Chapter 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

A t hearing Lady Frieda's greeting, Kormac moved to support Fionna. He'd known his mother to faint with less shocking news.

Only Fionna didn't need his aid. Her face set in a curious expression, she took a step forward and studied the old lady before saying, "What makes you think we're related?"

"Because you look just like Kiera."

"Is that your mother's name?" Kormac asked.

"Yes." Yet Fionna still appeared suspicious. "My mother told me my family was dead."

"Dead?" Lady Frieda recoiled with indignation. "I can't believe she would say that. While we didn't separate on the best of terms, I'd always hoped she'd return or send word. How is she?"

"She died when I was young."

Lady Frieda face fell. "Oh. What happened?"

"A mercenary." Fionna swallowed before adding, "He killed her for protecting me."

"My brave, strong girl," the woman murmured. "Although, I'm not surprised she had to act. Your father might have been pretty, but he wasn't much with a sword."

"My father died the year before that. We were alone when the soldier attacked us." Fionna's chin lifted. "I killed him, but not in time to save my mother."

Kormac's turn for a jolt. She'd been but a child when she'd had to defend her life.

"Good girl," Lady Frieda stated. "I'm glad to know her murderer doesn't walk free and even more glad that fate brought you to me."

"I had no idea I had family, and only recently discovered my Sraythian roots," Fionna admitted.

"You say you are from Acca? Is that where Kiera went? I suspected she might have magic and thought that might be why she was so eager to leave."

Fionna shook her head. "We lived in Ulkruuba. When my mother died, the local magistrate didn't know what to do with me. Luckily, they weren't the type to execute witches." She slewed a glance at Kormac that had him almost fidgeting with discomfort. No denying his country's past. "Since I had no family, they contacted the witches of the marsh, and they took me in."

"And are you…" Lady Frieda didn't say it, the taboo ingrained too deep.

"I am a witch," Fionna said it with pride.

"I've long wondered if I could have been one," Lady Frieda stated, further surprising Kormac. "I always had a gift when it came to predicting weather and calming beasts. My late husband used to tease me about it."

"Your husband died?" Fionna questioned.

"A few years ago. Thrown from his horse when it got bitten by a snake. I'm afraid I'm the only family you have left as we never had other children, just Kiera. Such a beautiful and bright child." Her lips turned down. "It broke our heats when she left."

"She was happy until Papa died," Fionna murmured softly. "While you might not have approved, they did love each other—and me—very much."

"I'm glad to hear that. I wish I'd been more accepting at the time, but we Sraythian have never been good when it comes to outsiders."

Kormac felt a need to interject. "Something that is going to change. It's time we became more involved with the rest of the continent."

"While I don't disagree, you might have to put that idea on hold given the problems cropping up here," Lady Frieda said.

"What problems?" He frowned.

"The ones we were reporting to our castle steward. This past year I've taken to stabling the horses at night because it's no longer safe to leave them in their paddocks."

"You've had problems with predators?" he asked. "I was not made aware." Zinn, his steward would be hearing from him about that.

"Not me, but friends a few hours ride west have had issues. I thought it best to act preemptively before the same happened here because trouble has a habit of spreading."

His lips pursed. "The only trouble I know of is the flock of sheep that perished from a fever." It led to a shortage of meat.

"Did they mention the fever started with one animal who had strange bite marks on its flesh after a night left out to pasture? It soon overtook the entire flock. But worse, since then, three people have died under similar circumstances, one of them displaying the same strange bite injury. Luckily, that family was quarantined and no one else became infected. People have been locking their doors and shuttering at night lest the bad spirit visit them too."

"Sounds like a bite from a bloodbat," Fionna stated. "We've dealt with those recently in Acca. The fever doesn't have to be deadly. I can leave you a recipe for a tincture that might help."

"That would be most welcome."

"How is it I was not made aware of this?" Kormac grumbled.

"Because no one wants to incur the wrath of the warlord by bringing rumors without proof."

Sometimes a reputation could be a detriment. "It appears I need to have a chat with my steward. I should have been notified."

"You should also ask your spies about the monsters," Lady Frieda stated.

Kormac stared at her. "What do you know of the monsters?"

"You forget, I do much trade and have cultivated contacts to facilitate those transactions. Tom in the border town of Longneedle, who is one of my biggest buyers of trained foals, was the one to let me know about them, mostly to ensure I protected the shipments. I'll be honest, I thought he exaggerated, but the rumors have persisted. Lizards that spit fire. Giant scorpions. Even dragons, supposedly."

"The latter is true," he grumbled. "And I'm thinking the rest might be as well. The appearance of monsters is part of the reason why we're here. You must have heard about the problem in Risead Pass."

"More than a problem is my understanding. The garrison is unguarded since the massacre of all its men, and your general is in the dungeon since your return. I hear he's gone quite mad."

"He's not mad but cursed," Fionna explained.

"With magic?" Lady Frieda's eyes widened.

"Yes, it's why the warlord requested my presence."

Lady Frieda eyed Kormac then Fionna. "Why have you come to my ranch? Given your surprise at our familial connection, it's obvious you didn't come here to reunite me with my granddaughter."

"We are seeking specific items, old items," he stated. "From the time of Airiok. We were told you might have some."

Lady Frieda's brow lifted. "That is an odd request, also intriguing. But where are my manners? Please come inside."

They entered a place that could have been a treasury, or a museum given the number of items cluttering every single space. From weapons hung on the wall to statues, some of them not made locally as Kormac had never seen stone of such a pale green, the snake carving realistic and unlike anything found in Srayth.

Fionna fingered the serpent and murmured, "What a lovely jade carving. Expensive, too, given you can only find it in the southern islands."

"My husband brought it back after one of his trips. He used to travel every few years to find new markets for our horses."

Kormac glanced around and each time saw something new. "Lomar wasn't exaggerating. You do have a lot of old things."

"My father was a collector, as was his father before him. We enjoy keeping pieces of the past. Never know when it might be needed in the future, he used to say. Guess he was right. Is there something specific you are looking for? I have many antiques from Airiok's time."

Kormac hesitated, but Fionna dove right in. "I brought drawings that show some of the items we seek." She'd come prepared and slipped the pages out of her skirt pocket.

The moment the Lady Frieda saw some of the illustrations she murmured, "You seek items bearing the symbols."

"You've seen them?" Kormac asked sharply.

"Oh yes, I have several of these in my possession. They've always intrigued me, and I've made a point of seeking them out over the years. People were most eager to rid themselves of them. Apparently, some found the pieces discomfiting whereas I always quite enjoyed handling them."

"Because of the magic," Fionna stated. "Some are more sensitive than others to its presence."

"Where are they?" Kormac asked.

"Given my interest in them, they're in a room by themselves."

Lady Frieda led them through the maze of chambers, each replete with its own style and collection of artifacts. He knew they'd arrived by the way his arms suddenly tingled.

Standing outside a closed door, Fionna's head tilted. "I can feel them from here."

Lady Frieda opened the door and Kormac sucked in a breath. When she'd claimed to have collected some, he expected a handful, maybe two. The room had shelves on two walls, most displaying pieces. The wall without any furniture held a long sword in brackets and under it a dagger and even an axe.

He immediately went to the blade and ran his fingers along the hilt, before testing the sharp edge.

"This is incredible," Fionna stated. "More than we'd hoped to find."

"What are they?" Lady Frieda questioned. "Because it's obvious they're more than just artifacts."

Fionna perused the medallions and rings. "They are talismans of protection, imbued with magic to shield against the threat in Risead Pass. We'll need them if we're to hunt it down without it cursing those who try."

Kormac took his attention from the magnificent sword because a splash of color caught his eye, a drawing framed and pinned to the wall. He frowned.

"What is that?" he asked of the creature depicted. An ugly thing with a man's shape, but its skin a sickly green, its eyes black orbs, hair white and stringy. It wore a robe and in its upheld hand, a ball of light rested.

"The Possessor," Lady Frieda said.

"The what?" Kormac asked.

"An old family legend. My great-grandfather used to tell us about it. This creature, once human but corrupted by evil, was a stealer of bodies. The story claimed it would come out of the mountains at night and supposedly take over people and force them to commit atrocities. Its image is in here because it had a few of the same symbols as the artifacts, only it doesn't give off the same vibe."

"Because it's not meant to protect but warn." Fionna stood in front of it and read the writing slowly. "'Death gives it strength. Death is its pleasure. It steals the will of man and beast but can be reborn in the body of…'" Fionna frowned. "I'm not sure of that symbol."

Kormac frowned. "Sounds more like a riddle than a warning."

"It was written quite some time ago, and that is common for language for that era," Fionna stated. She glanced at her grandmother. "Might I copy the words?"

"Of course, dear child. Let me fetch some writing tools."

Lady Frieda left and Kormac glanced at Fionna. "Do you know what it means?"

"Other than it's bad?" She shrugged. "If I had to guess, it lost the body it had and needs a new one to rise again. But one of a specific type. I really want to know what that symbol means as it might help us ensure this Possessor never gets what it needs."

"It's not the word for witch?"

Fionna shook her head. "There is a symbol for it that is part of our emblem. This is something else…" She traced it with her finger.

"Do you think your library will know?"

"Perhaps. I will send it to Amelia once we return to the keep." Fionna turned to face the room. "At least we've found some protection against the thing in the pass."

He liked her use of "we." As if they were a team. Strange, as he'd have never imagined having that with a woman.

"Here's to hoping the Lady Frieda is open to a bargain." He'd hate to have to use his authority to confiscate the artifacts.

"No need to bargain," the woman said, entering with the writing implements. "If my collection can help, then, by all means, take it."

"You will be compensated," Kormac stated.

"I've already been paid enough." Lady Frieda smiled at Fionna.

Fionna fidgeted. "You do know I won't be staying in Srayth. Once my business is concluded I'll be returning to Acca."

For some reason, her statement bothered him, but Kormac didn't understand why. She had no reason to stay.

Lady Frieda didn't appear upset. "Perhaps it's time I travelled further than this ranch. That is, if you'd be willing to allow me to visit."

"I would like that. And I will return to see you before I go." Fionna's face turned wistful. "I would like to learn more about my mother."

They left soon after, Fionna having transcribed the warning on the painting, him cradling his new sword in his lap and some of the medallions in his pouch. He'd send soldiers to fetch the rest of the collection and also drop off some gifts in return.

Fionna appeared sunk in thought on their trip back to the citadel, and that suited him fine because he found himself also contemplative. Not about the situation with Lomar or the Pass, but about Fionna. Fionna, who planned to leave.

Then again, why would she stay? Srayth wasn't a kind place to witches. They didn't hang them anymore, nor hunt them, but the sentiment remained negative.

What would she even do if she remained? Once they took care of this thing in the Pass, he'd have no need for her.

Didn't need, but he wanted.

Wanted her as a man desired a woman.

Wanted her for more than a simple night of pleasure.

Wanted… the impossible.