Treasure So Rare (Women of Strength Time Travel Trilogy) by Grace Brannigan Page A

The Holy Mother protect them all if such an occurrence
were to happen. Her mission would be in vain if Mandrak were to win.
    She turned to him, found him staring at William as he dozed
once more on the bed furs, a frown on his face.
    "Whose child?" he asked gruffly.
    Iliana lifted her chin. "Mine."
    "The father?"
    "There is no father." She looked back out the
window, her fists clenched. "Surely it is not your business."
    A knock at the door was a welcome interruption. The man's
presence in her chamber made her too uncomfortable. His green eyes, his size.
If he chose to harm her, there was only so much she could do, even with her
small dagger.
    Camdork opened the door and a dark garbed figure sidled
inside.
    "Sorenta." Iliana hurried past Camdork to lead the
old woman inside. She looked outside the corridor, then pushed the door closed.
    "What do you know?" she asked.
    The old woman's blind eyes stared into Iliana's as if she
could actually see her.
    "'Tis not glad tidings I bear, my lady Iliana."
    "I would hear them." Iliana urged the woman to a
stool. She looked over her shoulder at Camdork. "You may leave."
    "I would stay," he said, moving to settle himself
against the window, crossing his feet.
    Impatiently, she returned her attention to Sorenta, pressing
the thin, claw-like hands. "Tell me."
    "The village buzzes with unrest, people stand idle in
the fields, the laundry sits unwashed in vats, what food there is rots on the
tables. With the death of Agnes, they fear the curse of Mandrak is truly upon
them. Some have already packed up their families."
    "How can one man wield so much power? There is no proof
he is other than a mortal man."
    "Tell me what is happening," Camdork said.
    Sorenta closed her eyes. "The sorcerer Mandrak seeks
control. He has put fear into the countryside with his talk of curses and
plagues. The people fear his powers. He is greedy. He wants all," Sorenta
added. "I have seen the end as it can unfold. Darkness, death,
time-weaving under Mandrak's rule."
    "What does he want to control?" Camdork asked.
    Sorenta turned her attention to him. "All power over
the realms, this one and beyond."
    "Camdork mentioned Mandrak when we first met," he
said.
    "I know you claim not to be him," Iliana said,
"but to keep referring to him as if he were another person..."
    Camdork turned his attention to Sorenta. "You know who
I am. Tell her."
    The old woman smiled, one thin brow lifted. "It is not
for me to convince Iliana of anything. Words sometimes have less meaning than
deeds. The sorcerer twists time and magic, my lady Iliana, and dons a clever
mask, as do we all. Though some would call it divine power, I see his black
magic as it is, pure evil. He easily instills fear in those who cannot look
beyond the surface."
    "And now he wields that black magic toward my son's
playthings," Iliana said grimly. "If he would show his face, I could
fight him. But he plays with my son's wooden toys and makes of them a deadly
weapon."
    "Caution, my lady Iliana. Caution."
    Iliana darted Camdork a glare. "And he says he is not
Camdork," she said with disgust.
    "Perhaps you should listen," Sorenta said dryly.
"Did he not save your child? Has he shown you evil?"
    Iliana shook her head. "No." She stared at
Sorenta's ageless eyes. "How can I know he speaks the truth?"
    "We need to eliminate the threat of this
sorcerer," Camdork said, a glint in green eyes. "I shall have to find
him and disarm him."
    "This is no game."
    "Ah, but my lady Iliana, it is a game, one I have
played many times."
    She put up her hands as if to shoo a fly. "Be off. This
is serious, sir. How can you find amusement in any of this unless you too are
in league with Mandrak?" She glared at him. "If you are careless and
get killed, no doubt the queen will come for my head."
    His eyes were suddenly intense. "We shall make sure you
keep your head with its glorious dark curls."
    Startled, Iliana said, "W-what?"
    He dropped his idle pose by the window, came to stand