The Duke of Tremont II - Bloodspell

Chapter 30
 

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Justin! Brian called again frantically when he did not receive an immediate response from his lover. What's going on?

I'm here, Justin bit out. I'm fine, just give me a moment please. Justin cut their link for a moment so he could take some time to recover from the panic of hearing Kipton's voice in his mind. He knew he didn't have long because Brian was truly frightened for him, but he needed time to pull himself together and come up with a story. Finally he sighed and opened the link back up. All right, I'm back, love. I'm so sorry I frightened you like that. I had a horrible nightmare. Justin's mind voice shook a little with emotion that was not fake.

A nightmare? Are you sure that's all? My God, I thought you were being attacked! Brian's relief was palpable.

Justin took a shaky breath. It was very realistic. He sounded defensive.

I'm sorry, but I'm so relieved you're all right. It's been awhile since you had one as bad as that.

It probably came from Blake mentioning Kipton last night. I've been so worried about you, knowing he will be there.

Brian's mind voice grew dark. Do not worry about me, Justin, Kipton should be the one who is worried if we meet. I will kill him.

Brian, please don't take any chances. He's a dangerous man!

You should go back to sleep, Justin. Brian ignored Justin's plea. Do you want me to stay with you until you drop off?

Justin "smiled" at his lover. No, I'll be fine. You go back to sleep yourself. You need to be well rested.

I love you, Sunshine. If the Maynor army reaches us tomorrow I don't know when I'll be able to talk with you again. I'll be in touch as soon as possible.

Take care, my Lord. I love you.

Justin broke the link and slumped down in his spot. He rubbed his face and let his hands slide up into his hair as he held his aching head. He suddenly realized someone had their arm around his shoulder and he pulled himself away quickly, opening his eyes. "Please don't touch me," he said to Blake.

"I'm sorry, Justin." Blake looked miserable.

"Not your fault," Justin replied, a little harsher than he meant to. After all, it really wasn't the other man's fault. "Sorry, it's just that I'm a little jumpy," Justin amended with a small smile.

Blake simply nodded, his eyes relaying his understanding.

"Oh, Justin."

Justin looked up to see his best friend sitting with one of Joshua's arms around her awkwardly. It looked as though she'd been crying. Damn, they had been in the link, and they had seen his memories and felt his panic attack. "Daph, I'm all right. Really."

"But it was so awful." Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks.

Justin rose from his place and moved over to kneel in front of his friend. "It was awful, and I'm sorry you had to see that, but I'm all right now."

"I know," Daphne sniffed again. "I'm sorry for being such a silly girl."

Justin smiled at his friend and reached up to hug her with his good arm. He let go and turned to sit down again when Josh touched his arm lightly.

Justin looked up at the other man and Josh looked into his eyes, letting his admiration and respect shine through as he spoke solemnly. "You are a brave man, Justin."

Justin ducked his head for a moment and then looked up again. "Thank you, Joshua. It means a lot coming from you."

Blake cleared his throat and they all turned to look at him. "We still have a problem."

"Kipton," all three of them replied glumly.

 

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"Brian?" Jonathan pushed aside the canvas that divided the tent the two brothers were sharing. "You seem restless."

"I'm sorry. Did I wake you?" Brian rubbed his eyes as he looked up at his brother.

Jonathan smiled crookedly. "No. Honestly, I can't sleep. Are you all right?"

"Justin had a nightmare and it woke me up. Damn near shook me out of bed."

"I thought those were getting better." Jonathan frowned, worrying again about Justin's fragile state and wondering if it was wise that he let the young man come.

"He was, but then Blake brought up Kipton last night and that apparently set him off."

"And rightly so. No one can blame Justin for being frightened of the man."

"Well, soon he'll have nothing to be frightened of," Brian muttered almost under his breath.

As the father of four sons, Jonathan had plenty of practice deciphering darkly muttered phrases. "I hope you're not planning anything foolish, Brian," Jonathan sternly stated.

"Surely, you don't think I'm going to simply sit by and not do anything about Kipton?"

Brian asked. "He is mine, Jon. He must pay for what he did to Justin."

"He's dangerous, Brian," Jon warned his brother.

"So am I," Brian answered, his face twisted in a grim expression.

Jon threw up his arms. "Fine! Get yourself killed." He turned to stomp back to his section of the tent. "I need to try and get some sleep. Big day tomorrow, you know. Enemies to fight. Brothers to lose."

Brian snorted. "Quit worrying. I'll be fine," he called after Jon.

"Sure, you will," Jon muttered to himself as he threw himself onto his cot, punching at his pillow to get it into exactly the right shape. Justin! he called out, hoping the younger man was in tune with him.

Yes? came the tired reply.

What's going on? Why is Brian angry and threatening to single handedly kill Kipton? He paused for a moment. And why do you sound as if you've just run all the way from Sylvania?

Hold on a second. Let me get Blake and the others in on this, Justin replied.

Others? Justin…what…?

All right, we're back, Justin spoke again.

And who all is we? Jonathan asked with a hint of annoyance.

Hello, your majesty, it's Blake, replied the young mage.

And Daphne, piped up a decidedly female voice into Jonathan's mind.

Er, uh, hello, Your Highness. It's uh, Captain Strayhorn.

Joshua? Good Lord, who else is here?

That's all, Jon, Justin interrupted wearily, forgetting to use any of his brother-in-law's formal titles. I wanted them all in on this since we have a problem.

So, you didn't have a nightmare I take it.

No...no I didn't.

Justin didn't elaborate any further and when it became clear that he wasn't going to continue Blake spoke up. Mage Kipton contacted me tonight. Justin and the others were in a link with me at the time.

Why and how on earth would one of our most detested arch enemies be contacting you, Mage Master Blake? The king's voice was laced with suspicion.

I...Blake started.

Oh, leave him alone, Jon, Justin snapped. I truth read Blake already and he didn't know anything about it. He was as surprised as the rest of us.

Justin! Daphne admonished her friend. That's no way to talk to the king, family or no!

I'm sorry, Jon...Highness. I'm...I was just thrown and I had to deal with Brian, and...

Justin, stop. It's all right, Jon replied kindly. Let's get to the crux of the matter, shall we? What the hell did he want?

He said he wanted to talk to me...that he wanted to help us, Blake replied. I was too shocked to get too much information and then Justin got...well...upset. I told Kipton to get out, that he had no right to be there. I said I would talk to him later, but that was just to get rid of him. I won't let him back in, of course. I've already started to weave extra shields.

He sounded sincere, Justin contributed.

Justin!! Daphne and Blake both admonished their friend in shock.

I'm just observing, Justin responded. If he does want to help we could win this war.

Did you truth read him? Jonathan asked.

Your Highness, I don't think… Blake began.

No, Justin answered Jonathan, ignoring Blake's protests. I was too upset.

Then we don't trust him, Jonathan replied bluntly. There was a collective sigh of relief amongst the group. You said you can keep him out, Blake?

I'm working on it, Your Highness. I'm pretty sure my protections will work. I'm expecting it now. He took me by surprise.

Good. How about you, Justin? Are you safe? Can you keep him out if he comes after you?

No offense, Jon, Justin replied, but I managed to keep him out of my mind under much more difficult circumstances than this.

The others could almost see the king's smile. Of course. How could I forget? It's settled then. Let's try to forget this ever happened, shall we? We all need to get some rest.

Jon, you'll watch out for Brian tomorrow, won't you? Please don't let him do anything stupid, Justin pleaded.

I'll do my best, Justin. You know I'll do my best.

Thank you.

You're welcome. I want him safe too, you know.

Yes, of course, Justin replied. Good night.

Good night to all of you, Jon replied.

Justin broke the link and Daphne, Joshua and Blake all opened their eyes and tried to collect themselves. Justin put his hands up to his head and wavered in his seat a bit.

"Justin!" Daphne called to her friend as she grabbed his arm.

"I'm all right, Daph," he replied. "Just tired."

"You've expended a lot of energy tonight," Blake replied. "Not to mention weathering a shock. You need sleep."

"You're right," Justin replied. He let Daphne help him up and they both moved to their tent together. "Good night, Joshua. Sleep well, Blake," he called out to them both.

"Good night," they both replied.

Blake also rose and bade Joshua good night, making his way back to the Maynoran section of the camp. He and Tristan were sharing a tent, which he entered quietly, not wanting to wake his nephew. He checked on the boy, and seeing all was well, threw himself onto his own cot and immediately fell to sleep.
 

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Justin slept restlessly all night, fading in and out of strange dreams that bordered on, but never quite became nightmares thanks, in part to Daphne's firm and grounding embrace that she refused to relinquish all night, and, in part, to his lover.

Brian slept, but felt Justin's turmoil on some level, and even in sleep sent soothing tendrils of calm through their link, keeping the nightmares at bay.

Jonathan slept not at all as he spent all night fretting about the coming battle, Kipton's disturbing behavior tonight, and his brother's bravado. But lost sleep was not new to Jon, for he was a king, after all, and was used to the weight of the world keeping him up at night.

He heard a sound from his brother's section of the tent and went to check on Brian. The younger man was restless, tossing his head from side to side and muttering in his sleep. He knew he must be in deep with Justin, for Brian was usually a light sleeper, especially when battle ready. Normally Jon just entering the same room would have woken him.
The king pulled a stool over next to the bed and spent the rest of the night brooding by his brother's bedside as he ran an absent, but soothing, hand through Brian's chestnut locks.

 

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Blake woke up suddenly and immediately stood up, noting that he was not in his tent. He was in a moonlit clearing in the woods, edged with a fine mist. He breathed out slowly, for surely it must be a dream.

"You look beautiful in the moonlight, Blake," came a voice from behind him. "As beautiful as I remembered."

Blake froze, recognizing the voice. He turned slowly to face Kipton. "Apparently my dream has officially become a nightmare," Blake answered, trying to keep his breathing even.

"Oh, you're not dreaming," Kipton answered with a small smile. "Not in the normal sense, anyway."

"I was afraid of that," Blake sighed.
 

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