Page 129 of Tears of the Wolf
The only hint they noticed was Anselma’s wide eyes as Brynn drew in a particularly large surge of power. The girl glanced to her sister, who remained predictably impassive.
Brynn pulled in more power. There had to be a limit to this device. There were limits to everything. Nothing was truly infinite.
They stumbled through the forest. Brynn could sense the bodies of men up ahead and the lazy, windingkathat marked fresh water.
They broke out of the trees to the back of a narrow inlet. It wasn’t deep or large enough to be truly useful and appeared too shallow for much use outside of high tide.
The ship was unfamiliar as were the men on board. Hyldish men, from the look of them. Not that it meant anything.
Brynn dug her heels in, shoving back against Neirin. “Let my ward go,” she ordered. “If you want me on that ship, you let her go.”
Selene cast Brynn a dark look over her shoulder. “Do you not trust me?”
“No.” Brynn growled back.
Selene heaved a sigh. “Neirin, bind the girl to one of the trees back there and then join us.”
“You said she would go free,” Brynn protested.
“No,” Selene purred. “I said I would leave her on land.”
“You bitch!” Brynn spat.
Neirin took a coil of rope from his belt and stepped toward Esa. The girl wept as he dragged her to a sapling hidden from view of the river and forced her to sit back against it. He set to lashing her in place, her hands bent backward around it.
“Let her go,” Brynn pleaded. “Mother, please.”
This inlet was remote and away from any nearby settlements. Esa would be left alone in the wilderness with little chance of rescue. She might be able to free herself, but she had been beaten and Neirin looked to be taking his job seriously. She’d likely be here until thirst or the wild animals finished her off.
“I have already made one concession, child,” Selene reminded her. “I will not be making another.”
Brynn wanted to argue, but she had few options. Her mother might change her mind and decide to bring Esa after all—or kill her.
Brynn allowed herself to be led to the edge of the water. They had to wade into the river, the icy water past their knees. The ship was lightweight with only six oars, meant for speedy movement and navigating shallow rivers.
The crew appeared to be regular men, though another sorceress waited at the prow. She was dressed much as the men in tunic and trousers, but Brynn could sense thekafluttering around her like fireflies. Her eyes were lined in kohl, as were those of her sailors. Her tanned face was framed by gold rings that hung from her silken headband. “Lady Selene,” the seafaring sorceress bowed to Brynn’s mother. Her accent had an odd tone Brynn couldn’t place. “Everything go according to plan?”
“So far,” Selene sighed, even as she shivered with the cold water. “Are you ready?”
“Ready. The tide is going out, so we had best move quickly.” The stranger looked to Brynn, squinting like she was used to the glare of the sun off the water. “Lady Brynn?”
Brynn didn’t answer.
“This is my daughter,” Selene said.
The seafaring sorceress took in Brynn’s bound and collared state. “Why is she bound?” The stranger’s gaze snapped to Selene.
Brynn opened her mouth to reply, but the collar around her throat twitched. It was slight, but she’d felt it.
Something was happening.
Brynn focused on dragging in more power and letting it flow out of her again. She no longer bothered with trying to shape specific spells. Brynn tried to blast power out of her in a tidal wave. The collar kept drinking her magic, lapping it up greedily.
The stranger’s frown deepened at Brynn, probably able to see her feverish efforts at magic.
“Let’s be going,” Selene said quickly. “No sense in waiting.”
“I didn’t agree to abduct or enslave anyone.” The seafarer looked to Selene. “I’m not Valdari.”
