Free The Harrowing of Gwynedd by Katherine Kurtz Page B

tonight got our extra wine rations, for when we go off watch. The Lord Rhun’s a generous master, he is.”
    â€œAye, he is that,” Javan murmured, mentally cursing the man for a loquacious fool and wondering whether he dared try his developing powers on the man, in an attempt to discourage him. He had an idea …
    â€œWell, I don’t suppose I should keep you from your—oh, damn, I’ve got something in my eye,” he muttered, knuckling at his right eye and wincing, blinking rapidly, pretending distress. “It’s probably just an eyelash, but—damn, it feels like a rock!”
    Apparently taking the bait, the man moved in amiably and set his hand under Javan’s elbow to draw him under a nearby torch, taking off his gloves and tucking them into his ample belt.
    â€œHere now, sir. Ye want t’ pull the lid down a few times an’ wash it out with tears. Let’s have a look. My little lads get things in their eyes all the time.”
    As he tipped Javan’s face up toward the light, peering intently into the grey Haldane eyes, Javan knew he had him. He was amazed at how easy it was to stretch out his powers and take control, so that all at once the man was simply— his .
    â€œWhat’s your name, soldier?” he asked softly, raising his hands quietly to take the man’s hands from his face and retain them for physical contact.
    â€œNorris, sir,” the man whispered.
    â€œExcellent. Go to sleep, then, Norris, and remember nothing of this.”
    Somewhat to Javan’s dismay, the guard’s eyes immediately rolled upward and disappeared under the lids and he buckled at the knees. Javan gasped and managed to ease him to the floor without too much of a clash of armor, but the effect was not exactly what he had planned. He was trying to decide how to get the man on his feet and on his way again when he suddenly became aware of another presence behind him.
    He whirled on his heels in alarm, utterly panic-stricken until he saw that it was Tavis stepping from the Portal cubicle.
    â€œSweet Jesu , don’t do that!” he whispered. “You nearly gave me heart failure!”
    â€œImagine how your friend would feel, if he woke up and remembered what you just did to him .” Tavis glided to Javan’s side and knelt beside the unconscious guard, laying his hand lightly on the man’s forehead. “Fortunately, you’d got that part right. He wouldn’t have remembered your involvement in all of this. But he would have had a hard time explaining why he fell asleep on watch down here. No point drawing any more attention to this area than we must.” He paused briefly, apparently working his own magic on the sleeping Norris.
    â€œAll right, then,” he murmured after a few seconds, shifting his hand to the guard’s shoulder. “Let’s have you up, old chap, and back on duty. That’s the lad.”
    Javan stood back as the man roused and, with Tavis’ help, got nimbly to his feet, apparently no longer even noticing Javan’s presence. Without further instruction or even a backward glance, he turned and headed down the corridor in a slow, casual guard pace. Tavis was grinning as Javan turned to stare at him in question.
    â€œI just finished up what you’d started,” the Healer said with an amused shrug, gesturing toward the Portal cubicle. “Now let’s get out of here before any of Norris’ chums come along. I’ve told him to make whatever excuses he needs to, to be sure they don’t, but we wouldn’t want to push our luck.”
    Nodding, Javan let himself be ushered into the Portal cubicle, his mind churning with a dozen unasked questions. He forced himself to still them as Tavis stepped into place behind him, though, for he knew he must clear his mind for the Healer to take him wherever they were going tonight.
    â€œIt’s the Michaeline sanctuary, this time,”