The Sartious Mage (The Rhythm of Rivalry)
Page 33
I felt my lips curl into a smile. “I promise to tell you the whole story whenever you wish to hear it. Will you set up a meeting?”
“I’ll try to talk to the King now that I know her feelings are genuine. There’s no reason to come back here until you’re summoned, though, whether it be to see Lisanda or begin your training. Wait for someone to visit your farm.” He lowered his head to encourage my confirmation.
Knowing the only way I would see Lisanda was within the palace, there was no reason to stay at the farm any longer. So I told Micah we were moving and gave him our new address.
He wasn’t surprised, knowing Sannil had wanted a new home.
“I’ll await the summons there,” I said. “Any estimation of how long I must wait?”
“The King and his staff should be ready to begin your training in a few days. I can’t give you an answer about being able to see Lisanda, though.”
“I understand.” I was reminded of another worry. “Was Danvell Takary upset with you when you told him about the dressing room?”
Micah’s eyes went wide as if reliving a painful experience. “Ah, that.” He ran his hand down the horse’s mane. “Yes, he was very upset, but he understood my reasoning. However, it will be the last time I do something like that.”
His voice was choppy, wavering with unusual inflection. I figured he was reciting exactly what the King had told him.
We spent the rest of our time discussing the journal. He loved my idea about a plant or animal sucking up the SE, but he didn’t know of one, either. He told me he would have people look into it, and I thanked him three times before I felt my gratitude for everything he’d done was adequately expressed.
My family began moving the next morning.
By sunset we were in our new home, but I knew I wouldn’t be there for long. The King’s Mage was to take residence within the palace, and I was to be the King’s Mage.
I tried to tell myself I would see Lisanda again, whether or not the King permitted it. If we were going to be in the same palace, it would happen—I really wanted to believe so. But another part of me knew the palace was big enough for two people to live there for years before serendipitously being in the same place at the same time.
The biggest issue, though, was that I knew she would marry someone soon—the King had mentioned setting her up with the man previously intended for Jessend. But Lisanda had described him as more evil than Exo.
I couldn’t let that happen. Some way or another I would stop it. It may cost me my new job, but that would be a small price to pay…even if I wasn’t the one she ended up with instead.
It wasn’t that I didn’t appreciate the King’s gratitude or that I held a grudge. I was free, even offered a prestigious position among his staff. I’d always wanted to use my magic for good and spend my life learning from other mages. I just couldn’t wrap my mind around the idea of Lisanda being stuck with a man of pure evil.
Three days later, I was still trying to get used to thinking of Facian as home, but my body just didn’t want to acclimate. I’d awoken the first two mornings expecting to find the farm out my window, and the crowded streets of The Nest on the third, always forgetting I was in neither of those places anymore. The houses in Facian were small—cozy, I should say.
Most people had a yard roughly the size of their house, and a few animals to go with it, a goat, a cow, some pigs, but chickens were the most popular. They always reminded me of Lisanda leaning against my chest to move away from them after she woke in the caged wagon I’d stolen.
In the afternoon, there was a knock at the door, and a green-robed Sartious mage of the King greeted me with a scroll and a pen. Over her shoulder, I could see all our new neighbors looking while pretending to be busy. Sannil and Kalli took their place behind me, Sannil resting his hand on my shoulder.
“It looks like it’s time,” he said.
I opened the scroll and held it up so he and Kalli could see.
I pledge my service to the King of Goldram, Danvell Takary, as the King’s Mage. My tasks will require a mastery of magic that will range from training and instructing other mages to fighting in the name of Goldram. I vow to follow any order from my superior and keep my own orders to my subordinates in the interests of the King.
Signature:
“My subordinates?” I asked the woman in front of me. I’d never imagined I would have subordinates. It didn’t feel right. There was no doubt they would be older than me…and probably bitter to be commanded by me.
“Don’t worry, your training will cover that,” she answered with a smile. “Please sign and we can be on our way.”
“Are you absolutely sure I can’t convince you not to do this?” Sannil shook my shoulder with a rough but affectionate massage. He and Kalli both knew I wanted this and couldn’t disagree I was probably the perfect person for the job, but they’d still tried to talk me out of it every day. It was the idea of fighting for Goldram that worried them, especially with war coming.
“I’m certain,” I said, signing my name. I had my books and clothes ready to go, gave one last hug to my family, and told them I would visit often. They knew it was the truth.
The carriage waiting for me was roofed. It was draped with a fine cloth showing the blue soaring wings of the Takary family. I laughed to myself. It was too much, and I preferred to be able to see out of the carriage during the trip. But I didn’t complain.
My heart stopped when it opened and I saw who was inside.
“Don’t worry, Sannil and Kalli. I’ll make sure he’s well taken care of.”
Lisanda’s low-voiced accent made everyone turn. Even our neighbors stopped pretending to be busy. A few came over and knelt before her. She smiled and curtsied back.
She wore a black dress with red sleeves that flowed down to her knees. Her dark hair was different, now resting in playful curls on her shoulders. But her brown skin shone golden under the sun just like usual.
Kalli yelped and ran out to squeeze her. Lisanda giggled and returned the embrace. A few people gasped at the strange interaction between a commoner and a Takary princess, but gasps turned to whispers, then to murmurs, then to excited chatter when Lisanda kissed Kalli’s cheek.
I noticed Sannil laughing behind me.
“I suppose this will forever change how our neighbors think of us,” he said.
Kalli turned to me with her hands on her hips. “What are you doing over there, stupid?”
I couldn’t move. My eyes were locked on the most beautiful sight I’d ever seen.
Lisanda lifted her shoulders as she swayed back and forth, showing me an embarrassed smile. “I’ve missed that look.”
Suddenly I was running, throwing my arms around her, and lowering my lips to hers.
When our kiss was done, she went to her toes and whispered into my ear, “I told you I wouldn’t leave you until you were cured.”
My heart fell to my stomach with a crash as she went back down to her heels.
“Didn’t you hear? There is no cure.”
She smiled and squeezed me tight, nestling her head under my chin. “Then I guess I can never leave your side.”
END
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Jek and Lisanda will return. If you haven’t read Bastial Energy yet, make sure you do so next. The third book in the series, Bastial Steel, follows Bastial Energy, but it also includes characters from The Sartious Mage.
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To my mother and father
for their continuous love and support.
They may not be the best editors,
but I couldn’t ask for bett
er parents.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is coincidental.
Copyright © 2013 by B.T. Narro
Cover art by Ricky Gunawan
Maps by Annette Tremblay: midnightwhimsy.deviantart.com
All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written permission of the copyright holder.