by K. M. Shea
The male mage was twitching as Ariane panicked. Where am I supposed to hit him next? Papa always said to run as soon as the opponent was down, but I can’t do that! She considered popping him in the face with her trusty broom handle, but the bug mage made a keening noise, and a cloud of wasps forced Ariane back into the hallway.
When the insects finally left, both of the mages were gone.
Ariane poked her head into the garden to affirm His Highness and Henry were breathing before she turned on her heels and, still clutching her broom, sprinted down the hallway. “Guards!” She shouted. “There’s been an attack on Prince Lucien! Guards!”
Lucien wrinkled his nose and glared at his hands, slick with the paste that was supposed to take the puff out of his skin from all the wasps’ stings. “I smell like I've bathed in a bower,” he said.
Elle, his sister-in-law and the smart-mouthed beloved of Severin, grinned mischievously. “But Lucien, haven't you heard? Floral scents are all the rage with royal women.”
“With women, yes,” Lucien said. “But I am a man. I should smell of leather and gold, not...” Lucien paused to take a whiff of his hands. “Daisies.”
Severin, his arms folded across his broad chest—a feature Lucien had always envied—frowned at him. “The paste does not smell like daisies.”
“And you don't want to smell like gold,” Elle assured Lucien as she plopped down on an armchair with no care for the skirts of her gown. “When it gets old, it starts to smell overly metallic and almost blood-like.”
Lucien heaved his eyes to look up at the ceiling. “Let me guess. One of your blasted assignments back when you were Ranger Seventy-Eight took you to the vaults of Arcainia?”
“Close—the gold hordes of Baris.”
“Baris, I should have known,” Lucien grumbled.
“Though Elle may be in a mood to entertain your false bravado, I do not intend to let this incident pass by, Lucien,” Severin rumbled. (Seven rumbled a great deal more now than he had when they were boys, probably due to his stint as a catlike beast.)
“What is there to discuss?” Lucien asked. “Two rogue mages tried to kill me. I'm hardly the first royal to have faced danger over the past five years. You know as much, Severin. You were among the first to be attacked by that witch who turned you into a beast.”
“Obviously I am aware of the disturbing number of renegade magic users who have attacked royalty across the continent. It is why I have called the upcoming Summit,” Severin said. “What I will not abide is that they attacked you in Noyers—in the palace. We have the most powerful army in the continent, and we couldn't keep you safe in our strongest city.”
Lucien studied his brother for a moment, taking in the dark circles that ringed his eyes and the ever-constant wrinkle of worry on his brow. He made himself smirk. “Perhaps we should consider recruiting from the palace staff. That maid was quite vicious in her defensive maneuverings.”
Severin slammed a fist on an end table. “That maid may be the only reason you are alive.”
Elle roused herself from her seat to stand at her husband’s side. She touched his shoulder and murmured words to him that Lucien could not hear, though he could see the effect of them as they made Severin stand taller and ease the clenching of his jaw.
She is as polite and noble as a mountain hag, but there are some benefits in having her hanging about.... Despite his less than charitable thoughts about her, Lucien had come to like Elle. While Severin was honorable and meticulous about everything from his military plans to staffing his chateau, Elle was far craftier and not nearly as mule-ish. She was a fine foil for his brother, though Lucien wished she showed more passion for the Loire nobility as Severin, and now Elle, both skipped out on as many court functions as possible. This was more than a small worry for Lucien because, as Severin was going to be his top advisor in everything, it did not bode well if he was absent whenever possible.
Perhaps I should begin attempting to make the courts more enjoyable for Elle; she would drag Severin in her wake. He studied the pair thoughtfully. Though I should wait at least until the Summit is over—they both look burdened. And this rotten assassination attempt will not ease their worries. It occurred to Lucien for a moment that he could likely use the day’s events as a reason to lure them into polite society more often, but another glance at them showed that Elle shifted like a nervous filly, and Severin rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. No—I will not be that selfish. So how to lighten the mood? Lucien rubbed his forehead and sighed. “I need wine.”
The complaint had the desired effect, for Severin narrowed his eyes and glared at Lucien like a grudging grandfather.
They were interrupted by a knock at the door.
“Enter,” Severin growled.
A butler opened the door and bowed. “Lady Enchantress Angelique,” he announced.
The lady enchantress glided into the room. “I believe I have introduced myself to every servant in this palace—at least twice each—as an enchantress-in-training.” She smiled at them, making Lucien's heart ache with her beauty.
“My Lady,” Severin murmured as he bowed.
“Angelique, you've arrived early for the Summit!” Elle smiled and boldly embraced the enchantress.
“I have,” the enchantress acknowledged as her dress—a beautiful, opalescent creation that she never changed out of—darkened from a shade of petal pink to rose red. “Though it seems you have already started the events without me.”
“Lady Enchantress Angelique.” Lucien gave her his most charming smile as he joined Elle. He took the enchantress's hands and kissed them. “You are as stunning and beautiful as ever. Your mere presence brightens this room. For the sake of my heart I must ask, when shall you respond to my sonnets of love for you?”
The lady enchantress' smile took on a mask-like quality. “Prince Lucien, I'm glad to see you are in high spirits despite your dangerous experience this morning.”
“Oh, it was nothing.” Lucien took another step towards the enchantress, ignoring Elle when she elbowed him sharply in the side. “But I am ever so pleased you have come to Noyers and the palace. As long as you are a guest here, I shall see that you are treated with every respect and courtesy.”
The lady enchantress tugged her hands from Lucien's grasp when he tried to kiss them again. “Yes, thank you. However, I will not remain here long. I intend to impose on Prince Severin and Princess Elle's hospitality and stay at their chateau this evening.”
Despite her obvious discomfort, Lucien did not give up. She's beautiful, and powerful to boot. Although it is unlikely she would ever accept my suit, it doesn't hurt to try. Besides, it's not like anyone expects any sort of higher conduct out of me. He beamed. “How delightful! I, also, intend to stay with dear Severin and dear Elle.”
Elle raised an eyebrow. “Since when?”
“Since right this moment,” Lucien said.
“I was unaware my wife had become dear to you,” Severin said wryly.
Lucien laughed. “Of course she has! After all, she's so...” He trailed off as he stared at his sister-in-law. “Well, at least her bangs are finally cut evenly.”
“Based on your entrance, Lady Enchantress, I assume you heard of Lucien's encounter with the rogue mages this morning?” Elle asked. Though she ignored his insults for now, Lucien was fairly certain she'd get him back later.
“Please, just Angelique. And I have.” The lady enchantress slipped around Lucien and retreated to a window.
“Is there any sort of spell you could cast on him? Perhaps any protection charms?” Severin asked.
Lucien rolled his eyes. “Come now, you two sound like a pair of worried mothers! One assassination attempt is hardly frightening enough to begin requiring spells and charms.”
“Second,” Severin said.
Lucien frowned. “What?”
“This is the second attempt,” Severin said.
Lucien felt the blood freeze in his veins. “What are you talking abou
t?”
“Do you recall last week when we spent the morning in your study, discussing the most recent Ranger reports?” Severin asked.
Lucien nodded.
“Shortly after you left to have tea with Madame Belladonna, refreshments, which I found to be poisoned, were brought to the study.”
Lucien scowled. “And you didn't think to tell me?”
Elle and Severin exchanged glances. “We assumed Severin was the intended target and didn’t want to worry you,” Elle said as she rejoined her husband.
Lucien clenched his teeth and glared at the pair. Of course, they'd never tell me if Severin was in trouble again. I'm unreliable.
Everyone was silent for a few moments, until Angelique folded her hands in front of herself and cleared her throat. “To answer your question, Severin, I'm afraid there aren't many defensive spells available to use on humans.”
“Would Craftmage Stil and his wife Gemma be able to provide a better alternative?” Elle asked.
Angelique thoughtfully tilted her head. “Perhaps, if you meant for Lucien to walk around in a suit of armor at all times of the day, but even that has its limitations.”
“Yes, now I absolutely need wine.” Lucien opened the door and poked his head out into the hallway. “Wine!” He announced before shutting the door, not bothering to see if any servants were about and had heard his orders.
“You said there weren't many spells available to use on humans,” Severin said. “Does that mean they can be used on animals?”
Lucien snorted. “Worried about your horse, are you? Though now that you mention it, it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a spelled cavalry.”
“There are a number of very powerful strains of defensive spells that can be placed on small animals,” the enchantress Angelique said. “They've existed for well over a century, but thus far no one has been able to adapt them for human use.”
Severin folded his arms across his chest. “What kind of spells?”
“There's a certain charm that makes it impossible to shoot the creature—mostly because every time you set your eyes upon it, the spell will make your eyes water. There is another spell that will allow land animals to swim like fish, a charm that will let them survive small exposures to fires, and a particularly powerful spell that can make a creature, for all practical purposes, indestructible.”
“Indestructible?” Elle asked, intrigued.
“They can be dropped from a third-story window and incur no harm,” Angelique said. “Though that particular spell only works on creatures that are smaller than a tea tray.”
“If the spells have no use for humans, who bothered to design them?” Elle asked.
“A very powerful enchantress who owned a dozen cats and small animals,” Angelique said.
“I see.” Severin rubbed his chin in a manner Lucien found very alarming.
“What are you thinking?” he suspiciously asked his brother.
Severin shook his head—still lost in thought.
There was a knock at the door, and a butler entered the room, bearing a wine bottle and several glass chalices.
Lucien had the cork out of the bottle and a glass poured before the butler quitted the room. He had just taken a swig of the wine—a Sole import—when Severin finally uttered his thoughts.
“Is it possible to temporarily turn a human into a small animal?”
Lucien spat out his wine, getting flecks of it all over his favorite gold waistcoat. “No!” Though he was almost paralyzed with horror, he managed to shout. “Absolutely not!”
The set of Severin’s mouth was grim. “The situation is dire, Lucien. We should investigate all possible methods of protection.”
“I am not spending my days as a housecat,” Lucien said.
“But dear Lucien, it would be for your safety,” Elle said with a practiced wide-eyed gaze of innocence.
Lucien thrust a finger in her direction. “Not a word from you,” he declared. “Severin is at least genuinely motivated by fear and affection. You just want to laugh at me!”
Elle nodded sincerely. “I do.”
“A transformation spell would take some preparation, but it could be done,” Lady Enchantress Angelique said.
Lucien swung to face her. “Even you have abandoned me, my Lady?”
“Would you research it, Angelique?” Severin asked.
Angelique’s smile was overly bright. “It would be my pleasure!”
It would seem Elle isn’t the only one eager to make a fool of me. Lucien folded his arms across his chest. “You three cannot be serious.”
“I hope it won’t come to such drastic measures, but I will do whatever is necessary to protect you, brother,” Severin said.
Lucien sighed and rubbed his eyes. “Bother the lot of you.”
Elle laughed.
“If you pardon the change of conversation, when do you expect other Summit attendees to arrive?” Angelique asked.
“Most are scheduled to arrive over the next few days.” Severin began to sift through a package of papers he had brought with him.
“Gemma and Craftmage Stil are greeting the Ringsted representatives. I estimate they will arrive in two days or so,” Elle said.
Lucien moodily scowled as he refilled his chalice and plopped down in a chair. Assassins, Summits, and transformation spells. Pah! I cannot wait for all of this to blow over.
Ariane pinned the tail of her hair braid into the bun at the base of her neck as she peered up at the chandelier that hung from the ceiling and wondered what poor footman she could corner into helping her lower it.
Chandeliers get incredibly dusty. Since this music parlor hasn't been used since last fall, I bet this one is filthy! She grinned as she tugged a soft cloth between her hands.
Ariane loved her job. She found supreme satisfaction in cleaning the filthy nooks and crannies of the royal palace, and she adored the organized, predictable patterns the maids lived in.
“We can lower that crystal monstrosity by this rope over here, if my memory serves me correctly.”
Ariane, not having heard anyone enter the salon, jumped and whirled around. When she saw it was Princess Elle who lounged against the doorframe, she dropped her cloth in surprise, then threw herself into a hurried curtsy. “Your Highness.”
Princess Elle raised an eyebrow. “You are Ariane, the palace maid who has loyally served the royal family for two years now.” She strolled into the room with her hands clasped behind her back. “And just this morning you rescued Prince Lucien himself from two rogue magic users.”
Ariane was not surprised the princess had already uncovered her background—she had once been a Ranger, after all. “I thank you for your kind words, Your Highness, but it was the prince who rescued himself.”
Elle snorted. “You brought a mage to his knees. That is not an easy feat.” The princess briefly rubbed the ridge of her long nose and studied Ariane.
Ariane kept a pleasant smile in place even though she wanted to fidget. What I did was unusual, yes, but is it really worthy of this scrutiny?
“Where did you learn how to debilitate him? The report said you nailed him at the back of the skull and then in the throat.”
“My father was a soldier in his younger days, and then an honor guard for Duke Villette.”
“Your father was not at the scene of the attempted assassination,” Elle wryly pointed out.
“No, but ever since I was young, he's given me some advice that I was to put into practice if my life should ever be in danger.”
“And the advice was…?”
“To fight dirty, break all rules of conduct, and attack my opponent when they were the least prepared. I was to inflict the most amount of damage I could manage before fleeing.” Ariane paused. That sounds rather ominous now that I say it out loud.
Surprisingly, the princess grinned. “I believe I would like your father. He sounds like a logical man. At the very least, his training effectively saved Lucien's life. On behalf of the roy
al family, please allow me to thank you for your act of bravery today,” Elle said, bowing her head a little.
Ariane’s cheeks started to ache from holding her smile. “I am glad I could be of service.”
Princess Elle flicked her black bangs out of her eyes. “The King wishes to reward you when he makes an official declaration. But in the meantime, I want to request your temporary services. As you have probably heard, Severin and I are holding a Summit at our home, Chanceux Chateau. With so many members of royalty and country representatives flooding the chateau, our staff will be unable to keep up. My father-in-law has graciously given me permission to temporarily recruit servants from the palace to ease the burden. I've already spoken to your superiors, but I would like for you to be one of the maids sent to Chanceux. Are you opposed to this?”
I wonder if their staff remember to clean under headboards… Ariane shook her head. “Not at all, Your Highness. It is an honor.”
Princess Elle snorted. “It's all a royal pain, that's what it is. But I appreciate your enthusiasm.” She smiled, her expression was far bigger and fun-loving than most nobles would approve of. “You'll receive official papers tonight, but tomorrow morning, you'll be escorted with the rest of the temporary staff to Chanceux. Both Severin and I thank you in advance for your help.”
“Of course, Your Highness.” Sensing the conversation was coming to an end, Ariane curtsied again.
Princess Elle nodded, then glided from the room as soundlessly as she had entered it. “Take care, Ariane. And thank you, once again, for your bravery.” When the princess closed the door behind her, Ariane waited two seconds before she released the breath she had been holding and shook her head in surprise.
“Well, I never thought I'd have a royal thanking me.” Ariane checked to make sure her hair was still pulled back into its smoothed bun, and that no tendrils had escaped. “And I certainly never thought I would ever serve during an important governmental gathering.”
Ariane had only vague ideas of what the Summit was for.
She knew over the last few years things had become progressively more dangerous—her grandfather and grandmother were forever telling her so whenever she stopped to visit them—and the Summit was supposed to address that.
