So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced #2)

“Suit yourself.” Gunther strode out the church’s door, followed by his personal guard.

Brigitta heard the sound of barking and rushed to the church door to peer outside. The dog Brody was circling the king’s entourage and growling at them.

“Brody!” Brigitta ran toward him as Gunther aimed a kick at him.

“Control that mutt of yours,” Gunther growled as he mounted his horse. “And behave yourself. Remember, I’m having you watched. Don’t go near that damned Seven.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Brigitta curtsied as Gunther and his entourage took off. The sound of horse hooves clattered on the cobblestones of the village square.

She spotted Rupert across the square with his horse saddled and ready to go as he conducted his own search for the seal. There was only one guard assigned to him now. Apparently, Gunther didn’t consider him much of a threat, since he believed he and Mador would find the seal. Nearby, there were two guards watching her.

Kneeling down by Brody, she patted him on the head. Instantly her senses went on alert. Brody was also keeping a great number of secrets. “Now be a good dog, and don’t get in the soldiers’ way,” she said loud enough for her guards to hear.

As she leaned close to hug him, she whispered in Brody’s ear, “The seal was hidden in a golden orb like the ones used in churches. Tell Seven that I’ll check this church, and he can check the others in the area.”

Brody yipped in response, then trotted off down a narrow street.

Rupert strode down a parallel street, his guard trailing along behind. No doubt, Rupert intended to catch up with Brody soon.

As Brigitta headed back into the church, her guards started to follow. “Could you wait out here, please? I’d like some privacy while I pray.”

With a nod, they took up positions on either side of the door.

Brigitta closed the church door, then hurried down the main aisle to the altar. There she examined the yellow, wooden orb until she was able to open it.

Nothing inside.

With a sigh, she fastened it back together. Hopefully, Rupert would have better luck.

*

Rupert dashed around a corner, then waited for his guard to appear. A quick punch to the jaw, and his guard crumbled to the ground.

Brody trotted up and shifted into human form.

“Did she see where the seal is?” Rupert asked.

“Inside a golden orb, like the ones used in churches,” Brody replied as he yanked the breeches off the fallen guard. “She said she’d try the church here, and we could check the others nearby.”

Rupert turned toward the village square. “I want to see her.”

“You can’t. She has two guards watching her.”

Rupert glanced over his shoulder at Brody, who was quickly getting dressed in the fallen guard’s clothes. “You could send them away. I need to see her.”

Brody shot him an annoyed look. “Do we have time for this?”

“We’ll make time.” Rupert handed him the guard’s boots.

Brody sat and tugged them on. “I caught the scent of the Chameleon. He hasn’t taken Gunther’s place yet. But he’s definitely close to him, maybe one of his personal guards.”

“Let’s go.” Rupert headed back to the village square, then waited, hidden around a corner.

Brody, now dressed as a guard, dashed toward Brigitta’s guards in front of the church. “Hurry! Seven has escaped with some of the king’s gold!” He pointed north. “He went that way!”

The two guards took off.

As soon as they were out of sight, Rupert led his horse across the village square. “Stand guard,” he told Brody, then eased inside the church.

Golden light filtered through the long windows, illuminating the altar with its yellow orb. On the right, barely visible in the shadows, he saw Brigitta kneeling beside a crypt. His heart stuttered. Mother.

The door behind him swung shut with a clunk that echoed throughout the small church. Brigitta glanced toward him and rose to her feet.

He took a step forward, then stopped as memories seized him by the throat, choking the air from him. Once again, he was that young, frightened boy, sprawled over the crypt, crying for his mother. Don’t leave me.

“Is it safe for you to be here?” Brigitta whispered as she moved to the main aisle.

It would never be safe. Not until he gained back his father’s throne.

“Did my guards see you?” Brigitta asked.

He shook his head. “They’re gone. Did you … see my mother?”

“Her shoes.” Tears glistened in Brigitta’s eyes. “I saw her hands in a vision. And I felt her fear and grief. I’m so sorry. I wish there had been another…” She paused when he strode toward her, his steps faster and faster.

She ran to him, and he swept her into his arms, holding her tight. “Brigitta.”

“I’m here.” She grasped his shoulders.

“Don’t ever leave me.” He cradled her face with his hands and kissed her. She returned his passion, her hands skimming up his neck and into his hair.

Brody cleared his throat at the door. “We need to go.”

Rupert stepped back, slowly releasing Brigitta.

“The seal isn’t here.” She motioned toward the altar. “But I think it could be somewhere close.”

Rupert nodded. “I’ll find it.”

She smiled, her eyes glimmering with tears. “And if I find it, I’ll give it to you. Trust me.”

“I do.” As Rupert left the church, one of Brigitta’s guards was returning and spotted him.

“Seven!” The guard ran toward the church.

Crap. Rupert quickly mounted his horse.

“I’ll catch him,” Brody yelled at the guard.

As Rupert rode away, Brody pretended to be chasing him. By the time Rupert had reached the outskirts of the village, Brody was soaring overhead as an eagle.





Chapter Thirty-Three

Brigitta’s guards accompanied her as she wandered from the village to Gunther’s encampment. The troops had set up camp in a wide, green valley where they would have access to the water of the nearby stream. She shuddered at the sight of the large mountain that loomed over them. That had to be where Rupert’s mother had fallen to her death.

She motioned to a flat boulder alongside the stream. “I’d like to rest there for a while, if you don’t mind. Please feel free to return without me.”

“We’re supposed to watch you,” one of the guards protested.

“You can see me from the camp,” she replied. “I won’t go anywhere, I promise.”

They bowed their heads and hurried off to the camp where, no doubt, the smell of roasting meat was calling to them.

Brigitta settled on the flat boulder. The shallow stream splashed over rocks as it started its long journey to the Great Western Ocean. Upstream, it flowed through the village, providing it with water. Here, it bisected a meadow, dotted with wildflowers. Across the stream, just beyond the meadow, a forest began and ascended into foothills and the high mountain.