The Duke of Tremont II - Bloodspell

Chapter 31
 

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"Kipton, you need to let me go," Blake warned. "I don't want to be here with you."

"I won't hurt you, Blake. I just want to talk."

"How did you get through my shields?"

Kipton rolled up the short sleeve of his right arm and exposed some markings on his shoulder that looked as if they were done in blood. "I have found that blood boosts my power quite substantially." He moved closer to Blake.

Blake took a step back, shaking his head. "Stay away from me, Kipton. I mean it."

"I already told you, I'm not going to hurt you. I want to help."

"Why should I believe you?" Blake crossed his arms.

"Blake, I'm tired of Duke James treating me like a dog. Ever since that Justin broke the blood spell and escaped he's insufferable. I can't take it anymore."

"Poor you," Blake replied, unmoved. "You have to know there is no way I can trust you, Kipton. You may as well let me go."

Kipton ignored him. "How is the boy doing...Justin?"

Blake narrowed his eyes at his former lover. "You have no right to ask about him, or even speak his name after what you did to him."

Kipton bowed his head and his left hand instinctively rested on the hook that had replaced his right hand. "It seems he exacted his revenge on me."

Blake threw up his hands. "Leave it to you to make this about you! I'm sorry if I can't muster any sympathy for you, Kipton. You got exactly what you deserved as far as I'm concerned. You almost wiped out two whole families with that insidious spell. Not to mention the torture you inflicted on poor Justin! He was jumping at his own shadow for weeks after he returned, and now he doesn’t have the use of his hand." Blake turned his back on the mage and began to walk toward the edge of the clearing. "I need to get out of here. I can't even stand to look at you."

"What about Justin's hand?" Kipton's interest was piqued. "You said he can't use it?"

"Yes, that's right. It barely works and we don't know why. Did you want to gloat about it?" Blake didn't bother to face Kipton as he continued to peer into the darkness, trying to figure a way out of this dream or whatever it was.

"I know why," Kipton replied quietly. "I could fix it for him. In fact I'm probably the only one who can."

"What? How?" Blake turned around.

"Oh, come now, I know I taught you better than that," Kipton admonished his former pupil. "Surely it occurred to you that it was caused from the backlash of the blood spell."

Blake nodded. "Of course it did. I just did not think there was any way to reverse it. We had given up hope that Justin would ever have use of his arm again. We have not told him that yet, though."

"I would need to see him. To have contact with him." Kipton lowered his eyes.

"That's impossible. You saw how he reacted to you tonight." Justin's shared memories flooded back into Blake's mind. "God, Kip, how could you do those horrible things to him? How did you become such a monster?" He swiped at his face, angry that he allowed Kipton to see his tears.

"I...I honestly don't know, Blake. I know I was an ass to you at the end before you left. Duke James just kept making all these promises and he made me feel so powerful and important. Then I started weaving that spell and it just seemed to take over my mind and I began to do things even I couldn't believe, but I couldn't stop myself. I began wearing the catalyst ring all the time, and it made my mind so dark and hateful. After awhile I couldn't even take it off anymore, and believe me, I had moments where I tried to." He looked down at the hook that was his right hand and smiled sadly. "I suppose I actually owe Justin a favor for ridding me of the thing."

Blake ran a rough hand through his hair. "I want to believe you, if only to help Justin, but, God, Kip, do you see why I can't? Too much is at stake."

"Please, Blake." Kipton fell to his knees in front of his former lover. "You can truth read me and see that I am not lying. I'll do this however you want. Anything you want me to do to prove myself to you."

Blake closed his eyes and opened his mind. He tentatively lowered his shields, being very cautious in case this was all an elaborate trap. It took only a moment for their old rapport to return and for Blake to enter Kipton's mind. What he saw was chaotic and confusing. The blood spell had definitely left its mark on the adept, but through it all, Blake could read that Kipton did seem contrite and anxious to make things right.

Blake began to pull out, but caught the edge of some other images. Kipton gasped in protest, but Blake dug deeper and followed the images. He let out his own gasp as he saw Kipton's memories of Duke James' threats and cruelty. After a few moments he pulled out of Kipton's mind and sagged. He grabbed Kipton's chin and brought his face up to look at him. "How far away from us are you?"

"If I leave now I could reach you by dawn."

"Meet me here at dawn." He sent a mental picture to Kipton who nodded. He gripped Kipton's face more firmly. "I swear to all that is holy if you are lying or if you betray us I will kill you myself. Even if I destroy myself in the process.”

Kipton nodded. "I won't. I promise I won't."

He reached for Blake's hands, but Blake let go of him and stepped back. Blake looked down and studied his eyes for a moment. "All right. Now let me go. I have plans to make."

Kipton nodded quickly and then Blake woke up, finding himself back on his cot in the tent he shared with Tristan.

He passed a hand over his exhausted eyes and took a deep breath. After a few moments he stood up and went to wake Tristan. He had a lot to do before dawn.

 

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"Justin, I don't like this!" Daphne was holding Justin's boot as he pushed his foot into it. There were some tasks he still could not do one handed.

"Daphne, I have to do this. It's my hand we're talking about. I have to take the chance." He strained a bit and wiggled his toes as Daphne braced against the boot. "Look at me. I don't want to live like this if I don't have to."

"But it's Kipton! The man is a monster! What if he's lying? What if he fooled Blake?"

"Blake truth read him, Daphne. Besides, it's worth the risk to me to get my hand back."

Daphne bit back her anger and tried to reason with Justin. "You lost it just having him in your mind. What do you think will happen face to face."

Justin was unmoved. "I was merely surprised. I'll be ready this time."

"Then I think we should tell Brian what's happening."

Justin looked at his friend like she'd grown another head. "What? Are you crazy?! He will be angry enough to find out I am here at all, but that I'm going to meet with Mage Kipton as well? No. There's no way he can know. Not until it's over and I'm healed."

"King Jonathan, then," Daphne replied stubbornly.

"Daphne, no. I doubt he'll agree to keep this from Brian and he's got too much on his plate already."

"Damnit, Justin, this is not just about you and your hand. You and Blake are bringing a traitor amongst us. You must tell him of this. Especially after we agreed not to trust Kipton, he put his trust in you just by letting you come here."

Justin bowed his head. "You're right. I'll call him right now. Hopefully, he is still abed and will be easy to contact." He closed his eyes. "You know, we may not have to worry about Kipton. Jonathan may kill me himself when he finds out about this."

"I wouldn't blame him," Daphne mumbled under her breath as she watched Justin fall into his trance.

 

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Brian awoke when he heard Jonathan swear to himself. He was surprised to see his brother sitting on a stool next to his bed. He could see that it was nearly dawn and felt guilty, realizing his restlessness must have kept the other man awake and worried enough to feel the need to sit with him all night.

Jonathan muttered to himself some more and Brian feigned sleep, not wanting to disturb his brother. Suddenly the older man jumped up and made his way to his own section of the tent.

Brian thought he heard something about "damnable magic," "disobedient young people," and "crazy schemes," but it was the last thing that Jonathan said that captured Brian's attention. He was sure that through the cloth divider of the tent he heard his brother muttering, "Brian's going to kill me."

Brian's heart clenched when he heard his brother utter those words and sat up quietly. He crept over to the divider and peeked through. He saw Jonathan struggling to get his riding boots on by himself, which was a job usually reserved for one of his squires. He then stood up, snatched up a dark cloak and fastened it at his throat.

When Jonathan began to arm his person with various weapons, Brian began to dress himself in a similar manner. Whatever the king was doing Brian was certain it was going to be dangerous, especially if it was bad enough to warrant Brian's ire. Jonathan and Brian seldom fought as children or adults, and Brian dreaded what could be bad enough for Jonathan to think he would be angry with him.

When the king snuck out of the tent, Brian followed behind, though he was glad to see his brother motioning to two of his ever present bodyguards to follow. At least he knew Jonathan hadn't lost his mind completely.

Brian followed the king and his bodyguards through the sleeping camp and into the woods that edged the plain where the army waited for the Maynorans. As he hurried behind them an icy pit of dread crept up through him, and he hoped it was not his gift of foresight manifesting itself again.

 

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"Blake, are you sure about this?" Sir Andrew asked as he, King Tristan and Blake made their way to the place where they were to meet Kipton. "What if it's a trap?"

"I don't think it's a trap, and we have reinforcements." Hh glanced back to the group of elite Maynoran soldiers and mages they brought with them. "And we're close enough to camp to raise an alarm if needed. Besides if Kipton get out of hand Justin can take him. He bested him once before."

"You think Mage Kipton really wants to help us, though, don't you?" Tristan asked.

Blake bit his lip and nodded. "I do…it's hard to explain, but I just feel like he's telling the truth."

"Blake, I'm sorry to bring it up, but maybe you feel this way…" Drew trailed off for a moment and then took a deep breath. "Well, because of your past with him."

"Drew!" Tristan admonished his bodyguard. "How could you accuse Blake of such a thing?!"

"Tristan, it's all right." Blake placed a hand on the younger man's shoulder. "Believe me, I've thought of that." He chuckled wryly. "It's all I've been able to think about, but I don't think it applies here. I've been over him for awhile now, and well…" He ducked his head and blushed. "Well, I've become rather close with Theodore these past few weeks."

Drew and Tristan both stopped walking. "I told you!" Tristan hissed gleefully.

"Damn!" swore Drew as he took a small bag of coins from his belt. He tossed it to Tristan with a small sigh.

Blake stared wide-eyed between the two of them. "You…you had a bet? You actually were betting on my love life?"

"Of course," Tristan answered. "I told Drew before we even reached Sylvania that the two of you were forming a bond."

Blake shook his head and continued to walk. "Is nothing sacred?" he muttered to himself.
He stopped short as they reached a small clearing and saw the lone figure of Mage Adept Kipton of Maynor, who was currently on his knees with his arms raised over his head in surrender.

"You're here!" Blake blurted out as if he were surprised.

"I am," Kipton replied.

"Fan out around us," Sir Drew called out to the mages and soldiers who had followed them.

"I am alone as promised," Kipton commented. He inclined his head toward Tristan. "Your Majesty," he greeted the young boy. "It is good to see you again."

"I wish I could say the same in return," Tristan replied a bit haughtily. Blake was proud of him. "I think I shall withhold judgment on the situation for now."

"I do not blame you in the least, Majesty," Kipton replied with another dip of his head.

A call came from another part of the woods and Blake's head snapped up. He called back and very soon King Jonathan and his men entered the clearing. "Thank you for coming, Your Highness," Blake greeted the king and his men.

"I wouldn't miss it," Jonathan replied. He stepped closer to Kipton. "So this is the infamous Kipton, hmm?"

"Yes, that's him, My Lord," Blake replied.

Jonathan studied the man who was still on his knees and then leaned in a little bit closer.
"I swear to you, if you…"

"Bastard! You murderous Bastard!" Jonathan was interrupted by the blur that was his younger brother launching himself into the clearing right at Kipton.

"Brian!" Jonathan yelled, making a grab for his brother.

It was too late. Brian already had Kipton's back to him in a tight hold with a knife to his throat. "Tell me why I should let you live, scum!" Brian gritted out into Kipton's ear. "Give me one good reason!"

"Because I say so," came Justin's reply as he, Daphne and Joshua emerged from the forest. He looked steadily into his lover's eyes. "Let be, Brian. Let him go right now."
 

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