"Drayton is devilishly good at finding victims," Simon said grimly. "We need to free them as soon as possible, both for their sakes and to reduce the power available to him."

Meg looked down at the map. "The girl at Drayton House is so close. Should we free her first? Maybe tonight? Dawn is still hours away."

"Patience, my warrior maiden." Simon rolled up the map and laid it aside, then set the tray of food on the desk. "You've had a tiring night and missed supper at the ball, so have something to eat while we think about how to proceed."

"What is there to think about?" She folded a slice of cold beef and bit off the end. "We free the captives as soon as possible."

"The girl at Drayton House will be the hardest to rescue-Drayton's wards are formidable. They must be studied and counterspells prepared."

"How long will that take? That girl is suffering, Simon!" Meg exclaimed. "I can feel the fear and loneliness under the spell Drayton has laid on her. The others are in like case. They may look like simpletons, but inside, they . . . they hurt." To her horror, she realized that tears were running down her face.

Simon wrapped an arm around her and drew her close. "I know this is misery for you." Softly he stroked her hair. "But we must not let emotion send us running into disaster. Yes, Drayton is abusing them abominably, but he also needs them, so no one will be physically injured. When the time comes to free them, we must be well organized so that we can move swiftly and get them all to a safe place before Drayton can retaliate."

Hearing reserve in his voice, she lifted her head from the comfort of his shoulder. "You're worried about something beyond rescuing the captives, aren't you?"

He sighed. "When Drayton tried to abduct you tonight, it was a declaration of war. I doubt he meant it that way-he probably thought he could steal you away and cover it with clever lies, as he did at the hearing. But you escaped, and a goodly number of the Guardians in London were in Sterling House. Some of them who were neutral or believed Drayton must now be having doubts about his truthfulness. His position is more precarious, which makes him more dangerous."

"We mustn't allow him to keep his slaves a moment longer than necessary," she said flatly. "And surely when we've freed them, their testimony to his crimes will strengthen your position before the council."

"I agree, but rescuing the captives will escalate our undeclared war. I think we can safely extract those in Brentford, if not the girl in London, but as soon as we act, Drayton will strike back at you or me or those we care about. The ruthless have an advantage when it comes to battle."

Meg shuddered at the thought of falling under Drayton's control again. She would rather die than return to slavery. "Despite the risks, we must act. He certainly won't end whatever evil he plans if we ignore him and hope for the best."

"Yes, but I promised to protect you. So far I haven't done a very good job of it." Simon's gaze was bleak. "If you hadn't fought back so effectively, he would have had you tonight. I failed. And as we go forward, the danger to you will increase."

"Does it matter who is responsible for my evading his clutches?" she asked tartly. "What matters is that I did escape him, and G.o.d willing, I will again if he tries another abduction. How much of your concern is from pride?"

He dropped his arm from her shoulders and moved away, restlessly prowling the room. "I can't deny that pride is a factor. A stronger one is my sense of myself. If I can't protect the innocent, what good am I?" He swung around, catching her gaze. "But most powerful of all is my concern for you. I . . . I care for you deeply, my warrior maiden. And that is dangerous because it interferes with my judgment."

The power he radiated took her breath away. They were bound in so many ways, but there was something frightening in his saying the words aloud. "I care for you also, my lord. I can't be sorry for it, even if that does complicate my life."

His expression eased at her blunt words. "Lady Beth would probably say that complications are life. We must do what is necessary, and hope we can counter the consequences. It is time to think about Brentford Abbey."

She settled in a chair and rolled another piece of beef, then folded it into a piece of bread. Plotting was hungry work. "Do you know anything about it?"

"With your permission, I'l follow your mental connection to the thralls. That will allow me to learn more."

After she nodded agreement, he closed his eyes and located the threads that led from Meg to the thralls. Because of her intense concern with their situation, much information was available to him. "The abbey is very large, which is why its wards are not so powerful as those on Drayton House. It takes more magic to guard a large area. He's using some of his captives' energy to maintain the wards, which reduces the amount of power available to him."

"As he did with me," Meg murmured. "It's particularly wicked to enslave us with our own powers."

"Drayton is a particularly wicked man." Simon shifted his attention from the site to the individuals. "The thralls are quartered in a separate outbuilding. Originally the rooms were monk's cells, so they make a good prison." He frowned. "I feel that since your escape from Castle Drayton, he has tightened his control on his remaining victims."

Intrigued at the detail, she asked, "How do you see so much?"

"The family talent is to read power whether near or far, particularly if there is something wrong about it," he explained. "Magic flows from nature, and properly used, it is harmonious. Disharmonious magic draws my attention. Usually it isn't even necessary to use a scrying gla.s.s."

"Is it hard to be a hunter of men?" she asked quietly.

"It's not the magical gift I would have chosen, but someone must do the work." He settled in the opposite chair and began absently shredding a slice of bread into small pieces. "Hardest of all is to hunt a friend."

Startled, she asked, "Has that happened?"

He hesitated before replying. "Duncan is a Scot. During the Rebellion, he was . . . somewhat uncertain about where his deepest loyalties lay. It was a difficult time."

"Yet you're still friends," she said, fascinated but unsure how much she dared ask.

"Luckily he did not do anything irrevocable." Simon sliced a corner of cheese and tossed it to Otto, who lay by the desk with hopeful eyes. "I did not feel compelled to ask awkward questions after the crisis had pa.s.sed. It was much more satisfying to help rebels escape to America, where they could build new lives. That work Duncan and I did together."

"I think that being a hunter and enforcer would be far too complicated for me," she said frankly. "I'm glad it is not a female gift."

"Not traditionally, but you do have some skills similar to mine," Simon said. "Look how quickly you located the others Drayton has in thrall."

"That is only because I had suffered as they did," she said uncomfortably. "I am no hunter. All I want to do is free Drayton's slaves, and see that he takes no others. Surely we can also rescue the child here in Mayfair." Something about the girl resonated within Meg, perhaps because they had been of a similar age when abducted.

"I hope so, but it will be very difficult to enter his house." Simon tossed more cheese to the dog. "I will see what I can do."

"Is Drayton truly evil?" she asked slowly. "Or is it only that he does evil deeds?"

"I don't know," Simon replied. "I will leave the answer to the theologians. To me, what matters is deeds, not words. No matter how fair a man's words, if his acts are wicked, he is not a good man. As to wicked thoughts-well, we all have them sometimes, I suspect. But I have trouble believing that G.o.d will punish us for our thoughts if we don't act on them."

"I should think there is special virtue in resisting wicked thoughts. Where is the virtue in never being tempted?"

He laughed. "You have the makings of a theologian."

"Better a theologian than a slave." She stood, yawning. "Let us discuss how to free the captives of Brentford tomorrow. Perhaps we can even ride out to survey the place?"

"We shall see."

Meaning he didn't want her to go, and she would have to be stubborn. On this issue, she could be very stubborn. It helped that he had a basic sense of fairness.

Hand on the doork.n.o.b, she glanced over her shoulder. "My thoughts about you are impious."

Then she fled the room before the warmth in his eyes made her wicked thoughts turn into wicked deeds.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE.

Time to tether the horses and proceed afoot." Simon guided his mount toward a thicket a safe distance from the narrow lane they'd been traversing. Meg followed silently. She had come down for breakfast this morning ready to ride immediately to reconnoiter Brentford Abbey, and she had been most annoyed with him when she learned that he didn't intend to visit the place until dark.

They had spent a good part of the day arguing whether or not she would accompany him. He'd finally agreed, though reluctantly. While he hadn't done a brilliant job of protecting her so far, she was still safer with him than anywhere else.

Once they were deep in the thicket, he dismounted and fumbled toward a tree to find a good tether point. To his surprise, a faint glow began lighting the area around them, just enough to show shapes of trees, horses, and Meg. Dressed in a boy's black coat and breeches, she was slim and serious as a sword.

"Are you creating the light?" he asked softly. "We don't want anyone in the abbey to see us."

"There's no moon. I didn't want us or the horses to get injured." She swung down from her saddle. "No one will see us. The light is only visible here."

He tested the glow, which covered an area several yards across. "This doesn't feel like regular mage light. What are you doing?"

She gestured vaguely. "I thought it would be useful to have a light that . . . that turns inward rather than outward. So I thought about it and here it is."

Turns inward? He stepped outside of the lighted area, then turned to look. Sure enough, he couldn't see the light, or anything that was inside the area. "Remarkable. Can you make it brighter?"

"Yes, but a stronger light might not stay inside as well. Can you see this?"

After a moment, he perceived a large, faint globe of light around where Meg and the horses stood, though he couldn't see them, only the light. He doubted that the glow would be visible for more than a hundred paces. He stepped into the lighted area, and was startled to find it as bright as day. Blinking, he said, "Clever of you to find a new way to use mage light, Meg. I wish I'd thought of it."

She snapped her fingers and the light dimmed again. "Since I received no lessons in creating mage light, I did much experimentation. This version was useful."

He made a note to try it later. "Shall I go over our approach again?"

"We are here to scout the situation, not perform heroics," she said, a satirical glint in her eyes. "You will use an illusion spell to cover our tracks. I must be on the alert for wards, of which there will probably be several. You won't warn me unless I'm in danger of walking into one, because you want to see how good I am at detecting them. If I'm really lucky, you might allow me to try to create an opening in one.

We will decide how many people we need to return with for the rescue-you think we need four, one for each person in thrall-and what kind of transportation will be best."

He had to smile. "Have I been prosing on too much? But with this kind of work, one can never be too prepared." His smile faded. "I thought I was prepared when I called on Castle Drayton, and it wasn't good enough. I'l not get into trouble again through carelessness." Even more, he didn't want to get Meg into trouble.

"Which is why you turn everything into a lesson. I'm grateful for that, Simon," she said seriously. "You're a fine teacher."

"And you are the most alarming of students." He experienced a brief, searing memory of how it had felt the night before when her hands were on him. Alarming indeed . . . He gave a mental shake and set off toward the abbey.

The estate was surrounded by a stone wall about ten feet tall, so they approached a section well away from the gates. Simon led them to a spot where the stonework was rough enough to climb without much trouble. When he reached the top of the wall, he took a secure seat and extended a hand to help Meg. Not needing his aid, she swung lithely up beside him.

Her voice a mere breath, she said, "Wards along the line of the wall are designed to warn of intruders. You've opened a portal so we can pa.s.s through unnoticed."

He nodded, pleased at her perception, then turned and lowered himself, hands on the edge of the wall, before dropping to the soft turf. As Meg did the same, he couldn't resist the temptation of reaching up to catch her waist to ease her descent. She didn't speak, but her fingers brushed his hand as he released her. The faintest trail of light was left in the wake of her fingertips. As the light faded, he resolved to spend time exploring this gift of hers. Meg the Lightbringer. Meg who had brought light into his life.

The whole area inside the wall was a park of gra.s.sy turf and scattered large trees. The gra.s.s and lower branches of the trees were cropped to neatness by the cows and ornamental deer that ranged freely inside the walls. The abbey and its outbuildings were in the center of the park, about half a mile ahead on the crest of a gentle knoll.

He had spent several hours in the afternoon studying the estate, using both scrying gla.s.s and hunter's magic. Now he was close enough to confirm his observations. Like Castle Drayton, this estate had guards, but only three. Simon guessed that a leased estate like Brentford Abbey concealed fewer of Drayton's secrets than his family seat, which was far to the west.

Two of the guards were at the main gates, one in front of the house and the other almost opposite. A third guard patrolled the house and outbuildings. The man seemed competent, and Simon hadn't observed a predictable pattern, so they must be careful of him when the time came to rescue the captives.

At least Drayton was no problem. He spent most nights at the London house, including tonight. Of that Simon was sure. To Meg, he said, "I've located the estate's steward, a Guardian who is sleeping in the main house. I've met him a time or two, a fellow named c.o.x. He hasn't major power, but he does have the abilities of a good watchman. I suspect the wards are set up to alert him instantly if a mage is detected entering the estate."

"Let us wish him a good night's sleep."

Using the deeper shadows of the trees, they zigzagged toward the buildings. They were in an open area between two trees when they heard a deep animal snort. Simon and Meg froze. Whatever it was lurked beneath a tree to the left. Simon probed the energy and realized that the creature was a bull.

A moment later the beast stepped out of the shadows, casting his ma.s.sive head back and forth until he located the creatures who had wakened him. Head down and tail whipping back and forth, he headed right toward them. Simon swore silently, guessing that the brute was allowed to roam loose in the park for old-fashioned, nonmagical protection.

He was wondering how to handle the bull when Meg moved forward. Simon's heart leaped into his throat. He had to remind himself that her special gift for dealing with animals should include suspicious bulls who were pawing the turf.

She gave a wordless murmur of greeting, and Simon could feel the magic that accompanied the sound. The bull raised his head, his posture no longer so threatening. Meg reached the bull and began rubbing at his neck. Hard, since bulls didn't notice light touches. The beast turned his head and rubbed against her like a horse. Simon almost laughed out loud at the sight. Having felt her soothing energy as a unicorn, he shouldn't be surprised that the bull was just as captivated.

After some friendly scratching, Meg dismissed the bull. He ambled back toward the tree where his harem dozed. Simon joined her. "Well done," he murmured.

She shrugged off the compliment. "He wasn't really angry. Just curious."

He wondered how she would do with a pack of barking watchdogs. They'd probably be eating out of her hands in no time.

They were approaching another set of wards, these circling the buildings proper. Two paces short of the invisible fence, Meg paused for Simon's evaluation. He probed and found the energy much more powerful than the ward around the wall. Besides triggering a warning, there was a nasty spell that would inflict pain in direct proportion to an intruder's magical ability. Probably it would give Simon and Meg a bad headache.

Though the spells were powerful, he thought Meg could handle them, and one learned by doing. He tapped her on the shoulder, which was their prearranged signal for her to attempt the wards. She concentrated on the protective shield with palpable force.

Though she worked more slowly than he, only a minute or so was required for her to open a portal. She stepped through and Simon followed, careful not to brush an edge of energy. When they were both inside, Meg neatly closed the portal.

"Excellent," he whispered.

He felt more than saw her smile before she turned and headed toward the buildings. As they neared, she paused. "What is that energy that pulses through the earth and air? It's like the vibration of a great silent gong."

"Three ley lines intersect here, and that creates a tremendous vortex of earth energy. If Brentford is like other abbeys, the chapel was built where they converge."

Meg's brows arched. "Were the early priests sorcerers?"

"I don't think so, but they understood power and how to harness it for their spiritual purposes." He closed his eyes to better see the great lines of light shimmering up from the earth. Where the three intersected, they would make a six-pointed star with a fountain of energy blazing into the sky. Centuries of prayer and piety had strengthened the earth's natural power, providing a feast for the magically aware. "These ley lines are as strong as any I've ever seen. My guess is that Drayton is trying to harness the power for personal use."

"What if he has succeeded?"

"We would probably know about it, because the power is great. But I've never heard of that happening. The ley lines do energize us, but they will not be harnessed for the petty affairs of men. Luckily." He resumed their course toward the buildings, touching Meg's arm to indicate that they should go to the right.

There was just enough starlight to see the looming shapes of buildings. The main house had started as a church with an attached infirmary, but over the years owners had built additions that turned the place into a sprawling, ungainly warren that covered a substantial amount of ground. Most of the outbuildings were very old, and continued to perform the same functions as they had in the time of the Benedictines: bakery, brew house, dairy, and so forth.

The patrolling guard was near. Simon caught Meg's wrist and drew her into the shadow of the stables, masking them with a don't-look spell until the hulking man had pa.s.sed and moved on toward the main house. Only when the guard was gone from sight did Simon move forward again, Meg at his side. The blazing power of the energy vortex was distracting, but he forced himself to concentrate on finding the thralls.

There. The captives were in that square structure just ahead of them. Simon's early explorations had suggested that they were held in a building with a garden. Now that he saw their prison with his own eyes, he guessed that the structure was a small cloister, perhaps built when the community grew, or perhaps kept as a retreat, or a refuge for monks who were ill. No windows faced out.

Inside, he knew, there would be a dozen monk's cells, along with a kitchen and a small refectory, all facing the courtyard. The structure was protected by a ferocious set of wards: final proof, if any was needed, that the enthralled captives were inside. Besides a sensitive warning alarm, the wards had the power to knock a mage out or worse.

Within the cloister he felt the dulled fire of the four captives, plus one other presence, a combination keeper and guard who had some magical power. Meg pulled up short just before walking into the wards, then began prowling around the perimeter, Simon beside her as they both a.n.a.lyzed the prison.

When they returned to their starting place, he leaned down and whispered, "When the time comes, I can manage these wards. I think you could, too. We might be able to come as soon as tomorrow night, if we can arrange for two people to help us and secure a refuge by then. Anything more you need to know?"

She shook her head but continued gazing at the building, as if she couldn't bear to tear herself away. Simon touched her arm, and reluctantly she turned to leave.

Anguish blazed through the night, freezing them both in their tracks. Loneliness, despair, and suffocation . . . "A nightmare," Simon whispered after a shaken moment. One of the thralls suffered in his sleep. Simon tried to touch the unhappy mind to send a little peace and hope before they left. Not much longer, lad. Not much longer.

Distracted by that, he didn't realize that Meg was opening a portal in the wards until she leaped through it. She was halfway to the door before Simon followed her, swearing again. In her impatience, she hadn't been careful enough at neutralizing the wards, and the alarm had gone off. In the instant before Simon cleaned up Meg's hasty work, c.o.x might have been alerted.

Just short of the door, he caught Meg's arm and yanked her to a halt. "We leave now, Meg," he snapped. "The alarm has been triggered. If we try to free them tonight, we run a serious risk of failing, and G.o.d knows what would happen to us if you and I are captured. We might both end up as unicorns slaughtered by ritual magic."

She yanked out of his grasp, her anger crackling around her. "Preparation is all very well, but sometimes one must act. It will take time for the steward to wake and determine if there really is a problem. That boy is in agony, and the sooner we get him and the others out, the better. If you won't help, I'l do it alone!"