The Royal Hunter Part 45

Now Baleweg smiled, though it did not reach his eyes. "I think I can safely say that is the case most of the time."

Archer swore. "This is not a joke."

Baleweg's smile vanished. "I do not believe I have treated it as one."

Archer paced the room. "If you plan to help, the first thing you can do is tell

me what Emrys looks like, so at least I can warn the queen."

"A description of his appearance will mean nothing to you, or to the queen, as he can change it rather well."

"He's a shifter?" Talia asked, then looked to Archer. "I didn't know they

existed in human form."

"They don't," he said shortly. "At least not that I am aware of."

Baleweg shook his head. "They don't. He is merely quite skilled in the art of

deception. He understands how the human mind perceives threat and is

amazingly adept at... shall we say, blending in.""Okay, okay," Archer said, impatience clear in his voice as he paced the room. "So this whole thing, his game, is about hurting you. He helped Gwendolen find Eleri to hurt you. And now he has drawn her daughter into this little drama of Chamberlain's hoping to hurt you by hurting her? Can you stop him?"

"I would be willing to try, but as I said, his powers far surpa.s.s mine. I know little of his activities and will not unless he intentionally reveals himself to me. I can feel the disturbances, but beyond that, I have little power where he is concerned."

"If he realizes that I'm not a healer, will he leave the queen and the baby alone

now? Will he abandon his game with Chamberlain and just come after me?"Baleweg shook his head. "I have no way of knowing. If he's amused by playing chess with royal lives, he might very well continue. Or if he thinks he can find a way to torment you through them, and therefore torment me... he is capable of anything."

"Surely you must have some theory on what he will try next?" Archer asked.

Baleweg shook his head. "His mind works in a way that is far different than mine. Quite literally, I could not imagine what he might have planned."

"Then you must come back with us," Talia said, grabbing at his hand. "Help

us from within the castle. Surely you'd know if he was there, if he was planning something?"

"Oh, he's planning something. But I would not be able to stop it."

Archer slapped the table, startling Talia, but Baleweg didn't even flinch. "Then what would you have us do? Sit and do nothing until he strikes?"

Baleweg calmly shook his head. "I would have you leave Talia here. With

me."

Talia looked first at Archer, then at Baleweg. "Why? What would that do?"

Archer went to stand behind Talia. "I won't leave her unprotected. Why don't

you come with us?"

"Because Emrys would like nothing better than to draw me to a place he knows I detest. I can do nothing to protect or help the queen, but I can help Talia. But only from here, where my strength is most powerful. Now that I understand the gist of his game, I realize it would be best if Talia and I remain close together until I determine a way to confront him." He stopped Archer's argument before he could speak. "Even with your protection, were you to take

her back to the queen, he could-and would- find a way to take Talia and use her as a p.a.w.n against me. She must remain here.""Then you think Emrys is in the castle?"Baleweg nodded. "Somehow. Somewhere." He looked to Archer. "It is quite possible that getting Talia out of there today saved her life. Although I doubt he would have made his move until the royal birth was imminent. He relishes melodrama."

"If Talia stays then I stay," Archer said.

"But I can't just leave Catriona," Talia cried. "She is my only family."

"If you truly want to help her," Baleweg said calmly, "then you will remain

here, for you own safety, which is what she'd want, and Archer will return to the castle to observe and stay close to her. He can alert us to anything that happens." He paused, then asked, "Does anyone else know of your bond to her?"

Talia shook her head. "No."

Archer laughed. "You know as well as I do that if anyone in the castle knows

something, the information will find its way to Chamberlain."

"Then there is no need for further argument. She is at risk from both Emrys and Chamberlain now."

Talia felt her throat constrict again. "Then what do we do?"

Baleweg reached into the pockets of his voluminous robes and withdrew a small blue orb. He held it out to Archer. "You will carry this."

"What is it?" Archer said, studying it, but not taking it. "I thought you simply

knew things without needing any gadgetry."

"I can sense a great deal. But I cannot absorb all disturbances and ferret out the source, especially with Emrys opposing me." He placed the orb in Archer's hand and closed his fingers over it. "This is something I've worked on, privately, for some time. I doubt Emrys has any idea of its existence. I have

not yet been able to test it well, but I am fairly certain it will hold up to the demands we will place on it."

"Fairly certain?" Archer said, staring at the blue lump of gla.s.s.

Baleweg ignored his skepticism. "It functions as a focal point for the specific

energy of the one who holds it, a projection unit if you will. If you hold it enclosed in your palm, I will feel the energy coming from you. I will then be able to direct my focus immediately to wherever you are. As long as you hold the orb, nothing can prevent that connection." He held Archer's gaze.

"Nothing."

"Why can't you just do something from here, now?"

"Without knowing what his plans are, I have nothing to focus my efforts on. It is not a foolproof plan, Archer," he said, for the first time losing a bit of his patience. "Nothing in life is foolproof, as we have all so painfully learned.

You want my help; I am offering it. No guarantees. But it is far better than nothing. Which is the only defense you have without me."

Archer swore beneath his breath.

"What if he simply kills her?" Talia asked.

Baleweg shook his head. "Chamberlain would not be so foolish as to have her murdered in her own bed. Else he could have accomplished that far earlier."

Talia shook her head. "I'm confused. If she can't leave her bed and he won't

kill her there, just what harm can he impose other than to wait for her to die?"

"That may well be his plan. But I imagine Emrys has another. He has little patience for waiting out nature's course. He much prefers to have a hand in directing fate when and where he can. Do not underestimate him." Baleweg looked to Archer. "Chamberlain will not want to risk being connected to the queen's death. Emrys is ingenious. If he's still interested in toying with royal intrigue, and I a.s.sume he is, especially as Talia is now linked directly to them, he'll find a way to let Chamberlain into power without drawing suspicion to him. Accept nothing at face value." He moved to the door. "It would be best if you made a quick return to the castle."

"Wait a minute, what if this is the trick I'm supposed to be questioning?"

Archer asked. "How do I know I can trust you? That you aren't somehow in on this?"

"Is that what you truly believe?"

"That's not an answer."

"You survive by listening to your instincts. Do your instincts tell you I am the

one to mistrust?"

Archer wanted to say yes, just to see what the old man would do. But it was almost impossible to lie when looking into those spectral blue eyes of his.

Finally, he shook his head.

"Continue to follow them, Devin. They will always serve you well."

Talia turned back to Archer. "You should go. The queen will see you, listen to