CHAPTER 11

C HAPTER 11

T amsyn jerked awake as pain slashed through her. Cade’s pain, she realized. As a healer, she automatically neutralized it, but the aftermath left her shaken. Dimly she realized that the Scorpion must have a gift for inflicting pain. She’d heard of such an ability but had never known anyone who had it. Tamsyn couldn’t think of any use for such a gift other than torture.

She swore under her breath as she reached out to Cade. He was sleeping, she thought, recovering. She must find the best way to mitigate Cade’s pain, because surely there would be more such assaults on him.

“ Tamsyn! ” She was jolted by a mental call from Bran, who must have felt his brother’s pain as keenly as she had. They couldn’t speak in words, so she sent an image of Cade, alive but imprisoned.

She sensed that Bran wanted to come to France to rescue his brother. She sent a powerful No! Since they couldn’t speak with actual words, she created a mental image of France as a hellish red fire burning a British flag.

He seemed taken aback, so he must have understood some of what she was trying to express. Then his wife, Merryn, joined her mind to Bran’s and Tamsyn’s. She was powerfully gifted but never knew it until she’d met Bran, and she was still learning what she could do. She brought calm and clarity to their exchange, and her presence steadied Tamsyn. “ Tomorrow morning, ” Merryn seemed to be whispering. “ Tomorrow . . .”

Tamsyn sent thanks and agreement, then forced herself to relax. The last fortnight had been exhausting and today had been an endless nightmare. She rolled onto her side and clutched the pillow to her chest. Tonight she would sleep, and order her deepest mind to come up with a plan for tomorrow.

* * *

The window in Tamsyn’s attic room faced east, and the sunrise wakened her. She lay motionless in the bed and went over the events of the day before. Seeing Cade attacked and kidnapped had been shatteringly painful, but she forced herself to go through that scene again and again, this time looking for any clues that might help her learn more about the Scorpion so she could track him.

The fierce, destructive energy displayed in his earlier threats against the ambassadorial party made him easy to identify. Might that help her locate him?

She would explore that idea later, but now she needed to connect with Cade. Though he might be sleeping at this hour, she reached out gently and touched his mind. “ Cade? ”

He responded to her warmly. “ Tamsyn? ”

“Yes.” He was still mind blocked. Could she reduce the blocking even though they were separated?

It was worth a try. She visualized him as a ball of light that was trapped in an iron cage, then imagined the cage dissolving as she poured healing energy into it. She sensed him becoming more focused. She poured her power into him, trying to form words so he’d be more likely to understand her.

“ Tam . . . safe? ” he asked, his thoughts labored.

“ Yes, and looking for you. Do you know where you are? ”

She felt his confusion. He did not reply.

“ I will find you, ” she promised. “ Stay strong! ”

She sensed gratitude and apology from him before he faded from her mind, leaving her drained. A casual mind touch just to check that a family member was well wasn’t difficult, but this level of communication required much more focus and strength. It was difficult for her, and surely much harder for Cade in his current state.

When he was restored to himself, he would loathe knowing how weakened he’d been. He’d always had limitless strength. He was the protector who looked out for her and everyone else he cared about. More than once she’d seen him go to the aid of complete strangers who were in need. She ached at the knowledge that at the moment he couldn’t even defend himself.

After several minutes of gathering her mental strength, she swung her feet to the floor, then stood and walked the two steps to the washstand to splash water on her face and prepare for the day. It was her job to rescue Cade, and she damned well would !

She guessed that he was still in the vicinity of Calais because there was no indication that he was being moved when she’d contacted him the day before. That could change today, which would complicate the situation enormously. But without knowing where he was, it was impossible to make plans.

The meal gong sounded through the tall, narrow house, so she dressed and headed down the stairs. After a good French breakfast of warm bread, berry preserves, and strong hot mint tea with honey, she returned to her room and considered possible ways to locate where Cade was being held captive. She didn’t have a strong finder gift, but maybe desperation would help her.

She pulled a piece of paper and a pencil from her carry bag and drew a simple map of Calais and the surrounding area. She relaxed her mind and scanned the drawing, hoping an area would attract her attention.

Nothing stood out for Cade’s location. Nothing for the Scorpion.

She was wondering what to do next when she felt a deep, powerful mind touch from Bran, Merryn—and Gwyn and Rhys? The combined Tremayne power was a flood of warmth and support. Tamsyn could feel each of them as distinct presences.

And startlingly, she could understand the messages clearly, not with the vagueness that was usual with mind touch. Bran’s thoughts were as distinct as if they were in the same room together. “ Tam, we needed Gwyn and Rhys in this mind touch to increase the power and clarity. ”

Tamsyn replied, “ I wanted to spare them worry, but it’s so good to feel you all here! ” Her mother’s presence was like a warm hug.

Merryn’s mental message was equally distinct. “ I found a way to bring us together with great clarity. But much power is needed and I can’t hold the connection for long. ”

Tamsyn could feel the bonds Merryn had generated to bring their minds together and was awed at the other woman’s strength, but it was clear why this conversation would be brief. Bran’s thought was the most urgent. “ Bring Cade into this mind touch! I need to feel him! ”

Tamsyn warned, “ He’s not fully himself and he’s tired now, but surely your energy will help him. ”

Together she and Merryn reached out and drew Cade together with the rest of the family. He reacted to the love and assurances like a thirsty flower welcoming water. He wasn’t fully aware, but she sensed that their caring was gradually strengthening him.

“ He feels the way Merryn did when mind blocked, ” Bran said. “ You healed her. You will be able to heal him as well once you locate him. I’ll come help find him. ”

Once again, she said emphatically, “ No! France is detaining all Englishmen from eighteen to sixty. Not safe for you to come here, Bran! ”

Reluctantly he said, “ I agree for now, Tam. You’re best placed to rescue him, but if you need help, I’ll be there! ”

She had expected no less. He and Cade had been as close as any two brothers could be. But her intuition told her it would be very dangerous for Bran to cross the channel. Possibly fatal—and she couldn’t bear to lose both of them.

Rhys spoke, his mental voice as deep and powerful as his physical voice. “ Gwyn, you found Cade when he was a shivering child. Find him again. ”

Tamsyn felt her mother gather her finding power and her love for her missing son. After a long moment of stillness, Gwyn said, “ Tamsyn, do you have a map of northern France? ”

“ Just drew a crude one. ”

“ Gaze at it and I’ll see what I can learn. ”

Again, Tamsyn relaxed her mind as she looked at the map. Her mother’s focus was very strong, and she was supported by the power of the other Tremaynes.

At length, Gwyn whispered, “ Southwest. Along the coast a little beyond Frethun. Only a few miles from Calais. ”

Tamsyn caught her breath with desperate hope. “ Can you see the building? ”

After another long pause, Gwyn thought, “ Gray stone. An old fortified farmhouse? Right on shore. ”

“ This may be enough. Thank you! ”

Sounding strained, Merryn said, “ Can’t hold much longer. Anything else? ”

What did Tamsyn need to know most? “ His captor. We called him Scorpion. Can anyone add more? ”

Rhys’s thoughts came slowly. “ A fanatic supporter of Bonaparte. Hates Cade for . . . complicated reasons. ”

A surge of pain swept through the gathering. Cade’s pain. The Scorpion was tormenting him again. Tamsyn instinctively worked to neutralize his pain, and she was supported by her family’s love and strength, which helped her and Cade alike. But their joining was strained to the breaking point.

Merryn gasped, “ Can’t hold longer, sorry! ”

Tamsyn felt the shattering of the bonds that held them together and a flash of images flooded her mind. Cade vanishing as his mind was blocked again. Merryn collapsing with exhaustion into Bran’s arms. Bran cradling his wife while sending a last despairing thought. “ Find him, Tamsyn, and heal him! ”

Gwyn and Rhys were holding each other as Gwyn sent her blessing. “ Go with God, my darling girl! ”

Rhys thought urgently, “ Look at list of allies in Calais! Bar . . .”

The last of her family’s thoughts faded away. Tamsyn collapsed on her narrow bed, almost too tired to breathe. None of them would want to undertake such a joining again anytime soon! The clarity achieved had given her vital information about Cade’s location, but the price had been high for everyone.

She envied her parents and Bran and Merryn, who had mates to offer strength and comfort, for she felt very much alone. But all of them believed that she had the ability to rescue Cade, which bolstered her confidence and determination.

Once she discovered where he was imprisoned, she’d surely be able to find a way to free him. She should have thought of seeking aid from her list of gifted allies herself, but now that Rhys had reminded her, intuition told her that she’d find vital help there.

Despite her exhaustion, she reached out to Cade again. He was barely there, deeply unconscious as he recovered from the Scorpion’s assault, but there was a stir of awareness when she touched his mind. Recognition and pleasure at her presence.

Holding that touch as if they were holding hands, she slid into unconsciousness herself.

* * *

Tamsyn slept until the dinner gong sounded. She awoke groggy and ravenous but managed to rise and lurch to the washbasin. There were tearstains on her cheeks and dark circles under her eyes. She did not look like the bright golden Tamsyn depicted in Cade’s miniature of her.

She splashed cold water on her face and neatened her hair, then descended to the dining room on the ground floor. Her appearance drew glances from the other residents, and the friendliest, Lucille, said sympathetically, “When great changes are forced on us, it takes time to find the next step.”

Tamsyn managed a smile. “So true! I spent much of the day feeling sorry for myself and thinking of what I’ve lost.” She sighed. “Not only was the English milady most pleasant and generous, but she had a footman who was very handsome. We exchanged interested glances, but now he is in England. I will not see him again.”

There were sympathetic murmurs from the other residents. Lucille said, “That’s unfortunate, but surely a Frenchman would be a better choice.”

“Yes, and with the coming of war, it is better to stay in my own country rather than being stranded among the enemy,” Tamsyn agreed. “From now on, I will be looking to the future. And good food will certainly improve my mood!”

“You’re in luck,” one of the other girls said with a smile. “Tonight’s meal is one of my favorites.”

The cook and her assistant entered the dining room, each of them carrying a steaming casserole of sliced potatoes, onions, bits of ham, and a creamy bubbling hot cheese sauce. It smelled delicious and Tamsyn learned that it tasted even better. Madame Bernard’s kitchen was skilled at producing satisfying meals with ingredients that were simple and not expensive.

After two servings of the potato dish, a piece of apple tart, and more fragrant mint tea, Tamsyn was ready to face her search again. She bid polite good-nights to the rest of the residents and headed up the stairs again. The first thing she would do was to consult the list of gifted allies to find someone who might help her find the mysterious stone building. And there she would find Cade.