Stunned, Graegor could only stare at her, beyond speech, almost beyond thought. Tabitha reached up to his sleeve, but stopped just short of touching him. “I don’t want it to be like this,” she whispered. “But it’s so hard to trust anyone ...”
The part of Graegor’s brain that was still working told him that the right moment was now. He leaned down, so far down he nearly slipped off the saddle, and cupped her cheek in his hand before touching his mouth to her upturned lips.
The silver cords laced through the two of them shone like a star becoming the sun. She was there, joined with him mind to mind, and he could feel her fear, and, mixed with it, her longing for someone who understood, who knew. She saw that he understood, he knew. She stretched on her tiptoes to keep her lips pressed against his.
When their kiss ended, he stared into her sparkling eyes. Her cheeks were flushed, and he could feel her embarrassed pleasure pushing back the ever-present fear. He still did not know what frightened her so much. He sensed that she did not really know herself, that she had lived with it for such a long time that it had become a part of her. He wanted to help her through it. She hoped he could.
He was about to loop the reins around the saddlehorn and dismount, but suddenly Tabitha looked away from him, and he could sense her mind drawing away too, even as she reached up to hold his hand. Her eyes were unfocused, and he realized that she was talking mind-to-mind with someone else.
Before he could worry about who it might be, she looked back at him, and her silvery mental touch came back too. “Lord Natayl says it’s time for me to resume my studies.”
“On Godsday?” He somehow managed to keep his control, to stay merely annoyed and not furious at the old sorcerer.
Tabitha looked over her shoulder at the manor house, and Graegor wondered if Natayl had been watching them. Then she turned back to him. “Forgive me,” she said gently. “I must go.”
“When can I see you again?—Will you be at the basilica services tonight?”
She hesitated, then shook her head. “Lord Natayl says we will not be returning to the city until later in the week.” Then she squeezed his hand again. “But ... I do love the theater.”
Her meaning was plain, but the theaters—the good ones—only had performances Windsday, Earthsday, and Firesday nights. Windsday was four days away and he didn’t want to wait that long.
“Call to me,” she said then. “Tomorrow at noon. I will listen for you.”
“Tomorrow at noon.” He hoped he could hold out that long. “And I’ll find out what the theaters are showing on Windsday.”
She smiled. “Yes, my lord.” This time my lord sounded playful instead of formal, and it sent warmth through him that she felt too, and she blushed again.
He stretched down to give her another kiss, and again the silver cords of their bond flared and shone in their minds. He kissed her hand, too, before she withdrew it, and she dipped a curtsey, her motion as graceful as a dance.
He watched her walk back up to the manor house. She disappeared inside, and he could still sense her. He’d always sensed her; but now, instead of standing between him and everything else in his life, he felt her presence all around him, with him, to face everything else in his life. The problems with his parents, the troubles with the heretics, the threat of the rogue magi, the Eternal Flame turning purple, all he had yet to learn about being a sorcerer—Tabitha would help him, he would help her, and there was nothing they couldn’t do.
He gave the horse—Sable—a mental nudge, and then, once they were out of sight of the manor house, gave him his head. The horse loved to run, and as they flew down the road, exhilaration crowded out everything else in Graegor’s mind, and he gave full voice to a war whoop that startled the birds out of the trees.
It was a beautiful day.
Appendix: People
Adlai Carhlaan – Prince of Telgardia, Raimund and Leota’s son, Darcius’s younger brother
Adlai Carhlaan (historical) – Duke of Tillhafen, King of Telgardia, first of his restored royal bloodline, appointed successor to the last Rohrdal king
Ahren – Telgard heretic from Orest, follower of Brandeis
Aidan Rohrdal (historical) – King of Telgardia, first of his royal bloodline, leader of the coup that ended the Torchanes’ third reign
Aind Scherren (historical) – Third Lord Sorcerer of Telgardia, creator of the Eternal Flame, saint of the second millennium
Andru – Telgard magus in Chrenste, Contare’s steward
Aric Wright – Master woodwright, Graegor’s father
Arundel Apara Marawan – Ninth Lord Sorcerer of Aedseli
Audrey Wright (Torchanes) – Graegor’s younger sister
Augustin Torchanes (historical) – Prince of Telgardia, last prince of his royal bloodline, Zacharei’s son
Bor Carhlaan (historical) – Founder of the Carhlaan bloodline, Carlodon’s friend
Borjhul (Borhal) sur Darshan – Ninth Lord Sorcerer of Kroldon
Brandeis – Telgard leader of the “white heralds”/“ringless ones” heretics, imprisoned in Orest
Breon Torchanes (historical) – King of Telgardia, Khisrathi’s cousin
Carlodon Torchanes (historical) – First Lord Sorcerer of Telgardia, King of Telgardia, founder of the Torchanes bloodline, saint of the first millennium
Chervis – Constable in Rock-in-the-Lake
Contare Volnette – Eighth Lord Sorcerer of Telgardia
Craig Baldwin – Apprentice furrier in Rock-in-the-Lake
Darcius Carhlaan – Crown Prince of Telgardia, Raimund and Leota’s son, Adlai’s older brother
Darion sur Javas (historical) – Third Lord Sorcerer of Kroldon
Davidon Torchanes (historical) – Second Lord Sorcerer of Telgardia, King of Telgardia, saint of the first millennium
Daxod batak-Bayan – Ninth Lord Sorcerer of Toland
Elbin – Johanns’ butler in Farre
Fainhe fa Taighir – Khenroxan maga on Maze Island, Josselin’s First Minister
Felise ven Volnette (historical) – Sixth Lady Sorceress of Telgardia
Ferogin Holleb – Ninth Lord Sorcerer of Adelard
Ferogin (historical) – Saint of the second millennium
Filek – Adelard-Kroldon maga on Maze Island, receiver at the Hall of Councils
Fiona – Telgard maga on Maze Island, Contare’s housekeeper
Frank – Master smith in Rock-in-the-Lake
Graegor Torchanes – Ninth Lord Sorcerer of Telgardia
Hagan – Apprentice woodwright in Rock-in-the-Lake
Haliena (historical) – Queen of Telgardia, Carlodon’s wife
Hamid Apara Folayan – Eighth Lord Sorcerer of Aedseli
Hask – Telgard horseman sworn to the Duke of Farre
Henrey Werner – Telgard magus on Maze Island, Contare’s First Minister
Hugh – Telgard magus on Maze Island, Contare’s courier
Ilene las Riema – Ninth Lady Sorceress of Medea
Iris – Graegor’s aunt in Daviton
Iseult de Jasinthe (historical) – Seventh Lady Sorceress of Thendalia
Jarl – Master saddlemaker in Rock-in-the-Lake
Jeffrei Adamsson – Telgard magus, student at Maze Island Academy, Graegor’s friend, Contare’s clerk
Johanns – Graegor’s father’s broker in Farre
Jolie – Graegor’s sweetheart in Rock-in-the-Lake
Joshua – Apprentice woodwright in Rock-in-the-Lake
Joshua Torchanes (historical) – King of Telgardia, first of his restored royal bloodline, leader of the coup that ended the Carhlaans’ first reign
Josselin fa Lairconaig – Eighth Lady Sorceress of Khenroxa
Karl Mason – Telgard magus on Maze Island, Contare’s valet
Khisrathi ven Torchanes (historical) – Fifth Lady Sorceress of Telgardia
Koren fa Lairconaig – Ninth Lady Sorceress of Khenroxa
L’Abbanist Theocracies – Leaders of the religion of Adel
ard, Khenroxa, Telgardia, and Thendalia
Lasfe ben Sefans – Eighth Lord Sorcerer of Essena
Leota ven Carhlaan – Queen of Telgardia, Darcius’s and Adlai’s mother
Lesya – Audrey’s friend in Rock-in-the-Lake
Lien – Pritchard’s son in Rock-in-the-Lake
Lukas – Apprentice furrier in Rock-in-the-Lake
Malaya Bayan – Eighth Lady Sorceress of Toland
Marcus Scherren – Telgard magus, student at Maze Island Academy, Graegor’s friend
Marschelle – Telgard maga in Chrenste, Contare’s housekeeper
Michaelis (historical) – Saint of the second millennium
Michail sur Javas (historical) – Fourth Lord Sorcerer of Kroldon
Miriam – Apprentice chandler in Rock-in-the-Lake
Motthias Pravelle – King of Thendalia
Mugarth Torchanes (historical) – Magus, King of Telgardia
Natayl Pravelle – Eighth Lord Sorcerer of Thendalia
Nitara sura Javas – Imperial Princess of Kroldon
Nuru Marawan Omari (historical) – Third Lady Sorceress of Aedseli
Oran sur Darshan – Eighth Lord Sorcerer of Kroldon
Padric – Master woodwright in Farre
Pascin Eugen – Eighth Lord Sorcerer of Adelard
Patricio los Lourtes (historical) – Sixth Lord Sorcerer of Medea
Patrick – Khenroxan-Medean magus, student at Maze Island Academy, Graegor’s friend
Paul – Telgard magus in Rock-in-the-Lake
Pieter – Apprentice woodwright in Rock-in-the-Lake
Pritchard – Tavern keeper in Rock-in-the-Lake
Rafe Baldwin – Master craftsman in Rock-in-the-Lake
Raimund Carhlaan – King of Telgardia, Darcius’s and Adlai’s father
Richard – Telgard magus on Maze Island, Contare’s steward
Richard Farrehon – Duke of Farre
Roberd Torchanes (historical) – Seventh Lord Sorcerer of Telgardia
Rond – Telgard heretic from Orest, follower of Brandeis
Rooster – Tavern keeper in Farre
Rose Baker – Khenroxan maga, student at Maze Island Academy, Graegor’s friend
Rossin ben Sefans – Ninth Lord Sorcerer of Essena
Rumstad – Schoolmaster in Rock-in-the-Lake
Selbey – Telgard horseman sworn to the Duke of Farre
Selena ven Torchanes (historical) – Queen of Telgardia, “The Lady of the Lilies”
Serafina las Lourtes – Eighth Lady Sorceress of Medea
Tabitha de Betaul – Ninth Lady Sorceress of Thendalia
Ted – Graegor’s friend in Rock-in-the-Lake
Traugott Brotherhood – Order of L’Abbanist holy brothers in Adelard, keepers of the secrets of fireworks
Ulla – Apprentice chandler in Rock-in-the-Lake
Urland Volnette (historical) – Fourth Lord Sorcerer of Telgardia
Valerie Wright – Master chandler, Graegor’s mother
Zacharei Torchanes (historical) – King of Telgardia, last king of his royal bloodline, Augustin’s father
Appendix: Places
Adelard – Country on the northern continent, west of Essena and east of Thendalia
Aedseli – Country on the southern continent, west of Kroldon and Toland
Baki Nildag – Mountain on the southern continent, highest in the world
Basilica Ecumenica of Saint Davidon’s Word – Basilica of the L’Abbanist faith on Maze Island
Basilica of Saint Michaelis – Basilica of the L’Abbanist faith in Farre
Basilica Solthea of Saint Carlodon Exalted – Basilica of the L’Abbanist faith in Chrenste
Beacon Hill – Famous hill in Lakeland in central Telgardia
Betaul – City in Thendalia, ancestral home of the House of Betaul
Big Mill – Town in Lakeland in central Telgardia
Broadmoor – Neighborhood in Farre
Castle Chrenste – Royal palace in the capital city of Telgardia
Central Isles – Archipelago in the Central Sea
Central Sea – Sea between the western, northern, and southern continents
Chrenste – Capital city of Telgardia, ancestral home of the House of Torchanes
Cozy Inn – Tavern on Maze Island
Daviton – Town in Lakeland in central Telgardia
Deepwood Canal – Canal joining rivers and lakes in Lakeland
Duchess Bridge – Bridge over the River Telgard at Farre
Ek Votos – Capital city of Toland
Essena – Country on the northern continent, east of Adelard and Thendalia
Falcon’s Rock – Famous hill in Lakeland in central Telgardia
Farre – Lakeland city in central Telgardia, ancestral home of the House of Farrehon
Hall of Councils – Seat of government on Maze Island
Jen Idre – City in Adelard
Khenroxa – Country on the western continent, north of Telgardia and Medea
Kirlahn Island – Island in the Central Isles archipelago, ancestral lands of the House of Carhlaan
Kroldon – Country on the southern continent, west of Toland and east of Aedseli
Lakeland – Region in central Telgardia
Long Lake – Lake beside Rock-in-the-Lake in Lakeland
Maze Island – Island in the Central Isles archipelago, domain of the sorcerers
Maze Island Academy – School for magi on Maze Island
Medea – Country on the western continent, west of Telgardia and south of Khenroxa
Mor Siuleth – Capital city of Kroldon
Naben – Coastal city in northern Telgardia, on the North Sea
Orest – City in central Telgardia
Queen’s Landing – Town on an island in the Central Isles archipelago
River Telgard – River on the western continent flowing west to east from the mountains to the coast
Rochden – Coastal city in southern Telgardia, on the Sunhild Gulf
Rock-in-the-Lake – Village in Lakeland in central Telgardia, Graegor’s childhood home
Rohrdarre – Fort at a mountain pass, border between Telgardia and Medea
Suhnhafen – City on Torahn Island in the Central Isles archipelago
Telgardia – Country on the western continent, east of Khenroxa and Medea
Thendalia – Country on the northern continent, west of Adelard and Essena
Tillhafen – City on Kirlahn Island in the Central Isles archipelago
Tirrell Locks – Locks joining the River Telgard to the northern and southern estuaries
Toland – Country on the southern continent, east of Kroldon and Aedseli
Torahn Island – Island in the Central Isles archipelago, ancestral lands of the House of Torchanes
Ullrichen – Coastal city in eastern Telgardia, on the Central Sea, ancestral home of the House of Ullrek
Volney – Coastal city in eastern Telgardia, on the Central Sea, ancestral home of the House of Volnette
White Sea – Inland sea on the northern continent between Thendalia and Adelard
Map
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