Chapter 1
The crowd parted unexpectedly and the ambassador froze at the vision of beauty standing only ten feet away. Raven-black hair flowed around her slender shoulders, falling in feathered waves and creating a sharp contrast to her porcelain skin. She caught his gaze with startling sapphire blue eyes, and his mind went blank.
After a short silence, the king’s top advisor cleared his throat, and Bran came back to his senses. An embarrassing rush of color stained his dark complexion, and Bran cursed the fates that the king’s advisor had witnessed his reaction.
“Don’t worry,” Chancellor Turner said, noticing his discomfort. “The Songbird affects everyone that way the first time they see her. Beauty like that commands attention, and no one is immune to her exotic looks. But don’t be deceived. She is not to be trusted or taken lightly. None of the Kalorians are. Their race has a penchant to hurt and manipulate others, and must be controlled. That is why we enslave them. But don’t worry.”
He smiled at Bran. “You see the collar around her neck? It’s called a kundar, and keeps them under control. Without it, we would be nothing but dirt under their feet. She could devour both your mind and your soul with one look into those fathomless eyes.”
Bran was familiar with the kundar, although he didn’t agree with the reason for its use. It was said that the Kalorians were evil because of their magic, but he wasn’t sure he believed it. If the Kalorians really did have magic, it didn’t make them bad, and tales told by power-hungry men weren’t always true. It sickened him that the king would force the suppression and slavery of another race.
The Songbird was a symbol of that enslavement. Although they softened the truth and made it sound like the taming of a wild bird, it was nothing short of bondage. She had no choices, no freedom, nothing. It was wrong, and it grated on him.
Couldn’t something positive come from a reciprocal relationship with people like her? People who had magic at their command? He drew his brows together in confusion, pretending he hadn’t been studying their culture for the last several months. “Is that it? The golden circlet around her neck?”
The chancellor turned his full attention on Bran. “The kundar is much more than a simple necklace. It causes excruciating pain if the Songbird uses too much magic. It is like the safety-catch on your weapon and, fortunately for us, she can’t remove it.” His eyes narrowed. “Neither can anyone else.” His pointed look left no question of his warning.
Bran allowed a smile. “I was merely curious. My sole purpose here is to form a liaison between our countries that I hope will be mutually beneficial.” The Chancellor nodded absently, returning his attention to the Songbird.
Bran glanced at her again and found it hard to pull his gaze away. She was draped in a deep blue gown, which clung to the willowy curves of her body before falling away in silky folds. Shimmering layers of diaphanous cloth fell from her sleeves, giving the impression of wings when she moved her arms. The square neckline emphasized the creamy white skin of her long neck, and was edged with deep blue feathers.
“She’s very beautiful,” he voiced his thoughts aloud. Bran pulled his gaze to Chancellor Turner’s profile, and was surprised to see the raw hunger that passed over that man’s face.
“There are many who would give up all they own for such a possession,” Chancellor Turner said, his hard gaze turning to Bran. “But she belongs to the king and he guards her well. Believe me, there have been several attempts to take her, all of which have ended in death.”
“Only a fool would even consider it,” Bran said tightly.
“I’m glad that we understand each other, but I’ll be watching you just the same.”
“That’s the last thing on my mind.” Bran reassured him. “An alliance between our countries would benefit us both. We have much to offer each other.”
“Oh, I plan on exploiting that idea. Your weapons are intriguing. I’ve never seen anything like them. I’m sure we can come to an agreement, but that doesn’t mean I will trust you.”
Bran smiled in spite of himself. “I can see why the king values your opinion. I’ll do my best to stay on your good side.”
“You’re a very wise man. Now if you’ll excuse me, it’s time to begin.” Turner left the reception area at the back of the hall, and spoke to the servants, who immediately began to usher the large number of guests to their assigned places.
Bran’s shoulders sagged in relief, and he made his way to his table near the front of the hall. He sat, grateful for his close proximity to the king’s high table. From here he could observe everything that happened without being obvious.
As the Songbird took her place at the king’s table directly opposite from him, he could hardly believe his good fortune. Now he could easily study her and see for himself if she was as dangerous as they said.
He didn’t realize he’d been staring at her until she turned to him with an unblinking stare. Her gaze traveled over him with a studied blankness that unsettled him, and he held back a shiver. When her attention shifted to a spot behind him, he let out his breath. She masked her feelings so well that he had no idea what she thought or felt, and it intrigued him.
Chancellor Turner stepped to the dais and announced the entrance of the King and Queen. As they made their way from the back of the hall to the high table, the applause turned into loud cheering. King Thesald carried himself with an energy that was both repulsive and fascinating at the same time.
The force of his personality swept through the hall and demanded attention. Beside him, Queen Agnus seemed small and timid, deferring to him in everything she did. It was easy to see that she had no real power and took whatever role the king required her to play.
Bran focused on the Songbird to gauge her reaction to the king, but her countenance held the same blankness she had worn all night. Her face was totally void of expression and he wondered if anything touched her. Maybe there was some truth to the rumors. From what he had seen, he had to agree that she didn’t seem quite human.
“Tonight we celebrate our golden anniversary!” King Thesald said. For an old man, he seemed unusually spry and healthy. He had a full, thick head of reddish-brown hair that was only slightly gray at the temples.
“Since I became king fifty years ago, our enemies have been destroyed and we have prospered in the land. There are none who would dare to oppose the strength of our mighty army. Our kingdom has spread from the sea, far to the North and we are now establishing trade and commerce with the people of Braemar. We welcome our honored visitors and guests who have traveled many miles to reach us. To everyone here, let the festivities begin!”
Amid loud cheering, more servants entered the room and placed platters of food on each table, and filled up empty glasses with wine. An air of merriment flooded the hall and conversation grew to a high pitch. Seated with the other guests, Bran joined in the small talk at his table. As the ambassador from Braemar, he was shown civil respect from his table companions, but it was tinged with an air of distrust.
He did his best to put them at ease and was soon rewarded with an open discussion of the happenings in the city. During the conversation, he kept his attention focused on the king’s table and the Songbird. She never spoke, nor was she spoken to. It was clear she was only there to be seen, like a prize.
Before he knew it, the tables were cleared in preparation for the rest of the celebration. It was almost time for the Songbird to sing, and his stomach fluttered with excitement. Ever since first learning of her, he had waited and planned for this moment. It would prove to him one way or another if magic was real.
The king stood proudly and the hall quieted before he spoke. “This is the moment we have all been waiting for. Our celebration would not be complete without hearing from my beautiful Songbird.” He took her unresisting hand, and led her to a raised platform as though she were an honored guest. From where he sat, Bran heard the king’s soft-spoken threat. “Do not fail me.”
An expectant hush filled the hall. For the first time, Bran detected a flicker of emotion behind her cool exterior. Was it anger or defiance? As quick as it came, it was gone, and her face returned to the schooled blankness that made her seem remote and cold. The silence lengthened uncomfortably before she tilted her chin at a determined slant. As she took a deep breath, Bran caught the gleam of wildness in her eyes, and his stomach clenched with sudden apprehension.
The first few notes took him by surprise. They were light and clear, shinning like sparkling water under the sun, and carrying an underlying tone of reverence. The tones conjured golden images of light, and bound to the intensity of her voice, created a feeling of wonder and awe. As the beautiful tones rose in volume, the air became drenched with glittering light. Swirling around her, the light shifted in color and size, growing and changing with the music.
He could only describe this display as fireworks bursting with color and then trailing away into sparkling diamonds of light. The beauty took his breath away, and it seemed as if the entire hall was enclosed with torrents of golden light.
The steady light grew, and he watched with amazement as it fell down from above and encircled his body, even becoming the air he breathed. Incredibly, his skin and clothes took on a golden hue. As he tried to understand what was happening, the tones grew in intensity and lifted his soul to another sphere beyond his wildest imaginings.
Time slowed, and almost stopped. Then the moment passed and he could breathe again. His senses reeled like he had just been taken for a wild ride. As he gathered his wits, a low echo filled the hall, soothing his nerves. The melody and harmonies changed, whispering of tranquility and peace.
Within this blanket of warmth, his defenses fell away, one by one. An air of complacency relaxed his breathing and peace surrounded him. He vaguely sensed his vulnerability, but couldn’t do anything about it, nor did he want to. Even the air he breathed seemed laden with calming hues of green and blue.
All at once, the tones changed into a twisting dissonance, sending his blood racing with distress. Bran instinctively covered his ears along with everyone else in the room. Startled cries of pain from the crowd joined the dissonance, cutting into him like nails.
The Songbird’s beautiful face twisted with her own pain as she forced out the notes and struggled to stand upright. Fighting obvious agony, she continued to sing, and the notes rose in a crescendo that swirled in the air around the king. Bands of dark light descended over him and tightened in a vise.
King Thesald came to his feet with a strangled gasp and clutched at his chest. Her song continued, but the effort sent her to her knees. Then with a pop, the kundar around her neck flared a bright orange-red, cutting off her voice and leaving the room abruptly silent.
Moaning, the Songbird fell to the floor, clutching her stomach and writhing in pain. Her fall jolted everyone into action. As the king slumped, the guards nearest him, caught his arms and led him to his seat.
Chancellor Turner jumped to his feet. He motioned a few guards to his side and stood over the Songbird’s still form. “You will be severely punished for this,” he said, his teeth clenched in anger. “Take her away.”
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