When Wizards Rule

She crossed her arms over her breasts, staring back between the pair of them. "I am no toy to be tugged at, Sashtain."

Kai'el's amusement cleared as sober intensity overtook his gaze and he leaned forward in his chair, bracing his arms on his legs as Caise watched silently.

"You are wrong, my little warrioress," he growled. "It is no toy I see standing before me, but a woman grown and hiding behind her sword. And I, Princess Marina, am growing tired of lazing within this castle awaiting your consideration on this matter. Do not mistake my patience for foolishness."

The deepened tone was warning enough that this situation was rapidly growing out of her control. She watched the two men warily, feeling the shadows of fear rising within her. They were two. One she could battle and defend herself against, two would overwhelm her small amount of magick as well as her defenses.

"Ahh Princess, what unfounded fear," Caise spoke then, the gentle chastisement in his tone making her chest clench in despair.

How she wished she could trust them. And it wasn't just her innate fear of their strength and their power that held her back. But her distrust of their motives. She could sense much more going on with the arrival of the Wizard Twins within Covenan than just a desire to find their natural Consorts. Much more.

"Who is to say my fears are unfounded?" she asked him then, swallowing against her regrets, against needs she did want to feel. "You do not know me, Caise. You are concerned only with your own needs, your own purpose. What of mine?"

She had no desire to leave the land she had accepted stewardship over. She was tied to Covenan, and to the power that fed it. To leave it would be to leave a part of her very essence behind her.

"And you know this how, Princess?" Kai'el's voice was soft, throbbing with a passion she did not have to sense, for the magick that filled it throbbed within his voice. "This is the first chance we have had to even speak of wants, needs, or purposes. And it was a time forced upon you, rather than one you willingly chose. Perhaps you should give thought to the fact that we have not forced the Rite of Reception, but have tried to give you that choice instead. Does that not leave us worthy of at least your smallest regard?"

How sincere he sounded. Marina stared back at him, feeling the hunger inside her to believe his words. No, he had not forced the Rite of Reception, nor had he demanded a petition to Courtship. They shadowed her every move, mocked her desire to run from their presence, and stole every opportunity presented to them to fill her time. But they had forced nothing. They had demanded nothing.

And oh, how they did fascinate her. All fears and wariness aside, she could admit to that.

"What would you have me do?" She spread her hands wide then, staring back at him the question plagued her. "If, and I say if with great prejudice, I were to be part of the Brigade, what would your reaction be? To go to my Queen Mother, demanding my confinement? Demanding I cease? And were I to give you leave to court me, who is to say you would accept my word when I declared your suit not to my liking? How, my good Twins, am I supposed to trust that which gives me no reason to trust?"

"Let us make a trade instead." Kai'el's expression cleared, becoming serene, calm. Despite that, she had the strangest feeling some trickery may soon be evolving.

"And what trade would you propose?" She was interested, despite her misgivings.

"Something we would desire, in exchange for something you would desire, if you were a warrior sorceress, that is."

"Kai'el," Caise's voice was suddenly warning, intriguing her further.

"Go on." She nodded sharply, her eyes narrowing as she watched Kai'el.

He did not glance in his brother's direction, despite the muted, resigned groan that came from him.

"You will choose one of us, now. On that bed..." He pointed to the bed. "You will lie with him willingly, fully clothed, and allow his touch."

Marina could feel the color leaching from her flesh.

"I am not asking for the sexual act, Marina," he said. "I am asking you allow touch. No more. Whatever touch you do not wish, you will simply say 'no', your wishes will be heeded. But you will allow touch."

"In exchange for?" She was trembling. She could feel the small tremors racing over her flesh, fear rising within her mind.

They were large men, strong, powerful men.

Kai'el smiled. A slow, disarming curve of his lips, filled with laughter, filled with a sense of pending excitement.

"Tomorrow, on the sun's rising, the Twin you did not choose this night to touch you, will take you to the air on his Snow Owl."

Marina's eyes widened. No Sorceress had ever flown. It was unheard of. The great Owls heeled only to the Wizard Twins. Even Brianna had not flown upon the great beasts, despite her Consortship with the Veraga Twins.

"She would allow it?" Marina whispered in awe. "You would not lie to me, surely? Were I to announce your words were false, Wizard, then no Sorceress in the land would so much as aid you were you bleeding in the streets. Playing me so falsely would not be to your best interests."

Kai'el grunted at her words. "The Snow Owls would gladly allow you to ride with one of us." He waved his hand negligently. "And we do not lie, Marina. I assure you of this now."

She glanced then to Caise. "You would fulfill this bargain as well?"

Surprise reflected in his golden eyes.

"Twins do make pacts separate of each other, Marina. Surely you have heard of this? I will fulfill his promise, just as he would fulfill any I would make."

She shrugged at the question.

"Who is to say what is true and what is false of the rumors we have heard in regards to the Wizard Twins. I merely wish to be certain."

Sweet Mother Sentinel. To ride on the back of the Snow Owl, to stare down at the land below, and know the freedom of the wind rushing over her. It was a dream, one that had followed her since she had first seen the great birds flying above the Snow Mountains. Pure white, graceful in their flight and majestic as they coursed the currents above. Even her griffons were not as graceful as those lovely owls.

But first, she would have to submit to the touch of at least one of them. She would have to choose.

"What of the one I do not choose?" She licked her dry lips as her nerves rioted. "What will he do?"

The tension in the air thickened. Magick sizzled just beneath the surface and hunger, deep and filled with lust, swirled around her.

"Watch," Kai'el whispered with sizzling heat. "Much pleasure can be gained in observing, Marina. More than you could ever imagine."