Page 84 of Twisted Magic

“I’m pregnant, not an invalid,” Nic answered tartly. “Don’t you start with me too. Besides, it’s not my fault that said beasties came to me.” She seized Alise in another fierce hug. “I missed you. If you’d been here, you would have told us about the cloaking.”

“Maybe,” Alise conceded. “It took me a while to notice it on the reserve forces. Nic—it’s definitely Papa’s work. I recognize the signature.”

Her elder sister nodded grimly. “I’m not surprised, much as I’d rather it be otherwise. He won’t ever let this go. And Nander?”

Alise grimaced. “Solidly under Papa’s thumb. I think we have to treat him as the enemy. Certainly not an ally.”

“All right then.” Nic squeezed her arm. “Just you and me then, the black sheep on our own against House Elal.”

“The good news,” Jadren said, joining them with his arm around Seliah, Gabriel flanking them after having assured himself of his parents’ wellbeing, “is that you can count House El-Adrel as your ally now.”

“Yes,” Seliah said with a delighted smile. “So, not entirely on your own.”

While Nic gaped, Alise and Gabriel demanded how that had come to be. Seliah’s smile turned conspiratorial. “It’s a long story, but Katica El-Adrel is dead. You’re looking at the new Lord and Lady El-Adrel.”

Recovering quickly, Nic congratulated them both. “That explains the presence of all these El-Adrel wizards and familiars. Beyond that, you also somehow convinced House Refoel to come to our aid.”

“I blame Seliah,” Jadren said with a snide grin, “and her seductive powers.” She elbowed him in the side, glancing nervously in the direction of her parents, who were fortunately not paying attention.

“Regardless,” Gabriel said, clearing his throat manfully, “I’m glad the healers are here. I have to ask you, Jadren, as we’re all dying to know—what in the Dark Arts did you do to those hunters?”

“It’s his magic,” Seliah said proudly.

“Being able to heal?” Alise asked, looking back and forth among them. Cillian, stepping up to join them, shrugged his own ignorance. Neither of them had been able to make out what Jadren had done either, and hadn’t had the opportunity to ask.

“Not exactly,” Jadren temporized, exchanging a look with Seliah, who nodded encouragingly. “I put them back to their original state. It seems that’s my ability, more than healing. It’s a variation on El-Adrel enchantment, but on living things. I can make them work the way they’re supposed to.”

“So you returned them to their component parts,” Nic said with obvious fascination. “And not dead.”

Jadren stroked his beard thoughtfully, nodding. “It seems so. I still have a lot to discover about how it works.”

Alise noticed Cillian’s avid interest also, certain he was using his own magic to record mental notes.

“We have time later,” Gabriel said by way of agreement. “Make sure you all get treated by a healer and let’s retire to the manse. We’re having the non-combatants brought back home, so let’s convene there to trade stories.” He tugged Nic against him. “We have allies,” he informed her. “And you said it couldn’t be done.”

“We still have Elal and Sammael against us,” she replied darkly.

“Yes,” Cillian said, “but indications are that you might have House Uriel in your corner, and possibly soon, House Harahel. Particularly if House Hanneil is truly involved.”

Alise belatedly introduced Cillian to Nic and Gabriel, adding, “It’s another long story.”

At that point, they all agreed to wait until everyone was healed and they had food, rest, and plenty of wine on hand to catch each other up on everything that had happened.

“I didn’t expect House Phel to be so beautiful,” Cillian commented as they climbed the steps of the broad front porch, both of them feeling much better for Refoel healing.

She slid him a dubious glance. “You thought it would be a hut on stilts surrounded by bog water?”

“Not quite that bad,” he replied, flushing.

“That’s exactly what I expected,” Nic piped in from behind them, giggling at Gabriel’s sour grunt in response.

“Apologies, Lord Phel,” Cillian said over his shoulder.

“None needed, Wizard Cillian,” Gabriel replied. “As you perceive, even my nearest and dearest amuse themselves with swamp jokes.”

“I know I do,” Jadren put in easily.

“Perhaps you can give me a tour of the manse,” Cillian suggested to Alise as they all entered the main hallway.

---