Free Beyond the Boundary Stones (The Chronicles of Tevenar Book 3) by Angela Holder

threatening form. He hadn’t seen her give a signal, but suddenly a dozen guards were in the room, swords out, moving to enclose both wizards and their familiars in a deadly ring. Josiah knew with sickening certainty that the Matriarch wouldn’t hesitate to kill them if they thwarted her will.
    She jerked her head at the guards. They hung back warily from Tobi, who lashed her tail and snarled at them, but didn’t retreat. “I have scores of soldiers I can call if these fail. And I think your beast is somewhat more vulnerable than the cat.” Before Josiah could react a guard had his sword at Sar’s throat. “I suggest you reconsider what’s possible. Is following your precious Law worth more than your lives?”
    Elkan’s hand pressed hard on Tobi’s head, ready to send the Mother’s power against any who attacked them, but he didn’t act, just looked steadily at Josiah. Josiah had seen what the Mother’s power could do in a fight, but they were greatly outnumbered. He was achingly aware of the blade poised close to Sar’s vulnerable flesh.
    He gulped and laid a shaking hand on Sar’s back. Sar, please…
    The donkey was angry, but his voice in Josiah’s head was certain. Not without his consent.
    She’ll kill us!
    Nevertheless. Sar’s muscles tightened under his hand. I’ll worry about the soldiers. You concentrate on keeping contact.
    Josiah clutched the donkey’s mane and tensed his other hand, ready to whip it up as soon as Sar sent the Mother’s power surging through him. “I can’t,” he whispered, averting his eyes from the Matriarch’s cold gaze.
    For a long tense instant soldiers and wizards remained motionless, watching to see who would make the first move.
    Renarre’s quiet voice cut through the thick silence. “Verinna, stop acting like a spoiled child. There are thousands of young and virile men who would leap at the chance to be your consort. Don’t expect me to believe you’ll sacrifice access to the wizard’s power rather than exchange me for one of them.”
    She jerked to face him. “The wizards will do as I say. And so will you, or I’ll divorce you and exile you from Ramunna!”
    “Verinna.” Renarre’s voice was gentle. He rose and moved to lay a hand on her shoulder. She stood rigid, neither responding to his touch nor rejecting it. “You can’t threaten wizards into obedience the way you do your nobles. And you can’t dominate me. We established that long ago.”
    Josiah thought he saw the Matriarch’s eyes flicker away from Renarre’s, but then her imperious stare was back, more arrogant than ever. “Nor will I allow you to dominate me.”
    Renarre stepped back with a sigh. “No.” He looked around at the frozen tableau of guards and wizards and took a deep breath. “I’ve changed my mind. Master Elkan, I want you to use the Mother’s power on me. If you can make it possible for me to sire a child, please do so.” His voice dropped. “What happens after that will be settled between us in private, Verinna.”
    She glared at him for a moment longer before turning. “Guards, at ease. But stay close.” She fixed Elkan with her stare. “Are you satisfied, wizard?”
    “Yes.” Josiah was impressed with how well Elkan gave the impression nothing unusual had happened, even as the guards sheathed their swords and withdrew to the edges of the room. “Sit down and relax, Lord Renarre. This will only take a moment. Josiah, observe.”
    Josiah wished fervently he could make some excuse to flee the room, but he knew it was hopeless. He sighed. Sar?
    The donkey sent their golden light to join Elkan and Tobi’s as it bathed Renarre’s body. Male anatomy wasn’t quite as embarrassing to deal with as female, but he still had to remind himself there was nothing personal about their scrutiny.
    “Ah, we’re lucky,” Elkan said. “It’s a common condition, easily cured. See the network of small blood vessels there, Josiah, how they’ve become stretched and weakened