Once Upon a Castle - Jill Gregory [119]
But in order to harness the energies of the crystal, Lector needed Tressalara’s cooperation. The Andun Crystal was protected by an enchantment. If any but the true heir to the Dragon Throne touched the crystal, he would be burned to ash. If the true heir held the crystal out to another, however, that person would also inherit the power to hold and to use the Andun Crystal’s magic, without suffering harm.
He rounded on the magician angrily. “If you have such powers as you boast of, why can you not discover the whereabouts of the princess?”
The necromancer Rill scattered more ashes into the brazier. A cloud of blue smoke rose up but quickly dissipated. “It is useless. She is under some powerful protection. If I did not know better, I would swear it is the Andun Crystal itself.”
Lector cursed. “Perhaps she does have it, then.”
“No.” Rill was certain of it. “The Andun Crystal is somewhere within the castle walls. But, like the princess, it hides itself from us.”
“I must have one or the other in my possession to enforce my claim to the throne. I would prefer to have both.”
“It is the crystal alone that matters. Marrying the princess would only give you legal title to the crown. The Andun Crystal would ensure that you keep it.”
“I have a score to settle with her.” Lector’s hand went to the lurid wound that scarred his cheek. “Furthermore, Tressalara is sure to know where Varro hid the crystal.”
He resumed his prowling, anticipating his revenge with a dark glint in his eye. “We must have Tressalara. Once she is in my power, everything will fall in place. But first she must be found. And that,” he growled, “seems a task beyond your gifts, magician!”
“We shall find the crystal eventually.”
“Damn you, man! I need it for the coronation; otherwise the nobles will conspire against me. With it in my possession they will have to acknowledge me as their rightful king.” His mouth twisted in a bitter smile. “They will have no choice.”
Rill leaned closer and whispered in the usurper’s ear. “I have prepared for this contingency. When you take your oath, my lord, it shall be upon an exact duplicate of the Andun Crystal that I commissioned.”
Lector raised one eyebrow. “And what craftsman created this item of interest?”
The magician smiled. “A dead one. I saw no need for him to live once he had completed his task.”
“A wise plan. But only for the interim.”
“Oh, but I have another, my lord. One that will lure Princess Tressalara to the castle. Once she is here, I can use my magic to force her to lead us to the Andun Stone.” His heavy lids fell to conceal the greedy gleam of anticipation in his eyes. “And then, in reward, you shall name me Keeper of the Andun Crystal, as we agreed.”
Lector examined his co-conspirator with distaste. “Are you so sure you can control its magic? Or do you have some bizarre desire to be turned into a heap of smoldering ash?”
“This has not harmed me,” Rill responded, pulling a glittering shard from the leather pouch at his waist. It glowed in the lamplight, turning now blue, now purple, now clear, dazzling white. “It is twin to the one owned by the Laird of Kildore and was found on the shores of Mystic Lake. It is a piece broken off the original Andun Crystal, and it has proved its power to cloud men’s minds. Did I not use it to keep Jeday and Varro from getting wind of your coup?”
Lector poured himself a goblet of wine and drank it down. “Coincidence. If your shard is so powerful, why don’t I have the Andun Stone and the princess in my possession yet?”
Something in the usurper’s voice sent a thrill of fear along the magician’s spine. He must not antagonize Lector. Not yet. “This small piece cannot work its magic over great distances, but close at hand it is deadly. I shall demonstrate to prove my point.