The twins stared at one another.
Dixon frowned at Lucy. “Are you sure about this?”
“I’m pretty sure. I was dead and . . . now I’m not. I know it may have been only seconds here, but you can believe me when I say that I felt my spirit depart.”
“I saw it,” Mara muttered, as though to herself.
Lucy nodded. “I’m afraid there’s not a great deal more that I can tell you about all of this,” she said to the twins.
“Where did you say you got such an idea?” Mara asked.
“From Ehyeh himself. But I learned something more about the girls’ powers from a resource that Basha and Therese,” she gestured their direction, “found the last time they were at the palace.”
“What was that?” Basha asked.
“You brought back a book entitled, When the Two May Overcome. Do you remember?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Lucy turned back to the twins. “From that book I read something you girls must understand and never, ever, forget—or take lightly. And that is this: there will be a price to be paid every time you exercise your power.”
As the twins glanced at one another yet again, an expression of confusion on the face of each, the door burst open once more.
“Lucy!” the newcomer, an Oathtaker, Dalton, cried. “You have to come!”
She jumped to her feet. “What is it?”
“That woman you brought with you here from the city to help you with all of the books and to pack up—”
“Saga?” she asked.
“Yes! She’s— She’s dead! She was fine just a few minutes ago. She asked me to have Adele make her some parsnip root tea. I returned with it and gave it to her and then, minutes later, she doubled over in pain. The next thing I knew, she seemed to have a . . . a seizure of some kind. And then she couldn’t breathe! And now, she’s— She’s dead! I don’t know what could have happened.”
Lucy dropped her head in her hands, shook it, and then looked back up at Dalton. “I’ll be right with you,” she said. “Would you kindly wait outside for a minute?”
He stepped out.
She turned back to the twins. “The price has been exacted.”
Eden’s brow furrowed.
Reigna shook her head. “I don’t understand. What price?”
Crouching down before her, Lucy whispered, “Whenever you use your power, Reigna, to bring someone back from the dead, an innocent person will die. It may be someone you’d least expect, or can least afford to lose. It may or may not appear to be due to natural circumstances. I don’t know. All I know for sure is that the person will be in your general vicinity.”
“But—” Reigna pulled back, in thought. “Anyone? Any time? You mean I could bring back . . .” She paused, thinking. “Could I bring back our mother?”
“No, I’m sorry, that you cannot do. You must be able to touch the person’s body, and you would have to act to bring the person back to life before sunset on the third day following his—or her—death.” Lucy patted her shoulder, then turned to Eden. “As I said, if you do indeed possess the power that I believe you have, you should know that anytime you use your power, someone will . . . return to life.”
The twins both stared at her.
“How is that possible?” Eden asked.
“With Ehyeh, all things are possible. So, remember that the person who comes back may not be someone you’d want back. And you should know that neither you nor your sister will be able to undo what the other, with her magic, has done.”
Eden shook her head in disbelief. “You mean they’ll crawl out of their grave somehow and—”
“Actually, Eden, I believe it will be more a matter of their deceased spirit taking over the life of another.”
“So . . . I’d be responsible for the loss of that life, as well?”
Lucy nodded, wincing.
Mara grasped Lucy’s arm. “Are you sure about this? It sounds . . . preposterous, to say the least.”
“As sure as I can be without asking them to test their powers.” She turned back to the others. “Now listen, everyone, this information must stay within this group. Imagine the requests—the demands—others might impose on the girls if they knew.” She turned back to the twins. “For your part, do you know how Dixon has always said that ‘doing a good thing is not the same as doing the right thing?’”
“Yes,” they answered, in unison.
“Well, keep that in mind when you’re tempted to use your abilities. I know you did so innocently today, Reigna, but because you brought me back to life, Saga is dead.”
THE CAST OF CHARACTERS
Adele, former maid to Rowena and then Lilith, joined Mara when the twins were infants, now head of the compound kitchens
Adish, one of Kader’s men who infiltrate the compound
Adli, former Chiranian, convert to Ehyeh’s ways, forges documents for those seeking to infiltrate Chiran
Akka, one of the three lords of Sinespe, the underworld, along with Daeva and Sij
Bane, the dog—err, wolf—Jerrett adopts that is connected to him by attendant magic
Basha (Constant), Therese’s Oathtaker, her blade is Honora
Bernard, long time doorman at the palace of the Select in Shimeron
Bisma, Tanith’s assistant
Borka, one of Kader’s men who infiltrate the compound
Broden, cousin to Reigna and Eden and the son of Lilith and Zarek
Caden, son of Nina and Jules
Calandra, youngest daughter of Nina and Jules
Cark, head of Camp Cark in Chiran, husband to Chaya
Carlie, oldest child, and daughter, of Nina and Jules
Celestine, a barmaid at The Clandest Inn, an Oathtaker, cousin to Dixon Townsend, married to Ezra
Cenka, Tanith’s assistant
Chance, Little Creek resident who entertains the crowd with impersonations of the village personalities and with animal impressions
Channer, in charge of the sanctuary in Barton Lake
Chaya, wife of Cark
Chenkow, head of Public Conveniences at Camp Cark in Chiran
Creovita, also known as Ehyeh and the Good One, creator of all
Daeva, chief lord of Sinespe, the underworld, assisted by Akka and Sij
Dagon, one of Zarek’s soldiers
Daker, the charge of Donovan, resides at the compound
Dalton, a Little Creek resident
Devan, Hedda’s neighbor, wife of Baird, deceased
Dixon Townsend, former Oathtaker to Rowena Vala (Reigna and Eden’s mother), married to Mara, his blade is Verity
Donovan, Oathtaker to Daker, resides at the compound
Dorn, a Chiranian soldier that tried to kill Felicity when Lilith rampaged through Oosa in search of the infant twins
Drake, husband to Maggie, helped Mara and Dixon when the twins were infants, deceased
Eben Taft, a Council member, a scientist
Eden, ‘she who is but is not,’ of prophetic fame, born of Rowena’s seventh pregnancy but is not her seventh-born child, Reigna’s twin, Mara’s charge
Edmond (Chantray), Dixon’s former friend, assisted Lilith to find the infant twins
Ehyeh, also known as the Good One and Creovita, creator of all
Ellian, the charge of Farrell, a compound resident
Ephemeral, also known as Effie, queen of the flits
Erin, a Chiranian refugee, sister to Nina
Ezra, Oathtaker, innkeeper of The Clandest Inn, a spymaster, husband of Celestine, a healer
Farida, a slave woman in Chiran given by Zarek to Broden
Farrell, Oathtaker to Ellian, resides at the compound
Felicity, Select, Alexander Trumble’s charge, has visions of events as they occur
Fidel, one of the oldtimers who were among the first to recognize Reigna and Eden as fulfillment of prophecy, specializes in prophecy
Fleeting,
also known as Fleet, king of the flits
Flutter, a flit
Gonen, Zarek’s secretary
Grace, wife to Martin and adopted parent of Seth, deceased
Grik, an officer of the Chiranian guard, friend to Cark
Gunter, a friend to Trumble in Little Creek
Hagar, Cark’s housekeeper
Harold, owner of the Little Creek meat market
Harper Larkspur, Council member, a legal expert
Hazel, Trumble’s assistant at the Little Creek sanctuary
Hedda, Mara’s mother
Jabari Creed, Jerrett’s chosen name while in Chiran
Jack, Mara’s long ago love interest, father to Jo’s son, Seth
Jacob, attendant at the lodging house at sanctuary in the City of Light
Jamison, one of Ezra’s spies, he tried to protect the infant twins from Lilith, deceased
Janine, Rowena and Lilith’s sister, a fourth-born of the Select, resides in Chiran with Zarek, a follower of Daeva
Jerrett, also known as Jabari Creed, Oathtaker, husband to Velia, father to four boys
Jo, Mara’s sister
Joel, a Little Creek resident
Joseph, one of Ezra’s spies
Jules, head of compound security, married to Nina, father to Carlie, Caden and Calandra
Kader, heads a group that infiltrates the compound
Kayson, an Oathtaker at the compound, a healer
Kegan, an Oathtaker, one of Ezra’s assistants at The Clandest Inn, a healer
Leala, one of the oldtimers who were among the first to recognize Reigna and Eden as fulfillment of prophecy, specializes in history
Lel, one of Kader’s men who infiltrate the compound
Lilith, also known as Semira, Rowena’s sister, a sixth-born of the Select, tried to murder Reigna and Eden when they were infants, Broden’s mother, Marshall’s former charge, follower of Daeva, deceased
Lucy Haven, unofficial compound leader, Oathtaker, Counsel member, helped Rowena, her blade is Vivacitas
Mae, Rowena’s mother, deceased
Maggie, wife to Drake, helped Mara and Dixon when the twins were infants, deceased
Malefique, the human form taken together by Daeva, Akka, and Sij
Mansur, Marshall’s chosen name while in Chiran
Mara Townsend (formerly Mara Richmond), Oathtaker to, and regent for, the twins, Reigna and Eden, married to Dixon Townsend, her blade is Spira
Marshall, also known as Mansur, former Oathtaker to Lilith
Martin, husband to Grace and adopted parent of Seth
Mildred Crane, a Council member, in charge of health and healing
Mott, one of Zarek’s soldiers, in charge of the slave women
Mouse, the slave woman in Chiran chosen by Broden
Nadira, a Little Creek resident
Nancy, a barmaid at The Clandest Inn
Nibal, one of Kader’s men who infiltrate the compound
Nina, a Chiranian refugee, earlier the wet nurse to Reigna and Eden, married to Jules, mother of Carlie, Caden and Calandra
Ophelie, Chaya’s childhood nanny
Pestifere (Brother), chief priest in Chiran, Zarek’s closest advisor
Piers Hamilton, Council member, specializes in matters of business and finance
Platon, previous infiltrator of the compound who provides information about it to Kader
Raiden, Oathtaker, assists Trumble
Raman, Oathtaker, resides at the compound
Reigna (whose name is derived from the word reign), seventh-born daughter of Rowena, Eden’s twin, Mara’s charge
Robert, a Little Creek resident
Roko, a member of the Chiranian guard, assistant to Grik
Sabra, Tanith’s personal maid
Sally, Rowena and Lilith’s sister, a fifth-born of the Select, resides in Chiran with Zarek, a follower of Daeva
Samuel, cousin to Jules, works with compound security
Semira, Lilith’s chosen name when she was in Chiran
Seth, Jo’s son, Mara’s nephew
Sij, one of the three lords of Sinespe, the underworld, along with Daeva and Aka
Skylar Hadwin, a professor, the most renounced historian in Oosa, a member of the Council, currently in charge of the Office of Records at sanctuary in the City of Light
Striver, tutor to Broden in Chiran
Taniel, Tanith’s carriage driver
Tanith, Chaya’s mother, advisor to Zarek
The Good One, also known as Ehyeh and Creovita, creator of all
Therese, Rowena’s sister, aunt to Reigna and Eden, a third-born of the Select, Basha’s charge
Trumble (Alexander), Oathtaker to Felicity, head of the Little Creek sanctuary
Udell, Hazel’s husband, lives in Little Creek
Varm, one of Kader’s men who infiltrate the compound
Velia (Bettina), Oathtaker, wife to Jerrett, mother to four boys, her blade is Justise
Warner, Oathtaker, compound guard
Yasmin, a slave in Chiran given by Zarek to Broden
Yemina, Tanith’s assistant
Yokel, one of Kader’s men who infiltrate the compound
Zarek, leader of Chiran, Broden’s father, a follower of Daeva
A SYNOPSIS TO REFRESH YOUR MEMORY
Oathtaker
The Oathtaker Series, Volume One
Mara, an Oathtaker, trained to protect Ehyeh’s chosen, the Select, those designated to carry His ways of life and freedom through the ages, is drawn from her intended path. She discovers a wayfarer’s hut. Thirteen grut, underworld beasts, surround it. As she kills each, it goes up in a flash of fire. Thereafter left with a single weapon—her Oathtaker’s blade—a weapon infused with a magic that will live for so long as she does, Mara steps inside. There, she discovers Rowena, the current ranking member of the first family of the Select, in labor. Rowena bears twins, though no Select had ever before had twins. She names them Reigna (derived from the word “reign”) and Eden, releases her power as leader of the Select to them, and then dies.
Though Mara knows of no Oathtaker with more than a single charge, she swears a life oath to protect both infants. In exchange for her vow, Ehyeh bestows upon her, “continued youth” for so long as her charges live, and attendant magic—powers that will make themselves known to her over time. Upon the death of her charges, Mara may begin her life anew, but in the meantime, she may not be unequally yoked—she may not bind herself to another. Ehyeh confirms Mara’s vow with an earthshaking.
The hut door bursts open and a man, Dixon, enters. Upon finding Rowena, his former charge, now dead, he blames Mara. The two enter into a weak alliance to work together to usher the infants to safety. When they find grut teeth on the ground, they collect the trinkets, as the creatures cannot harm anyone wearing one. Then, seeking to hide all evidence of Rowena, they set the hut, with Rowena’s body inside, on fire.
The Oathtakers make their way to the home of an old couple, Drake and Maggie. From them, they learn of an Oathtaker-run mission home in Polesk for young women fleeing to Oosa from a neighboring empire, Chiran. As the women often arrive at the place pregnant, or with newborns, the Oathtakers plan to head there to find a wet nurse for the twins. Though tempted, Mara restrains herself from thinking on her past, which seeks to worry its way into her thoughts.
On Rowena and Dixon’s trail, Gadon and his men, who had called up the grut, arrive at the home of the oldtimers who lead them to believe that Dixon and Rowena had visited them, and that Rowena had born her child. In fear, the oldtimers tell the men that the two left for Polesk. Gadon sends a man ahead, then kills the couple.
When Gadon’s man intercepts the Oathtakers, they learn that someone from the palace of the Select at Shimeron, home of the first family, enlisted Gadon’s assistance. Mara and Dixon dispose of the man, then stop for the night. Mara, now weary of Dixon’s surly behavior, tells him to leave her. He apologizes for having unfairly blamed her for Rowena’s death, then swears
he would die for the twins. To Mara and Dixon’s amazement, Ehyeh confirms Dixon’s vow with an earthshaking. Since Mara is already the twins’ assigned Oathtaker, the two are troubled as to the meaning of the confirmation. They make peace, then Dixon suggests that his friend, Edmond, might be of help. The two grew up like brothers after Dixon’s father led a successful prosecution against Edmond’s father for treason against the Select. Enamored with Mara’s strength of spirit, Dixon allows her to believe he had loved Rowena, as he thinks it will help to keep a distance between them.