“Alright, what kind of test do you suggest for someone who professes not to be a sorceress?” Carus challenged him. “One can easily prove they are, but disproving is quite a different tale, especially as they have shown they are not willing to use their powers even when under threat of death.”
Secundus lifted his patrician nose, and a smile curled onto his lips. “I will test her myself.”
Something in his voice made me shudder. The king squeezed my arms and offered me a warm smile before he turned a more stoic expression to his subject. “Very well, but no harm must come to her.”
The old gentleman bowed his head. “Of course, Your Majesty.”
I whipped my head about to look at the man who held me, and lowered my voice to a hushed whisper. “What’s going on?”
“Your blood will be tested to see if you have the gift of the magi.”
My face drooped. “And how’s he going to get it out of me?”
Carus dismounted and grinned at me. “By the prick of one of my knives.”
Chapter 5
Carus opened his long traveler’s coat and revealed a plethora of bladed weapons. There were daggers of all blade lengths and hilt sizes. A few even resembled the three-prong blades carried by ninjas, where the center prong was longer than the other two, though in his case, the blades were wider, and none of them were very short.
My face fell further as he plucked a small, almost needle-sized dagger from his wide assortment. “I don’t think I like the way this is going.”
Secundus dismounted and puffed out his chest. “You refuse the test?”
“I’m just shopping for other options that don’t involve a blood donation.”
Carus paused with his empty hand stretched out to me and barked out a laugh. “Sorceress or no, we may have to keep this one, Your Majesty.”
The king studied me with a soft eye that broke down some of my defensive barriers. “She does seem rather bold for her life having been in danger only a few minutes ago.”
I grinned at him. “I can faint when you get me to where you’re staying. The beds there should be more comfortable than the hard ground.”
The king took the needle-like weapon from his companion and held out his empty hand to me. “Let us see if you shall enjoy that bed.”
I hesitated. Here I was in a strange place, surrounded by strange men, and now they wanted a piece of me. Literally.
The king’s eyes met mine. Their gentle green color soothed my frayed nerves, as did the soft lull of his voice. “We have no intention of using your blood for nefarious purposes.”
“Speak for yourself,” Carus spoke up as he grinned at us. “I plan on using it as a finder to see if she has a sister.”
I blinked at him. “A finder?”
“To track your familial scent, dear lady.” The king gave him a look of warning, and Carus sighed. “Very well. I swear not to use it at all.”
His Highness returned his attention to me and stretched out his hand closer to me. “If you would.”
I reluctantly set my shaking palm in his. He lowered the needle point to the back of my hand, and in a movement too swift to see, I had a pinprick of blood pop up from my flesh. It hardly hurt.
“There,” he murmured as he scooped up a droplet on the tip of the weapon and held out the dagger to Secundus.
Secundus rolled up his sleeve and accepted the dagger. My mouth dropped open as I watched him press the bloodied tip against his own arm. His own life fluid bubbled up, mixing with mine. He held out his arm for all to see. Everyone leaned forward in their saddles and stretched their necks, their eyes fixed on the bloody spot.
Carus clapped his hands. “Well, I guess that’s that! She’s no witch, to be sure!” He held out his hand to the imperious gentleman. “If you would, Lord Secundus.”
Secundus grudgingly returned the knife and drew out a handkerchief, which he used to dab his wound. “I will admit she has not an ounce of magic in her, but her behavior is very peculiar.”
Carus laughed as he cleaned his weapon and tucked it back inside his coat. “Have you not learned that those women with a peculiar nature are the most interesting, Lord Secundus?”
“I have learned that they are the most dangerous,” Secundus countered as he mounted his horse and tightly grasped the reins. He turned his steed to one side and eyed me with a sharp look. “And she still has not explained how she came out here. We are miles from a house, and even the road is far off.”
