Chapter Twenty-Three

Alone in Hagen’s chamber, Marlis absently stroked the skull, now permanently fixed to the top of her metal staff. “My patience is running thin,” she whispered. “It is clear Edmund is not coming here. He does nothing but delay and make excuses. There must be another way to get Arthur here. Hagen said he would think of a way.”

Her expression softened as she mentioned his name. Breath catching in her throat, her eyes slid shut with the memory of his lips pressed to her skin. Not for the first time, the thought of love filled her mind. “Is this what love feels like?” she whispered. “But it is not part of my plan. And yet.” The smile that pulled at her lips faded.

I want him to feel the same, she thought, but I dare not remove the band. I know he will no longer want me. And if he no longer serves a purpose, what will, she do to him?

More often now, Marlis found herself wishing she hadn’t chosen to be tied to Gadreena. The dark one was making more demands on her, wanting more sacrifice, more blood. So far, she’d managed to placate Gadreena, and was confident she could manage her for it wasn’t as if Marlis was devoid of power.

Straightening her body, absently fingering the smooth spindle, she strode to the door. Catching sight of her reflection in the mirror that had belonged to Una, her stomach tensed. It was clear her pact with the dark one was taking its toll. Her body had grown thin, her skin pale grey. “Yet, he sees only me,” she said, forcing a smile.

Marlis opened the door and stopped.

“We wish to speak with you,” said Otho, Heida beside him.

“I have nothing to say to you.” She tried to push past him, but he planted his solid body in front of her.

“We have plenty to say to you,” said Heida. “Hear us out. We have come direct to you and not gone to our chief.”

She raised a brow. “You have not spoken to Hagen?”

“If you don’t let us speak, we will go to him,” said Otho.

Stepping back, she motioned for them to enter the chamber.

Without any preamble, Heida said, “You have cast a spell on our chief.”

“That is a bold accusation. What proof do you have?”

“The woven band he wears on his wrist.”

Marlis laughed, a strident, humourless sound. “It is a simple gift, nothing more.”

Otho, arms crossed over his chest, snorted. “He is a changed man. The anger, unreasonableness, that is not the man I know.”

“Maybe you never knew him.”

“That staff you carry around,” said Heida, pointing. “I have seen it before.”

Caught off guard, Marlis flinched, her eyes momentarily widening. Stepping away from Heida, she moved the staff to her side.

“Your grandmother, if I remember correctly. She was punished, and you were banished. And none saw fit to take that staff.”

Her gaze lowered as realisation dawned; Heida thought she was Wilda. She couldn’t stop the giggle that escaped her. “What do you plan to do? You know Hagen will not listen to you, that is why you are here.”

“Leave.”

Marlis raised her brows at Otho.

“Take that damned thing off Hagen, take your staff and leave. You will not have whatever revenge it is you have planned.”

“And who will stop me?”

Heida moved closer. “I have some knowledge.” She held up a circular object. “This was my Lady Una’s, and it still has some power.”

Marlis stared at the milky-white piece overlaid with raised intertwined ice blue patterns. “That is going to stop me?”

Heida’s lips moved, but not a whisper escaped her as she thrust the piece at Marlis.

Crying out, the elf-woman recoiled, dropping her staff. She stared in disbelief at her hand. It remained unmarked, but she’d felt the staff burn her. Sweat prickling her skin, she staggered back as her heartbeat raced.

Backing away as Heida advanced, Marlis’ wide-eyed gaze darted about. Her hand brushed the spindle hanging from her belt. A moment’s hesitation then she yanked it free. Gripping the spindle in both hands, she lunged forward, stabbing Heida in the arm. “Gadreena. My offering to you.”

Black mist appeared out of nowhere, coiling around Heida. Her eyes bulged, a dry rasping issued from her wide-open mouth. The milky-white piece fell from her hand.

Before Otho could move, Marlis grabbed the staff and struck him across the face. He fell to his knees, mouth open in a silent scream, clawing at his face as the mist flowed into the cut.

Panting, Marlis took jerking steps back, unable to tear her gaze from the sight of Gadreena’s mist form devouring Otho and Heida. When, finally, she was alone, she slowly dropped to her knees. The now-ordinary object lay close. Not wanting to touch it, she smashed it with her staff.

Pulling at the loose thread on the edge of her sleeve, Agata stood by the pillar halfway down the hall. She couldn’t find Heida anywhere, and no one knew where Otho was. Wanting to speak to Hagen alone was impossible with Marlis always by his side, as she was now.

Her stomach churned seeing her uncle fawn over the black-haired woman like a simpering weakling, not the strong man she’d come to regard as a father. Seeing Sweyn approaching Hagen with a trio of men, Agata took a deep breath and joined them. “Uncle, may I speak?”

Just as she thought he wasn’t going to acknowledge her, Hagen turned. “What is the matter?”

“I can’t find Heida anywhere.”

He stared at her then made a production of looking around his seat. “Well, she isn’t here.”

Feeling heat rise to her cheeks, Agata pressed on, refusing to look at a sniggering Marlis. “I’m worried something has happened to her. And Otho.”

That seemed to get his attention and he straightened. “Otho?”

“Yes, my lord,” said Sweyn. “We have not seen him for most of the day.”

“Maybe he has a tryst with Heida,” said Marlis, giggling.

Heat flushed through Agata’s body, turning her reckless. “This is your fault.” She thrust a finger at her. “Nothing has been right since you came to this hall. Heida knows you’re up to something. And I know too. You’ve done something to Uncle, you’ve bewitched him with–”

Pain exploded on her cheek, shocking her breath out of her. Hagen filled her blurring vision, but Agata struggled to comprehend what had just happened. She realised the hand on her burning cheek was her own as she realised Hagen had slapped her. He who had only ever treated her with kindness had slapped her.

“Get out of my sight.”

“Uncle,” she whispered, tears sliding down her cheeks.

“Hagen, come to your senses, man.” Sweyn placed himself between the chief and Agata.

“The same for anyone who opposes me. And Marlis. That includes you, Sweyn. Understand, once and for all, she is my woman.”

Agata kept shaking her head, the knot in her stomach tightening at the triumphant look on Marlis’ face.

“I care not where Otho and Heida are. They will show their faces again when they have come to their senses.” Hagen kissed Marlis’ hand before facing his advisors. “You are my advisors, so advise me. Come up with a plan that will bring the son of Edmund here, that will make him agree to ally himself with me.”

“I do not want to marry a southerner.” Agata’s anger and fear for all she held dear kept her rooted where she was.

“This is nothing to do with you. And I told you to remove yourself.”

Like Agata, Sweyn remained where he was, seemingly unmoved by Hagen’s ire. “If Lord Edmund chooses not to come, we risk hostilities if we pursue–”

“Then that is what we risk. Come up with a plan or I will replace you with someone who will.”

“Enough.” Marlis strode to the middle of the hall. “This constant questioning of your chief will stop now. You will listen to him. And to me. Witness my power.” Raising her arms and the staff aloft, she said, “Come, my dark mistress, let them see.”

Mutterings fell from those around her as black mist swirled down from the staff to surround Marlis. Sibilant whisperings flowed to fill the hall. “Your goddess no longer has sway here. She has been usurped by the dark one, by Gadreena.”

The horrified cries only seemed to please Marlis whose smile widened until she laughed.

“Marlis. No.”

The newcomer stood halfway between her and the door. Agata recognised her as one of the weaver-women.

Marlis turned to her. “What are you doing here?”

“I-I wanted. Please come back to us.”

She gave a dismissive snort. “Go back to you? And why would I do that? I could not wait to get away from you women. Especially you, Norna, with your incessant talking.”

Clutching her hands to her chest, her rounded cheeks reddening, she began to weep. “Say what you will, but I care for you, Marlis. You are like a sister to me, to all of us.”

The black-haired woman’s expression softened momentarily before it hardened again.

“Come back. Everything will be as it was if you only come back.”

Marlis slowly shook her head, her smile holding no humour. “Too much has happened. Nothing can be as it was.”

Her words caused Agata to shiver, and she didn’t know why.

Marlis face tightened, her body visibly tensed. “Leave, Norna. There is nothing more for you here.” She turned away.

“For the love of Nadlina, please–”

“No!” Marlis’ body swinging around seemed to take her by surprise. She stared as her arm came up to point the staff at Norna. “No, please.” In the next instant, black mist had engulfed Norna.

Agata clutched her hands to her mouth, trapping her scream.

The mist had gone, completely gone. Where Norna had been, there was only a shrivelled, thing on the ground that vaguely resembled a corpse.

Agata barely heard the screams around her. All she could think of was Heida. She feared she would never see her nurse again.