Twin Curse(44)

She took a deep breath. "Look, I don't like it any more than you do, but  the truth is, we're in over our head. While it was just a couple of  trolls at a time, we could fight them. But if they come in greater  numbers, and use magic, we don't stand a chance. I don't see that we  have any other choice but to ask the mages for help."

This time, Mianna and Terion were silent. They looked at one another, then Mianna sighed. "How can we trust them?"

"They're people, Mia, just like you and I. Magic doesn't change that."  She was going to need more than that to change her sister's mind.  Brianna took a deep breath. "Look, as you said, I've been talking to  him, and he doesn't seem that bad. The only thing he wants is to remove  the threat of these mages. Our goal is the same in that respect. We can  make a deal. We give him the gem, and he defeats the trolls and then  leaves."

She ignored the stab of pain in her heart at the thought of Lyall  leaving. It would be best for all of them if he did. And the gem, and  the promise of defeating the mages it held, might just be the one thing  that would convince him to agree to it.

Mianna reached for Terion's hand, and he nodded. She sighed. "It seems  like we have no other options. We can talk to him, and if he can find a  way to defend us against the trolls rather than attacking them, then I  suppose we can lend him the gem."

It was a concession at least. Privately, Brianna wasn't convinced Lyall  would stop at simply defending. And she wasn't sure she could disagree  with him. It was far easier to see the mages similarity to normal people  than the trolls. Would a defence ever be enough to keep them at bay?

Unless …  "What if we could block the pass?" she blurted out.

"We've talked about that for generations," Mianna reminded her. "It's  impossible. Anything we put there, the trolls just dig through.  Remember?"

Their mother had told them stories as children about the time the  villagers had tried to block the pass. Six months they'd spent,  quarrying and carrying the stone to build a wall. The trolls had  destroyed it in six minutes.

"But what if we use magic?"

Mianna and Terion stared at her. "Can magic do something like that?" Terion asked doubtfully.

Brianna bit her lip to stop herself blurting out that magic could do  just about anything. "I don't know, but we could ask the prince."

Mianna nodded hesitantly, then more strongly. "Yes. That would be the perfect solution. Let's find him and discuss it."

Brianna had risen half way out of her chair to do just that, when there  was a loud banging at the front door. She hid a smile. Had Lyall grown  impatient and saved them the trouble of finding him?

But it wasn't Lyall who greeted her when she opened the door. One of her men stood there, his face grim.

"What is it?" Mianna asked anxiously.

"There are more mages coming up the road," he said grimly. "At least double the number that's here already, perhaps more."

"Doesn't mean us any harm, huh?" Mianna turned on her. "Perhaps he was just biding his time until the reinforcements arrived?"

"More likely he wanted more mages to help him fight the trolls," Brianna countered.

"And what, they were just in the next village waiting? Come on, Bri, get  real. He sent for those mages long before he'd even heard of the  trolls."

There was another possibility-that the mages had come more quickly,  using magical wind and jumping as she had. She'd made it here within  hours that day, and she had no experience to speak of. But she couldn't  tell Mianna that. "How about we find out what he says before making our  decision?" she suggested.         

     



 

Mianna nodded grudgingly and together all three of them headed for the  front gate, arriving just as King Balen reined in his horse in front of  them. The look of horror in his face as he hit the barrier, then saw her  next to Mianna, would have been comical if her heart hadn't been  hammering painfully in her chest. What was he doing here?

He backed his horse up a few steps and opened his mouth to speak.

She'd never been more relieved to see Lyall than when he stepped in  front of her and said hurriedly, "Father, we need to talk. In private."

King Balen didn't take the hint. "Did you know she was a twin when you bonded with her?" he demanded.

"I can explain everything, but in private, please," Lyall repeated.

"What are you talking about?" Mianna demanded. "No one here is bonded to anyone." She looked at Brianna for explanation.

"Which one is which? I can't tell the difference." King Balen sounded amused. Amused!

"Father!" Lyall hissed. "Not now."

"She doesn't deserve your protection, Lyall. Surely you've realised that  by now. I told you she was one of them when she left. Surely you're not  so besotted you can't see that?"

Lyall's face was frozen, hanging between embarrassment and anger. He said nothing.

"How about you pay attention to your son and discuss this with him in  private." Brianna's voice was icy. "And maybe try listening to him for  once, instead of thinking you know everything."

King Balen's amusement disappeared. "I never did like you. I overlooked  your insolence because of your obvious power and the advantages it could  bring Lyall. Being a twin even helps that. But don't think it will buy  you a place on Isla de Magi. Once we're done here, you and your sister  can rot in the dungeon." He waved to the men on either side of him.  "Bring her back to the camp. Bring both of them."

"Take a few steps forwards and try that," Brianna snarled. She had no  idea if he could throw his magic through the barrier or not, but she  took the chance. Anger coursed through her, focusing through the gem  against her breast. She lifted a hand and let the anger flow out through  her fingers in the form of fire.

There was complete and utter silence, save for the cracking of the  flames. The light flickered, reflecting off the faces that surrounded  her, most showing pure fear. King Balen's face twisted and he pulled his  horse back another step.

Brianna had to admit she was a little impressed that that was the only sign of distress he gave.

"Anna," Lyall said softly beside her. He put his hand on her arm.

The anger bled out of her in a rush and the flames faded. She swayed  ever so slightly on her feet, colours flashing in front of her eyes.

Lyall slipped an arm around her waist, and she was torn between being  glad of the support and annoyed by it, especially with Mianna staring  disbelievingly at her. She was never going to be able to explain this to  her twin's satisfaction.

"Lyall." His father's voice held a warning tone. "I think it might be time for that explanation."

Lyall looked down at her, ignoring his father for a moment. "Are you all right?" he asked.

Brianna stared at him. What a stupid question. Of course she wasn't all  right. She had to somehow explain this to Mianna, not to mention deal  with his father's threats. And Lyall probably wasn't going to be much  help. He never had been very good at standing up to the king.

She pushed herself away from him, her strength returning. "I'm fine."  She turned away deliberately. "Go and calm your father down. I have  enough to do with dealing with the mess he made here."

He didn't move and it took all her willpower not to turn around and look  at him. Instead, she stared at Mianna's angry face. No, this wasn't  going to be easy to explain at all.

"Lyall!" the king's voice commanded.

Lyall sighed and turned away. "Yes, Father."

*****

Anger simmered just under the surface as Lyall followed his father  wordlessly back to the camp. It bubbled and threatened to spill over as  the king took his time dismounting and pulling off his riding gloves.  But Lyall had plenty of practice at keeping it under control.

Finally, they were alone in the tent, the flap closed behind them.

"When you sent for more troops, I thought you'd just found the mages.  But you've known they were here for several days, haven't you?"

Lyall bit back a loud denial, took a deep breath, and attempted to explain calmly. "Brianna isn't one of them."

The king's eyebrows shot up. "Good grief. Can't you see past your lust  for long enough to realise that she's lying to you? You saw that magical  display, and in an area shielded from magic. Can you really still  believe she's innocent?"         

     



 

"I can and do," Lyall said firmly. "I've been here longer than you have,  so how about you give me a chance to explain before you make up your  mind?"

"I'm listening."

Lyall thought over the whole crazy story. Turning up here, seeing  Brianna, finding out about her twin, the magical barrier, and then the  history of this village all seemed so unbelievable. And then the trolls.  He mustn't forget the trolls.

"This village has been here, guarding the pass over the mountains, since  the Great War. Brianna's people have long since forgotten that this was  their purpose, but they've guarded the pass against attack after attack  despite this. They have nothing to do with the shield, and didn't even  know it existed."