Mageborn The Line of Illeniel by Michael Manning (top novels of all time TXT) 📗

is your daughter held at?” I didn’t see much reason to waste time chatting.

“Two doors down, the key is in that jewelry case over there... by the desk,” he couldn’t move but he rolled his eyes in the direction he was referring to.

Penny walked over to find the key, “I didn’t figure you for a man who would give up so easily,” she remarked.

“Well, we’re not exactly enemies. I locked her up before the king decided to. Besides, would my men be able to stop you?”

“No,” I replied honestly. “Did you really need to lock her up? She’s your own daughter.”

He laughed ruefully, “You must not know her very well. How do you think I got this?” He winked at me with his black eye. I decided he was right. I couldn’t imagine Rose punching her father in the eye.

“How do you suggest we proceed from here?” I asked him. He had become so reasonable I felt it couldn’t hurt to get his opinion.

“Lock me in her room and walk out with her. I doubt the guards would try to stop you with her ordering them otherwise.” He began scrunching up his face suddenly. “Would you mind scratching my nose... it’s got a terrible itch.”

I laughed and spoke a word, “Keltis.” His body relaxed as soon as the paralysis vanished. Lord Hightower sat up and began scratching. “Are you sure we need to lock you up?” I asked him.

“If you don’t I’ll be accused of helping you. I’m still mad at you for giving me this...,” he pointed at his injured eye. I was confused for a moment till I understood he was referring to his planned cover story. I was beginning to understand where Rose got her keen wits.

A few minutes later we were marching him down the corridor, at sword point. He had insisted on the sword, claiming it would be easier to explain later if one of his men happened to see us. Soon enough we had the door to Rose’s room open. Penny marched Lord Hightower in ahead of us.

As he stepped in a heavy wooden club swept out, catching him in the stomach. He folded over at the waist and sagged to his knees. “Oh Daddy! Oh gods! I’m so sorry!” said Rose, dropping the makeshift weapon.

Penny and I looked on, aghast at the scene. I quietly applauded Penny’s decision to lead with the prisoner. I was still slightly shaken from the mace that had struck me earlier. I looked around the room as Rose fussed over her wounded father. On one side was a large four post bed. It looked to be a beautiful piece of furniture but it was now listing oddly to one side. Glancing down I realized Rose’s weapon had been the fourth post. I was beginning to wonder how Hightower had survived her childhood.

Rose finally took notice of us, “Penny! What are you doing here?”

“I heard you needed a rescue, but it looks like your captor might have the worst end of this arrangement,” Penny said, giving Lord Hightower a sympathetic look.

“I thought it was one of the guards,” Rose said sheepishly. “Even so I aimed for the mid-section so I wouldn’t hurt them too badly.” Hightower groaned where he lay on the floor but he still hadn’t gotten enough wind back to talk.

“Where would you hit them if you did want to hurt someone?” I asked aloud.

“Pray you never find out Mordecai,” said Rose as she helped her father stand up. “Oh! Look at that eye! Did I do that?” I was gaining endless amusement at Rose’s startled exclamations. What did she expect to happen when she hit him there? It was a good thing she hadn’t become my Anath’Meridum, there would have been a string of bodies between here and the outer door by now.

Several more men came pounding up the stairs. Given the length of time since Hightower’s last yell I had to assume these had found the men we had left sleeping below. I stood in plain sight and waited until they had cleared the stairs fully before I put them to sleep. It pays to be careful. A friendly rescue might turn ugly if we ‘accidentally’ murdered someone in the course of it.

I stuck my head back in the door to Rose’s room, “We need to hurry or I’m going to have to put everyone in the place to sleep before we leave.”

Her father was able to speak again and he waved for me to come closer, “I want you to realize I don’t agree with what you’re doing. I think it’s foolish and wasteful, but since I can’t stop you or my daughter I thought I’d give you some advice.”

“What’s that sir?” I asked politely.

He leaned close and spoke softly in my ear, “Make sure you have a good escape route planned for my daughter. When the enemy is knocking on your door and you have nowhere else to run she had better not be there with you. If anything happens to her and you somehow survive... I will spend my life hunting you down. You can count on it.” There was no humor in his face now. A chill ran through me, for I knew he meant every word.

I looked at him squarely to let him know I took him at his word. “Sir, if something happens to her and I survive there will be no need to hunt for me; I’ll present myself to you personally.” I turned and left with Rose and Penny close behind.

“What was that about?” Penny wondered.

“Most likely my father gave him one of his ‘have my daughter back by nine o’clock’ speeches,” Rose replied with a laugh. Penny didn’t understand the reference at first... not having been courted as Rose had, but Rose explained it to her. Soon they were both laughing behind me. Personally I didn’t think it funny; I had meant every word I had said to the man.

We walked with Rose between us until