Robin D Owens - Guardian of Honor

Guardian ofHonor

Robin D. Owens

www.LUNA-Books.com

To Deidre, Dianeand Mary-Theresa For encouraging me to breathe life into old dreams

InMemoriam

SonyaRoberts

Praise for

ROBIND. OWENS

"Owenstakeselements that made Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover storiespopularand turns out a romance that draws you in."

Locusmagazine

"Owenshas crafted asuccessful science fantasy yarn with terrific worldbuilding."

Bookliston Heart Thief

"Readersof Owens' earlier Celta titles, Heart Mate and Heart Thief, willenjoy revisiting this fantasy-like world filled with paranormal talents."

Bookliston Heart Duel

"Anew voice in romantic fantasy fiction has arrived and makes an outstandingdebut. The alien world that talented newcomer Robin D. Owens has created isintricate, sensual and fascinating. I certainly would welcome future trips tothe Flair-driven planet of Celta."

RomanticTimes

Acknowledgments:

TheUsual Suspects: Kay Bergstrom (Cassie Miles),

JanetLane, Sharon Mignerey (www.sharonmignerey.com),

StevenMoores, Judy Stringer, Anne Tupler,

LesleeBreene (www.lesleebreene.com),

SueHornick, Alice Kober, Teresa Luthye,

PeggyWaide (www.peggywaide.com), Giselle McKenzie.

MyWebmistress: Lisa Craig (www.lisacraig.com)

Excerptsof all my work available at

www.robindowens.comor www.robinowens.com.

Contents

Lladrana,early spring

Whenthe Star Etalla glows bright and moves through the constellation Caen; whenmists envelop the stone circle high atop Archer's Mound; when the face of theMoon is hiddenthen the walls between worlds are thin, and you may Summonsaviorsor demonsfrom the Exotique Land. Send the Call. Choose well.

SpringProphecy

T he rush of rainhit the stone pavement with hissing, tinny pings. Swordmarshall Thealia hurriedthrough the Castle's cloister walk, ignoring the silver fall outside the open,pointed arches. The incessant damp weather made her aging joints ache evenunder three layers of robes. She'd once loved to watch the rain. Once. Now sheavoided looking at it, listening to it, and wished she could avoid smelling themiasma that rose from it.

She'dbeen called the tough realist, harping on the harsh facts of Lladrana'sdesperate situation, demanding actionbut she couldn't face the rain anymore.

Dreadgripped her. She'd just stopped at the map room. She knew it was obsessive,checking the status of the land every morning and evening, but she couldn'thelp herself. She always hoped against hope that the tide of inhuman evilwasn't creeping into her country. That morning especially she'd prayedsomething had changed, so the Marshalls wouldn't have to risk the Summoningtonight.

Afutile hope. She'd scanned the animated map of Lladrana, noting the breaks inthe magical boundary set by her ancestors against the Dark. She'd counted eachglowing white fence-pillar. Even as she had watched, two pillars had blackenedand vanished. The loss was escalating and the new gap in the northern defensesstretched miles.

Fingersof the first taint of evil, the small nasty poisonous creatures signified bygray sludge, slogged to the borderand across. Stirrings of the more terriblehorrorsslayers, renders, soul-suckers massed, ready to advance to the newbreach. Chill fear had penetrated her bones.

Nowwith fumbling fingers Thealia drew the heavy key through the slits of her robesand stuck it into the iron keyhole of the thick wooden door made of grown treetrunkssacred oaks ritually harvested in bygone times. The door openedsmoothly, though she hadn't said the spell or pushed her shoulder against it.The Knight Lord of the Marshalls must be inside. She wondered if he had broughthis brotherhis Shieldtoo.

Herlips thinned in irritation. She'd wanted a moment or two in the chamber to soakin the sense of serenity that lived nowhere else in Lladrana. Hecouldn't appreciate the balm, even if he felt it.

Straighteningher spine and shoulders, she set her steps carefully to glide with grace intothe round stone Temple. The scent of rosemary and sage welcomed her.

SwordmarshallReynardus paced the sanctuary, tall, broad-shouldered, the silver streak ofhair at his right temple turned golden with age. Not even a small paunchsoftened the man. Lines bracketed his mouth. They had deepened over the pastyear as the Marshalls realized the ancient fence was failing and that they hadno idea how to recharge the shielding posts, make new ones or lace the magicalenergy between them. Inhuman evil encroached upon Lladrana with sharp,monstrous teeth.

Butdidn't evil always encroach? It was Thealia's job to make sure the Marshallsguarded and defended Lladranaeven when the steps might be drastic and deadlyto herself and others.

Reynardusfrowned and stopped near the eastern point of the pentacle, his robe settledabove the ankles of his metal boots.

"Tonightis the time." His voice echoed through the stone room, sounding as sharpas his footsteps.

"Allis ready." Her gesture encompassed the freshly incised pentacle, the altarwith the rainbow of glowing gemstone crystal chimes, the tools, the fruit andwine, the enormous silver gong. She hoped her quilted overdress concealed theshiver of apprehension that flowed along her spine like the touch of coldsteel.

Reynardusscowled, thick black brows casting his dark eyes farther into shadow. "Wewill be using a great deal of energy for such a chancy enterprise, perhaps toomuch energy. Some of us may die."

Thealiainclined her head and folded her hands at her waist. The peak of her coif madeher nearly as tall as he, and she was more than equal in Power. She had thegolden streaks of age and Power at both temples. "The Spring Song foretoldthat only a Summoning has acceptable odds of success in beating back thehorrors and saving Lladrana. We must try despite personal danger," shepointed out once again in their interminable discussion, wishing her morepatient husband were here for this final preritual check of the spelldesign andequipment.

"Idon't like the idea of draining ourselves completely or setting our lives inthe hands of a stranger," Reynardus said.

Ofcourse he didn't. A Summoning would be conducted by all the Marshalls, andguided by her husband and herselfout of Reynardus's control. The results toowould be out of his control.

Reynardustromped over to the white marble, blessing-carved fireplace that heated theroom. He held his hands to the warmth and shot her a glance. "We aregifted with six opportunities to Summon Exotiques in the next two years. Whynot wait?" he grumbled.

Thealiastiffened. Because they were desperate. Because it was their only hope. Becausesomething needed to be done now! She'd argued so time and again. Thealiaunclenched her teeth and managed a casual lift of her shoulders. "If youinsist we wait, the rest of us will expect you to pay the price of such agamble. We will want your Chevaliers dispersed to our lands to fight anyslayers and renders that infiltrate our estates while we wait for yourapproval. Will you hazard your own domain until the next time forSummoning?"

Hestrode around the pentacle, his piercing gaze tracing the shining line ofquicksilver. Clank. Clank. Clank. Clank.

No,he didn't like anything out of his control. Or anyone. His treatment of hisgrown sons had demonstrated that to all of Lladrana. He'd tried to control themwith money and with Power, to form their lives as he pleasedand had driventhem both away.