Chapter Seven

Kestra stood over the sleeping man. His arms, above his head, shackled to the wall. Kestra's lip lifted in a sneer. She gestured one of her underlings forward. He delivered a viscous kick to the man's side.

He groaned and turned a bleary gaze to Kestra.

"Milord Duke," her voice dripped in contempt, "I trust you are well."

"Go to hell, witch," he whispered harshly

"Tut, tut, such manners." Kestra pretended to be affronted. She gestured and a throne appeared. Regally, she sat.

The duke glared with ill concealed hate. Kestra laughed gaily.

"My dear Fornathca, such hatred. It's eating you alive, isn't it?"

"You damn witch, kill me and get it over with." His voice dripped with impotent rage.

"You know I can't d that," she said evenly.

"You're just using me to find my son."

"Ah, yes, young Remy." Her eyes took on a calculating gleam. "The last known male with royal blood."

"You'll never find him, witch."

"But that's where you're wrong, Fornathca. Your family has a link with your offspring. I just need you to reveal that link."

"I can't reveal a link that doesn't exist." Fornathca's voice came out as a hoarse whisper.

"Are you trying to tell me Remy isn't your son?" Her eyebrow arched skeptically.

"No, his royal blood rejects such a link. How many times do I have to tell you?" He slumped down against the wall.

"I will find him, Fornathca." She coldly eyed the duke. "Have no doubt about it. I will find Remy."

"You'll never find him. His magic will prevent it." The duke rasped. "You will lose, Kestra. And there's nothing you can do about it."

Kestra stood regally. "We shall see, Milord Duke." She waved her hand dismissing the conjured throne. "We shall see," she tossed back over her shoulder as she swept from the room. The door slammed shut in her wake, leaving the duke alone in his silent cell.

"Be careful, Remy. Be careful," Fornathca whispered.

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Callen slipped away from camp after banking the coals of their fire. His communication gem had heated up about half an hour ago. He needed to contact Natalie privately. Callen stopped a half-mile from camp before pulling out his gem. He sat on a fallen tree and cupped the gem in his hands.

"Natalie, this is Callen. What is it?" The gem pulsed slightly.

"Hello, Callen." The voice reverberated from the gem. "Sinclaire and I have a new mission for your band."

"What are the particulars?" Callen asked seriously.

"It will be dangerous for all of you." She paused briefly. "We need you to spy at the capitol."

"The capitol? Last time you sent us there, Michael nearly got captured."

"I know, Callen, but you are the only ones that can spy there." Natalie sounded sympathetic.

"What's so important that we are needed?"

Callen heard Natalie sigh before she continued. "That's just it, we don't know. Angie had another vision. Kestra's up to something; we want you to find out what."

"Any special instructions?" Callen tried to sound casual, but this mission made him nervous.

"Keep an eye on David."

"What's different about what we're doing now?" Callen sounded skeptical.

"David is more than what he seems. If Kestra gets her hands on him, we're doomed."

"What do you mean, Natalie? I hate it when you get all mysterious on me." Callen started to get curious.

"He has to find out on his own; so will you."

Callen gave an exasperated sigh. "Very well, Natalie. I'll report back when we find something."

"Take care, Callen. We're all depending on your band for this information."

Callen closed his hands around the gem and placed it back in his hidden pocket.

____________________________________________________________________________ __________

The fire burned low, the coals glowing dimly in the darkness of night. David sat gazing at his medallion in the dim light. He debated internally if he should show his new companions it. The thing was a mystery to him, but maybe these three young men could shed some light on the meaning.

He glanced over at Peter and Michael-two men of noble birth. David wondered how they could take so easily to sleeping on the ground. They must have been used to sleeping in the finest beds, and yet they handled camp life like old professionals.

Callen was a bit of an enigma. A half-elf, with a fun loving attitude, but with a seriousness that was positively frightening. Feigning sleep, David had watched Callen leave with such a serious expression that all traces of amusement had fled. He shivered recalling that look.

David sat there until Callen returned an hour later. He was still holding the medallion, gaze resting on the two nobles. Callen gave the young man a speculative look before closing the distance between them. David didn't look up until Callen snapped his fingers in his face. Startled, he looked up at the half-breed elf.

"You should be sleeping, David," Callen said in a low voice.

"I know, but tell my mind that." The young man gave an exaggerated sigh. He looked questioningly at the elven half breed. "Where did you disappear to?"

"I had a meeting with Natalie. Didn't want to bother anybody sleeping. Peter and Michael are used to me taking of into the woods alone." Callen waved a hand in the direction of the sleeping pair.

"What did she have to say?"

"We've got orders to go to the capitol. Kestra's up to something and we're to find out what." Callen glanced at Michael.

David followed his gaze to the tall outlaw. "What is it, Callen?"

"Michael was almost captured the last time we went there. He's not going to be happy."

"What will I be doing while all this is going on?" He gave Callen a curious glance.

"I'm to keep an eye on you. Natalie seems to think you're important." Callen looked at the hand clasping the medallion. "What's that?"

David glanced at it and handed it to Callen. "It's a medallion I've had for as long as I can remember. I don't know what it means."

Callen took the medallion and held it to the dim light of the burning coals. Cautiously, he traced the lines of the small glyphs with a finger. He appraised David with a sidelong glance. The half-elf turned it over and examined the runes etched into the surface.

"Well?" asked David anxiously.

"I don't know much about human glyphs and runes." Callen quickly continued when he saw his disappointment. "But I do know the ones dealing with magic" He motioned David to look at some of the etchings.

"This one," Callen pointed to a rune at the top edge, "is a concealment charm." Callen moved his finger to one on the outside edge. "And this is a binding spell."

"What's a binding spell do?" David looked curiously down at his medallion.

"It creates a bond between the object and the owner. The owner can't forcibly be parted from the object." He glanced over at the two nobles. "Peter and Michael both wear something similar. They only have the binding and concealment. Sinclaire made theirs." Callen looked back down at the medallion. "Yours has so many spells, it would take someone of Sinclaire's caliber to craft it." He handed the medallion back to David.

David placed the medallion around his neck and tucked it back into his shirt. "Do you think I should tell them?" He gestured at the two sleeping men.

Callen shook his head. "No don't show it to anybody, except Sinclaire or Natalie." He looked up at the night sky through the branches overhead. "You better get some sleep. Dawn will come soon enough." Callen went to his own bedroll and was soon asleep.

David laid awake thinking about what Callen said and what he didn't say. He was almost certain Callen understood more than he let on. He fell asleep contemplating what else Callen had read.