Tariel squared her shoulders. She looked a bit nervous, Calrain realized, her face taut with tension. “It’s complicated,” shebegan.
“I don’t see why it has to be,” Riann said. “Your unwanted groom could suffer a nightly attack by masked robbers that would leave him in no condition for a wedding. You would be well within your rights to break off the engagement on account of not wanting to be saddled with an invalid for a husband. I am certain you would have another suitor in seconds.” His voice sharpened a bit at the end, echoing Calrain’s own sentiment about seeing Tariel with another man, but he quickly hid his displeasure. There was no point in pining after what they could not have, Calrain remindedhimself.
“I appreciate the offer,” Tariel said, “but maiming Lord Sowell will not be enough to save me. He has threatened to accuse me of witchcraft if I refuse to marry him, and if anything like that happened to him, he would almost certainly ruinme.”
Riann’s face colored with rage. “That is preposterous!” he cried. “He cannot fling around accusations like that simply because you will not give in tohim.”
Calrain shook his head in disbelief. He was horrified at the idea of his beloved Tariel tied to a stake and burned while onlookers jeered and pelted rocks at her. “I have never understood why we allow so many women to be burned at the stake,” he said. “I know I am not supposed to say these things, but I think witches are innocent victims. If they had any true power, why would they meekly submit toburning?”
Tariel nodded. “I agree that most victims of the witch hunters are likely innocent,” she said. She took a deep breath. “But I am not like thosewomen.”
Calrain and Riann both stared, uncomprehending. “Not like them…how?” Calrain asked, really hoping that she wasn’t saying what he thought she wassaying.
Tariel swallowed hard. “I seem to have inherited...abilities, from my parents. I do not feel evil, but there is no doubt in my mind that I havemagic.”
“Magic?” Riann scoffed. “There is no possible way you have magic. You would have been discovered by the witch hunter the last time he came tovisit!”
“I have been very careful, and right now I only have a small bit of magic,” Tariel said. She lifted a hand, and Calrain’s eyes widened as a lavender glow formed around her fingertips. “Watch,” she whispered, pressing a hand to hercheek.
The glowing wisps flowed across her face, enveloping it in the same soft light. Calrain and Riann gasped simultaneously as they watched her youthful face transform. Her nose grew longer, her chin pointed, and lines carved their way into her supple skin, giving her the appearance of age. Even her hair changed, growing thinner, streaks of silver threading through the inkyblack.
She removed her hand, and just like that, her face reverted to normal. “I can only sustain such illusions for a few minutes at a time,” Tariel said after a moment, her melodious voice cutting through the shocked silence in the room. “But if I can unlock my full powers, I may be able to disguise myself long enough to getaway.”
Riann recovered first. “Is that what you need help with?” He leaned forward in his chair, his eyes bright and hard. “Unlocking yourabilities?”
“Yes.” Tariel looked more nervous than ever, shifting in herchair.
“How exactly would we do that?” Calrain asked, his mind racing. He’d heard rumors that Maroyan witches participated in all sorts of unsavory rituals to wield their magical power, and he knew that Tariel’s magic had to come from the Empire—her unusual coloring obviously came from a Maroyan ancestor. “Are we to participate inwitchcraft?”
Tariel smiled. “Sort of,” she said. Her cheeks turned a fetching shade of pink as she looked between the two men. “The ritual involves making love with at least twomen.”
Calrain felt as if the floor had dropped out from beneath his feet. “T-two?” he sputtered, glancing between Tariel and Riann. No, surely she did notmean—
“Yes,” Tariel said. Though she seemed a bit embarrassed, her lovely blue eyes held no shame. She reached across the desk and clasped both of their hands at once, and a jolt of warmth shot up Calrain’s arm. Buried desires stirred within him in response, and he sucked in a breath. He had always wanted to make love to a woman, and the thought of finally realizing his dream withTariel…
“I know I am asking much of you,” she said, meeting their gazes. The desperation blazing in her eyes was quite clear. “But the only alternative for me is death. Please, Calrain, Riann. Make love to me, and help me escape this place once and forall.”
10
As Riann stareddown at Tariel’s fingers intertwined with his, his heart pounded so hard he thought it would punch a hole through his chest. Shock rippled through him at the blasphemy Tariel suggested, and yet, a hefty dose of excitement buzzed in his veins as well. Ever since that kiss in the garden, he had fantasized about making love to Tariel, but he never thought he would realize hisdesires.
“How do you even know this ritual will work?” Calrain asked. “How do you know about any ofthis?”
Tariel smiled. “I’ve had a good teacher,” she said, pulling open a desk drawer. Riann frowned curiously as she pulled out a jeweled abacus. The instrument emitted a golden light almost as soon as she touched it, and to Riann’s amazement, the glow rose from the abacus and took the shape of a beautifulwoman.
“My name is Zolotais,” she said in a sultry voice that made him think of desert blossoms, even though he had only ever heard of deserts in stories. “I am a spirit of learning, tasked with teaching Maroyan children to read, write, do arithmetic, and other important skills.” She smiled at Calrain. “I thank you for teaching Tariel her letters before she found me. It made our lessons significantlyeasier.”
“You’re quite welcome,” Calrain said, looking taken aback. He looked to Tariel for answers. “How long have you had thisspirit?”
“The answer to that question is not important,” Zolotais interrupted before Tariel could answer. “You wanted to know how Tariel knew the ritual would work, and I am the answer. Should you two agree to participate, and save your friend’s life, I will instruct you on thebasics.”
Calrain’s cheeks turned bright red, and Riann cleared his throat. “While I appreciate the offer, I do not need assistance on how to bed a woman.” He would not claim to be an expert by any means, but he had rolled in the hay with a woman a time or two. He knew how itworked.
Zolotais smirked. “Most men think that, and they are rarely ever correct. However, I was referring to the rest of the ritual. Tariel must complete it if she is to wield her magic properly and escape. A woman with magic belongs in the Maroyan Empire, where she will be honored and admired, not tortured and burned like a barbarian.” The spirit curled her lip briefly. “If the two of you accompany Tariel on her journey, you will become part of her household and make different and interesting lives for yourselves. The Maroyan Empire is not so narrow-minded—you would all bewelcome.”
“Even a Brother of Roisen?” Calrain asked. His desire for Tariel was written all over his face—but that temptation was hampered by fear. “My order’s hands are stained with the blood ofwitches.”
Zolotais wrinkled her face. “Remind me why you picked this one?” she askedTariel.
