harshly and would have fallen if Will hadn't caught him.
"Piotry! What happened?" Will helped his friend to sit down.
"A shield, it repelled me. Too fast return…" He cradled his head in a hand and squeezed his eyes shut. "I'll be fine in a minute." But the pallid color of his face denied his words.
Kell stood tensely by Will's side, his face stern and lacking emotion at the moment, far more concerned with this new development than how the sorcerer was feeling, who was still alive and that's what mattered. "What happened?"
"He was repelled by a shield. They have a sorcerer among them, my prince."
Kell scowled. "Can this shield hide them from eyes as well as your guardians?"
"Perhaps." Will didn't know.
"I want to know," he demanded. "Is that how they managed to penetrate our borders without detection?"
Will rose to meet his eyes levelly. "Perhaps. My prince, to hide a force that size requires a power so much stronger than what we can accomplish even together." He gestured to Piotry and the brothers who were walking towards them. "The shield must be of a kin to that which we used at the Knee, but I can't understand how they made it so that the guardians can't see them. They need a power so vast it is unimaginable, a power that hasn't existed since the last of the war mages."
Kell stared at him for a long moment, his eyes unreadable and his posture tense.
"I don't know," Will answered quietly to the unspoken question, feeling like he was letting Kell down.
The prince nodded curtly and stalked back to the commanders.
* * * * * * * *
An hour passed without anything happening and the soldiers on the battlements got increasingly tense, pacing their positions like caged animals and cursing the enemy for drawing this out. If the prince and his commanders were as stressed and agitated as their men, they didn't let it show. But Will noticed the tense lines around Kell's eyes and mouth, he was not happy with the situation.
Will trailed him to one of the gate towers where he stood by an archer's slit, staring out over the walls, left hand gripping the hilt of his sword, the other braced against the solid stone of the wall. He only gave Will the shortest glance when he came to stand beside him.
"Is Piotry okay?" he asked, his voice low and gruff.
"Yes, Thomy healed the headache, now he only suffers from a bruised ego." Will wanted to reach out and touch the prince, hold him and kiss him until all the tension and frustrated anger drained from his beautiful face.
"This can go on for days, weeks even," Kell said darkly. "They could just set up camp and wait until all our supplies run out, or if they really want to make our lives miserable they could poison our wells." Leather creaked as his grip around the sword hilt tightened. "Gods, I pray they won't find the wellsprings."
"Why do you think they're here?"
Kell sneered. "To cripple us, the army. If Adeban falls into their hands Uriche will have a strong foothold in the kingdom. Our army won't have the support or supplies of the city and will be forced to withdraw further south. He'll have the east shore and the river then." Kell sighed and rubbed a gloved hand over his face. "We cannot afford to lose the city."
Will turned to look out over Adeban's inner city and the keep towering over it all. Every woman and child had been moved within the keep's walls, and every capable man was armed and ready to defend lives and homes. Even the men who didn't have military training had joined the keep guards.
In the corner of his eye Will saw a man come up the tower stairs and he didn't have to look closer to know it was lord Calon; the tall, proud posture and the surcoat with the ominous crest was enough to tell him so. The man had stayed close to Kell ever since they left the manor, not letting him out of his sights for long, claiming he would do his utmost to protect the prince from any harm. His cool eyes kept the surroundings under close surveillance, especially Will.
Will hardly even glanced at the lord as he joined them, and he noticed the expression on the man's face changed ever so subtly to annoyance. Will wondered how Calon had gone from wide-eyed shock when he found out who Will really was, to the cool façade he now wore around him. Either the man was really fearless and confident in his position, or really stupid.
"My prince," Calon said in that smooth voice. "There is water and refreshments down by the gate. You should have some while there's still time."
Kell's eyebrows drew and his teeth clenched. "You need not be here, lord Calon."
The man inclined his head ever so slightly. "I choose to be here," came the swift reply, his eyes intent on Kell. Will felt his spine stiffen.
"It's your life," Kell said, shrugging.
Calon's eyes narrowed and Will almost took a step forward to put himself between them. Calon's gaze shifted to him and the tension became noticeable. Only Piotry's silent appearance in the door prevented anything more than an unfriendly exchange of looks. The redheaded sorcerer seemed more grim and resolute than usual, even for a situation like this, and Will turned to look at him, dismissing the lord in favor of a trusted friend.
"Headache?" Will asked, putting a hand on Piotry's shoulder.
Piotry slowly shook his head. "No. But I've been contemplating the search I did before, and I can't get over the feeling I somehow recognize the patterns of the power I encountered."
"Recognize the pattern?" the prince wondered, also turning.
"Yes, my prince." Piotry's brow furrowed a little as he searched for the words to properly explain what every sorcerer instinctively knew. "Since every sorcerer is strong with different spells we have specific ways to do what we do, which leads to patterns forming in our powers, and those often identify us to each other. It's not unlike the individual shapes of a man's hand."
"And you recognized this one?"
"Almost. I know I should, but it was distorted through the shield and I only got a brief look." Piotry's eyes narrowed as if he tried to see all the way across the city and the field to search out the enemy sorcerer.
"I can't allow you try again," Will said. "We need you here when the battle begins."
"If it begins." Lord Calon stepped closer and gave Will one of those infuriatingly superior looks that clearly said Will knew nothing of what he talked about.
"There will be a battle, my lord," Will eyed him back. "They wouldn't bring a sorcerer with them if they didn't intend to attack."
Calon snorted. "And you know this for sure? What education have you to support your claims? It seems to me you are not used to being in command. It seems to me you are too young to have seen a proper siege before, barely reached you majority."
"Enough, Cal." Kell finally snapped and turned to lock eyes with the lord.
A perfect, pleased smile spread over those sharp features. "You haven't called me that since you left my father's estate all those years ago."
Kell tensed visibly and his face paled. He swallowed hard. "It was a mistake. It will never happen again," he mumbled hoarsely.
"Why not?" Calon stepped closer. "I like it," he said in a voice full of smooth, velvet promises.
Kell shied back only a fraction but enough for them all to perceive. Will nearly reached out to put a comforting hand on his shoulder, but it would have been a mistake without repair. Then the prince abruptly spun on his heel and stalked out the door along the battlement, one hand tensely gripping his sword.
Will bit his teeth together and turned to the lord to meet a cool, haughty look. He felt anger coiling in his belly and fought to control it. "You stay away from him or I will make you pay for all you've done."
"Pay? Why?" Calon almost laughed. "And dare I ask how? You cannot harm me, not without harming him," he leaned closer to whisper.
Will's hands clenched into fists and he would have lashed out at the man if Piotry hadn't held him back with a hand on each shoulder. The lord would never know how lucky he was at that moment. The man turned and left with a satisfied smile on his lips.
Will let out a harsh breath through clenched teeth and twisted free of Piotry's hands. Ashiná murmured calming words in his head but he ignored here, struggling to suppress the anger and slowly succeeding. This was not like him and he wondered how lord Calon could so easily rile his temper.
"What was that about?" Piotry asked as he carefully studied Will's angry face and pacing.
"I can't tell you," Will ground out. "But I'd appreciate it if you helped keep that man away from me, or I won't be able to guarantee his safety."
"Of course," Piotry agreed readily. Will carefully didn't look at him, knowing fully well he wouldn't care for the concern he'd see on his fellow's face. "And the prince?"
Will stilled and pulled a deep breath. "He just needs our support."
Piotry nodded. "You should go after him, Will. Make sure he's okay. We all need him to be calm and composed to lead us through this."
"I know. I'll find him." Will followed the gangway along the wall to the next guard tower and there he found the prince, leaning a shoulder against the wall, his arms around his chest and his head bent forward to hide the helpless expression on his face. Will stopped just inside the door and waited. Eventually Kell pulled a deep breath and straightened a bit.
"I'll never get out from under his shadow, will I?"
"Yes, you will. When you're ready."
"I'm ready now!" Kell spun around and Will saw the torment in his eyes. "Why would I possibly want to have him near when he puts me in such a useless state?"
Will didn't know how to answer that, the words that went through his head all seemed so small and worthless. Kell's hands fell to his sides and he looked helplessly at the sorcerer.
"Send him away, then. Tell him to leave the city."
"I can't. He's not under my command. He's a free noble and my senior in age, backed by his father's title and name."
"He's not untouchable."
Kell seemed suddenly tired, his shoulders slumped. "Maybe so, but I can't deal with him now."
Will reached out and tentatively touched an arm. "He won't hurt you again."
"Yes, he will. He always does." Which implied, Will thought uneasily, that the two had had more than one encounter after Kell had ended their relationship.
Will couldn't help himself; he grasped the front of Kell's surcoat and pulled him close for a comforting hug. "I'll cut out his tongue first," he murmured against the golden hair at a temple.
Kell snorted gently and leaned into the embrace. But not for long, he soon pushed back and gave Will an appreciative, yet still a bit hopeless, look. "I need to see to my men, make sure everything is in order."
Will nodded, understanding the need for action to clear out his head. "Shall I go with you?"
"No, Captain Teron will follow me on the way. He's in charge of the defenses and the positioning of the men."
Will waited until the prince had left the tower before he went back to the central gate, taking the path through the street rather than the gangway. He saw for himself the readiness of Adeban's men; glints of steel, jingle of weapons, and resolute and grim faces everywhere. Piotry and the brothers stood a bit away from the other men when Will arrived, and it looked like they were having a discussion.
"Something I can help you with?" Will asked and gave them all a look.
"Piotry wants to try another search," Sernan said and their redheaded fellow gave him an annoyed look.
"I said no, Piotry." Will turned to him.
"But now I know what to expect, I'll be careful."
"We need you here, you heard the prince. You heard me. You chose to put me in charge and so I expect you to follow my orders."
To Will's amazement Piotry actually pouted.
"Gods, I wish Aron was here, he'd know what to do with you," Will said, exasperated.
"He'd let me try again, especially since I recognize the pattern."
Will's eyes narrowed as he regarded his three fellows. He had their respect and loyalty, and they would obey him, he knew that. None the less, it was hard to command them. Like Calon had said, he wasn't used to it, he admitted grudgingly.
"If we find ourselves outnumbered and near defeat, which I hope will never happen, then you may try again. But not before."
"Agreed." Piotry grasped his shoulder. "I know I'm needed here, Will, but it annoys me to have the answer so close within reach."
"I know. I just don't want you to do anything stupid."
Thomy opened his mouth with a wry twist to his eyebrows as if to comment on that, but he never got the chance. At that moment everything happened so fast. Silence fell over them all like a mass anticipation. A dog barked sharply somewhere not far away and a man on the battlements drew breath to say something to his friend; he never again uttered another sound.
Arrows fell like rain from the sky and men dropped all around them, screaming and clutching their pierced flesh, or silent and still and dead.
"SHIELDS!" Will shouted after the first shock, and lashed out with an arm to reach as far and wide as possible with his airkin spell. The brothers combined theirs and covered a larger area. Arrows hit their defense and slid along it, harmlessly ending up on the ground.
"How can they reach this far?" Piotry breathed, his eyes wide as he took in the damage.
"With the right spells the sorcerer can give the archers' arrows speed and height," Thomy said. "They could even reach the keep with enough boost."
Will scowled and threw a glance up at the towers in the middle of the city, he thought of all the innocent lives up there.
The last arrow fell and the screams of pain and fear vibrated through the air. They let the shields drop and Piotry and Thomy hurried away to help those they could. Will turned to look out over the field outside the city. The enemy was moving now, slowly closing the distance to the city but not yet charging to full attack. He took a closer look as more of the troops became visible over the ridge of the hill, and realized puzzled that he couldn't see any signs that they had siege towers or scaling ladders with them. How would they scale the walls?
Then a familiar voice shouted out a command and he turned his head to see the prince and Captain Teron come hurrying towards them.
"That was only a first taste," Kell growled as they came up to Will and Sernan. "They're testing our defenses."
"And now they know you have sorcerers to your aid," Will filled in. "Are you alright?" he asked quietly.
"Yes, we were lucky." The prince looked around with a dark expression on his face. "I hope the men on the outer wall weren't hit by that, it seems they were aiming for us."
"The men are alright, my prince," Sernan said. "I can see them."
"You can?" Kell asked amazed.
"Yes, thanks to my guardian," the blond sorcerer said with a slight smile.
Will wondered what guardian Sernan had to allow him such sharp sight.
"Here comes another one!" someone screamed, ready and watching for it now, and men ran for cover. Sernan and Will once again protected as many as they could and no one fell this time.
"What are they doing?" Kell scowled. "Arrows won't hurt us nearly enough."
The army was slowly moving closer again, a few riders rushing back and forth along the lines.
"They have wagons in the back lines." Sernan was squinting but Will was still amazed he could see that far. "They're loaded with something, it looks heavy and large."
"Arrows! Take cover!" came the warning again. But this time the airkin shields would prove almost useless as every arrow was wrapped in burning cloth. The heat penetrated the shields and the roofs of the buildings around them began to burn, as well as the unfortunate men that were hit. Will screamed in frustration.
"Every man to the wells!" the prince commanded. "Put out the fires!"
"Sernan, extinguish the flames outside the wall," Will told the brother and he did so, an airkin spell stole the air the flames fed on and they died out with a puff and dark smoke curling up from the singed roofs.
"Can you do that on the inside as well?" Kell asked, clearly stressed.
"No, the loss of air will suffocate any man within twenty yards."
"Water it is, then."
~Gods! Will! LOOK OUT!"~ Ashiná yelled in Will's head and he winced involuntarily.
Men screamed in terror and panic around them, pointing at the sky, and the most cowardly started to run, abandoning their posts at the battlements. Will turned to look and was both amazed and horrified at what he saw. A boulder the size of a large horse sailed in a high arc through the air and closed in on the city with breathtaking speed. They could hear the whine and rush of air around the rock even at the inner wall and Will understood why some men fled.
"Sernan!" he almost shouted.
"It's too large, too fast, my airkin can't stop it," Sernan said in a strained voice, sweat pearling on his forehead.
"Will?" Kell was staring wide-eyed at the boulder nearing so very fast.
Will pulled a breath and held it. If he could take control of the earthkin spells that held the rock together then he would be able to shatter it, the shards would still be coming towards them but Sernan could surely stop those. "Be ready."
The earthkin roared from his hands as he lashed them forward and for a moment it looked like he had failed. Then there was a loud noise of rock grinding against rock and the boulder exploded. Dust billowed, and shards and stones kept coming towards the city.
"Sernan!"
The blond sorcerer unleashed his airkin and many of the shards froze in mid air for a moment, before they rained to the ground, covering the small buildings and streets beyond the city. But those who weren't stopped shot like oversized arrowheads towards the men on the outer wall and pierced flesh and stone alike. Men fell dead from the battlements.
"Gods," Kell whispered, shaken.
"I'm sorry," Sernan panted. "I couldn't stop them all."
Kell straightened from the hunched posture he'd instinctively taken next to the sorcerers, his face grim. "You did what you could," he said, not unkindly. "At least it didn't reach here." He didn't offer more consolation than that and Will saw Sernan frown.
"Beyn!" Kell turned to the lieutenant. "Call the men back from the outer wall; we can't defend it against that without losing too many lives."
"Wait," Will interrupted and the prince turned to him. "Let us go down there. If we are close enough we can stop it further away and the shards won't have to reach us at all."
Kell gave him a scrutinizing look. "Are you sure?"
"Perhaps. Yes," he decided.
"Sernan?" Kell asked the other sorcerer.
"If I have Thomy to aid me, yes. The shards are too many to handle on my own."
Kell gave it no more thought, he couldn't afford it, he had to trust the sorcerers to know what they were doing. "Fine. Go, then." He reached out and grasped Will's hand before he had a chance to leave. "Be careful," he whispered and there was fear in his eyes.
"Always, my prince. And you." Will smiled faintly, his mind already busy with the task ahead, but not so much that he didn't see the need in Kell's eyes for reassurance. He gave an encouraging squeeze to the hand holding his.
The three sorcerers hurried through the streets on horseback and met soldiers carrying and supporting their fallen comrades, struggling up towards the inner wall and the relative safety there. They asked for help but the sorcerers couldn't afford to stop. They barely made in to the outer wall in time before the next boulder, just as large as the first, flew through the sky. Will once again gathered his strength and shattered the threat, and Thomy and Sernan managed to stop the shards from reaching the wall, falling instead with a smattering onto the peddlers' town outside.
"We can't keep this up for long," Thomy said and wiped at his forehead with his sleeve.
Will nodded, he too was beginning to feel the strain. "Sernan, can you see how many they have left?"
The brother squinted a bit and after a few moments he shook his head. "There are wagons still half hidden beyond the ridge of the hill, I can't tell what they're loaded with."
Will frowned. "We need to even the scores a bit. Can you send the shards back at them, not just stop them?"
Thomy tilted his head. "Perhaps, if we joined our powers." He looked to his brother who nodded.
"Try."
Captain Heon came running towards them along the gangway, a soldier on his heels who looked a bit battered and very frightened. "I'm glad you're down here, master sorcerers. We were about to retreat when we saw that second one." Heon was dusty and his surcoat was ripped, but he seemed no worse off than that, at least no blood stained his clothes thanks to his chain mail and armor.
Will nodded. "We'll try to stop them, but maybe you should warn your men to take cover just the same."
Heon was about to turn to his man with the order when the soldier shouted and pointed over the wall. Will cursed under his breath and felt the powers rise in the brothers as they got ready, and he gathered his own strength.
But there was a slight difference in the spells that held the boulder this time and it wouldn't shatter. Will didn't realize it but he screamed out loud in frustration as his earthkin spell dissipated uselessly.
Stop! Stop! STOP! he willed the stone as he sent every ounce of power he had at it.
Captain Heon shouted something Will couldn't hear for the loud buzzing in his ears and the pressure behind his eyes. His vision of the world narrowed down to a dark, dizzying tunnel, the boulder the only visible thing in it. Then it all ended abruptly and he reeled from the release.
"Gods of earth and air!" someone breathed.
"Will!" Thomy's voice.
Will focused his eyes with an effort and saw the boulder hanging in midair, trembling slightly in his grip, slowly, heavily rotating around its own axis. For one baffled moment he almost dropped it.
"You used spiritkin, Will." Thomy shifted his wide eyes from the quivering, turning rock to Will.
"I… I'm not that strong with spiritkin…" Will whispered, shocked, but none the less the rock was his to command.
"Give it back to them!" Heon growled and Will sensed his anger like searing fire, as close as if it was his own.
It was surprisingly easy to turn the boulder around, and with the anger Heon had kindled in him, send it back into the army with such force it created a small crater. The screams of panic and pain from men and horses reached them as faint whispers across the field, and it made Will feel triumphant.
~Will,~ Ashiná murmured. ~No anger. You mustn't use spiritkin spells for the wrong reason.~
~What do you mean? It worked, didn't it?~
~Anger will drain you, Will. It will come back to you tenfold and you will perish under it.~
Ashiná sounded so calm, so perfectly reasonable Will knew she was more serious than she had ever been with him. It made him take a step back and realize what he had done and almost let happen. He suddenly felt as if the ground opened up under him. A cold sweat broke out between his shoulder blades and dread laced his shame. Trembling he turned away from the bloodbath.
~Find another reason.~
~Like what?~ He swallowed hard to push down the bile rising in his throat.
~The women and children in the keep. The soldiers fighting for their lives. The prince.~
Those were all valid and strong reasons, and they filled him with new, pure emotions, pushed the anger out and left him calm.
A shouted warning and he turned to see yet another boulder sailing through the air. There wasn't any time for self-pitying and he reached out a hand with the palm turned up, a spiritkin spell tingling on his fingertips. It reminded him of the evening when he had lent the prince a piece of his powers, it reminded him of the kiss they had shared then.
Stop! he willed the boulder closing in so very fast, and unleashed the spell.
Sernan let out a cry of astonishment as the rock trembled to a halt above the rooftops not far from where they stood.
Will sent it back at the enemy but this time he let it land in front of them, close enough to make the first lines move back in a ripple of panic. He drew a shuddering breath and felt his knees fold under him without being able to stop it.
"Will!" Thomy and Sernan both grabbed his arms and eased his descent until he was sitting on the worn gangway stones with his back to the battlement wall. The world was spinning before his eyes and a faint ringing had begun in his ears.
"Will?" Thomy appeared in his vision. "Are you okay?"
"I'm not that strong with spiritkin..." he whispered, completely out of breath and strength. And he suspected the caution Ashiná had spoken was partly the reason.
"You did fine, Will." Thomy put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You are far stronger than you think, but it's draining to use them, especially as forcefully as this." He shifted his hands and put dry fingertips to Will's temples, letting healing magic flow into him. "You need rest now."
"I can't. What if they send another one?" he shifted to rise, but even the light pressure of Thomy's hand on his arm was enough to stop him.
"You won't do us any good if you go into hibernation, Will. Rest while you can."
* * * * * * * *
Kell watched as the three sorcerers rode out under the central gate's tall arc and disappeared down towards the outer wall. He knew he could trust Thomy and Sernan to look after Will, but he also knew Will would leap at the first chance to save someone. The almost heedless seeming courage Will showed no matter what the confrontation might be.
And he loved the young sorcerer for it. He realized with a start and a blink that he had actually used the powerful word. Turning it over in his head only convinced him that was what he really felt. But feeling so strongly for Will was a two-edged sword; it also drove Kell close to the brink of numbing fear every time he saw Will sacrifice himself for others.
Like now, when the first boulder had come rushing towards them and without any thought to what it would cost him later, Will had unleashed powers so strong even Kell had sensed them in the air. And he just knew it was Will who had somehow stopped the last two boulders, held them in midair and then sent them back to where they came from.
After that there were no more attacks. Kell didn't want to speculate about the reason, either the fading daylight or loss of strength on behalf of the enemy sorcerer; though he hoped it was the latter. In any case, he didn't dare let out the sigh of relief he felt in his throat. Not yet.
Lord Calon had managed to keep himself within sight of Kell ever since Will and the brothers had left, giving the prince looks out of the corner of his eye and little smiles that bared just a hint of white teeth. Kell did his best to ignore it all but his courage wavered none the less. He tried to convince himself that he wasn't running away from the lord when he went to see to the men Piotry had healed. Just doing his duty, that was all.
Most of the not so long ago injured soldiers were now resting easy in hastily assembled cots or on hay-padded beddings in the larger of the two gate towers. They would soon be fit to go again. It was a strange thing really, to one moment be wounded, perhaps almost dying, and in the next be as good as new, albeit a little tired and perhaps sore. Will had said healing was the true power and Kell couldn't agree more.
"I don't know what I'd do without you, Piotry," he said and gave the redheaded sorcerer's shoulder a friendly pat.
"Yes, probably you'd be having a serious shortage of men by now." The sorcerer smiled faintly. He looked a bit strained around the eyes, his smile not as easy as it used to be. He had been forced to use a lot of his skills and magic this day, and Kell didn't begrudge him the sigh and weary roll of his shoulders before he rose from the stool where he was sitting. "They will all be fine, but it's not proper to joke about it."
That sounded so much like something Will would say, and Kell couldn't help the anxious tugging in his heart. He forced a smile. "I know. Still, I'm grateful to you."
Piotry nodded and patted his shoulder in return.
There were raised voices outside and more wounded men arrived, leaning on their comrades. Piotry excused himself and went to see to them.
"My prince." Lieutenant Beyn came marching up to Kell as he stepped out through the tower door, and gave a rapt salute. There was a rip in the man's sleeve, Kell noticed, but there didn't seem to be any blood. "The enemy is withdrawing it seems, for the night at least." Beyn looked straight at the prince, tired yet still ready to do his duty and follow orders.
Kell nodded. "Make sure there are horn blowers at the walls at all times. We don't want to be taken by surprise. What about our losses?"
"Less than it should've been once those boulders came flying. We've counted fourteen dead, my prince, and seventeen severely injured that have already been sent up to the keep."
"And the damage to the city?"
"Lesser holes in the outer wall, burns on the houses, only a shack burned completely to the ground. We were lucky."
"Very much so," Kell murmured. Much thanks to the sorcerers. "Get some rest, Beyn. I'll wake you in a few hours."
"Yes, my prince." With another salute the man went on his way to find a quiet, warm spot to rest.
"Why send him to his sleep when you need the rest just as well?" The smooth voice nearing from behind made Kell coil up inside.
"Because I need him awake and alert in the morning, and he wouldn't take his rest unless I ordered it." He wanted away from the nobleman but refused to cower away again.
"I think it's because you need to see the young sorcerer return safely. It was he who saved your life, wasn't it?" There was a smug tone in lord Calon's voice and Kell turned to look at him. Piercing eyes locked with his and he had to swallow before he could speak.
"I owe him my life, yes. It's as simple as that."
The corners of Calon's mouth twitched. "So you are humbling yourself to keep his company out of gratitude, then?" Calon raised a mocking eyebrow. "I thought you had more pride."
"I repay my debts," Kell replied curtly. "And I wouldn't say it's humbling to have the company of a sorcerer, not in the sense that you imply."
"Ah, but he's not of the same caliber as the other sorcerers, wouldn't you say?"
No, Kell thought. He's so much more. But arguing it with Calon would be a lost cause.
"However, I can't say I blame you. He is quite tempting, though I prefer blonds myself."
Kell smiled mirthlessly. "I welcome you to try, lord Calon, especially since he knows our mutual history."
Calon's eyes narrowed and his shoulders tensed. "You liked it," he hissed, at least partly out of fear of being overheard by unwanted ears, partly out of fear for Will, no doubt. "You took your pleasure."
"You are delusional," Kell snapped before he could stop himself, another mistake, but he couldn't stop now. "There was only ever play between us. And I wouldn't call tears and blood and bruises, pleasure," Kell growled, angry now and wishing to be furious, because fury would keep his eyes locked with Calon's and his feet rooted and not running away.
Calon sneered. If he was in the least surprised by Kell's outburst he didn't show it. Maybe this was all becoming part of the game for him. "I'm not afraid of your pet sorcerer; he'll soon be gone from your life, just like every other lover you've taken. It seems I'm the only constant."
"You were never my lover, and if you keep this up I'll have you confined to the manor by reason of endangering your noble self."
Calon snorted. "There won't be any more attacks today and the pleasure boy isn't here."
"But I am and my blade isn't too picky about whose blood it tastes." It was a lowly threat, unworthy of the prince of Waunban, but all he was capable of at the moment. Kell didn't know how he managed to stand up to Calon now, to shove down his fears and reclaim his status as the prince in this strange, warped relationship. Perhaps it was Will's feelings and trust in Kell that gave him the courage he needed, the knowledge that Will would stand by him, support him no matter what. Although his heart was pounding in his chest and sweat trickled down his spine.
Surprise fluttered briefly over Calon's face and he shifted on his feet. "You cannot threaten me."
"No, but I'm warning you. Because the way I see it," he stepped closer and sweat broke out on his brow, "every man here is loyal to me and your head would be in grave danger if they got even a hint of what you did. You know it was wrong."
"My father wouldn't be happy if harm came to me."
"I don't think he'd be too pleased to hear of his son's shameful deeds either. Honor is very important to him, as it is to the king, and my father would see mine restored." Kell was almost certain he could've won this battle; the doubt in the lord's eyes suggested it. But there were shouts at the gate that the sorcerers had returned and as much as Kell wanted to see Calon cowed, Will was infinitely more important. He spun on his heel and hurried towards the gate.
It was a great relief to see all three men safe on their horses. But Will was swaying in his saddle and Thomy helped him down, supporting much of his weight as he dismounted. Kell held his breath as he approached them, wary of Thomy that would say Will was wounded, wary of the helpless feelings he'd once again have, wary of seeing the tired and dull look in Will's eyes.
"Is he alright, Thomy?" he managed to ask, his voice hoarse and strangled.
The blond sorcerer smiled reassuringly. "Yes, my prince. It's nothing that a few hours of sleep won't cure."
Kell let out a slow breath and pulled himself together, Will was fine. "There are cots in the gate tower, you can bring him there." He let his fingers brush over Will's arm and brown eyes blinked at him through dark bangs, tired but not blank or telling of any injury. He wanted so badly to go with them when Thomy helped Will to the tower, but he couldn't neglect his duties just because the man he loved had come within his reach.
It wasn't until agonizingly long hours had passed; when night had fallen proper and all even Sernan could see of the enemy was a myriad of campfires and the jagged, dark outlines of small tents, that the prince allowed himself to rest. He retreated silently to the tower where Will was still sleeping, along with a few of the soldiers who had taken shifts in keeping guard.
He stood by Will's bed and watched his chest rise and fall in the slow breaths of sleep. And he couldn't keep himself from touching; dark hair, although mussed and a bit dirty, was still soft under his fingers and the skin over a sleek cheekbone smooth to his fingertips.
Will stirred in his rest. "Hmm…"
Kell almost wished he'd wake up so he could look into those brown eyes and make sure he was truly alright, but he knew rest was more important to Will now, than easing Kell's silly fears. So he withdrew his hand and made to walk away to find himself a bed and a few hours of sleep.
"Stay," came a whisper and Kell turned, his heart suddenly swelling.
"You should be asleep, sorcerer," he mock-chided him.
"Yes, well, something woke me up." His words were slow and sleepy. Will's fingers found Kell's and urged him closer again.
"I'm glad you're alright." Kell sank down on the edge of the cot. "You did well out there."
Will almost laughed. "I've never used spiritkin spells that powerful before. I guess it drained me faster than I thought."
Kell drew a shuddering breath and looked down at Will's deft fingers twining with his own, wishing he could keep him there forever.
"Something wrong, my prince?" Will asked quietly.
Damn the sorcerer's perceptiveness. "I just… I can't stand seeing you sacrifice yourself for others so readily," he said a bit hesitantly, because he knew Will would be reproachful.
Dark eyebrows drew together. "Sacrifice? I'm just doing what I'm supposed to do, what I am able to do and no one else."
"I know and I guess I'm being selfish, but I want to hold you close, keep you safe from all of this."
"And I'm the one who's supposed to care for you," Will whispered and reached up to brush away a golden strand from the prince's face. "And you are selfish."
Kell shrugged. "I can live with it." Will hid a yawn behind a hand and blinked up at him. Kell smiled and shook his head. "Get some rest, sorcerer. That's an order."
Will nodded with a little smile of his own and Kell bent down for a quick kiss on his forehead, privacy be damned, he needed this small gesture to be given. Then he rose and took the cot next to Will's. At least from there they could see each other and for the moment that had to be enough.
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