The Unbound Queen

by M. J. Scott

  Imogene watched the exchange. "I didn't realize you had taken a petty fam," she said, nodding at Tok.

  "I haven't,” Sophie said. The words “not yet” hung on the tip of her tongue, but she held them back. After bonding with a sanctii, there no longer seemed much reason to avoid Tok's pursuit. After all, a demon put her so firmly beyond the pale in Anglion that a bond with a familiar couldn't do any more damage. But she wanted to be certain. A petty fam couldn't be put aside, and she didn't want to cause Tok harm. She needed more time for things to settle before she decided once and for all. "Tok is just curious. He would make a good spy."

  "As would most ravens," Imogene said.

  "Do Imperial mages take familiars?" Sophie asked curiously.

  "Some do. But there are risks, of course, if one is in battle. To leave a familiar behind is hard. To take one into a fight is to risk them being hurt or worse. And then there is the hurt done to them if their mage is killed. Personally, I feel it unkind." She smiled up at the raven. "Though you are a handsome breed. I'd look quite good with a raven on my shoulder. Don't you agree, Sophie?"

  "Raven feathers would go nicely with your uniform." Sophie echoed Imogene's smile, happy to take the conversation back to something more frivolous. Something safer. "You could set a fashion in court."

  "I can just imagine it," Imogene said, rolling her eyes. "It's bad enough when the court goes through animal crazes. Two winters ago, half the ladies were carrying small dogs in enormous fur muffs to keep their hands warm. I'll admit the creatures were sweet, but the palace did begin to take on a distinct scent of dog on rainy days. Ravens don't smell, I suppose. But they do shed feathers. And one can imagine that if the court adopted ravens less smart than those bred here, there would be other messes as well. That would not be received kindly. For one thing, the clothiers like Helene would quite likely go on strike if they learned that the ladies were submitting their creations to claws and bird droppings."

  Sophie laughed. Imagine Helene Designy's face if Sophie proposed such a thing. Though if she did decide to take Tok on, she might have to. Her clothing would need reinforcement. Of course, without the Academe footing the bill, she doubted she would be shopping at the Designy's establishment any time soon. "Best not to risk it," she said. "Though, you know, Madame Simsa has a monkey, not a bird."

  Imogene pulled a face. "Monkeys were a craze four years ago. Tiny golden things from Silaria. It's a small country in the far north." She added the explanation when Sophie shrugged at the mention of the name. "They had a distressing tendency to steal any shiny object they came across. And some of them bit." She eyed Tok. "Ravens also like shiny things. The court would have to spend half their days trying to determine whose bird had made off with whose earrings or necklaces or hair combs. Which might keep them out of trouble, I suppose. But no"—she shook her head—"there is enough monkey business at the palace without adding more animals to the mix." She glanced at Sophie. "I imagine the Anglion court is much the same."

  "Well, I don't think there was ever a craze for monkeys." Anglion, being one small island, didn't have the same variety of wildlife that the empire did. "But intrigue and trouble enough, I guess."

  "It does make one wonder why people can't just get along." Imogene shrugged one shoulder. "But power is what it is. So, let us turn to more pleasant things. Like tea. Which seems a more immediate priority than trying to understand courtiers and their games."

  That would take more tea than the Academe could hold. Possibly more tea than the empire could produce. They commenced their journey to the dining room once more, Tok flying ahead, alighting now and then on handy surfaces when they fell too far behind for his liking.

  The level of noise from the dining room as they approached it was minimal, which raised Sophie's hopes that it would be mostly deserted and that she and Imogene wouldn't attract much attention.

  She wasn't expecting to see Cameron seated at one of the tables, his plate stacked high with sandwiches.

  He caught sight of her, eyebrows lifting as he spotted Imogene, and lifted a hand, smiling as he beckoned them over. He stood, too well-mannered to do anything else, as they approached, but he didn't let go of the half sandwich in his hand.

  Sophie's stomach rumbled as the smells of the dining hall registered with her nose. It had been an age since her lack of breakfast and her stomach had apparently decided that food trumped nerves for now.

  "You should be in bed," she said as she reached Cameron.

  He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "Don't fuss. I woke up. I've been to see the healer, and she cleared me for such dangerous activities as eating." He looked past her. "Good morning, Major. Or is it afternoon?"

  "Afternoon," Imogene said, and Sophie blinked. She hadn't thought as much time as that had passed. The trance that had brought her visions had seemed to take only seconds, but maybe it had been much longer?

  "Ah," Cameron said. He pulled one of the chairs out and gestured for Sophie to sit and then did the same for Imogene. "No wonder I was hungry." He nodded at the plate of sandwiches. "The kitchen made those for me. You're welcome to share, if you want to eat. Can I get tea for you both?" He already had a cup by his plate, a small pot on the table beside it. Not enough for three.

  "Tea would be lovely, thank you," Sophie said. She reached for a sandwich, then belatedly wondered if Imogene was happy to sit with Cameron. But the other woman seemed unperturbed as she also took one of the sandwiches and bit into it.

  The first bite of bread and cheese and the spicy relish the kitchen here made only seemed to amplify Sophie's hunger, and she had to remind herself to eat like a lady and not wolf the whole thing down and reach for more. She chewed as slowly as she could bring herself to, swallowed, and then put the sandwich down despite the protests of her stomach. To distract herself, she watched Cameron make his way across the room to the counter where the kitchen staff took orders.

  He walked smoothly, not limping or giving any other sign that he'd been hurt, but she still couldn't bring herself to look away.

  "He seems to have recovered," Imogene said. "You don't need to worry."

  Sophie's cheeks went hot. Was she that easy to read? "I wasn't worrying."

  "My dear, if you want me to believe that you need to learn to keep a straighter face. Granted, you manage most of the time, but your eyes give you away around that one." Imogene tilted her head in Cameron's direction. "It's a weakness."

  "He's my husband, am I not supposed to care?" Sophie retorted, the words sharper than she intended. She took another bite of her sandwich. Perhaps hunger was making her ill-tempered.

  "You can care. But it isn't always politic to show it. The default assumption of most people is that marriages such as yours and mine were arranged. That they are alliances of mutual benefit, not emotion. Give them a notion to think otherwise, and they begin to wonder how they can exploit that emotion."

  "Do you pretend not to like your husband in public?"

  "Oh no, they know I am fond of him. Besides, we have been married a long time. People have learned it is not wise to try such games with us. But you, you are new to court. They haven't figured you and your place out yet."

  "Given I have no place at court, I don't see why they would be concerned." Not the truth and Imogene's immediate arched eyebrows told Sophie that Imogene knew it. But she didn't want to talk politics. "Besides, our marriage was arranged. Which I'm sure the court knows. But that doesn't alter the fact that we are strangers here and that Cameron is the person I know best. It would be odd if I weren't concerned about him, would it not?"

  Imogene gave a quicksilver shrug. "Perhaps. I was only offering advice. But I should remember that you have spent time in a court before." She paused a moment. "Though you must remember that this court is not that one. And that your status has recently changed. I would imagine, even if you were back in Anglion, now that you have moved so high in the ranks of succession, your experience there would be quite different to what it was befor
e."

  Sophie's shoulders slumped. The food had curbed the edge of her hunger, but it did nothing to defeat the sense of overwhelming exhaustion. She hadn't asked for any of this. She wanted desperately to just wake up and be Sophie Kendall, unimportant lady-in-waiting, again. But that would mean life without Cameron. Life married off to some other lord who would feed off part of her power. So, perhaps no easier a life than this one. She closed her eyes briefly against the wave of fatigue.

  "Perhaps the one you should be concerned about is yourself," Imogene said softly.

  Sophie opened her eyes, puzzled. "I'm fine."

  "You look exhausted, child." Imogene said. "Black is well enough for those robes you wear, but it does you no favors under your eyes."

  "I need to catch up on my sleep. The last few nights were eventful."

  "More than eventful, I would say. But that is what I came to talk to you about."

  "What is?" Cameron's deep voice came from behind Sophie. "Is there something on your mind, Major?"

  Imogene smiled, her expression brightening as Cameron placed two steaming cups of tea on the table. "Nothing official, Lord Scardale. Quite the opposite in fact."

  "Oh?" Cameron settled himself back into a chair. Sophie found herself watching him again, searching for signs of discomfort.

  "I had a thought this morning that perhaps you and your wife might appreciate some time away from the city. My husband's estate is only a few hours from Lumia. Perhaps a few days there might be good for us all. Give everybody some time to think and come to more reasoned plans."

  "You don't agree with the emperor's...." Cameron paused, glancing around. There was nobody seated at the closest table, but when he spoke again, his voice was softer. "The emperor’s approach?"

  Imogene blew on her tea, then sipped and swallowed before she set the cup down. "Let us say only that I am never in favor of rushing into things without careful consideration. Aristides was in a temper last night. Such decisions should not be taken out of anger. If you are out of the city for a few days, somewhere where he knows you to be safe, then he will have time to reflect more carefully. Our estate is guarded, and it seems unlikely that anyone connected to the Anglion delegation would know where it was or that you were there. And you and Sophie would be able to rest for a time. I'm sure the Academe has done nothing but fill your days with lesson upon lesson since you first arrived. Hard work may be a virtue, but it must be balanced with some pleasure."

  "Pleasure hasn't been high on the list of our priorities," Cameron said.

  "And you are wise to secure yourself a place here," Imogene said. "But most of the Academe's students have weekends off. I'm sure Henri would not object to you leaving for a short time if he knew you were going with me."

  Sophie wasn't so sure about that. Imogene was an Imperial mage. She had trained at the Academe but then chosen to leave it for the court. She and Henri were mostly polite in their dealings, but it was clear their relationship was not entirely friendly.

  "Besides," Imogene continued, "I doubt Henri approves of what Aristides asked of you in the slightest. You are too interesting a pair of mages for him to want you to slip beyond the Academe's influence. He will see the wisdom of me taking you out of the emperor's immediate path for a time."

  Cameron frowned, obviously weighing Imogene's words. Sophie knew she should be thinking more carefully about the offer too, but mostly she just wanted to say “yes.” To get away, to get beyond the limits of the Academe, and the city. To spend some time somewhere quiet and peaceful with no lessons, no politics—other than Imogene and the Duq—sounded wonderful. And, she couldn't help but think, somewhere where there might be an opportunity to get a better idea how they might get away from Lumia, should things come to that point.

  "Who else would be there?" Cameron asked.

  "No one," Imogene said. "Other than my husband and the household. I'm not suggesting a house party, my lord. It's far too early in your life here in Lumia to subject you to that. A few days respite in the country was all I had in mind."

  Sophie met Cameron's gaze. What was he thinking? What would he think if he knew what she was thinking? Oh, to be able to speak to him silently in her mind as she did Elarus. But for now, she would have to wait and hope he didn't object to the idea. After a moment, he raised one dark brow briefly but nodded.

  Sophie turned her attention back to Imogene. "It's an extremely kind invitation. Getting away from all of this would be wonderful." Hopefully she sounded as though there was nothing more than a relaxing sojourn in the country on her mind.

  "Do I detect a 'but' in that response?" Imogene asked.

  Sophie shook her head. "Not on my part. I'd love to do it. But I'm wondering if we will be allowed to go." Not all she was wondering, but Imogene was not the person to confide in. The duquesse was friendly to them, yes, but Sophie had no doubt that Imogene's ultimate loyalty was to Aristides.

  "Leave that part up to me," Imogene said with a flick of her hand that seemed to indicate that she didn't foresee any obstacles in getting her own way. Perhaps being both a royal mage and a duquesse gave her an advantage not available to mere mortals when convincing the Maistre of the Academe and the Emperor of Illvya to go along with her plans.

  "You don't foresee any objections?" Cameron asked, sounding doubtful.

  Imogene tossed her head. "Objections there may be. However, I will point out to those who voice them that they are wrong. You are both safer out of sight for a time. Besides which, the emperor should be turning his attention to the investigation into exactly what has gone on with the Illvyan delegation for the next few days at least."

  And what if he discovered something that made him even more determined that Sophie should take the crown? Sophie bit her lip. If that happened, then being away from Lumia might become their best chance to disappear.

  "Well, if you can manage that part, then I'm sure Sophie and I would be more than pleased to accept your kind offer," Cameron said, his tone more enthusiastic. She didn't look at him. Didn't want any hint of her racing thoughts—and her desire to know what he was thinking—showing on her face.

  Imogene lifted her tea and toasted him. "Excellent. I will speak to Henri and others on the matter as soon as possible. I'll send a message when we can make plans that are more certain." She put down the cup and rose. Cameron stood too. "In fact, I will make a start now. I'm sure you both have classes this afternoon. The Academe was always diligent in keeping its students occupied."

  Sophie didn't correct her on that matter. Thanks to her standing up to Madame Simsa and Henri, she had a free afternoon now, and she wanted to spend it with Cameron, not Imogene. They'd had little enough time to simply be since they'd been married. She would steal moments with him where she could.

  "Thank you again for the invitation," she said, rising and bobbing a quick curtsy. Imogene was after all, a duquesse and the ins and outs of court protocol had been so thoroughly drilled into Sophie that it was difficult to break herself of the habit here at the Academe where it seemed that rank from the outside world played a pale second to the hierarchy of power.

  "Do not even think of it," Imogene said. "It is perfect to have an excuse to get away from court myself without having to invite all of one's closest acquaintances and enemies."

  Which was a more perfect description of life in court than Sophie had ever heard before. She had to suppress a laugh. "We look forward to your message, then."

  Chapter 4

  "Do you think we'll be allowed to go?" Sophie asked, reaching for a sandwich. Cameron still stood, watching Imogene making her way out of the dining hall.

  "I think she must be extremely persuasive when she chooses to be. And I don't think she'd get much argument from Henri about removing you from Aristides’s immediate reach. The sticking point will be the emperor, not the Academe, I'd imagine. But then, Imogene seems to be close to Aristides. I doubt she'd waste any of her good standing with him proposing such a thing if she didn't think he would agree
." Cameron sat again, swigged tea.

  She hadn't thought of that. Which was yet another sign that making her a queen was a stupid idea. Sophie had had her time at court and had training in Anglion history and politics, but she didn't always see every political angle to any given transaction. Cameron, with his extra years at the palace—not to mention being the son of an erl and a soldier trained in strategy—thought about such things automatically. As someone fit to be queen would.

  "I hope you're right," she said, looking down at her plate. The ache in her belly had eased with the food, but the fatigue burning at the edges of her brain was as strong as ever. But she couldn’t rest. She needed to talk to Cameron about whether they should use the opportunity Imogene had dropped into their laps.

  "Getting away from Lumia would be wonderful." She couldn't risk saying anything more explicit in the dining hall but wanted to see if Cameron was thinking along the same lines as her. But his face gave away nothing to suggest he was strategizing.

  "I can't disagree with that. But we will have to wait and see." He leaned back, wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Do you have to return to your lessons? I assume that's where you were?"

  "Yes. But no, I don't. I told Madame Simsa and Henri I needed the afternoon to rest."

  He straightened. "You were with both of them? What exactly were you doing?"

  "Having my introduction to water magic. Supposedly. Though there was some lecturing to begin with."

  Cameron's mouth quirked. "Well, I can't say I disagree with that either. You—"

  Sophie cut him off with a raised hand. "You cannot possibly have anything new to say on the matter. Let's change the subject."

  "How about I won't mention—" He paused and glanced around. "Is she here?"

  "Who? Elarus?" She had no idea. Should she have an idea? Perhaps that should be a question to start her lessons with tomorrow. How to know if one's sanctii was nearby when they are invisible and silent. "I don't know."