He couldn't believe it. He simply could not believe it! Mozenrath grit his teeth against the sharp, biting winter cold and wound his heavy sheep's wool cloak tighter around his body. Winter was here, blanketing the rich green around them with blinding white. The village was barely made walk able by the hoof prints of the little pony carts that had turned the dirt to slush. One had to be very careful not to loose their balance and go flying head first into the sticky wet mess.
But Mozenrath's mind wasn't on the road conditions. They were on the sight he had just seen from Iaine's home. He had been shocked, no, outraged to see Essus… Essus…come from her hut early that morning with a satisfied smirk on his strong jawed face. Iaine had followed, but as soon as she caught sight of Mozenrath's a foul look crossed her pretty features and she turned back inside.
"Ah the fickleness of women eh Mozenrath?" Essus grinned, patting Mozenrath on the shoulder. "Now don't be so upset friend…there are plenty of women with warm, waiting thighs…"
"Essus…just shut up." Mozenrath growled and shrugged off the druid's hand, walking off on his own.
Essus chuckled to himself, eyes narrowed. What did it matter that nothing had actually happened in Iaine's home? Did it matter that he had come there to tell Iaine he wanted to sooth her hurts and, when rejected, had stayed just long enough to hear Mozenrath's footsteps and appear with a big grin on his face? Of course not! It was none of Mozenrath's business what was done inside Iaine's hut. Or what wasn't done for that matter.
Oh Essus had just about enough of that smug sorcerer. First, he had been allowed to live after his atrocity on the mountain, second, he had the nerve to intrude upon a ritual. Then, then…as if to add insult to injury, he'd dared be Druid potential! Oh that irked Essus to no end. And it seemed as though he just kept adding to it. Tristan was now spending more and more time with the pale foreigner. Essus was no fool. He had been watching the specific kind of training Mozenrath was undergoing and recognized it as the same he had endured. Tristan was grooming Mozenrath as a Chief Druid.
A position meant to be his and his alone!
None of that!
Not to mention the way they all protected the damn sorcerer! For the sake of all gods Tristan had even laid down and edict that no one was permitted to tell Mozenrath that the battle had been all over him. How many good men had been lost to keep their pale stranger a secret?
Essus fumed to himself over the audacity of his competition. No doubt the fool didn't know he was being trained to take up the staff when Tristan passed. What idiocy! And last…oh yes last…Iaine.
Now that, he could admit, was his own damn fault. He had ignored her after her initiation into the inner circle of Druids and failed to notice the way she paid him attentions. Who could blame her for discovering her own powers of persuasion (which lacked the involvement of her eyes)? Yes, Iaine's constant rejection of him as a lover was his own fault. But still, it was plain as day that she wouldn't have minded Mozenrath's attentions.
"Well now, aren't we brooding?" Savern appeared as if from nowhere, hands on her hips with a subtle smile on her lovely face. "I know it's common for Druids to ponder, but you seemed particularly displeased about something."
Essus paused, then smiled, the kind of lazy, charming smile that had brought many a woman to his bed before. "Well now, trying to discover the secrets of magic Savern?"
"Oh no." She sidled up to him, 'accidentally' bumping her rear against his hip. "Just concerned about one of our Druids. Perhaps a head ache…you know…" She bent slightly, showing the crest of her bosom with excellent precision. "I have an excellent remedy for that."
"So does Cigfa." He loved this game, played so subtly.
"But her's isn't as good as mine." Savern winked coyly. Savern knew she was over playing her role, but damn it she felt the cause worth while. Poor Iaine. She thought privately. She had met men like Essus before, driven with the need to possess and rule. Dogs all of them, the bone the next dog had was always juicer than the one in their own teeth. Truly, she did not find much about Essus to like. He was exactly the kind of man she had feared being wedded too, the whole reason she avoided marriage on the first place. And now, here she was, offering herself as a distraction from Iaine. Ah well, it's worth it. She promised herself. Maybe it would give those two fools enough time to realize how they felt about one another.