by C. A. McHugh
“Yes, that’s him.” He pointed him out before moving to the man with lighter hair but the same deep blue eyes standing beside him. “And that’s his twin, Rythis.”
Seroney’s breath hitched when he named his uncle. “Is he the one who died fighting the Raven Bringer?” When Aerrin nodded, she added, “I didn’t know they were twins.”
“They were born four minutes apart.” He then moved to the chubby-cheeked child standing between them. “And that’s my uncle Altos.”
She studied the boys in the portrait. “You look like your father.”
“I hope that I won’t disappoint him.”
“You won’t.” She gave him a dazzling smile that made him feel invincible.
A split second later, the smile faded, and she grew serious. “Aerrin, perhaps I should go in ahead of you.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want to set tongues wagging. If we walk in together, everyone will assume that there’s something going on between the two of us. Besides, it will give me a chance to scout out the room and make sure it’s safe for you.”
He took a deep breath. As much as her presence bolstered his courage, she had a point. “Good idea. Besides, I need a few minutes to myself before I have to face those idiots of the court.”
She shared another sympathetic smile with him. “I understand. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
He lingered in the empty corridor and tried to adopt her regal composure. He wished he had her confidence, her power. And even though he knew he’d grown as a mage under her tutelage, he still felt inadequate.
One of the guards cleared his throat, reminding Aerrin it was time to face the court. He felt as though he were walking to his own execution rather than a birthday celebration when the doors opened. With a fake smile fixed on his lips, he stepped into the ballroom.
Would this day ever end?
Chapter 20
Seroney wove her way through the crowd, silently cursing. The room was so packed, it could be hiding any number of assassins. When Aerrin informed her about yesterday’s attempt, her guard heightened. If the Raven Bringer wanted to make a statement, killing the king on his birthday would be one.
She clutched her necklace and sucked in a deep breath. Please don’t make me have to reveal what I am.
But she would if it meant saving Aerrin’s life.
“Seroney!” Nyssa called out to her from the crowd and jerked her from her thoughts.
Leandros still stood by Nyssa’s side, and Seroney felt with some small joy that something had gone well this evening.
Nyssa pursed her lips in a studious fashion when she joined them. “Leandros, could you get Seroney a glass of wine, please?” She waited until he left before asking what was wrong.
“Aerrin failed to convince the Privy Council.”
Nyssa frowned. “Their stupidity amazes me.”
“He’s angry. I could tell. And he’s frustrated.”
“So, any new plots for the evening?” Leandros came back and presented a glass of wine to Seroney, holding a glass of his own while scanning the room.
Seroney followed his gaze, noting the increased number of guards present in the ballroom. “Care to help me hunt demons and dark mages?”
His face paled, and he guzzled the contents of the goblet in his hand. “I think I need another drink. I’ll be back in a moment.”
Seroney waited until he disappeared back into the crowd, almost amused at his reaction. Leandros had finally mastered the anchoring spell, but his skills were far less than his friends. No wonder he looked worried.
Nyssa leaned over and whispered, “Thank you so much.”
“For what?”
“For helping me feel like I belong here.”
“I didn’t do anything other than lend you a dress that looks far better on you than it ever did on me. Everything else was there before. You kept it hidden from everyone. Besides, I would appreciate your keen mind tonight. The enemy bragged that he has agents close to Aerrin, and that could include the palace.” She scanned the packed hall. “Tell me who some of these people are.”
Nyssa surveyed the scene. “That man over there with the scars on his face, that’s the Duke of Highmounte, where I’m from. And that gentleman over there—that’s Sir Mitis. He’s been the Knight Champion for the past two years, but this year he decided not to defend his title. He’s handsome, isn’t he?”
Seroney agreed with her as she studied the sullen blond man standing aloof in the corner. He reminded her of a younger Ceryst for some reason. As they watched, he turned and left the Great Hall. “What’s the story on him?”
“I don’t know too much. He’s common born and came out of nowhere to win the fighters’ tournament two years ago. He was knighted for that, but tends to keep to himself. Some of the nobles gave him a hard time because of his background. But he shut them up after he knocked them off their horses, one after the other, in the joust last year.”
Leandros returned with two glasses of wine and offered one to Seroney. “If he’d competed today, he probably would have won the title again. He’s amazing with the sword.”
Seroney took a sip and continued to scan the room until she saw someone staring at her. A shiver coursed down her spine until the woman looked away. “Who’s that tall woman over there?”
“The scourge of my existence,” Leandros replied before taking another drink.
“She is not.” Nyssa elbowed him in the ribs and barely missed getting sloshed by wine. “I think Lady Sirona is a wonderful role model. She’s the Duchess of Edensdowne. When her father died, she took over his title rather than allow it to go to the next male heir. She’s wickedly clever and very influential in the kingdom’s politics.”
“She’s a power-hungry old hag who oversteps her boundaries.”
“Shut up, Leandros.”
“But it’s the truth.” He moved in front of Nyssa to take control of the conversation. “She chased after King Brendon for years, hoping he would make her queen, but when he married Aerrin’s mother, she chased after Prince Rythis instead. Then he was killed, so when her father died, she proclaimed herself duchess.” He wrinkled his nose. “She’s a living, breathing example of why women shouldn’t be allowed to fence.”
Lady Sirona looked their way as if she had overheard their conversation, and another shiver raced through Seroney. If she didn’t know better, there was more to that woman than just her ambitions.
Leandros grabbed Nyssa’s arm when Lady Sirona approached them. “Let’s dance, shall we?”
The Duchess of Edensdowne paid no attention to Leandros and Nyssa as they left for dancing area. Instead, she kept her icy blue gaze fixed on Seroney. She was as tall as most of the men in the hall, and Seroney assumed she must have been a great beauty in her day. Her hair was the color of polished gold, and she moved with the confidence of a woman who could do anything a man could do and usually got what she wanted. Time, however, had not been kind to her and made her appear older than she probably was. She was gaunt, and her skin hung loosely around her neck. Deep wrinkles etched creases into her face. Yet despite it all, she was still an imposing figure who radiated authority.
Seroney got the distinct impression she needed to be extra cautious around her.
“So you must be Aerrin’s new friend. I’m Lady Sirona Giltland, the Duchess of Edensdowne.” She surveyed her with an icy stare and offered her hand to Seroney. But when she didn’t take it, Sirona’s heavy-lidded eyes widened with surprise.
Seroney leveled her gaze with the duchess. “I’m Seroney.”
“It’s always a pleasure to meet one of Aerrin’s classmates,” she replied in a tone that indicated she was anything but pleased. “May I ask where you’re from?”
Seroney had the uneasy feeling this woman was trying to start trouble. If she wanted trouble, though, then she would be more than happy to oblige. She narrowed her eyes. “Why do you ask?”
“I’m particularly protective of Aerrin. You see,
he’s like a son to me, and I would hate to see him involved with someone unsuitable for him. There are so many women who would love to become queen and use him for that purpose.”
Rage simmered under Seroney’s skin. As if this woman had any room to talk based on what Leandros had shared with her. It took a great amount of effort to keep her voice calm and steady. “And what makes you think that we’re involved?”
“I saw your little interlude in the corridor this evening.”
“You were spying on him? No wonder Aerrin hates coming here so much. He can’t even have a private conversation without someone uninvited listening in.”
Lady Sirona tightened her grasp around her goblet. Her voice became as frigid as her eyes. “You are quite the impertinent little vixen, aren’t you?”
“And you’re quite the nosy gossip.”
“Why are you bothering Aerrin’s friend?” a man asked, thankfully interrupting their discussion before Seroney released a spell to put that woman in her place. “Scared he might be interested in her and not you?”
Sirona spun around and glared at the man behind her with pure venom.
“You really need to stop chasing after members of the royal family, Sirona,” he continued, wagging a chiding finger. “It reeks of desperation.”
“I’ve never chased after anyone, Your Highness,” she protested.
“There are people who say otherwise, but thankfully, I never had to deal with you.”
“As if I would be interested in a pathetic disgrace to the royal family like you.”
“Ouch! That was below the belt.” He peered around the duchess to give Seroney a wink. “I thought you were more refined than that.”
Sirona stiffened, but let go of her rage the second she spotted Seroney out of the corner of her eye. “I’ll be watching you, Seroney,” she spat before she stormed off.
Seroney thanked the man who had rescued her from Lady Sirona’s interrogation and took a moment to appraise him. He was handsome with bright blue eyes and a dazzling smile. However, his clothes were overadorned for her taste, and his hair and goatee were so neatly trimmed that not a hair was out of place.
He reached for her hand. “And who did I have the pleasure of saving from Sirona’s sharp tongue?”
“I’m Seroney.”
“A pleasure, Seroney.” He placed a small kiss on her hand, his gaze never wavering from her face. “I’m Prince Altos. May I escort you to the dance floor?”
Within a minute, she’d figured out that he was nothing more than a flirt. “Are you sure it would be safe for my reputation?”
“I assure you I’m a gentleman, my lady.”
“And I’ve heard enough about you to be wary,” she countered. She was tempted to walk away, but part of her wanted to investigate the prince further. Perhaps he knew something Aerrin didn’t. After all, he was alive the last time the Raven Bringer ravaged the kingdom. Plus, he was next in line to the throne should anything happen to Aerrin, which meant she had to regard him with some small level of suspicion.
“Don’t believe all the rumors you hear. At least give me a fair chance. After all, I did come to your rescue.” He wiggled his eyebrows in a playful manner and flashed another brilliant smile.
Seroney fought the urge to laugh. As if she needed rescuing. Still it would be useful to question him about what he knew, so she conceded.
As Altos led her to the dancing area, Aerrin had entered the hall and slumped on his throne, looking miserable. Her heart ached for him. She considered chatting with him after the dance to cheer him up, but then realized it would probably cause more speculation.
The music was fast and light-hearted, and Altos proved to be a quick and graceful dancer. He murmured compliments to her every time they passed each other during the dance. “Aerrin never mentioned he had a new friend.”
“I’m new to the Academy,” she replied, reciting the story she’d been telling since she’d arrived in Elgeus. As far as she knew, Aerrin hadn’t revealed her secret to his uncle.
“And what do you hope to do after the Academy?”
“Become a master mage, of course.” Although part of her wanted to scream she already was one. Something in his questioning, though, hinted that he wanted to discover her ambitions for the throne, much like the duchess had. The least she could do was silence those concerns. “And before you ask, I have absolutely no desire to become queen. Aerrin is a friend and nothing more.”
He nodded, but the wariness in his expression revealed he didn’t quite believe her. “It’s a shame.”
“And why do you say that?”
He flicked his gaze over her. She’d heard from more than one source that Prince Altos was a notorious rake, and even though he revealed a hint of admiration for her appearance, his perusal seemed to be more analytical of her character. “Aerrin has been under a lot of stress lately.”
“You would be, too, if you knew someone was out to kill you and destroy your kingdom.”
His eyes widened in surprise, and he stumbled over the next dance step. “How much do you know?”
“As I said, I’m Aerrin’s friend.” She curtseyed, as per the sequence in the dance. “He confides in me, and I’ve been helping him with his magic.”
“So the return of our enemy isn’t some fabrication or paranoid delusion?” he asked softly, looking around him to see if anyone was listening in on their conversation.
She discreetly shook her head and held his gaze. “No, Your Highness. In fact, I’m here to see if I can ferret out any possible leads here in the palace. There are many among us who have something to gain if Aerrin was murdered.”
His face paled. “Surely you’re not accusing me?”
“You are next in line to the throne, and you seemed awfully curious about Aerrin’s romantic interests.”
A scowl darkened his face for a moment, and if they hadn’t been surrounded by the kingdom’s nobility, she suspected he would’ve told her off. Then, a split second later, his expression brightened with the same flirtatious smile he’d worn when he’d escorted her to the dance floor. “My lady, please believe me when I say I’m counting down the days until Aerrin comes of age and can assume full responsibility for ruling the kingdom so I can finally be free of this burden.”
“And why should I believe you?”
“Because those gorgeous green eyes of yours have made an honest man out of me.”
Seroney laughed in spite of the seriousness of the conversation. “So you dislike your duty as the Prince Regent?”
“ ‘Detest it’ would be more precise. I’m the youngest son. I was meant for better things, like music and poetry and…” His attention drifted across the dance floor, and a sly grin spread across his lips. “And other pursuits.”
She glanced over her shoulder and spotted the young woman coyly flirting with the prince from the edge of the ballroom. “Thank you for your refreshing honesty.”
He turned his attention back to her. “You wanted me to be honest. And while we’re being honest, if you were a few years older, perhaps we’d be engaging in something more than just a test of loyalty. But since you’re a child, I beg you to please excuse me after this dance so I can engage in a different sort of test.”
She rolled her eyes. For the first time since she’d assumed her fake identity, she was glad someone thought she was a mere fifteen-year-old.
The sound of a heated argument on the dance floor drew both of their attentions. A few feet away, Nyssa and Leandros were back to their usual bickering.
“You are a crude, illiterate imbecile,” Nyssa said, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Leandros didn’t back away, despite the blue sparks that zapped along her fingers. “Well, that’s better than being a crude commoner with her nose stuck in a book all the time.”
Seroney groaned. She’d worked so hard to help Nyssa feel like she belonged in the palace. But based on the escalation of their argument, she needed to intervene before both of them did somet
hing they regretted. She curtseyed again to the prince. “If you’ll please excuse me, Your Highness.”
“Better you than me,” he replied, shooing her toward them.
Seroney wedged herself between them and straightened her arms, pushing them even farther apart. “Stop it, both you. You’re causing a scene.”
Leandros crossed his arms and adopted the aloof sneer worn by so many nobles. “What do you expect from someone like her?”
“I hate you so much,” Nyssa replied in a slow, sinister whisper, and then turned to Seroney. “I hate you both.”
Nyssa spun around on her heel and stormed off, shoving past anyone who got in her way.
Seroney glared at Leandros. “What started this?”
“She missed a step, and when I pointed it out to her, she got angry.”
“Somehow, I think you did more than that.”
Anger flashed in his hazel eyes. “Always taking her side, huh? I knew you two were out to ruin my time here in the palace.” He turned and went off in the opposite direction, leaving all eyes on her.
The music had stopped, and despite her best intentions, she’d drawn the curiosity of the crowd. She needed to get out of this mess before she got swept up in their silly teenage drama and did something she’d regret, like blowing her cover. An open door beckoned her into the gardens outside. She escaped into the cool night air and made her way to the first hiding spot she could find.
Chapter 21
“Good evening, Aerrin.”
Aerrin jumped. He’d been so busy studying the crowd that he didn’t realize someone had snuck up behind him.
Way to be alert, Aerrin, he berated himself. I suppose I should be grateful I don’t have a knife sticking out of my back.
He whipped around to find Raimel standing beside his throne in an ill-fitting, foppish outfit that made him look more like a fool than a nobleman. His pulse slowly returned to normal. “I’m not going to even ask how you got that.”
“Of course you don’t need to ask how, but you may want to ask why.”