Darcy looked surprised at her question. “There have been a number of cases where wells have mysteriously run dry, always on the land of someone I have disagreed with or disliked, and always when I was staying in the same vicinity. Only a water mage could cause that to happen, and I am the only known water mage powerful enough to do so.”
“I know who could do it,” she said darkly, her breath coming quickly. “Come with me. We must speak to Aelfric immediately.”
He held back. “I have been seen by too many people already, and I must leave at once. The Board of Inquiry will have realized I am headed to Dover, and I cannot afford to let them get there first.”
Elizabeth caught at his hand. “Speaking to Aelfric is more important than you can imagine. If you have any faith in my judgment, I beg you to trust me.”
He hesitated. “If you wish, then.”
How had she failed to see it until now? Elizabeth silently cursed herself for missing the obvious. That first evening she had been so shocked by the discovery that Aelfric was her brother that she paid little attention to what had come before. Oh, foolish, foolish mistake!
Aelfric stood on the opposite side of the clearing. He was speaking to a gnome, but Elizabeth could not bear to wait until he was done. After all, the Sidhe were always abrupt to the point of rudeness, were they not? She would be just as abrupt and rude.
“Aelfric,” she interrupted. “Pardon me, but I must speak with you immediately.”
He looked mildly annoyed but did not seem to find her behaviorsurprising. “What is the matter?”
“George Wickham told me you were his liege lord.” Behind her she heard Darcy draw in a sharp breath.
“That is correct.”
“Did he ask you to make certain wells in the mortal world run dry?” Elizabeth held her breath waiting for his reply.
“Yes, but it is not a matter for public discussion. He wished it to be secret.”
“I am afraid it must be discussed publicly. Did he tell you why he made such an odd request?”
“It was something about revenge on a mage who had mistreated him. I paid little attention.”
Elizabeth’s hands bunched into fists. “George Wickham is a liar. That mage did not mistreat him at all, but Wickham’s revenge has been very successful. That mage is Diarcey, who was named by your own father. Because people believe he caused those wells to run dry, he has been sentenced to be placed under a binding spell.”
Aelfric glanced uncomfortably at Darcy. “I am sorry for that, but as my liege man, Wickham was entitled to ask a service of me. There are doubtless two sides to the story, and I would have known if Wickham were lying.”
“Oh, I am certain he found a way to speak the truth in a misleading way! Aelfric, you cannot allow Diarcey to be punished so harshly for something you did,” she pleaded.
“Sister, you clearly did not understand the nature of the bond between liege lord and liege man. I owe him my loyalty.”
Elizabeth stamped her foot. “You cannot do this! What of your loyalty to me? I claim blood right.” It was a shot in the dark, but it was all she had.
“Libbet, of course you have blood right, and if Wickham’s actions were harming you, then my responsibility would be to you. But you claimthey are harming your friend. He has no relationship to me, so my responsibility to Wickham takes precedence.” He spoke with an artificial patience as if explaining something obvious to a young child.
“Harming him also harms me! If you do not agree to tell the truth about what you have done, I... I will leave England with him this very night and you will never see me again.” She did not dare look at Darcy.
Aelfric hesitated. “I am sorry for it, but I am bound by the code of the Sidhe. You should not leave with him,tiarinn.”
It should have made her want to obey him, but instead it gave her a wild feeling of recklessness. “You have no right to stop me from leaving with him,tiarinn.” She put heavy sarcasm on the last word. “You are the one who is forcing him to flee. You have chosen to ruin the man I love.”
“Libbet, I am your kin. He is not. You should listen to me.”
“You may be my kin, but I will never forgive you for this, not ever!” Why could Aelfric not see that Darcy was more than kin, that he was part of her?
That was the answer. It was right in front of her. With every ounce of strength she possessed behind each word, she said, “I claim blood right.”
“Libbet, I have already explained that your blood right does not apply –”
“Not to you. I claim blood right to Diarcey.” She would make Darcy into Aelfric’sshurinn.
Aelfric drew in a long breath. “You do not understand what you are saying.”
