“Flames on the surface of the water, but the water ran clear beneath the slick of flame on top. I smelled lamp oil.”
Lilly filed that alarming bit of information away for later consideration.
“Was there snow on the mountain peaks?” Dela asked, guiding the girl.
“No, ma’am. The lower slopes were green, and the upper reaches had just a bare hint of white.”
The snowy season had just begun to end when Lilly left Valdis Maj, so if this vision were to come true, it would be sooner than she liked. Still, those mountains would be covered in white for a little longer. With any luck, she’d be back home in time to warn her King.
Dela fired off her next question while Lilly sat back. “You saw a flag with a white dragon. Were there any others in your field of vision?”
The girl thought a moment before responding, closing her eyes, as if to relive some part of her vision in memory. “There was a standard on the field before the tower. It was black with three interlocking red circles.”
“An Alchemist’s symbol,” Dela said unnecessarily. Everyone knew the Alchemists had their own arcane symbols, but nobody, except the brethren of that secretive order, really knew what they meant. “Thank you, Catari.”
The girl rose with her teacher and left the room, allowing the next pair to enter as they left. This pair—a master and his male apprentice—saw much the same thing, confirming Lilly’s fears. But the next seers brought even worse news.
An older mistress had charge of two apprentices. The young girl spoke of a white dragon with two riders while the boy apprentice warned of danger stalking the dragon’s path. Through Dela’s careful questioning, it became clear that the dragon was Shilayla and the riders in the visions were Luc and Lilly.
“The journey ahead will not be easy.” Dela turned to Lilly as the door closed behind the trio. “I saw this too, earlier today, but wanted to hear what the youngsters saw before I said anything. For some reason, the eldest and the youngest among us have been struck with strong visions since the block was removed, but few of the masters. If it were just the apprentices, I would wonder if we were being tampered with in some way, but the elders have the most control. Nothing could tamper with our vision that we could not detect.”
“Your pardon for saying this, but you didn’t notice the block.”
Dela eyed her sharply. “You’re correct, but blocking is an altogether different thing from actually manipulating a seer’s vision. Even our most skilled mage would have difficulty warping one apprentice’s sight. To do it on such a grand scale with apprentice and elder alike is unthinkable. No, I have to conclude that we are seeing true. Albeit for the first time in months. Perhaps years. None of us have yet been able to determine when our vision first started to become limited, so we don’t yet know how long we’ve been unseeing.”
Lilly was unsure what to say. The seer looked so lost yet determined. Lilly was glad the block had been removed and heartened to see the resolve in Dela’s expression.
“But come, it’s nearly dinner hour, and I promised to deliver you back to House Adain. I would like to talk to Luc and Shilayla about your journey, as well. They need time to prepare.”
CHAPTER FOUR
The walk back to the area near the great hall was quiet. Lilly ran through the visions she’d heard in her mind and assumed the seer was doing the same. When they arrived at the house she’d woken up in, Lilly was surprised to realize it was one of the largest in the enclave and held a place of honor near the great hall. Apparently, Luc and Detlif’s family was one of the more important in the scheme of things.
But then, what other family boasted two members of the Council? She wasn’t sure, but the other Council members didn’t share any striking family resemblances that she had noticed. Only Luc and his older brother looked like two peas in a pod. Seeing them side by side, it was obvious they were related.
When she entered the house, Lilly saw Lady Adain sitting in a chair by the small fire, spinning thread. Lilly hadn’t quite made the connection before, but now realized more fully that the two brutes who lived here were related to this elegant, regal lady.
“Grandmother, Belinda asked me to tell you that dinner is nearly ready.” Luc entered from a side room as Lilly was ushered in by Dela.
This, then, was Lady Fiora Adain, the matriarch of House Adain she’d heard mentioned by the healers and seers in reverent tones. She was also the Lady who led the Council. One of the most powerful beings in this enclave of fair folk, and Luc and Det’s grandmother.
“Good evening, Fiora.” Dela made their presence known as they stepped into the room. “I’ve brought back your houseguest just in time, it seems.”
The Lady set aside her spinning and stood, extending a hand in greeting to the seer. “Won’t you join us for dinner?”
Dela stepped back, worry furrowing her brow as she split her gaze between the Lady and Luc. “I’d be honored, if you don’t mind having a working meal. If you’d rather relax first, I’ll come back later, but I must speak with Luc and Shilayla.”
Lady Adain’s eyes narrowed. “We can talk over dinner. We often discuss weighty matters at table.”
“I’ll ask Belinda to set an extra place,” Luc volunteered, heading out into another part of the large house.
Lilly excused herself to the room she’d been given in order to freshen up before the meal. She wasn’t sure how formal dinner was in this house, so she kept her best outfit on, rather than change into everyday wear, though she did remove the outer layers of leather. That left her in a long split-skirt tunic and leggings that had been a gift from her King for the journey. The color was appealing, and there were little edges of embroidery to turn the serviceable garment into something special enough to be worn among foreign dignitaries.
Lilly hadn’t been able to bring much with her on the arduous trip, but thanks to King Alric, she wouldn’t look uncivilized or—worse—disrespectful. She rarely wore female finery, and the long split-skirt tunic was the only concession she’d made for formal occasions at court. She had several outfits like this one in her quarters in the keep. The style was something she’d asked for specially from the royal dressmaker when she’d first started working for King Alric and was told to report to the woman for a selection of clothing to wear to state functions.
The Blind King didn’t care what she wore, really, but he was amused by the scandal she’d caused in her strange attire from the moment she’d first appeared in his court. He’d gone so far as to ask to inspect one of her garments, and she’d given him one of her new tunics to feel. The smile that generated had endeared the man to her at that moment, even if she hadn’t owed him her allegiance before. She wore the modified clothing from that day forward, with her King’s blessing.
Lilly paused, catching herself primping before the silvered glass in her room and shook her head in dismay. While she usually strove for neatness, she’d never really been one to dress for a man. She knew damn well the extra strokes of the brush through her hair were for Luc’s benefit. So much for the stern talk she’d had with herself only hours before.
Throwing the brush down in disgust, she headed for the door. She’d have to be on guard at all times—not necessarily against Luc—but against herself.