Page 76 of The Queen and the Half-blood
“And have you had a chance to study them?” Lara asked, trying to ignore the way her council members were watching her.
They were all keeping her secret, but they didn’t look happy.
Both the chief-sacrificer and chief-seer wore scowls, while the chief-counsellor and the chief-bard looked as if they’d just swallowed sour milk. Lara was surprised that Annis had joined her council this morning. One arm was in a sling, and a thick unguent covered her left cheek, where she’d been blistered by fire earlier.
Lara’s belly cramped. Fireshe’dwielded.
Cailean was the only druid who didn’t appear disturbed. That didn’t surprise her. There was little that flustered the chief-enforcer.
“Aye, I’ve read them,” Gil answered, settling himself onto the bench seat.
“We all know about fire magic,” Gregor muttered. The cut to the chief-sacrificer’s forehead had scabbed, although it only made his scowl even more formidable. “It manifests when you leave childhood behind. It starts with the ability to control smallflames … but with guidance develops into something far more powerful.” His lips pursed then, his dark eyes hardening.
“I haven’t had anyguidancethough,” Lara pointed out, making sure her tone remained firm. Gregor could be a bully, but she wouldn’t let him get to her. “And since the last fire-wielder was executed centuries ago, there’s no one left to teach me.” Her gut clenched as she admitted this. She knew it was forbidden. There wasn’t any point in avoiding the subject.
“And yet, you still managed to channel the fire in the hearths and use it to expel the Slew,” Alar said, his low voice rumbling through the hall. “Impressive.”
“Do you recallhowyou wielded it?” Bree asked.
“Not really … it was instinctive.”
“Does anyone wish to hear what I uncovered?” Impatience laced Gil’s voice now. “Or would you all prefer to sit around theorizing?”
Gregor cut the archivist a glare, but Gil ignored him.
“Go on then,” Lara replied, favoring Gil with a tight smile. It was a relief to have the focus shifted off her for the time being.
Picking up one of the scrolls, he then unfurled it. “According to this manuscript, the most stable fire magic is wielded in a calm state,” he began, his gaze scanning the sheet. “The more emotional you are, the more dangerous it is.”
Lara prickled, recalling the terror that had raged through her the night before. She certainly hadn’t been calm then. It was a miracle she hadn’t burned everyone inside the hall to cinders.
“The manuscript suggests that those who wield magic can also have ‘seer’ abilities,” Gil continued, glancing Lara’s way. “But you don’t … do you?”
Her skin prickled.Gods, not another secret to reveal.
Across the table, the chief-seer frowned. Aye, Ruari knew, as did Alar.
“I sometimes have … prophetic dreams,” she admitted after a pause.
The chief-counselor shifted awkwardly in her seat. “Why have you never said anything about this before?”
Lara pulled a face. “I was never destined to be a druid. I thought it wise to keep my … abilities … largely to myself.”
Silence fell then, swelling until, eventually, Roth cleared his throat. All gazes flicked to the red-haired warrior seated next to Cailean. His attention was focused, not on Lara, but on Gil. “So, our High Queen isn’t a danger to herself … or the rest of us?”
Lara’s pulse quickened. She didn’t like the glint in Roth’s eyes. It was a far cry from the smoldering looks he’d once given her.
Gil’s brow furrowed. “She hasn’t been so far, Captain.”
“No … but that was before she nearly burned the broch down.”
Lara’s heart started to pound. She wanted to speak up for herself, but she had no idea what to say. Her abilities were a mystery to her. She could well be a menace to everyone.
“Her act saved our lives,” Alar said then. “You’d do well to remember that, Captain.”
Tension shivered across the table as Roth and Alar locked gazes.
Lara’s gaze flicked between the two men. The captain stared her husband down, his nostrils flaring.
