Twin Curse(41)

Brianna grinned at him, and Lyall bit his tongue to stop from screaming  at her. She knew, and she knew he couldn't tell. If he told the  villagers that the gem stopped any of his mages using their magic within  the walls, then the villagers would attempt to throw them out of the  village.

The only way to stay inside would be bloodshed. He didn't want that.

But Brianna didn't want her twin knowing the truth any more than he did. Not the whole truth anyway. He could use that.

"They will make me more powerful, yes," he agreed, watching Brianna's  face as he outright lied. "But given that I'm already far more powerful  than you, I don't think that's any real threat. Not compared to those  trolls out there raiding your village, using magic this time."

Brianna scowled at him. Then her face brightened. "But if the trolls  could use magic, then they would have used it previously. And they  haven't. Maybe the curse the others put on them means they can't use  magic?"

Damn the woman. She was trying to get him to admit it. Had she forgotten  she had as much reason to keep this quiet as he did? Maybe she needed  reminding?

Lyall shrugged casually. "Never mind. The magic can't possibly make me as powerful as marrying twins can."

"What are you talking about?" Mianna's voice shook.

"You wouldn't dare!" Brianna said through gritted teeth.

He ignored Brianna and turned to her twin. "Your village may be unaware  of the truth, but there is a reason that twins marry together. The  powerful magical bond between them is magnified when they sleep with  their husband or wife for the first time. And since your village was  founded by mages, both of you have the same power."

He ignored the stab of guilt the very real fear in her eyes caused. He  didn't mean it, he placated himself. He was just trying to get Brianna  to back down. It was for the good of her village, not for his personal  gain. She knew the stakes. She should be working with him, not against  him.

"But we're already married," Mianna said, but her bravado was weaker.

"I can fix that," he said flatly.

"Don't even think about it." Brianna's voice was cold. "I may not know  how to use my magic, but I'm willing to give it a try if I have to."

Her threat was obvious. And it gave him a clear clue where the gem was.  He eyed her, trying to judge if she really would attempt to use her  magic against him if he tried to wrestle the gem off her. An untrained  mage could, in theory, be more dangerous than a fully trained one,  simply by virtue of their unpredictability.         

     



 

Brianna's eyes were cold and angry. No sign of softness, or her feelings  for him. He couldn't risk it. But backing down would be equally  dangerous. This village was the only access to the pass and the mage  trolls on the other side.

He couldn't leave them unprotected. Even ignoring his feelings for  Brianna, if she died, he did. So he had to protect her whether she liked  it or not.

"Are you willing to risk your entire village?" he said calmly. "Yes, you  may be able to use magic, but its effects are rarely predictable  without years of training. A simple mistake could destroy the village as  easily as it could me. Even assuming you can make it do anything."

"Then if you don't want to find out, I suggest you get out of my house.  Now!" Brianna glared at him. "And next time you visit, remember to  knock." There was a minute softening in her eyes, enough to let him know  that she wasn't going to push it.

He took her offered exit. He bowed low. "As you wish, Queen Brianna."  The name tickled him. He intended to see her be his queen. Just as soon  as this mess was sorted out.

Not waiting to see her reaction, he withdrew from the room and went to explain to the men outside why he didn't need them.





"That was much better," Mianna said approvingly as the door closed behind Lyall. "Much more like the Brianna I know."

Brianna gave a small smile. If only she could agree with her twin. But  she couldn't shake the feeling that she'd made a mistake. Probably a big  one. Lyall was right, she couldn't hope to defend the village against  the trolls if they had magic. But explaining it to Mianna was just  impossible. She was too far into the lie to back out now.

"Mama, we go walk. You promised!" Lylis's small voice was somewhat of a relief.

It gave her the chance to turn away from Mianna and hide her face in her  daughter's hair as she scooped her up. "That's right, I did promise.  How about we go now?"

The chubby face lit up. "Now?"

"Now," Brianna confirmed. She'd been so busy lately, so caught up on  Lyall's appearance and everything that had been happening that she  hadn't been giving Lylis enough attention. That was something she could  fix.

"Don't forget to be back in time to wash up for dinner," Mianna said.

"Wash up?" Brianna tickled Lylis under the chin. "Why would we need to  wash up after a walk? We wouldn't get dirty doing that, would we?"

Lylis's childish giggle warmed her heart. "Course not, Mama. We no get dirty."

Mianna hid a smile, and turned away, responding to Kylis's call down the  hallway. Brianna helped her daughter put on her boots, picked up a  basket for the inevitable treasures they would bring back, and hand in  hand they walked out the back door towards the fields.

The warm air and sunshine helped clear her head, even if doubts  lingered. Lylis picked bunches of the spring flowers and brought them  for her to carry, and she inhaled the fresh, sweet scent. "Mama,  stwawbewwies!" Lylis called excitedly. She looked up, her mouth stuffed  with the sweet red fruit. "You wan one?"

Brianna came and took the offered strawberry. "Mmmm, yum," she agreed.

There was movement back towards the village. More of Lyall's soldiers  spread throughout, not doing anything, just taking up positions in  various locations, many towards the pass end of the village. What was  Lyall doing?

"I bet Mama, Daddy and Kylis would like some strawberries too, why don't  we pick them some?" she encouraged. Might be best if they headed back  to the house soon, so she could find out what was going on.

"More stwawbewwies!" Lylis reached for another one and Brianna helped  her pick as many as they could find. With their basket full, Brianna  turned for home and noticed Lyall in the distance, heading towards them.  He was between them and the house, so there was no avoiding him. She  bit her lip, half wishing she had taken Mianna's advice and hidden the  gem somewhere at home, not kept it with her.

She reached for Lylis's hand and the little girl reached for hers. Lyall  had almost reached them, so to move now would seem like she was  avoiding him. And she wasn't. Not completely.

His eyes softened when he looked at their daughter, and for a moment,  Brianna had a vision of what could have been. Lyall would make the  perfect father, so different to his own, caring and attentive. She could  easily imagine him swinging Lylis onto his shoulders as she giggled,  and carrying her back to the house, one hand holding hers.

The picture made tears prick the back of her eyelids. She couldn't think  about it. It wasn't possible, and she needed to accept that. Terion was  a kind attentive father too, who never played favourites with the two  little girls. Lylis didn't need anyone else. And neither did she.         

     



 

"Good afternoon, Brianna." Lyall said seriously, though his eyes were on  the little girl who had gone silent when he approached. She pulled in  closer to Brianna's legs, hanging back, but peering around, not wanting  to miss anything.

So they were going to be polite, despite the argument earlier. She could do that. "Good afternoon, Prince Balen."

He frowned at the formal name, but didn't object. "You shouldn't be so  far from the village alone. Not near this wall." He glanced at the  archers on the towers near the gate, and Brianna couldn't help but  follow his gaze. They stared towards the pass, ever vigilant, but  relaxed enough to tell her there was no sign of trouble.

"I've been playing in these fields since I was a child," she said  calmly. "The watchers in the pass will alert us of any trolls in plenty  of time to get home."

Lylis gave a squeal at the mention of the trolls and clutched at Brianna's leg.

"And if they die silently before they even know anyone is coming?" Lyall demanded.

A chill ran down her spine. She fought the urge to glance around as  though they might be lurking in the grass. "Then the sentries on the  towers will see them. I won't live my life in fear," she said firmly.  She detached her daughter from her leg, and swung her up onto her hip.  "You're frightening Lylis, how about we talk about this later?"

His eyes met hers and he bit back his words, instead nodding. "Of course," he agreed.

Lylis regarded him with big eyes. "Twolls big but dumb, Mama take care of them if they come."