Logan Tallis flicked a coin in the direction of the seer who’d uttered these words. He hadn’t asked for a reading, but had noted the old woman’s tattered cloak, and the bare feet she’d swiftly hidden beneath the folds of her threadbare gown at his approach.

“I do not need your visions,” he said, “but thank you for your words, nonetheless.”

“You need more than you know, Lord Tallis.” The woman’s eyes were bright as crystal—young eyes in a weathered face.

A member of the Rementa. Logan drew his cloak tight about his body. The woman possessed a touch of magic, then, though not enough to provide her with wealth or power.

“And you have somehow discovered my name. Clever, but you’ll not be getting more coin from me this day.” Logan turned aside, scanning the marketplace for his servant, Jenson, and the horse he’d been sent to procure.

“You seek the woman once called Kara-Dea-Ray.”

Logan’s fingers, hidden in the folds of his cloak, twitched. “I know no one of that name.”

“Still, you look for her. You will not find her here. Go to the estate called Shi. Perhaps you will have better luck there.”

“I never depend upon luck,” said Logan, before striding off.

Jenson was waiting at the edge of the marketplace. Tall, and thin as a sapling, Jensen appeared to waver in the wind. He gripped the bridle of a bay mare that danced from side to side and rolled her eyes at Logan’s approach. A rim of white appeared around each brown iris.

“Have you brought me a mad thing?” Logan studied the horse, noting her fine legs and straight back. “She looks like a fine creature, but I fear her temperament may be lacking.”

“No, sir.” Jensen stepped away as Logan took hold of the mare’s bridle. “Nothing wrong with the horse, sir. At least not until we reached this location.”

Logan glanced over his shoulder. The seer, wrapped in brown robes, looked like a bundle of rags tossed against a pile of crates. “Let’s move away from here. Rementa,” he added, with a jerk of his head toward the seer.

Jensen made the sign against wild magic. “Understood.”

Stroking the mare’s velvety black muzzle with his free hand, Logan kept his grip on the bridle and led her out of the market and onto into the cobbled street. The farther they walked, the calmer the horse became.

“Even they sense it,” he said at last.

“Yes sir?” Jensen, walking on the other side of the mare, glanced over at his master. “What’s that?”

“Animals. They can tell when one of the Rementa is near.”

“Yes sir, I suppose they can. Better than us, probably.”

“No doubt.” Logan led the mare down the crowded street. It was market day, and every tinker and traveling merchant had descended upon the town of Darion. It was fortunate he’d already procured a room for the night, at an inn with a stable. He’d arrived by coach but swiftly realized he required more nimble transportation. Hence the horse.

“I knew we’d regret Lord Eakins’ offer of a ride,” he said, as they approached the inn. A sign swung above the door, carved into the shape of an unfolding flower and announcing the inn as the Orb and Rose. “Should have ridden in on our own horses. Not like I need another mouth to feed.”

Jensen pressed his hand to his mouth. No doubt to hide a smile.

“It’s all right. I know what they say of me.”

“What’s that, sir?” asked Jensen, as they walked into the courtyard that fronted the stables.

“My reputation for, shall we say, economy.”

A snort escaped Jensen’s clamped lips. He cleared his throat. “I’m sure you’re much admired for the careful management of your estate, sir.”

Logan raised his eyebrows. “Well, that’s one way to state it. Never mind, Jensen. I’m not bothered by what others say. You should know that by now.”

“Yes sir,” replied Jensen, with a fervor that made Logan fight a smile.

A young groomsman hustled out of the stables. “Take your horse, sir?”

“Yes, you may,” said Logan. “See she’s well taken care of. It’s Lord Tallis, by the way. I’m at the inn for tonight. You may check with my man, Jensen here, if you have any questions.”

“Yes sir.” The boy tugged on his cap before taking hold of the mare’s bridle. “What’s her name, sir? It helps sometimes, you know, to calm them.”

“Well, I don’t know. Just bought her.” Logan looked over the mare. “I suppose Aurelia will do.”

Jensen shot him a sharp look. Logan shrugged. Aurelia had been the name of Logan’s last mistress. Also fine boned and high-strung.

“Yes sir,” said the stable boy.

As he turned to go, Logan laid a hand on his arm. “Ever heard of an estate named Shi?”

The boy ducked his head. “Maybe.”

Logan gestured to Jensen, who reached into a leather pouch and produced a silver coin. The groom took the money and pocketed it before looking up into Logan’s face.

“They say a witch lives there,” the boy said. “A woman who wields wild magic.”

“Do they?” Logan held up his hand to stop Jensen from saying anything. “Well, thank you, young master. Do take good care of Aurelia, and there’s another coin in it for you.”

The boy bobbed his head and led the mare into the stables.

“So,” said Jensen, “we ride tomorrow for this mysterious estate?” He did not look pleased at the prospect.

“I ride tomorrow,” said Logan. “I think you should remain here. Whatever waits at this Shi, I need to face it alone.”

Jensen shook his head. “I couldn’t leave you, sir, especially if there’s any chance of danger.”

Logan glanced over at his servant. He often forgot how young Jensen was, but in this moment, when anxiety and determination warred for dominance across the boy’s face, it was obvious. “You must,” he said gently. “I need someone I trust back at the estate. Can’t leave it in Mistress Haley’s hands too long. Excellent housekeeper though she may be, I don’t entirely trust her. She might decide to redecorate. Imagine the ruffles and lace.”

That produced a smile. Jensen bobbed his head, his dark hair flopping into his face. “Of course, sir. I was just thinking of your welfare.”

“I know. And I thank you.” Logan paused before the heavy wooden door to the inn. “Jensen, the truth is, I must travel to Shi to locate someone and plead for their help. This is not something the Circle has asked me to do. In fact, they have forbidden it.”

Jensen’s fingers gripped the edge of his woolen cloak. “But sir, if the Circle has said no…”

“It should be no. Yes, you see the dilemma.” Logan laid his hand on the iron door latch. “This is something I must do, despite the Circle’s objections, but I don’t want you to be caught up in my folly. This is why I’m sending you back to Applecroft. For your own safety. It’s one thing for me to challenge the Circle, but another for you to aid and abet me.  Trust me in this, Jensen, it’s best if you go home.”

“Sir, you work for them. The Circle, I mean. Why would you oppose their orders?” Jensen rubbed at his distinctive beak of a nose.

“It’s complicated. Suffice to say I must find a woman. Ah, not that kind, my boy. This woman was once a member of the Circle. Now cast out of their guild, through no fault of hers.”

“You mean the girl who was with Telon-Meta-Ray when he betrayed the Circle?”

Logan took a step back. “Ah yes, I forgot. You’re old enough to have heard that story. What were you, ten or twelve?”

“Eight, sir. Ten years ago, when the great battle was waged. But I do remember it, sir.”

“Of course you do. Foolish of me to think otherwise.” Logan examined his young aide. “I forget how frightening it must have been, for everyone.”

“Indeed, sir.”  

“At any rate, the woman I seek was only a girl when all this happened. Scarcely older than you.”

“The traitor, sir? Sorry, but that’s what we were told.”

Logan sighed. “I suppose you would’ve been. But she was not at fault, despite what the world might say.”

Jensen stepped forward to grab the latch and pull the inn door open. “So what actually happened to her, sir?”

“I did,” said Logan, throwing back his cloak as he swept through the open door.

Kara was in the henhouse when she sensed Logan’s approach. She carefully placed two brown eggs in her woven basket, then slid the handle over her arm so she could wipe her hands on her apron.

Lord Logan Tallis, coming to her. Of all things she could envision, that was one of the strangest.  

And least welcome. She strode across the courtyard, sweeping the hard-packed dirt with the hem of her gray wool gown. Yanking open the back door, she stepped into the kitchen. It was a pleasant room, its row of windows framing a colorful assortment of glass bottles and ceramic jugs. All its surfaces gleamed with recent scrubbing, and the whitewashed plaster walls shone in vivid contrast to the smoke-blackened wooden rafters. A large stone fireplace occupied one end of the room—its fire damped, although a tarnished copper pot still swung from an iron bracket above ash-whitened logs.

Kara set the egg basket on the battered wooden table that filled the center of the room.  She pulled the apron over her head and tossed it over the basket. Logan was close, but there was still time for her to change.  She smoothed down her plain bodice, straightening its simple front lacing. Nonsense. What she was wearing was good enough for Lord Logan Tallis. She owed him nothing, not even the courtesy of changing from her work clothes.

She walked into the back hall, taking a moment to glance into a hanging mirror. Her hair had sprung free from the simple bun she’d twisted it into this morning. It haloed her pale face like flickers of flame.

The girl who burned. That’s what they called her. When the end came, and everything was destroyed. When she was betrayed, unexpectedly and completely.

When her life was burnt to ash.

Kara lifted her chin and turned from the mirror. There was nothing she wished to see—certainly not the pain reflected in her green eyes.

She made her way to the front hall, placing her hand on the iron door latch as the sound of clattering hooves filled the front courtyard. Opening the door, she was gratified to note the surprise on Logan’s face.

An attractive face, if you liked a strong jaw and sharply defined features.  But Kara had another standard for beauty in men, and could view dark-haired Lord Tallis dispassionately.

Logan stilled his dancing horse before dismounting in one swift motion. As he tied the reins to the hitching post, he stared at her, his gray eyes narrowed and his lips thinned into a straight line.

Kara tightened her grip on the door latch. “Lord Logan Tallis, as I live and breathe. I will not say welcome, since that would be a lie. And I know how you despise deception.”

“Kara-Dea-Ray,” said Logan, pulling off his leather gloves.

She stiffened. “I no longer go by that name. You may simply call me Kara Amarti. But what I would like to know, before we proceed, is why you dare show your face here at all.”

“Only the greatest necessity could compel me.” Logan looked her up and down. “May I enter? I would like to speak with you in private.”

Kara’s laugh held no humor. “You need not fear. I am quite alone here at Shi.”

“Alone?” Logan looked around, undoubtedly taking in the size of the manor house and the cluster of outbuildings.

“Yes. Don’t look so surprised. You know my abilities. I need no servants to live here in relative comfort.”

“Yes, but, the loneliness…”

Kara shoved the door, rattling the frame. “I am not lonely. I’m accustomed to solitude, or had you forgotten?”

He hadn’t, of course. His face betrayed him.

“Well, you’d best come inside, I suppose.” She turned on her heel and headed back into the dimly lit front hall.

His boots striking the pitted wooden floors told her Logan was following. Kara led the way to a small room that functioned as her library and study. “Sit,” she said, waving her hand at the chairs flanking a brick fireplace.

The old leather crackled as Logan took a seat. “So, this estate …”

“A gift. And no, I will not tell you who granted me such a boon. Suffice to say it was given to assuage shame, not because the giver felt any love for me.” Kara picked up metal poker and thrust at the logs in the grate. Closing her eyes for a moment, she envisioned a flame.

The fire burst into life. Kara turned in time to catch Logan’s look of disapproval.

“So, why are you here, Lord Tallis? Wait, is it to ask me for a favor? Oh, don’t make that face. I don’t need to resort to magic to know what you want of me. At any rate, except for the few bits necessary to keep me comfortable here at Shi, I’ve given up dabbling in such matters.”

Logan shifted in the chair. “So I’ve been told.”

“That doesn’t please you? But you always encouraged me to repudiate my, uhm, special talents, didn’t you? I’d hoped to please you, at last.”

She knew her expression would prove nothing of the kind. But what of it? Logan Tallis had played her for a fool once. Never again.

“Really? Well, if that was your intention, which I doubt, I regret to say you have not succeeded.”

“A pity.” Kara leaned against the fireplace mantle, toying with the poker.

“However, you are correct in assuming I am here to ask you for a favor. A great favor.”

“Don’t you always?”

Logan tapped the arms of his chair. “I’m not trying to antagonize you, Kara. I wish you could find it in your heart to trust me, at least in this moment.”

Kara spun the poker between her fingers. “I’m afraid that is no longer possible, Lord Tallis.”

“Logan. You called me Logan before.”

“When I trusted you. But…” Kara leaned the poker against the fireplace wall and moved to the room’s other chair. “That was years ago.”

“I never meant to harm you.”

Kara settled into the chair facing Logan. “Yet you did such a fine job, meaning to or not.”

Logan stood, grabbing the footstool near his chair. He placed it on the woven rug before her chair.

“That doesn’t look very comfortable,” said Kara, sinking back into her chair’s cushions.

Logan shrugged, draped his cloak across the stool and sat down. “I want to be able to see your face.”

“Is that so important?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Something you’ve learned over these many years, while you’ve been—what is it? Oh yes, a diplomatic liaison?”

“One thing I’ve learned.”

“Nice to think we can actually learn something through our labor these days. My, what a charming expression. Is that how you seduce the ladies now?”

“As you know, I harbor no illusions concerning my ability to seduce anyone.” Logan stretched out his long legs, until his boot tips were resting at the base of her chair.

Kara pulled her legs up under her. “I know you can be charming if you choose, yet you’ve never attempted to charm me. Why is that, I wonder?”

“Another diplomatic lesson,” said Logan, meeting her inquisitive gaze squarely. “Suit the diplomacy to the audience.”

Kara inclined her head in the slightest of nods. “An admirable character reading. Now, let’s cut to the chase. What is the favor you require from me this time?”

“You must already know.” Logan leaned forward, clasping his knees with both hands. “Don’t toy with me, Kara. I despise this game you play. You know what I’m about to say. You know, and let me speak, and smile, already having made your decision.”

“You’re wrong, Lord Tallis. I don’t know what you want. I have deliberately avoided reading what is in your mind.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Your choice.” Kara surveyed him through half-closed eyes. His face wore an earnest expression, the one that gulled people into trusting him. One reason he made a fine diplomat. “Your professional manners are lost on me, Logan. I’ve seen and heard it all before.”

If he noticed her use of his given name, he gave no sign. “This is different. I wouldn’t have come to you unless it was a matter of grave importance.”

“I believe you. But despite that, you must know I mean to refuse your request.”

“Will you hear me out, at least?”

“Very well. Deliver your speech. I’m sure it’s well-rehearsed.”  Kara looked away, staring into the fire.

“It’s Telon,” Logan said.

Kara clutched the chair arm, her nails scratching the old upholstery. Bits of onyx leather slid between her fingers and fluttered to the floor. “Yes, of course, it must be.”

“He has apparently been able to gather almost enough power to break free. No one is certain how this is possible…”

“Unless he’s had help?” Kara turned her head, meeting Logan’s serious gaze. “It was not me, if that’s what you were thinking.”

“No, I never thought that.”

Logan was studying her in a way that made Kara shift in her chair. She uncurled her legs and dropped them to the floor, creating some sense of barrier between them. “So, Tel is stirring. What is this to me?”

“I would think you, of all people, might fear such a thing. So—a warning, if nothing else.”

“I fear nothing.” This was a lie, but she knew he would believe her.  She’d learned to lie well and, unlike members of the Circle, Logan Tallis could not read her mind.

“Be that as it may, it raises the possibility he may break free from the spells the Circle used to bind him. That would be a catastrophe, for all of us.”

Kara arched her eyebrows. “Us?  And here I thought I was an outcast. Am I now part of some community?”

“Yes. The community of humanity,” said Logan, placing a hand on her knee.

She hadn’t been touched, by anyone, in years. Kara pulled her leg to the side, dislodging Logan’s hand.

He sat back with a frown. “I know you don’t care what happens to the Circle, or perhaps even the citizens of Brandt…”

“Very true.”

“But we do need your assistance. You alone know Telon’s abilities and methods. He trained you, after all.”

“He did. And ultimately tortured me. And destroyed me.”

Logan stood up. “Yet here you sit.”

“There is more to life than a physical body.” Kara shoved her hands against the chair arms and pushed herself to her feet. Only a handbreadth separated her from Logan. She lifted her chin and stared up into his implacable face. “I am destroyed as surely as if I were turned to ash, Lord Tallis.”

“Nonsense. You live and breathe. You still possess your mind and your talents.” Logan reached out and gripped her by the wrist. “And your body. There is nothing wrong with you, Kara Amarti, although you insist you’re irrevocably damaged.”

“You know nothing of me.” Kara sent a surge of power into her wrist—a flash of heat that forced Logan to pull back his hand.

“I know,” he said, his gaze never faltering, “you would do anything for a chance to enter Keyra.”

Kara clutched her arms about her trembling ribcage. “No one may enter Keyra.”

“That was true. Until now.” Logan swept up his cloak and cast it about his shoulders.

“Are you leaving?”

“Do you wish me to stay?”

Kara kicked aside the footstool and brushed past him. “You speak of Keyra, knowing it will tempt me, and prepare to depart.” She rounded on him. “Stop the games, Logan. Tell me what you’re willing to trade for my assistance.”

“Entrance to Keyra, fully sanctioned by that country, and by the Circle.” Logan adjusted his cloak, tossing one side back over his shoulder. “They wish our help, you see. It seems Telon has somehow enticed one or more of their citizens to aid him in his quest for freedom. At least, that is what the Circle has discovered. The guardians of Keyra have confirmed this, and want the Circle’s help in ferreting out any traitors.”

“The Circle sent you to ask me for my aid, then?” Kara clutched at the fabric of her skirt, twisting it about her hands.

For the first time, Logan dropped his gaze. “No, not exactly.”

“What does not exactly mean? They either did or they didn’t.”

“Actually, they have forbidden any contact with you.” Logan looked up, his gray eyes clouded with concern.

“Yet you came.” Kara took two steps toward him. “Why did you do that, Logan? It could cost your position.”

He shrugged. “So be it. You know I am not their lapdog. What I do, I do to aid all the people of Brandt, not just the Circle.”

“They will not accept me. They will never allow me to travel with any company that enters Keyra.”

“They will, if we’re clever. They’ll have no choice”

“I’m not sure I follow you. The Circle does as they please, and not even the government of our country can dictate to them. How will you force them to accept me?”

Logan reached out and placed one hand on her shoulder. “You know the stories of Keyra. How they value certain bonds above all things. Their rigid rules about courtesy.”

She didn’t shake off his hand this time. The intensity in his gaze kept her frozen in place. “I have heard such things.”

“So we play by their rules. The Circle will have no say, not if they want this new alignment with Keyra, and you know they do. Imagine what our mages could learn from those masters of magic.”

“Yes, they would do anything to forge such a relationship.”  Kara unclenched her fists and took a deep breath. “But I still don’t think the Circle will allow me anywhere near them, much less permit me to enter Keyra. I’m an outcast, a pariah, a member of the Rementa. They despise me with every fiber of their being.”

“They must allow me to accompany them on this mission,” said Logan, “and anyone in my family I choose to bring with me.”

Kara stared into his eyes, searching for some evidence of deceit, and finding none. “But we’re scarcely related.”

 “Which is why there is one more rather difficult thing I need you to do.”

“And what is that, Lord Tallis?” She pushed back her tumbling locks of hair with her left hand and composed her face into a blank mask. Logan’s requests had burned her too often in the past.

Logan’s fingers slid from her shoulder down her arm, until he grasped her right hand. “I am sorry, Kara Amarti, but there is no other way. You must marry me.”