by B. T. Narro
“Not long. I’ve gotten very good at handling swords.” She raised an eyebrow.
“Do you ever stop with the crude jokes? You’re worse than Michael.”
“Speaking of, how much does he like me?”
Was she serious? Her tone was as if she was serious.
“Um.”
“Don’t insult me by pretending you don’t know.”
“I’m not pretending. I’m trying to decide what to tell you.”
“Does he like me or does he just want me for a night?”
I didn’t know how to answer, too taken aback with her direct questions.
“Come on, Jon. The two of us are never alone together, and Michael has probably spoken only to you about it. We don’t have a lot of time, and there’s something else I want to talk to you about. Please just answer with the truth. It’s important to me.”
“No games?” I asked.
“I might make crude jokes, but I don’t play games.”
I wish I knew how true that was. More than that, I wish I knew what Michael would want me to say. I was getting the idea, however, that Eden might be interested in a relationship with him. I knew Michael was interested as well, but what if I was wrong about Eden and I ruined Michael’s chances?
“He has mentioned you,” I said, “but we haven’t talked about it at length. If I had to take a guess, I would say he’s interested in you for more than…one night.”
“Pity,” she answered to my horror. “I don’t want to break his heart.”
“I’m sure he would be more than happy to spend the night with you if that’s the only thing you’re interested in,” I said quickly.
“Oh, I’m sure he would. What do you think Luther’s arrest means for Kataleya?”
“He, um…well.” I was caught off guard by her quick subject change.
“It doesn’t seem like she’ll be the prime suspect anymore, but someone did leave a callring in her room. If it wasn’t her, then who was it?”
“I don’t know any better than you.”
“I know.” She spoke with urgency. “Help me figure it out.”
“I’m inclined to believe it’s one of the girls, and you know them better than I do.”
“Because you don’t think there’s any chance Michael or Reuben are responsible?”
“I can’t really see how it could be them.”
She gave me a hard look, then she frowned. “But you do see how it could be me.”
I sighed. I didn’t know why she was so interested in speaking about this with me. Obviously, we weren’t going to figure out anything.
“I don’t know who it is,” I said in hopes of pacifying the situation. “It might not even be any of us.”
She took a dried snakeskin from her desk and set it down on my sword, not seeming to care that this enchantment would be done on her bed.
“Enchantments are discussed in levels of one through four,” Eden explained without looking at me. “A snakeskin durability enchant increases the durability of your weapon by a measure of one.”
“How much will it help?” I asked.
“It will be noticeable over time. Your sword will not chip or dull as easily. That’s about it.”
“What would a level four enchantment do?” I wondered.
“Of durability? I don’t know, but I hope to find out one day.” She wouldn’t look up from her bed.
The Eden before this had surprised me with many of her comments, but this Eden made me far more uncomfortable as I wondered if she was playing me or if I had really upset her.
“I’ll bring it to you when I finish,” she said.
“Oh. All right.” I started toward her doorway.
“Jon.”
I turned.
“I would never hurt anyone here. I promise. I really wish you would believe me. I was hoping we might be friends.”
Honestly, I wasn’t sure I believed her. I had a problem forcing myself to lie with not just words but expressions, as Kataleya had noticed. I couldn’t give Eden the expression she wanted, one of trust.
“I’m sure soon we’ll know. I was hoping we could be friends, too.” My tone conveyed more than I cared to admit. I couldn’t open myself too much to her until I knew who had tried to corrupt me with dteria and who had attempted to have Grufaeragar killed.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
I went back to the courtyard, as I didn’t want to wait around in Eden’s room. Jennava soon returned with two men and one woman. I figured they were sorcerers because they weren’t armed. It was a long walk if I was to greet them at the open drawbridge across the courtyard. I didn’t move, distracted by memories.
I recalled coming to the castle for the first time, full of excitement, and yet suspicion as well. The king had a plot involving us. I had been so eager to learn, however, that I didn’t care much about it or meeting the other sorcerers, until I saw Aliana. Her beauty had overpowered all my thoughts, but my feelings for her had never blossomed into anything, not when she had acted toward me so coldly in the way that she had initially.
Kataleya had always been kind, a joy to be around. My relationship with Aliana had improved a lot since she had learned to trust me, but I didn’t see her in the same way now as I did before I got to know her. I didn’t know if that might change, but this was nothing to be sad about. I was looking forward to developing friendships with all of my peers. My short conversation with Eden showed me how little I really knew about some of them, even after all this time.
I was in no rush to open my heart to anyone. I didn’t know the first thing about courting.
I cared about the girls here in a very different way than I’d cared about Joanne. Part of me wanted to learn how to court a woman, especially as I remembered the feeling of Kataleya looking into my eyes from so close. There was something between us. I could almost feel it as if it were tangible.
Courting seemed like a useful skill to know, but sometimes I wondered if it was even a skill at all or something more devious. Did women even want to be courted? I thought two people usually ended up together because they liked each other. The whole idea of courting didn’t make much sense to me. Was the man tricking the woman into liking him? Why else would courting be needed? I didn’t get it.
I sighed as I watched the two male sorcerers start bickering with each other on the other side of the courtyard. The other female sorcerer who Jennava brought in seemed to want nothing to do with them as she walked across the courtyard toward me. This must be the ice mage Eden had mentioned, I thought, for she was beautiful.
“Jennava said you could find a place for my possessions so they won’t be stolen,” said the woman. There was an air of superiority to her tone, reminding me of the first time I’d met Reuben. She wore an expensive cloak and had a ring with a gem on each finger. She even had a gold necklace dangling down near her well-endowed chest, which she displayed in a tight bodice.
She did not look as if she had come here expecting to lift a finger, much less cast a spell. Then again, I didn’t feel much like a threat was at hand, either. That might be why I thought this could be a good chance to practice my courtship skills.
The beautiful woman was probably about five years my elder and not someone I would normally be interested in. Just from her one request, it didn’t seem as if she considered us equals. Perhaps that’s what courtship was? Convincing a woman you were right for her? I still didn’t know.
I noticed Jennava leaving through the open drawbridge, presumably to fetch the sellswords. I hoped she would bring back the Stormeagles. I hadn’t spoken to my friend Calvin in some time, and it seemed as if the wait for Luther’s arrest would be leisurely.
“You may leave your things within the great hall,” I said as I gestured at the large structure beside the keep. I thought of tacking on a compliment, but it seemed much too soon.
She considered it for a moment, a scowl on her face. Or perhaps that was just her resting countenance. “Isn’t there somewhere more secure?
” she asked as she looked me up and down. “Are you a guard? Where is your armor?”
“I’m a sorcerer.” I almost called her madam, but I was trying to practice courtship and that didn’t seem like the right word to use. “The keep is locked to visitors, but you could leave your things in my room in the apartments if you’d like. I have a key to lock the door.”
“Who else has a key?”
“Just the councilman to the king, I believe.” A servant no longer woke me in the mornings, so the king had probably taken away his key.
As she seemed to be in thought, I checked on the other two sorcerers. They wore extravagant cloaks just like this woman. I figured I would find expensive jewelry on their fingers if I was close enough to see it. My peers had told me that the sorcerers around here tended to be wealthy. Wealthy and pompous.
The men were bickering so loudly, I caught part of what they were arguing about. Each man seemed interested in proving to the other that he would be paid more by the time this was done.
“That is fine,” said the woman. “Take me there.”
I gestured for her to walk with me toward the apartments. She matched my stride and looked me over once more.
“My name is Jon,” I said, offering my hand.
“Jon what? Who is your father?”
She hadn’t shaken my hand yet, as if waiting for my answer before deeming me appropriate to touch her.
I was starting to lose interest in even practicing courtship.
“Gage Oklar. Unfortunately, he passed away.”
She shook my hand. “The head guard of Tryn. He was quite the swordsman from what I’ve heard. What about yourself?”
I nodded. “He taught me well.”
We made our way through the apartments and up the stairs.
“May I ask your name?” I tried.
“You must not be from here. I’m Ice Mage Willelma.”
“I haven’t met an ice mage, like yourself,” I said.
“You haven’t met anyone like me.”
I smiled thinking she might be loosening up with a bit of a joke, but no, it seemed that she just wanted to brag, as she continued.
“I’m the only ice mage in Newhaven for good reason. Not many sorcerers can manipulate ice, and those who can, cannot do it like I can.”
I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. I was interested in ice, as none of my peers could cast any ice spells. It was within my range, as it overlapped with ordia in the same fashion that wind overlapped with dvinia, but Leon hadn’t mentioned anything about it. I would assume that he, and probably the king, thought fire would be more useful, as fire was the magical art first mentioned to me when they’d discovered my range.
“I take that to mean you know many ice spells?” I asked as we made it to my room and I unlocked the door.
“I know what I need to know.” She stepped in first and unfastened her cloak. She folded it neatly on my bed, then started to remove her rings.
She was undeniably beautiful, but I had now completely lost my desire to practice courtship. I didn’t think I could learn anything from speaking with this woman. She was too different from the kind of girl I could see myself falling for.
I stayed in the doorway expecting her to leave, but she went to my window on the other side of the room to look out over the courtyard.
“The king is almost as stupid as the two of them,” she said loudly and confidently.
I was shocked by her audacity. Was she not worried I would tell the king?
“You must know I’m loyal to him,” I said.
She turned away from the window. “Shut the door.”
I closed it only because I was morbidly curious about what she had to say.
“You seem like you could use some advice,” she said.
Everyone could use a piece of good advice every now and again, but I’m not going to get any of that from you.
“And what advice is that?”
She scoffed as if offended by my dismissive attitude. “You should trust what I have to say,” she lectured me.
I couldn’t speak without insulting her. Still curious about what she had to say, I waited for her to continue.
“I’m telling you this for your own good. You don’t seem like someone who takes the time to think about things that might endanger him.”
I continued to hold my tongue.
“I know you young sorcerers are bound to protect the king by a contract, but such contracts can be dissolved. The king would never tell you, but it is within your right. You were not aware what you were signing up for; all the sorcerers have heard by now. You were tricked. But I know of a deninger. He’ll require a payment, of course, but I assume you have coin.”
“A deninger?” I asked.
“It does not matter for now. Just seek me out if you want to learn more.”
“What benefit would you have from it?”
“Must I need a benefit to help another sorcerer?”
“Yes,” I told her coldly. “I assume this deninger gives you a portion of the payment for your referral?”
“That is enough from you.” She extended her palm. “Your key.”
“What?” I gave a bit of a laugh. “I’m not giving you my key.”
She seemed surprised. Then she put on a smile as she placed her hand over her chest. “I’m sorry if I offended you earlier,” she told me sweetly. “You’re a handsome young man who seems kindhearted. I was just looking out for your best interest. Now please allow me to hold onto your key while I leave my possessions in your room. I promise I’ll return it before I leave.”
I knew what she was doing. “No, feel free to leave your belongings somewhere else if you want. I’m not giving you my key.”
Shock crossed her face. She quickly checked herself in the mirror against the wall.
“I don’t understand,” she said in the same sweet tone, extending her palm once again. “Please, Jon.”
“I don’t know you, and I’m partially responsible for anything you and the others might do here.”
Her expression turned icy. “Fine!” She started collecting her possessions from my bed. “I will take my belongings and myself elsewhere.” She spoke as if this was something I’d regret.
With her cloak and jewelry collected, Willelma started toward the door. She looked at me the whole way there.
I opened the door for her.
She scoffed at me again as she exited.
Good riddance.
Eden’s room was not far from mine. She had her door open, so I entered without knocking.
She was looking out over the courtyard, but she turned to find me approaching my sword on her bed.
“It’s finished,” she sang as she snatched up the sword before I could get it. “Aha!” She aimed its point at me.
A few different ways of disarming her entered my head, but all would cause at least a little pain, so I refrained.
“I just had the displeasure of meeting Willelma,” I said as I calmly took the sword.
“Oh yes, another charming sorcerer.”
“Are they all as spoiled as Reuben?” I asked. Like all my other peers, Eden had grown up in the capital here. I was the only one who didn’t know much about the city. I had expected to learn more by now, but I’d hardly had a chance to leave the castle.
“I think most are,” Eden said.
“Why is that?”
“Most come from powerful families. That’s how they pay for training.” She went back to her window to look out over the courtyard as she spoke. “Then, when they start to learn sorcery, they think themselves to be even better than the rich who cannot use a magical art. And you must already know how highly the rich think of themselves compared to the rest of us.”
“I see. Is that why the king prefers not to work with them?”
“Yes,” she said. “They are overpriced for their service, they don’t work well with others, and they’re loyal to no one but themselves and their patrons—for those who have t
hem.”
“There has to be sorcerers who are unlike the others. Jennava, and even Leon, are different.”
“Leon was just like the rest of them when he was younger, in Tryn. Everything changed after dark mages robbed him, and then he murdered them and ended up in the dungeon below the keep. You know this, right?”
“Yes, but—”
“Most of the other sorcerers haven’t had an experience like his. I don’t suppose there are many rich where you come from, but you should know that they don’t think or act like the rest of us do. They are not just measured by their wealth but their status as well, and they are all competing with each other. Humility is a curse to them, a weakness.”
I joined her at the window because I was tired of talking to her back. “There still has to be sorcerers who learned a magical art to help others, not just for status.”
“Yes, and you have met all eight of them who exist in all of Lycast, yourself included,” Eden replied. “That is why we are here.” She gestured at the courtyard down below the window.
I didn’t believe it. Eden could be funny at times, but I didn’t know she was so cynical. I wasn’t sure why Michael was so infatuated with her.
I wasn’t certain what my face revealed, but her demeanor changed when she looked into my eyes. She grew serious.
“There are other sorcerers,” she finally admitted. “Men and women who want to use their sorcery for good. Unfortunately, you aren’t likely to meet any of them. Sorcerers who have any skill are seen as a threat by the other sorcerers who make their living from simple spells. At least that’s how it is here in Newhaven. The mean and aggressive drive away the nice and good. It’s like that with all businesses in the capital. If you can’t defend yourself or don’t want to, you’re not going to do well here. The rich control the city, always have. Imagine Rubens everywhere.”
“At least he’s learning some humility.”
“Slowly, and at great pain to the rest of us. And it’s only because he was forced to stand on equal ground with the rest of us.”
Also, Kataleya’s rebuke of his advances seemed to have chipped away at his arrogance.
Maybe Eden wasn’t so cynical. Maybe she saw the capital for what it was. I liked to think that smart and dedicated people were everywhere in the capital, people like my peers, or like Greda and her mother. Perhaps there were, but there were also powerful men like Reuben and his father, and those who didn’t care about anyone but themselves, like Red, the tavernkeep.