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Caldwell, an ancient place and built primarily of stone, was the largest town in the northwestern portion of Bergisson realm, and had a population of sixty thousand mixed realm residents. As high as they were, Samantha could see the central town square all lit up, but directly north of the city, a dozen Guardsmen battled the Invictus, at least twenty bonded pairs.
I’ll be taking you to the square. Kyle’s in charge of on-the-ground security right now. You’ll be safe with him if I need to do battle.
He dropped into the square, landing at the far east edge, where the lights were dim and deserted of party-goers.
A handsome troll, with three beautiful forehead ridges hurried up to him. “Mastyr Ethan, we are so glad to see you and how well you look. Guardsman Finn has left several imprisoned wraith-pairs as you requested. We’ve never had a problem with the Invictus at one of our assemblies before.”
His wife, an elven with strong features and her blond hair wrapped in a series of unique braids on top of her head, nodded. “They’ve never attacked this far north.” Her troll husband slid his arm around her waist.
Samantha stepped off Ethan’s boot as he said, “Mr. Mayor, I can see that you have your people well in hand.”
Samantha glanced at the thinning crowd on the opposite side of the square.
The troll clucked his tongue. “There are always a few youths decrying the mistreatment of wraith-pairs and who made it almost impossible for the band to leave, but all that is settled. The square will be cleared in just a few more minutes.” He shifted his gaze pointedly to Samantha.
Ethan introduced her and she offered her hand. The troll took it, smiling broadly. “And what a lovely fae resonance you have, my dear. Welcome to Caldwell and I hope at some time you’ll be able to return and enjoy our fair town under better circumstances.”
“I do as well.” She took a moment to cast her gaze around the square. There were many small shops and most had potted evergreens out front, awnings, tables and chairs, even decorative lights.
She glanced at Ethan, willing him to understand that she wanted to be about their business.
He nodded to her. “Take us to the wraith-pairs, please.”
The troll and the elf walked with great dignity toward the southeastern corner of the square, just opposite their current position. Samantha saw the Guardsman, Kyle, and several more standing in front of a municipal building.
Ethan leaned down to Samantha. “The police station is over there, where Kyle is waiting for us. He’s probably holding the pairs inside.”
As they reached the corner, near Kyle, she saw that the crowd, instead of continuing their departure had begun to return. She also heard many whisper, ‘the mastyr is here’ while others were saying, ‘she must be the new blood rose’.
Samantha felt her cheeks grow warm. She’d always lived her life quietly and the most public she’d ever greeted was still just a smattering of one-on-one encounters when she would sell her jewelry during a street fair.
Ethan turned toward her, but his gaze scanned the square. He had one hand on her arm, very gently. “Where were you in the vision when we separated the bonded pairs?”
Glancing around the square, she saw that in the middle of a pedestrian-only track, lined by planters of flowers, benches, and an occasional well-lit street lamp, a central disk formed a cross-path. “There,” she pointed. “The central circle.”
“Of course,” Ethan murmured.
As she moved in that direction, Ethan shouted orders to his Guard. “Bring all the wraith-pairs here. Now.” His voice boomed above the murmuring crowds and the numerous flags flapping in the soft night breeze.
Finn suddenly called down from above. “Incoming friendlies, mastyr, but we have another pair here. The rest of the Invictus have retreated.” He landed, sweaty from battle and placed his short-sword, in his scabbard attached to the leather cross-strap.
He offered Samantha a smile and a nod. “How you doin’?”
“Good. I’m good.” And she was. For the first time since arriving in Bergisson she felt as though she had a purpose larger than just feeding a vampire.
The crowd began moving in. She almost said something to Ethan, but the mayor found a microphone and encouraged his people to remain well beyond the circle. The crowd shifted, moving away a few feet, which gave her some relief.
When the bonded pairs began arriving, the crowd booed heavily. Samantha remembered this from her vision as well, so she didn’t try to stop it, nor did Ethan. For the destruction and the deaths the wraiths had caused, the least they deserved was a measure of public censure.
Ethan took her hand and held her gaze as he pathed, How do you want to do this?
I need to be standing in the center of the circle. I think it must be a fae-thing.
No doubt. He even smiled.
He led her there and she took her place, but her heart had set up a racket. Was she really going to do this, in front of God and everyone, something she still didn’t understand?
But as Ethan gestured for the first pair to be brought to her, she knew what had to be done and her faeness rushed forward, removing her doubts. Something external must have shown as well, because the crowd almost as one, called out a big, surprised, ‘Oh!’
What is it? She glanced up at Ethan.
He smiled at her. You have an incredible aura right now, silver and violet. Beautiful.
Samantha could only take his word for it.
As she turned her attention once more to the wraith pair who now stood five feet in front of them. She worked not to be revolted by the opaque skin of the wraith, the yellow fangs and dark lips, or even when the creature let out a shriek, which made the crowd jump. The wraith was bonded to a male troll, a muscular man with large dull eyes, not surprising since the bond robbed the bound individual of will and rational thought.
Samantha waved an arm in the wraith’s direction, in a large arc, which, much to Samantha’s surprise, released a flow of silver-violet energy. When that arc reached the wraith-pair, they fell together on their knees.
To Ethan, she pathed, Put your arm around me and hold me steady. Something big is coming.
I’ve got you.
She loved that he’d spoken just those words, but her fae power felt like a brutal force beneath her now and she trembled as she lifted her left arm aloft and brought it down in a quick, heavy strike between the shoulders of the pair.
Power released and not hers alone, but she felt Ethan’s vampire power attach to her faeness and together the resulting energy forged an arc of light that split the bond in two.
