by R. K. Thorne
The sheet before her was covered with text written in a fine, elaborate hand. The beautiful words detailed the attack on the city, Aven’s ascension to king, and the start of the war with Kavanar. It ended with a call for more mages, instructing them to come to Ranok.
And to find her. Seek out Arms Master Floren for further instructions.
She stared wide-eyed for a moment, uncomprehending. For a moment, she felt like twelve dozen eyes were all looking at her, and memories of the vast expanse of the city sweeping out around her and the sheer number of people in it made her balk. And then the practical part of her caught up with her instincts.
What else were they going to do? Who else could they send mages to?
She looked up at him, crushing the fear down and nodding resolutely. “Good. I’ll be ready.”
He smiled, but he looked relieved too. “Anything you think we should add?”
“What do I know about royal proclamations?”
He slanted a dubious look at her. “I think you know plenty. But you know about being a commoner, don’t you? What would you think if you read this?”
She tried not to let those words sting. He didn’t mean them in a cutting way. What would she think if she’d read this on an average day? “Let’s see. It might be… a little frightening. What does this all mean to the average shopkeeper? Maybe you should state more clearly what Akaria is doing in response, other than calling for more mages to help.”
His eyebrows rose just slightly. “Great point. Anything else?”
“Hmm.” She rubbed her chin. “Maybe…” No, no. That was a silly idea. She was getting overambitious.
“What is it?”
“Well, what did you think about the visit to the temple yesterday?”
He shrugged. “It’s a start. A good show that’s definitely helpful and not harmful. But it is heavy work. Personal. And in that environment, few people saw it. They’ll talk. The old man will show people his leg and tell stories. But it’s still limited.”
“I agree. We need something with a bigger impact. Something the whole city can see. Something public. Even if it’s setting up the healing in the square outside the temple, that would make a bigger impression.”
“True. Like what?”
“If it were summer, we could enrich the fields. All manner of things. But with winter almost here…”
“You did comment on the number of flower boxes.”
She eyed him. “Am I getting predictable, or are you starting to read thoughts now?”
“What?” He snorted. “Since I have no idea what you’re talking about, I’m going to lean toward predictable.”
“I keep thinking, what if I put something in those flower boxes? Something useful and practical, like something you could eat. My father’s got carrots, beans, and peas growing in his room already.”
“In his room? Is the food not to his liking?”
She waved him off. “He just likes growing things. Practical things, not like me.”
“The things you grow are beautiful. That’s not without its use.” He smiled at her, but she dodged his eyes, not wanting to blush. Or get distracted from her bold plan.
She bit her lip, then caught his gaze. “Here’s a wild idea. Announce our betrothal as well, refer to me as the queen, and tell them the new plants in all the window boxes are from us? Like a betrothal gift. Isn’t that the sort of thing nobles do?”
His eyes went wide, and she wasn’t sure if it was from horror, shock, or fear.
“What?”
“That’s…” He finally recovered. “That’s a great idea. Can you do it tonight? For the morning? Do you need help?”
She took a deep breath. It wasn’t like she was doing much else around here. “With my father’s help, I think I can. I’ll get Siliana if I need to. Might need a guard escort, but I can just ask Telidar for that, can’t I?”
He nodded. “The guards at the queen’s door would be even better. Eventually, you’ll have a full guard dedicated to your security. Right now, half the queen’s guard is still sticking to my mother, but as I’ve stolen some of my father’s away, that’s necessary to cover them both. This isn’t Estun, you know.”
“I noticed. I guess I should get started, then.”
“And I’ll get to revising this and hand it off to the scribes.”
“I was wondering, I didn’t think I’d ever seen your handwriting that fine.”
He smirked. “It’s nowhere close. I was too busy chasing and hitting things as a boy to get very good at that.”
“Oh, wait—before you go. One other thing I forgot to mention. The boy from the Sapphire Temple said one of the other temples works with the Devoted to capture local mages.”
His face went stormy. “Even in Panar. By the gods. Did he say which one?”
“The Third Temple. One of the Nefrana ones.”
“I know the one.” He glared off into the distance a moment before returning a calmer gaze to her. “That must definitely be stopped. The priestesses have been clamoring for an audience, so maybe that’s the perfect time. Some prominent business officials and diplomats as well. I’ve granted them an audience tomorrow. At the very least, we can confront the high priestess about it there. Her name’s Ediama.”
Miara nodded. “Got it. Guess it’s time to go work my magic?” She grinned.
To her surprise, he leaned forward and gave her a chaste peck on the cheek and then returned her grin. “Happy growing.”
She flushed and glanced at her attendants. “Fetch my father, please.”
The youngest nodded and ducked out. Gods, she hoped she wouldn’t regret this whole wildly ambitious, quite possibly ill-advised scheme.
Tomorrow would tell, and until then, she had work to do.
“PRINCESS EVANA PARANELIN HAS ARRIVED. She says she is here to see you, Lord Consort,” the guard announced.
Daes sat forward in his armchair, setting the map of southern Akaria aside. Had Marielle stiffened in her seat next to him, or was it his imagination? They were alone in the sitting room of the royal chamber. The richly appointed room had far too much red velvet and brown leather for his taste, but it radiated warmth. And more importantly, it was to Marielle’s taste, and that made him like it more than he would have guessed. After barely five days at her side, the room was already starting to feel like home. He certainly didn’t miss Seulka or competing and sniping with the other Masters in Mage Hall. Although he should return there soon and make sure they weren’t screwing up everything he’d worked so hard to build. And that Seulka wasn’t up to something.
“I’ll receive her here,” Daes told the guard. No reason Marielle should not hear anything they had to discuss.
The queen rose as he sank back in his chair. “Give me a moment. I should freshen up.”
He certainly saw no need for that, but he wasn’t going to complain either. His eyes followed her swaying hips from the room.
Evana arrived moments later, her usual full, black skirts cutting a broad and swirling path. She greeted Daes with a raised eyebrow and more of an amused smile on her face than ever. Her mouth barely curved upward in both corners, but given the light in her eyes, she was mightily entertained at the recent turns of events.
“So what do you I call you now? Lord Daes? Your Majesty King Daes? Great Lord of the Rolling Hills and Red Skies—” She swept out an arm grandly.
He rose and waved her off, then bowed sarcastically. “Law doesn’t permit that quite yet. Royal Consort Daes will have to do. You may address me as Lord Consort. But you know,” he flashed her a quick grin, “I’m working on it.”
“I should have known you’d figure out something like this.”
He shrugged. “More luck than conniving. This time.”
“Of course. It couldn’t be the careful machinations that you’re so famous for.” She didn’t look like she believed him in the slightest.
“I’m not famous for anything. And it serves the king right for leaving a beautiful and intelligent woma
n so unattended,” he said brusquely, irritated for no reason he could discern.
Both her eyebrows rose now. “My, I’m almost persuaded you actually feel something for her.”
“I believe that’s exactly what the title of Royal Consort is supposed to mean.”
“Hmm. Or perhaps it means you’re simply the most convincing at that act. Please, Daes. As if you even had a heart to give.”
He glared, speechlessness surprising himself again.
“At any rate, we have business to discuss.”
He winced inwardly. He would much rather dwell on these recent victories than the complete picture at the moment. While his partnership with Marielle was a boon, the news was not so good on other fronts.
“Please, have a seat.” He held out a hand toward the seat across from him, careful she not take Marielle’s place.
“The brand,” Evana demanded. “Have you made progress in replacing it?”
“Queen Marielle,” an attendant behind them announced.
Marielle swept back into the room, looking the same to him. Ah, no. The front portion of her hair was swept up and pinned back under the softly glimmering three-ruby crown. Did she feel the need to assert her rank because of Evana’s nobility? Whatever necessitated the choice, he would ask her of it later. Perhaps there was something more here he did not yet understand. Her assertion seemed random, but he trusted her judgment enough to know there would be good reason behind it.
Evana rose and curtsied, and Marielle returned a regal nod before both women sank simultaneously back into their seats with the perfect poise of two cobras eying each other.
“I apologize for interrupting, my lord,” Marielle said only to him.
“Not at all, Your Majesty. The princess here was simply inquiring as to our progress in replacing the mage brand. Unfortunately, the news is grim. Our mages have found nothing yet.” He scowled down at the elaborately woven red carpet. He would not mention the disappearance of one of the three mages who had been doing the research; he couldn’t afford to fly into a rage at this particular moment, and it boiled in him at even the thought of that talkative, out-of-turn fool.
“Should we slow our efforts to capture more mages?” said Evana, all business. “Do you even have anywhere to put them now?”
“No. And no. But we’ll figure something out.”
“Would you care for some tea?” Marielle asked politely.
Evana leveled a cold stare at her, somewhere between resentment and condescension. “No, thank you, my lady. I plan to return to the road soon. Perhaps immediately.”
He squirmed inwardly at the strange tension between them. He owed much to Marielle, but even with his newfound power, Evana’s alliance had always been one of the few that had actually borne fruit. What was this sudden frigidity between them? “The good news is, now that I am consort, we shall be able to do much more to get the original brand back in the first place.”
“Such as?” Evana retrained her icy gaze on him, which was strangely relieving. He was used to her glaring at him.
“We must determine where the brand is, first. I expect this shall not be particularly difficult, since the Akarians have been easily and repeatedly infiltrated.” And since he had plenty of high-ranking spies also in Panar, although none of them had been able to find anything yet. As far as he could tell, the prince—king—and his pet creature mage didn’t seem to have the brand. But someone had to. “Once we know the brand’s location, we will simply attack there with the full force of our army. Eight of our best should have reached our encampment in Gilaren by now. General Vusamon is simply overjoyed at actually having something to do.” While Marielle had been keeping her eyes trained on Evana, her gaze flicked to him now.
“Easily and repeatedly infiltrated?” Evana repeated. “So your spies have been successful, then?”
Of course she’d ignore the bit about an army at their back. “Well, yes and no. Of course, if the prince were dead, that would have been the first thing I’d have told you.”
“What, then?”
“Infiltrating their inner circle has not been difficult, especially with the use of creature magic. But the actions our mages and assassins attempted beyond that have been less successful. We did do serious damage to parts of Estun.”
“Parts. I see. Larger parts than the pieces of Trenedum Palace that have gone mysteriously missing?”
He cleared his throat. “Let’s call it even. But we know much more about their inner circle than before.”
“And yet, the prince lives.”
Daes pursed his lips. “Indeed. Slippery little snake. Unfortunately, our spies are better at sneaking than swordplay, and they’re not facing inept warriors, as you well know. And, well…” He hesitated. “The news worsens. It appears he is no longer just prince, but king. At least for some period.”
Evana’s eyes widened and her nostrils flared with barely contained rage. “King? Tell me you’re joking.”
“We received word this morning. It is both a victory and a defeat. We succeeded in driving them from Estun. My mages ambushed the Akarian caravan going from Estun to Panar according to plan. They attempted to strike the prince, but he managed to survive. The king, however, was gravely injured and briefly captive.”
“Briefly? Gods, someone needs a lashing.” Evana looked as if she wished to administer the punishment herself, and he didn’t doubt it.
Marielle’s eyebrows rose.
He cleared his throat again. “They would if they had survived the mission. Only one has yet to report back. The other two were killed when the Akarians mounted a valiant attack to rescue their king.”
“Why was it so brief? What kind of valiant attack?”
Daes gritted his teeth. She knew how to scent out the details he didn’t really want to tell her, didn’t she? “That damned escaped creature mage rescued him.”
Evana scowled. “Akarians, eh? Hmm.” She took a deep breath, thinking. “She has been a thorn in our side indeed.” He was glad to hear her say our. He’d started to wonder if he’d stacked up enough failures to make her question their allegiance. Then again, what other allies did she have?
He sensed Marielle watching him again, and he met her gaze. Her eyes were closed off, though, unreadable. Strange, they weren’t normally like that. He frowned.
Enough admitting defeats. He didn’t want Marielle or Evana considering their cause lost. At the very least, he needed to distract them from the situation, and now.
“One piece of news our spies reported might be of particular interest to you. We have it on good authority that the creature mage is actually now betrothed to the prince.” It hadn’t come as a surprise to him, as he’d seen how she’d fought to free the prince. There’d been something between them, something dangerous he had not counted on. But he didn’t think Evana had taken it seriously, if she had noticed. Nobility mattered to her sort; Daes knew how arbitrary it really was. He kept his expression as casual as he could, studying her eyes.
Evana almost did not react, except in that she sat perfectly, unnaturally still. Did he detect a twitch of her eyelid, her lip, her fingers, or was it his imagination? Although she was fighting to contain it, her frozen stiffness told him the woman was on the knife-edge of rage.
He cleared his throat. “I mean—she is indeed a thorn. Perhaps we can use her as leverage against the prince somehow.” He had not meant to goad Evana on, or insult her, or bring up past wounds. No, of course, he wouldn’t do that. He smiled with satisfaction as she relaxed at his words. At the smile, Marielle shifted in her seat, something she normally didn’t do.
Her eyes flicked from him to the queen and back. “Hmm. Leverage. You are good at gaining leverage on people, Daes. Getting them to do what you want.”
He didn’t know that he’d done anything to earn that impression, so he simply shrugged.
“I do have some news from my elders.”
“Oh?”
“Although they denied my request to assassina
te the prince a long time ago, they did recently send word of some help. I found it… intriguing. They’ve located another Great Stone, split in two halves, similar to the one in Estun but smaller. It is only the height of one man, but it is complete enough for a person to fit inside. It’s in their control in the monastery in Faeren territory in Akaria.”
“Oh. Uh, interesting.” He had no idea why. “But how did they imagine this would help us?”
“It can be used as a prison. For mages. Especially the creature and earth ones, who can escape conventional imprisonment.”
Seulka would be jealous. He raised his eyebrows. “A prison for whom?”
At this, she smiled broadly, her lip curling in wolfish, predatory glee. It was an expression that cooled even Daes to his very core, and Marielle leaned back ever so slightly in her chair.
“Perhaps it is time we put that renegade creature mage of yours back under our control.”
MIARA STROKED the neck of her lovely horse as she fed energy into the nearest fallow pot. The mare’s hair was so silken and snowy Miara couldn’t keep her glove on. Her dramatic black mane hung over the graceful white arch of her neck, three braids intermixed with the free-flowing strands. Her name was Ataeralia, a surprisingly elaborate name for a horse who didn’t appear to have a specific owner to care for her aside from Ranok collectively, and Miara couldn’t help wondering who’d bothered to braid her hair.
She was surprised they hadn’t given her Lukor, the horse that had carried her from Estun with Samul, but she hadn’t requested him either, figuring he deserved a break after all that work. Ata, as Miara was hoping to call her for short, wasn’t terribly talkative, but her presence beneath Miara was strong and reassuring as Miara’s group lumbered through the streets of the White City, greenery curling up in their wake. A brisk wind blew in off the ocean cliffs, tasting of the salty sea and late-evening meals cooking over smoky hearth fires.
The falcon that seemed to have adopted her soared overhead too. He hadn’t taken much interest in coming inside her rooms, but when she went outside, he always visited. And hoped for some duck. As if sensing her thoughts of duck, he swooped down and perched on her shoulder briefly, today’s thick cloak protecting her for once.
