“Found it,” Draxton crowed, jabbing at the paper he was reading. “There’s a spell here called ‘unending sleep.’”
“Sounds about right,” Lucyan said as he and Ryolas crowded close to read the entry. It was listed under “miscellaneous techniques” in an appendix. There was a counterspell neither of them could use, but the entry did say that, in a pinch, two very strong magnets applied to each side of the sleeper’s temples could also be used to awaken the patient.
“Doing so could result in slight loss of memory,” Ryolas read aloud. He scowled. “I don’t like the sound of that.”
“The alternatives are to find a warlock we can trust to undo the spell, or bring her back like this and hope we can find someone in Elvenhame who can counteract the effects,” Lucyan reminded him.
Ryolas sighed. “I suppose we really don’t have much choice. But where do we find magnets? It is far too late to go to the market now, and even then, I’m not sure who sells them.”
“I actually have a few,” Draxton said, surprising them both. He pulled them out of his pocket, then gave them a sheepish look when they stared at him. “I like to play with them when I’m thinking. Helps me puzzle out problems for whatever reason.”
Lucyan took the magnets from his palm, then held them close, testing the pull. “They certainly seem strong,” he said as the magnets struggled toward each other. “Let’s give them a try.”
The three of them crowded around Basilla, who looked the same as before. Her chest rose with slow, even breaths as they approached the bed, and she looked so peaceful that if Lucyan hadn’t known she was under an enchantment, he would have been loath to wake her.
“We’ll do it together,” he said to Ryolas, handing him one of the magnets. The two of them stood on either side of the bed and leaned over. “On the count of three,” he said.
Ryolas nodded. “One, two, three.”
They pressed the magnets to the side of Basilla’s head. At first, nothing happened, but suddenly, an electrical charge sizzled around both sides of her head, blowing Lucyan and Ryolas back. Lucyan slammed into the wall so hard that something from the next room crashed to the ground—likely a picture frame. Wincing, he rubbed the back of his head as he pushed himself off the wall.
“Ryolas?” Basilla asked, sitting up in bed. Her eyes were cloudy, her voice thick with confusion as she looked around the room. “What am I doing here?”
“Oh, you’re awake!” Ryolas cried, his voice filled with joy and relief. He sat down on the edge of the bed and swept Basilla up in a fierce hug. “I am so glad,” he said, his arms wrapping tightly around her. “For a little while there I thought you were never going to wake up.”
“Do you remember anything?” Lucyan asked cautiously, watching Basilla’s face. “About what happened the last time you were awake? It’s Lucyan,” he said hastily when she stared at him, realizing she did not know his disguise.
Basilla bit her lip. “I remember Prince Mordan threatening me,” she said. “I’m not really sure what happened, but I woke up in a strange place, and he was standing before me, demanding that I marry him.” Her brow furrowed, her eyes sparking with anger as more of the memory seemed to come back to her. “He tried to use his magic to get me to submit, but I used my own powers to resist him. I think the elven goddess helped me too,” she admitted. “He used a warlock spell to try to control my will that should have worked, but I felt her presence wrap around me, and I was able to hold out against him.”
“Bastard,” Ryolas growled, his face reddening with anger. He pulled back to study his sister. “How did you keep him from beating you? Why did he put you to sleep?”
Basilla gave them a smug smile. “When he threatened to torture me, I told him I would kill myself, and that Shalia would avenge me,” she said. “He grew fed up, and used a spell to put me to sleep. I confess that I am glad he did,” she added, “as I might have gone mad otherwise. Luckily, we don’t seem to be very close to all that metal and smoke, so I have not been as badly affected as I feared.”
“That is good to hear, because you will need your strength,” Lucyan said. “You and Ryolas will be leaving very shortly.”
“You are not coming with us?” Basilla asked, alarmed.
Lucyan shook his head. “I’ve got unfinished business. But don’t worry about me. I will follow along soon enough.”
“Very well,” Basilla said. She rose from the bed and wrapped her arms around him in a gentle hug. “Thank you for helping Ryolas rescue me,” she said softly in his ear. “And whatever you’re doing, be careful. Dareena will be devastated if you don’t return.”
Lucyan hugged her back. “Believe me, I have no intention of letting these warlock scum deprive me of my home or my mate.”
He hugged Ryolas hard, saying his goodbyes and wishing them both safe travels, then slipped out and headed back to the castle. With any luck, he would manage to get a few hours of shut eye before the sergeant awoke them and put them through their usual morning torture.
At least this will be over soon, he thought as he ran swiftly, sticking to the shadows. He couldn’t wait to be back home with his family and find out what they’d been up to in his absence.
22
Later that afternoon, Drystan introduced Alistair and Dareena to Rofana, the new oracle. Alistair was pleased to see she was not a young, inexperienced thing, but a worldly woman who seemed to conduct herself with grace. She had a sage aura about her, and a smile that seemed to know all the secrets in the world.
All good qualities to have when you were an oracle, Alistair decided.
“It is a shame so many of our people are superstitious against magic,” Alistair said as they had tea in the sitting room of Rofana’s quarters. Drystan had set her up in one of their most lavish suites, as was only befitting her new station. “You would think that in a realm ruled by dragons, they would not be so closed-minded.”
Rofana shrugged. “Many of them believe only those who have been chosen by the gods should be allowed to wield power. It comforts them, because as humans, they will never be able to do it themselves. They must justify it in their heads as to why the dragon kings and the elves are able to do such amazing things, while they cannot.”
Dareena shook her head. “As a human myself, I’ve never understood it. We may not have magic, but that does not make us less worthy. Humans are capable of greatness, just like any other race.”
Drystan nodded. “As much as I dislike the warlocks, I admit their kingdom is a perfect example of this. Unlike us, they have allowed their humans to embrace technology, and they have made great strides with their civilization. Perhaps we should do the same.”