“Vindrake, please stop now.” Vinnasae touched his fingers to the reddened skin on his neck. “All that matters to me is you’ve returned. I have my son back. I don’t care whether you are clan leader. Please… I will not leave you long in chains. And I will remain by your side as much as possible.”
With a cry of wrath, Vindrake sprang at his father, knocking him to the floor. When his father ceased his struggling, he stared at Vindrake with wide eyes. Blood seeped from his lips as his hands clutched at the hilt of a blade that protruded from his abdomen.
“Father! Father, I’m sorry!” His own injury forgotten, Vindrake knelt and leaned over his father, searching frantically for something to staunch the flow of blood from his wound. “I didn’t mean to, Father. I love you. I simply wanted you to love me. I wanted to make you proud.”
Vinnasae’s lips moved, and Vindrake bent his ear close to hear his words. “I…do… love… you,” he rasped.
Vindrake’s tears splashed down, blending with the tears flowing from father’s eyes. “Yes, Father, but you loved Alleraen more. I know you lied when you said you loved us equally.”
Vinnasae choked, lifting his hand to touch Vindrake’s cheek. “Truth…” His words gurgled out with blood. “I… loved… you… more…” His hand fell, and his eyes closed with his last breath.
~ 8 ~
Graely sipped the steaming coffee from his mug as he sat beside Brian on the soft, cloth-covered couch in Brian’s home. He was beginning to develop a taste for the bitter black brew the Montana men preferred over tea. Though he’d traveled to Montana to question Daegreth eight occasions in the past moon, he still marveled at the wonders of the new realm.
“I wish we had this magick in Laegenshire. I see no fire in your hearth, yet your home remains warm within despite snow on the ground outside.”
“It’s really not magic. We have a fire in the basement; it’s called a furnace. The hot air gets blown all through the house and comes out these vents.” Brian pointed to a small metal gate in the floor.
Graely shook his head. “You may have a fire, yet magick is still required to blow the warmth throughout your home.”
“It’s not a magic trick. There’s a scientific explanation; it’s an electric blower.” Brian blew into his mug, before he sipped.
“There’s no trickery in real magick. Only the charlatans at the fairs perform deception. Our shamans would be insulted if you compared their work to that of such imposters.”
“Please don’t tell Nordamen or Bardamen I think they’re doing magic tricks. I don’t want them to curse me.” Brian grinned.
Graely stiffened at his words. “Do you dare suggest Nordamen and Bardamen would perform such dark magick? In all of Tenavae, only Vindrake and his shamans have embraced these practices.”
“Hold on, Graely. I’m just kidding. I know they wouldn’t ever do anything like that.” Brian held up his hand, concern creasing his brow. “I promise, it was just a joke.”
Graely groaned, embarrassed by his outburst. “I beg your pardon, Brian. I’m unusually tense today. As clan leader, I’m gifted with foreboding, and I’ve been unable to relax since I arrived. I feel some catastrophe lurks, waiting to strike, though I can’t say if it will happen here or in Laegenshire.”
“Maybe you drank too much coffee. That caffeine can do a number on you if you’re not used to it.”
“I must admit I remain uneasy about Daegreth living with you, moving about freely.” Graely lowered his voice, intending the words only for Brian’s ears. He had to take advantage of this opportunity to speak to Brian alone. “Chaleah assures us he poses no threat while in this realm, yet I somehow feel disaster is looming.”
“You think we should tie him up?”
Yes, I do. Graely kept the thought to himself, lifting and dropping his shoulders.
“I can’t stand the thought of keeping him bound all the time,” Brian protested. “And how would I explain it to our friends and neighbors if my houseguest wore shackles on his wrists? Anyway, he’s been here a month already, and he’s never shown any signs of being a threat.”
“True… Daegreth’s been quite cooperative during this moon. Yet Nordamen predicts Vindrake could eventually reach this realm. If that were to occur…”
Daegreth’s voice sounded from behind them. “Graely is correct, Brian. I’m too dangerous to take chances with the lives of your family.”
“Yikes, Daegreth! You scared the living daylights out of me. I spilled my coffee.” Brian used his shirttail to wipe the arm of the couch. “Anyway, we didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
“My feelings are irrelevant. The safety of your family is of utmost importance. Though I don’t feel Vindrake’s bloodbond at the moment, were it to return, I could easily kill all of you.”
“Are you certain?” Graely questioned. “Would Vindrake compel you to kill people of whom he had no prior knowledge? Perhaps being from this realm—”
“No, Graely. That might have been true if I were not aware of Brian and Wesley’s part in the battle against Water Clan, but now I know too much about them. I’d be compelled to destroy any enemies of Water Clan. I live in constant fear that Vindrake’s presence will return inside my mind.”
“What do you think we should do? Should I chain you to the bed in the room?” Brian’s laugh faded when the other two didn’t join him.
“Yes, perhaps that would work.” Daegreth mused, rubbing the back of his head. “But only if the bed is made of iron. Securing the chains to wood might not provide enough resistance against my strength.”