Voice Of The Demon (Book 2) (7 page)

In Serin’s name, where had this come from? Finnlay stood there, his eyes blazing with a determination she’d only ever seen him use against his brother. Why was he so adamant?

Jenn finally spoke. She came around the table and placed a hand on Finnlay’s arm, ‘It’s all right, Finn. Really.’

‘No, it isn’t. Jenn, trust me on this.’ His intense gaze held her for a moment and then she turned back to Wilf.

‘I’m sorry, but my answer is no. If you object, then I must ask to take it up with the full council.’

‘Really!’ Wilf snapped, his eyes growing cold. ‘Well, you can take it up with them right now. They’re waiting in the chamber as we speak. And you, Finnlay? Don’t think for one moment that your predicament will stop me from banishing you also. One step out of line and you’ll suffer the same fate as your brother – and I won’t care if the Guilde do find you and tear you limb from limb.’ With that, Wilf turned and stamped out of the room.

‘Finnlay,’ Martha breathed, ‘did you have to push him so hard?’

Without speaking, Finnlay stared at the empty doorway, his shoulders stiff and unyielding. Slowly he shook his head and turned back to Jenn. ‘I had no choice. I gave Robert my word.’

*

They were waiting, just as Wilf had promised. This time, Jenn could recognize their faces, pasty with living beneath the ground. A cave life – what kind of life was that? Where was the joy in a summer’s day or the passion of a winter’s storm? These people were immune to those normal pleasures, passing the seasons with an indifference bordering on apathy. Did they have any real idea of what life was like outside? Did they even care?

Jenn didn’t sit down. She didn’t intend to stay long enough. Finnlay closed the door behind her and stood at her side. In profile, he looked so much like his brother she could almost believe it was Robert standing there as he had the first time she’d come into this room. Yet there were differences. Things that ran so deep she was only now beginning to see them. Like Finnlay’s willingness to trust something that he could neither see nor understand. He had placed his faith in Robert and Robert had placed his faith in Jenn.

Who was there left for Jenn to believe in?

‘Have you changed your mind?’ Wilf came straight out on the attack. ‘Or have you let this rebel sway you?’

Immediately, Jenn’s anger got the better of her. ‘Oh, I always let other people make my decisions for me.’

Wilf was not amused, ‘Don’t you dare try that tack with me, child, or I’ll make you very sorry.’

‘What do you want from me?’

Wilf rose from his seat at the end of the table. Placing his hands firmly on its surface, he replied, ‘I want you to take the oath. If you refuse, you will leave here and not return until you do.’

‘Why?’

‘Because I will not be defied any more!’ Wilf slammed his hand down, making the star candle jump. Henry glanced around uneasily, but neither he nor the others said a word. ‘These are matters beyond either your knowledge or comprehension. I hope that you’ll have the sense to take the proper counsel and give us your oath!’

As Jenn met his gaze, her anger turned cold and seeped into her bones. He really did believe she’d let Finnlay make
her decision. But Finnlay had told her nothing but the truth. Would they have done as much?

‘You banished Robert, didn’t you?’ Jenn began evenly, moving to the other end of the table. Her eyes swept over the councillors, ending with Wilf. He just sat there, a belligerent frown on his lined face. His mind was already made up, and all because Robert had insisted on thinking for himself. ‘You banished him because the Key told you to. It said he was an enemy. Did it say I was an enemy, too? Did it say I should be banished?’

Silence.

‘Did it even say I was to be forced to take the oath?’ Not a single answer. ‘What would the Key say if it discovered you were abusing your authority in such a manner?’

‘How dare you speak to me like that!’ Wilf bellowed. ‘I’m the Jaibir, the chosen of the Key and whether you like it or not, you will do as I say!’

Her heart racing, Jenn shook her head slowly and placed her hands on the table. She leaned forward, but the words that came out of her were not of her own design. ‘I could burn this place down, Wilf. Do you want to see me try?’

Wilf’s eyes widened in fury and for a moment, Jenn wanted to withdraw her threat, wanted to take it back . . . anything to take that look from his face. But she couldn’t. She took her chance – probably the only one she would ever get now. ‘I’ll make you a bargain, Wilf. You let me come and go as I please with no more talk of taking the oath. You’ll also leave Finnlay to live here in peace. If you throw him out, he’s under strict instructions to come straight to me at Elita. I’ll take his appearance to mean you’ve broken the bargain. In return, I promise that when the time comes, I will Stand the Circle, go before the Key and give it the chance to choose me as next Jaibir.’

She felt rather than saw Finnlay flinch at this, but she kept her concentration on Wilf. Inside, her whole body was shaking, but outside she was as steady as the mountain itself. With a tentative breath, she continued, ‘There is, of course, no guarantee that the Key would choose me, but at least that would settle it once and for all. What do you say?’

Henry couldn’t keep his peace any longer. ‘But she should still go before the Key . . .’

‘No.’ Jenn stopped him before he could gather pace. She hardly knew what she was doing, but it was too late now. ‘That’s my offer. Take it or leave it. Before you decide however, I should remind you that now you’ve banished Robert, I’m the only other likely candidate who could wield the Key as it was intended. Do you really want to get rid of me, too? – for I promise you, if you send me away I will never return.’

Henry snorted, unimpressed. ‘How do we know you’ll keep the bargain?’

Jenn shrugged. ‘I’ll give you my hand on it.’ Without thinking, she gathered all her anger and frustration into a single blinding streak. It soared down her left arm and into her palm. Then she lifted her hand from the table leaving behind a black mark, a perfect handprint, burnt into the wooden surface. In some dusty part of her mind, she could hear Robert’s reaction: caustic, deriding and horrified.

But Robert wasn’t here, was he? ‘That’s the only oath you’ll have from me, Wilf.’

The old man sprang to his feet, his mouth open at her temerity, her wilfulness. ‘You’re too clever for your own good, girl! Go ahead. Do as you please. But get out of my sight!’

They were outside and running down the passage before Jenn could bring herself to stop. Finnlay was laughing, but Jenn, standing against the cold stone wall, could do nothing but shake. Robert was going to kill her, if she ever saw him again. Taking pity on her, Finnlay gave her a quick hug and they continued back to Martha’s rooms.

*

‘By the gods you should have seen her!’ Finnlay almost spun around the room, filling up wine cups as he went. Arlie, Martha, Fiona and Patric were all absorbed by his story, even though Jenn was sitting quietly by the fire, none too amused. ‘Wilf didn’t know what to say. You’d think she’d already Stood the Circle.’

‘And the hand mark?’ Patric quizzed. ‘Is it permanent?’

‘Unfortunately, yes.’ Jenn grunted. She drained her newly filled cup and reached out for more. ‘Mineah only knows what got into me.’

‘Well, he won’t make that mistake again,’ Finnlay laughed.

‘Oh?’ Jenn snapped, eyeing him dryly. ‘And you think it was a good idea that I should challenge his authority so openly? Don’t you see that I’ve just made exactly the same mistake Robert made? Wilf feels threatened by both of us and in his way, all he was trying to do was make us accept his leadership which, when you think about it, he has a perfect right to do. Now all I’ve done is alienate him – and branded all of you at the same time. Go ahead and gloat, Finn, but I’m the one who’ll have to pay the price in the end. I made a promise I’ll have to stand by. I can only hope Wilf lives a long time.’

Finnlay’s smile vanished and he took a deep breath. He came back to her and slowly refilled her cup. ‘I’m sorry. I should have helped you more. I should have said something so you didn’t have to go so far.’

‘It’s not your fault,’ Jenn glanced up at him and gave him a weary smile. ‘I don’t know why you’re sorry, though. You once tried to convince me to Stand the Circle. You should be happy, wondering if this means I’ll be able to find the Calyx one day.’

Finnlay couldn’t find an answer to that one. Instead, it was Martha who spoke. ‘I think you’ll find that Finnlay’s ambitions have changed a little. Besides, it would dent his pride somewhat if he wasn’t the one who discovered the Calyx himself.’

‘Oh, Martha, I never said that. Besides, if I’m lucky, I might find the Calyx long before Jenn has the chance.’

Fiona took that moment to stand. She moved to the door but paused, her wary gaze sweeping over everybody except Finnlay. ‘Well, this has been very nice, but it’s late and I’m off to bed.’

As she vanished down the corridor, Finnlay started after her, but went no further than the door. He said nothing for a moment, but then his shoulders dropped and he turned back to face Jenn. ‘So what are you going to do?’

‘You’re asking me now?’ Jenn shook her head and got to her feet. ‘Serin’s blood, Finn, haven’t you done enough for one night?’

Jenn didn’t wait for a reply but headed out of the room. She couldn’t think any more. There was only one thing she needed right now. Sleep.

Micah waited atop the gatehouse tower. From there he could easily see the procession as it came towards Dunlorn: Deverin and a dozen of his best men, all wearing their livery with pride, surrounding Robert and the horse and cart he towed behind him. As they came closer, Micah could actually see the long wooden casket in the back of the cart.

In the courtyard behind him were gathered the inhabitants of Dunlorn, together with all those who lived close by. All had come to pay their respects, almost five hundred of them. They stood in silence, like Micah, waiting.

The gates were open, the guards lined on either side as Robert approached. He glanced up at Micah once. Was that a warning?

Micah turned and dashed down the steps to greet Robert. Orders were given to take the casket into the family chapel, an honour guard to stand by – and for no one to open the box.

Robert began to climb the steps to the hall. There was nothing in his face, no hint of what had happened. Just a dark shadow around his eyes, the long hair blown back from his brow, his mouth set in a line. His black clothes were muddied and his cape fell from his shoulders like a shroud. With a glance back at the cart, he murmured, ‘Where’s my mother?’

‘Inside, my lord.’

There was no response for a moment, then Robert turned back to Micah. ‘How is she?’

What could he say out here where everyone would hear him? ‘She has spent much time at prayer, my lord.’

Robert nodded slowly and glanced around at the waiting people. Acknowledging their tribute, he turned and took the stairs two at a time. Once inside he strode across the hall so quickly, Micah almost had to run to keep up.

‘My lord,’ Micah ventured as they climbed the stairs, ‘you have guests waiting in the winter parlour. Lord Daniel and others.’

‘Yes, I know,’ Robert grunted, passing his study door. ‘They’ll have to wait.’

They continued on until they reached Robert’s bedroom. There he ushered Micah inside, glanced quickly down the passage, then closed and locked the door. Briskly he whipped off his cloak and strode over to a side table where fresh water, a bowl and linen had been laid out for him.

‘How much time have I got?’

‘Time, my lord?’ Micah murmured, completely at a loss.

‘Until the Guilde gets here. How long?’

The magic word knocked Micah back to reality and he sucked in a breath. ‘An hour perhaps, little more. We’re keeping track of them from the top of the keep.’

‘Damn!’ Robert swore and splashed water on to his face. He rubbed a towel over it, then removed something from inside his muddy shirt, wrapped in red cloth. Then he stripped down to his waist, his back a mess of healing bruises and welts mixed in with the old battle scars.

Micah frowned, but felt the sudden sense of urgency. He handed Robert a fresh shirt, then took a sombre black jacket from the chest by the window. As Robert pulled it on, Micah poured him some wine and stood waiting.

Robert ran his hands through his hair, then strode to the window. ‘I don’t suppose there’s any way we can slow them down? No, of course not. An hour! Too little time. I can’t bury Finnlay before they get here. I still have to talk to my mother.’

‘I should warn you, my lord,’ Micah ventured, ‘she will not see you today.’

Robert turned back from the window with a frown. ‘She blames me, doesn’t she? Well, she’ll have even more reason to hate me before this day is out. Still, I have to talk to her – and before the Guilde get here. I can’t risk the alternative.’

‘My lord,’ Micah held up his hand, now completely unable to keep track of this discourse, ‘will you tell me what happened?’

Robert crossed the room to take the wine from Micah. He lifted the cup, drained it in one go and handed it back. With something that looked a lot like a smile, he said, ‘Yes, but not now. All you need to know now is that Finnlay is not dead.’

‘What?’ Micah breathed, his heart suddenly pumping madly. ‘Then how . . .?’

‘I’ll tell you everything later. Right now I need to tell my mother the truth. She needs to be prepared for when the Guilde arrives. They’ll be asking some very dangerous questions.’

Micah took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Why? Why did he never expect these things? After all these years, he should be used to this kind of surprise. But no, once again the reality of working for a man like Robert had walked up and smacked him in the face. One of these days . . .

‘Are you all right, Micah?’ Robert was leaning forward, frowning in concern.

‘Am I . . .’ Micah took another deep breath. After that he felt somewhat better. ‘Finnlay’s alive?’

‘Yes, but I still have to convince the Guilde that he’s dead. They believe Finn’s a sorcerer and they come here determined to prove it. The problem is that I no longer have my
ayarn.
The Key destroyed it. Every night since I left the Enclave I have tried to make another, but I can’t. I can use my powers without it, but anything big could kill me.’