The Master and the Sorceress

by Bernadette Rowley

  “I’ll see what I can do. Footman?”

  The old fellow frowned and shook his head but ordered the driver to park the carriage near the gate. “Come with me, Master Tomel,” he said as they walked, “but you are wasting your time, sir. The princess will not endanger her child.”

  “Still, we shall ask her,” James said, as he followed the footman into the small chamber.

  He didn’t have long to wait. A petite, dark-haired beauty in red velvet, accompanied by a teenaged maid, swept into the chamber fifteen minutes later. Princess Benae’s dark brown hair was arranged in elaborate swirls and loops on the top of her head. But it was her eyes James noticed most. They were emerald green and full of intelligence.

  He came forward and bowed as he took her offered hand. Her skin was rough as though she still did manual work. She was said to be an accomplished horsewoman, so perhaps that was the cause.

  “Princess Benae,” James said. “At last we meet. I cannot wait to begin work on your circlet design.”

  She smiled. “I think I’ve chosen the correct jeweler if the pieces I’ve seen are anything to go by. They are exquisite.”

  A warm glow rose in his stomach. This woman knew her way around men. He had already decided he would enjoy working with her. However, there was something he must tell her first.

  “Before we start, Your Highness, there is another issue I must broach.” He paused, uncertain how to begin. “There is a woman in the forecourt who has someone she wishes you to see. The old woman with her is gravely ill.”

  Benae took a step backward. “I cannot help her. I won’t risk my babe. He has not been strong since birth.”

  “Princess, it seems this woman will die, and you may be her last hope. I believe the young woman with her, Katrine, would have tried everything she could before troubling you.”

  Benae frowned. “I don’t like to say no under those circumstances, but I can’t risk my child.”

  “Do you think you could help, Princess?” James pressed. He saw the compassion in her eyes now, and knew she wanted to help against her better judgment. It was no easy choice to ask of her. Children often died in childhood, especially in the first year. And this child was the King’s heir.

  She considered and then shook her head. “It is likely I could help, and I’m sorry for your young friend and for the ill woman, but I cannot risk it, Master Tomel.”

  There was an indelicate snort at the door, and a tall, blonde woman with lilac eyes appeared. She wore the rich clothes of a lady. Or a princess. Princess Alecia Zialni?

  Her lilac eyes speared James. “Excuse me, sir, but I must interrupt.” Her gaze snapped from James to the dark-haired princess. “Step-mother,” the blonde sneered. “You will help Hetty, or I will see you regret it.”

  James winced. This was Princess Alecia alright.

  “Hetty? The sick woman is the witch known as Hetty?” Benae’s hands bunched into fists at her sides. “I will not do as you say.”

  Alecia took a step toward her. “Keep your voice down. Some would kill Hetty on the strength of those words.” She glared at James as though daring him to repeat what he had heard.

  James raised his hands. “I have no interest in this Hetty you speak of.”

  “That is good, sir,” Alecia said. “Unlike my step mother, I will defend my friends even unto death.”

  James inclined his head. “I am sure you are loyal, Princess.”

  Alecia narrowed her eyes. “Benae, you cannot allow Hetty to die. She had nothing to do with my father’s death. And even if she did, then your anger should lie with your husband, not her. If I can forgive her than you certainly can.”

  “I can’t place my son at risk.”

  “I’ve been nursing her night and day and am as hale and hearty as the day I began,” Alecia countered. “Iona is well too, and she isn’t much older than your babe. Please. Don’t let her die!”

  Benae crossed to the window, her shoulders hunched, hands opening and closing at her sides. She clearly didn’t wish to place her child at risk, but perhaps her conscience wouldn’t allow her to walk away from Hetty either.

  “I will attend her, but she must remain outside.” She turned to her maid. “Fetch my medicine box.”

  They walked out to the coach to find Katrine pacing up and down beside it. Benae stopped abruptly when she spotted the woman dressed in breeches and tunic.

  Katrine approached and curtseyed. Breeches weren’t made for that movement. James stifled a smile at the odd picture his beautiful friend presented.

  “Princess Benae,” she said, “thank you for attending my friend. I wouldn’t trouble you but nothing I have done seems to pull Hetty from the grip of this disease.”

  Benae grimaced at the word. “Stand aside and I will examine her. I have skill with herbs.” Her maid arrived with a case and bowls. “You will all wait outside.” Benae and her maid stepped inside the coach and closed the door.

  Katrine joined James. “Thank you for convincing her to help.”

  “I did little. You should thank Princess Alecia. I think her words had most impact.”

  She wrung her hands. “I hope she is as skilled as they say.” A frown crossed her brow, and she glanced at the carriage. “That’s odd.”

  “What?”

  “Never mind.” She stood staring at the conveyance as if she could help by the sheer focus of her will.

  James touched her shoulder, and she turned to him. “How have you fared? You look tired.”

  Katrine chewed her lip. “I’ve had little sleep since we arrived. Hetty was so ill I was scared if I left her side she might pass away. I don’t know how she holds on, but she is strong.”

  “She’s fortunate to have such a loyal friend,” he said. “When I think of what you endured to be at her side…”

  Katrine peered up at him. “I couldn’t have done it without you, James. You’ve been …wonderful. Are your business dealings progressing as you would wish?”

  Their conversation was so stilted it made James wish for the privacy to tell Katrine how he felt—how she had changed him with her friendship and wild energy, how things once vital in his life no longer seemed important. But he couldn’t do it here. Perhaps he shouldn’t say anything.

  “I suppose they are. That’s if Princess Benae doesn’t withdraw her patronage after this.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said, a cloud dimming her gaze.

  “My business with the princess can wait. I shouldn’t have mentioned it. Please forgive me.”

  “Esta always implied I was selfish. Now I begin to understand what she meant. I have to have my own way, I am so focused on what I think is important, despite others having their own needs.”

  James tilted her chin, and her troubled eyes met his. “There is nothing selfish about you, Katrine. You are a true friend to Hetty, and you are brave and passionate. They are qualities you should treasure.”

  As hope lit Katrine’s eyes, Princess Benae alighted from the carriage. Her head and shoulders were downturned, and she stumbled a little at the bottom of the coach stairs. She met Katrine’s gaze. “I think your friend will recover. Good nursing is all she needs.” She smiled at James. “I’m sorry, Master Tomel. May we meet tomorrow instead? I’m a little tired.”

  Princess Benae continued into the castle, her maid at her side, but James didn’t wish to lose the moment he and Katrine had just shared. He clutched her hand as she turned to climb back in the coach.

  “Don’t go,” he said. “I need to see you.”

  Her eyes widened and then anger burned in them. “You had your chance and told me you needed to keep your distance. Now I must get Hetty back home. Perhaps you can call on me there.” She opened the door of the coach then turned to him. “I’m sure you can discover where Hetty lives without any help from me.”

  And with those words he was dismissed. He was the older and wiser, but, with Katrine, he felt like a teenager on his first infatuation. She was so proud, too proud to beg for his compa
ny. But she was vulnerable too, with a sadness he would dearly like to banish. The trouble was he had only added to her melancholy since he had known her.

  He watched the coach move away, wondering when he might see her again. He turned to a footman. “Please tell the princess I will visit her on the morrow at 10am.” It was then he saw Princess Alecia watching him. She approached.

  She stood almost as tall as him and regarded him with interest. “You are James Tomel.”

  James swept a low bow. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness.”

  The princess inclined her head. “You met Vard Anton on your way here.”

  He nodded. “He was of assistance to us when we ran into trouble. I am in his debt and would like to repay him. Can you tell me where he is?”

  She shook her head. “I cannot. I simply wished to ask your impression of the man.”

  “If you ask ‘was he sane’ then I would say he’s as sane as any man.”

  “What makes you think that was my question?”

  He exhaled. “I’ve heard rumors, but I believe you have nothing to worry about. He still searches.”

  Her lavender gaze turned gray. “I fear he will never find what he seeks. It has been so long.” Her eyes narrowed as she focused on him again. “They say you are a spy master. Are you?”

  He frowned at her. “You are blunt, Princess. If you needed to know that information, you wouldn’t have to ask the question.”

  “And you, Master Tomel, are rude. I am your princess, and, as such, you will answer my question.”

  “I’ve already said as much as I intend.” James bowed to her and turned to leave.

  “Consider, sir, there may come a day when you will need my friendship, and that day may come sooner than you think.”

  James nodded and walked toward the stables to collect Lightning. When he passed back through the courtyard on his horse, there was no sign of Princess Alecia, but he had the feeling he had not seen the last of the feisty royal.

  A bell rang downstairs, and Kat groaned. She rolled over in bed and pushed herself up, dragging the blanket around her shoulders.

  “A moment!” She was glad Hetty was recovered enough to ring the bell, but did she have to ring it so often? It seemed like Kat had just touched her head to the pillow, and, indeed, it was still dark outside. She descended the stairs and entered the kitchen where Hetty sat in her cot adjacent to the fire.

  “There you are, girl!” Hetty said. “I was about to get it myself.”

  Kat ground her teeth on a snarky reply. “What do you want, Hetty? And what time is it?”

  “Time you were up, young Kat,” she said. “It’s past five, and I’d like my breakfast. Stoke the fire, will you?”

  Kat rattled around in the kitchen, adding wood to the fire and placing the kettle and pot on the hooks. “How about a nice cup of tea while the porridge cooks?”

  “Thank you. Don’t forget the bread.”

  As if Kat ever could with Hetty to remind her. It was two days since they had seen Princess Benae, and the change in the old woman was miraculous. She had put on weight, and her breathing was almost normal. Even the cough was nearly gone. Kat paused as she pondered the astounding changes in her old friend. Benae must have magic at her disposal. It would explain the sensation Kat had experienced when Benae had been in the coach with Hetty—the prickling of magic. There was no other explanation.

  The thought made her despondent. Kat was herself one of the strongest witches Hetty had ever seen, yet she was unable to cure her sick friend. She had thrown every spell and potion she could think of into Hetty’s care, and all she had succeeded in doing was to prevent her slipping over the brink. It was not good enough! She was not good enough.

  “What is it, girl?” Hetty’s voice slipped through the fog clogging her mind.

  Kat fiddled with the pot and tea leaves. “Nothing. I’m glad you’re feeling better.” She turned away. “I’ll get the bread going.”

  “Katrine Aranati, you will stop your fussing and tell me what’s wrong.”

  Kat sighed and pulled a chair up to Hetty’s bed. She met the older woman’s concerned expression.

  “I’m afraid you were wrong about my powers,” she said. “I couldn’t help you when you were ill." The admission made her failure more real. Not so long ago, Kat thought magic might be her savior—that it would pull her from melancholy and give her purpose. Now she didn’t know what to believe.

  “I wondered when you would fall into this hole,” Hetty said.

  “What do you mean? You’ve been waiting for me to fail?” Kat’s temper simmered just short of the boil. Hetty was so devious when she wished to be. Centuries of living had taught the old woman all there was to know about people, and she used it to her advantage.

  “Don’t get all in a flap!” Hetty said, warm air from the fire making her spiky gray hair dance. “I meant the life of a witch is full of challenges, especially when we are young. There is so much to learn, and it is easy to think we know it all when we are at the start of our journey.”

  “You said I could be the most powerful of our kind!”

  “And so you might be. However, it depends on you and which paths you take. It also doesn’t mean you won’t fail from time to time. And each one of us has inherent talents. Do you believe healing is your strongest?”

  Kat huffed. “Not if the last week is anything to go by. I could do little while …” She hadn’t decided whether to tell Hetty who had saved her. Perhaps she should keep Benae’s secrets.

  “Princess Benae’s aid delivered a magical turnaround in my health,” Hetty said, plucking at the coverlet.

  “You know!”

  “Of course I do, dear. I wasn’t so sick I wasn’t aware of what was happening around me. I saw what you did for me, and I knew when you took me to the castle. Despite fearing me, Princess Benae did her very best. I felt her magic surge through me and believed I would be well. It is quite a gift she has, but it is only healing magic and none other.”

  “Why does she fear you?”

  “She thinks I had something to do with the death of her first husband.”

  “And did you?”

  Kat didn’t wish to believe Hetty capable of harming anyone, but was she being naïve? After all, disguised as Lady Star, Kat had been responsible for deaths during her battles at sea even though her escapades had never come to light in the recent trial against her brother-in-law. But those days were over.

  “It’s possible I may have contributed to his demise, although I had no intention to do more than make him impotent. I wasn’t aware at the time that the prince already had trouble in the bedroom and was taking all manner of herbs to aid his performance.”

  Kat covered her ears. “Enough! I have no wish to hear the details. I’m glad you weren’t to blame.”

  “Don’t be dim, girl. Our magic can be used as a weapon. Any time we wield it, we have to be ready to accept the consequences.”

  I am, I believe. It was something that bore examination when she had more time.

  “Don’t think you have distracted me from the real purpose of this talk, Katrine, and that is to scrutinize your magic and your current wretchedness.”

  “I’m fine, Hetty. You are getting well, and that’s the most important thing.”

  “And I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you did. You kept me from death, and, when you couldn’t do more, you sought the help of the only person who could. Did anyone else think of that?”

  “There was only Alecia, and she was as worried as I was.” Kat shuddered at how close they had come to losing Hetty.

  “Alecia relied upon you to help, but when you couldn’t you didn’t give up,” Hetty said. “Part of being a sorceress is knowing your limits. You recognized you couldn’t do any more, and I thank you for taking me to Benae.”

  Kat stared at her friend. How could she see this as anything other than a failure? “It’s kind of you to say so.”

  Hetty snorted. �
�You’re stubborn, child! Every witch and wizard has a range of powers, and some are greater than others. Some are healers, others are warriors, still others have the power to alter nature and the elements. The list is long. You have been a warrior all your adult life, so I’m not surprised healing isn’t your strong magic.”

  Kat’s mouth fell open. It made sense. She had so much to learn!

  “Now you must decide if it means enough for you to turn your back on love and pursue the lonely life of a sorceress.” Hetty’s dark eyes bored into Kat, challenging her as she always did. How had she thought she could hide anything from the old woman?

  “I don’t have a love in my life.”

  “What of the dark-haired master? Alecia sensed a connection between you. That’s why I need to say this. You can’t devote your life to magic if you have a man. It’s one or the other. Why do you think I never married?”

  Kat looked down at her hands. Hands which could nurture and love—or destroy. Could she turn her back on all that potential for the sake of love? And what of James? Did he feel that way about her? She looked at Hetty. “It’s a decision for another day.”

  “You don’t deny it then?”

  Kat’s mouth dropped open. “You were fishing! You didn’t know for sure about James.”

  Hetty nodded, her eyes gleaming. “I suspected. You were different, pre-occupied. I can usually read the signs. James Tomel is known to me. His work is exquisite. How did you meet him?”

  It seemed she had known James forever, but Kat was startled to realize it was less than two weeks since she nearly ran him down. So much had transpired since then and while Hetty knew of the night hounds and the tragedy of the dead new born, Kat had been vague about the identity of the man involved. She told Hetty the full story including her trip to Brightcastle, leaving out certain embarrassing incidents. “What of the night hounds, Hetty? How do I banish them?”

  “If they are drawn to your magic, girl, that makes you special. I’ve not heard of them in over fifty years, but I’ve heard of witches who were dogged by the beasts. If you are one such then it may mean you can’t turn your back on the life of a sorceress.”