Robin D Owens - Song of Marwey

Serial from Luna Books

Songof Marwey

by Robin D.Owens

Copyright 2005 Harlequin Books S.A.

From the moment she seesPascal Raston, Marwey Famil feels the Song between them and knows theirconnection is unlike any other she will experience. A Castle Soldier, Pascal isdetermined to fulfill his dreams and become a Marshallbut he never planned on thepossibility of meeting someone like Marwey.

As dangerous monsters invadethe land, threatening lives and freedom, these two young people must choosebetween love and the careful plans they have made for their lives. Will Pascalgive in to the bond they share, or is his dedication to his sword more powerfulthan Marwey suspects?

Table ofContents

Map of Marshall's Castle

Chapter One

Shesaw him, and she wanted him. Marwey Famil looked down from the fifth storytower window into the paved castle courtyard, focusing on the younger of thetwo men who conversed. His personal Song resonated straight to her corewithouttouch, without even a meeting of gazes. She gasped and pressed a hand againsther suddenly thumping heart. Such a connection wasn't common. No, it wasextraordinary, and her life had always been ordinary.

Marwey leaned against the thick wall framing the window and staredat the Castle Soldier. He was young, his features handsome though ruddy withwinter cold. She could see that his body was well built, even through theshabby cloak that was draped over his uniform. He held himself proudly and shesensed the seed of greatness within himgreatness and ambition.

She narrowed her eyes. His hair didn't show the mark of magicalPowerstreaks of silver at his left or right templethat she expected from aman with such a potent Song. Streaks she herself had at both temples. His hairwas coal black.

Still, his face, his body, his movement, stirred her, flooded herwith an aching warmth. Her soul Song sought him, curled around him. At once sheknew all her own careful life plansto become the Chief of Staff of thepreeminent Marshalls' Castlemust be reconsidered.

If he was a Castle Soldier, he aspired to be more, perhaps awarrior Marshall himself. Marshalls always fought in Pairs. She sucked in abreath. She'd never desired to become a Marshall, to fight the hideous monstersinvading Lladrana, her landbut she wanted him. Enough to alter her path? Ifthe Song between them was strong enough.

If she was strong enough to turn from a nurturer to a warrior.

She nibbled her lip as she saw him tug at his cloak. Polish someof those rough edges and they'd go far together. One of the strong threads thatresonated between them was determination.

Marwey usually got what she set her mind to. She'd wanted to leaveher comfortable, slow-paced noble home for the Castle and more excitement andhere she was, companion to her great aunt Thealia Germaine who was herself aprominent Marshall.

"Marwey," Thealia called from the bedroom. "Pleasecome help me remove my chain mail."

She hurried to Thealia. Though bespelled for lightness andflexibility, the chain mail was still bulky enough to be awkward. When Marweyfreed Thealia from it, the older woman sighed in relief. It had been a longflight for them by winged horse from the oracle's homethe Singer's Abbeytothe Castle. At the Abbey Thealia had sought advice on how to save Lladrana fromthe invading monsters.

Thealia rolled her shoulders. "It will be difficultconvincing the other Marshalls to Summon an exotique from another world to helpus." Thealia stretched. "But the oracle said an exotique coulddiscover how to create the magical fenceposts required to keep the horrors out.The old fenceposts are falling." Her lips thinned to a line.

"An exotique? We haven't had one of those forfor ages."The idea of a stranger strong in Power coming from another world intrigued andexcited.

Scowling, Thealia said, "Almost a century, and he didn'tstay. This will be a battle of words and willsespecially with the LordMarshall."

She glanced at the bow windows of the bedroom and rubbed herhands. "But I've prevailed against him before. He didn't want me toinstall these bow windows."

They looked a little odd in the round tower, but Marwey onlynodded.

Thealia sighed. "It's a dangerous business, Summoning an exotique,draining of our Powerand Marshalls have died. There are too few of us."She shook her head. "I can't convince the others by myself. I want myhusband." Her face softened. "He's so much better with people thanme." Thealia tilted her head, testing her mental connection with herhusband, then smiled slightly. "He's awaiting me in the Map Room."

She glanced at Marwey, brows lowered. "If you're staying inthe Castle, working with the Marshalls, you'd best learn what we're fighting."

Marwey gulped. Her parents' estate was in far south Lladrana.She'd never seen any of the monsters that invaded from the northnone hadreached her home. "Why do they invade?"

With a shrug, Thealia said, "They are from the frozen north.Lladrana is fertile and beautiful. You're sure you want to be here?"

Lifting her chin, Marwey met Thealia's measuring gaze. Marwey hadwanted to put her skills that her mother and grandmother had taught her to usehowto run a large household, how to make a serene home. But she'd yearned to berespected for who she was, not just because she was the fifth daughter of awealthy noble. She'd needed more excitement.

And now she'd found a man who spoke to her heart. "I'msure," Marwey said.

"Then I thank you for coming to make a home for us."Thealia looked around. "We Marshalls will be living centralized hereinstead of at our own estates for a long time." She donned hermalachite-patterned green cloak.

Marwey took her cape from the window seat in the sitting room andput it on. Gesturing to the view of Temple Ward courtyard out the window wherethe man who'd caught her heart still stood, Marwey forced herself to be casual."Who's that?"

Thealia came and glanced out. "That's Luthan Vauxveau and ayoung man he's sponsoring as a Castle Soldier and perhaps for the nextChevalier classPascal Raston, I believe." Her brows dipped and sheglanced at Marwey. "It's been a while since you've seen Luthan, hasn't it?Hmm, he's a little old for you, but it would be a very good match." Thenshe shook her head, reconsidering. "You are both too serious."

Heartbeat fast, Marwey nodded agreement. She wanted Pascal Raston.

Marwey and Thealia left the tower and hurried across the coldcourtyard, too far from Pascal for Marwey to catch his eye. Then she and heraunt entered the cloister walk and went to the Map Room.

Marwey hesitated on the threshold. Even here she could see thelarge animated map with the northern magical fenceposts and boundary that heldback the horrors. Three of the fenceposts were down. That part of the bordershowed black clumps of monsters moving into Lladrana. Red stained the map whereChevaliers had recently died defending the land. Now her heart pounded withfearfor Pascal who would train as a Chevalier to fight, for herself if shePaired with him. Chevaliers usually fought in Pairs. Marshalls were alwaysPaired.

Thealia grabbed her short, round husband and kissed him. Heflapped his hand at Marwey to go and she gratefully retreated into the walkway.Through the arches she saw Luthan leave Pascal. She ran to a far opening of thecloister, stepped into the courtyard and hurried back, huddled into her cape tostay warm, ducked her head and bumped right into Pascal.

He reached out to steady her, his hands grasping her upper arms.Colors swirled before her eyes at his touch.

He caught her close for an instant. Low words tore from him."By the Song!"