Chapter 2

The two men following Lacaris were known strong arm men for Mage Grimias. They had been responsible for many deaths of innocent street people. The first spike was passing Lacaris as the second dropped into my hand and I threw it. Lacaris spun to the rear as I turned and grabbed Gem, “Stay with me.”

I started walking fast, pulling Gem behind me. Lacaris caught up a minute later as I turned into an alley. I spun to face him, anger showing on my face, “Do you know what you just did? You just marked me and my fiancée. I do not care if you want to let the mage spies follow you but those two were linked to Mage Grimias and they were killers.”

He stopped in surprise, “I am sorry but the prince is missing. He was taken from the palace.”

I looked at him for another minute and then looked at Gem. I could not let her return to the shop, not until I dealt with Mage Grimias, “I am sorry Gem. If you return to the shop now it will put you and your family in danger. Stay with me and I will get you back as soon as I can.”

I took her hand and started walking. Leaving Lacaris behind, I slipped across a street and into a shop. I dropped two gold pieces on the counter as a large man I knew well approached. I quickly grabbed salt encrusted throwing spikes and two daggers before turning and leaving. I pulled Gem behind me as I once more headed towards the slavers section of the city.

I was pretty sure this was a trap and crossed intersections carefully. When I reached the small square where Elizabeth had been, I knew I had been right. I stood inside the slip through and looked into the square. The prince was secured to a plank that leaned against the far wall. The square was criss crossed with strands of magic. The outer edge of the magic circled the square. I put my head next to Gem and whispered, “No matter what you hear or see, do not enter the square.”

I knelt and picked up a piece of wooden spar. I slipped my hand in a pocket and came out with salt in my palm. I rubbed the spar with the salt and knelt. I slid the spar across the outer magic of the trap. I looked at Gem one last time. I stood and walked calmly into the square. The edge of the square roared with fire and two mages appeared at one opening of an alley. There were a dozen men around the edge of the square as well.

The two mages stepped forward laughing, one was mage Primias and the other was a nasty piece of work called Mage Olufson. Mage Primias was the one who spoke up as I calmly stepped closer to the prince, “Do not worry about him. After we finish with you we will send what is left of him back to his father.”

I smiled as two throwing spikes dropped into my hands and my hands flicked out. Mage Primias’s head snapped back, one of the spikes sticking out of his eye. One of the men that had been confidently walking towards me stumbled and fell. Even as mage Primias’s staff exploded and he burst into flames, my hands flicked again and then again and four more men died suddenly. Finally, the two daggers I had bought appeared and I crossed the blades and brought them up in front of my face in time to catch a ball of sparkling fire.

I looked into Olufson’s pale face as I slowly moved the blades back and forth over each other before flicking one of the blades at him. His hand came up in warding and the ball of fire splashed as it struck his shield. Instead of fading away, it spread and in a few seconds, covered his shield completely.

As his staff exploded I was turning to face the last seven men. Suddenly they began dying as throwing spikes flashed through the air. I glanced back at one of the openings, “About time you decided to join me.”

Shadow shrugged as she and her father entered the square, “You are the one with the mage sight.”

I looked at her hard, waving to Gem as I stepped closer to the prince, “What do you know about my sight?”

I put my hand on the prince’s chest to keep him from moving as I checked the plank he was tied to. Shadow stood on the other side of the prince and cut the ropes, “Well, from the way you have been able to avoid the mage traps and all the magic books you have...”

Gem stopped beside me, “Magic books?”

I grinned and finally looked at Shadow, “I will need your boot knife.”

I looked around and walked the few feet to pick up a small board. I returned and took the small knife Shadow handed me. I absently carved six splinters, “Gem, this is a relative of mine. Her name is Shadow. The man is her father, his name is Peter.”

When I had the splinters in the shape I wanted, I handed the knife back and absently set five of the splinters on a piece of cloth Gem offered. The one I held, I focused on and slowly rubbed it back and forth between the palms of my hand. Gem cleared her throat, “You should be using a cloth of silver for that.”

I grinned and set the glowing splinter on the cloth and picked up another. When I was finally done with all six I looked at Shadow. I took one splinter and carefully reached behind the prince, “When I get the last one in place pull him to the side quickly.”

I took a breath when I placed the last one and nodded to Shadow. She yanked the prince sideways, pulling him away from the plank and I moved Gem back. On the plank were six silver disks with a wooden splinter crossing one edge. After a moment there was an explosion and six long silver spikes replaced the disks.

Gem looked at me, “You knew the splinters would not last.”

I nodded and stepped closer to help the young prince back to his feet. I looked at Shadow and her father, “You do know they will be waiting between here and the palace.”

Shadow nodded and I sighed and held one of my hands out to Gem and took the prince’s with the other, “Follow me then.”

Shadow’s father stayed behind and I knew he was going to try to divert attention from us. It took me ten minutes before I pushed open the back door of Philip’s shop and led everyone in. Philip took one look and went to the window to look out while I pulled a shirt off a rack and handed it to the prince, “Put this on.”

Two minutes later I was crossing the street and entering the alley next to momma’s shop. I did not knock, I just opened the door and stepped in, “Momma there is trouble.”

Momma lowered the big kitchen knife she had picked up when the door opened. “What is it alley cat...”

She saw the prince beside Gem, “What did you do!”

I glanced back and saw the prince. I looked at momma, “Mage Primias took him but that is the least of my problems. Mage Grimias knows about me and Gem. He will be sending people here.”

Momma frowned and turned towards the door into the shop, “George!”

It was less than a second before the door was pushed open. Momma did not wait for him to speak, “We need to send Kaira with James.”

George only nodded and reached back into the other room and pulled a struggling Kaira into the kitchen. I looked at momma, “Momma?”

She shook her head, “I will not hide. Take Kaira and protect her.”

I looked at her for a moment longer and held out a hand to Kaira, “Hurry Imp.”

Kaira ran across the kitchen and I could see fear on her face. I looked at the prince, his face was white. I nodded to Kaira, “This is my sister your highness, she needs your protection.”

I could see both Shadow and Gem as they looked at Kaira. The prince seemed to have straightened and reached out to take Kaira’s hand. I closed the door and turned away from the street and moving down the alley. A short time later I led them into the opening to the grotto and sent them past me. I pressed a brick and quickly caught up and unshuttered the mage light.

While the prince and Gem were looking around Kaira pulled her hand out of the prince’s. She walked towards the table, “I will make tea.”

I smiled, Kaira had been here many times. I took Gem’s hand and led her into the other room. I had left the door open into my workroom and led her in there. She gasped and moved forward into the room on her own. I stepped out and opened the wardrobe before changing into blacks and putting weapons back on.

When I stepped back in she turned from the displays, “These are amazing.”

I smiled and nodded to the books. Gem looked but looked back at me, “It would take me forever to read all those.”

I laughed, “I have read almost all of them. Mom used to get them for me.”

I took Gem’s hand and led her back to the other room. Kaira was presiding at the table with Prince John and Shadow sitting beside each other. I let Gem sit and looked at Shadow, “All right Shadow, time for you to decide. The mages will not stop until they have been forced to. You can take the prince home or I can bring his sister and possibly his mother here.”

She looked at me carefully, “I thought you said they would be waiting around the palace.”

I nodded, “They probably are. I was not planning to use any of those ways in.”

She grinned, “This place seems safe enough, only one way in or out.”

I shook my head, “I closed the alley entrance. There are still two other ways in.”

I pointed one other way out and told her where it came out. She looked at me closely, “And the other way?

I laughed, “Well, the other way exits into the palace.”

Shadow laughed, “I knew it!”

I smiled and looked at the prince and then at Shadow, “Well cousin?”

Shadow nodded, “Ask the king.”

I nodded and looked at Gem, “Your music boxes are very good. Would you like to see my version?”

She smiled and nodded. I pushed a hanging drape away from one of the walls and entered another room, only to return a moment later. I pulled a covered display case that was six feet wide, four feet deep and five feet tall behind me. I moved it to a little way in front of the table. I looked at everyone, “Close your eyes and listen.”

I waited a moment and then pulled the cover off and then touched a diamond on the top of the case. The whole front of the case seemed to fade and the room was filled with bird song. The fragrant smell of flowers filled the room and everyone opened their eyes. I watched Gem’s face as she saw the display. Everyone was stunned silent.

I looked at the display; it had been over six months since I had finished it. It was a forest scene with a small brook going from one side to the other. There were a dozen trees of different sizes; the trunks were either silver or gold. The smaller branches were jade with leaves of Emerald. There were bushes and spots of grass or moss, all made out of green gems of different shades. The trees and bushes moved as if from a breeze.

In the trees or bushes were all kinds of birds. Fire birds made of Ruby, Blue birds of Sapphire, Snow birds made of Alabaster and many more. The birds all moved, flying from tree to tree as they sang. On the ground were a dozen rabbits of silver, four deer of gold, a red amethyst fox, two otters made from pearl and a small black onyx cat.

The animals walked around on the ground; except for the otters, they splashed and play up and down the small creek. There were two dozen different types of flowers. Flowers that grew on the ground, flowers that bushed out and flowers that were on vines and climbed. They were all different colors and shapes, each with its own scent.

Gem finally looked up at me with an expression of awe. I caressed her face, “Enjoy, I will return in a bit.”

I walked into the room with my bath and continued right on past. The wall looked like it had a small niche but once in it, it turned and a narrow opening was in front of you. I moved down the passage in the darkness, my right hand running along the wall. I was counting raised bumps that told how far I had come. Finally I reached the end of the passage and moved to the other side. A ladder was carved into the rock, it went up about ten or twelve feet.

At the top of the ladder I stepped off and slowly made my way the five feet to a wooden panel. I slid a small piece of wood out of the way and looked into a lower passage in the palace. I listened and closed the view port and touched the side of the panel. There was a slight click and the panel moved out into the hallway.

I closed the panel behind me and moved the dozen feet to a servants’ staircase. On the third floor I hesitated again and listened. I moved swiftly down the hall to a door near the end. I opened the door and stepped in, closing the door behind me. There were three people in the room, a maid, a guard who was reaching for his sword and Elizabeth.

I knelt with my arms out, “Princess?”

Elizabeth’s eyes were wide as she looked at me and then she laughed, “Cat! I knew you would come.”

I grinned as she ran into my arms and gave me a hug. She stepped back, “Did you get my present?”

I laughed and pulled the tiny wooden flower out. “It was very thoughtful of you.”

I put the flower away, looking at the others in the room before looking at Elizabeth, “I need to talk to your father. Can you take me to him so that I can talk to him in private?”

Elizabeth nodded and I stood taking her hand as the guard moved closer, “The king does not want her to leave her room.”

I smiled, “I am sure you know why. The problem is that the mages will be moving openly now and I need to make sure the princess is safe.”

He looked at me for a long time while Elizabeth fidgeted. He finally nodded, “The king and Queen think highly of you, so okay.”

I turned to the door and put my hand on the wood and listened before opening the door. I stepped into the hall and Elizabeth led me to the stairs and down a floor with the guard following along behind. As we approached a set of double doors, I felt the swirl of magic behind us. I released Elizabeth’s hand and spun around, pushing the guard to the side.

A black cloaked mage stood a dozen feet away. I was thinking that I was really getting tired of them doing this and that maybe Shadow and her father had something when they mentioned my father and what his clan did. The mage took one step, “move out of the way Sin’clair and I will let you live.”

I suddenly felt better and laughed, “you are half right. You should leave before you make me do something you will regret.”

The mage gestured with his staff and a sparkling globe appeared and flew towards me. I held up my hand and felt the force of magic slow and then stop. The globe hung between the mage and myself. I started walking towards him and reached out with my other hand and made a sweeping gesture, moving the forces of magic into place.

The mage’s staff vanished and he gasped. I gesture at the glowing spell hanging in the air, pulling the strands of magic apart and it faded and disappeared. I made a grabbing gesture at the mage, pulling the magic around me and forcing them to do as I wanted. The mage stiffened unable to move or speak as I slowly walked around him.

When I was back in front of him I looked into his eyes, “I warned you.”

A long spike like a sliver of wood appeared in my hand and I shoved it up under his chin and into his brain. No flames consumed him as I pulled the strands of magic apart. As I turned, his staff dropped out of thin air and landed on his body. In the doorway stood the king and his wife, Elizabeth was holding her father’s hand.

Peter stood in front of them, “You are a mage!”

I walked towards the King, “No. I am something else.”

I stopped beside him, still looking at the King, “Well met your majesty.”

He smiled, “Well, now I know how you got past all their traps.”

I laughed, “Actually I did not use magic. That would be cheating.”

I looked at Peter, “Shadow is with the prince.”

I looked back at the King, “The mages that are involved with this will not bother with kidnapping any more. They have lost too many followers. I can safely take Elizabeth and your wife someplace safe until I deal with them.”

Peter cleared his throat, “You are going to deal with them?”

I looked at him, “You told me, my father was supposed to keep them in check.”

The king cleared his throat and looked at Peter. He nodded and the King looked at his wife, “go with him Mary.”

I held out my hand for Elizabeth, “You are not afraid of the dark are you?”

Elizabeth took my hands as I began to walk, “um, only a little.”

I smiled down at her as her mother fell in behind us, “Well in that case I will let you use some friends of mine.”

I led them down a set of stairs and along the hall to the panel I had entered through. I looked at Elizabeth, “can you keep a secret?”

She nodded and I touched the center of a small carved flower. The panel opened and her mother gasped. I led them into the small space and had the queen pull the wooden handle that closed the panel. The space instantly went black. Elizabeth was squeezing my hand tightly. I knelt and moved Elizabeth closer, “Just past the edge here is a ladder down. It goes down about twelve feet to another passageway. Your majesty, if you would wait for me to return?”

I felt her shift, “Please hurry, I do not like the dark much.”

I shifted Elizabeth onto my back and slipped onto the ladder. When I got to the bottom, I knelt and helped her off. I pulled a tiny box from inside my shirt and put it in her hand. I moved her thumb to open one end and a dozen tiny fireflies appeared. Elizabeth giggled while I stood, “I will be right back.”

I climbed the ladder and stopped at the top, “Majesty?”

I heard her moving towards me and held out my hand. I helped her onto the ladder and listened as she slowly made her way down. When I heard her moving off the ladder I quickly slipped down. At the bottom, I found mother and daughter both watching the fireflies. I reached out and took Elizabeth’s hand, “take your mom’s hand.”

I led them down the passageway with fireflies flickering around us. When I reached the end of the passageway, I knelt and had Elizabeth open the box. All the fireflies flew right into the box and she closed it. I led them into the grotto and across the bathing room. As soon as the queen reached the other room she stopped in surprise.

Elizabeth clapped, “that is really pretty.”

Shadow jumped up, “I did not hear you come in.”

I grinned as I walked to the display and pressed the diamond on top. The front of the case became clear and then we were looking through glass. Gem stood and stepped closer, “That was the most impressive thing I have ever seen.”

I grinned, “I could show you something more impressive. It would not be as flashy as this display though.”

Gem laughed and kissed my cheek, “Nothing could be more impressive.”

Kaira laughed, “Wait until he shows you the four seasons.”

I looked at Kaira and grinned, “Do not give it away imp.”

Kaira laughed again, “That was where he found me.”

I smiled and turned to Shadow. She was standing by the queen as she held her son, “Cousin?”

Shadow looked at me and I smiled, “Can you stay and protect them?”

She nodded and I looked at Elizabeth, “Elizabeth? Why don’t you look in my workroom? Kaira can show you where.”

I looked at Kaira, “Stay with them imp and try to stay out of trouble.”

She grinned, “Where is the fun in that?”

I heard the queen and my cousin snicker as I grabbed the air where Kaira had stood. Kaira had skipped back next to Elizabeth. I grinned and held hands with Gem, “Would you walk with me?”

She smiled and nodded. I led Gem out, stopping to open and then close the entrance. I took the back way; through alleys and slip throughs. When I stopped we were a short way from momma’s kitchen door. I waited, listening to the sounds around us. I laughed and stepped out into the alley, “Archie, your wife is not going to like you back in the alleys.”

A tall skinny man stepped out of the shadows across the alley. He was grinning, “Is that you street rat? Momma said you might show up.”

I held my hand out to Gem and she stepped forward. Archie looked at her in surprise, “You have a girl urchin?”

I grinned and looked at Gem, “Gem, this is a friend. His name is Archie.”

I looked at Archie, “how many others are around?”

Archie shrugged, “A few, here and there. Duke Tonis has several guards in the shop.”

I nodded and turned to led Gem to the kitchen door. I knocked and opened the door to find a woman mercenary pulling out a short sword. I grinned, “Not you too. I thought you were contracted to guard Baroness Marish.”

She grinned as she replaced the sword and stepped back so we could enter, “The Baroness sent me here.”

I looked at momma by stove, “Kaira is safe at home. I have someone there with her.”

Momma chuckled, “Protecting her or guarding her?”

I grinned and Gem giggled. I turned to Gem, “This woman with momma is Teresa.”