Summers at Castle Auburn Read Free Page B

that’s the fatal mistake to avoid, boys!—it’s never happened. None of them has ever laid a hand upon my head.”
    Bryan’s eyes were huge. “What happens if they touch you?”
    Jaxon turned slowly to look at him. “You don’t know? You came hunting aliora, and you don’t know the dangers? If an aliora touches you with the least little tip of her finger, you will be enchanted. You will rise to her call, you will answer to the sound of her voice, you will follow her across the river though you drown, though you never return to your family and your loved ones. If she lays her hand across your cheek . . .” He put his palm upon my face and, against my will, I leaned toward him, hypnotized. “If she feels the bone of your face with the flat of her hand, you will be dazzled—you will think of nothing else but her. She will put a fever in your blood that nothing can cure. You will splash across the river to Alora and never be heard from again.”
    There was a profound silence when he finished speaking. I felt half-bewitched myself, and it was only Jaxon who had touched me. Kent was the first one to shake off the mood.
    â€œBut we have aliora all over the castle, and we touch them all the time,” he said practically. “There’s no magic in their hands.”
    Jaxon pulled away from me and turned to look at Kent. “Their magic is inhibited once the golden cuffs are placed around their wrists,” he said. “They can’t abide the touch of any metal, but gold most especially. That is why I warned all of you to wear gold talismans—to protect yourself against the touch of the aliora. Did you do as I told you? Will you be safe?”
    Damien and I instantly felt around our necks to pull out necklets and medallions of the finest gold. Kent extended his right hand, where he wore a fat signet ring bearing the Ouvrelet family’s crest. Bryan wore a haughty look and displayed no such amulet.
    â€œI’m not afraid of the aliora,” he said proudly. “I wore nothing.”
    Jaxon quickly smothered an expression of irritation. “I brought a couple of extra wristbands, you can wear one of them.”
    â€œNo,” Bryan said, shaking his head, “I need no protection against the lures of the aliora. I am the prince. I am not afraid.”
    â€œWell, and you’ll have very little to be afraid of, out here on the edge of the forest,” Jaxon agreed. “Though at times the aliora do venture out this far, but rarely at this time of year—”
    Bryan’s face darkened. “What do you mean? If you think—”
    â€œI think I’m head of this expedition, and responsible to your uncle for your well-being, and that if you don’t wear a gold talisman into the forest, and keep it on, you’re not riding in any party of mine.”
    Bryan balled a hand into a fist. “And I say we ride on! You cannot tell me what to do! I am the prince, and I—”
    Jaxon turned his back on him to address Kent. “Your cousin is very wearying,” he said. “Everybody mount up! We’re heading back to the castle.”
    Dead silence greeted this pronouncement, broken only by the jingle of Jaxon swinging back into his saddle. On horseback, he looked down at us. “Well? Mount up. Time to head home.”
    I found my voice first. “Uncle Jaxon !” I cried. “No! You promised. You said you would take me to the river to see the aliora—”
    He kept one hand on his reins and spread the other in a gesture of futility. “And I’d like to, but not unless the prince is safeguarded. You and I will return some day, Corie. Just the two of us. Things will go more smoothly then.”
    I turned to Bryan beseechingly, but Kent had moved faster. “Put on the damn bracelet and try not to ruin everything,” he said in a rough voice, punching Bryan on the shoulder.