by D. H. Aire
What Belina was now… her spies made clear. Beautiful, skilled in magery, respected by her peers, who curried her favor as her father’s candidacy for Highmage flowered. Heartless was the word that most described her in private.
Rowena shook her head and apprised those in the Lyai’s section. There had not been a representative here at Court for a very long time. Lord Lyai and his wife sat with his older cousin, and heir, the Faeryn mage, Talik, and the human lordling, Lord Niota.
Talik was on the list as one of the Empress’s few close cousins, although, he had never been allowed at Court once he chose Faeryn ways. But times had changed. Belina was a bit young for him, but she could do worse… There were several silver haired rather rotund currently unmarried lords from lesser houses that her grandmother would be loath to consider normally, but otherwise might be…
No, Belina married to a Faeryn mage would never be something her conservative grandmother would ever countenance. She blinked thoughtfully. Then again, the landscape of Court politics was showing loyalty coming from unlikely sources and Talik was Her Majesty’s cousin. Her merchant holdings would benefit from his Lyai connections and Faeryn opportunities, if word was true at how prized the Lyain Faeryn-work was becoming.
Talik seemed to feel her gaze.
She smiled back.
He blinked.
She smiled more broadly. Hmm, he’s attractive, too, and in marriage I shall not lose a daughter in exchange, and one that is an heir to the throne.
Others began appraising him, following that particular line of thought, but they dismissed it. He was a Faeryn mage, after all. She smiled more shyly back at him.
#
Fri’il drew two daggers and threw. They thudded in the target dead center. She dove to the ground, rolled and threw two more, which landed just below the first two.
“Excellent,” Se’and said. “Cle’or says you’ve improved remarkably with the sword, too.”
“Se’and,” Fri’il said. “The practices have gotten… weird. It’s almost like I’ve Cle’or’s skills, not just her training.”
Frowning, Se’and nodded, “She’s worked me hard enough of late that oddly I’ve found myself thinking the same thing… and now the three of us are to be a bit closer Sisters.”
“Which is making Je’orj look a bit more uncomfortable than usual.”
“Our House grows, Sister, and we need to watch Je’orj more closely.”
“Meaning, he may try to miss his own wedding,” Fri’il replied.
“I don’t think so… but why take chances? Now, care to spar?”
Fri’il grinned and picked up her elvin made blade as Se’and drew hers, certain that this time that Je’orj was not going to fight fate. He had too much else to worry about.
#
Irin stared at the herald standing at the shop’s front door. “Master Lucien Summerfelt, you and your lady are to be guests of the Highmage at the Royal Wedding.”
He quickly accepted it with his good hand, “This is… unexpected.”
“You are kin to one of the Groom’s Party.”
Lucien gasped, “Aaprin?”
The herald nodded, “Good day, Master Lucien.”
“And to you, Good Herald… and to you,” he muttered more softly as his young human wife jumped up and down.
“Oh, to be invited! Oh, no… Lucien, I’ve nothing to wear!”
He struggled to smile, realizing Aaprin was not going to have a similar problem…
#
Ruke shook his head and smiled at Mahr, who held his hand at the table as they were served lunch. Her coterie of young lady friends kept his glass of water filled and gave him a second helping.
“The festival should be lovely,” Mahr said.
“I’ve not much in the way of coin,” he admitted, “but there will be festival in the lower Seventh tomorrow after the bells hail the marriage and—”
Mahr smiled, “Oh, we’ve coin aplenty, at least to enjoy the festival in the Sixth Tier.”
There was a knock at the door. Cathartan Sister had words and sought to bar someone, “Boy! Report!”
Ruke stiffened, “Master Terhun!” He ran from the table before the young ladies could stop him, “Master!”
The Sisters were shoved aside as a word of power was spoken. A cowled, dark robed warder mage stood at Master Terhun’s back. “Boy, you were to report this morning… not play house.”
“Um…”
“Come with me now.”
“He can’t!” Mahr shouted.
“Child, do not try my patience. Ruke has responsibilities — he’s taken an oath of service to the Empire. Or would you have him foresworn?”
Mahr paled. “Ruke will do no such thing… but he’s under my, our, protection.”
Terhun laughed, “The city is appreciative of your people’s aid.”
“I and my friends will accompany—”
“No, perhaps someday, but his responsibilities will not require a gaggle of your like. Ruke, come.”
“Yes, sir.” He turned and mouthed, “tomorrow.”
The door slammed shut behind them.
Mahr muttered, “He’ll be back and sharing my bed soon enough, our Lord Ruke shall.”
#
Ruke looked down as they proceeded down the street. Cathartans watched as the warder mage, raised his hand and spoke an almost heard spell. They vanished from view. “This way,” Terhun said.
“I’m sorry, sir… I don’t know what’s, uh, gotten into me.”
“You are normally more sharp witted, lad,” he said as they ducked into an alley.
Ruke frowned, shaking his head.
Terhun turned and faced him and changed.
Eyes wide, Ruke gasped, “Uh, hi, Gallen.”
“Ruke, I understand Terhun putting you to good use, but this?”
“Um.”
“Oh, don’t explain yourself to me… but to her.”
Ander came out from behind a bunch of crates, Aaprin a step behind. “Hi, Ruke,” she said.
“Ander?”
“I was… a bit worried.”
“I’m fine.”
Ander frowned. “I know we haven’t really seen each other. It’s been rather chaotic since they began hunting all of us.”
“The Cathartans have taken the Pack Rats in.”
“I know. But Juels and I—”
“I know. The Highmage is fostering you both.”
“Uh, Gallen, can you guys leave us alone for a moment?”
“Sure,” Gallen said, taking the warder and Aaprin back to the alley entrance, where they could feign not overhearing.
“Ruke, I thought… I thought you and I were… a bit more than friends.”
“Ander, we were. You don’t know how much you’ve meant to me…”
“But?”
“I can’t help it. I love Mahr… I can’t explain it.”
“You know I’ve been adopted Cathartan now. I love you. I know what being Cathartan means…”
His eyes went dark, “Ander, don’t… don’t ask that. I don’t have it in me to live like that, no matter what Mahr thinks… I’m not a total fool, Ander. I know why her friends are hanging about, hoping I’ll accept them. Even if I thought I could do it, it would kill you inside, knowing I only loved Mahr.”
Ander fought back tears. “You love me not at all?”
“I’m sorry, you’ve been my best friend and there for me…”
“Yes, I’ve been your friend and shared more of myself than I ever should have, it seems. So, as a friend, I hope she loves you as much as you love her… Goodbye, Ruke.”
He stood shaken, wishing he could reach out and hug her, but knowing that would only make it worse. Gallen stalked past him and hugged Ander as she turned away, refusing to let him see her tears.
“Ahem,” Aaprin said, “report to Master Terhun, our friend here will see you safely across the city.”
“I don’t need—”
The warder’s hand touch
ed his shoulder, “Come.”
They left and as soon as they were out of sight, Ander collapsed to her knees. Gallen knelt beside her. “Ander, I’d like no better woman helping watch Aaprin’s back.”
“Uh, Gallen,” Aaprin said, stepping up behind them. “Really, I don’t need to marry you both.”
Ander glanced up at him, “Aap, it doesn’t matter now… at this point finding myself given to one of the twits doesn’t seem so bad.”
“Aaprin,” Gallen half-whispered.
He winced. “Uh, no… by the Gate, consider us bonded.”
“Thank you, milord,” she intoned, I think, he clearly heard as she wiped tears from her cheeks.
Oh, by the Gate, Aaprin thought as he bent and hugged them both, hoping with her broken heart she was going to be rather undemanding about a long delayed wedding night, which if he had any say, would last a lifetime.
Gallen glanced up at him and nodded, apparently sharing that hope.
Chapter 5 - Bridal Party Issues
“You handled Tristan well,” Carwina said as they left in privy court, ending all further requests for audiences.
“If Tane’s in league with Kolter…” she muttered as Lonny marched at her back, nodding to the ogre guards lining the corridor, where once bane sword wielding Imperial guards stationed themselves. No longer, they were dead to a man by treason.
“He had no troops involved with the rebellion,” Carwina offered.
“Between guarding the locks and how he treats his dwarves, he had none to send… I’m not blind to the plight that’s driven so many to take refuge in their Quarter in the Sixth.”
“Your mother ignored his behavior throughout her reign.”
“Thankfully, I’m not as vain or foolish as she was…”
“No,” Carwina admitted. “Nor as vindictive without good reason.”
The Empress paused and took her half-sister’s non-royal hand, “Would that I could have spent time with you or father.”
“He understood.”
“I’ll not have the babe I bear have to live without her father’s love.”
“You don’t know you are bearing your heir, Your Majesty.”
“Carwina, I know I’ve conceived, just like my mother did.”
“Odd gift to run in the Imperial family.”
“Survival trait, I think,” the Empress said with amusement.
“If it’s a male, he may sire my true heir before I ever have another chance. It’s not like Empress’s are known to be fecund.”
“They weren’t marrying full blood humans, either.”
They continued on the sitting room. Her wedding dress hung in mid-air, arrayed with all her jewels. The Elvinsilk would not conceal her nakedness, but the jewels would help from everyone not standing as close as her groom.
“It’s incredible,” Carwina said in a hushed tone.
The Empress sighed, walking behind it. She ran her right hand across it, making it scintillate hues of violet, red, and blue. “Mother commissioned it before I was even born.”
“Father said hers was magnificent.”
The Empress frowned. “Have you considered…”
Carwina chuckled. “Lord Sianhiel is eligible, I understand.”
“Hmm, he’s loyal to a fault. You could do worse.”
There was a darkness in Carwina’s gaze, “I can’t believe the changes in Balfour.”
“He is, well, eligible.”
“That woman has his heart and soul.”
“That woman’s your doppelganger.”
“She looks nothing like me.”
“That’s a human belief. That doesn’t mean she is not your doppelganger. She’s a healer in her way as you are in the elvin. You both love him and, no matter what he says, you are in his heart.”
“So, you suggest I accept her Cathartan ways?”
“I’m accepting the fact that Je’orj is bound to those ladies in ways I’ll never understand.”
“Ahem.”
They glanced at Lonny, who said, “Me’oh is your doppelganger, Lady Carwina.”
“You can’t be sure of that,” she replied.
Lonny gave her a long look. “Oh, yes, I can… but that won’t ease your heart. Balfour loves Me’oh with all his. The one, I understand, you broke into little pieces when he was sent away for not being able to do proper mage healing.”
“I had no choice.”
Lonny shook her head. “You won’t find joy as Cathartans accept. They survive by the existence of a mere handful of males. This marriage is going to be challenge enough for Her Majesty, here.”
“No challenge at all,” the Empress replied. “Je’orj will not just be my consort, but my husband.”
“Living here in the palace?”
“Of course, Lonny. You can’t think he’ll continue to live in that hovel of an embassy.”
Lonny glanced at Carwina, who frowned, “Lorraina, you haven’t spoken with him about that yet, have you?”
“What’s there to discuss?” she replied in all innocence.
Lonny sighed. “And have you fully thought through my walking at his side in Elvinsilk?”
“You’re bound to him.”
“And if I want to bear his foals?”
“Foals?”
“That’s what a steed’s progeny are called, Your Majesty.”
“Foals?”
“I’m a mare and, well, there are times that I, uh, need attention. Though, I must admit it’s rare to conceive cross species and I’m sworn to Lord Je’orj, in any case.”
Carwina bit her lip as the Empress looked confused by the comment. “Um, Lorraina, Your Majesty, did your mother… ahem… did none of your tutors ever explain…”
“What?”
“You’re going to need to have a long talk with Lord Je’orj,” she said. “Oh my, Lonny, I need to see the bridal and groom’s list order right away.” Thinking, by the Gate, I’m going to kick that Herald Varian next he’s near! All the surviving heralds are too junior to realize what she’s done in all innocence.
#
Warders normally had little need for sleep, but theirs was not quite a proper one, more of an experiment gone almost right.
Which is also why they knew how to create a glitch, telling themselves that they didn’t need a babysitter. They were mages, had served on the faculty of the Mage Academy, sort of, even if most never realized it.
One moment their warder was explaining what was expected during the wedding, when Revit and Terus looked at each other, thinking the same thing.
“What?”
“That belt is your formal attire for the wedding,” the warder said.
That’s when they came up on either side and kissed the nearest side of the warder’s cowled cheeks. The warder literally froze in place.
“Um, I’ve an idea.”
“I’m with you…” They concentrated, clasped hands and vanished. The door opened and closed seemingly on its own.
#
“Clawd, I told you to find Ruke,” the Imperial spymaster said, walking around the topographic map of the Empire and the neighboring lands. He moved the Trelorian army back a score of miles and the City-State southern alliance forces just south of them.
“Master, I’ve tried.”
Terhun shouted, “Try again. Ask Lady Esperanza, if you must.”
“He doesn’t need to.”
They turned. “Ruke?” They stared at him as he came through the archway from the study. “Where have you been, boy?”
“Doing what you told me to, finding out what Mother De’ohr is up to… and, this one is costing me. I had to lie to Ander and tell her I didn’t love her!”
#
“I’m sorry, boy. No time for a real love life… so, Aaprin’s warder brought you upTier. What did you learn about him?”
“He trips over his own feet a lot.”
“Clumsy is not what I’m trying to ascertain, Ruke.”
“His warding skills are powerful. H
e rendered us invisible.”
“Well, that could come in handy… if any of the twenty warders would actually work with my people or the legion for that matter.”
“Master?” Ruke said.
Clawd answered, “Other than the two living at Lord Je’orj’s place. They are based at the Mage Academy and seem interested in the ogre warrens.”
“Which is pissing off their queen,” Terhun said, “who complains about some ogre named Melvyn interfering as much as they are.”
Ruke shook his head. “Well, on my end, as you know, Mother De’ohr’s had some vision that I’m going to be some kind of lord and Mahr and her friends will do just about anything for me… which is kind of embarrassing.”
“That woman is up to something, boy. I appreciate her little army helping watch out for Lord Je’orj, he certainly needs all the help he can get. But they have taken over the Seventh and actually brought down the murder rate. Although, more men have reported to the hospital from the Seventh than ever before.”
“Ruke, they all had Balfour’s chits.”
“Cathartan sense of humor?”
“More like honor,” Terhun replied. “Now, you’re not to blow this assignment boy. The Cathartans are difficult to judge and I suspect that whatever that mother shaman plans is not going to be according to the Highmage’s script.”
“You mean he has a plan?” Clawd asked.
“Every Highmage has a plan… they have the power of the Gate behind them and we’ve warder mages and have defeated a budding civil war.” For the moment at least, he privately admitted. “Now, have you heard anything about Cathartan plans for the Empress’s wedding?”
“Not a thing. As far as I know, they weren’t invited.”
“The Empress heeded my advice on that point. We’ve Legionnaires, ogres, and dwarves enough to guard the palace and make sure no one plans anything to disturb the festival.”
“Now, Clawd, find me Verny… I want to know what Lord Lyai’s up to.”
Clawd nodded and left, not wanting to think about how Lord Lyai’s new spymaster really reported to his former boss as the Empress’s spymaster. Nor really wanted to know what happened to Terhun’s predecessor. It was enough that Lady Cle’or had taught him to throw the dagger up his sleeve with deadly accuracy. Urchins didn’t tend to live a long life… at least those who weren’t part of Gallen’s Rats and he was a rat at heart.