So much pain. Tian could feel Lukas' agony through the channel she created to monitor his safety. She was well enough trained to block herself from the actual pain, but his suffering was hard to endure. The punishers did not always have a watcher with them while they worked, and many watchers could not have handled this intensive torment. But she was the Watcher, and Masou had almost mortally harmed the Queen's precious prisoner earlier, so the monarch ordered Tian to stay and monitor his health. Knowing this man's importance in all the plans against the Queen's empire-building, Tian wanted to stop his torture. What good would a damaged Lukas be to the Council? But she had to be careful.

Suddenly, pain pierced her mind, and only years of training kept her from staggering. Immediately she threw up a more durable shield and followed the line of the pain. It came from Lukas. Some of his power had leaked out and followed her channel. It should have been impossible; the Queen's Mind Masters had specially trained the cage builder for this. It was supposed to have been perfect, but there was a defect.

The severe pain had forced him to send out a bombardment of energy from his mind. She stopped herself from smiling. This was not the effect the Queen had hoped for when she let her Punisher have at the resistant prisoner. Tian pulled delicately on the web around the defect, making it a bit larger. More, and it would be noticed by those who watched her. But Lukas should find it if he regained his senses.

The plan was in motion; she would talk to her sister. It was time to prepare the children for an abrupt departure. The portal was near the hunting lodge. Nita could bring them there to wait for her.

The Queen would pay for her arrogance and lust. Unfortunately, of anyone in the Castle, the Queen was most likely to survive Lukas' assault. No one had the protections she had, but Lukas, fully awake and free, would cause significant damage. Finally, Tian would be rid of this place, return home, and complete her task.

Another scream drew her attention. What was Masou doing now? If he killed Lukas, not only would the Queen kill him, but all their plans would be for nothing. Her death was of little consequence, but Lukas' loss would mean the end of everything. Tian felt Lukas slipping towards madness and immediately pushed him into unconsciousness.

"What have you done?" Masou seethed at her, but he knew not to touch a watcher, especially not the Watcher, just as she knew not to provoke the Punisher, especially when he was angry.

Tian bowed until she felt his anger curb. "I am sorry, Masou, to interrupt your task, but you may not have noticed our captive's weakened state. I felt him close to real harm and had orders to prevent permanent damage."

Masou must realize the danger; he nearly broke Lukas' mind. Lukas lived, but the Queen would punish them both for letting it go too far. Tian hoped Masou would take most of the blame. Yet, perhaps her distraction would be a good thing. To save Lukas's mind, the Queen would have to call her most effective healer to him. It would have to be Destan. The Queen trusted him, but so did Tian.

"Of course, he is much weaker than my last meeting with him. I gauged my punishments wrong." He laid a quick hand on her head, accepting her apology and releasing her from her bow.

"I must protect the Queen's prize." Tian straightened, then walked with Masou out, signaling the healer to come in and tend to Lukas. He would know that Lukas was too damaged for his touch, and Destan would be called. He would safely hide the fault in the cage from the Queen. It would likely be a few days before Lukas was strong enough to take advantage of it. This would give her enough time.

When Lukas escaped, the last piece would be in play.

=============================

Raja wrapped his arms around Natalia's shoulders as she shivered in the evening air. To others around them, they looked like a couple coming into their own. And in some senses, they were. But, watching from his seat on the upper deck, Theodore felt the embrace lacked something.

It was tiresome, this ever-present doubt. Theodore had lived with it since childhood. Sometimes, his suspicion was reasonable, and his father, the King, used it to his advantage. But usually, The King grew angry at his resistance to a set plan and insisted his son trust him.

Most recently, Theodore clashed with his father when the King demanded Theodore partner with Bosh, the handsome son of a powerful Duke. In the end, he went through with the formal ceremony. It had been full of pomp due to any royal wedding. But Theodore doubted his partner's intentions, and though they shared some affection in public, their partnership remained one only in name.

Ah, he found the insight he always searched for when he had doubts. This is how he knew the couple was not what they seemed. Though the embrace was more real than any he shared with Bosh, it was similar. It was part of their performance, it had improved, but their relationship was still not what they advertised.

At least they would fool more people now.

Theodore was curious how this couple came to be; he knew who Raja had been to the People. He knew his ties were close with their leader, Lukas. Theodore had even heard they were lovers, though these rumors always surrounded a close friendship among the powerful.

When Theodore was younger, before insisting on the pairing with Bosh, his father suggested a partnership with the son of the Tribal Land's Chief. That arrangement Theodore had agreed to without any reservation. A pairing would strengthen the alliance without the risks of an heir, and Theodore liked the young man when they had met. The Chief respectfully turned down the offer, explaining that he had made another promise for his son. Now, Theodore wondered about that promise.

Changing his line of thought, the prince began to wonder about Raja's position in the Tribe. When Theodore was younger, he had thought Raja had been rejected as the heir because of his 'tastes.' That his Tribe did not want him as heir, or so the Kingdom's court gossips whispered when Raja's father had not offered him as a candidate for Chief. Those same scandalmongers assumed it was because Raja would not produce an heir of his own.

But now, Raja embraced a woman. What an exciting turn of events. Could this be what the Chief had been waiting for? What would happen if he produced an heir? Would his Tribe choose Raja, or his child, over the current Chief's nephew? In the tribes, one never quite knew what would happen.

Giving up on this musing, Theodore let his eyes search for Paulo; he knew the Master had a plan and trusted him. He allowed himself to smile as he looked down at the gregarious man playing cards with some sailors. His men thought Paulo was a merchant or possibly a bard. That was one of Paulo's many skills; no one ever remembered him exactly.

He had known the Master for many years and had loved him for almost as long. Unfortunately, Paulo could not love him back; his duty to the Council precluded such a high-profile romance. Once, Theodore had considered leaving the Kingdom, confessing to Paulo, and following him, but he could not abandon his people. Instead, he pretended a casual affection, and on occasion, the Master would come to him.

A call rose from his crew; they were coming to port.

He watched Paulo stand from his game and encourage the couple to assemble their things. Earlier that day, the Master and Prince had said their goodbyes. For appearance's sake, Theodore would exit before his guests.

In the distance, Theodore could see the two carriages waiting to take them in separate directions. The first was the prince's small but ornate chariot built for luxurious but short trips. The Master's "merchant" vessel, on the other hand, was a massive lumbering thing, though still exquisite in design.

With a sigh, the prince rose to exit his luxurious haven. He was reluctant to disembark from his oasis to the intrigues of his father's court and the ever-looming specter of the Queen's encroachment.

=============================

Adjusting her thoughts of Red to Paulo or Master proved more difficult than Natalia thought. Finally, after several slips, he told her to call him "Uncle." This title her mind adapted to more quickly.

When her new Uncle reached for her gloved hand to help her exit the gangplank onto the pier, Raja stopped it. It looked like a possessive gesture, but it was more than that. They were both still confused by their bond. And Raja did not want her to touch other people until he could block her power with his.

The Master smiled and allowed Raja to take her hand. He pointed them towards an awaiting carriage. As they walked closer, Natalia was amazed by its massive size; undoubtedly, it was one of the largest she had seen. Its painted sides and gilded roof glowed with the setting sun's reflection.

Once inside, she couldn't decide which was more impressive, the ornate outside or the efficiently packed inside. Boxes filled every corner, and cloth dangled from the roof. Two small beds lay on each side with more cartons underneath. Everything was expertly organized and neat. With all these things, the ample space felt both crowded and comfortable. Natalia only noticed how tense she felt upon leaving Fortune's Friend when the cozy room filled her with relief. She reminded herself yet again that not every transition would lead to a new cage.

"Paulo said that we will ride through the night. He remained outside to sit with the driver for a while," Raja announced as he entered behind her. "I will rest now, then go out to relieve him later."

Natalia nodded and opened the small bag she had carried with her. She looked around the unusual space and saw a little mirror hanging and a bench that she could pull back from the wall. Sitting there, Natalia unwrapped her headcloth and tended to her shrinking scar. Then, hesitantly, she touched her scalp; finally, almost imperceptible bristles of hair were now palpable. Excitedly, she applied the oil the Master had given her and wrapped her head again.

When she looked back at Raja, his eyes were closed, his breathing even. Natalia paused and inhaled deeply as she looked at the slender man's form; she felt close to him. That was the bond. Sometimes, she felt more toward him. Usually, it was contempt and anger, yet it occasionally became something closer to a passion or desire for him. This was always transient, suppressed when possible by her rage. But sometimes, she struggled to ignore its intensity.

Natalia had long stopped feeling a need or desire for any connection with other humans. She had seen the worst in humanity during her captivity. But now, these foreign sensations grew in her for this stranger with whom she had bonded.

She lived through the hateful years of bondage because she knew Lukas lived. She had lived to prevent his corruption. Lukas had been her everything for most of her life. Now, she was bound to the man who had taken him from her. She could not understand why she had this link with Raja or why it had not severed his connection to Lukas.

Among her people, a bond had been the closest possible tie between two Mind Mage's Mindspace. It was a permanent linkage that could be closed temporarily but would always be present in some form. Not all who bonded started as lovers, but most became so over time. It was difficult, even among Mind Mages, to separate the closeness of the bond and love. When you found someone with whom you could bond, you had to face this truth. Many mages never bonded with anyone because of their passion for a different incompatible mate. But she had not been given a choice.

She laid down next to Raja, careful not to touch him. Her mind now lingered on Lukas; it had been many days since they had spoken with him.

"He is still with me," Raja whispered, startling Natalia. "Reach out, and you will feel it."

Raja laid his hand on hers and welcomed her through their bond into his Mindspace.

As always, Natalia felt immediately comfortable in Raja's mind. The ambiguity and discomfort she may feel towards the man in the physical space were not forgotten but seemed less critical. Raja brought her deep into his Mindspace, where his bond with Lukas hid. She touched the crisp white cord and felt Lukas's heartbeat and breathing; he was in pain, his breathing labored and heart racing. Tears filled her eyes again. She sent him what strength she could and felt the surprising acceptance. He could feel her through the bond; he accepted her gift.

"Does he know?" Natalia asked.

"I don't know; I can only feel him. I can't talk with him now. He has to open the channel on his end." It was Raja's weakness. Someday, maybe, he could learn how to project with her power through the bond. But for now, he took her hand away from his bond with Lukas.

"We cannot distract him now. I felt what you sent him. You need this strength to recover if you wish to see him again," Raja chided Natalia gently, but the words struck her more deeply than intended.

"What will I say to him then?" Embarrassment and anger filled her words. "My love, though I lived for years in squalor and misery for you, I have also caged you and caused you untold pain. Love of my life, I have bonded again with another man, and, in fact, he is yours."

===========

"Mister Paulo, you are tired. You should rest inside," the driver's entreaty made the Master smile. Though he could not say for sure what the man was genuinely concerned about, compassion was always welcome.

"I am well-rested," Paulo assured the man. "I closed my eyes to concentrate on something."

"Oh, I am sorry to have interrupted you." The driver turned away and fidgeted with the lines in his hands. Paulo sighed; he didn't want to make this kind man uncomfortable.

"Do not apologize. I required a distraction." It was not quite the truth, but Paulo had already decided.

He did not know how long the trip would take this time. And though Paulo had been away from his Vale for a long time and was anxious to be home, he could not go straight there. Multiple spies were watching them, and the two he rode with must be more balanced before their training began. A more circuitous route to the Vale was necessary.

Paulo turned to the small man and started discussing routes and way stations, hopeful that it would not be as prolonged a trip as he feared.  

WC2498

Last Edit 1/2/2023