“You know,” Princess Rajya said, “despite your amazing transformation, it amazes me that either of you thought that King Jusson would waste his heir and such a potent wizard on such a minor casim.”
“Does it, Your Highness?” Berenice said. “But it’s not more remarkable than you believing that His Majesty would place same heir and wizard within reach of a man who not only has designs on Iversterre, but tossed his own heir away.”
Princess Rajya’s face tightened. “That was a mistake now being rectified—”
“No, Daughter,” Suiden said gently. His gaze went to Munir and his face hardened. “I am not returning. Ever.”
“You have to,” Princess Rajya said. “You are Hlafakyri i’alDraconi—”
“I said quiet!” Munir snapped at Her Highness.
Berenice laughed. “Hlafakyri i’alDraconi? So you said after evening meal last night. It is amazing what people throw away. Well, I am not so foolish.”
“You’re foolish enough to disobey your abbe,” Princess Rajya shot back. “It seems whatever his intentions, he has changed his mind.”
“He has not,” Berenice said. She faced her father, staring down at him. “Papa, not only the stag but the forest too—”
“It’s coming alive, isn’t it?” I heard myself ask, and I abruptly closed my mouth. But it was too late. All attention focused on me once more. However, Wyln turned his head to the windows, comprehension dawning on his face.
“Coming alive, Cousin?” Jusson asked, forgetting that he wasn’t talking to me.
“The trees, Your Majesty,” I said. “The ‘Watcher’ isn’t some entity lurking in the forest. It is the forest itself, and last night the forest defended itself against a threat.”
“Well, no,” Berenice said. “Not exactly.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Idwal said. “There will be no union between Chause and Mearden. Upstairs!”
“No, Papa!” Berenice made as if she would push past Princess Rajya and Munir to descend to the great hall. At the same time Idwal signaled a few of his burly servants to the staircase to keep her from coming down. However, they were all stopped by the logjam of Turalian soldiers and Royal Army troopers at the base of the staircase.
“This is your fault!”
I swung my gaze back to Idwal. “Of course it is,” I said affably. “I made you send letters about demanding redress for things that happened before I was born.”
“Bloody roué,” Idwal said. “Just like your father, can’t keep your codpiece closed.”
“Speaking of codpieces,” I said. “Did you promise Queen Herleve choice bits of my ma’s dowry?”
“It’s more than possible, Cousin,” Jusson said.
Berenice paused in her efforts to get downstairs. “Papa?”
“I made Hilga an honest offer!” Idwal bellowed, but he was cut off by Munir’s laughter, the wizard slapping the banister in his mirth.
“Oh, ho, a classic case of the pot and kettle. But then, I’m not surprised.” Munir made a gesture that encompassed the tapestry with the watching Stag and the family crest over the fireplace. “This entire casim is given over to pagan fertility symbols. It’s amazing that we all haven’t sunk into debauchery.”
“While virile, the White Stag is not someone you’d want to evoke in an affair of the heart—or any other body part,” Wyln said, abruptly amused.
“Good Lord, no,” I said. “Anyway, this whole thing has been a farce.”
“The farce is you,” began Idwal.
“I am who I’ve always been, no more, no less,” I said. I indicated the changed Berenice. “Whereas you have been playing games from the moment I arrived—”
“Certainly was playing games the night before last,” Princess Rajya said. “Especially one of seduction.”
“What?” Idwal stared at the princess, then turned his glare on me.
“Seducing?” Jusson asked at the same time. He raised an eyebrow at me. “You said that you’d done nothing untoward, Cousin.”
“Oh, no, it wasn’t Lord Rabbit who was doing the seducing,” Princess Rajya said, her face benign.
“Like father, like daughter,” Munir said, his eyes glinting.
“Uhm,” Berenice said, her eyes on her father.
“Nothing happened,” I began.
“Only because you were interrupted,” Princess Rajya said.
“Just like nothing happened between me and you, Your Highness,” I finished. “Despite your best efforts—”
Jeff’s mouth fell open—along with all the Freston Patrollers—while color drained from Ryson’s face. “Are you insane, Rabbit?” Ryson hissed at me.
But Captain Suiden kept his gaze on the princess. “Daughter?”
“Uhm,” Princess Rajya said.
“Everyone wanting something without giving—and trying to use me to get it,” I said. “Well, you can all go pound sand. I’m not marrying anyone.”
Princess Rajya made a recovery and folded her arms across her chest. “Coward and fool! You are nothing but a boy in men’s clothing—”
“I told you to be quiet!” Munir said. He waved his hand once more and Princess Rajya’s hand flew up to her throat. Her eyes wide, she worked her mouth but no sound came out. “Just like her mother,” Munir continued. “Always talking with nothing to say—”
With a deep roar, Suiden snatched his sword and rushed at the staircase, shoving aside aristos, troopers, Own, and anybody else that was in his way. Unruffled, Munir raised his hands and Suiden flew back into some of Idwal’s men who had decided that, with us distracted by the give-and-take, it was a good time to try to retrieve the other castle armsmen held by Groskin and the Freston troopers. They too pulled short swords and cudgels as they shoved Suiden off them. But they didn’t get far as Groskin and most of the Mountain Patrollers went after them, their own swords and long knives drawn.
“See to the king!” Thadro snapped, and the Own and many of the aristos and their armsmen solidified around Jusson.
“To me!” shouted Idwal, and a large knot of his castle folk surrounded him.
Taking advantage of the widening gap at the bottom of the stairs, the Turalian soldiers snaked through to get to Suiden. But my former captain found his feet, spun away from them, and once more headed up the stairs, but was stopped by the burly armsmen Idwal sent to escort Berenice to her chamber. At the same time, Berenice made her bid for the great hall below, roughly pushing Princess Rajya aside. Dropping her hands from her throat, Her Highness pushed Berenice back.
“Bitch!” Berenice snarled, and swung a right cross at Princess Rajya that rivaled the skinny girl’s from the first night. However, Her Highness dodged, then, baring her teeth, went in low and caught Berenice around the waist. They both tumbled from view behind the banister.
Which wasn’t true of Munir. The Turalian wizard stood calm above the increasing clangor that was filling the great hall, his bright gaze fixed on Suiden as he once more raised his hands. But before he could cast anything, he staggered, his eyes widening. Spinning around, he stared down to see Wyln rising up through the air, the dark elf’s long mane of hair floating as flames radiated out from him.
“Taste this, Adeptus,” Wyln said and, clasping his hands together, shot a bolt of fire at Munir. The wizard hurriedly brought up his own hands and deflected it to a window that bubbled as it half melted.
“This is your fault!”
I, along with Jeff and my royal guards, had been gaping at Wyln and Munir. At the shout, I quickly turned, expecting to see Idwal bearing down at me. However, the Lord of Mearden was heading for the king, sword in hand.
“Majesty!” I shouted.
Jusson had also been distracted by the duel between Wyln and Munir. At my shout, though, he turned and faced Mearden. And smiled. “Come, Idwal,” he said, drawing his own sword with one hand and pushing aside Thadro with another. “Let’s settle this.”
As Jusson’s and Idwal’s swords clashed, up above us Munir summoned a fireball a
nd flung it at Wyln. The enchanter didn’t bother to duck, allowing the fireball to hit him in the chest—where it was absorbed. Wyln gave a wild laugh, the flames filling his eyes, making them look like twin furnaces.
“You have to do better than that, Adeptus,” the enchanter said, his voice taking on the roar of a firestorm as he shot another bolt of flame at the wizard. Munir barely managed to get his hands up in time to deflect it, this time into a wall hanging. It burst into fire and those under it ran screaming, causing the mob in the great hall to surge. Braziers were knocked over in the stampede, spilling burning coal onto the floor, which caused more people to run. The royal guards who surrounded the battling king and Lord of Mearden shoved away those who stumbled into them, but Mearden’s servants and armsmen took exception to their manhandling and shoved back, as another burst of fire hit another wall hanging, setting it too alight and creating still another wave of running, screaming folk. Smoke swirled around the hall, reflecting red, orange, and yellow from the torches, fireplace, and flames from the burning wall hangings as the fighting spread. Mearden’s servants and armsmen fought with aristos, the aristos’ armsmen, with troopers, with Suiden, with King’s Own, and even with each other as they tried to get out of the way of the fires, the increasing sound of metal against metal causing my ears to ring.
Going on the offensive, Munir cast another fireball at Wyln but it went wild and exploded against one of the beaten ceiling beams, casting a shower of sparks down on the people below at the foot of the stairs. There were more screams and cries, and the resultant wave of folks caused Suiden to lose his footing and the castle armsmen bore him down to the floor, where he disappeared under the feet of the mob.
“Captain!” shouted Groskin as he, Ryson, and the other troopers gave over trying to stop the Turals and started fighting to reach Suiden.
“Sa Abbe!” the Turalian soldiers shouted at the same time, and they joined Groskin and the rest in trying to rescue the captain.
Coughing, I pulled my handkerchief from my pocket and covered my nose and mouth with it as Jeff and I also tried to reach Suiden. But I was held back by the Own guarding me.
“His Majesty’s orders,” one guard shouted over the din. “You’re to stay here, in this spot, no matter what happens.” He eyed the aspects still circling me. “Doing no magic.”
“That’s stupid,” I said back. “The captain’s being trampled!”
Jeff didn’t argue, though. He hesitated; then, remembering what happened last time he left me, he stayed, his face anxious as he scanned for a sign of the captain. Across the room I could see Arlis with his old troop mates as they frantically tried to unearth Suiden. He glanced back at us, saw Jeff standing by me, and I could see the same realization cross his face. He too hesitated, then worked his way over. Jeff stiffened.
“Sodding bastard,” he muttered, apparently forgetting his words of wisdom upstairs.
“Not worth it,” I muttered back at him.
I don’t know if Arlis heard us, but he clearly saw Jeff’s expression—and Arlis’ mouth twisted in a sneer. He then cast me a hooded glance, but at that moment my eyes were drawn up as Wyln gave another wild laugh, once more shooting flame at Munir. But this time, instead of deflecting, the wizard ducked and the flame splattered against the gallery wall, leaving a rosette of scorch marks.
“Who’s the coward now?” Wyln sang as he floated closer to the gallery, a tracery of fire about his hands.
“There’s cowardice and there’s knowing one’s limitations, Sro Wyln,” Munir said, appearing from behind the banister. Rising with him was Princess Rajya and Berenice. Both Her Highness and the daughter of the House looked worse for wear, their hair hanging down in hanks, their clothes ripped and awry, the princess with claw marks down her neck, Berenice with a rapidly swelling eye above her already bruised cheek. However, my gaze was on what surrounded them—the same alternating flames that Munir had produced at the anvea the previous day.
“I have apparently misjudged your abilities, Enchanter,” Munir said, pushing Berenice and Princess Rajya in front of him so those of us below got to see their terrified faces. “But I don’t think I’ve misjudged your willingness to abuse hospitality by harming both your host’s and your kinsman’s liegeman’s daughters—”
“No!” Dropping his guard, Idwal stared up at his hostage daughter, sudden worry creasing his face. Instead of taking advantage, Jusson spun about to stare also, Thadro moving to cover his back. All around them the fighting slowed as more heads to look at hostages on the gallery.
Well, all fighting slowed except that around Suiden. Groskin, the Freston troopers, and the Turalian soldiers were still battling to get to Suiden, while the burly castle armsmen were just as determined to keep them away. For a moment, it looked as though the captain would win free, but more piled on him. “Rajya!” Suiden roared, the captain struggling against those holding him down.
His Majesty’s orders or not, I reached for the water aspect, thinking to counter the fire, but Munir must’ve kept an eye on me as he turned his brilliant smile on me. “And there’s you, young tiro.”
Munir flicked his fingers and the same ring of flames surrounded me, shutting out my guards, Jeff, and Arlis, but leaving the aspects contained with me. I slowly brought up my hand and touched a flame; the burn of it shot through me.
“Think of it as parole, a guarantee of good behavior,” Munir said. “In fact, Sro Rabbit and Sra Berenice shall accompany us to the ship so that guarantee is extended to all involved—”
“And he’s your guest,” Idwal said to Jusson, his voice faint.
Jusson ignored him. “You dare abduct our cousin and heir?” he asked Munir. Behind him castle servants pulled down the burning wall hangings while others poured buckets of water on them and on the smoldering rushes. Steam arose, adding to the smoke swirling about us, and the king’s eyes burned bright gold through the mists.
“I dare all sorts of things,” Munir said with another brilliant smile. “To avoid awkwardness, we’ll leave for the ship now. I’m sure, Sro Idwal, that you’ll allow our servants and baggage to reach us. Once they do, I’ll release Sra Berenice.”
“And our cousin?” Jusson asked.
“Sro Rabbit will accompany us to Tural,” Munir said. “As a guarantee of your good behavior—and Prince Suiden’s cooperation.” He looked down at the Turalian soldiers. “Get His Highness.”
“Do you really think that we will allow you to do this?” Jusson asked, his voice mild, his face interested. Forgetting about Idwal, he moved to stare up at the wizard, Idwal and his guard moving with him. “Taking both our liegeman and our heir as prisoners to another kingdom, only to be released—if at all—upon your whim?”
“Not as prisoners, Your Majesty,” Munir said. “One is going home and the other will be our guest. And who knows? While Her Highness didn’t manage to tickle Sro Rabbit’s fancy, as was previously stated, there are others who perhaps will. We’ll see when we arrive at the Sun Court.”
“And if something were to happen to us after our cousin’s marriage, well, there’s the amir to step in and help someone so obviously inexperienced in running a kingdom,” Jusson said.
“The future holds all manner of uncertainty, Your Majesty,” Munir said. “Who knows what may or may not happen?” He motioned at Berenice and Princess Rajya. “Sra Berenice, Your Highness, if you would please descend the stairs. Prince Suiden and Sro Rabbit will join us on our way out.”
Both Berenice and Princess Rajya had watched the give-and-take between Munir and Jusson with blank faces. Now, at Munir’s command, they both turned and walked to the stairs, their movements slow and careful as they tried to keep the flames from touching them. Munir matched the two women step for step as he kept them between him and a silently tracking Wyln. Having moved just a little faster than Her Highness, Berenice went down the stairs first, those in front of her scrambling out of the way.
“My daughter,” Idwal said, his face filled with distress.<
br />
“As I said, you’ll get her back,” Munir said. He made an impatient gesture at Princess Rajya, who’d stopped. “Move.”
Princess Rajya took a step, then stumbled and went down, disappearing behind the banister. However, she didn’t stay down for long. She came back up with her dagger that she stabbed at Munir. That also didn’t faze the wizard. Calmly dodging back, he waved his hand and Rajya dropped the knife, her face and body twisting in agony, her mouth opened in a silent scream as the flames around her grew bright enough to cause those close to her to shield their eyes.
“Stupid girl,” Munir said. “Just like your mother—”
The wizard was cut off with another bellowing roar, the timbre of it deepening until the basso rumble of it shook the stones of the castle. The next moment, bodies were flung aside as an obsidian dragon with wings shot with gold filled the hall, his flamed-filled emerald green eyes fixed on Munir as smoke curled up from his muzzle, adding to the still swirling fog of smoke and steam.
The Turalian soldiers cried out, falling to their knees, while Princess Rajya lifted her tearstained face to stare down at her father. Munir also moved quickly to look down on the translated captain, shoving aside Berenice and the princess.
“So,” Munir said, his face avid. “It’s true.”
Suiden didn’t answer. Unfurling his wings until they brushed the hall’s high ceiling, he rushed up the stairs, bowling people out of his way. However, before he reached the first landing, Munir plucked a long, thin, ivory-colored wand from his sleeve and pointed it at the dragon prince. There was a flash of light through the swirling smoke and steam and Suiden came to an abrupt stop, frozen midstep.
“What have you done?” Jusson demanded.
“Sorcery,” Wyln hissed.
“Not sorcery,” Munir said. “Dragon bone. The only thing that can control a dragon.”
The hair on the back of my neck rose and the memory of the carved bone in Lady Margriet’s stillroom cabinet flashed across my mind—and how it all had spiraled out of control. Frantically wondering where else they might be, I tried to push past my guards, but was stopped again, this time by the flames surrounding me.
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