Free You Are Mine by Janeal Falor Page A

to be broken. A man can simply withdraw, but
in such case the woman is automatically assumed unfit and will
become tarnished. Or a woman found to no longer be chaste. In which
case she will also become a tarnished. If it's before transfer of
ownership, a sum paid by the girl's Father for a false claim. If
it's after transfer of ownership, she'll be tarnished with no
recompense.”
    “ I already know that,
fool. I meant is there anything else.”
    “ There isn't.”
    “ Look at her. Just look at
her. She can't go to him. Do you know how much magic is in her
blood?” Father splutters, his face growing redder by the
moment.
    I inch farther away from him. I'm
getting the chance to leave him before my marriage. As he starts
yelling curses, I realize I don't have to return to his house. I
can't believe it. I can't.
    The Envadi strides over to me. If
killing Thomas is any indication, he's a powerful warlock. The
lightness within me sinks into a massive horde of fear, heavy and
repressive. This stranger is going to be worse than Father. More
powerful and bigger. He'll be able to inflict even more damage.
Trying to hold back a whimper, I bite the inside of my
cheek.
    Father spots the Envadi next to me and
howls. With a flick of his wrist, he emits a scarlet spell. The
light flies toward the Envadi. Before it can reach him, the Envadi
casts his own spell of silver in front of him. The scarlet smashes
into the silver, both dissolving on impact.
    The Envadi says, “Please remove this
dangerous, unstable man.”
    “ Sorry about that,
Chancellor. Didn't expect it out of our good Councilman.” The law
officer bends to whisper in Father's ear. As he listens, his eyes
tighten into narrow slits. The officer pulls back.
    “ Forgive my violence,”
Father says. “It wasn't intended for you. Today has been a
shock.”
    “ Indeed.” The Envadi's
mouth is a tight line.
    Without another word, Father and the
law officer depart, the salmon dome closing after them. The
spectators' lips move, directed at Father. He looks back at me, an
expression on his face I don't recognize. Longing? Regret? But it
can't be either of those. After it morphs to a scowl, he and the
law officer stride off.
    The Envadi's focus is fully on me. I
grip my hands together and demand my gaze reach up to meet his no
matter that my body doesn't want to cooperate. Now that I'm getting
used to his height and seeing more of him, I realize he's younger
than I previously thought. Perhaps three or four years older than
me. Young and strong.
    “ Would you prefer to stay
at Thomas's home or Chancellor Jacob's manor?”
    My gaze wavers. The question wasn't
what I expected. I expected to be taken, well, I don't know where,
but wherever the Envadi wanted. The strain of the day must have
addled him. I won't be the one to remind him it's not my choice. If
I never have to be in Thomas's house again, I'll be happier. “The
manor.”
    “ Very well. Your things
will be sent after you.”
    He waves his hand and the salmon light
pops into nothing. Even without the spell, it's oddly silent as the
crowd watches us. Without another word, he strides through the
cluster of people.

Chapter Eight
     
    “ I' m glad Father let you come,” I say to Cynthia. My carriage
sickness abounds, but I do my best to ignore it. She's overly pale
and in need of more comfort than me. “Nothing will happen to you,
I'm sure of it. You're still Father's property, that will mean
something. He wouldn't have sent you if it didn't. The Envadi won't
hurt you.”
    In the faint light coming through the
cracks of the carriage door, Cynthia shakes her head. “I doubt
it.”
    She's probably right, though I don't
dare correct her. “I'll keep you safe.”
    “ You can't protect me like
you did at home.”
    What can I say to that? There's no
reason to think it'll be the same and every reason to think it'll
be much worse. I won't be able to protect her or me. “I'll keep you
hidden in my closet. He won't find you