The Love of a Wielder (Book Two of The Wielders Trilogy)

Chapter Thirty-Two

"Your Majesty? Your Majesty?"

Donovan opened his eyes blearily and for a moment could not recall why someone was calling him that. Then he remembered and sat up abruptly.

The soldier who was trying to wake him up was standing outside the speeder.

"The barrier is down and the Duke of Worthingham is here."

Donovan nodded and climbed out of the speeder. He stretched first. His body felt like it was tied in a knot after sleeping crammed into the back seat. But sleep had been helpful and his mind seemed somewhat clearer.

"How long was it up?" Donovan asked.

"Nearly five hours, Your Majesty. It's three in the morning."

It was still dark, but the soldiers had brought plenty of lights with them. Donovan saw a convoy lined up on what would have been the other side of the dome. The Duke was walking alongside it. He clearly did not expect to see Donovan there.

"What are you doing here, what's happened?"

Donovan sighed. "I managed to get a roadblock set up to catch the men who had her. We stopped them, but Kieran was here. He has her."

The Duke blanched. "I'm so sorry. It was one of my men who turned her over to the Trackers, I hold myself responsible."

Donovan shook his head. "If it wasn't him, it would have been somewhere else. Or Kieran would have come and taken her anyway."

Captain Beven approached.

"Your Majesty, Your Grace, we are ready to move out at your command."

Donovan saw the shock on the Duke's face, but fortunately, he did not say anything.

"Thank you, Captain. We'll be leaving shortly."

"What happened?" the Duke breathed after Beven walked away.

"Kieran. He killed him last night. Kieran is also claiming that he's the king, and I'm dead, which further complicates matters."

The Duke nodded. "The military stands behind you, Your Majesty."

Donovan nodded. He wondered how long it would take before he no longer thought people were talking to his father when they said, "Your Majesty" to him.

"I want to reassemble at the fort. Then we'll go get Maren."

The Duke nodded. "Go sit in our speeder. It's extended, so there's room for you. Third one down. I'll give the order."

Donovan nodded, grateful that this ally was beside him too.

Maren's parents and Alec were in the speeder when Donovan climbed in. They were also surprised to see him. He sat beside Alec on a bench seat that went along the side wall of the speeder. It seemed likely three or four more people could fit inside it.

"Gods, man, what happened?" Alec breathed.

Donovan supposed he must look awful. He felt awful.

"Not just now," he said. He did not have the wherewithal to explain it. He did turn to Maren's parents and said, "She's alive, but Kieran has her. I'm going to get her."

It was all he had the energy to say. Or rather, the heart to explain. He did not want to think about the horror he felt watching Maren, barefoot and clutching his suit jacket, that awful collar around her neck, walking to Kieran.

She had been right to do it, of course. They might have been able to mount a defense against Kieran together, but with the collar, there was nothing they could do to stop Kieran. He thought he could unlatch it-he could handle most locks with his powers-but he needed just a few more moments before Kieran arrived to do it.