“Leave the poor woman out of the argument.”
I prodded his chest again. “If she knows about Gwynn, Anders, I swear I’ll toss her into Shad’s Bay and personally find a ravenous seabeast to devour her.”
His hand grabbed my needling finger and held it tight. “She told you everything she knows.”
“You don’t know her like I do. She’s always got a secret hidden away.”
“So do you.”
“Yes, well.” I looked past Anders’s head to the massive mountains that blocked my view of Ardenna. “Here’s another. Did you know there’s a back door to Ardenna?”
* * * *
“So this is how you managed to creep in unnoticed all those times last year when you and Elena were at odds.”
“Yes.” A few days later than we’d planned because of the detour we arrived at the tunnel’s entrance, where I’d shown Anders the secret passage that led to the throne room. I rummaged in my gear for a torch, hoping the tunnel was still passable.
“Elena doesn’t mind?”
“Elena doesn’t know. And if she did,” —I shrugged, not bothered in the least— “I never confessed to some of my trips here last year, so she never had cause to question me.” I held the torch away from my body, coaxed fire and ice awake, and effortlessly changed the tips to bright flame.
“Shouldn’t you remind her? Alex, what if she needs to flee the city?”
I shoved the torch ahead of me, leading the way, and shouldered my pack. “I’ve thought of that, but I don’t want to remind her in front of Erich.”
“Good point.”
“I have them now and then. Listen, Elena’s pretty sharp. She’ll remember if she needs to remember. It’s her family secret, after all.” With a teasing kiss, I led the way through the crevice in the cold rocks. “Watch out for your bulging stomach, old man.”
Anders muttered a curse, and then another. “My stomach isn’t the problem. My traveling bag, stuffed full of all those unnecessary items you couldn’t fit in your own pack, is the problem.” Another curse, a groan, the sound of leather sliding across stone, and a heavy breath. “Next time, I’m going in the front door.”
I held the torch closer to see his red-blotched face. “I never have any trouble getting through.”
Refusing to respond, Anders waved me away in annoyance. “Lead on.” He stayed quiet as we made swift steady progress through the tunnel, climbing slowly upward until we reached the alcove beyond the chamber door. Anders glanced around, intrigued, as I set my pack down on the stone steps, and crept toward the hidden door behind the throne’s tapestry. I set a finger to my lips and eased the door open a crack, listening. He crouched beside me, wincing as the crack of a huge oak staff resounded above our heads.
I stifled a betraying laugh at Anders’s dazed expression. “We’re just in time.”
The rustling of Elena’s silk robes of state as she sat on the Dunneal throne was followed by the sound of boot heels.
“Erich,” I mouthed to Anders, who listened as the royal steward read the first grievance, a minor one brought by a merchant in Thornmarsh, followed by several others that Elena resolved without controversy.
Until, “Your majesty, my sister’s children have been stolen. And there have been others, too.”
Elena paused. “Where did this happen?”
“Edgecliff, majesty.” Edgecliff, on the western border of Glynnswood. “The duke of Edgecliff sent troops to search for the children, but they’ve vanished without a trace. I thought that—”
“Surely, this is not a matter for the queen.” Erich’s deep voice rolled over the poor man’s plea. I was surprised Elena allowed him to participate before her wedding. Erich had no legal right to pronounce judgments, not until he was proclaimed Prince of Tuldamoran.
“With all respect, my lord duke.” The man paused, silent, until we heard the sound of rustling silk when Elena probably signaled him to proceed. “There have been strange things happening in Edgecliff. People have seen things they didn’t understand, though they were too far away to say clearly what they saw. But it was nothing natural,” he added, as Erich’s boot heels started pacing.
“If you’re speaking of magic, didn’t you inform the council of mages?” Erich didn’t even bother to hide his contempt.
“Erich.” Elena’s robes rustled softly in warning.
“We did, your Majesty. But they brushed us away when we had no proof. We thought, perhaps, if you could send word to them, they’d help us. Nothing more than that. It’s the children that matter, and if there’s a chance that something unnatural has taken them—”
Silky smooth, Erich interrupted the man’s plea with impeccable politeness. “Before we exert the queen’s authority to find possibly nonexistent demons, would you accept a further investigation?”
“Yes, my lord. Of course.”
“Then, Elena,” —boot heels clicked closer to the throne— “since my duchy is nearer to Edgecliff, let me send a small band with a mage from Barrow’s Pass to investigate. Why force an issue when you may not need to?”
Why was Elena letting him interfere?
“And,” he added smoothly, “if it is something truly extraordinary, perhaps your Mage Champion can offer some assistance?”
So he’d send me right into an ambush. Anders glanced at me, his expression simple and eloquent.
“If that’s satisfactory—”
The petitioner agreed and left, along with Elena and her court.
“What doesn’t my lord duke want Elena to know about in Edgecliff?” I whispered to Anders.
“Good question. I think we should warn your father and encourage him to send scouts to poke around the forest.”
“You warn him.”
With a long-suffering sigh, Anders stretched his muscles. “Yes, Alex. Now what do you propose to do?”
“Get some sleep.”
Chapter Eleven
“Her Majesty is sleeping, Mage Champion.” Elena’s personal guard looked apologetic, as he straightened to attention, and perplexed at our sudden appearance in the castle.
“I’m aware of that. Believe me, I wish I were doing the same. But I have important news that she must hear. Now.” Casting a glance first in Anders’ direction, I turned back to the hesitant guard. “I’m not leaving until you wake her.”
The guard disappeared with open reluctance, muttering something disrespectful under his breath. Anders shook his head in tolerant amusement. Moments later, the guard returned, a sheepish look on his face. Apologizing, he directed us straight to Elena’s sitting room, where she was already waiting, and worried.
“Are you all right?”
“Of course.” I hid a smile at Elena’s obvious state of dishevelment, keeping my expression neutral.
“Damn you, Alex. From your message, I thought you were hurt.”
“If I were hurt,” I said with exaggerated patience, “I wouldn’t be here.”
Throwing me a look of utter disgust, she went to Anders and kissed his cheek. “You’re always welcome here. Preferably alone.”
He flushed bright red. “Surely not in the middle of the night?”
“Any time.”
“Should I leave the two of you alone?” I asked dryly.
Elena chuckled, wrapped her silk robe tighter around her slim body, and started to sit, and then stopped with a grin. “I suppose we can’t have a midnight chat without a glass or two of Marain wine.”
“It wouldn’t be civilized.” I tossed my cloak over a low chair.
“Well, then, I won’t have you spread rumors of my poor hospitality.” Elena went to find glasses and returned with an unopened bottle.
“Only three?”
Elena gave me a contented smile. “Erich’s sleeping.”
“Ah.” But I knew better, confident the traitor was listening to every word behind the door. “Tired him out, did you?”
“I always do.”
“Good. Keeps them docile.”
&
nbsp; “So…” Elena grinned at Anders’ indignant look, and poured wine from the bottle he had dutifully opened. “Why are you here this time?”
“We wanted to give you your long overdue gift.”
“Should I wake Erich?”
“No,” I said hastily, scrambling to explain at her arched brow. “He’s not used to our midnight visits yet. Besides, we thought we’d give it to you in private, and then you can share it with him later. At your discretion,” I couldn’t resist adding.
Taking a small sip from her glass, Elena brushed strands of black hair from her forehead. “All right, Alex, I confess. I’m intrigued.”
“You should be.”
“Alex, stop torturing her.”
Smug, I settled back comfortably against Anders’s knees. “You remember, ah, how you and Jules thought I was the Crownmage?” When Elena nodded, blue eyes narrowed with suspicion. I went on, “I knew I wasn’t, though the two of you hounded me without mercy.” At Elena’s pained expression, recalling the ugly confrontations we’d shared, I paused to choose my words. “What I didn’t know until after I defeated Charlton Ravess, however, was that Anders was the Crownmage.”
Elena’s glass halted in mid-air as her face lost all trace of color. I stretched to take the glass from her hand before she dropped it to the floor, but she pulled her hand back and drained the entire glass. “Lords of the sea.”
“Care for another glass?” I held out the bottle.
Elena grabbed the bottle from my hand and poured herself another full glass. “Lords of the sea, Alex.”
“You already said that.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Fair question. “I was in shock myself for a long time.”
“What Alex means, Elena, is that she was furious with me for keeping it a secret from her.” Anders’ smile was apologetic. “I didn’t tell her when I arrived in Port Alain, because” —he flushed scarlet again— “well, because I wanted to meet you before committing myself to your cause. But Alex was in the middle of discovering her magic potential by then, as unique as it is. I’m sorry, Elena. I may have made a grave mistake, but Alex was doing so well.”
“Remember the theft of my mother’s pendant before the Mage Challenge? Guess who robbed it?” I tossed in spitefully to remind him that I still hadn’t forgiven him for hiding the pendant to force me to rely on my own self confidence.
Elena looked horrified.
“Well, it worked,” Anders defended his actions, which had almost severed our fledgling relationship.
“Yes, but—” Elena sighed and took a long sip of wine. “I’m not sure I can handle these midnight visits anymore.” Then she laughed, mischief in her eyes as she grinned at me. “No wonder your cottage went up in flames. You can change one element to another. He can change each element to its different forms. In the night, between the two of you—”
“He’s too old.”
“You keep changing your mind about that.”
“You and Rosanna always take his part.”
“Ladies,” Anders interrupted. “It’s late. Before our queen has an overabundance of wine, I’d like to remind her that my mage talent is at her command. Actually, it always has been from the moment I first met you, Elena.”
“Thank you.” Suddenly serious, Elena put the wine glass on the low wooden table to her left. “Shall I announce this formally?”
Anders wrapped an arm around me, toying with a lock of my hair. “We thought it might be better if you were to keep it quiet for now. It’s always helpful to have a hidden weapon on hand, particularly since someone is out for Alex’s blood.”
“And Erich?” Elena looked at me.
“Your choice.” I shrugged, restraining my immediate reply. “But if you tell him, you’d best tell him to keep it secret.”
“Of course. Erich can be trusted, or I wouldn’t be marrying him.”
* * * *
“Damnation.” Jules groaned, green eyes miserable. “I let you out of my sight for a few weeks, Alex, only a few weeks, and look at the news you bring back.”
Almost the very moment we arrived back in Port Alain, I gathered the troops together in Rosanna’s tower to inform them of Erich’s treacherous association with Firemage Ravess. “I’m sorry to ruin your day,” I said dryly, “but there’s another important matter we need to discuss.” As he continued to groan, I made sure I had Rosanna and Brendan’s complete attention. “But this point also stays secret. Elena’s the only one who knows. Well, Elena, and probably Erich by now, which also means Charlton Ravess knows, too, if Erich tells him.”
Rosanna’s eyes widened in undisguised curiosity.
“Knows what?” Jules ran a hand through his light brown hair, clearly unhappy, and worried about Elena, this time, for good reason.
“Easy, Jules. This news is good. Anders—” I stopped as I caught sight of his rugged face, scarlet with embarrassment. “It’s out of character for you to be humble.” When he studiously ignored me, I started to laugh and turned to Jules. “You were right about the Crownmage. He does exist.”
Jules’s green eyes lit with unexpected delight. “You found him?”
Anders fidgeted with the sleeve of his brown tunic, cleared his throat a few times, fidgeted some more.
“Anders, really. Stop stalling, and spit it out.”
“Jules,” he said slowly, shooting daggers at me, “though you might find it hard to believe, I am the Crownmage.”
Poor bewildered Jules said nothing for a very long time, started to speak, stopped, started again, scratched his head, threw up his hands, and shook his head.
“Jules, it really is good news.” When he nodded, a dumbstruck expression plastered on his face, I crossed my arms and stared at his mother. “You look surprised.”
“When are you going to believe that Anders doesn’t tell me everything?” Rosanna’s eyes held challenge, daring me to cross swords with her again. Little did she know that I would, soon enough. “Anyway, it is good news.”
“It’s wonderful news.” Brendan cut in, his young face smiling. “My sister must have been delighted.”
“She was,” Anders said, adding pointedly, “We told her she had to keep it secret. Not from Erich, of course. She trusts him implicitly.”
“Unlikely he’ll keep it a secret,” Brendan grumbled. “You’re right, Alex. By now, Charlton Ravess must know, too. Is that why you told Elena now?”
“Of course. Let them lose a little sleep.”
“We have to stop the wedding,” Jules said quietly, green eyes searching mine, old grief shadowed by heartache. “We have to tell Elena.”
“I don’t think that’s wise.” Rosanna stood to pour cinnamon tea and handed out the cups. “I’m not saying she’ll not believe that Alex and Anders are telling the truth, but, well, she’s in love for the first time.” She avoided her son’s eyes with exquisite care. “I’d rather we tell her only as a last resort. We can take comfort in the fact that she’s safe until the wedding.”
“You’d rather set a trap and let Erich bring about his own downfall?” Anders suggested. When she nodded, he glanced at me. “Then why don’t we think about this for awhile and meet again tomorrow? We all have quite enough on our minds.”
“That’s for certain. I’m really grateful, Alex.” Brendan’s manner turned shy as he stood to leave. “I’ve been worried sick about Elena, and now we have proof that she’s in danger. At least, we can do something about it. I was beginning to feel helpless.”
“Well, we’re not helpless or hopeless.” I laughed, squeezing his arm. “And Brendan,” —I held him back from leaving— “I meant what I said about my mage talent protecting you.”
“That includes me,” Anders said, coming to stand beside Elena’s heir.
“Thanks.” Brendan nodded, embarrassed at our words. “I’d better get back to the little monsters. Pardon me, my lord.” He grinned at Jules. “But they are.”
“I know.” He sighed. “Alex spoils th
em.”
“I do not.”
“That’s what Lauryn said.”
“Jules!” His mother slapped him on the shoulder. “Lauryn said no such thing.”
Jules shrugged, and escaped with Brendan, leaving us alone with Rosanna, who looked at Anders and then at me, resignation in her eyes.
“There’s something else, isn’t there?”
“There’s always something else,” I said quietly. “Your fate depends on your answer, old lady. The wrong one will find you swimming in Shad’s Bay with hungry seabeasts.”
Though my threat was light-hearted, Rosanna had no trouble reading the serious intent in my eyes. She fidgeted with her teacup, stealing a furtive glance at Anders, looking for a clue. For once, he stayed neutral.
“Did you know about Gwynn?”
The old woman met my gaze without blinking as she admitted, “Your father told me a year ago, when you first met him, that you had a half-brother. Up until that point, I didn’t know, Alex. And that’s the truth. I swear on my dead husband’s grave. Sernyn told me he’d tell you himself when he thought you’d accept it. He hoped” —she held my gaze— “that you would come to accept him and Gwynn in due time.”
Unsure what to say, though I’d practiced a head filled with nasty remarks all the way back from Ardenna, I put my teacup down and left the two of them alone, needing to think.
* * * *
Rosanna found me much later in a sheltered corner of her gardens.
“Don’t bother apologizing,” I said, unable to restrain the bitterness. “You’ll only have to do it again the next time I find out some other dirty little secret.” Silk rustled softly as she sat beside me on the cool stone bench, keeping her counsel. “I’m so tired of it all.” Unable to sit still, I stood and paced, keeping distance between us. “I feel trapped in a web of lies between you and Sernyn Keltie. What more are you keeping from me?” I stopped long enough to catch a glimpse of her somber face. “Gwynn said he’s the only sibling I have. Of the three of you, he’s probably the only one telling the truth.”
Rosanna tucked a strand of graying hair into the knot at the base of her neck. “There was another child, a girl. She didn’t survive long.” Her voice was pitched low, expressionless. “I don’t know very much about your stepm—” she caught back her words, “your father’s wife, except that she’s from Glynnswood.”
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