“Okay, Nephew, I get the point. I don’t know if you corrupted Ivy or the other way around, but I can’t talk to either of you without blushing now!” Star and Ivy came into the room, looking around shyly. They walked to where the girls were playing and stood watching, their wands in their hands. They were too self-conscious to jump into the game until an apprentice slowly sent a pillow their way. Star caught it and slowly sent it to Ivy. When Ivy caught the pillow and held it with her spell, the magic felt different. It wasn’t a bad thing, and my body soaked it up with the rest, but it was different.
I finally informed Alba that the girls had done their job and I was feeling a hundred percent. She could just let them visit now, or do whatever. I volunteered to keep ogling them as long as they wanted to stay. I wouldn’t say I was being ogled because the students were too shy, but I did catch more than a few glances that were friendly.
Before they left, Ivy and Star spent quite a bit of time talking to Alba. I assumed they were discussing training schedules and that sort of thing. I hugged Alba goodbye and told her to drop me a note, or have Davie do it if my folks went to Wizard’s. I thought the plan was to come back to Kethos, but they had been gone for much longer than I’d expected. As Alba and the students were circling up for recall, I jumped into the shower.
The hot water helped rid me of some of the tension from the day’s events. I tried finding a better battle plan than the one I’d used, but the weapon that they used against me was very effective against wizards. I finally decided that the best way to fight these particular revenants would be anything but four against one.
I toweled off and threw the towel over my head to dry my hair. I was walking the straight line from my closet to my bed when I heard tittering. Star warned, “James, my love, we still have company.”
I pulled the towel off my head and glanced toward her voice. She was standing with Ivy and three of the students that hadn’t yet left. “I see that. Perhaps I should go put some clothes on and come out again. I’m sorry if I offended your sensibilities, ladies.” I turned back to my closet and located clothes with the sound of ladies in stitches filling my room. I got dressed and went back out.
“Well, hello, everyone!” I greeted. “I thought you’d all gone home for the evening. Are you having company over for the night, Star? I know that Alba isn’t fond of her girls being out after dark unless she knows where they are.”
Star nodded. “They’re going to stay the night; I got permission for them from Alba. This is Lisa, Marie and Linda and they have been discussing magical stuff with Ivy and me all evening. We’ll try not to bother you, but if we keep you awake, you can always go to one of the other rooms. I’m sure the girls in there wouldn’t mind an unscheduled visit.” The comment was punctuated with chuckles.
“I think I’ll just lie on the bed for a while and listen to you girls chat. I’ve found that a feminine voice in the background helps me think, and if I get bored, I can always raise up and view the scenery.”
“Lie down, you incurable flirt, and behave yourself,” Star ordered, laughing.
I lay on the bed, listening to the girls talk in that alien language, until a note popped onto the bed. It was from Alba, informing us that everyone had gone back to Wizard’s and made it safely. They had run into a few more revenants, and Della thought they were likely to keep coming until we found the source. My father suggested that I patrol the northern edge as I could, and he would have his wizards and consorts do the same. I was warned not to go four-on-one again. I could take two at once, but more than that and I should get reinforcements.
I heard the quietconversation turn a bit louder when the girls were joined bySalma, Matri and Ulia. I was tempted to go find another room, but since I was tired, I just tuned them out. I was asleep in minutes.
I awoke the next morning glad that I had a huge bed. Ivy was curled up in her usual spot to my left and Star was on my right. Beyond Star were the three girls from Wizard’s Castle. I could think of much worse places to wake up.
I quietly slid free of the covers and slipped off the foot of the bed. I went down to the kitchen for breakfast and ate there, so I wouldn’t disturb the sleeping household. I’d dreamed of graveyards full of the dead coming back to life and attacking in mass. I wondered what kind of creature could bring the dead back to some semblance of life and give them the abilities that the revenants had displayed. I’d only experienced their ability to drain magic, and wondered if they had other magical abilities. I asked the kitchen staff to send up breakfast for everyone in about an hour, then slipped out for a walk.
I walked out of the castle and across the road to the Halfling paths, receiving grins, smiles and waves from every Halfling I passed. I wondered if they had heard the news about a Halfling wizard or if they knew about the baby. One of the elders had said something about fertile soil when he gave his blessing. I supposed that his magic blessing had taken advantage of my forgetfulness. I managed to do all of this. I gave these people their homes and a reason to live. I’ve cleaned up Kethos Village and provided work for everyone there. Sure, I’ve made mistakes along the way, but none of them killed me. There were close calls, but things are getting better. Now if I can just figure out the problem with the undead, things might, just might, start to go smoothly. Every time I think that, some wrinkle pops up to change things.
I wandered around for the hour that I’d given the kitchen. I knew if the maids saw five girls in my bed it would be gossip fuel, but I didn’t mind. The maids and servants were all good people here and the gossip would be friendly.
When I got to the room, all the girls were up. Someone must have made rounds and woken them when breakfast arrived. The Wizard’s girls were a bit self-conscious in the gowns that Star had provided. Since they were Star’s gowns, they were a tad short on some of the girls. I didn’t mind because looking isn’t cheating, in my opinion. As plates were stacked and people started drifting off, I sat by Star. She looked upset and that is a look I never like to see.
She advised me, “James, I know how sensitive you are and I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but we have to talk.”
“Never end a sentence with ‘we have to talk’; men always think the worst when you do,” I suggested.
She sighed, “Okay, then, I’ll just say it. The Sabian girls that we rescued and took in want to go home. They say that they still love you and loved all the time that they were here, but they still don’t feel as if they fit in. It’s the magic thing, and I think that Ivy and I passing the test might have made it worse. They assured me that none of them are with child and their reasons aren’t caused by anything we’ve done.”
Fighting the tears that must have been caused from dust I picked up in the field, I replied, “Okay; my only goal has been to make my consorts happy. If they would be happier going back home, then I’ll take them. I won’t say that I’m happy to see them go, because they’re my girls. Have them get what they want to take, give them some money to help them get set up, and let me know when they are ready to go.”
Star took the vault key to get the girls some money. I waited for her to come back and go talk to the girls. Very soon, she called me over to the table. I sighed as I sat down.
She reached across the table and kissed me. She knew me and could see the pain starting to build in my chest. “I do have some other news, but since my stray allowance has been used up, we’ll do this the proper way. All three of the girls that stayed last night want to stay on with us. You know, as consorts. I told them that I’d bring it to you and then you would make up your mind.”
“Did you tell them not to be upset or hate us if I don’t pick one or any of them?”
She nodded. “They said they understand that it is your choice and they wouldn’t raise a fuss.”
“They say that now, but when I tell them that I don’t believe they really want to be consorts, they might be upset. Perhaps I’m too jaded by recent events to do this.”
She smiled understandingly. �
�If you don’t want to…”
I inhaled deeply, and then exhaled. “Ask them to come sit with us and I’ll see what I can see. A person can usually read another person if they know what to look for. I read you and knew that you were the one I wanted to spend my life with, and that only took seconds.”
She blushed slightly and waved the three girls over. They had been watching and I guess they knew what we had been talking about. They sat across from me and tried to look calm. I could tell they were all nervous, scared, and expectant at the same time.
I looked at all three of them and said, “I am going to read what I can see in your eyes. I’m not a mind reader but I do have the ability to pick up on emotion and intent. Intent is something that you’ll learn more about as your training continues. Now, what I say won’t be meant to be cruel, it will just be what I see in regards to your petition to be consorts. If there is something you don’t want me to know, then you should step aside now.” I paused and waited to see if they wanted me to see who they really were. No one moved, so I continued, “I’ll start with you, Marie.” I reached out to find her, the real her, and wasn’t thrilled. “You seem like a very sweet person and you are quite an attractive lady. But you want to be my consort for the same reason that you wanted to be a wizard. That is, the prestige that you have gained and would gain. Raising someone’s social standing isn’t the reason I take consorts. I hope you understand. “
Marie nodded. “It’s true. I know I shouldn’t be that way and should be a wizard to help people, but I like when people treat me like I’m special. I don’t blame you, James, but I am a bit disappointed.”
Star embraced her and I moved over to Linda. “All right, Linda, you heard what it can be like. You ready for this, or want to skip it?” She nodded, so I read her. She was easy to read and the glint in her eye was obvious to me. I laughed softly. “Power. That is what you love. I would guess that meteor swarm or flamestrike would be your favorite spell, and the idea of having a child of royal blood is the driving force behind your desire to be a consort. I’m looking for love, caring, and teamwork from all my consorts. That’s just the way it is.”
Linda stood up from the table, took a deep breath and revealed, “Meteor swarm. “ She walked to the foot of the bed and got her clothes. She went with Marie and dressed, then returned to watch.
“Lisa, I’m not going to be getting many birthday presents from all the people I upset today. Am I going to have to read you and find that I have to be offensive again?” She just smiled and held my eyes. I read her and examined everything I could. This girl loved me. She loved Star, Ivy, Kemma and the world, it would seem. It wasn’t a worshipful type of love but a caring, comforting and soothing type. It seemed like she’d loved me forever, and I wanted to find out how long. If Aunt Alba permitted, Lisa was staying with me.
I stood up and walked around the table, helped her to her feet and brushed my lips on hers. That was all Star needed, and the two other potentials recalled home.
“I have to be completely honest before we make this official,” Lisa confessed. “A few years ago, when I was twelve, I was in a barn with a boy; to make a short story shorter, I’m no longer a virgin, so if that excludes me, I’ll understand.”
I called for Lynna and she walked in from her bedroom with a puzzled look. “Lynna, I was just trying to remember if someone who isn’t a virgin could be accepted as a consort?”
She grinned. “I assume that you’re talking to the young wizard lady with the hopeful look. I was as far from pure as you can get when my James took me away from the title of ‘working girl’ at an inn. If he’ll accept me, he’ll accept anyone who really cares for him.”
“I hope that clears things up,” I said to Lisa. “Now since the badges on your uniform say you’re an Apprentice, I would suggest that you take my wife with you and go find your instructor. Star has a lot of pull with her. You might want to take Ivy, too, and stop by the tailor’s to get them in their novice uniforms, if you don’t mind.”
When the three girls had recalled, I asked Lynna if she was busy. She replied that she was never too busy for me and asked what I needed. I asked her if she’d ever been to Sabia and if she would go with me, for moral support. I was losing three of my girls and just wanted someone with me when I took them home. I located all three girls with their things packed and tears in their eyes. I made sure that Star had given them plenty of money and learned she’d given them fifty platinum each. They deserved it and I’d miss them. They told me that they wanted to go to Salma’s village because her family was still there. I called Lynna to join us, told everyone to get ready and focused on the village. I found an out-of-the-way place where we wouldn’t be spotted when we appeared, wrapped up the girls and the luggage in my magic, and ported.
I could tell the moment we arrived that they were happy to be back in the jungle. They were all smiles until they looked at me and realized they were now in a new home. I kissed each one and promised I’d look in on them from time to time. There were tears, but I was strong. I took Lynna’s hand and we ported.
We arrived in a hot, dusty clearing with dense trees all around. Lynna asked, “We aren’t going back to the castle? There isn’t anything wrong, is there?”
“Just a broken heart and I knew that if I came here, I’d find love. I know that you love me and I would love to introduce you to someone else who does. Don’t get jealous because she’s just a flirt and she will be blunt. We just have to wait.”
“James, you’re worrying me a little. With all the things that have been going on with you and all the stress, are you sure you haven’t… lost it?”
I laughed, “Did I ever have ‘it’? Really, there is someone that you’d really like, if she’ll just show up.”
Lynna nodded but didn’t take her eyes off of me. I know that she thought the pressure had caused me to snap. When I heard bird chirps I started grinning, and she got really frightened. I stood up and looked at the trees.
“Translucia, it’s just me and a friend. I’m having a bad day and needed a hug, so I thought of you.”
A tiny voice came from the trees, causing Lynna to jump. “A hug I’d be happy to give, my favorite Prince, but you’ll have to look to your bigger friend for anything more.”
My pixie friend fluttered down and gently hugged my neck. She kissed my cheek and then landed on a stump. I sat on the ground and Lynna, doubting her own eyes, sat beside me.
“I have to look to my bigger friend, huh? Does that mean we’re never going to be closer than hugging friends?”
“James,” my Pixie tinkled, “you’re worse than your father. I see you have a broken heart, my dear. Tell me who did it and I’ll shoot her with my bow for you.”
I laughed. “It will be okay. The three girls that I came here with before decided to leave me and go back to their village. But I have a lot of love at home and my newest consort, Lynna here, is doing her best to keep my spirits up.”
Translucia responded, “Lynna, be aware that his favorite way of keeping his spirit up is by making enough noise to scare a bear away. All that sweating and moaning and…”
“Okay! Okay!” I interrupted, “We get the idea. If I remember correctly, you were the one who suggested I do that to get my magic back.”
“And it worked, too, didn’t it? But I didn’t mean for you to disturb the entire forest!”
Lynna was laughing so hard that she fell over. “You were right, James, I do love your friend. It is so nice to meet you, Translucia. James doesn’t live in a forest now, so we don’t frighten bears. But I know that our suite guards get an earful on occasion.”
“On a different but similar note,” I interrupted, trying to change the subject, “one of my consorts and I are expecting a baby. The baby might be around your size, considering Mom is a Halfling. And you know that I’ll bring the baby to see you, since you love babies. Well, you loved me when I was a baby, anyway.”
“A Halfling and human baby, wouldn’t that be a quarter
ling?” asked Translucia.
“Be nice when you’re talking about my baby. I’ll love it, quarterling or pixie or whatever.”
“So will I, my baby James in a man’s body. But if you can hear the chirping, that means duty calls. It has been so very nice to meet you, Lynna. Take care of my boy for me.”
She waved goodbye and disappeared before she entered the trees. Lynna was grinning a wide, delighted grin. “I don’t think you’re crazy anymore, James, just unique. You do have some special friends! She is something else! She is kind, sweet, friendly and blunt, all rolled into a tiny, winged package. Now, since she left, we can talk about that moaning and sweating.”
“We might get into trouble for scaring bears, so we better go home. Translucia can always be counted on to cheer me up.” I took her in my arms and pressed my mouth to hers, letting the tip of my tongue tickle her lips and then pulling away. I focused and found her empty bedroom, then ported us there. She grinned when she saw our location but I shook my head sadly.
“Aunt Alba might show up for your lesson and I’ll get a lecture about keeping her girls in bed when they could be doing something useful. Then I’ll have to explain how useful being in bed is, which will cause her to blush, then comes the end of the world… See how bad things could get?”
“Okay, I take it back. You really are crazy,” she said.
We entered the bedroom and all the girls were there. Ivy and Star were the only two who weren’t in uniform, but they informed us that they had been ordered and a set was supposed to be ready by this evening. I suggested that they put on the sea-blue set that Lia had ordered for them and at least they would have the same style as the other girls. They grinned and zipped off to the closet to change. I learned that Aunt Alba was expected soon and that Star wanted to talk to me alone. She pulled me off into the recently vacated bedroom.
James, The Crown Prince Page 16
