Part 45 (1/2)

Now Baleweg smiled, though it did not reach his eyes. ”I think I can safely say that is the case most of the time.”

Archer swore. ”This is not a joke.”

Baleweg's smile vanished. ”I do not believe I have treated it as one.”

Archer paced the room. ”If you plan to help, the first thing you can do is tell

me what Emrys looks like, so at least I can warn the queen.”

”A description of his appearance will mean nothing to you, or to the queen, as he can change it rather well.”

”He's a s.h.i.+fter?” Talia asked, then looked to Archer. ”I didn't know they

existed in human form.”

”They don't,” he said shortly. ”At least not that I am aware of.”

Baleweg shook his head. ”They don't. He is merely quite skilled in the art of

deception. He understands how the human mind perceives threat and is

amazingly adept at... shall we say, blending in.””Okay, okay,” Archer said, impatience clear in his voice as he paced the room. ”So this whole thing, his game, is about hurting you. He helped Gwendolen find Eleri to hurt you. And now he has drawn her daughter into this little drama of Chamberlain's hoping to hurt you by hurting her? Can you stop him?”

”I would be willing to try, but as I said, his powers far surpa.s.s mine. I know little of his activities and will not unless he intentionally reveals himself to me. I can feel the disturbances, but beyond that, I have little power where he is concerned.”

”If he realizes that I'm not a healer, will he leave the queen and the baby alone

now? Will he abandon his game with Chamberlain and just come after me?”Baleweg shook his head. ”I have no way of knowing. If he's amused by playing chess with royal lives, he might very well continue. Or if he thinks he can find a way to torment you through them, and therefore torment me... he is capable of anything.”

”Surely you must have some theory on what he will try next?” Archer asked.

Baleweg shook his head. ”His mind works in a way that is far different than mine. Quite literally, I could not imagine what he might have planned.”

”Then you must come back with us,” Talia said, grabbing at his hand. ”Help

us from within the castle. Surely you'd know if he was there, if he was planning something?”

”Oh, he's planning something. But I would not be able to stop it.”

Archer slapped the table, startling Talia, but Baleweg didn't even flinch. ”Then what would you have us do? Sit and do nothing until he strikes?”

Baleweg calmly shook his head. ”I would have you leave Talia here. With

me.”

Talia looked first at Archer, then at Baleweg. ”Why? What would that do?”

Archer went to stand behind Talia. ”I won't leave her unprotected. Why don't

you come with us?”

”Because Emrys would like nothing better than to draw me to a place he knows I detest. I can do nothing to protect or help the queen, but I can help Talia. But only from here, where my strength is most powerful. Now that I understand the gist of his game, I realize it would be best if Talia and I remain close together until I determine a way to confront him.” He stopped Archer's argument before he could speak. ”Even with your protection, were you to take

her back to the queen, he could-and would- find a way to take Talia and use her as a p.a.w.n against me. She must remain here.””Then you think Emrys is in the castle?”Baleweg nodded. ”Somehow. Somewhere.” He looked to Archer. ”It is quite possible that getting Talia out of there today saved her life. Although I doubt he would have made his move until the royal birth was imminent. He relishes melodrama.”

”If Talia stays then I stay,” Archer said.

”But I can't just leave Catriona,” Talia cried. ”She is my only family.”

”If you truly want to help her,” Baleweg said calmly, ”then you will remain

here, for you own safety, which is what she'd want, and Archer will return to the castle to observe and stay close to her. He can alert us to anything that happens.” He paused, then asked, ”Does anyone else know of your bond to her?”

Talia shook her head. ”No.”