Sir Devarius Tel’brien, Knight of Gravaria.” No need to add the “Sworn Protector of the Soulbearer” and rouse their suspicions further. The fact that he was a foreign elf who could use magic would be enough to cause him to lose his head. “I was sent by the Empress to follow a Gravarian who’d escaped to Ranello and bring him back.” The clouds parted, and a beam from one of the three moons shined down on them through the trees. Damp curls clung to the Ranellian’s broad face, and the royal crest of Ranello stretched across the armored plate covering his chest. One of the King’s soldiers. “And where is he?”
“The Necromancer killed him before I could capture him.” Something warm and wet dripped onto Dev’s hand. He turned his attention to Trouble.
The gash on her temple continued to bleed, trickling down her face onto her shoulder. He contemplated the danger of healing her in front of a hostile audience or waiting until later and praying he wouldn’t be too late. His leg throbbed in response, reminding him of his own wounds. He lowered his shields, since the Ranellian had already proven he could slice through them. “May I ask your name?”
The Ranellian’s eyes widened in surprise. He withdrew his sword a few inches. “I’m Kell.” He waited a moment, the expression on his face full of self-importance.
Dev gave a curt nod in acknowledgement but nothing more. The name meant nothing to him. As far as he was concerned, the man was just another backwards Ranellian. “Well, if you don’t mind, my apprentice and I need to find our horses and be on our way to Boznac.”
“You’re not going anywhere. Like Sulaino said, magic is forbidden in Ranello. Your apprentice gave us quite a display of her power.”
“She did it to save your lives, you ungrateful humans.” His retort resulted in three news blades poking his back.
Kell narrowed his eyes. “The law is still the law, and only the King can overturn it.” A familiar growl sounded behind him. The Ranellians jumped back as Cinder forced his way through them, sitting between Kell and Trouble. Dev used the momentary distraction to heal the gash at her temple. The blood stopped, but she didn’t stir.
Cinder licked her cheek and whimpered.
“I’m beginning to think you like her more than me,” he murmured to the animal.
“Is this your wolf?” Kell asked. His sword wavered slightly in front of them.
“Yes. He’s tame,” he replied before adding under his breath, “for the most part.”
“Sir Devarius, I have no desire to remain here in the mud with my sword pointed at you all night. You and your apprentice both look like you could use the attention of a healer.” Dev choked back a laugh. He would rather rot in a shallow grave than face the primitive healing the Ranellians offered. Although it took more magic to heal himself than it did to heal another, at least he wouldn’t have to worry about rusty needles and dirty bandages. “I’ll take care of her.” He brushed her wet hair back from her temple to inspect the injury. Not even a scar remained. “She is my responsibility.”
“Perhaps I didn’t make myself clear. You are both under arrest for using magic in Ranello.
According to the law, I have every right to burn you both at the stake right now.” Kell knelt in front of them and lowered his voice. “I’m grateful you came to our aid, which is why I’m showing you what mercy I can. I can’t overturn the laws, but I can plead your case to the king and ask him to set you free.”
A smirk pulled at Dev’s lips. “Or you and your men could say we escaped and forget about this whole incident.”
“My gratitude doesn’t extend to making me look like an incompetent fool in front of my men.”
He scanned the small band of soldiers, calculating his odds of escaping without getting either one of them killed. He could always use magic to confuse and detain the Ranellians, but he had to factor in that he was injured and
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