Gryphon (Rise of the Mages Book 2)

by Brian W. Foster

  Something bothered him. What?

  She reached the exit.

  “Wait!” he yelled. “Brant will block them as soon as they come into sight.”

  Robyn halted and turned to face him.

  Thoughts were coming easier with practice. Xan’s mind whirled. “Have Lauren and Sherry keep the highest peak between them and Heart Harbor. Land just before the top. Then, ease up into view and send short sound bursts directly to Gregg.”

  “Yes, my lord wizard.” She smiled at him.

  As soon as Gregg used magic, Brant would try to block it, and that might lead to a battle. The last thing Xan wanted was the two groups fighting.

  “Oh … and send riders with enough extra horses for the entire ambush party. Have Gregg and the mages ride back to Eye Lake. No magic. None. Get here as fast as possible, and he has to say ahead of Brant.”

  She saluted and waited a moment.

  Why? Oh. “That’s all for now. Hurry!”

  He thought furiously. Brant would be in Eye Lake in only four days. If he came. Even he wouldn’t venture into a situation knowing he was hopelessly outnumbered.

  Xan needed him to come. Though the alliance hadn’t worked with the queen, maybe he was getting another chance. And seeing his friends again would be good. Lainey. Dylan. Brant. Even Ashley, he supposed.

  Who was he kidding? He wanted to see Tasia.

  Xan banished that thought from his mind. Too much to do to dwell on her. He had to lure Brant in by obscuring how many mages opposed him.

  Considering that Brant still headed toward Eye Lake, what he’d sensed so far hadn’t deterred him, but best not to chance things. Xan would ban all but the most essential magic use. Healing grave injuries and illnesses would be allowed, of course, and he couldn’t let the crops fail.

  He sighed. Construction would be severely delayed but no help for it.

  What else did he need to do? Get more seeds. He’d dispatch a kineticist. By nightfall …

  Wait. Tasia worked at the hospital in Asherton. She was surely familiar with the drug. If he were on it, she’d notice at once.

  Xan ran his hand through his hair. What would she think of him?

  Nothing good.

  His ability as a glamour could hide the rings around his eyes, but magic wouldn’t help with anything else. He took a deep breath. There was only one thing to do. No matter how unpleasant the experience, he’d have to quit. No seeds while she was in Eye Lake.

  Ugh.

  He panned the mirror over his body. And he couldn’t let her see him looking like a refugee who hadn’t cleaned himself or changed his clothes in weeks, either. So much to do, so little time. Starting with a bath.

  * * *

  Xan woke in his bed.

  Tremors shook his body. Again. They’d been a near constant companion for the past day, making him more likely to end up with a cup of tea on his shirt than in his mouth, and his abilities as a wizard did nothing to lessen them.

  And his head throbbed. Absolutely pounded.

  He groaned and massaged his temples furiously as he poured life magic into his body. The pain went away. Mostly.

  A servant opened the door and stuck his head inside. “Do you require anything, my lord?”

  Xan clenched his fists. He’d asked not to be disturbed. Why was everyone always bothering him? “Get out! Get out, now!”

  The man’s head disappeared. As the door swung closed, a wave of nausea hit Xan, and he bolted upright.

  Yelling had been a bad, bad idea. He leaned over, thankful that someone had emptied the chamber pot while he’d been asleep.

  His stomach convulsed, forcing most of his last meal from his mouth. He took a deep breath. Just once? That hadn’t been so—

  Another spasm. More disgusting red chunks.

  And another.

  Tears rolled down his cheeks. No one should have to endure such misery.

  He sighed. Actually, he deserved it for the way he’d shouted at a poor guy who was just doing his job.

  Xan shut his eyes. Not that throwing up would change his behavior. He snapped at everyone for any and everything.

  An hour, that was all. One tiny little hour, and he could be in Goldstream. A minute after landing, his symptoms would disappear.

  He’d feel so, so good.

  Why not? Just enough to get him through the day. None for the next. He’d be clean when Tasia arrived.

  No! He couldn’t give in to the temptation. One seed would lead to another and another and another. If Tasia saw the miserable wretch he’d become … he’d not be able to bear it.

  Much better not to have seeds within easy reach. Just a couple more days.

  * * *

  Xan stood.

  He grasped his bedframe until his tremors ended. No nausea. That was a positive sign. His symptoms had eased over the last two days, but they weren’t gone.

  And he desperately needed to feel good. Tasia would arrive before noon.

  He slowly made his way to the throne room. By the time he staggered to the dais, panting, he was as tired as if he’d run a dozen miles, but his mood was better than it had been for a long time. Since …

  No, best not to even think about that. Focus on other things, like seeing Tasia again.

  A stack of paperwork waited for him, and when he finished going through it, Robyn and Tina stood before him. Both were grinning.

  “What?” he said.

  “It’s good to see you so happy, my lord wizard,” Robyn said.

  Why did they think he was …

  He realized he’d been humming as he worked. “It’s a pretty day.”

  Robyn smirked. “I’ve always loved overcast gray skies and a wind that bites through my cloak, too, my lord wizard.”

  “Yes, well …” Xan shrugged.

  “Scouts report that your visitors have cleared the pass, my lord wizard,” Tina said. “Time to get you presentable.”

  Xan glanced down at himself. He wore his normal attire—good, sturdy clothes. Clean. No holes. And he’d even bathed the previous night. “What’s wrong with the way I look?”

  “Nothing, my lord wizard,” Tina said. “If you’re a craftsman.”

  “As the leader of a nation, though, my lord wizard, maybe a lot.” Robyn grinned. “Or if, I don’t know, you’re about to see the girl you’re madly in love with …”

  “Huh?” Heat rose to his face. “I mean … I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Wouldn’t her seeing you wearing this—” Robyn held out a bundle of cloth and unfurled it. “—be better, my lord wizard.”

  A uniform, black leather armor with trim made of real gold trim and a red gryphon symbol on the chest. And a cape. Tina presented black boots with gold buckles to him.

  “There’s no one …” Xan shook his head. Arguing further with them would serve no purpose other than to embarrass him more. “Isn’t that a bit … flashy?” He’d feel incredibly silly wearing that.

  “Wait until you see it on, my lord wizard,” Tina said.

  Of course, nothing was as easy as just trying it on. First, they had to call in a lady to cut his hair and give him a fresh shave. When he looked at his image in a mirror, however, he was impressed.

  He’d always been lanky, but even though he hadn’t eaten much for several weeks, his magically enhanced muscles had held their shape. The form-fitting outfit emphasized how fit he was, and the colors were striking. Instead of a ruler who sat on a throne all day, he looked ready to conquer the three kingdoms.

  Robyn grinned. “Perfect, my lord wizard. Your lady friend will love it.”

  “She’s not …”

  Argh! He was arguing again.

  “But you want her to be, don’t you, my lord wizard?” Robyn said.

  “We’re facing war. I’m responsible for the lives of over a thousand people. Those things are my focus.”

  “A happy ruler is a good ruler, my lord wizard,” Robyn turned to Tina. “Men are so adorable when they wo
n’t admit they’re in love.”

  Xan gritted his teeth.

  “I don’t know,” Tina said. “I find it more frustrating than cute.”

  “Is there anything I can do to make you drop this subject?” Xan said.

  “I don’t know, my lord wizard,” Robyn said. “Maybe admit that you’re looking forward to seeing her?”

  “I’m … not unhappy … that she’s coming.”

  “Ah ha,” Robyn said. “You do love her, my lord wizard.”

  “I didn’t say—” He pursed his lips. “How I do or do not feel is irrelevant. Considering the way I treated her the last time we were together, I’m sure she has no desire to have anything to do with me, so my clothes don’t matter.”

  “Trust me, my lord wizard,” Robyn said. “It’s better she sees you in that instead of worker’s garb.”

  “Since it means so much to you, I’ll wear it.” He stared at his reflection. “A cape, though? Really?”

  She bade him wait as she dispatched a page, who returned a few minutes later with Alton in tow.

  “Show the lord wizard what the ruler of Eye Lake should look like,” Robyn said.

  Alton grinned. “Certainly.” He directed their attention to an unadorned section of wall.

  A remarkable figure resembling a tiny Xan appeared there, standing atop the castle. The little image of a man leapt into the air. His cape trailed behind him.

  Xan had to admit it looked impressive. The cape definitely added something. “I didn’t know a glamour could do that. Well done!”

  Alton bowed. “Thank you, my lord wizard.”

  Xan sighed. Who was he to argue with women when it came to what he wore? “Fine. The cape stays.”

  Besides, if they really liked it, maybe Tasia would, too. Couldn’t hurt.

  78.

  Tasia hated riding.

  Even after being in the saddle from Asherton to Escon and from Escon to Heart Harbor, she still felt uncomfortable. If it was supposed to get easier, she was doing something wrong.

  As much as she wanted to be off the creature, though, she wanted to see Xan more.

  “Stop here,” Ashley said. “I like the view.”

  There was a nice overlook of a valley, and for a wonder, a stream burbled near the road. Not a bad campsite, but the expected four-day journey from Heart Harbor to Eye Lake had already stretched to five.

  Brant’s hand flexed around the hilt of his sword. “My orders are to attack Xa … the wizard … with all due haste, my lady. We still have hours of daylight left.”

  “A lady does not sleep on the—”

  “Ground,” Brant said. “Yes, I know, my lady. You’ve pointed that out once or twice, but if we hurry, we might find a barn or something for you tonight.”

  “Barn? Really?” Ashley frowned at him. “I’ll not chance my comfort, and if the light fades too much, the servants will not be able to erect my tent properly. Again.”

  Poor guy. The wheels turned in his mind. He commanded the mission and all mages, but she was the niskma, making countermanding her a risk. As he tried to decide what to do, his little servant girl whispered something in his ear, and not for the first time, Tasia wondered about their relationship.

  Brant nodded. “Fine. We’ll stop, my lady.” He spit out the last two words and turned to walk away, muttering. “The group we trailed already reached Eye Lake, anyway.”

  “I’m glad you can be made to see reason,” Ashley said.

  Brant spun back, his face hot. “They had the larger force, my lady, but they lit out like they were scared. Why would they do that?” He paused. “If I could have caught them, I might have found out. And even If I couldn’t, they’ve scouted us from up close and have already made it back to the castle. Xan will know everything about our forces with plenty of time to prepare for us. Any element of surprise is lost.”

  Ashley gave him a look clearly informing him that was his problem, not hers. The servant girl again whispered in his ear.

  “But that’s neither here nor there, my lady,” Brant said. “We’ll get them tomorrow when we reach Eye Lake.”

  He ordered the caravan to halt.

  * * *

  Tasia grabbed a plate outside the cooks’ tent and ducked inside.

  Eating while there was still sunlight was one good thing about Ashley delaying Brant’s progress. A lot easier to make sure a bean wasn’t a bug when there was more than a campfire to see by.

  A few minutes later, Brant’s maid entered and took a place in line a few people back. What a perfect opportunity to find out if there was anything inappropriate going on between the two of them.

  Tasia let the servants between her and the maid pass. “Hi, I don’t think I caught your name.”

  “Ivie, my lady.” She curtsied.

  “I’m so happy to meet you, but none of that formal stuff, please. Just call me Tasia.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Ivie was so tense. Maybe a more informal setting would loosen her up.

  “Will you join me and my friends for dinner?” Tasia said.

  Ivie glanced toward the tent’s exit.

  “Come on,” Tasia said, smiling warmly. “I’m sure Brant can fend for himself long enough for you to eat.”

  “Of course, my … ma’am.”

  As they got their food, Tasia tried to engage Ivie in conversation but got nothing more than polite, terse answers for her trouble. They walked to a grassy area where Lainey and Mari had laid out a blanket.

  While Ivie stood looking incredibly uncomfortable, Tasia sat on the ground and introduced everyone. “Sit with us. Please.”

  If anything, the invitation made Ivie even more nervous. “I couldn’t, ma’am. Really.”

  “Whyever not?”

  “I’m a servant, ma’am. My place is to … well, can I get you—any of you—something?”

  “You think we’re too important to eat with maids?” Tasia said.

  Mari laughed. “That’s silly. My pa is just a farmer.”

  “And my papa lives in a town so far from anything I barely knew the rest of the kingdom existed,” Lainey said.

  “And I grew up dirt poor,” Tasia said. “I ended up in Asherton because my family couldn’t afford to feed me.”

  “See?” Mari said. “There’s no reason to think of us as special.”

  “With all due respect, ma’am, to the three of you …” Ivie looked at Mari “You’re the daughter of Lord Greenfield and not only both wealthy and noble in your own right but engaged to the heir to a rising merchant family.” Ivie turned to Lainey. “Your travel companion is the niskma of Vierna, and your brother is a wizard and the leader of a rapidly growing insurgency.” Ivie faced Tasia. “And you are the cousin of that niskma and, whatever your origins, have been raised to nobility.”

  The three seated girls looked at each other, and, after a moment of silence, Tasia burst out laughing, soon to be joined by the other two.

  “Surely,” Tasia said once she’d recovered herself, “one who so thoroughly rebukes such esteemed persons is herself elevated enough to sit and eat.”

  Ivie’s shoulders slumped. “If you insist, ma’am.”

  Ugh. Making someone so uncomfortable went against the core of Tasia’s being, but her duty was to find out if Brant was taking advantage of the poor girl. “I do.”

  They ate for a while, making every effort to get Ivie to talk, but she never relaxed.

  “I understand you and Brant went on a very dangerous mission into Dastanar,” Tasia said, trying to steer the conversation closer to the proper direction. “That must have been exciting,”

  Ivie narrowed her eyes. “I don’t know Master Reed’s plans, ma’am.”

  “Master? Does he make you call him that?”

  Ivie’s face reddened. “I meant Sir Reed, ma’am.”

  “I see.”

  “I’m finished with my dinner, ma’am. May I leave?”

  “You barely touched your food,” Tasia said. “I wish you’d s
tay.”

  Ivie sat with her back rigid and lips pinched. “I know what you want from me, ma’am, and I’m sorry. I just can’t give it to you.”

  “And what, exactly, is it we want?”

  “No offense intended, ma’am, but it’s well known you were friendly with the wizard in Asherton. And you’re sitting with his sister and the fiancé of one of his best friends. Were I in your shoes, I would be most interested in how the mission commander intends to carry out his execution orders.”

  “I see,” Tasia said. “And what if I told you ‘the mission commander’ is so outnumbered that he poses no threat?”

  “If you truly believe that, ma’am, I’m confused why you asked me to sit with you.”

  Tasia sighed. It was past time to come right out and ask the question. “How does Brant treat you? Does he make … ungentlemanly … demands of you?”

  “Ma’am, if you wish Sir Reed to court you, I am no obstacle.”

  Tasia’s jaw dropped. “You think …” She paused, trying to process such absurdity. “I assure you I want no such thing!”

  “Then why are you asking about his … demands, ma’am?”

  “Look,” Lainey said. “Brant’s a great guy and a loyal friend, but he doesn’t always behave himself with girls. If he’s done anything to make you uncomfortable, you don’t have to stay with him. There are other people you can serve.”

  Ivie tilted her head to the side. “You asked me to eat with you because you’re concerned about that, ma’am?”

  “You make that sound like it’s a strange thing,” Mari said.

  “Where I come from, ma’am, it is.”

  “So has he?” Tasia said. “If he’s done anything …”

  Ivie stared straight ahead, not looking at any of them. “I’d really rather not discuss this.”

  “Everything will be okay, Ivie. I know we can’t fix whatever you’ve gone through, but it stops now. Ashley has the authority to remove you from him. You can serve her or me or—”

  “No!” Ivie yelled. “I didn’t mean it that way.”

  “You’re afraid of things changing,” Lainey said. “We understand that, but trust us, it will be better when you’re away from him.”

  “He’s done nothing wrong.”