The Company

The Company
He walked through the streets of the city, the filth bleached by Esprits pale light. Walking away from the noisy revelling at the Merchant Arms, towards the dark streets of the poor quarter. He had been summoned.
His stride was lazy and relaxed, but he looked around him, eyes sharp. He had one hand on his sword hilt, though he was not likely to use that even if he were attacked. Once or twice as he walked, someone appeared in the street, they would look at him suspiciously, then their eyes would fall on the pendant that hung down to his chest and they would scurry off, looking back over their shoulders fearfully in case he ordered them to stop. That brought a flickering smile to his lips.
He ducked down a dank, narrow alleyway and knocked on a plain, unmarked door. It was opened by a pretty blonde woman with a cruel twist of a smile and hungry, darting eyes. She looked him up and down with these.
This is not the time for an evening stroll through the City, David. Alistair summoned you, you come to him with haste! She spoke in a cold, barking voice, used to giving orders and chastisement.
My humblest apologies, Anya, he replied, bowing to her with a flourish.
She scowled at him, twisting the prettiness from her face, then she stood aside to let him passed. Beyond her was a thin dark corridor which had a couple of doors leading off it. The last door on the right was open and yellow light from many candles spilled out of it. David strolled towards it, with Anya at his heels muttering to herself. He stopped at the open door and she walked round him into the room. In the centre of the room, among a mass of candles, an ancient man sat slumped on what looked like a wooden throne. White hair streaked with occasional black lay in thick lank locks around his face and shoulders, every finger on the gnarled hands that clutched the arms of the throne had at least one ring on it, many had more. The clothes he wore were fine and expensive, but crumpled and stained where he had spilled food or drooled on them. On his chest a great medallion hung, with a Life Well in the centre. The chain was glittering gold with gems set into it at every link. He stared straight ahead with eyes that were completely milk white with blindness.
Anya bent close to the old mans ear and whispered. He nodded after a moment and Anya gestured at David to enter the room. David came and knelt in front of the old man, head bowed down and the old man proffered his hand forward. Clasping at it, David kissed the ring on the bent middle finger.
David, the designs of the Company move forward at a fair pace, the old man began in a strident voice at odds with his appearance, Events though, it seems move faster still. The Magii Kara Fortuyn is in the siege camp outside the city, and she has with her a boy who was once a supremely gifted Immortal,
You want them brought to you? David asked him, already weighing up the task in his mind. He had killed Magii before, drained the life from them into Life Wells. He took great pleasure from those kinds of tasks.
The boy, yes, but not the Mage. She is to be killed. The tone was very firm.
David frowned, outright killing was wasteful Magii contained more Life Force than mortals did so Magii were to be captured and drained wherever possible. He caught Anyas expression from the corner of his eye and realised that she must be thinking the same. It was she who voiced the doubt.
My lord, surely you cant ask for a Mage to be wasted so? The old man smiled.
A commendable question, but this Mage is a danger to all of us. Do you recall the sisters of Hamwil?
Anyas nod told David that she did indeed recall the sisters, but David only knew the vaguest rumour concerning their demise. It was no more than a myth that was whispered around the Company.
Do you also recall the monks we kept off the Great Road? the old man said now, darkness in his tone for those most considered traitors.
David remembered them, one killed and three captured and then executed at the Temple. Rumour said it had been the work of a single lone mage, but David did not believe that.
Kara Fortuyn was responsible for both incidents, as well as the death of many other Immortals. She has proved herself to be a great danger to us and I have not the numbers to storm the camp and take her, so you shall kill her,
David assented, though he still doubted that any Mage could be that dangerous. The old man surely would not send him alone into the camp.
Anya, you and David must leave tonight and slip into the camp. You must be able to kill the woman and sneak the boy away without immediate notice,
That made David wish he was going alone. Anya was never pleasant company, and pretty as she was, he would never dream of bedding her. Sooner invite a viper to lay with him.
As you command, my lord, he said aloud.

Julia twisted on her camp cot to peer out of the tent flap and groaned. It truly was morning, and the sounding of the First Watch was not lying to her. Dragging herself up onto one elbow she looked across at where Kara had slept, but the Warrior Mages bed was already empty. Kieran would probably be with her already.
Just then a slight, dark haired woman entered the tent and dropped into a deep curtsy as soon as she saw that Julia was awake.
Kara Magii sent me to make sure you woke with the First Watch. She needs you to join her on the tour this morning, the woman told her.
Julia sighed, but nodded pleasantly at the woman. Sitting up in the bed, she swung her feet round to the floor. The early morning chill hit her and she shivered, then wove a warming thread which she pushed through her blood, holding the wintery air at bay. Kara would not approve of course, but Kara never did anything with power that she could achieve herself and the older woman never seemed to notice the chill, which always bit Julia to the core.
Do you need anything, my Lady? the servant asked her.
The woman curtsied again, and closed the tent flap on her way out. Quickly Julia threw off her gown and strode naked across to the chest where her clothes were. She pulled out a long white gown with divided skirts and a thick black cloak. She seized up some silk undergarments and turned to throw the dress and cloak on the bed, then stopped suddenly, feeling a blush rise from her toes to the top of her head in an instant.
Kieran stood casually just inside the tent, and was smiling brightly at her. Tall for his thirteen cycles, his eyes were not quite level with hers, and at the moment she was conscious of the fact that his gaze was actually sweeping her up and down. She grit her teeth and threw a Blinding Thread at him. As she did not need to draw as he did, he had no time to react and he cursed as it hit him.
Serve you right, Kieran Demai! Youve no business sneaking in on me as if I were some camp girl, She was almost furious then when she saw him smirk, so she wove a thread with which she smacked him like the errant child he was.
Kieran had always been a handful but lately a new mischief had seized him, a mischief which had the camp girls falling over their own feet for him. His sparkling, slightly dangerous smile and his roguish temperament were partly to blame, as were his looks that as he filled out and grew older were certainly becoming eye-catching. He loved all the fuss and attention he was receiving from the girls. Kara on the other hand had nearly skinned him a few days ago when she found two girls scrapping over him, and she had had all three sorely punished for the incident.
But in those last few days after Kara had banned him from going near the girls, he seemed to be trying his charms on the two Magii women. Now as Julia reminded him of his place and age, he grunted but neither whimpered nor cried.
Now, you remember that I am your teacher and guardian, Kieran Demai. I am no girl, and you are still a child!
To her astonishment he replied.
No, Julia Magii, you are no girl,
He was still blinded and she knew it, but she felt as if he were looking at her again as he said that. The audacity of the boy!
Get outside and wait there! she snapped at him. He turned and felt for the tent flap with his fingers and stepped cautiously outside. Julia waited until the flap fell back and she began throwing her clothes on quickly, muttering furiously under her breath. Quickly she stopped by the basin and washed her face and scrubbed her teeth with a brush and the snatched up a bottle of perfume, applying it to herself liberally. Finally she dragged her tall riding boots on and swirled her cloak around her, then stormed outside.
Kieran was still standing there, he had no real choice in the matter being unable to see, but he seemed so relaxed and calm that no-one in the camp could have even guessed that he was in disgrace. She stalked up to him them and slapped him hard across the cheek.
You are the most ungrateful, disrespectful and insolent boy I know! she snapped at him, I shall discuss what we are to do with you with Kara, but until then you will follow me a pace and a half behind as is proper for student to mentor. I will grant you your sight back, but if you speak a word, I shall stop up your tongue,
He nodded slowly, and blinked rapidly as she lifted the bar to his sight. She set off without another word, and he fell in behind her, easily matching his pace to hers.
She found Kara out at the horse pickets, making sure the horses were well tended and exercised. The older woman nodded in acknowledgement of her arrival and Julia fell into step with her as they walked. They must have been an imposing site walking through the camp together, Julia often thought. Two women taller than most men, both with ground eating strides, though Karas held more menace and strength than Julias purposeful grace. Karas hair fell in a long black mane down her back, her green eyed gaze made people look away whenever she turned it on them. Her left hand, as always, rested on the hilt of her scabbardless sword.
By contrast, Julia had long ringlets of ash blonde hair and cold blue eyes that seemed to read the soul of anyone they were turned to. Her figure was a little softer than Karas, though that could not be hard. She bore no weapons and never needed any, for unlike any other Magii, she was in constant contact with the core. A healer with exceptional skill, she radiated both confidence and practicality.
And of course, behind them, was Kieran, a startlingly handsome boy with black eyes, black hair in tight curls around the edges of his face and the same leonine grace as Kara. Broad at the shoulder and strong, he seemed a few cycles older than he actually was. He still had height to gain though and would catch the two women for height, perhaps pass them.
They cut through the camp, stopping often to talk with soldiers and commanders. At the kitchens, Kara imperiously ordered Kieran to wait outside them. The camp girls worked here and he was still banned from being near them.
Are you going to tell me what hes done this morning Julia? Kara asked as they ducked under one of the canvases that kept rain from the camp stores.
He walked in while I was dressing this morning, well, before I was dressed in fact, and there was no accident to it, and she continued to explain the little incident as Kara bent into a crouch to inspect the quality of a recently acquired batch of grain.
That boy is more hot blooded than two full grown men! Kara said at the end, but there was more than a little amusement in her voice. She had something of a soldiers view of sex, but she also had a soldiers view of discipline.
We have to do something with him though, he tests us enough without this little complication, Julia pointed out. Now that her rage had subsided she was not embarrassed by the mornings incident.
Yes, we do, Kara said absently her eyes looking out toward the part of the camp where the refugees from the city lived. They worked in the camp like everyone else, but kept themselves a little apart. Something or someone in there had caught her attention for a second, and Julia scanned the line of haphazard tents trying to pick it out.
Julia, Im going to bring the whole School out here soon. Ludron is swarming with Soul-Stealers. Keeping an eye on Kieran is going to be more than a little difficult with that going on,
Julia nodded, still trying to find out what it was that Kara had seen.
You want me to take him back to the temple? she asked.
Hes too young yet for battle, but he wont like it one bit. I dont want to abandon you to him in one of hismoods but. Kara looked at Julia, hoping that she would understand.
One day Kara, that boy is going to be such a powerful Mage that we dont want to risk him now. I dont mind, though it wont be easy,
Kara reached out and laid a hand on Julias arm.
Thank you, she said gratefully.
Julia smiled at her friend. Kara looked away back at the refugee camp with a puzzled frown on her face, and Julia bent close to her.
Whats over there? I cant feel anything over the pull of that blasted city,
Kara looked back over her shoulder at Julia and shrugged.
I dont know yet, but I will find out. Lets go to the refugee camp now, she said.
They left the kitchens and went round to the entrance of the refugee camp, with Kieran once again at their heels. Kara rarely came this way, out of a wish to let the refugees have some privacy, but Julia was often in the camp healing. The camp had a self appointed chief, a man who had been the captain of the city guard. Julia walk ahead inside, and stopped a child who was playing in front of one of the tents.
Can you go and tell Captain Dain that the Magii would like to talk with him?
The boy, a pale little brown haired urchin, looked over at Kara and Kieran and then back at Julia. He nodded quickly then trotted off in the direction of the Captains tent. Julia went back to stand patiently by Kara.
You have met with Captain Dain before havent you Kara? she asked.
Briefly, he meets with Lord Farnborough and the General on most things. I dont think he quite trusts me on military matters, Karas eyes had a dark gleam to them as she said this, men like that were an interesting challenge to her. She would overcome that in time, either by demonstration of her skills with the blade, or by demonstration of her skills as a general. No-one had ever bested her at either.
Captain Dain appeared from the tents and strolled slowly towards them. He was a very tall man, taller than either woman with shaggy red-blonde hair that brushed his shoulders. Dressed just in a thin white shirt, untied at the front still, and brown leather breeches as if it were a warm spring day. The sword on his hip was in a plain brown leather scabbard which was well worn, but well oiled.
Kara stood with her arms folded across her chest, watching him keenly as he strolled to a halt in front of them. He bowed just a little, brushing his hair from his eyes and keeping them on her. He had cold blue eyes like Julias, like Deiters. That unsettled her just a little. His lips were curled up into a thin smile. He stood up straight again, his eyes flicking quickly to Kieran behind them both, then over Julia and finally back to Kara.
A fine pup youve got there ladies, but perhaps a little young yet for a bodyguard, he said, his voice deep and cracked.
Kara chuckled softly, her eyes flashing dangerously, Julias mouth formed a thin tight line of irritation and Kieran stood up straighter, folding his arms.
Hes more than fair with a sword captain, but he should be as I trained him myself, Kara told him in her own deep, husky tones. He checked the sword on her left hip and grinned. It looked a little wolfish on that cold, strong face.
To what do I owe this rare honour, my ladies? He asked, directing his question at Kara.
Captain, Id like just to take a walk round the camp and hear what people have to say. You still have people coming in numbers dont you?
Aye, about 20 or 30 a day, I fancy it will go on until the siege is lifted. If you will follow me, my Ladies, Im sure the people will be more than glad to speak with you,
He lead them off round the camp, with Kara walking beside him and Julia falling back to walk with Kieran. They stopped often and spoke to a good many people, but every time they stopped, Julia saw Karas eyes sweep the camp again, searching. They came at last to the captains tent and he offered them some refreshment, which Julia declined because it was time for her own rounds of the hospital tents. She took Kieran with her, and left Kara deep in conversation with the Captain.

Kara stayed with Captain Dain until after the third watch was sounded. To begin with he had spoken to her in a slightly condescending way, but she had soon put a stop to that with a few sharp words and mention of the campaigns she had fought in before her father had died. She had fought and commanded in many more since she had become a Mage, but that had been from a position of privilege. What bothered her most though, as she made her slow way back to the tent that served as her office at the centre of the camp, was the way his smile and his cold eyes had affected her. She was constantly reminded of Deiter, though the physical similarity stopped with the eyes. Deiter had been elegant and aristocratic, Dain was a soldier to the core and a rough one at that. Hed told her hed no time for the bowing and scraping before nobles and Magii that most did. When shed told him she didnt have time for it either, hed smiled in surprise.
She had begun to find it hard to keep her eyes off him as he lounged in his tent, talking about the siege, the refugees and the prospect of attacking the city. With his long, well muscled legs stretched out in front of him, he drank from a tall wine cup as he spoke. His attitude to her changed quickly, once she had convinced him that she was capable. He smiled often, spoke expansively and held her in his eyes. When she spoke, he listened without interrupting her except for quick questions and that left her feeling surprised that he had accepted her so easily after avoiding her for so long. Yet when she had risen to leave, he had knelt before her as if she truly were a lady and kissed her hand. She had been about to protest, when she caught those cold blue eyes again she lost her voice for a second. Shed covered for that with a quick, good humoured smile which she hoped convinced him that she thought he was playing. Shed felt a little light headed as she walked out of his tent.
Damn it! She cursed herself, she had much more important things to mull over from that visit. The sense that there had been Soul-Stealers in the camp had been very strong in her, but testing the air would have been useless. The pull within the city would have stolen it away without giving any hint of any hidden Soul-Stealer. She would have to go back and search again.
Of course, there would be no parley with the occupiers of the city, no prospect in this case of a diplomatic solution, as the force that had conquered the city had been entirely under the command of the Soul-Stealers. King Aemon was a puppet to his advisors and it had been their idea to take the capital of their neighbours.
The siege camp was in good order now, but she wondered just how long they would have to lay siege to Ludron before she would be forced into an outright attack. But an entire coven of the Company was in the city, at least 100 Soul-Stealers, and she desperately did not want to be pressed into battle with them. With all the students and the handful of Magii from her Battle School she would still be badly outnumbered there were barely 60 in the school now, and of them only she, Julia and five others had the black. And of course, Julia was no soldier. A situation where she would have to press the healer into battle was one that Kara dreaded with her very soul. Oh, Julia was brilliant, powerful and dangerous, but she would always be needed for her incredible healing talent before any battling.
Finally, on top of any other problems, was Kieran. He was growing too strong in will and power for them to have complete control. Even the same harsh discipline that she had grown up under was not enough. The only thing that kept him leashed now was the awe he held Kara in and the devotion he felt for Julia. Sending him back to the temple could be as bad a decision as she could make, but it seemed the only answer. She would have to bring him back, because she would need Julia before the end of this. Every which way she turned there, there were questions raised which she could not answer.
But even as she tried to muse through these things, Dains face kept rising up in her thoughts, his eyes burned through them. She had no time for all this! I am a soldier, she reminded herself bitterly, I have a war to fight. Sighing, blushing and the fluttering of eyelashes were not for the likes of her.
She ducked into the command tent, where Lord Farnborough and the General were already waiting for her, each with a small pile of reports in his hand, and she sighed and took her seat behind her desk.
The camp is well today, so what news do you both have for me?

Julia, I am really sorry. I dont want you to be angry with me, Kieran suddenly said as they left the hospital tents after several hours. It was into the second watch of the hours of passage and Julia had been working hard, imperiously commanding Kieran to link with her when she needed more power, making him watch with a monitoring thread so that he could learn from her. Both of them were drained now and Kieran felt that he could sleep.
Julia looked at him sharply, really the first time she had regarded him directly all day. Her icy blue eyes narrowed.
We will discuss this in my tent. Go and find one of the camp women and ask her to bring us some food an extra portion for you seeing as I made you work so hard today, then come straight to my tent. If I find out you have been troubling those girls again Ill strap you every day for a week, her tone was passionless as she spoke, a tone she reserved for hr greatest anger. Kieran paled a little in spite of himself.
He nodded acknowledgment to her and strode off to the kitchens. She turned herself and headed for her tent. As he reached the kitchens, one of the girls smiled shyly at him as he passed, but he didnt stop. Julias mood was making him too anxious to allow his usual mischief, he would face a thrashing ten times over from Kara rather than face one of Julias cold moods.
Why? The question struck him and he wasnt sure he knew the answer. Kara was everything he wanted to be himself, a blademaster, a mighty general, an immensely powerful and respected Magii. Julia would order him bluntly to do things, like this morning, that he did not understand the purpose of. He would never be a healer, he didnt have the affinity for it, but she persevered with teaching him. She was as powerful as Kara, though in a different way, a way he knew was not open to him.
He found one of the older serving women, not willing to chance anyone thinking he was flirting with the camp women, and relayed Julias orders to her. The woman nodded and told him it would be brought along soon.
Walking now back to Julia and Karas sleeping tent, he began to dread this talk. She would probably want him to explain to her why he had done what he had done that morning, but he didnt know. He did know it was possibly one of the stupider things he had done, and all day he had had to struggle to keep thoughts of it from tormenting him.
He stopped at the tent flap before opening it and called. He would not make that mistake again so quickly.
Oh come in Kieran, Julia shouted out, sounding very irritated.
She was sitting at the table that dominated the middle of the tent, a foldable table that was a little wobbly on its hinged legs. She had taken off her cloak and brushed out her long ash blonde hair. It spilled in gleaming waves down over her white dress, following the curved line of her breasts. The smooth porcelain of her face was drawn into a slight frown, her red lips were slightly pursed and her icy blue eyes watched him steadily. At the same time as that cool expression made the dread rise inside him, he realised for the first time in his short life that she was a very beautiful woman. He felt his face warm at that, and suddenly he very much wanted to turn and walk back out of the tent. Already this was far, far worse than any thrashing, and she hadnt even spoken yet.
Sit down, Kieran. You and I have a lot to talk about,
He walked very slowly across the space, his head down. He sat down in front of her, but kept his eyes on the table.
Julia regarded him silently for a few moments, then reached out across the table to brush his hair from his eyes. She put her fingers under his chin and lifted his head so he had to look into her eyes.
Youve been so quiet all day, utterly unlike you. Did you finally overstep yourself? her voice was soft and smooth, tinged with concern.
Ihe hesitated, finding looking her in the eye intensely difficult, Yes, .
Now she was smoothing his hair with one hand and holding his chin still with the other. Those cold, cold eyes of hers were boring into his soul, reading him. They glowed, filled with the power of the core, reminding him again just what made Julia so powerful. She was part of the core, it spilled into her and coursed through her. A Guardian she would have been called in the Wild Times and early days of the temple, as Kara would have been a Mage of the Tempest. Now they were just Magii with unique and powerful talents that none wished to name, for both names were feared.
Why? she asked him. That single word made his brain fizz while he struggled to find the answer to it.
Hed walked into the camp girls tents before, deliberately to catch them. The squealing and panic had amused him, and the girls seemed to love him all the more for his impudence. Had he given a moments thought to how Julia would really have reacted, he would not have walked in on her that morning. He guessed that he was getting a little too accustomed to the fawning of the camp girls.
I didnt think about it, I just knew you would be.. um.. dressing, he felt the heat in his cheeks again.
She let go of his chin and leaned back in her chair, folding her arms across her chest.
Kara wants to send for the rest of the Battle School in a few days. When they come, we will go back to the temple, until you have learned to cool your blood.
The range of emotions that ran through him were more than a little confusing. Sent back to the temple? That made him angry and indignant. He had been sure he was going to be allowed to fight before the end of the siege, and to miss out on what the other students of the battle school were going to be taking part in? The envy was immense and seething. Yet riding along beside these feelings the notion of being alone in the temple with Julia nearly terrified him. How on earth could he live with all these new, confusing feelings, forced to face them every day? He swallowed and found his courage to speak, though he wasnt sure where from.
We cant go back to the temple, I wont go back! he growled.
Julia arched one ashen eyebrow, his stomach burned with all the wild emotion inside him. He carried on talking though, his anger and indignation shading all the rest of those feelings just enough.
I can fight as well as any of the other students, better! Why should I be coddled?
You think you can outmatch Kara Magii do you boy? She fought her first battle at 14, and Madre knows that there are none who could best that. You could be as good a swordsman as she, but you do not have the discipline that she has! Julia countered, snapping the words out while her eyes flashed.
The words stung, mostly because he knew it was true. Julia went on in a lower voice.
And if you stayed, and in your recklessness found a sword buried through your chest or your head swept clean from your shoulders, I could not mend you as I have done before, though the suns know I would try so hard it might kill me!
This time Julia flushed, clearly having said more than she meant to. She looked away for a second, recovering her composure and Kieran was left admiring her unwillingly. The flush had softened the cold look of her white skin and taken away some of the starkness between the red of her lips and the white of her cheek. Then she swung her face back round to look at him.
Kieran, for my part, I ask you that we go back to the temple. Caring for you has been most of my life these past 5 years, and I couldnt stand it if you did something I couldnt save you from,
Kieran was stunned. This was not the hard voice of command he was used to, but a gentle entreaty. There had been a shift between them, but he found even as the wild thought of telling her no occurred to him, that he could not do it. His voice came out in little more than a whisper.
For you, I will go back, and with that, the life he had known before died.

Anya carried the basket across the camp, muttering to herself with irritation. This charade appalled her. Serving the base creatures of this Magii led army, bringing them food and tolerating their lewd comments made rage boil in her blood. Sharing a tent with David and pretending to be his wife made her feel like clawing the other Immortals eyes out. She craved the sweetness of a mortals pain and death, craved it because it would calm her anger and give her control, but she could not have it.
She found the tent she had been directed to with a few curt words (I will make every mortal pay for this humiliation!), and called inside.
Come in, came a cool womans voice from within. She had to take a few moments to school her face, concealing her disdain and pasting a smile to her lips, then opened the tent to step inside.
The woman, a tall ash blonde beauty, sat on one side of a table, and with his back to the tent flap, there sat the boy she had been sent to capture. She walked forward and placed the basket where the woman pointed and stood back a little.
Do you wish me to serve? Anya asked, seething inside at the indignity.
Please do, thank you, the cool woman said, absently.
As she opened the basket and began to empty it, setting the plates in front of the boy and the woman, they talked. Anya listened intently, trying hard to keep her eyes down.
When we get back to the Temple, Kieran, well work on your fine control, and I think Ill get you a tutor from the lore school, if they will teach you,
The boy had a resigned look on his face.
How many days will it be? he asked her.
Kara is sending for the school before tonight, the message will reach them before the Hours of Wakening tomorrow. After that it depends on how long it will take them to mobilise,
Well? How long do you think that will be? I wont get any more swords training back at the temple,
3 days from now at the most. The school has been on standby since we came here,
Anya nearly dropped the covered plate she had in her hands. 3 days ? They were going to have to take some risks to get the boy if he was leaving in 3 days. David had been in favour of simply stealing the boy from his bed at night since the day they arrived in the camp, but Anya wanted to make sure that Kara Fortuyn was taken care of properly too.
Rushing through the last of the unpacking, she almost fled the tent, thinking hard about what needed to be done. Half a plan in mind, she went looking for David.

Kieran lay in his bed in the full dark of night, unable to sleep. Outside his tent there was silence, except from a very soft murmur that he was sure was coming from the tent that Julia and Kara shared.
Two things rolled over each other in his tired mind, the bitter disappointment of being sent back to the temple, and the thought of being so alone with Julia there. They would give him no peace tonight, so he shifted uncomfortably on the narrow camp cot.
A soft sound like the ruffling of silk was all the warning he had. As he opened his eyes and hand came over his mouth with a sharp, overpowering smell filling his nostrils and then utter darkness.
He found himself waking a short while later, being carried between two people he could not see properly through cobbled streets. Instinctively he tried to draw, but he felt so sick and woozy from the potion that had knocked him out it seemed like he was trying to draw through treacle.
A hand came up to his face again, and the smell took away consciousness again. He felt mildly sick before the light went out.
Again Kieran woke, this time he was lying on a bed in a room that was flooded with candlelight. His vision was blurry and moving his head made him feel sick. He moaned at the sensation when he tried to lift his head.
Hes awake at last, Anya I do think you overdosed the boy, came an old, dry voice from somewhere in the room.
It will clear, came a sharp female voice that was vaguely familiar.
There was the sound of shuffling steps. Something blocked his vision entirely, some kind of fuzzy shape, and a hand patted his hair.
There there, my boy, you will be right as rain soon enough, you get some more rest now,
Who are you? he managed to ask.
You may call me Alistair. I am the one who is going to train you after my 13 undo the damage the Magii did to you,
Kieran felt rising alarm and he tried to struggle up, but nausea and fatigue stopped him and he simply thrashed on the bed.
Kara and Julia have never hurt me! he exclaimed.
Dont be a fool boy, they stole your Immortality! I am going to give it back to you,
Old, dark memories rose up inside him. Memories of the man who had come to see his mother, using those words. The man that Kara had killed. Soul-Stealer. Anger burned into him and he found that he could draw in spite of the queasiness with it. Power seemed to boil up inside him, but with his vision so blurry lashing out with it was difficult. He wove a thread of fire and spun it round himself, then let it roll out across the hazy room. There were screams and curses, curtains on the bed his was lying in caught fire. A third time a hand caught him round the mouth and blackness rose up. The last thing he heard was that someone yelling Block him! Block him!.

Kara was up before first watch as always, donning her leathers and heading for Kierans tent so he could have his swords lesson before the rest of the days duties stole her time. As a little playful payback for the morning before with Julia, she threw open his tent without calling and marched in.
The shock of the site that greeted her made her head spin. Inside everything was in disarray. The bedside stand was overturned, lamp oil spilled all over the ground and splattered across all the bed sheets that had been dragged from the bed. The clothes chest was open and everything inside was spilled on the ground. And worst of all, the bed was empty save for an envelope bearing her name. As she picked it up her heart was pounding in her ears and anger made her teeth grind. She broke open the seal, a heavily pressed ravens head, and pulled out the letter inside.

Kara Fortuyn Magii,
We, the Company of Immortals, are finally prepared to offer you terms for the abandonment of the siege of our city of Ludron. We have now in our possession the boy, Kieran Demai, of whom you seem so fond.
Meet us at the Tavern of Winds in the eastern quarter of the city and we shall discuss terms for handing over the boy. We shall wait for you in the First watch of the Hours of Spirits each night for the next three nights.

Herald of the Raven Coven
Company of Immortals

Kara cursed, fury in her making her intensely aware of The Tempest around her. Her skin tingled with it, and her mind reeled and seethed. She knew that there would be no exchange, no terms. She was being asked to go into the largest nest of Soul-Stealers in history and trust that Kieran would be given back to her, unharmed and she certainly was not fool enough to believe that. But she would not abandon the boy, she could not.
She drew just a little of the Tempest towards her, thickening the air and sparking it with static. It felt good to reflect her fury in it, it gave such power to her anger. Clutching the letter to her, she swept out of Kierans tent and strode into her own.
Julia! she barked at the sleeping woman.
She woke with a start and stared bleary eyed at Kara. Then she noticed the air crackling around her, and sat up straight in her bed.
Are we being attacked? she asked quickly.
For answer Kara threw the letter at her friend and began to pace up and down within the tent. As Julia read her face first went white then flushed with fury. She was climbing out of bed before she finished it, walking over to her chest and dragging out clothes as she began to read it a second time. Then she waved it at Kara, who swiped it from Julias outstretched fingers and continued her pacing.
How are we going to get him back? Julia asked finally.
Well, they have a whole city to hide him in, a city that is crawling with Soul-Stealers, Kara hesitated, weighing the odds in her mind, I could go in alone and watch that place, see who comes,
No! Julia snapped, You are not going into that place alone, you dont even know the city, she went on, a little more calmly.
Karas eyes narrowed, then she looked at her friend.
Ill take Captain Dain, he must know it inside out,
And youll take me, because you will need my help. And nothing is going to stop me from trying to get Kieran back Julias tone echoed her mothers archly commanding voice so much then that Kara stared at her wide eyed for a moment, then she nodded.
I suspect you would follow me regardless, she told her friend.
Right then, I will summon Dain to your command tent for you, you can get the General and Lord Farnborough out of their beds and do what you have to do with them,
They left the tent in opposite directions, Julia hurrying via the kitchens to order a hasty breakfast in the command tent, then out to the refugee camp. She picked her way through the haphazard clutter of tents, and spotted Captain Dain up and about already, inspecting what appeared to be an abandoned tent. A second look picked out blood smears and a tear in the side.
Lady Julia Magii, he greeted her with a sweeping bow as she drew to a halt in front of him.
Whats the problem here Captain? Julia asked him.
Someone has been killed, and the people he shared his tent with are missing,
Calmly she pushed past the captain and stepped into the tent, ignoring the glare he directed at her back. The dead man lay sprawled across the floor, his mouth bound tightly with rags, his eyes open and staring blankly at the roof of the tent. His body was covered with knife slashes and there was a great deal of blood over the contents of the tent. Kneeling beside the dead man she wove a thread to trace what had made him die. The instant it touched him she could feel the path from which his life force had flowed, could tell that he had not died from his wounds. If she had found him within a few minutes of his death, she could have brought him back, but he was already cold and stiff, dead for a few hours. His essence would have dissipated within the core completely already.
Soul-Stealers, she muttered to herself.
We guessed as much already, my Lady. We got too many close looks at how they work in the city, said The Captain, standing behind her.
Julia got to her feet and turned to face the Captain.
They stole the boy last night, and they are ransoming him for the city. Captain Fortuyn and I need your assistance in retrieving him,
The Captain eyed her steadily.
One boy for the whole city? he asked her slowly.
Kieran is not exactly an ordinary boy, Captain Dain, Julia replied, meeting his gaze.
You do not intend on paying the ransom do you? there was some doubt in his voice.
A Magii will never treat with a Soul-Stealer, Captain, and Kara Fortuyn is the least likely Mage to break that law,
And you? the impertinence of the question enraged her, but she kept her cool.
I give no more credence to the demands of a Soul-Stealer than Kara. I will risk death in rescuing Kieran without thought to their ransom,
Lets go then, he said, obviously satisfied with her answer.
After a few quick commands to his men, he followed her to the Command tent at the centre of the camp. Kara was already inside, with the General and Lord Farnborough looking perplexed as she was dishing out commands for the running of the camp while she was gone.
Dain bowed deeply to Kara and curtly to the General and the Lord, but his eyes held Karas the entire time. She nodded to him and motioned for him to sit down at the table.
My Lady, he began before taking his seat, There has been a murder in the refugee camp,
How did it happen Captain? Kara asked him with one eyebrow arched, and Dain explained in detail the finding of the body. Karas eyes flicked to Julia for confirmation of the death and Julia simply nodded.
So, we have been harbouring Kierans abductors within our camp, she said quietly when Dain was finished. She looked at the Captain directly.
Would you recognise this couple if you saw them?
Aye, I am sure I would. I set the woman to work in the kitchens and the man to the horse pickets. They were rotten workers with bad grace, and she scowled at everything in her path,
Good, then when we go into the city you can keep an eye out for them,
Ah, so you want me to take you into Ludron? he said with a smile.
Myself and Julia,
He nodded and took a seat beside her. They spent the morning planning, Captain Dain leaning close to Kara, eyes rarely off her. By the time lunch was brought in, they had a rough plan worked out.
They would leave that evening, in the Hours of Spirits, going into the city through one of the small gates of the noble houses on the eastern wall. Julia would give them a Cover of Shadows to slip in under, being able to hold it much longer than Kara. Until that had emerged, Dain had been a little cool about taking Julia with them, but once he realised that she was a very special talent, he seemed acquiesced to her coming.
After that they would go to this Tavern, but not enter. They would watch it though. According to Dain it was one of the taverns in the city that the Company had taken over for its own, which would make it particularly dangerous to enter. They would attempt to capture a lone Soul-Stealer, and question them for information.
It seemed like a good plan, but the risk of discovery was massive. It would be more than simply death for the three of them.

Julia was doing a final round of the hospital tents and would be gone for hours. Kara had left herself with almost nothing to do between now and nightfall and she paced back and forth in her tent, running through her mind every possibility that might arise within the city. Thoughts of what might be happening to Kieran kept intruding on her, she hoped and prayed that he was not dead. She had to keep re-assuring herself that Julia would know if Kieran was dead, the healers bond to the boy was deeper than either of them would admit.
She was startled from her pacing by a cough and whipped round to see Captain Dain standing with his arms folded across his broad chest in the entrance of her tent. She stared at him just a second too long, she knew, watching the play of sunlight glinting in his red-blond hair while the icy blue of his eyes reminded her of the frigid seas of the northern coasts of Massinia. Rippling, glistening deep waters that she had seen whipped into frenzy during a winter storm long ago.
Its too soon to leave yet, surely, she said briskly as a smile played across his lips. He seemed to enjoy her eyes being on him. She put her hands on her hips and arched an eyebrow at him, letting her body language tell him she didnt care too much that she had been caught looking.
No, but Im done ordering my part of the camp so I thought Id come and run over this plan a last time, His smile broadened, but he stood up a little straighter, his eyes boring into hers.
Come in and sit down then, she told him, gesturing with one hand to the seats at the table.
Thank-you my Lady, he said with another one of his deep, sweeping bows that bordered on mocking, if it were not for the way he kept his eyes so firmly on her own as he swept down. Then he strode over and took the seat with his back to the entrance after closing the tent flap behind him. Kara sat down opposite him, keeping her expression neutral even as she took another opportunity to look him up and down. She couldnt deny what she felt when she looked at him, but if she let it crack her natural self-assurance, then she would give him and advantage she did not want him to have.
Why is the boy so Important, my Lady? he asked her, leaning forward a little.
For the first time, Kara felt annoyance in the way he addressed her.
Please Dain, call me Kara. If we are to die together her voice trailed off.
He nodded and smiled sadly.
Is he truly important enough for you to risk dying, Kara? he asked now, his voice a little softer than before.
Two reasons, she began with a slight cough to clear her sudden hoarseness, Firstly, Kieran is the strongest Magii student there has been since the wild times. He will be a Mage of the Tempest, as I am, Dains eyes narrowed and they swept her up and down, it seemed he was re-assessing her again.
I thought Magii students were a little older than that, he said.
Yes, but again, Kieran is a little out of the ordinary. He was born a Soul-Stealer and Julia linked him to the core when he was 8. He has been a Magii since, but he is young and impetuous and needs constant watching,
Dain smiled then, understanding dawning on him .
You two are his teachers then, you and Julia Magii?
Teachers, guardians and despairing elder sisters, she said, a rush of fondness for her charge cheering her briefly, before the pangs of fear for him returned.
Chilled by recurring thoughts of what might be happening to Kieran, she leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her breasts, she stared off in the rough direction of the city. It was almost a shock when Dain leaned forward and took one of her hands in his, drawing it back to the table between them. She was caught between snapping at him that she was no feeble little woman and the desire for comfort and his touch. He must have caught something in the look she threw at him.
Ah, I dont mean to offend you, Kara. Youre the strongest woman I ever met, and I know youre a bloody fine soldier. But I can see theres a lot of dark thoughts in your mind just now, he told her softly, but she was aware that he held back on what he said.
They sat for some moments, gazes locked while Kara tried to order her thoughts. Dain waited patiently for her response, but did not let go of her hand, instead he gently stroked it.
Dain, she hesitated, still not sure what she should say, then finally as he raised his eyebrows expectantly, Thank-you, He smiled, a lazy, confident smile, then bent his head to kiss her hand. The touch of his lips drew a shiver from her before she could stop it, and she bit cruelly into her bottom lip to suppress it. He looked up at her again, reading her, seeming to be a little thrown by her reaction.
What is the second reason? he asked, deflecting the moment.
One of the deepest fears she had for Kieran surfaced. If she did not get to him quickly, if she lost him Bile rose to her throat as her stomach churned, but it was quickly suppressed by a wave of irritation at this sudden flood of emotion. Self-Control was crucial to her, especially now.
Kieran was a remarkably strong Soul-Stealer as a child. He leeched life from those around him in a way that would normally take several adult, company trained Stealers to do, but of course he had no conscious control over it, she paused allowing herself a moment to come to once again stifle fear, For one who has been linked as Kieran has, there is a way back. With a large number of Stealers or Magii, usually 13, the link can be ripped apart without blocking the drawing point. The one to be returned must be strong though, or they will not survive it, she paused again, closing her eyes and swallowing. She was starting to feel light-headed, Kieran is so strong, that if they do this to him, he will be unstoppable. He will be the first Soul-Stealer to Ride the Tempest, and though he will resist their murdering ways for as long as he can, he can not resist it forever,
She sagged, letting her head drop to rest on their entwined hands, anger at herself roiling through the fears and worries she had. With his other hand he brushed the hair from her face. There were no tears, even in this extreme she would not allow them, but her eyes were closed and her skin pale. He ran his fingers along her cheek, then down under her jaw so that he could lift her head up with his fingertips. She opened her eyes to meet his and found with a little reluctance that her anger quelled, replaced by a powerful wave of desire for him. It made her swallow again.
I understand, he told her quietly, though she wasnt sure what it was in response to.
Slowly he rose to his feet, drawing her up with him, then walked round the table to stand before her. Pulling her to his chest and encircling her with his other arm, he looked down at her. Not being able to meet his eye without looking upward was something she had never experienced before and it made her feel vulnerable. Yet even so, she realised she wanted him more than any man since Deiter. That was such a potent realisation that she nearly buckled at the knee under it. His grip tightened a little round her, keeping her from swaying, his eyes searching her own wonderingly.
In her turbulent mind, she could feel the Tempest as clearly as she ever did when she was furious, but the longing to caress it with power was stronger. Instead she reached up and caught his chin with her free hand, one finger against his pulse. The roughness of his skin, the throb of his heart beat and the slight shiver of his barely suppressed desire for her, seemed a strong enough substitute to push the Tempest from her mind. Guiding his lips down towards hers, she kissed him tentatively. He returned her kiss roughly, with a hunger that made her moan in spite of herself. She unclasped the hand that held his and slid it up round his neck, running her fingers through his long, soft hair.
With both of his arms free now, he suddenly caught her up in them and lifted her off her feet. Their swords rang as they clashed briefly. He carried her a couple of steps and laid her down on Julias bed. For a brief second she thought of mentioning it, but suddenly he was kneeling at her side, kissing her throat, while she heard the dull thud of his scabbard and sword belt falling on the ground. She unbuckled hers and let it slide to the ground to clang dully.
She became lost in him, his cold eyes burning into her, his rough touch filling the craving inside her. Her worry and fear for Kieran did not disappear, but faded into the distance for some time.
Sated as she had not been since before Dieters death, she lay with Dain, her head resting comfortably against his shoulder, toying with the fingers on his left hand.
If you are half as fierce in battle as that he murmured in her ear as he nuzzled her glossy hair.
She smiled and stretched, bringing an arm round behind his neck and forcing his lips to meet hers again.
Twice as fierce my dear Captain, he arched an eyebrow at this and smiled back at her.
She could feel again the prickling of the Tempest against her skin, almost as if she were lying naked in a soft breeze. That feeling was always a constant reminder to her of how dangerous she could be, if she chose to be, but it was puzzling her just a little that she could feel it so clearly now, when she felt utterly calm and a little languid. She drew it to her with a little smile, mischief lighting her green eyes. Around both of them the air began to crackle and thicken and Dain brushed his arm lightly to smooth the hairs that stood on end there.
There was a small crack and a little flash about the length of a finger split the air in front of them. Dain gave her a questioning look and she smiled back at him, but let it dissipate. He gave a little shudder as the pressure eased off his skin.
The Tempest? he asked and she nodded.
I could flatten the entire camp with it, she began, her head turned towards him, But at the end of the day, I prefer a sword in my hand because its easier to command,
The boy could do the same?
Kieran, she hesitated, her heart sinking a little as she was dragged back into reality, Kieran is stronger in power than I am, so it would stand to reason that where I could flatten the camp, he could do for the city, Dains eyes widened, so she hurried on, But I was passed 30 cycles old when it came to me, it will not come to him yet, except, she added to herself, she had always believed that it was the moment that had brought it on her, the desperate need. Kieran would certainly be close to that in the hands of the Soul-Stealers.
That almost made her sit bolt upright in the bed, that thought. Dain felt her tense suddenly.
Whats wrong? he asked
She took a deep breath, it was a decision she had to take now. She could cover up and hold back from Dain, or she could tell him the truth from the outset. She knew she wanted more of him, but with a man like him that would require honesty from her.
An old piece of text she had once found and discussed with Deiter rose to the surface of her mind. It had said that during the Wild Times there had been bonds forged between Magii and the soldiers under their care. It allowed for commands to be passed along without signals, for changes to be made and for Magii to assess battles from many different viewpoints. That in itself had been documented elsewhere and knowledge of it was enough for such bonds to be made occasionally. The bonds could be lifted as easily as laid down.
But another form of bonding had existed also, one that allowed for contact over long distances, and the text had detailed it. It could only be done on a one to one basis, and could not be done between Magii (it was thought that the connection to the core caused interference). The bond allowed both people to feel what the other felt, to know where the other was exactly and to dream with the other. Information could be exchanged in dreams, so that it could be a very useful tool for spying, but the level and depth of sharing in the bond had meant that Magii would only bond with those who they could trust implicitly. The quote on the page was simply It is almost like living within the other persons skin as well as your own,.
She could bond to Dain the first way to aid in what they had to do in rescuing Kieran, but it would require constant maintenance, which they would not be able to afford. She had begun to teach and practice that with her Battle School and it could be very draining. Using the second way they could split their vigilance and still be in full communication. That could prove to be incredibly important if the Soul-Stealers succeeded in any way with Kieran before they retrieved him.
The decision was made, she would tell him as much as she knew or understood of the danger they faced, she would ask him to bond with her, but she would let it be his decision.
No, she began again, That might not be right. It could come to Kieran, young as he is. He is Magii already and as soon as they know that they will block him. He will fight that block and may then discover the Tempest. That is what happened to me,
Then even now the city is in danger, he said slowly, looking her right in the eyes.
But we cannot sneak in during daylight, she reminded him, seeing her own fears reflected in his eyes.
Yet we have much less time than I had thought. We need to find him tonight if we can, though I cant see how,
Another deep breath, this had to be explained carefully so he knew exactly what it meant.
There is something we can do, you and me, that would help us cover more of the city much more quickly, but it would tie you to me indefinitely.
His arms around her were warm, the hard muscle of them felt good against her skin. At that moment he seemed more than real, so conscious was she of him, waiting for his reaction. His breath was shallow, his eyes reading her.
Explain it to me, what exactly do you mean, tie me to you? he said softly after a few long silent moments.
An ancient form of bonding, from the Wild Times, which would let you see through my eyes and me see through yours. You would feel exactly what I feel, know exactly where I am and it would be the same for me. You could direct me round the city even while you were searching yourself,
And how long does that last then?
Once the bond is sealed, it can only be broken by death. It runs so deep that we would share dreams,
He looked at her again, then kissed her so suddenly it knocked the breath from her. He caught her hair at the nape of her neck and tilted her head back so he could kiss down her neck, and she heard herself moan.
So I would feel this? he murmured as his lips brushed very lightly over one of her nipples.
Yes, she replied breathily, feeling almost alarmed at how quickly his touch was affecting her.
And when I die, what will that do to you? That shocked her straight out of her growing arousal.
It.. she wasnt sure, but after a few seconds thought she gave the only probable answer, I would certainly go mad or die,
But youre happy to risk it?
My whole life is lived on a knife edge. I set myself against the Company nearly thirty years ago, and I will not back out of something that will help me strike at them. Kieran to them is a strong chance at overcoming the Magii, to me he is a strong chance at overcoming the Company. The risk of going mad or dying because you die is one that is worth taking,
You are a cold woman, he said, but he was smiling at her.
Not right now, she whispered, then continued in the same low voice, between the fact that I am terrified for Kieran and .. you..
He was kissing her again, and she felt foolish and irrational as she hoped inside that he would indeed agree. It was almost dizzying to be so full of emotion. He looked up at her eyes again and drew back finally after a few minutes.
If you had simply made this bond without asking me first, I would not have minded. Never have I met a woman quite like you,
She reached forward, concentrating hard on keeping her mind calm, and touched her fingertips to his temples. Closing her eyes, she began to draw deeply on the core, filling herself till she was tingling with power. She wove a thread and carefully pushed it down along her arms to the spot where her fingertips pressed his skin. It seemed there that there was some kind of barrier between them and she worked her thread into a very fine point and pushed against the barrier. She felt almost a little shocked as he twitched beneath her fingertips, feeling the pressure. She pushed on, until the barrier between them was stretched thin enough to break with one more shove. His head was thrown right back now and he was sweating, his teeth clenched.
Now she turned her attention to forming the threads that would be the link between them. These had to be self sustaining and that was the most dangerous part of the operation. Her ability to control very fine flows would make it a lot easier, but it was still tricky. She wove onto the thread she was using to pierce through the barrier a tangle of thicker threads, then she began to cut them at her end and tie them to herself. Each knot gave her a wave of nausea as she tied it and it began to get harder to concentrate. All the while she was very conscious of the discomfort that Dain was suffering.
Finally each thread was tied off and she was puffing away the last bout of nausea. Pressing her fingertips a little harder to Dains temples now, she pushed through the barrier. Dain gasped and writhed beside her, his entire body breaking out in a heavy sweat. At the same time, Kara felt almost as if she herself were falling inward toward Dain as if sucked. Her consciousness passed through the barrier and she was flooded with the pain that Dain felt. It was easing, the sharpness of the barrier being pierced was gone, but his whole body was in shock still. Struggling hard now, she began to untangle the threads on his end and slowly began placing them and knotting them. The nausea returned again, but thankfully the pain was subsiding with every new knot. Her awareness of him intensified and she began to separate out different sensations. Then to her surprise after tying one knot she could actually perceive his thoughts. Flashing images of herself, emotions attached to the images, but still all too confused to interoperate. Another knot and she was aware of the reddish light behind his eyes where the sunlight from outside was trying to filter through them. A final thread and she could feel her own body acutely wound in his arms still. She was utterly surrounded in him, his personality, his thoughts, his feelings, and she was finding it difficult to separate herself from them.
Every thought of her that surfaced brought a wave of admiration, passion and something else that seemed both delicate and frightening. He brushed his fingers along her throat and jawline, and she realised she could only feel it through him. With intense effort, she found her way back to the link between them and carefully lifted the thin thread she had pierced the barrier with. She followed it back and flowed back into herself without pain or sickness. She let the little thread go and took a few minutes to contemplate what she had wrought.
She could differentiate between herself and Dain with much greater ease now she was within herself again, though there was a sense of him throughout her whole mind, and indeed her body. She tested it by leaning forward and kissing him on the chest. She felt the echo of his reaction across her skin and let her tongue run over his nipple then teased it with her teeth. A subtle thrill of pleasure flowered across her breast. They continued simply kissing each other, exploring the added intensity that the bond had created.
Julia will be back soon, she said at last, laying a hand on his chest. She felt his disappointment as keenly he did, as strong as her reluctance.
He kissed her one last time and unfolded his arms and she climbed slowly out of bed. She smiled as she sensed his appreciation of her. She could get rather too used to this, she told herself.

Kara held the reigns of her tall black stallion and tugged the hood of her cloak over her head. Filis was setting in pale oranges and pinks, tendrils reaching out towards Esprit became tinged with its soft blue, making purples and greens. Dain was tightening the girth strap on his horse and checking the straps. She could feel his sense of anticipation and shared some of it herself. Julia, on the other hand stood a little apart from them both, staring at the walled city before them with icy appraisal. Strands of her ash blonde hair trickled around the edges of her cloak hood and a flash of her long white skirts could be seen from where her cloak parted at the knee. She had a gloved hand held up to the edge of her hood, drawing it back onto her forehead. Kara could not read the younger womans expression, but she got the instinctive feeling she was searching the city, from this distance, for some kind of sign of Kieran.
Finally Dain was finished with his horse, so Kara swung up into her saddle and waited for the other two to mount. Dains horse, a deep chested bay, tossed its mane as he climbed up, sensing his restlessness as much as she did. Julia swung up into her saddle without taking her eyes off the city.
Well go south out of the camp until we reach the forest, Kara said quietly, and began to lead them out of the camp. Dain twitched his reins and came to ride abreast with her, while Julia took one last look in the direction of the city and turned to follow them. It was a steady half hours ride to the outskirts of the small forest in which for years the citys nobles had gone hunting. They rode in under the eaves until they were well hidden from either road or camp and stopped.
You two must ride either side of me with no more than a foot gap between, so I can hold this cover over us all easily, Julia told them both, as she began weaving the threads to make the cover.
Watching Julia use the power of the core was a little different. She did not stop to draw and did not slowly fill with power. It was almost as if she plucked the threads from her own body. Kara was used to the way her friends eyes glowed, but some Magii found it a little alarming. Normal people couldnt see that at all.
For a brief moment as the threads merged, Julia seemed to fade into shadows. Her dapple horse appeared only as slashes of Esprits light in scattered shadow. Kara felt Dains approval and she was relieved herself it would be very difficult for them to be seen under that. With a little effort of concentration Kara saw her again, but she knew exactly what she was looking for and could see the weave of the cover. Then the cover began to expand over them as Julia fed the threads more power. Dain disappeared out of her view for a moment and then shadows engulfed her too.
It was darker underneath, or at least the world outside was tinted a darker shade. Kara drew briefly and pushed a thread into her eyes to enhance the light and then did the same for Dain. She heard him murmur thanks.
Sweeping past the camps southern edge they headed north west for the city. It was almost an hour later as they reached the tall granite walls of Ludron, built mostly for show but effective enough as protection. The granite glittered in the pale blue light of Esprit. Sadness was filling Dain at the sight of his captured home, and Kara reached out to him with the hope of action. That steadied him and after one last quick looked up at the city, he indicated to them to turn left and follow the walls round. They picked their way under the walls as soldiers on the battlements above looked down and saw shadows. Many times a set of eyes passed right over them, but not once did they linger.
After some time they reached a small cast iron gate in the wall, only just large enough for a rider-less horse to pass through. Julia dismounted and wove a new thread, a Stilled Reflection which covered the gate. She passed straight through the reflection and seemed to disappear. Kara heard the scrape of the gate and the clatter of the Dapples hoofs on the step of the gateway. Quickly she wove her own cover of shadows, drawing just enough power to sustain it for a few moments, so that as Julia moved further away, Kara could still not be seen. She urged Dain after Julia so that his cover would not slip.
He hesitated a moment in front of the reflection, then closed his eyes as he plunged through it. The bay balked for a second, rolling its eyes and resisting the pull of the reins, so Kara nudged her black towards it to herd it through and the bay plunged through the reflection with its haunches visibly quivering.
Kara dismounted and she passed through the reflection quickly, her temple trained stallion trotting calmly through behind her. She came out onto the edge of a great open lawn, surrounded by neatly pruned apple and cherry trees and ornamental maple. At first she could not see Julia or Dain, but a few steps towards where the undergrowth had the most cover and she walked straight through Julias cover.
We must find somewhere to tie the horses, Julia whispered, Three riders abreast will quickly be found even though we cant be seen, some one will just stumble into us,
This is Farnboroughs mansion grounds. We can tether the horses in the orchards, Dain said.
Walking tightly together leading the horses they plunged through the undergrowth until they came out into the neat lines of the orchards. Everywhere though there were the beginnings of signs of neglect as most of Farnboroughs staff had fled the city with him. Quickly they found a distant spot in the small orchard and picket their horses, taking off the saddles and wrapping them in oilcloth.
Alright, once we are off the estate you two can go on to the inn and I will start hunting down some of the people I left inside the city, Dain said as he began to lead them out of the orchard.
We dont know the way there, Captain, Julia said a little stiffly. She was never keen to admit a lack of knowledge.
Julia, Kara began looking from Dain to her friend, Weve discovered a way round that. Dain will be able to direct us to the Inn through me,
Julia stared directly at Kara, her eyes narrowed. Kara felt discomfited under that steady gaze as she felt Julia looking directly into her soul, as the younger womans uncle had often done. Julia took less from her mother than she did from the uncle that had died shortly before she was born, which probably accounted for Julias ability to rein in Kara when it was needed.
That was your decision, she said finally and Kara felt a flare of irritation from Dain.
It will help us find Kieran faster, Julia,
Julias eyes flicked to Dain again and she seemed to sigh slightly. Kieran was her primary concern.
Then it is well, she said quickly, We must be off now though. They have had Kieran for almost a whole day now,

Kieran woke with the sudden realisation that he was going to vomit. The effects of the potion that had kept him unconscious were mingled with a frighteningly familiar dizziness. Julia had blocked him once as a punishment, and he would never forget that vertiginous sensation.
Wiping his drooling mouth with the back of his hand to find he was alone in the same room as before. Char marks were on the floorboards and the curtains and covers of the bed were singed. The burnt smell in his nostrils made him retch and he leaned over the side of the bed and emptied what little there was in his stomach.
Awake are you boy? came a sneering female voice from behind him.
He rolled over slowly and saw that a door on the far side of the room was open and the blonde woman with the nasty mouth was standing there.
Bitch, he growled at her, feeling anger quicken his blood again. He tried to pull himself up in the bed, but he was still too weak, so he toppled back onto his back.
She laughed, a sound that froze his blood, and strolled over to the bed. She grabbed him by the hair and dragged him up into a sitting position, all the while he was yowling and trying feebly to fight her. His muscles felt like water.
Weak as a kitten, she said with a smirk.
He snarled at her and tried again to fight, hoping that his anger would lend him some strength, but his efforts were little better. In his fury he reached out to batter at the block between himself and the core and pain lanced through his head so forcefully that he was vomiting again. A slap landed hard on the side of his face and he heard an angry screech.
You filthy little boy! He must have vomited on her, and in spite of the pain he felt some satisfaction at that.
He sensed suddenly a fiery prickling, almost like nettle rash, emanating from her and looked to see the milk white glow of a Life Well burning beneath the fabric of her bodice. Then something wound itself round him, a tendril that made the air shimmer around it, and as it touched his skin it burned. He tried to fight it, pulling away from it even though the sudden movement brought a fresh wave of nausea to him. Yet he was still too weak and it caught him entirely, winding tight round him and lifting him from the bed. Still struggling and jerking it lifted him through the air and slowly towards the door.
You have a lot to learn, boy. Let this be your first lesson, you cannot defy me, she said following him, her face reddened with anger and caught in a bitter twist.
She took him to another room a little way along a long, dark corridor, where a steaming bath tub was waiting. She ripped his filthy clothes from him while he hung in the air and plunged him straight into the tub. The burning of power gave way to the scalding of the water and he felt too weak to thrash or even to lift the sponge to wash when she commanded. He struggled his way through the bath, forced on by her caustic comments and the occasional burning lash of power she threw at him. When he toppled back into the bath as he tried to rise to get out she wrapped him once more in the burning threads. He felt utter humiliation as tears sprang into his eyes.
Sitting naked at a small table, she forced him to eat though his stomach roiled in rebellion. She mocked him mercilessly for his tears and made frightening comments about how manly his body was, for a boy.
After eating he felt much stronger, but he was too frightened of her now to try and fight. He could not touch the core and still did not have the strength to pick up a sword if one came to hand. He was helpless.
They are waiting for you boy, so wed better hurry along there. Be grateful to Alistair, few ever regain their immortality,
He wanted to roar at her that he did not want immortality, that he did not want to be touched again by the filthy Soul-Stealer taint, but his throat was parched with fear. He had to believe that Kara would come and save him. Kara and Julia. If he didnt believe, he was sure he would go insane.
She made him walk this time, and lead him back along the dark corridor, still naked, and down a thin, steep staircase. He shivered with the cold, his wet hair still clinging to the back of his neck and feeling like tendrils of ice to his skin. Finally after walking along another corridor she opened a door into a very large, almost empty room.
Empty except for one thing that filled him with utter shock. At the far end of the room there was a large iron cage, not quite high enough for someone of average height to stand up in and not quite long enough for him to lie down in. The cage though was not meant for him, he understood that immediately, as it held a small group of naked, weeping girls. They clung to each other in such a way as it was hard for him to tell how many there were, but it seemed they were tightly crowded into the confined space.
Fresh Life Force for the ceremony, the blond woman told him. The girls in the cage wailed at her words and he felt nausea rising in him again. He stared across at the girls, wondering how he could free them, knowing with a sick heart that he could not. He felt her cold hand on his shoulder pushing him down to his knees. The candles that lit the room seemed suddenly to burn more fiercely and the girls cried more desperately.
Seemingly from nowhere they came, figures cowled in red hooded robes. The red was dark, like wine or blood. The robes flowed and rippled, gleaming so that they looked wet. Before him two of the figures walked together, one holding the arm of the other, which shuffled a little. They came to a halt a few feet in front of him.
Anya, you may go now, the figure being led said, and Kieran recognised the voice of the ancient blind man.
Anya bowed deeply and swept from the room, leaving Kieran trembling on his knees in the centre of the room. Inside he began to pray that Kara and Julia would come quickly, though hope was fading.
Someone walked over to the cage and the girls cowered back as one, whimpering and sobbing. Kieran watched them, tears of his own trickling down his cheeks, biting his lip. The cage door was opened and the robed figure by it reached in and grabbed a girl by the ankle. The girl screamed and thrashed as she was dragged from the cage and emotion bubbled up within Kieran wildly.
Let her go, please. Dont do this, he heard himself beg.
Very touching, lad, but you will soon learn that the Kine are here just to feed our power. She is merely performing the service she was born for, the blind man spoke in tolerant tones.
No, no, I dont want to learn that, he babbled as the girl was dragged across the room towards them. A knife suddenly flashed from within the robes of the blind man, clutched in his gnarled hand. The girl was laid between them and Kieran found himself struggling back to his feet, his eyes glued to the writhing girl, her face contorted with fear. The other robed figure who had held the blind mans arm was moving round to grab the girls arms and pin her to the ground. Kieran lurched forward and made a grab for that one, only to find two strong pairs of hands grabbing at his shoulders and pushing him back to the ground. He fought them as fiercely as he could, but he was quickly back on his knees and staring into the wild grey eyes of the girl before him. He felt utterly helpless.
The blind man raised his arm high, the knife tip glittering against the silk of his red robe. At his throat a Life Well blazed suddenly and then he drove it down the way, catching the girl with remarkable precision across the belly. Kieran cried out in anguish as the girl screamed in pain as her stomach swelled open beneath the gash. He saw then, rising out of her wound a feathery, red tendril of life force. He had seen this before, many times with Julia tending the sick and wounded, but only Julia knew that secret. Soul-Stealers could not see the power of the core and conversely Magii could not see life force. He had always been able to see both, even before he had been linked to the core.
The girl before him still lived, but she would die without healing. That thought maddened him because he knew exactly what to do, but reaching for the power sent pain ringing through his skull.
It was then he became aware of something stirring in the air. More than one thing, in fact, because he could see easily how the thirteen Soul-Stealers drew at the power from the girl. There was something else, seething and boiling in the air all around him. He reached out towards it tentatively and felt it jump towards him, flowing into him to fill the void in his veins. The wild torrent that poured through his veins was enough to make him gasp. But before he even had a second to take stock of this, he was hit from all sides by burning brands of Soul-Stealer power.
He fell forward, thrown prone across the body of the girl, who screamed again. His head rang with agony as they reined blows on his link to the core, but he rolled away from the girl shuddering and shaking. He became aware of the old blind man staring down at him then raising the knife again to tear at the girl.
Time seemed to stretch as he lay writhing in pain. Another girl was dragged from the cage and rent in the same fashion as the first girl died. They did not relent, battering and slicing at his link, weakening it fraction by fraction. And all the while he was aware of that wild boiling power just out of reach, the power that had filled him briefly with lightning. Desperately he tried to reach for it, but the awful pain from the 13 made taking a hold impossible. He ground his teeth and arched his back, fighting against the pain and scrabbling for a grip on that elusive power. The Tempest.
Then suddenly there was an explosion of light behind his eyes. The block dissolved, but the core was horrifyingly out of reach. The currents of life force drifting round the room suddenly changed course and began plummeting towards him, and he could feel his drawing point pulling hungrily at it. Utter horror at the murder tainted Soul-Stealer power made him scrabble even more frantically to reach the Tempest and he drew it to himself, filling his veins and blocking off the Life Force that tried to pour into him. His breath ragged and his blood full of fury, he drew himself to his feet and watched as the Soul-Stealers shrank back from him.
Now, he began, hearing the wild edge to his voice, Its time for you to realise just what you have done,

Kara had her eyes closed for a moment, reaching out and feeling for Dain across the city, watching through his eyes. Suddenly the sickening pull that came from within the city leaped up in strength. Her eyes snapped open and she heard Julia groan softly near her ear.
Julia? she queried in a hoarse whisper.
Kieran, oh dear Kieran, what have they done? was the reply that came. She sounded on the verge of breaking down.
She closed her eyes and sent a wave of urgency to Dain, then began to draw a tiny thread from the core. She let it loose and watched it, but she reached out and caught Julia, who seemed to be unsteady on her feet. Her sense of urgency peaked as she saw it drift very much in the direction where she knew Dain to be. The hair on her arms stood up, and she felt static in the air suddenly.
By Madre, Kieran No! she heard herself yell, as she broke into a run in Dains direction. Outside the inn that they had been watching for a couple of hours someone looked sharply in her direction as they came staggering out of the door. Behind her Julia exclaimed and tried to run after her on shaky legs. Kara spun and caught hold of her friend, giving her a second to catch her breath and feed strength from the core into her muscles. Without needing to discuss it, they dropped together out of the normal beat of time, feeling the world slow to a crawl and then the two of them turned to run as one.
Kara kept herself moving toward Dain, plunging blind down streets and alleys she had never seen before. Dain was moving towards her, but in the normal stream of time so it seemed as if he were barely moving at all. Julia was hard on her heels, clutching her skirts in her hands, hiked up to her hips to let her run without restriction. Kara ran with one hand on her sword, ready to draw it.
With every passing heartbeat, Kara felt the static charge in the air building. The Tempest seemed to hover around her, swirling and brooding, tempting her with its electric caress, but she could feel it slipping over her, being drawn away from her. How much longer did they have before he unleashed it?
Turning another corner she ground to a halt. Dain was moving up the street towards them, his head down, running as if he was ready to throw himself to the ground at any second. Further down the street the air was crackling visibly round one of the rickety old buildings, and Kara could also feel the centre of the pull there. Julia was running passed her and Kara shouted after her.
Julia, its too dangerous, stay back! but Julia didnt even slow.
Torn between going after Julia and getting under cover, Kara ran for Dain and knocked him off his feet . As she rolled with him she let herself drop back into the normal stream of time.

Julia rocketed into the small door at the front of the building, knocking it on its hinges. She threw a ball of fire straight at it and it blew open in front of her. She was aware of the charge in the air no-one could have missed it now, but she felt the pull more keenly. She knew both the texture and intensity of that keenly, knew that Kieran had been ripped free of the core.
She poured more power into her aching limbs, until she was saturated and unable to work another thread, and was moving so much faster than time that she could see insects hanging like motes of dust in the air. Even so, she knew she had no more than a few seconds left to find Kieran. Tearing down the corridor with her eyes closed to help her concentrate on the pull, she hit a wall hard and bounced off. She was suddenly aware of the smell of fresh blood in the air. Spinning on her heel she saw a door in front of her. A prickling feeling spread over her skin, goosebumps raising all over her flesh. Not a second to spare to drop a beat and no power left to use on the door she had to throw herself at it. She took a step back and launched herself at it with as much force and speed as she could muster over the short distance. She let out a little yelp of pain as her shoulder crunched into the sturdy wood. It groaned on its hinges. She drew back quickly and threw herself at it again, as the air in front of her began to flash and spark with static.
Kieran! she screamed as she hit the door again. The hinges burst beneath her, sending her flying into the room beyond.
He was kneeling in the centre of the room, the corpses of two girls ripped open in front of him and all round him, cowering back from him, red robed Soul-Stealers. His entire body was covered in writhing threads of lightning, and inching outwards from him, at an ever-increasing pace, was a great blinding white ring. Jagged tendrils were leaping out from it, playing along the floor and ceiling. At the far end of the room Julia could see a cage with a handful of terrified girls. Within a couple of heartbeats, everyone in the room would be dead, except for Kieran.
Julia pulled some power from keeping herself so far between moments, just a tiny bit and threw it into a shield, watching with increasing alarm as the ring came towards her. The first of the Soul-Stealers was hit, followed almost instantly by three more. She piled more power into the shield, throwing herself prone across the ground. Time and the ring were accelerating alarmingly, 4 more of the shocked Soul-Stealers went down. Julia finally dropped back into real time, desperately needing all the power she could for the shield. Her heart was hammering as she pushed everything she had into the shield, and she got it to full strength the very moment Kierans ring poured over her.
Lightning arched round her, heating her shield so much that her skin felt scalded. She could do nothing but hope she could endure. The room was filled with screams as Soul-Stealers and the caged girls alike were burned and electrocuted by the power of Kierans Tempest. She heard the roaring and rumbling of the walls being torn apart and finally she blacked out as something large and dark fell on top of her.

Dain grunted as they hit a wall together. Kara peeled away from him and was up on her feet in a low crouch.
Move! she hissed to him and he was on his feet, one hand against the wall as they both scurried into a doorway. Her sense of urgency burned into him, even as his skin was prickling with the static in the air. Suddenly the air was split with a roaring coming from inside one of the buildings at the other end of the street. He felt Kara drawing power, he could feel the surge of it through her, and then he felt the air immediately around them thicken.
At the other end of the street one of the buildings exploded, sending a huge shower of stones and dust out into the air. Wrapping himself around Kara and pushing her head to his chest he threw them both down as close to the ground as they could crouch in the doorway, with their backs to the blast. Around them the static sensation increased to the point where it was raising painful prickles on his skin and sparking in tiny blue flashes in the air.
The dust swept by them, then suddenly the side of the building they were sheltering in began to explode. Karas mind seemed to be fixed with concentration, but he felt the prickle of her fear none the less. Walls slid to the ground around them with earsplitting crashes. He closed his eyes, concentrating hard on what he was feeling from Kara to help him keep his cool and waited for the end. The seconds stretched out and the building continued collapsing. Jolting sparks of static ran up his exposed spine, dust and whirling debris battered him. Then the air all round him filled with a sound like thousands of angry wasps swarming and every hair on his body stood on end. Kara murmured a soft assurance in his ear.
Were safe, well live, dont worry,
After a few moments the buzz died away, but his ears rang from it still for a few minutes. The lashing storm of exploding building began to die down, although there were crashes and roars of unstable buildings falling in on themselves. In the distance he hears screams and cries as whatever it was that had destroyed the buildings around them headed for more populated areas of the city. He felt his knees buckle and Kara stiffening to support him.
What. He tried to speak, but his throat was choked with dust and raw emotion.
She didnt speak in reply, only closed her eyes and let her head rest against his chest, letting all the feeling inside her pour out. He understood, her worst fear realised, the thing she had been so desperate to prevent, had happened. They had both survived only because of the link between them, but it had been too late to save Kieran from what the Soul-Stealers planned to do to him. She looked up into his eyes, hers red but tearless.
We have to go and find him, now. We have to hope that Julia is still alive. We have to link him back to the core, and hope hes still sane,
Slowly, together they stumbled out from the door way into the wreckage of the street.
It was Kara who saw Kieran first, standing pale-faced among the ruins, clad only in threads of crackling static. A long gash ran down his left cheek and blood trickled from it freely. Dain felt a prickle of fear when he saw the boys eyes, glowing like the bright blue-white of lightning and flowing with tears. There was also something nearly manic about the way his head whipped from side to side as his mouth opened and closed over the same single word in a nearly constant stream. Julia.
Dain felt Karas sudden shock as Kieran loosed a thread of lightning and vaporised a large block on the ground in front of him. Her fear set his own heart pounding.
Kieran, let it go! She barked, holding her outward composure.
The boy looked up, aware of them for the first time. Dain saw confusion and defiance warring across the boys ravaged face as Kara stalked down the street towards him. Dain took a few long, quick strides to catch up with her, determined to stay close.
Julia, shes under this, the boy said in vague tones, spreading his hands to indicate the rubble around him.
Youll kill both of you for sure if you dont let the Tempest go! Kara shouted at him as she stopped suddenly where the arch of a doorway could still be just discerned. Dain stopped right behind her and put his hands on her shoulders, tense himself with the anger and fear boiling inside her.
The Soul-Stealersgot to keep it out so so many dead Kieran stammered, shaking visibly.
Pity and sympathy suddenly welled up within Kara, yet it did not replace the fear. Dain realised just how much his cold, beautiful Mage cared for this boy, and somehow that brought home to him just how close they all were to even greater peril.
Kieran, let go of it. I can block you, but not while you are charged with the Tempest,
In the centre of the ruins, Kieran sagged to his knees. The lightning that crawled over his skin began to fade, and the light in his eyes waned slowly. He groaned loudly as if it were a great loss to let go of this power. Karas emotional tumult reflected that impression.
Very suddenly the boys face darkened and he began to choke and twist. Alarmingly, Dain felt all the small cuts and scratches on his skin begin to throb. Kara, it seemed, felt it more keenly. He reached out and thumbed away a fresh trickle of blood from her forehead.
He knew when she began to draw on the core, and squeezed her shoulder when she flinched at the stab of it in her temples. The trick she had used to cross the city at such speed must have exhausted her.
Squinting across the space between Kieran and Kara he thought for a moment that he saw something reaching towards the boy. Shaking his head quickly he decided it must be some trick of either the light or his bond with Kara. The boy relaxed and colour began to flow back into his face as at the same time his breathing eased.
Dain watched as Kara picked her way through the ruins to the boy. Kieran seemed to be shivering as Kara threw her arms around him, a few sobs bursting from him. Dain undid his cloak and stalked across the ruins towards them, spurred on by Karas worry for the boy. She smiled at him gratefully as he dropped the thick cloth round Kierans shoulders.
Close your eyes, Kieran, and concentrate on where Julia is. We have to get her out, Kara murmured in the boys ear. Kieran swallowed his sobs and his shivering seemed to still as he closed his eyes. The tableau held for a few moments, then finally with a shaky hand the boy pointed. Following his finger, Dain saw a long beam jutting out of the rubble, broken about halfway down by a large granite block. The block itself rested mainly on thick dust and debris.
Kara turned and walked slowly towards it, and Dain found himself rubbing his own temples as she began to draw from the core. There was a dull, burning ache in her from touching the core. He saw the air shimmer just a little between Kara and the beam. Somehow the beam began to look stronger, though he couldnt quite explain it, but even before she was entirely finished with the beam, he saw the block begin to inch away from it. Behind it emerged a hole which was perhaps large enough for a cat to creep into.
He felt a little disorientation when a moment or two later he became aware of a pulse other than his own or Karas. He couldnt be sure where it came from, though he suspected he felt it through the bond to Kara. It was steady, but slow.
Shes alive, Kara told them both, without turning away from the rubble, Shes unconscious and losing blood. Dain, can you come and move some of this rubble?
All of Karas concentration was focused on holding the power she was already wielding, and Dain was careful not to even brush her as he walked round to crouch in front of the hole.
He peered inside, straining to see if any of Julia was visible in the poor light. As his eyes adjusted, he saw a flash of grimy white cloth and a pale shape that could have been a hand. Slowly and carefully he began to pull away the rubble at the mouth of the hole.
The sound of a step behind him made him pause and glance over his shoulder. The boy had moved forward and was crouching beside him, barely noticing the sharp rocks against his bare skin, it seemed.
You should be resting, boy, Dain told him, his voice a little softer than his words. The boy turned his dark, glittering eyes on him and Dain shivered in spite of himself. There was a wildness in them that quite matched the awesome destructive power the boy had used on the city.
I didnt mean for this to happen, The boy said in reply to Dains shiver, his voice weak.
No-one is blaming you, Kara said from behind them and Dain felt a wave of calm coming to him from her. He sighed and rolled his shoulders quickly, then went back to picking away at the rubble around where Julia lay.
Kara began to get agitated as the other pulse began to slow, and Dain felt spurred to work faster. Kieran kept pace, and eventually there was enough of a hole for Kieran to wriggle into on his belly.
Can you reach her? Kara asked impatiently.
Only just, Kierans voice came out muffled by the rubble. He shifted a little, pushing himself further in, There isnt enough room in here to pull her out, he said.
Kara bit her lip, paling visibly. Anxiety was hitting him in waves from her now, Julia must be getting very weak. The boy twisted again in the hole.
Kara, unblock me,
Outright alarm flooded through Kara at the suggestion and Dain himself felt disquieted by it. Kieran must have sensed this in her hesitation.
I cant drag her out, I am going to have to lift the rest of this rubble off her from underneath. Is there time to do it by hand?
Kara swallowed and Dain got to his feet to stand beside her. She smiled weakly at him, but seemed to calm at his closeness. He could tell she was not used to the emotional tension running through her and she was at the very edge of her endurance with it.
No there isnt time to do it by hand, she said quietly.
There was a shift in the air and Dain felt the pull on his scratches. Kara swayed beside him and he put out a hand to steady her. She leaned into him, unsteady on her legs, so he wrapped his arms round her to give her more support, and she sagged gratefully into them.
Be very careful Kieran, you could draw the life from her, Kara raised her voice to warn him, sounding a little stronger again.
Kieran didnt answer and after a few moments the rubble above him began to move very slowly upwards, revealing his prone form. The pull seemed to increase and Kara groaned in his arms, while his own scratches began to throb. The pile of rubble floated up until it was clear of the broken beam. He let it float over the ruins for some ten feet and let it drop with a crash. Julia lay exposed in front of him now, a wide gash ran along the hairline above her forehead, sticky black blood fusing her pale blonde hair together. But it was across her belly that the most blood was seeping, from a deep cut partly concealed by the fabric of her dress. It pooled underneath her, staining most of the pure white silk a muddy pink.
Kieran drew himself up onto his knees beside her, licking his lips nervously, then he reached forward. Kara went almost rigid in his arms, catching her breath as Kieran laid his hands on Julia. It was easy to understand that there might be considerable danger in Kieran using the Soul-Stealer taint to heal, and indeed the thought made him feel slightly sick.
As Dain watched, unable to take his eyes away, the gash on Julias head began to close, both sides of the wound seeming to melt into each other. Within seconds there wasnt even a mark to be seen. Across her belly the flow of blood ceased, and finally there was only the slash in her dress and smooth white skin beneath it.

As the pain receded, Julia felt the darkness recede too. The fog on her mind lifted and she reached up towards consciousness. Her eyes fluttered open, as if reluctant, and she saw Kieran leaning over her. His hair was falling in lank locks across his eyes, so she reached up and brushed it aside, gasping at the gash that was revealed on his cheek. His eyes drew hers, so dark and gleaming with tears, but her hand reached up instinctively to the gash to mend it. He caught her fingers with his hand and smiled.
I need a reminder, he told her softly, meshing his fingers with hers, Besides, you need to keep your strength,
She understood, she could feel the pull from him. In fact this close, it felt almost as if it were going to draw her flesh to his, the blood in her rising to the surface of her pale skin and covering her in a light blush while her skin tingled and ached. A stray thought running through her mind just then shocked her though, murmuring that these sensations were as much to do with Kieran himself as the Soul-Stealer pull that emanated from him. She forced those thoughts firmly away.
No-one needs to know exactly what happened here, and I promise you, no-one will ever know, she told him quietly.
He bent forward and gathered her up in his arms. He staggered a little, but stoically refused the help that Dain and Kara offered him. It pained her that he took such responsibility for what had happened, but she knew she had lost a lot of blood and was too weak to walk. So instead she tried her best to make her long body as light as possible in his arms as he carried her away through the ruins of Ludron.
~The End~