Free Heroes at Odds by Moira J. Moore Page B

shock, the stone began to glow. A moment later, an aura developed around it, white light slightly tinged with blue. Browne reached up and took a hair pin from her hair. She stopped whistling to draw breath, and the aura blinked out, but it appeared again as soon as she resumed whistling. She put the tip of the pin against the aura and pushed. The tips of her fingers whitened with the effort of pushing the pin, but it didn’t penetrate the aura.
    I’d never seen anything quite like it. It amazed me, the different things casting could do. “How did you learn to do that?”
    “I experimented. Casting isn’t just about doing what’s already been done. It’s about finding new ways of doing things.”
    “But how did you even think of whistling at it?”
    She shrugged. “Sometimes things react to vibration.”
    Actually, I had seen that, humming at a bowl of water. Though that practitioner had said that wasn’t casting. Maybe this wasn’t casting, either. “Can I try?”
    “Certainly.” She put the small stone in my hand.
    I blew on it, and I needed her to whistle for me so I could imitate the right pitch. Once I reached it, I felt a tingle in my hand and the aura appeared around the stone. It was amazing. “What else can it do?”
    “I don’t know. I only just received it.”
    “From who?” I demanded.
    “I’m not prepared to tell you that.”
    “So why are you telling me this?”
    “I want you to get more for me.”
    I scowled at her.
    Browne laughed. “You don’t need to be so tense, dear. I’m not your enemy or opponent. Nor am I Her Grace’s opponent. You might remember that I have good reason to be grateful to her. I swore an oath of loyalty to her. I take that oath seriously.”
    Still, I hesitated. I was very sure Fiona would not want this.
    Browne raised an eyebrow. “Do you not take your oaths seriously?”
    She had a point, damn it. I would have been furious if someone had suggested I might give my word and then refuse to honor it. “I will go to Her Grace and ask to be able to take some of the stones for you. I will do my best to persuade her. That is as far as I will go. If she refuses, I will find some other way to repay you.” I would requisition some jewelry and give it to her. We weren’t supposed to do that, requisition items to give to other people, unless they were our children or partners, but it was less dangerous than other things Browne might require of me.
    “I suppose I can accept that,” said Browne.
    “Can I borrow this so I can demonstrate its properties?” Browne didn’t look thrilled with that. “I think it would go a long way in convincing her. I promise you you’ll get it back.”
    Browne nodded. “All right.”
    I left then, the stone in my purse. The sky had gone black and the night air was damp and cool. Sometimes, I liked the chronically brisk weather of Flown Raven. It was refreshing. Taro hated it. He often found it too cold.
    Bailey met me in the foyer of the manor. “I’m afraid you missed the evening meal, ma’am.”
    “That’s all right.” I could fix myself something simple in the kitchen. “Do you happen to know where Her Grace is?”
    “I believe Her Grace has retired to her suite.”
    “Thank you.” I wasn’t comfortable with the idea of disturbing Fiona in her private rooms, but it was the best way to ensure that we wouldn’t be overheard. I felt the properties of the stones should be kept quiet, at least for now. I went to her door and knocked loudly. I heard a faint voice telling me to come in. I entered and passed through the sitting room to the bedchamber.
    Fiona was sitting on her bed, her back resting against the headboard, her sleeping son draped across her lap. She was looking down at him with a soft smile, stroking his blond hair. “He should be in his bed,” she said in a low voice. “But sometimes I like to keep him with me.”
    He was a beautiful child, and delightful. I should be watching her with him, taking notes.