Alizand prowled about his bed chamber. He paused beside the window and pushed the
heavy draperies aside. Another day of
confinement. Since the day his
step-brothers had invaded the suite, forcing Alizand to reveal his affinity for
Fire, he’d been a prisoner.
At least the guards at the door believed he couldn’t leave. They didn’t know about the hidden sections
and the secret rooms and passages to be found beyond the walls. Though Alizand could slip away, he should
wait until night lest his room be checked.
Dom Senet often made random visits during the day. Only when Alizand’s personal guard appeared
could he escape these chambers. The corridors and places he could go had to be
kept secret.
He was bored. He even
missed the tedious lessons he’d been given by the clan elders during the short
time he’d been acknowledged as his father’s heir. Having his affinity exposed had ended the
dream of being deemed fit to become a prince.
No one who could use one or all of the elements could rule the princedom
of Wesren.
He stared at the tray on the table. A maidservant had delivered the food a short
time before. Though he had eaten nothing
since yesterday’s midday meal, he had no desire to break his fast.
The back of Alizand’s neck prickled. Trouble approached. Which of the many enemies he’d collected in
his fourteen years of life came to upset his day?
The door opened.
Before the guard could announce the visitor, a tall man entered. His ash blond hair hung in a single
braid. Black leather riding clothes
gleamed in the light from candles set in glass-shielded sconces on the
wall. His dark green eyes sought and
held Alizand’s gaze.
A smile appeared on Dom Senet’s face. Alizand felt like a tabby surrounded by a
pack of ratis. He forced himself to
breathe. How could one man raise such a
high degree of terror? Though Alizand’s
legs felt unsteady, he forced himself to remain on his feet.
“Dom Senet.” A sense
of pride filled Alizand’s thoughts. His
voice hadn’t cracked or risen to a high pitch to reveal his inner quaking.
The dom stroked the multi-colored gem he wore about his
neck. The gold chain glinted. “I have questions for you to answer.”
Questions, Alizand thought.
What kind of trick was this? He
couldn’t relax his barriers or forget his suspicions of the dom. Was this a new way to fool him into becoming
the dom’s puppet? Alizand needed to
respond. To remain silent would expose
his fear. “What do you want to know?”
“About your kin, the children of your father’s
step-brother. I have a great need to
find them. Poor lost children who need a
home and a guardian.”
Alizand’s hands clenched.
His friends had saved his life when he’d been injured in the aftermath
of the destruction of the henge. With
them, he’d been Zand, a person and not a creature to be used. “I don’t know where they are. I told my father I didn’t and I say the same
to you.”
“I think otherwise.”
The dom moved closer.
Alizand clung to his determination to resist. He felt icy touches trying to push beneath
his surface thoughts and invade his memories.
He pressed his hand against the gem beneath his tunic and strained to
hold firm against Dom Senet’s invasion.
“How could I know where they’ve been or where they’re going? I’ve been a prisoner here for weeks.”
Dom Senet ran a finger along Alizand’s cheek. “And I imagine you have no idea how the child
escaped the circle room.”
“What child?” Though
he had released Ky, he didn’t consider her a child. The pressure in his head built until his
vision and balance wavered. “Is there a
circular room in your suite?” The
pressure vanished so suddenly Alizand’s knees folded and he fell into the
chair.
Dom Senet frowned.
“Perhaps someone else is to blame.”
Alizand looked up.
“Who?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll
learn. As for you, your barriers are
stronger than they were the last time we met.
I haven’t time to break then now, but be assured when I return, you will
answer to me.”
“Even if I don’t know the answers you want?” To Alizand’s surprise, though inside he
battled hysteria, his voice remained calm.
“This much I can tell you.
Your friends have left the city and foolishly chose to challenge
me. They gave themselves away. Though they’ve escaped, they have nowhere to
go. I’m leading a patrol of guards eager
to receive the reward your father has offered for the return of his
step-brother’s children. We will bring
them back.”
His laughter sent
prickles along Alizand’s skin. “Will you
betray my father by taking charge of them?”
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