Crown of Secrets (The Hidden Mage Book 1)

by Melanie Cellier

  “I checked the other yards,” she told me in an undertone. “There’s no sign of holes in any of them.”

  I nodded, my jaw clenched tight. I wasn’t surprised at the news, but it was unwelcome all the same. Only two people ever practiced in our yard on a rest day, and I couldn’t imagine anyone had a reason to target Bryony.

  I tested my ankle gingerly, but it easily took my weight, and soon Bryony and I were both assisting Raelynn to haul herself back to standing.

  “Thank you, girls,” she said, patting both of our arms.

  It was the first friendly physical contact I had received from anyone but Bryony, and it was surprisingly pleasant to know someone had forgotten about my royal status, if only for a moment.

  We walked back to the Academy building together, moving at the healer’s slower pace. My fingers and toes were going numb, and I was much more tired than I had been when I exited the building earlier that morning, but otherwise I felt remarkably well. Physically, at least.

  When we reached the entrance, I slowed.

  “Would you mind not mentioning this to anyone?” I asked Raelynn.

  She clucked at me. “There’s no shame in twisting an ankle, my dear. Even for a princess.”

  Bryony gave me a loaded look behind her back.

  “Even so,” I said, letting my posture grow slightly more rigid and my voice a little more imperious, “I would appreciate if you didn’t mention it.”

  “Ah, well, there’s nothing like the pride of youth,” she said with a chuckle. “I’ll have to tell the duke, of course. I couldn’t go healing a royal on Academy grounds without keeping him informed! And Hugh was with me when Bryony here came bursting in so dramatically. But I can’t imagine I’ll have any cause to go spreading it further than that.”

  I unbent. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

  I didn’t know what to make of the accident yet, but I wanted the chance to think on it further before deciding who we should tell—if anyone.

  Once inside the entryway, I managed to thank Raelynn a final time before Bryony hauled me toward the stairs. She towed me all the way to my suite, closing the door behind us.

  “What. Was. That.” She stared at me. “Did someone just sabotage our training yard? What should we do? Surely we have to tell…someone.”

  “Who do you suggest?” I stripped off my robe and dropped onto one of the sofas.

  She paced up and down, waving her arms in the air. “I don’t know! Duke Francis? Instructor Mitchell? Is there a replacement groundskeeper since my father left?”

  “Groundskeeper?” I laughed. “Yes, let’s go and pour out our troubles to some poor groundskeeper.”

  She spun around, putting her arms on her hips. “Well, we can’t just leave those holes there.” She frowned. “Can we?”

  I rubbed my head. “Maybe? I confess I’m curious to see what becomes of them. Will the perpetrator sneak back and remove them all before class tomorrow morning?”

  “Remove them all? Oh! You mean with a composition. Yes, I suppose they may well want to remove the evidence of their crimes.”

  “That’s assuming whoever it was knew that we go out there to practice on a rest day. Perhaps they intended the holes for our class.”

  Bryony raised an eyebrow at me.

  “I’m just considering all options,” I said.

  She threw her hands in the air. “Next you’re going to say I was their target!”

  “I’ll admit it’s unlikely. Unless you got any ominous messages when you arrived? I suppose you are a foreigner as well as an energy mage. Your people were driven away for being different once before.”

  “Ominous messages?” Bryony narrowed her eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?” When I didn’t immediately respond, she sucked in a breath. “Verene, you tell me what’s going on right now!”

  Reluctantly I told her about the state of my room when I first arrived. Her eyes grew rounder and rounder through the story.

  “Why didn’t you tell anyone?” she exploded when I finished.

  “For the same reason I’m not sure I want to tell anyone now. I’m not sure who to tell. Not when I don’t know who’s behind it.”

  She deflated, collapsing onto the other sofa. “Surely you don’t think Duke Francis could be behind it?”

  I shrugged. “I think anything’s possible at this point. I’m a foreign princess, and my family and kingdom are strong. You would expect our year mates to be seizing such an unusual opportunity to make connections with my aunt through me. And yet, instead, everyone has gone out of their way to show their utter disinterest. It is quite clear that neither side of Kallorwegian politics wants me here. And apparently someone is willing to take stronger measures to send that message. But who? I don’t intend to be driven away, and without knowing their identity or their motivation, I can’t know if exposing them will help or harm my purpose here.”

  “You and proving yourself! I couldn’t care less about your purpose here. It’s not worth getting killed over.”

  “No, of course not.” I shook my head at her. “No one said anything about dying. Someone’s trying to send me a message, not kill me. Both incidents so far could be written off as pranks.”

  “Breaking your ankle is a prank?”

  “With a supply of healing compositions in my pocket and an experienced healer close at hand? The claim could certainly be made. And in the case of today, it would be easy enough for the perpetrator to argue that they didn’t know about our habit of using the yard on a rest day. They could say it was a prank intended to be discovered by our year before any bouts had begun. I wouldn’t have injured myself so badly if I had just been walking when my foot went into that hole.”

  Bryony sighed. “I suppose you’re right. And I’m sure you also don’t want word of any of this getting back to your parents. Because goodness knows, it would be a disaster if they pulled you out before you’ve made your aunt proud.”

  I ignored the sour note in her voice. “Since when are you so eager to see me gone? Should I be asking what you were doing this morning before we went outside together?”

  Bryony laughed. “If I ever tire of your company, you can be sure I’ll let you know in a much more direct fashion.”

  “I’m sure you will.” I threw my arm over my eyes and groaned. “I know it’s not even lunch yet, but I think I’m going back to bed. I’m exhausted.”

  Her voice turned instantly sympathetic. “Of course you are after an ordeal like that and then a healing. I shouldn’t keep you up jabbering.”

  I lowered my arm. “About telling someone…”

  “I’ll keep the secret…for now. I’ll admit I also have some curiosity to see if the holes are gone tomorrow. But if you find a…a dead rat, or something, nailed to your door next, I do hope you’ll tell me, at least.”

  I chuckled. “I promise to inform you of any dead rodents that happen to cross my path. Now go and enjoy your rest day.”

  Chapter 15

  When my arrival at the Academy had been followed by so many weeks without incident, I had ceased to regard everyone around me with suspicion. But the sentiment had returned now with a vengeance.

  When Wardell and Armand returned from their rest day expedition, I had to restrain myself from asking them what time they had left and who had seen them go. And when Frida and Ashlyn joined us in the dining hall, I suddenly started questioning their recent friendliness. If the instigator of these pranks had intended to make it difficult for me to forge connections with others at the Academy, then they were finally starting to succeed.

  I took two naps during the remainder of the rest day, but still woke the next morning feeling unnaturally tired. I didn’t intend to miss combat, however, and hurried out of the building with the rest of my year. On arrival at our regular training yard, both Bryony and I carefully examined the ground, but there was no sign of any disturbance. Our eyes met, but we said nothing.

  The job had been done so perfectly that there was now
no question in my mind the culprit must be a power mage. But I had never really doubted that. A sealed commonborn might have written the message on my wall, but why would they do so unless at the instigation of someone powerful enough to compel either their obedience or loyalty? It would be far too great a risk for no discernible reward.

  No, it must be someone closely involved in the politics of the Kallorwegian court. And with the use of compositions, they wouldn’t even have needed to come near the training yard. They could have completed the necessary workings from the window of their room, even, meaning their chance of getting caught in the act was almost non-existent.

  Unfortunately, it could be almost any of the mages at the Academy. I had even toyed with the idea that it might be Darius himself. I knew without a doubt that he had access to my rooms at least.

  But nothing about the nature of it fit with what I had seen of the crown prince. Somehow I suspected that when he sent a message, the receiver was left in no doubt of either its meaning or its source.

  I was pulled from my dark musings by Ashlyn appearing before me and suggesting we bout. It was the first time she had done so, and I hated the spike of suspicion that shot through me at the new behavior. I agreed, determined not to let this latest incident mar all my previous efforts, and we completed a competent, if unexciting, match.

  When we finished, she hesitated.

  “It’s starting to get cold,” she said, sounding slightly awkward. “It will be Midwinter before we know it, I’m sure.”

  My suspicions rose again at her strange manner, although the exhaustion pulled at me, making my brain foggy.

  “Yes, I suppose it will,” I said. “Although it’s still a while off yet.”

  “Of course.” She nodded. “I suppose you won’t be traveling home, given we only get a few days off class. I wanted to invite you—and Bryony and Tyron as well, of course—to return to my home to celebrate with me and my family. My parents are planning a large Midwinter party and would be honored by your presence.”

  Oh. My mind had been so focused on my accident, that even the mention of Midwinter hadn’t alerted me to the purpose of her conversation. Now her invitation threw me off guard.

  I hadn’t thought our growing friendliness had crossed the line into actual friendship, and spending the holidays with a large crowd of strangers sounded less than appealing. But I didn’t want to reject her overture now that one had finally appeared.

  “Thank you,” I said. “I can’t speak for the others, but I would be happy to accept your invitation.”

  “Excellent!” A smile spread across her face. “I’ve invited Frida as well, so hopefully there will be a small crowd of us.” She gave me a small bow and hurried away.

  I watched her go, fighting the feeling that I had forgotten something important. I hated how successfully the events of the day before had set me off balance.

  Ashlyn’s mother was Head of the Wind Workers and usually voted with the king. Was the invitation a sign that the king’s faction was warming to the idea of an increased connection with Ardann? And did that mean the general’s faction was behind my accident?

  After so many weeks of peace, my unknown harasser had returned just as a growing friendliness appeared between me and Ashlyn. Was that coincidence? Or was I being overly paranoid? It was possible the invitation was truly just a friendly gesture from a year mate.

  Spinning, I nearly collided with Wardell. He grunted something and hurried away while I rubbed at my temple. Maybe I wasn’t recovered enough to be in class after all.

  Looking up, my eyes met Darius’s. His face looked even more closed off than usual, and I gave a quiet groan. The day had barely started, and I was already more than ready to crawl back into bed.

  Turning away from the prince, I hurried over to Mitchell. In a low voice I told him I felt unwell and needed to withdraw for the rest of the lesson. His expression didn’t suggest much belief, but he didn’t contradict me either—whether because he didn’t care enough to do so or because of my royal status I didn’t know.

  I whispered to Bryony that I needed a bit more rest after all and fled back toward the Academy, telling myself that it was a strategic retreat and nothing more.

  After another long nap, I woke finally feeling full of energy again. It occurred to me that Mitchell might have been expecting me to go to Raelynn, but there didn’t seem any point in doing so now. At least if he questioned her later, she could confirm that I had indeed suffered a recent medical incident and needed rest. I just hoped she didn’t say any more than that.

  Someone—Bryony or my assigned servant—had brought in a tray of food and left it in my sitting room. I devoured it hungrily as I considered my options. I had been woken by a bell, and from the look of the light outside, it had been the bell between composition and discipline classes. Which meant there was no point trying to rejoin the rest of the trainees at this point.

  Instead I decided to write a letter to my family. I had a small stack already waiting and would send them home the next time a royal messenger arrived with a collection of their missives to me. It would have been nice to hear their familiar voices, but communication compositions required enormous power to reach across entire kingdoms and wouldn’t last long enough for a decent conversation anyway. My father was one of the few with the strength needed to create such a working, but I had only let him exhaust himself once to write me a single one for use in the direst emergency. And then only because both my parents had insisted.

  The letter required some thought as I wanted to be truthful but not alarming or negative. I ended up focusing on our arena battles and my various wins and losses, and by the time I had finished, it was past the start of the evening meal.

  I was still full from my late lunch, however, so I didn’t regret missing it. I settled in for a quiet evening with my favorite book, in the mood for a little comfort and familiarity. I half-expected Bryony to come bursting in at some point, determined to check on me, but when the knock came, it wasn’t from the direction of my main door.

  For a moment I looked around in confusion before it came again, and I realized it was emanating from behind the tapestry. At least the prince had been true to his word and was warning me of his approach this time.

  Warily I pulled back the tapestry and opened the door. He didn’t wait for a verbal invitation to enter, brushing past me and stalking into the room. I spun around to face him, leaving the door propped open behind me.

  “If you’ve come to check on my well-being, I’m fully recovered,” I told him.

  He checked at my words, the thundercloud on his face letting in a hint of confusion.

  “You really were ill?”

  “Exhausted due to recovery from a healing, actually—but that is much the same thing. Despite your insistence on believing otherwise, I have never told anyone here anything other than the truth.” I glowered at him and muttered to myself, “Although if I ever said I was pleased to meet you, then that would have to be chalked up to a mistake at the very least.”

  Something flickered in his eyes, and for a startling moment I actually thought he might laugh—or at least smile. But the moment passed.

  “Then I suppose you are just a meddling fool,” he snapped.

  I sighed and took a seat on one of the sofas, arranging my skirts neatly around me.

  “Although I do believe myself now recovered, I’m not sure I have the energy for all these…dramatics, Prince Darius. Please do sit down.”

  He stared at me, his face growing darker and darker until I was sure he would explode. But instead he dropped abruptly down onto the other sofa. It was strange to see him so out of control of his emotions.

  “Very well, if that is how you want to play it.”

  I suppressed a smile. Something had changed in our one bout in the training yard, and I didn’t intend to let him have full control of our interactions from now on.

  “I’m afraid I still have no idea what you’re talking about. What have I do
ne to so overset you?”

  His usual rigid control slammed down over his face, and I watched the effect curiously. I had once thought it demonstrated ice and indifference, but it might be a sign of quite the opposite. What powerful emotions was he concealing behind it? I should probably be flattered. I couldn’t imagine there were many people who ever got the chance to see behind that royal mask.

  Almost against my will, I felt a swell of fellow feeling for him. I had learned to create my own mask—as every member of my family had—and I used it to protect myself. I rarely let anyone see how my lack of ability pained me.

  But what must it be like for Darius? How much greater were the burdens he bore behind his mask? How much greater were the stakes?

  I tamped down on the curiosity. Apparently I was enough of an equal that the crown prince occasionally let loose his true feelings. But I couldn’t make the mistake of forgetting that his revealed emotions were universally negative toward me. We weren’t friends, and his burdens weren’t my responsibility.

  He drew several deep breaths, examining my face as carefully as I examined his.

  “I apologize,” he said formally. “Sometimes I forget just how far removed you are from my court. Perhaps it is possible you did act in innocence.”

  Do you forget? I asked silently. Or does some part of you always remember how distant I am from your normal life and your court? Is that why you sometimes let your guard down with me?

  I let a smile twitch across my face. “I don’t know that I can promise all my actions have been innocent, but I can certainly claim ignorance as to how any of them might have upset you.”

  “You accepted a Midwinter invitation from Ashlyn.”

  “That’s what upset you? But why?”

  “Ashlyn’s mother is the Head of the Wind Workers. She is extremely influential at court and is closely aligned with my father.”

  I arched an eyebrow. “And that’s a problem?”

  “Of course it’s a problem.” He almost growled the words. “And to make it worse, you accepted it in front of not only me but Wardell—whose uncle is the Head of the Creators and aligned with my grandfather. In the hours you’ve spent hiding in your room, I’ve already had communications from both my mother and my grandfather.”