A/N: I like this chapter. That is all.
Chapter 23: Blood Calls
A crash and her baby's cries brought Lianne running to the nursery. There she found a young man curled on the floor. Dazedly he fought to get to his feet, a weapon of some strange making in his limp hand.
"Who are you?" She demanded and prayed that this strange man did not hurt her child. How had he gotten in? "Answer me!"
"D-Damien," He stuttered. Was he drugged? What was wrong with him? "Please, where am I?"
"I'll ask the questions!" Lianne yelled. "Drop the weapon."
Damien let the sword slip gently from his hand. In his confusion, he also noticed there was a baby in a crib nearby wailing. He sidled away from the baby hoping to calm the woman. He fought to thinking up something. He searched the room around him for clues. It was a well-furnished room and the woman was dressed richly. Money. This family had money. But how could he know what would help in this situation? He made a leap and hoped.
He fell to his knees, bowing his head in a subservient position. "My name is Damien of Silvercrest, prince of Karucia."
Lianne had noticed his steps away from her child and at the title she froze. "Who is your father?"
"Liam of Conte, King of Karucia." Damien answered promptly.
"What color are his eyes?" Lianne asked as if this would prove it or not, hoping that a true son would know and not some commoner under pretense.
"Hazel," Damien answered after a moment of confusion.
"Look at me," She ordered. Damien complied. Hazel eyes remarkably like that of his father's met his. "Ah, you do look like his son at least."
"You know my father?" Damien asked before he took in her appearance. And there he saw similarities in not just the eyes but the bone structure, too.
"Yes," She smiled then and her face turned beatific. "And your mother too, you have her eyes."
Damien widened those crystal blue eyes in question. This still could go in his favor or against. Who was to say this was not someone who would use him as a bartering tool against his parents, against his kingdom? "And if I may ask, who are you?"
"Queen Lianne of Tusaine," She scooped the sniffling child out of the crib, which brought her closer to Damien. "Stand and greet your aunt and cousin."
Lianokami shielded her eyes from the sun. Her mount stamped his impatience and she stroked his withers in attempt to calm him. He wanted to run. Her riding partner for the day, Alyza of Lightsbridge, had dropped something and stopped for it. Lianokami's mount would not let her stop and wait. Ayza called ahead.
"Liano, I'm so sorry—oh!" The sound of surprise from her friend made the princess look in the same direction.
Three horses now huddled yards in front of her where before none had been. She was sure of that. If she had been traveling at a faster pace she would have run into them.
Alyza proved her horse could move faster by rushing forward now. "They came out of nowhere. Literally, one minute nothing and the next—"
She was dismounting.
"What are you doing?" Liano frowned.
"There's a man—boy—" She made a hurried frustrated sound as if she were frustrated with herself for worry about word choice at a time like this. "Whatever."
A mahogany bay, dapple grey and crème horse—tall, sleek beasts—nuzzled a form on the ground that could very well have been a young man. Suddenly she was dismounting, too.
All she could see was his body, long and lean, because all three of the horses lipped his face. His hands swatted and pushed at them feebly. His groggy voice joined, with an accent she wasn't quite accustomed to. "Move, you blasted beasts, I can't see anything."
The horses—she couldn't stop marveling at how beautiful they truly were—moved easily at her presence as if they were sensitive to it.
He sat up without the extra ministrations of the horses to hinder him. He looked up at her sharply and as sure as anything despite the fact he had come out of nowhere onto her lands.
His dark hair was a mess, but not in a hideous way. His eyes were compelling. The blue of them was shocking under the fringe of his dark lashes, but then her father's hair was black and his eyes a richer blue. These eyes were clear and pure, not the sapphire she knew. So, while Liano could see he was attractive, she was by no means swallowed by it. Glancing at her friend, Liano realized she, too, had noticed his looks but the reaction was not the same for her. She looked one step away from enthralled.
He stood easily as if springs existed somewhere on his body to boost him. Taller than both of them as he was this proved to be a good move. "Who are you?"
His demanding tone brought Lian's brows up. How he managed not to sound ridiculous—the combination of bewilderment and pretentiousness—she did not know, but he did.
"Shouldn't I be asking that?" She responded coolly.
He flicked those crystal blue eyes between the two of them. Then, as smooth as butter, he transformed before them. His demeanor changed. His body relaxed into a non-threatening slump. A lazy, disarming smile took residence on his face. She was reacting to it before she realized. It was a look she could trust and it had almost made her drop her guard.
Then she marveled at the skill when she realized what he had done. He had read their body language and perfectly manipulated his own to garner a reaction that would suit him best. It was truly impressive. Yet her guard was back up stronger than ever after she'd realized it. Her first thought was spy.
What she failed to realize however was that he had been fairly new at this. If he were truly a master, he would have read them before he stood and chosen something to start with that they could trust rather than literally show them the transformation. He was working on it, and he was getting better. It still spoke well of her that she had noticed, however.
Yet how had he come to be here so suddenly? Even Alyza said he had literally come out of nowhere. That shouldn't have been possible. Even through some sort of conventional magic, there were protections around the castle.
She thought she has schooled herself well, but he slipped out of his front again reacting to her reaction, which was slowly becoming suspicious. In the last one, he'd hidden his intelligence. Now it shone clearly from those eyes.
"Who are you?" Her voice was cold, demanding. Alyza's eyes widened for she was seeing the outcome but had missed the minute changes that had taken place to lead here.
"Prince Vincent of Karucia," His eyes flashed. He proffered his wrists in front of him and didn't look happy about it. "I assume you'll take precautions with me. I ask that you do not mistreat my horses."
Liano thought better of him for asking nothing for himself. Prince? He didn't look as if he was lying but how could she tell?
Alyza was sent back to their horses to retrieve some material. Liano secured Vincent as best she could with the material at hand. He tugged against them and nodded his approval. She trusted him more and more despite knowing better. She couldn't help herself then to give him the same introduction he had given her.
"I am Princess Lianokami of Tortall."
Vincent's eyes widened, a total surprise came over him that she couldn't truly understand. Was it possible ending up here had been as much of a surprise to him as it was to them? He quickly regained his footing, however.
Throwing a glance behind them he said, "And if you wish to secure my sword as well, I would suggest throwing a bit of cloth over it before you touch it. Something tells me she will be finicky about anyone other than me wielding her."
The two young women followed his glance to the bright red gleam amongst the grass. Her first thought was blood but there was no blood on Vincent—of his own or another's. Upon examination, the weapon was so curious and Vincent's warning odd enough that they did as he suggested.
Yet, even with the cloth around it, Liano found herself compelled to drop it. The sharp, unpleasant tingling was just this side of pain.
Chance and guilt has it that Arra scryed for the triplets that morning. Chance because she did not scry as often anymore, guilt because she felt she owed it to Liam to at least continue after lying to him. Well, kept a secret from him. Even that, she had to admit to herself was splitting hairs.
All she had previously received for her troubles was a murky mirror, so that day when images, erratic and random, appeared she nearly dropped the mirror in surprise. She stared into it again but it was too late, the damage was done and the spell ended. Hope blossomed in her chest though for what exactly she didn't know.
She tried again with the same spotty results and the hope deflated a bit. What had changed? What was giving her images, even poor ones, when she had failed so many times before this? She tried once more, this time concentrating on the magic that went into it rather than the images. She felt her Gift stretch trying to follow the parameters of the spell. It separated and went into different directions. But a scrying spell was meant to pinpoint on specific person or thing to one area. Her magic tried to find three different people in different places. It stretched finding something before it fell apart.
Arra gasped. What had happened? Before now she had searched for them as a whole, as her triplets, their triad. Who? Who first? She had to try something. Arbitrarily choosing a method, she went from youngest to oldest.
An image appeared in her mirror that she readily recognized. The Palace in Tortall. Arra's eyes widened. The image found her son. Vincent was scowling and his hands were bound in front of him. He was walking in a field with two women but the image soon faded. The magics around the castle would let her see her son but not much more.
A tear slid down her cheek but she ignored it and moved onward. Lianne's face came then, brief but sure. Damien's came forward next, he was giving one of his subdued smiles that she knew so well but he seemed well.
If he was with Lianne then he had to be in Tusaine. More tears followed the first but still she was not done. One pays for all.
She scryed once more for that day hopes higher than ever. Her heart sank when the mirror clouded over. Did this mean the triplets has separated? But she had scryed not days before and found nothing. What did this mean? Why were they not together? It was curious that they had found relatives, people and places she trusted for the most part, so she wasn't too terribly worried about her sons but one question burned through all the others. It was a question that would eat at the two brothers just as much.
Where was Lana?
Arra left her position in a hurry to find Liam and tell him what she knew and suggest they send word to both Tortall and Tusaine. What words, she did not yet know but something had to be done.
"This is truly a curious situation," Lianne said again. Damien had been introduced to the King as well. After their palace mage was satisfied he spoke truth, Damien had been aloud to keep his sword. Though the last man who had tried to pick it up off the floor for him had been sent to the healer and that had set back the entire process again. They were more cautious of the sword than ever and wanted even less to give it back to Damien.
King Heirt had dark red hair cut short and laughing blue eyes. He seemed perhaps a nice enough man, a good enough king and husband for all that he was at least twenty years older than Lianne. Damien saw him look at her though and knew love was there. At least, these things held true when he looked at her.
Lianne tried to look at him as little as possible and that spoke just as loudly. Her child, Akur, looked like neither of them. Idly Damien reasoned that he did not entirely know what their combination of features might create. The hair, brown but with a touch of honey, could fit within the boundaries of his red and her dark. But those eyes, those curious dark grey eyes, did hazel and blue combine in that way?
Damien noticed Lianne's frown towards him so that he changed his point of focus. It wasn't for him to worry about anyway.
"And you say you just appeared in Akur's room?" Heirt was smiling but Damien had the feeling his smile covered a multitude of thoughts.
Vincent was coming close to having a look like that. When Damien wanted to look blank, no emotion showed on his face. Yes, it gave others nothing to work with or that was the idea. But the fact is, people recognize it has a blank face and it reads as secret keeping. It gave its own amount of information by telling others he didn't want to tell them something. That smiling face though both kept its secret thoughts and distracted the viewer unless he or she knew what to look for. Damien was no fool.
He attempted his own smile to assure the king he had been fooled by the look. He knew it was a subdued look, but it was his best. He would never have Vincent's charm and ease. "Yes, your majesty, I know not how I came to be here."
Out of the corner of his eyes he saw Lianne roll her eyes delicately at the repeat of questions, but kept his gaze for the King. Damien had already told his story with some editing and retold it and retold it. He couldn't blame them for being so worried. He had appeared in their child's room and if he could, couldn't someone else? Even so, this process was tedious and he was growing hungry.
"And your brother and sister?" His tone was pleasant enough but the hardness of his eyes belied it. This was his true point of contention. "They will not appear in my bechamber?"
"I cannot know, Majesty." It was something severely at the forefront of his mind as well. Where were Vincent and Lana? Were they somewhere in Tusaine? Or had they, too, been flung? Was there any reason to wherever each of them ended up?
A random thought burst forward in his mind. He hoped Sky was okay, wherever she was. He would miss Sky and mourn her loss were that the case, but prioritizing logically was one of his skills.
Vincent could, one way or another, take care of himself. But Lana, his only sister, was the source of worry that tightened his stomach. Vincent was brilliant in his own way, and loved Lana as fiercely as any of them, but his protective nature was often led astray by his own wants. Or at least, that's how Damien viewed it. Damien took it upon himself to take care of Lana, yes, but to a certain degree, Vincent too. Damien knew he could never control or change his triplets but he could be there to make sure too much harm did not befall them.
What would happen without him there?
Especially Lana. Always especially Lana with her soft heart and giving nature. And especially now with her…problem.
It was easy for people to see the three of them and think, yes, of course they love each other, they're triplets. What was for some reason more difficult to grasp was that they had gone through what any sibling goes through. Loving someone solely because you share blood will only get you so far. A day comes when you realize being born at the same time did not bestow all of you with the same traits, the same likes and dislikes, the same way of thinking.
It had caused many an argument between the three. It had caused some alienation with Lana and Vincent being so outgoing and alike in that sense while his nature was to hang back, be more reticent. But Lana's greatest talent was seeing to the heart of anything, anyone. She had stopped in her flurry of motion long enough to take hold of Damien and bring him along, too. She took time to talk to him to know him to ease his fears. Helped him to confront his parents and ask that they not find a suitable marriage for him, give him a wife he could never please. For thathe appreciated her, loved her and would die for her. He suspected she had also talked to Vincent. In most ways, maybe all ways, Lana and her relentless love bound them more than their blood or triad or anything.
Long moments passed before he came out of his thoughts to the present. Lianne was smiling at him kindly. "Come, nephew, let's go eat."
She tugged on his arm lightly and growing up in court he knew exactly what she'd done. She was reminding her king that Damien was family and should be treated with a touch more respect. She was also sort of putting herself up to take the brunt of his anger or retaliation should there be any.
A smile, true enough to light those blue eyes formed on his face. "Quite right, I'm a touch peckish myself."
Damien stood then, outwardly calm, but inwardly wanting to find Lana more desperately than he had before his reverie.
Vincent stared defiantly at his sword atop the table. Teasingly it sat near him but out of his reach. After Liano's declaration of warning no one had dared touch it. They had also all been nearly as curious about it as they were about him.
Hands still bound, he sat at a table with King Roald, his uncle by blood. The King of Tortall watched him with calculating eyes, contemplating. Lindhall Reed they'd called the mage. His hair had once been blond but was now more grey. He had a kind face. He pored over the sword sending tendrils of magic at it.
"Interesting, interesting," He murmured.
"Anything of any use?" Roald's voice was firm but soft.
"No, nothing at all," Lindhall said happily. "But it is a most curious artifact. Very old, I imagine. I think Numair would love to see it."
"Is this still necessary?" Vincent spoke up, a touch frustrated. He lifted his bound hands. "You're mage has worked his truth spells. I truly mean you no harm and I have no idea how I got here."
Roald waved and gave the okay for it. Lindhall sent a bit of magic towards the binding in an offhand way as he examined the sword again. Rubbing his wrists, Vincent very much wished he could take the sword back but he had a feeling if he even went for it without prompting the guards against the wall would react, not to mention the mage and this mage king. Who said he never learned?
Princess Lianokami had been permitted to stay but sat rubbing her hands together. The healer had already looked at them but there was nothing that could be done. It was a lingering discomfort, no more. Vincent wondered what would have happened if she'd tried to grab it. He supposed he would never know since the blade simply felt comfortably warm.
"These are some strong magicks," Lindhall murmured. He looked up at Vincent directly. "And you're sure you didn't do it perhaps? Or see who did?"
Vincent shrugged, not wanting to tell how the sword came to be in his hold. "I haven't a touch of magic."
"How did you come to be across such a weapon?" Roald said again. Vincent's attention turned back to him. Roald had an odd sort of presence. He was calm, calming even, so much so that it might have been easy to ignore his presence until he spoke except that he so obviously exuded…something. Something that let you know he was king here.
"It came to me," He said shortly, realizing as soon as it left his lips how fishy it sounded.
Roald's brows rose but it was Lianokami who said, "Meaning you stole it."
Luckily he knew what to say to that. "I did not. And I doubt the sword feels the same way."
"What do you mean by that, exactly," asked the king.
"I mean that it will not hurt me if I take hold of it," Vincent quickly grew tired of things like this. But he had better breeding than to let it show. "It truly belongs to me. Have him do his truth spell again if you don't believe me."
"Or we could have you hold it, if what Liano says is true," Lindhall said thoughtfully. Liano's eyes widened as if she thought he was calling Vincent's bluff and was almost scared for the outcome. Vincent wasn't worried.
"If I may?"
The King nodded his consent regally. Easily, smoothly Vincent took hold of the hilt and slid the sword from its leather sheath with a flourish. He held it out for Lindhall to examine. The older man bent over it but was careful to let no part of him touch it.
Liano was frowning, Roald simply watched on in the same thoughtful manner. Vincent had the capacity for tact but he chose to ignore it today. He was tired of inaction. Perhaps he could talk his way out of here and be on his way, but what good would it do him? What good would any of it do him? He needed to somehow figure out where Damien and Lana were. Where to begin?
"Am I some sort of prisoner?"
"No, of course not," Roald sighed. "But this is very unorthodox. I'm not sure I learned any etiquette pertaining to when a prince appears on your lands one day. If he came unannounced I would have the right to be offended towards that county but as it were, you seem to have come here quite by your own surprise as well."
"Let us pretend I am only your nephew then, coming to visit his extended family," Vincent suggested with a smile. Roald smiled in response.
"How is my brother then?"
Vincent smiled. "Well, he's well. My mother jokingly says it took him some time to adopt Karucian ways."
"We write to each other," the king said. "I suppose I will send a letter to him now, telling him you're here and we'll go from there."
"Hm, oh yes, and I'll send a letter to Numair," Lindhall gave Vincent a questioning look. "If you don't mind, I'm sure he would love to see this."
Vincent shook his head. "No, but I would really prefer not to be here for a very long time. If he wanted to inspect it as soon as possible I would be willing."
Roald's black brows rose. "Are you in that much a hurry?"
"I…I need to find my brother and sister," Vincent admitted.
Roald blinked at him. "I suppose we will need the full story then."
Vincent told as much as he was willing, from their being together and traveling to suddenly being here. He left out perhaps some important details but he thought it best.
"Is there any chance they are somewhere in Tortall?" Roald was frowning now.
"I have no clue. I know that I am here and that is all." He trusted Damien to take care of himself for the most part. He had an odd thought of Damien ending up on a boat and thought perhaps he couldn't handle himself in any situation. But Lana? Oh gods, he could only imagine the sort of trouble she would get into on her own.
Or…
What would that presence in her mind make her to next? Suddenly his heart was beating faster.
"Curious," Lindhall said and Vincent noticed he was no longer studying the sword so he sheathed it. "This sounds very much like a Blood Call."
"A what?" The king asked.
"Hm, its very, very old magic." He mused. "I've only ever even heard of it in one text. Even then it was a little vague. Are any of your siblings capable of anything like this?"
"Well, my sister Iolana has the Gift but… I don't know. What does the Blood Call do?" Vincent frowned.
"One triplet has the Gift but the others do not? How odd." Lindhall commented. Roald gave a small cough. "Oh right, well the Blood Call is simply said to send those affected with their blood. It is quite sudden and almost a little random. I can't say more than that because there isn't much more the book gave on it. Its very old, difficult magic. No one does it anymore partly because its so complex and takes a good deal of magic and also because it sends those away at random, no rhyme or reason. Or at least none that the spellcaster can control."
"Since this is the only thing we have to go on, I suppose I have a few more letters to write." Roald said kindly. "In the meantime let us have a meal between us. My wife would join us but she is recovering from a recent illness."
The king stood and so all stood with him. Lindhall spoke up again, "I can't be very sure it was a Blood Call."
The king smiled. "I understand, my brothers and sisters however will not be so mad for me bothering them."
No one noticed Vincent's pale face or slightly shaking hands when he clasped them behind his back. How could he convey how badly he needed to find Lana? He could hope she was with Damien but somehow he doubted it. Where was she and was she having a hard time of it? What would happen to her without him? What sort of trouble would that big, honest heart of hers get her into? Yes, her large guiltless eyes could disarm nearly anyone—had she been born a mite smaller like their mother she'd been unbearable for it—but she lacked the knowledge of how to wield such an ability.
A/N: I thoroughly enjoyed writing this chapter. It's sort of odd but I came to a realization. I think I started this almost grudgingly, having to force the story out of me and here I am now learning more about my own characters and loving them so much more. I'm learning and growing with them just as much as you are, I think.
Ah, and I did cross Vincent's mind to try and flirt with the two ladies before him. Good thing he didn't, really, because we might have had a Star Wars-esque moment on our hands. (Yeah, I know royals used to intermarry, but they don't here or any time soon!)
Tell me anything and everything that's on your mind! (I even usually respond to pretty much all of them if there's a question).