Erik’s gaze moved slowly over Kristine’s face. Her deep green eyes were filled with wonder as she stared up at the ceiling. Her skin was soft and smooth, her cheeks the color of fresh peaches, her lips slightly parted.
“No,” Erik replied, his gaze still on her face. “I’ve never seen anything so lovely in my life.”
“Surely a wizard who can conjure such a wondrous thing will be able to help us.”
Erik grunted softly. He didn’t want to ruin her hopes, but there was a vast difference between creating an illusion and curing a spell cast by a vindictive witch.
It was an hour past sundown when the mage summoned them. Hand in hand, Erik and Kristine followed Fidella up the winding stairway that led to the mage’s private quarters.
With a smile, Fidella opened the door and gestured for them to enter.
Kristine clung to Erik’s hand as they stepped into the room. It was round and devoid of furnishings of any kind.
“Welcome.”
Kristine glanced around, but saw no one. She looked up at Erik, who was staring at the far side of the chamber.
“What do you see?” she whispered.
“I’m not sure.”
A low chuckle floated in the air. There was a shower of red sparks, and a man dressed in a flowing black robe materialized before them. He was tall and lean, with thick silver-gray hair, a short gray beard, and mild blue eyes beneath bushy black brows.
“I bid you welcome,” he said. A chair covered in red velvet appeared behind him and he sat down. A wave of his hand conjured a pair of similar chairs for his guests. “Please, make yourselves comfortable.”
Kristine put one hand on the back of the chair, as if to ascertain its solidity before she sat down. Erik remained standing.
“Is it cold in here?” the mage asked. Before either of his guests could answer, a fireplace appeared, complete with a cozy fire. “Wine?”
Another wave of his hand produced a small white lacquer table and a silver tray bearing three crystal goblets. “Please,” the wizard said, “help yourselves.”
Erik picked up the goblet nearest him and took a drink. It was honey wine, warm and sweet.
“Now,” the mage said, sitting back in his chair, “what is it you wish of me?”
“Don’t you know?” Erik asked.
The wizard smiled. “But of course. However, tiresome as it might be, I cannot grant your boon until you ask it of me.”
“I want to know if you can break a curse cast by another.”
“Perhaps.” The wizard gestured at Erik’s mask. “Take that off, please.”
Erik hesitated; he took a step back so that Kristine could not see his face and then removed the mask, clutching it tightly in his right hand.
The wizard’s eyes narrowed. Rising, he approached Erik, ran his fingertips over the left side of Erik’s face and neck. “Is this the full extent of the affliction?”
“No. It covers my left side and most of my right.”
The wizard grunted softly, a wave of his hand indicating Erik should disrobe.
With a sigh, Erik removed his garments, his heart pounding as he stood naked to the wizard’s gaze.
“Did this come upon you all at once, or little by little?”
“Little by little,” Erik replied. He stared at the back of Kristine’s head, praying she would not turn around. She had seen him as he was in the dungeon, he mused, he should have been used to it, but he could not bear for her to look at him, to see what he had become.
The mage grunted again. Rising, he walked slowly around Erik, one hand reaching out to touch the thick, dark pelt that covered his back and shoulders. “I’ve not seen a spell quite like this one before,” he remarked. “’Tis most . . . interesting. Did she say there was a way to reverse the spell?”
Erik shook his head. “She said the spell could not be broken until her daughter forgave me.”
“And where is her daughter?”
“Dead these last five years.”
The wizard let out a sigh, then returned to his chair and sat down. “You may dress.”
Erik quickly donned his clothing and mask. Only then did he sit down in the chair beside Kristine. “Can you help me?”
“I will make you no promises. Should I be able to break this spell, what price are you willing to pay?”
“Whatever you ask,” Kristine said quickly.
The mage looked at her, a speculative gleam in his mild blue eyes. “Indeed?” His gaze moved over her, resting a moment on her swollen belly. “Anything I ask?”
“Yes,” she said. “Anything.”
“What have you to offer?”
“I have lands and wealth,” Erik said. “All are yours if you can remove this curse.”