Cal nodded. 'The touch imprints a kind of … echo of our bond onto another.'

  'Why do it?' said Fyia. 'What's it for?'

  'It allows us to use our bonded animal's senses, even if our animal is not present, and feel our bonded animal's sense of the person too.'

  Fyia shook her head in disbelief. 'How is that possible?'

  'Magic,' he said sardonically.

  'What of the animal?' said Fyia.

  'They experience the same things you do … you're using the animal's senses, after all.'

  'That's why your bear roared?' said Fyia, everything becoming clear. 'Because she was suddenly assaulted by … me?' And Fyia had tried to push back along the imprint … had offered the bear membership of her own Cruaxee … Cal's bear. 'No wonder she doesn't like me.'

  'It surprised her,' he said. 'I gave her no warning.'

  'Why did you do it?'

  Cal shook his head. 'Maybe the Fae'ch magic affected my rational mind.'

  Fyia scowled. 'Your mind is not so easy for them to alter as your eye color. Can you remove the touch?'

  'No. Or at least, I don't know how.'

  'So every time we're in the same room …'

  'No. It's not constant. I must choose to use the connection, and my bear will only tolerate my borrowing her senses for so long. She needs them to survive.'

  'Good,' said Fyia. 'Don't use it again.'

  Fyia descended the steps to the main part of the library, preoccupied with thoughts of why Cal had done it … created her magical bond with his bear. Had the magic of the Fae'ch truly scrambled his senses, or was he hiding some other motivation he didn’t want her to know? She had no reason to trust the Black Hoods, just as they had no reason to trust her.

  At least she'd learned something—that she too, if she so wished, could use her life-bonded Cruaxee in this way. The ability to use her wolves' senses without their presence was intriguing. The only reason she hadn't tried it out on Cal was that it was permanent, and he didn't truly understand the magic. Magic was tricksy, and mischievous. Only a fool would trust that a Cruaxee echo … imprint … touch … whatever it was … could be so simple. How could it be? He'd linked his bear to her forever …

  Maybe she could use the echo to her own advantage … could she tap into the bear's senses also? The bear would surely fight her, but she could try. Or maybe that was what Cal wanted, so he could exile her from his lands for attacking his bear …

  She couldn't let the King distract her. She was here for the egg, and to unite their nations. The knowledge he'd offered was a bonus—penance for the bond Cal had touched her with—but she couldn't take her eyes off the prize.

  She reached the library's entrance, and found Rouel awaiting her. 'The King has requested your presence in the town hall,' he said, his voice low and unusually serious.

  Fyia nodded, a prickle of unease travelling down her spine. 'Do you know more?'

  'Something to do with Edu … that's all I know.'

  Fyia took off towards the town hall at a brisk pace, this time ignoring the stalls filled with wonders. It was a short walk, and as she climbed through the window, she assessed the scene—Edu sat on a sturdy wooden chair, Zhura, Aaron, and Cal standing over him. How had Cal got here before her? Was this the reason he'd ended their session so abruptly? If so, how had he known?

  'You sent for me?' said Fyia, her voice light, and an easy smile on her lips.

  'I caught your commander snooping,' said Zhura.

  'How do you mean?' said Fyia, noting Zhura's irritated expression.

  'I think my words are clear enough.'

  'What does Edu have to say?' asked Cal, apparently not yet up to speed either.

  'Zhura was spying on me,' said Edu. 'She's been trailing me all morning, so I asked a couple of questions to flush her out.'

  Zhura made a warning noise deep in her throat. 'I may go wherever I please, seeing as I am a Black Hood. You may stay in our lands only so long as our King sees fit … which depends on your ability to observe respectful boundaries.'

  'Do respectful boundaries include searching our rooms?' said Edu. 'Because I believe they have been combed from top to bottom.'

  It wasn't surprising … par for the course when visiting foreign lands.

  Zhura clenched her teeth.

  'If there are things you wish to know, why not just ask me?' said the King.

  'Cal …' said Zhura.

  'We have nothing to hide,' said Cal. He dropped into one of the comfortable seats by the fire. 'Come … sit.'

  Fyia sat, and the puppies appeared through the door at the back of the hall. She scooped one up into her lap, where it promptly curled up and went to sleep. Cal watched her, something lurching in her chest when she met his predatory gaze.

  'What do you want to know?' he said, his voice hard like iron.

  'Why is your relationship with the Queen Mother so strained?' she asked, not breaking eye contact.

  'Because she did not support my bid for the throne when my father died.'

  'Why?'

  Cal raised an eyebrow. 'There was another she considered more suited for the role.'

  'Who?'

  'Seriously?' said Zhura. She gave Fyia an incredulous look, then turned her ire on Cal. 'You're going to let her pepper you with questions, and expect nothing in return?'

  Fyia smiled. If she were to unite their kingdoms, open dialogue was essential. This was good. 'I will happily reciprocate,' she said. 'Ask me whatever you wish.'

  'Why did you overthrow your brother?' said Zhura, sitting on the arm of Cal's chair.

  Cal frowned, although Fyia wasn't sure why.

  Fyia went still; rumors about her brother were the ones she hated most. She stroked the puppy's fluffy fur, the motion calming. 'I didn't. My brother had a … difficult relationship with his magic. He had no desire to lead our kingdom … had no desire to even be in our kingdom. He wanted to abdicate. He asked me if I would mind taking on the role.'

  Zhura raised her eyebrows. Apparently she found the truth farfetched. 'Why did he go to the Fae'ch?' she asked, leaning forward. 'Why did they accept him?'

  'He wanted to be among the magical,' said Fyia. 'As to why they accepted him, you'll have to ask him, for although I could guess, I do not know.'

  'How did you do it?' said Cal, scooping up a puppy of his own. 'Take all five kingdoms?'

  Fyia shook her head and donned a censoring expression. 'Your turn first.' Cal shrugged, so she continued. 'What would it take to unite our nations?'

  'Other than marriage?' Zhura said lightly.

  Fyia ignored Zhura, her eyes fixed on Cal, who was watching her once more. Fyia assessed him with fresh eyes, and as far as marriage prospects went, he was certainly the best she'd had. Handsome, in his prime, magical, a king clearly respected by his people. And the Black Hoods were reclusive, but they were a wealthy nation, feared and esteemed by all the lands. Not to mention, they could help form a union with the Fae'ch … no small benefit.

  'Many things,' Cal said at last, 'but mostly, I would need proof you care less about conquering nations than doing what is right for your people.'

  'Everything I've done is for my people,' said Fyia.

  'Then why are you here with us, trying to expand the reach of your empire, when your homelands are in turmoil?' said Zhura.

  'Because I wish to bring back the dragons,' said Fyia, 'for their good—even if they can't see that yet—for the good of all. That has been my aim from the beginning … my calling. I have no desire to sit on a throne and live out my days in boredom, playing politics. There are others far more skilled at that than I.'

  'Like your aunt?' said Zhura.

  'To name but one,' said Fyia, unsure exactly what Zhura was implying. 'That's it? To form an alliance with the Black Hoods, I must prove I care about my people?'

  Cal held her gaze for a moment, absently stroking the puppy in his lap. 'How did you do it?'

  Fyia glanced at Edu, who still sat on the uncomfortable wooden chair, Aaron leaning against the wall not far behind him.

  'I could never have done it alone,' she said. 'Overthrowing my parents was easy—they were not good to their people—but after that, things became more complex. I won't bore you with a detailed account, but I relied heavily on my general—Sensis—and on my Cruaxee, but that has come with a cost.

  'My people are wary of magic. As you know, until recently, it was outlawed in our lands. There are also those who do not appreciate being ruled by a woman.'

  Zhura's expression softened a little.

  'Believe me when I say it was not easy,' Fyia continued, 'but I knew, with unwavering certainty, I was doing what was right. I know I can give my people a better life, even without the dragons, but I also know I can find the dragons, and when I do, I can do so much more.'

  'How do you know?' said Cal, shifting in his chair, hanging on her words.

  She leaned back. 'Show me your egg, and I will tell you.' Question time was over.

  Cal sat bolt upright in his bed, the memory of Fyia's scent in his lungs. When she'd risen from her chair to leave the hall, he'd stood also, the movement putting them closer together than was comfortable.

  He hadn't used the Cruaxee-touch on purpose, but he'd smelled her scent of wild roses and cut grass, and it was like his bear had been curious … wanted to find out more about the woman he'd bonded her to.

  Cal had inhaled deeply, the smell enhanced a thousand-fold by his bear's superior sense of smell. It had been all he could do to hold himself together … he'd had to leave, and now the smell invaded his dreams, robbing him of sleep for the third night in a row.

  Images of Fyia kept flashing across his mind. The stubborn set of her jaw, the regal way she held herself, despite her middling stature, the sun shimmering off her dark hair, the light of curiosity in her azure eyes. He'd believed her when she said she wanted the best for her people, but Cal wanted the best for his people too, and he wasn’t convinced that meant allying with the foreign Queen.

  Fyia wanted to tear the world down, and he didn't doubt she could do it, but was she capable of building it back up again? She seemed convinced the dragons would return, but … why? Cal had once dreamed of being the one to find the dragons, but when he'd won the battle for his kingdom, more important matters had possessed his every waking thought, chasing the childish notion from his mind.

  He worried about how to feed his people when their lands were growing colder by the season. How to hold his people together in the face of such a threat … Eventually, they would have no choice but to migrate or starve. If they allied with Fyia, perhaps the Black Hoods could go to her lands, but her people would not like it … there would be bloodshed and hardship.

  Cal threw back the furs covering his naked body, dressed quickly, then headed for the library. He had always buried himself in books when he couldn’t sleep, combing for inspiration, or answers, or any kind of diversion from whatever unwelcome thoughts invaded his mind.

  Chapter Twelve

  FYIA PATTED HER WOLVES as she returned to Anvarn, pulling on the boots she'd stashed in a hollow. She'd needed to run, to reconnect with the wild after three frustrating days of learning from the King. Or in fact, not learning, for it seemed he knew little more than she.

  She wanted to avoid discovery, either by the Black Hoods, or by her own guards, who by now had probably realized she was missing. She watched, ensuring the place was devoid of life before sneaking back to the tavern.

  She was about to make a dash for it across the town square, when her wolves alerted her to a movement in the shadows. She watched as the cloaked figure moved towards the library, then as they quickly climbed the steps and ducked inside.

  Fyia moved without conscious thought. Whatever they were doing, they didn't want to be spotted, which meant whatever they were doing, it was certainly worth investigating.

  She paused when she reached the building's threshold and listened for movement. She heard the dull thud of footsteps off to the right, near the wall.

  Fyia snuck around the edge of the room, keeping to the shadows of the stacks until she came across a wrought-iron railing that disappeared into the floor. She hadn't seen it earlier, set back against the wall as it was, and she hadn't had time to explore.

  She barely hesitated before descending the steep, circular steps, trying not to make a sound. Her wolves had to stay at the top, the stairs too steep, and their claws too loud, and they whined at her through the bond. Oh, hush, she thought, trying to concentrate, and they quieted down, straining their ears for any sound.

  Fyia reached the bottom, glad to find it warm, for she hadn't bothered to take a cloak on her run. She waited for her eyes to adjust, then spotted a blueish light up ahead, although she had no idea what it could be.

  She moved cautiously forward, careful where she placed each footstep. She noted the shelves of books stopped as she got closer to the light, which seemed to come from the floor.

  'What are you doing here?' said a familiar voice from behind her. She jumped and spun around, Cal's face mostly hidden in shadow.

  'I was out for a run. I saw someone come in here … I didn't know it was you …'

  'Well, now you've satisfied your curiosity, you can leave,' he said, striding towards the light.

  Fyia followed. 'I haven't actually,' she said. 'Oh …' Cal stopped by a small pool of water, the light a reflection of the moon, which shone through a hole in the ceiling. The pool was a raised structure made of stone, with copper pipes attached to two sides.

  'There's a hot spring here,' said Fyia. It explained why the library was so warm.

  'Yes,' said Cal. 'Are you done now?'

  'Do you use it to heat other buildings?'

  'No.'

  'Why?'

  'I came here for peace and quiet.'

  'Couldn't sleep?' she asked, not wanting to leave this place, or his company. There was something about his intense demeanor, the way he switched so easily from carefree cad to brooding King, the austere way he looked at her …

  He didn't answer, so she circled the pool, taking in every detail she could make out, which wasn't much in the gloom.

  She looked back to find Cal gone, and something lurched in her chest … something that felt a lot like disappointment. He'd been cold and aloof since they'd danced in the tavern, but she was drawn to him in a way she'd never been drawn to another. She couldn't understand why … maybe it was the Cruaxee-touch …

  Fyia reached for her bond with his bear, feeling her way through the faint, strange connection.

  'What are you doing?' said Cal, suddenly in front of her, a hint of concern tinging his confident tone.

  'Exploring the bond you placed on me,' she said. His scent of gorse, pine, and freshly fallen snow was enhanced, far stronger than usual. It made her heart race … made her lightheaded, and she shut her eyes, trying to shake away the sensation, trying to pull back, willing her mind to focus on more important things. His bear didn't want to let go, and chased her.

  Fyia's heart thudded loudly in her ears as she reached for her wolves, who whined in her mind. She concentrated on them, letting their senses fill her as she raced away from the bear.

  Her wolves still sat by the books above, and the smell of musty, leather-bound volumes mingled with the King's scent, diluting him until the bear lost interest, and Fyia had control once more.

  'Don't do that again,' said Cal, as though in pain, his voice stern and distant.

  'If you didn't want me to use the bond, you shouldn't have touched me with it,' she countered.

  He was so close his scent invaded her once again, this time without the help of his bear's senses. She needed to put distance between them, but as she tried to move away, he grabbed her arms, his fingers firm.

  'If my bear attacks you through the bond, there is little I can do to stop her. She is strong and wild and willful. She possesses a stubborn streak not unlike your own that is impossible to control.'

  Fyia's head swam. 'Release me,' she breathed. His scent was overwhelming, and the feel of his strong hands through the thin cotton of her shirt made her breathless. Fyia was glad Edu wasn't here … he wouldn't have let anyone get away with touching her this way, regardless of their importance. He would have caused a diplomatic incident and been proud of it.

  Fyia knew she should push him away … make him take a step back. She knew well enough how to, because Sensis and Edu had both insisted on training her in self-defense. Neither of them had fully trusted the approach of the other, so they’d trained her twice over, not to mention the constant refreshers they both liked to deliver. But she didn't push him away, because part of her didn't want to—a dominant part.

  Cal dropped his hands and took a step back. 'I just … need you to understand the danger,' he said. 'To take it seriously. I don't want my bear to hurt you.'

  'Then why did you touch me with your Cruaxee bond?' said Fyia, her voice rising in frustration. She took a few steps away, washing her face with her hands.

  'Be careful over there,' he said, his tone urgent. He moved towards her, and she backed up a pace. He stopped. 'Fyia, there's a hole … I don't want you to fall.'

  She looked at the ground, searching for the hazard, and found it without difficulty. 'Why is there a hole in the floor?' she said, inching closer.

  'Don't,' he said. 'It leads to the mechanisms that control the hot water pumps. It's a long way down.'

  Fyia wasn't sure what possessed her, but she decided she would like to see the mechanisms, maybe because of the note of panic in the King's voice. What was down there he didn't want her to see?

  Fyia sat, dangling her legs over the edge of the hole, which was easily big enough for her to fit through.

  'Fyia, don't,' said Cal.

  'Why not?'

  'It's dangerous.'

  'Why?'

  'If you fall …'

  'I won't,' said Fyia, shuffling over a little.

  'You …'

  'I've found a ladder.' She tested the rungs with her feet to make sure they were sturdy.

 

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