This Dangerous Magic by Jayel Wylie

Author:Jayel Wylie
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schusters
Published: 2002-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

12

Malinda finished writing her miniature note at her father’s great table in the solar. “I suppose that will have to do, Rufus,” she sighed, setting her pen aside. “‘Safe at Brinlaw. Wish you were here. M.’”

They had been home for almost a week, routine settling over everyone like dust. Even Tarquin seemed almost at ease, taking up the duties of castellan with efficiency if little enthusiasm. But Malinda refused to fall back into her old patterns, refused to give up and be the same discontented girl she’d been when she left for Nan’s wedding. She couldn’t have been, even if she had wanted to be. Everything about her had changed, inside and out. She loved Tarquin; she was convinced he could love her in return, that he did, if he would only admit it. With every day that passed, she felt more certain, her fears giving way easily in the face of destiny. Here at Brinlaw, she was certain she could convince him as well, put his fears away just as completely. At Brinlaw, they were safe—no ghosts, no kings, no parents, no priests, no outside world at all. At Brinlaw, he would learn to let go of all that kept them apart and take the heart she offered him in exchange. All she needed was time—and perhaps a little witchcraft. Her book was full of spells designed to find and entice one’s beloved; if necessary, she need only choose the right one.

“Come here, then,” she said, holding out her hand. The goshawk flew to her from his perch by the window. “Thank you,” she said softly as she tied a tiny leather case to his leg with her message inside. On the rare occasions in the past when she and her best friend had been parted, Rufus had often carried messages back and forth between Brinlaw and Bruel; she had every confidence he could find his way again. “Be careful,” she instructed him as she carried him back to the window on her fist. “Fly straight to Bruel and straight home.” She leaned out and launched the bird into the air. “Safe journey, Rufus!”

“Where is he going?” Tarquin’s voice asked from behind her. Turning, she found him in the doorway.

“To Bruel,” Malinda explained. “I sent a message to Lisbet to let her know we got here safely.”

Tarquin nodded, not really surprised. He had seen Arab warriors use such messengers in the desert, and their birds weren’t nearly so well trained as Rufus. “Why Lisbet?” he asked. “Why not your parents?”

“Because I don’t know where they are,” she explained. “And Rufus has never traveled so far as that. I’m not sure he could find his way home.” She noticed he was dressed in traveling clothes himself, the stained leather armor he’d been wearing when she first saw him in the woods at Bruel. “Are you going hunting?”

“In a manner of speaking.” He had been dreading this conversation for days now, had put it off as long as he could. But the trail was already cold; he couldn’t wait any longer.

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