Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

"What is the meaning of this?" he snapped as he stopped just shy of where Tegan and I stood. "Why is magic occurring before the tournament?"

Morrigan put on her best sweet smile as she stepped in front of the Key and Clasp. "My sincerest apologies, Mr. Lusio, but it was our duty to capture these two renegades-" She used a hand to gesture to Tegan and me, "-and to bring them to the nearest office. You must excuse our backing out of the tournament, but-"

"I will not excuse any such thing!" Lusio snapped as he glared down at her. "You signed a contract to participate, and participate you will!"

Morrigan shook her head. "I'm afraid other matters preclude our participation and we will gladly pay the fine. These two must be brought to the nearest office to stand trial for their misdeeds."

"Whatever their misdeeds, they are under the protection of my roof," Lusio informed her.

Morrigan's good humor cratered and she had a tough time not frowning. "You didn't tell us you had guests other than the participants, Mr. Lusio."

"Whether I have a hundred guests other than the participants is none of your concern, Miss Shea," Lusio snapped in such a harsh tone that the horse whinnied and turned in a tight circle before he regained control. "You will abide by the rules of the tournament and set aside your previous squabbles until the last trial is over or I will use the harshest punishment on the contract."

Morrigan narrowed her eyes at him but bowed her head. "Very well, Mr. Lusio. We will abide by your rules for these four days."

Lusio turned his attention to us and he didn't look any more pleased to confront us. He paused long enough to stare at Tegan's wings even as my dragon husband drew them back into his body before he cleared his throat. "I would have you remain at the house until my other guests have arrived. At least then I will be able to see how many enemies you have made."

Tegan bowed his head. "As you wish."

Lusio turned his horse in the direction of the house and gave a sharp look at Morrigan. "I expect to see all of you at the house shortly." He spurred the horse forward and soon the two disappeared around the dunes.

Morrigan turned her sharp eyes on us. "You have four days, fiends, and then we will ensure justice is done."

Tegan smiled. "We're glad to hear you'll finally stop stalking us. The attention was flattering at first but now it's become a little unsettling."

The witch cast a look of death at him before she skirted around us and stomped down the beach with the Key and Clasp following close behind her. I couldn't help but notice that she cast an equally disapproving look in the direction of the well-trod path. Neither Tegan nor I breathed until our foes were out of sight, and then I let out a gust of wind.

"I think things just went from great to really bad."

Tegan looped an arm around my waist and smiled at me. "We shouldn't let them ruin the sights and delights. Lusio's table is one to be admired, or so I'm told, so we need to stuff ourselves with joy while we're here."

I snorted as we turned and followed our enemies back to the house. "Should we really run away on a full stomach?"

"I'm willing to try if he offers us a platter filled with oysters," Tegan mused.

We hadn't gone far on our walk and soon reached the house. The terrace was empty but for a few sparrows that danced across the stones. They scattered at our coming and I was glad to plop myself down in one of the many lounge chairs placed about the cobblestones.

One of the tiny birds, a creature with black plumage that glistened in the sun, returned and landed on the arm of the chair. I smiled at the bird. "Hello there."

The bird puffed out its chest and sang a sweet song to me. Tegan took a seat on a nearby ottoman and smiled. "It seems you've made a friend."

"I wish I had some food for it," I mused as I reached up to set my hand on the arm. The bird hopped out of the way before it hopped onto my arm. I was so surprised I burst out laughing. "Does Lusio enlist birds to make his guests feel better?"

"That one is mine, actually."

The voice came from the left-hand side of the terrace where a young man of no more than twenty climbed up the steps there. He wore a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, both of which showed off his well-tanned physique. His blond hair was cut short and ringed his smiling face.

The young man stopped near our seats and looked down at me. "I'm sorry if Duncan is bothering you. He isn't usually so friendly." He offered Tegan his hand. "The name's Fidel. And you are?"

"Tegan and this is Kate," Tegan replied as he shook hands with the young fellow.

Fidel grinned down at me. "So it's Kate. I'll have to remember the name of the person who stole the heart of my favorite partner."

I lifted an eyebrow. "Partner?"

"Among many others," Fidel told me as he stretched out his arm. A half dozen of the sparrows landed on his raised hand. "My magic allows me to communicate with animals." One of the birds chattered to him and he laughed. "I know, I know. Bugs won't talk to me." He returned his attention to us. "So what are your abilities?"

"Oh, we're not here to join the tournament," I told him.

He inclined his head. "I see. Then you are guests of Lusio?"

"Something like that, but what brings you to compete in his challenges?" Tegan asked the young man.

Fidel's smile turned a little sheepish and he scratched the back of his head. "Nothing all that special. I kind of need the money."

"Is that what he offers the winner?" I wondered.

Fidel dropped his hand and lifted an eyebrow. "Don't you know?"

Tegan saved me. "We haven't heard what the prizes are this year."

Fidel's confusion was swept away. "I see. Well, Mr. Lusio is offering a great deal of coins to the winner along with one of the best horses in his stable. I don't care much for the horse but I would be very grateful for the money."

"You must be quite good at your magic for Lusio to notice you," Tegan mused.

Fidel shrugged. "I am famous in my part of the kingdom. Somehow Mr. Lusio heard of me and offered me an invitation."

"His standards must be very low," a feminine voice chimed in. We turned to the rear doors and found a woman standing in the open doorway.

The woman was at least thirty but tried to make herself look younger with a bobbed hairstyle and a tad too much makeup. Her hair was as black as night which was the same color as the nail polish on her fingertips. The woman was attired in a slinky red dress that showed off all the right curves and her shoes were an astounding pair of high heels that made me wince just looking at them. She leaned against the sill with her arms folded over her ample chest.

I smile curled onto Tegan's lip. "Cordelia Blost."

The woman's attention turned to Tegan and her eyes widened. She, too, showed off a slinky smile as she pushed off from the door frame. "My my, what do we have here? A touch of trouble?"

He chuckled. "Not as much as you and your scents."

"Scents?" I repeated as Fidel, too, had a quizzical expression on his face.

"This vexing woman is able to create cocktails of aromas to delight or vex just about anyone," Tegan informed Fidel and me.

"But not you, you silly little dragon," Cordelia mused as she sauntered over to us with all the sway her hips could muster. She bent over in front of Tegan and her dress showed off nearly everything her chest could offer. "Your adorable little sniffer couldn't be vexed." She tapped the tip of his nose with one of her finely manicured fingers. "You still haven't told me how you did it."

He grinned. "It's one of my trade secrets."

"I see you two are acquainted." The surprise came from Lusio in the doorway of the house.

I was less interested in his comment than the tall stranger at his side. The man was about sixty with gray flecks in his otherwise brown short hair and a short and equally speckled beard on his chin. He wore a shooting waistcoat of a tan color with billowing pants and matching shoes. The man held a plain wooden cane in one hand which he leaned against slightly and grasped an English cap in his other hand.

The stranger smiled at us and bowed low at the waist. "Good afternoon to you all. My name is Alan Beringer. I'm a contestant in this little game."

"The final contestant," Lusio added as he clapped his hands and rubbed them together. "Now let us eat and become better acquainted."