Queen of Magic

by Susanne L. Lambdin

  “I forgot how much I enjoy being with you,” she said.

  “Is that so?” Roland said with a grin. “The thought of another man touching you does make me jealous; I won’t enjoy watching you marry a king.”

  She forgot all about washing as his hands memorized every detail of her body, and let him kiss away her troubles. They remained in the water until the wine bottle was empty, and their skin was pruned. He finally placed his glass on the floor and pulled her against his chest, sloshing water onto the floor.

  “How do you feel about me, Taliesin?” Roland said as he searched her eyes. “Is this serious or not? I want the truth.”

  “I’m in love with you, Roland,” she blurted. “I will marry no other. You have my heart. I don’t want to marry a prince. It will be you or no one; I swear it!”

  “Yes, you will, my Lady. You will do whatever you must to be crowned queen. You are royalty, and I am but a Fregian knight. Marry you will, and though it will not be to me, I will go on loving you until I am cold in my grave.”

  “There’s been no one else, only you, since we were first together. I refused to marry Sertorius, and he asked more than once. And I’ll refuse to marry Almaric or Dinadan. No one can make me do what I don’t want to do, Roland; you know that quite well. If you could, do you think you would you marry me?”

  “If I could, I would do the asking, woman.”

  Taliesin smiled when he wiped away her tears; she had not realized she was crying, until then. He kissed the last few away, pulled her to her feet, splashing even more water onto the floor, and lifted her wet body into his arms.

  “Tonight, you are mine,” he said, in a husky voice. “I intend to show you how I feel about you, Taliesin. A man’s actions speak louder than words, and I do not intend to say another word to you until the sun rises.”

  Taliesin lay in bed hours later, glowing and wrapped in Roland’s tight embrace after he had shown her how much he loved her. With her head pressed to his hairy chest, she listened to the steady thump of his heart, and she smiled when he started to snore, a low rumble like a wolf’s growl. She placed her hand on his chin and stroked his whiskers, wondering if she had done him a disservice by lying with him. If she did not kill Varg, and soon, she feared the new Grand Master of the White Stags would turn into a Wolfen.

  The cry of a raven drew her gaze to the windows. Through the frosty pane, she saw a black bird land on the sill and tap the glass with its beak.

  “Zarnoc!”

  Taliesin reached for a robe on the floor, slid from the bed, and put it on. When she stood, the wizard appeared in front of the fire, and the flames roared as he warmed his hands. She noticed he was clean-shaven, dressed in black, and appeared youthful. His amber eyes met hers, and he took her arm.

  “Did my messengers arrive? Is everything all right?” she asked.

  “Actually, I met them as soon as they reached the Tannenberg Forest and took them to Raven’s Nest,” Zarnoc said. “Shan Octavio and the Ghajar men were already headed to the old fort. I had time to fetch Jaelle, and found her quite lovely, thanks to your ring, and very normal, or at least, as normal as a Hellirin can be. It was a nice family reunion. Rook and Wren are back at Penkill Castle, and I came here with your winged messengers. Tamal and the Nova squires are back in human form, tucked into their beds in the barracks, and none seem to have noticed they ever left. Still, don’t send out anymore messengers, child. Even though Arundel’s protection spells are not quite as strong as I thought they would be, he’s onto us. I can get out, but I don’t recommend you try to use magic again while in residence at Tantalon Castle; if you do, expect the unexpected.”

  “My magic is improving, Zarnoc; I believe I could do amazing things if Arundel were dead. Please tell me the Maeceni aren’t helping him.”

  “Maybe not Mira, but the others certainly are at Wolf’s Den. To make matters worse, Arundel’s powers have increased because you are here,” Zarnoc said and glanced at the bed. “I see your brave knight is asleep. It pleases me that you and Roland have mended your relationship. I wonder what he will do if you marry Almaric. Of course, Almaric is the only prince strong enough to hold the throne, and Sertorius is married; to set aside his wife now would cause scandal and ridicule.”

  “Dinadan, then?”

  “That boy is an idiot, despite years of reading books, and he prefers knights. No one will pick him, and yes, I know what has happened here since your arrival.”

  Zarnoc waved his hand, and two chairs appeared beside the fireplace. It was a polite gesture, Taliesin thought. Once they were seated, Zarnoc snapped his fingers. A glass of wine appeared in her hand. He also held a glass, and his long pipe, already lit. He puffed on the pipe, released three smoke rings, and took a large gulp of wine.

  “Frederick was poisoned,” the wizard said, “and Duke Andre seeks the murderer. I believe it was Arundel who poisoned Frederick, though I am not certain he acted alone. Using Doomsayer is the best way to learn the truth, but you must be careful; that sword likes to talk to the dead, all the dead, and you will hear more than Frederick clamoring in your ears from the family crypt.”

  “Then Almaric is coming here? He has agreed to the vote?”

  Zarnoc nodded. “He’s conceited enough to think he’ll win, and he’s right.”

  “By the way,” she said, “just how did you manage to sneak in here with Tamal and the four squires and not rouse Arundel?”

  “I made it snow; it was the only way to weaken Arundel’s spells so I could visit. It won’t really naturally snow for several more weeks, though I doubt anyone studies the weather, and an early snowfall is not unusual,” Zarnoc said, scratching his nose. “Now, let’s get down to business. I am aware Duke Elric invoked the Old Laws, and Lord Ungus is fulfilling his role as Chancellor…he wants results! I always liked Ungus, but it is a pity he doesn’t know the depths of Arundel’s and Lykus’ evil, or about the Great Deception, as you call it. Fortunately, several days ago I cast a spell on you that blocks others from reading your thoughts. Arundel and Lykus will try to kill Ungus, and you, for that matter, if Dinadan or Sertorius is picked to be king. Both have vowed the Raven Clan will not be restored to power. If Korax could only see them now….”

  Taliesin took a drink of wine. It was cool on her tongue, but the fruity taste evaporated before she swallowed. “We should speak quietly,” she said. “I don’t want to wake him; he’s been in a prison cell for days. They tortured him. He didn’t say so, but I can tell, for some of his scars are recent. I healed them, though.”

  “Roland sleeps soundly and won’t wake until long after I leave.” Zarnoc finished his wine and let the glass float beside him while he continued to smoke his pipe, an amused expression on his young face. “The imposters sent by Arundel to Penkill Castle were captured by the Ghajar. Shan Octavio wanted to roast them alive, but Harmattan took their lives and now they sleep, permanently, beneath the ruins of Raven’s Nest. I do not enjoy killing; however, it must be done to keep you and your clan safe. As I served the Raven King, so shall I serve the Raven Mistress. It is done, and we must proceed with caution. The cloaking spell Arundel used fooled Ismeina, but not me. He will attempt to sway the High Council and Star Council, if they are used. If you remain focused, I should think you can negate most of the old fish’s spells.”

  “I’ll do my best, Zarnoc. When will Almaric arrive?”

  “The Wolf Prince will arrive in the morning. You see, I have been very busy, too,” he said. “Spying is something I don’t enjoy. The magic users employed by Almaric are rank amateurs—not one professional among them—so it was easy to take a look around his tent. I found the prince in wolf-form, sleeping on a rug with his nose under his tail. Quite a nasty fellow, that one. I looked in on Sertorius, as well. He is married, yet two maidens sleep in his bed. I hope you do not regret not being his wife, for he has no heart, none at all. Dinadan, that poor misguided man, sleeps with his favorite stuffed animal. And your mother is not alone, either. Do you wan
t to know who is with her?”

  Taliesin finished her wine in one gulp. “Lord Arundel Fishy Aladorius.” She frowned when a sly smile spread across the wizard’s face. Smoke rolled from the corner of his lips and turned into a pair of eagles, which flew across the room and slammed into the far wall and vanished. “I had hoped my mother had better sense than that, but they have been writing to each other for years without anyone discovering their secret liaison. She is not who I thought she would be, Zarnoc; she is colder than Dehavilyn and crueler than Dolabra. Perhaps it’s a mean thing to say, but I don’t care what happens to Calista. If she wants Arundel as her lover, she’s welcome to him.”

  “Arundel’s wife is dead—you killed her when you destroyed Eagle’s Cliff. He is looking for a new one, and what better revenge than to marry your mother? As you say, they have corresponded for ages, and Arundel covets power. Calista is a widow and searches for a suitable mate, and he has offered. I would have loved to see the letters they exchanged, but they were clever and burned them. Now be honest. What do you think of having Arundel as your stepfather? Hmm?”

  “He’s a merman! Doesn’t he spend half his time in a fish bowl?”

  “Oh, that. It’s not quite as horrible as you imagine,” Zarnoc said as he puffed on his pipe. “Arundel Aladorius is a Tritone, a type of merman, able to assume the appearance of a human, requiring only an annual trip to the sea to dip his tail. Long ago, I saw him bathe in the sea; he has a big tail and turquoise scales. In truth, he was a renegade who left his underwater kingdom off the coast of Panagonia in search of fame and fortune among the humans. I dare say his own family has forgotten about him, and he no longer thinks about them.”

  “Was Xander’s mother human?”

  Zarnoc waggled his eyebrows. “Do you really want to know how Arundel spawns? Yes, the boy is half-Tritone.” Glass and pipe floated in the air as he pressed his hands together and made them flop back and forth, laughing when Taliesin looked away. “The royal court will not allow you to marry a commoner, Taliesin. But the Lorian royal court we keep inside the Traveling Tower will approve, and you may need them before this is over. Perhaps I should have released my old friends weeks ago. I can’t imagine being in a tower with the smelly Wolf Clan is all that pleasant.”

  “At least the Wolf Clan women and children are safe—all sixty of them.”

  “Spoons, Taliesin? Really? Could you not think of anything else to turn the Wolf Clan into other than silver spoons? You do realize that is painful for them?”

  “I didn’t think about it; I thought I was being clever.”

  “If you were Dehavilyn or Dolabra, yes, quite clever, and quite cruel.”

  “I guess I should have turned them into brass spoons.”

  Zarnoc let the pipe hover in the air while he refilled his wine glass and took a drink. She wasn’t sure he should drink so much and fly home, but he showed no restraint.

  “You didn’t capture everyone lurking about Wolf’s Den. You found the elderly, the women, and the children. But there is more than one den, Taliesin, and you failed to look at your map that night. Chief Lykus owns other castles, and has at his disposal more Wolfmen than you seem capable of entertaining in that love-sick, fantasy-packed brain of yours. His Wolf army matches the numbers of the Garridan army.”

  Taliesin leaned forward. “Twenty thousand Wolfmen?”

  “Most are here, and the rest besiege Wolf’s Den. You can be sure Captain Ramla has his hands full,” the wizard said. “The Red Cobras have been engaged in battle since the moment you left. Fortunately, Talas Kull is smarter than you, and sent one hundred able-bodied warriors to Wolf’s Den. Without the barbarians, Captain Ramla would either be a Wolfen or a wolf’s dinner. He’s kept the Wolfen at bay, but how long he can do so, I cannot say for certain, since I wasn’t there—my information comes from a friendly little robin, and robins exaggerate.”

  Taliesin watched a burnt log fall apart, its embers burning bright. “So do you, Zarnoc. Since you talk to the animals, what is the word on Talas Kull and his army? Did they close the pass on the Hellirins? Is Kull still alive?”

  “Yes, he’s alive. And yes, he has closed the pass.”

  “You don’t sound happy. What is wrong?”

  “General Folando will simply tunnel beneath the mountain to reach Caladonia,” Zarnoc said. “No one here seems concerned the Hellirins are coming. But fear not, my little dove; I will come up with a plan. One day you must learn to hatch an idea of your own, and see it through to maturity. By the way, Thalagar misses you. I am sure you will see him soon.”

  A lump formed in her throat. She had raised Thalagar from a colt and trained him to be a war horse. He had been on most of her adventures, and the addition of wings made him invaluable. Now she was without her Andorran stallion and stuck in a hostile castle, with the annoying wizard interrupting the last evening she feared she had left with Roland Brisbane.

  “Is my horse all right? Is he healed?”

  “Yes. Quite. Shan Octavio brought seven mares to keep Thalagar company,” Zarnoc said. “I shouldn’t worry about your stallion, only the mares.” He puffed smoke into the air in the form of a winged horse and sent it flying across the room. “I have received three messages in your absence that might interest you.”

  “Messages from whom?”

  Zarnoc reached into his robe, removed several small items, and placed them on the floor at their feet, where they grew. Eevhass, Prince Tamblyn’s magical lute, appeared; it could put anyone into an enchanted sleep when played well. There were also three engraved cylinders; one wooden, one black marble, and one white bone. She knew each cylinder contained a message and had a feeling one was from Queen Dehavilyn, but was not sure which. She also saw a folded flag, which shimmered, not quite solid in form, and reeked of dark magic.

  “Before you ask, the lute is for Simoon to play at tomorrow night’s feast. He can play just as well as Harmattan, and considering who is coming to dinner, you might need the guests to fall asleep.” Zarnoc pointed at the glittering flag. “As for this little gem, it arrived this morning in the courtyard of Penkill Castle, dropped by an eagle. That is Ragnal’s standard. His flag now flies over Mt. Helos, where he is in residence and has gathered an army of creatures darker than those in Hellirin. As for the messages, let me explain—the wooden cylinder comes from Duvalen, the black one from Dolabra, and the bone container is from the war god. I have not opened his message, since I assume the moment it’s read, you’ll be transported to Mt. Helos. Since you do not read or write in Lorian or Hellirin, I took the liberty of reading the other two letters.”

  “Zarnoc! They were meant for me…and…and….” Taliesin paused to yawn. Her movements slowed, and her yawns, of which there were many, seemed to last forever. She nearly toppled from her chair as she reached for the wooden message holder. She steadied herself, hands on the armrests, and glared at the wizard. “You drugged me,” she said. “Why?”

  “A mild sedative from Ismeina. I was told not to use it unless your whiskers sprouted, and one appeared a moment ago. Do try to remain calm,” Zarnoc said as he pointed at her neckline. She reached up and touched the thin strand of hair with an iron nail, and he laughed. “It has vanished, fear not.”

  “I am going to give this to Roland. Do you have more necklaces?”

  “There might be a few more in the tower in your possession. I’m not quite certain you can use it inside this room, though, and using it outside will be difficult, for Arundel will notice, and he’ll do something nasty.”

  Taliesin frowned. “I wish….”

  “No, you don’t,” Zarnoc quickly interrupted. “And no, I’m not going to kill him for you.”

  “Fine. Be a spoilsport.”

  “As I was saying, Tamblyn sends his regards and apologizes in advance for his mother’s behavior. Queen Dehavilyn wrote to warn you her sister, Dolabra, is up to no good. She further writes you are not welcome in Duvalen, but if you do not return her son, or if you fail to defend Duv
alen should the Hellirins, Maeceni, Skardans, or Caladonians attack, she will never forgive you. Duchess Dolabra says General Folando will take Tantalon Castle in a fortnight, and Dolabra threatens to kill you if you come to Nethalburg, and yet she also invited you to dinner.”

  “No, no, no! I won’t play games with these silly fairy folk! Alive or undead!” Taliesin was glad she had the necklace, for her temper brewed, and she didn’t want to turn Wolfen. She glanced at Roland, wondering whether she should give it to him, and felt childish for vacillating on her decision. If only she could get inside the tower and fetch a few more necklaces, she thought. There had to be a way. But how?

  “Not in the mood to talk about diplomacy, politics, or courtly intrigue, dear?”

  “You handle it. You know what I want to say; write to those two old harpies.”

  “I already have,” Zarnoc said. “I told Dehavilyn to raise an army and come to your aid—or else. And I informed Dolabra you prefer your meat cooked, and will notify her when you intend to come for dinner.”

  Taliesin shook her head. “I don’t want the fairies or darklings to leave the Magic Realms,” she said. “Nor do I have any intention of seeing either of those two dreadful old women, again.”

  “I know those two old girls better than you do—one requires threats and the other politeness. Be the queen you were meant to be, child, and stay the course. I will return when you need me. Now, I must be off. Arundel’s magic is strongest in the morning, and the sun is about to rise. Remember, he is dangerous; mind your chicks and hens. And do remember to tell Roland I said ‘hello.’”

  Zarnoc gathered the items off the floor and, except for the lute, put them in a pocket. He placed the lute in his chair, crossed to the window, and faded from sight as a raven appeared outside the window. It flapped its wings and flew off as Taliesin stumbled to the bed and found Roland awake and waiting for her with the blankets pulled back. She crawled into bed beside him, and her concerns lessened when his arms wrapped around her.