Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
“The gods forbid,” Bria murmured, the thought sending a shiver through her. “Scotara cannot fall.”
Kaelan placed a kiss on his wife’s temple while whispering, “We need to get out of here posthaste.”
“The question is how?” Bria asked.
She watched her husband give it thought while his eyes followed Dreth and Braden out of the Great Hall. Then he slipped off the bench, not letting go of her hand and eased her to her feet to stand beside him.
Bria understood he was positioning himself to fight if necessary and his words confirmed it.
“You will flee if given the chance,” he ordered sternly.
Her response was sharp. “I will not leave you.”
“You will. I command it,” he said, his voice low but not lacking strength.
“Command or not, I will not leave you. I cannot leave you. Find another way,” she ordered this time and when he looked ready to argue, she poked him in the chest. “Do not waste your breath. You will not win this argument.”
He shook his head. “I need you to be wise.”
“She already is.”
Kaelan and Bria turned to see Ogga standing far too close.
Bria saw the same surprised look on Kaelan’s face that was on her own. How did the woman get so close without either of them hearing her? But what worried her even more was what Ogga meant by, ‘She already is.’ She couldn’t possibly know that Bria could be part of the Wise. But Winnie knew, so why not Ogga, a powerful witch?
The thought sent a ripple of fear racing through her and she instinctively tucked herself against her husband, worried what Ogga might do with such knowledge.
Kaelan felt it instantly… something had frightened his wife. He slipped his arm around her without thought, drawing her closer, while keeping his gaze on Ogga.
“What are you up to, Ogga?” Kaelan demanded. “How do you think you can find this healer when no one else can? And do not tell me you truly believe Tharne will keep his word to you and allow you to rule Driochmor.”
“Tharne will be so pleased he has the healer that he will grant me anything,” Ogga said with an air of confidence. “And she will be easy to find since I now have what I need to find her.”
Kaelan had a feeling he was not going to like what Ogga was about to say, and he felt a twist in his gut confirming it but asked anyway, “And what is that?”
Ogga grinned. “A Wise.”
Kaelan heard his own words repeat in his head along with Ogga’s. I need you to be wise. She already is.
She couldn’t be. His wife simply could not be part of the Wise. They had all died off, King Halric had seen to that, and the edict still stood… execution for any Wise.
“Oh, you didn’t know,” Ogga said with glee. “Your wife did not tell you.”
Kaelan’s head snapped toward his wife, but he held his tongue. He would not admit it in front of Ogga, but he would have answers when they were alone.
“Winnie mentioned it to me, but I found it difficult to believe.” Bria shook her head. “That my heritage derives from Driochmor is simply impossible and even more impossible is me being a descendant of the Wise.”
Kaelan now understood why she wanted to find the council member. Winnie no doubt told her a council member could tell her more about the Wise.
“Winnie was right and though she didn’t tell you, she felt it just as I did,” Ogga said.
“Felt what?” Bria asked.
“Felt you wake the Wise as soon as you stepped into Driochmor.”
Anger filled Kaelan. “You plan to use Bria to find the healer.”
“Aye, I do,” Ogga said.
To Bria’s surprise she felt the beast stir in Kaelan and was just as surprised to see his eyes turn gold. “Harm my wife, Ogga, and I will tear you apart limb by limb.”
“Calm down, Kaelan. Why would I harm her when she can help me?”
Bria saw how nervous Ogga got when Kaelan’s eyes turned gold. Did the beast frighten her? Was her magic no defense against the beast? With how fast Kaelan healed she believed there might be some truth to magic affecting Kaelan differently.
“You cannot be serious,” Bria said. “I have no idea where this healer is.”
Ogga sighed as though speaking to a stubborn child. “I am not asking you where she is.”
“Then what are you asking?”
Ogga stepped toward a nearby table and opened a carved wooden box resting upon it. Carefully, she lifted something from within. A simple silver pendant hung from a worn leather cord. Time had darkened the metal and the pendant itself appeared unremarkable. Yet Ogga handled it with surprising care.
Curious, Bria asked, “What is that?”
She approached Bria. “A possession believed to have belonged to the healer.”
Bria frowned. “Believed?”
Ogga did not hide her annoyance, “There are very few certainties where the healer is concerned.” She held it by the leather cord, offering it to Bria. “Touch it.”