From Darkness Won - Jill Williamson [61]
“You are to storm me, Your Majesty, not read my correspondence,” Duchess Amal said aloud. She lifted the puppy, and the scroll coiled up on her desk.
I thought maybe you’ d be writing to Lady Averella to tell her to come home and meet her intended.
She chuckled.
Her laugh filled him with such warmth that he wanted to make her laugh again. Instead, he asked, How did you know I was here?
“I can sense when I am being watched. A lesson for another time. You arrived faster than I anticipated. I suspect you have been entering the Veil more than Sir Caleb is aware of.”
Achan had no answer for this. He concentrated on Duchess Amal’s face, her flawless skin, her auburn hair. He rushed forward, hoping to knock her mind from her body like tackling Shung. He entered her head—
And flew right through her. He’d glided halfway into the wall behind her desk before he could stop himself.
“That will not do, Your Highness.”
Her criticism filled him with heat. When I stormed Sparrow, she was trying to penetrate my mind. I sensed her, so I had a target. How can I find you if you’re not attacking?
“If I’m not attacking you, where is my mind?”
In your head. Which was why Achan had tried the tackle approach.
She folded her hands on her desk. “Do not make this more complicated than need be. Seek my thoughts. Should my shields keep you from seeing them, you have my shields to focus on.”
Of course. Achan sensed strong shields around her mind, yet he pushed past them with little effort.
Her private thoughts filled his head. —is such a bright young man. I expect he shall have me stormed before I can—
Achan flew against her voice. He made contact but this time took the duchess with him, through the wall and into the bright sunlight.
Duchess Amal’s deep laughter filled his head. “Before I can finish my thought,” was what I had been thinking. Well done, Your Highness!
Achan floated over the inner bailey in almost the same place he’d come up from the underground tunnel. He held Duchess Amal around her waist, his head tucked under her arm. He released her at once, cheeks burning. His body floated up and back from hers.
And there you have stormed me. Duchess Amal shot up to Achan’s height. Though in battle, you would throw me up as far as possible. If you recall, the sky is disorienting in the Veil. If your target does not have a partner, it only takes seconds for them to forget and get lost.
Duchess Amal vanished.
Achan floated back through the castle wall and found her whole again, sitting at her desk.
“That is enough lesson for today, Your Highness. This is how we shall practice from now on. Should you need me, message at any time. I am your servant.” She bowed her head.
Dismissed, then. Thank you, my lady. Achan opened his eyes to the frescoed ceiling above his bed and smiled. He was getting faster at this. He raised up onto one elbow to see Shung slouched down in the chair beside his bed, eyes closed.
“Are you sleeping?”
Shung’s eyes flashed open. “Listening.”
Achan narrowed his eyes. “You expect me to believe you were focused on nothing but Duchess Amal and my conversation? All this time?”
His Shield’s dark eyebrows wrinkled low over his eyes.
Achan continued to needle him. “That your thoughts never once drifted to a certain tall woman with dark hair and a cheerful smile?”
Shung bared his yellow teeth in a wide smile. “Berland soldiers arrived this morning. Eager to see Lady Gali.”
Achan sat up and swung his legs over the side of his bed. “Lady Gali travels with Sir Koyukuk’s army?”
“In Berland, female warriors are not prohibited.”
This did not surprise Achan. Lady Gali was as forbidding as Shung. “I’m glad Berland is on our side. For I would not wish Lady Gali’s wrath upon any of our men.”
Shung banged his fist over his heart. “You honor Lady Gali to say so.”
Achan bit