Chapter 28

Chapter Twenty-Eight

By this time my eyes had nearly popped out of my sockets, so wide were they. The woman noticed my appearance and her eyes danced with glee. “You are most welcome, Rose Dumont. I have looked forward to meeting you for a very long time.”

My jaw flopped open and shut a few times before I managed to get control of myself. “You. . .you know me?”

She cocked her head to one side and the light shimmered across her silver hair. “Yes. I know everyone who is destined for a life which they could never have imagined.”

“Then you know why we’re here,” Will spoke up.

The woman nodded. “I do.” She stretched out her thin hands to me. “Come here.”

That instinct to run returned and I looked questioningly up at Will. He smiled and patted my hand. “You have nothing to worry about.”

My mind could think of many things to worry about but I swallowed the lump in my throat and stepped forward. Will released me from his grasp and I reluctantly moved toward the loom. The Arbiter sat as still as a statue but I could almost feel the life flowing out of her. It wrapped around me like a warm blanket after being drenched by a cold rain.

I reached her bench and set my shaking hands on hers. She wrapped her thumbs over mine and her eyes seemed to shine like candles. “You worry about the gift granted to you by your husband, do you not?”

I nodded. “Yeah.”

She shook her head and her hair shimmered like the ocean. “You needn’t worry. Your gift is that of protection. Your desire to help others allows you to bring forth a weapon of fire that represents your burning desire to protect everyone dear to you.”

“And here I had hoped the fire was a reflection of her love for me,” Will teased as he strolled up to us.

The Arbiter turned her beautiful eyes on him. “In a way, but perhaps not quite as literally as you desire.”

I bit my lower lip. “But. . .but how do I control it? How can I bring it out without hurting anyone?”

Her smile brightened and I felt a wave of warmth spread over me. It was like being blessed by the sun. “You could never hurt anyone you care about.” She drew her hands back and brushed her palms over mine. My eyes widened as a sword appeared in my right hand and was drawn out by her touch. The Arbiter set her hands in her lap and nodded at Will. “Now stab him.”

My mouth dropped open and even Will was taken aback. “I don’t believe I quite heard you correctly,” he choked out.

Her eyes danced with a devilish mirth. “I wish for her to stab you. I would suggest the chest. You will not miss that location.”

“I-I-” I couldn’t choke out my words until I swallowed hard. “You’re joking, right?”

The Arbiter shook her head. “Not at all, but if you feel nervous about my suggestion then-” She stood and stretched out her arms on either side of her, “-you may stab me through.”

“Will,” I squeaked out as I looked to my lover for help.

“This is quite an unusual request, even for you, Arbiter,” Will pointed out.

She smiled at the two of us. “You need not worry. I assure you there is no need to worry.”

My eyes flickered between the flaming sword in my hand and our hostess. Her eyes glimmered with a trust that swept away my doubt. I tightened my grip on my weapon and drew it back. A prayer passed through my mind before I stabbed the tip of the flame into the Arbiter’s stomach.

And nothing happened.

Well, almost nothing. The flame receded to the point where it didn’t touch even the Arbiter’s beautiful dress. I drew the sword out and the flame rekindled itself, stretching to its original length.

“See?” the Arbiter told me as she gestured down at herself. “You cannot hurt anyone who is no threat to you.”

I lifted the sword so the blade burned brightly in front of me and studied the hot flames. “Wow.” The flame vanished and a few bits of specks burst out to fall to the floor. I started back and blinked at my empty hand before I looked up at the Arbiter. “What happened? Why’d it disappear like that?”

“Magic does not last very long in my domain,” she explained as she swept her eyes over the tapestry-covered walls. “And I would be disappointed if my works were to catch fire.”

“Then I can bring it out again on my own, right?” I asked her.

She smiled at me. “Your powers will always be there when you need them.”

“Then we won’t use any more of your time,” Will spoke up as he looped an arm around my waist.

The Arbiter shook her head. “It was a pleasure to see you two, and it has been far too long since we last spoke. Always know that my door is open to both of you.”

Will bowed his head and I clumsily did the same. We turned and strolled toward the door which I noticed was a beautiful piece of woodwork on this side of the wall. Our fantastical surroundings begged for me to ask questions but I had the feeling I would only receive a coy smile from our hostess.

We stepped out into the late morning sun and the dreariness of the outside world compared to the bright interior was quite a shock. Will helped me into the carriage and looked up at Raines before he popped inside. “Gottspake.”

Will slipped into the cab and settled into the seat beside me as the carriage rolled forward along the bumpy road. By this time, I was bursting with questions. Will beat me to it. “I don’t know.”

I blinked at him. “Don’t know what?”

“The answers to most of your questions,” he revealed as he smiled down at me. “How the Arbiter has created such a place and how she never ages. I met her seven hundred years ago and she is the same now as she was then.”

“So what about her loom?” I wondered.

He stared ahead and he took on a thoughtful expression. “She did tell me that she weaves the stories people forget.”

“And she never runs out of wool?” I guessed.

He shook his head. “Never.”

“And never leaves?”

“Not that I’m aware.”

I slumped a little in my seat. “Your world certainly has some strange mysteries.”

Will slipped his hand into mine and I looked up into his twinkling eyes. “Our world.”

I snorted and sat up. “I’m still getting used to that, but I’ll get the hang of it soon. And speaking of the world, we’re going to the Gottspake you spoke about earlier?”

He nodded. “She should have the answers to the card riddle.”

We rolled along and I was glad when the road became less bumpy. Indeed, the thoroughfare changed to a paved road as smooth as silk and the houses improved. They resembled the elegant manor homes that surrounded Torch’s abode but with even larger and grander lawns. Some even had orchards attached to their property.

We rolled up to an elegant wrought-iron double gate with two large stone pillars on either side. A man stepped out of the gatehouse and eyed us with a sharp look. “What’s wanted?”

Raines used his reins to tap the side of the carriage where Will’s crest was visible. “My master wishes to see Lady Gottspake.”

The gatekeeper squinted at the crest and studied the marking. “Wait a moment,” he growled before he slipped back into his little hut. A moment later he stalked out and unlocked the heavy chain. “She says you can come in,” he announced as he opened the pair of gates.

Will lifted an eyebrow as we rolled past the man. “I’ve never known her to have a chain on her gate.”

“Maybe she’s been having trouble with burglars?” I suggested.

His eyebrows crashed down. “If that were true then they would have been very bold to do so.”

Something in his voice caught my attention. “Like the Agency?”

“We shall find out.”