Blood of the Guardian Read online

  Alec snorted and nabbed another apple from the bowl. He whipped it at him, but Nolan easily snatched it from the air.

  “So are you ready to take on an army?” Alec asked.

  “Do I need to? As strong as the Talasian warriors are, they don’t have Shay powers. The Rol’dan can defend themselves without me.”

  “Or,” Rayen said, “we will all talk and become friends.”

  Alec’s eyes softened at Rayen. “Of course.”

  Nolan wasn’t worried about the Talasians. Rayen was right: Once they saw her, their violence could very well pass, especially if their queen was alive and well. Nolan ran a hand over his chin and sighed. At least this pending confrontation helped him avoid his thoughts of Rikar. He wondered where the Guardian was now. Would he ever see him again? He said he would find out more about Jezebelle’s past. Was she Nolan’s sister?

  Nolan turned to Alec and found his friend’s eyes studying him.

  “Hey, Rayen?” Alec said.

  “Yes?”

  “Could you go to the kitchen and bring me more apples?”

  She nodded and stood. “Would you like anything else?”

  “A pitcher of water would be great.”

  She glided across the room and passed through the door.

  Nolan laughed. “How’d you manage to get a queen waiting on you like a servant?”

  Alec scowled. “Okay, Nolan. What’s wrong?”

  Nolan’s jaw dropped. “What do you mean? There’s only a war coming, and the stones are missing. My powers weaken by the day, and the Guardians are risking their lives to try and get the stones back for me. What else could there be?”

  “No. Something else is bothering you. It’s been bothering you since you returned from that nightforsaken gypsy camp.”

  “I’ve been through a lot. I told you what happened.”

  Determination flared in Alec’s emotions. “You’re a bad liar. Something is eating you—and you’re going to tell me.”

  Nolan stared, shocked. Was he that transparent? His issues were small in comparison to everything else going on. Why should he bother Alec with his problems?

  “You can tell me anything,” Alec said, his emotions stubborn.

  Nolan nodded slowly. It would be good to tell someone, especially Alec. He sighed. “Rikar is my father.”

  “Wasn’t your father’s name Boren or Boden or something?”

  Nolan leveled his gaze at Alec.

  Alec sucked in a breath. “Oh … you mean your father isn’t really your father.”

  Silence followed, and Nolan studied his hands.

  “Um, Nolan? Who’s Rikar?”

  Nolan hesitated. He pried the next words from his throat. “Rikar is the Guardian I met at the gypsy camp.”

  Realization fell across Alec’s face. “Oh … That Rikar? Are you sure?”

  Nolan nodded, his head heavy.

  “Does this explain what you are?”

  Nolan nodded again.

  Staring ahead, Alec crunched another bite from his apple, chewing slowly. “Here I thought you were having trouble with Kat.”

  Nolan snorted a laugh. “Kat? Why would I be having trouble with Kat? I’ve barely seen her since I returned.”

  “Was hoping you two would … Well, she likes you.”

  Nolan sighed. “I know.”

  “And you like her too.”

  Nolan’s eyes widened. “I don’t—”

  “Don’t even try,” Alec said. “Like I said, you’re a bad liar.”

  “Is it fair to her? I’m not even human!”

  “Honestly,” Alec said, his mouth rising in a smirk. “I don’t think Kat minds.”

  Nolan groaned and put both hands on his head. This was the least of his concerns, as if he needed something else to clutter his mind.

  Alec sucked in a breath. “Wait! What about Jezebelle? Is she half Guardian too?”

  “So it would seem.”

  “So who is her father?”

  Nolan shrugged. “Rikar had done this before. To a lot of women, I guess. My mother was one of many. He transforms into humans, into people they know. Last night he pretended to be Emery—”

  Alec grabbed his arm. “Wait! You mean Megan?”

  “Don’t worry. Greer stopped him.”

  Alec nodded, his shoulders relaxing. “I was wondering what happened. So that’s why the Guardians destroyed the conference room. The soldiers and the staff talked about it all day.”

  “Greer wasn’t happy.”

  “I imagine not. I bet Emery wasn’t all that happy, either.”

  “No. Rikar left Faylinn right away.”

  Alec stared at him, sympathy pulsing from his emotions until realization, then shock took its place. “If Rikar does this, does that make Jezebelle … your sister?”

  “Maybe. Don’t know for sure.”

  “So, if she comes here,” Alec said, “are you okay with fighting her?”

  “I am,” Nolan said, although, truthfully, he wasn’t sure. He’d protect the people he loved, no matter who attacked them. The question that pressed in Nolan’s mind wasn’t if he was willing to fight her, it was if he’d be strong enough if she arrived. Hopefully, the Guardians would find her before she came to Faylinn. He needed the stones to have any chance.

  Rayen reappeared with a pitcher in one hand, a bowl of apples in the other, and a plate of pastries balanced on her arm. They both stared at her, impressed. She set them all down without fumbling.

  Alec’s face broke into a wide grin. “You are the best.”

  A smug grin pulled at her lips. “I must go. King Emery wants to talk about my people’s coming.”

  “I’ll see you this evening?”

  “Will be back soon.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek. Embarrassment leaked from Alec’s emotions, but his eyes followed her as she left the room.

  They dug into the pastries, and Nolan thought more about the possibility of fighting Jezebelle. Kael was a far better swordsman, at least in raw talent, than Nolan would ever be—if you didn’t count Nolan’s Shay advantages. And if Kael had struggled fighting her, Nolan definitely needed to learn more about this enemy. Which meant he needed to know everything about the way she fought. And though he could research—Emery had quite a big library—hands-on training was always more effective.

  “What does your father know about daggers?” Nolan asked.

  “Daggers?” Alec repeated as he brushed crumbs from his shirt. “You mean making them or fighting with them?”

  “Both.”

  “He makes perfect daggers, and he uses them well too. Why?”

  “Well,” Nolan said, “Jezebelle uses daggers.”

  “Ah. So you want to learn daggers?”

  Nolan shrugged. “Might be a good idea.”

  “You can do it,” Alec said. “You are half Guardian, after all.”

  Nolan cringed at the comment, even if Alec only teased him. “Want to come along? Or would you rather stay in bed?”

  Alec grinned; the scar dissecting his lip puckered. “Would I rather stay in bed? Darkness, no. I’m sure Father is at his forge.”

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  KARDOS DEVERELL WAS A MAN like no other. He only came up to Nolan’s chest, but he walked around Nolan, inspecting him like a farmer might examine a prize bull. Fearlessness and determination poured from the blacksmith. No one needed to question where Alec had gotten his pigheaded streak.

  “Take those off,” Kardos said, jabbing at the leather straps holding Nolan’s spikes. “And that too,” he said toward the blade.

  Nolan unbuckled his weapons and laid them on the ground near the wall, feeling naked. Since the incident with Jezebelle, he didn’t like being unarmed.

  “Take off your shirt,” Kardos said.

  Nolan looked at Alec, who held up both hands in a don’t look at me gesture. His friend tried to hide his grin, but his emotions were so full of mirth, it was quite a distraction.

  Nolan sighed and pulled hi
s tunic over his head. Kardos made another pass. “Will do, I suppose.” He slapped Nolan’s arm. “Hold it out.”

  Nolan did as he was told, and Kardos grabbed his wrist.

  The blacksmith’s hands were calloused and rough, with thick fingers and a strong grasp. He turned Nolan’s arm, examining it from each angle. He slapped Nolan’s palm open, then inspected it. “I don’t have any daggers your size. Can make some, but it’ll take a few days.”

  “Anything will be fine,” Nolan said.

  “Who’s the weapons master here? You? Don’t see you workin’ my forge.” He eyed him, brown eyes squinting under bushy brows. “The ones I have are too small. It’s got to fit properly.”

  He went to a wall where an arsenal of swords and bits of armor were displayed. In a short, squatty barrel near the ground, he rummaged through several handles. Finally, he pulled out two daggers. He tossed one at Nolan.

  Nolan caught it, his Accuracy flaring to life without thought. He cursed under his breath, pushing it back down. He couldn’t fritter away his power for something so simple as catching a blade.

  Kardos tilted his head. “Accuracy?” He circled Nolan one more time, the second dagger clutched in his hand. Nolan waited for him to finish searching for whatever he was looking for when pain flashed through his back.

  Nolan grabbed the spot, and his hand pulled away red and warm. Kardos held a dagger, its edge tinted with blood.

  “Lesson number one,” Kardos said. “Those who fight with daggers don’t follow rules. They don’t give a rat’s backside if you’re ready or not. They’d even prefer to sneak up on you if you let them. My guess is this gypsy of yours falls into that sort of description, eh?”

  Healing flared involuntarily, closing his wound; Kardos eyed the spot, a smirk hinting on his face. “Healing too, eh? Good. You’re going to need it.”

  Over the next hour, Kardos pushed him, slashing and jabbing, giving Nolan so many cuts he lost count. Any time Nolan even considered flaring a Shay power for defense, Kardos would explode, flinging curse words to make a dungeon guard blush.

  “This wench you’ll be fighting,” Kardos yelled, “she’ll be having the powers too? So don’t use them against me. When you fight her, you won’t have that advantage.”

  Nolan closed another wound—a nasty one on his shoulder—and refocused. He risked a glance at Alec, who seemed to enjoy this far too much. He turned back, just in time to feel Kardos’s dagger slide under his ribs, all the way to the hilt.

  Nolan gasped.

  Kardos pushed, jamming it farther in. His emotions were steady, not cruel. “Pay attention.”

  He yanked the blade out, and Nolan collapsed to his knees, his Healing flaring to life before he hit the ground.

  “Father!” Alec jumped to his feet.

  “Don’t get all worried, boy,” Kardos said, flicking his dagger and spotting the ground with red. “He can heal.”

  Nolan blinked back his shock and stabbed Kardos in the leg.

  Kardos yelled, and his leg buckled. Nolan grabbed his arm before the blacksmith fell and healed the wound closed. “I can heal others too.”

  A grin spread across Kardos’s face. He swiped his dagger toward Nolan, leaving a clean slash running horizontally across his chest.

  Nolan grunted, biting back the stinging pain. He flared his Healing, but not before a crimson waterfall painted his chest.

  Kardos stepped away, tossing his dagger from one hand to the other; his eyes were as wild as his hair. “All right, lad. Let’s see what you’ve really got. Just don’t kill me.”

  ***

  As with any lesson from Kardos, it always drew a crowd. The first time he’d met Alec in Alton, Nolan had walked into Kardos’s shop and watched him and his father dueling as if to the death. Today was similar, except Nolan was the one being sliced by the blacksmith. Alec sat to the side, grinning, having the time of his life. And, unlike Alec’s fights, this one was a bloodbath.

  Kardos swept in, jabbing and leaving a mark.

  Nolan yanked back, sporting a new gouge. It hurt worse than a hornet’s sting.

  The soldiers whooped a chorus of cheers.

  Nolan flared his Healing, but Kardos jabbed again. He tried to dodge, doing his best to keep his powers in check. The only thing that kept him going was dishing out his fair share of damage as well.

  Kardos was unpredictable. Every time Nolan assumed he knew what the blacksmith would do, he’d pull another trick. He was right about dagger fighting; there were no rules.

  Nolan lunged in, using his long arms to his advantage.

  Kardos staggered, cursing, his eyes blazing blue with Accuracy Shay.

  An older woman, still attractive for her age, leaned over to touch Kardos’s sweaty arm, sealing his wound. Nolan sighed, relieved. It was risky using this much Healing for himself, let alone others.

  Nolan trudged next to Alec and grabbed a towel to mop his head. “Enjoying yourself?”

  Alec laughed. “Immensely.” He handed Nolan a mug of water. “Um, watch out.”

  Nolan didn’t move fast enough, for the knife slid under his ribs. Nolan gritted his teeth, growling in pain. What’s with the nightforsaken ribs?

  “Pay attention!” Kardos scolded, probably for the twentieth time.

  Nolan cursed as Kardos yanked out his blade. The soldiers, of course, all roared in thunderous approval. Some clapping. Some cheering. Money exchanged hands. They’re betting against me?

  Nolan surged his Shay, healing the wound.

  Kardos came at him again.

  Nolan threw up his hands. “Enough!”

  Alec snorted. “Oh, Nolan.”

  “Enough?” Kardos said, eyes on fire. Not anger, but stubbornness pounded from his emotions.

  With a dagger in each hand … Where did he get another nightforsaken dagger? … Kardos went at him. Nolan threw up his arm, blocking his torso, trying to ignore the pain as it sliced his arm. Blood dripped to the dirt.

  Kardos still pressed forward, stabbing upward. Nolan jumped back, trying to get some space.

  “Fight back!” Kardos roared, still jabbing. Finally, Kardos dove at him, dropped one dagger, and used his arm to grab Nolan’s. He thrust, sinking the dagger into Nolan’s side.

  Nolan’s breath left him. As soon as Kardos freed his blade, Nolan’s Healing took hold.

  Kardos, who’d fought like a maniac just a moment before, casually stepped away, shaking his head with disapproval. “I could’ve went straight into your heart.”

  As he caught his breath, Nolan noticed that more Rol’dan passed coins from one to another, laughing. Kael slipped a full money pouch into an inner pocket of his jerkin. Nolan blinked back shock. Kael bet against me?

  “Come back tomorrow, lad,” Kardos said. He held out his hand, offering it to Nolan. “Good fight.”

  Nolan examined Kardos. It was as if he’d been in a war. Blood matted the hair on his chest. Swipes of blood coated his face, his arms, his legs. Nolan had gotten a fair amount of jabs in, but Kardos had done more. If Kardos looked that gory, Nolan didn’t want to know how much carnage covered him.

  The room started to clear.

  Kael smiled. “Brother! You fight well.” He eyed Kardos. “He fights better.”

  “Profitable for you?” Nolan said, his voice laced with annoyance.

  “Yes! Thank you!” Kael patted his jingling pocket. “I’ll be back tomorrow. You best make me lose my profit.”

  “You’ll bet against me again?”

  Kael threw back his head and laughed. “When you’re fighting against the bladesmith? Every time.” His smiled faded. “Why daggers? You’re already good with a sword.”

  “The gypsy,” Nolan said.

  “Ah, yes. Her. It’s a good idea.” Kael slapped Nolan’s arm and drew back his blood-coated palm. “Get cleaned up. You look like death.”

  Alec approached, still pale and drawn.

  Kael’s eyes traveled the length of him. “Should you be out of bed?”


  “Probably not. But I can’t lie there anymore.”

  “I’m surprised you stayed put so long.” Kael strode toward the door, and several officers saluted him. “See you tomorrow.”

  Kardos had already returned to his place at his forge, his hands gripped around a pair of tongs. The woman who’d been healing him leaned over a chair, chatting. Kardos smiled.

  “Who’s that?” Nolan asked.

  “Her?” Alec smiled. “Her name is Grace, I think. She’s nice.”

  Kardos laughed at something she said.

  “I can’t believe he’s working after fighting.”

  Alec snorted. “Father never slows. He’s always the first to rise and the last to sleep. Sometimes I wonder if he sleeps at all.”

  Kardos laughed again while the woman leaned in. Nolan dipped into their thoughts, just a little, and smiled.

  “Going to make me stand here all day?” a voice said.

  Nolan turned. Kat stood at the door, leaning against the frame. Nolan’s leather straps, laden with spikes, were tossed over her shoulder. His white tunic and scabbard were clutched in her hands. Since he’d returned to Faylinn, he’d hardly seen her. She’d been busy being a soldier while Nolan had hidden in his room trying to deal with other things. But seeing her now made his insides warm. He’d missed her.

  “I’m going to head to the castle,” Alec said.

  “You need help?” Nolan asked.

  “Not from you! You’re a mess.” He nodded toward Kat with a sly grin. “Go ahead. I’ll be fine.”

  Nolan knew he was lying. He could barely walk. He would struggle to get back, but Alec would be okay with the struggle.

  “All right,” Nolan said. “I’ll check on you later.”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Alec limped off, smiling at Kat before stepping out the door. “Take your time.”

  Kat pushed off the wall and stepped toward Nolan.

  “Thanks,” he said, holding out his hands for his things.

  “No way,” she said. “You’ll ruin everything.”

  For the first time, Nolan examined himself. A thin coating of blood nearly covered him. Some dried, some still wet and sticky. His hands were worst of all. “Suppose you’re right.”

  “Of course I’m right,” she said. “Come on.”