DarkSkull Hall

by Lisa Cassidy

  “You know why.”

  “I don’t think I do.”

  “Really?” He raised an eyebrow. “What does your father say?”

  “He says we’re getting too old, and that very soon it will be inappropriate. He cares so much what the court thinks. It’s frustrating.”

  “Says the girl who thinks being a social outcast would be the worst thing ever.” He sighed. “Your father is right, Alyx. We’re not children anymore. I’m the heir to the throne, and it matters what the court thinks. Propriety is important. If they knew we were alone together in my bedroom right now...”

  She pushed away from him. “I know that! But you’re my best friend in the world, and that’s never going to change. Do you want a chaperone watching whenever we spend time together? Because that’s what will happen if we do things the appropriate way.”

  “We’ll work something out, Alyx. I promise.”

  A knock came at the door in the room beyond, and Cayr bounced up and strode out of the bedroom. Alyx followed, straightening her skirts with an irritated sigh. Cayr was already opening the door to his quarters by the time she came through, greeting the new arrival with another beaming smile.

  “Dashan!”

  “Prince Cayr,” the visitor said with a wide grin as he entered the room. “Not too busy for a visit from an old friend?”

  “I’m never too busy for you, you know that. Come in and sit down.”

  Alyx smothered another sigh. After her recent wrangling with her father, the last thing she needed was a dose of Dashan’s irritating presence, despite how pleased Cayr was to see him.

  Dashan was three years older than Alyx, and just over two years older than Cayr, but the three of them had grown up together. Dashan was an unlikely member of the group; the illegitimate son of the head of the king’s Blue Guard and a Shiven mistress he’d kept briefly, making Dashan a commoner and—even worse in the eyes of Rionnan society—of Shiven blood.

  Alyx was six, only a few months past being told her mother had died, and Cayr seven, when Lord-General Caverlock had reluctantly brought his nine-year-old son to the palace to attend King’s Council. The king had suggested that Dashan go and play with his own son while he held Council. Cayr and Dashan had taken to each other instantly. By the time Caverlock had returned to collect his son, the two boys were firm friends.

  Alyx and Dashan had not clicked so easily. He’d instantly assumed from Alyx’s haughty manner of speech that she thought she was above him, and she’d seen him as a wild, dirty boy who didn’t care about rules and propriety. Still, despite Alyx’s mixed feelings about Dashan, it always felt like family and home when the three of them were together.

  As Alyx glanced at him now, she was surprised at how grown-up he looked in his Blue Guard uniform. His father had forced him to enlist in the king’s elite cavalry unit, informally known as the Bluecoats, almost two years earlier. He was tall, too, with broad shoulders and muscular arms. A day’s worth of stubble covered his jaw, the same chocolate brown as his short-cropped hair. He looked between Cayr and Alyx with a pair of expressive, dark brown eyes that unfortunately reminded everyone of his Shiven blood. Alyx had heard rumours of Dashan and his growing renown for chasing women, and looking at him now, she believed them.

  Privately, Alyx thought Cayr the much better looking with his golden hair, bright blue eyes and open, laughing smile.

  “Alyx,” Dashan said now, a wide smile crossing his face. “How lovely to see you.”

  She bridled at his mocking tone. “I’m surprised you had time to visit your old friends, what with all your gambling and shirking duties whenever you can.”

  Annoyingly, he laughed aloud. “I see our dear Alyx hasn’t changed much, Cayr. Still as biting as ever!”

  “I hate to tell you, but you provoke that in her.” Cayr grinned and clapped him on the back. “So what brings you here?”

  “I haven’t seen you both for a while and thought to come and spend some time with my old friends.” Dashan dropped into a chair, long legs sprawling out in front of him. “Have you got anything good to drink in here?”

  “Nothing that’s appropriate to be drinking halfway through the afternoon.” Cayr smiled, dropping into another chair.

  “Says who?” Dashan raised an eyebrow.

  “I was beginning to think you’d forgotten about us,” Alyx said pointedly, knowing that Cayr had missed Dashan’s presence keenly in the past couple of years. Their times together had been few and far between, hence Alyx’s surprise at Dashan’s sudden growth into manhood.

  “Unfortunately, some of us have orders to follow,” Dashan said. “We can’t just do whatever we’d like, whenever we’d like.”

  “The last time we saw you, you were drunk out of your mind and singing loudly under Cayr’s bedroom window,” Alyx said. “We were forced to sober you up in the palace kitchens before one of the Bluecoats saw you in that state and reported it to your father. Is that what you call following orders?”

  “You remember that?” He winced. “Well, it was my birthday. You’re supposed to celebrate on your birthday.”

  “I like your timing,” Cayr spoke before Alyx could. “I’ll need to dress formally for my father’s dinner tonight, and you’re much better than me at picking out what looks good.”

  Dashan grinned again. “Lead the way, my young friend. I’ll have the ladies swooning over you all evening.”

  “Why does he have to have ladies swooning all over him?” Alyx asked in irritation.

  “He’s the prince and heir of Rionn, Alyx.” Dashan winked. “It’s mandatory that he have ladies swooning over him, at least until he’s married. I mean, look at the man, he’s both rich and handsome. I’m sure you’ve noticed.”

  Dashan’s grin widened as Alyx tried not to flush and Cayr looked embarrassed.

  “Will you be around tonight, Dash?” Cayr asked, adroitly changing the subject. “We could share a late supper in the kitchens once dinner is over?”

  “Unfortunately not,” Dashan said. “I’m on duty tonight, far from the palace. Your father certainly doesn’t want my Shiven features visible to any of his important guests.”

  Alyx caught the undertone of acerbity in Dashan’s voice, but dreamer Cayr was oblivious as always and smiled at what on the surface had sounded like a joking comment.

  “I’d best go,” she said. “Leave you two to work out how to make all the court ladies swoon over Cayr.”

  “Don’t leave on my account,” Dashan said, rising to his feet. “I came to see you too, Alyx.”

  “It’s all right. I have some things to do before I need to get ready for dinner.” She sighed and swallowed her irritation. “It was good to see you, though. Don’t be such a stranger.”

  Dashan smiled. “Well, when a pretty girl asks so nicely….”

  “I don’t know why I bother.” She snorted and turned for the door.

  “I’ll see you tonight, Alyx.” Cayr smiled.

  “Be good.” Dashan winked.

  Alyx left through Cayr’s front door, making her way through the halls and corridors of the palace. The palace was busy at this time of day, and she was greeted by a number of familiar faces.

  Crossing to the other side of the palace, away from the private quarters of the royal family and into the public wing where most of the business of the kingdom happened, she arrived at her goal. A single Bluecoat stood guard at the door to a suite of rooms.

  “Lady Egalion.” He saluted.

  “Hello again, Lieutenant.” She’d seen the young man around the palace before, and he seemed pleased she recognised him. “Is he in?”

  “Yes, my lady.” He stepped aside and opened the door for her. “Let me know if you need anything, Lady Egalion. I’m on duty here for another two hours.”

  “Thank you, Lieutenant.”

  Alyx made her way down a thickly carpeted hall and pushed open the door at the end. The room was circular and filled with afternoon sunlight from the large windows set in every w
all. Beyond the glass, the palace gardens bloomed.

  Alyx’s godfather sat in a plush chair by one of the windows. A book sat open on his lap, but he was staring out the windows, frowning in thought. Studying him, she thought she could see new wrinkles around his eyes.

  “Astor?” she called out. “Is everything okay?”

  “Alyx?” He looked surprised to see her, and a smile quickly replaced the troubled look on his face. “What brings you here to see an old man?”

  “I was visiting Cayr,” she explained.

  “Of course,” he said. “Come in, take a seat. I’ve got some hot tea here, and there’s plenty to share.”

  She glanced around the room. Almost all the free space was taken up by bookcases overflowing with dusty tomes and sheaves of parchment. Despite the warmth of the summer day, Astor was wearing his habitual hooded black robe. A wide black belt of intricate knot work held the robe closed, the ties hanging down almost as far as his knees. It might have looked baggy on his tall, lean frame, but it had been tailored to make him look distinguished rather than frumpy. Idly, she wondered whether all mages wore the same thing.

  “So what made you decide that my company was better than our young prince’s?” he asked.

  Alyx sighed. “Dashan showed up.”

  “Ah.” Astor’s eyes twinkled.

  “I hate it when you say ‘ah’ like that,” she grumbled. “It’s like you know something I don’t. It’s very annoying.”

  “I’m your godfather. I’m supposed to know things that you don’t.”

  “If you’re my godfather, why haven’t you ever told me anything about your life as Rionn’s lord-mage?” she asked. “For example, is that an official lord-mage black robe, or do all of you wear them?”

  He chuckled. “The latter. And you’ve never been interested before.”

  She smiled. “Fair enough. Are you going to the dinner tonight?”

  Astor sighed and sat back in his chair. “No, child.”

  “Why not? Papa tells me the king has invited all his senior lords and their families. You’re the lord-mage. Isn’t your attendance mandatory?”

  Astor didn’t reply, instead looking away from her.

  “Astor, what is it?”

  He sighed, crossing then uncrossing his legs. “I’ve resigned as lord-mage. The king has appointed a new one.”

  Alyx started, surprise warring with confusion and making her words sharper than she’d intended. “What, why?”

  “I’m not getting any younger, if you haven’t noticed.” He gave her a sad smile. “And I was never particularly powerful. The king needs someone younger and stronger.”

  Alyx hadn’t noticed Astor getting older. In fact, apart from the couple of extra wrinkles she’d noticed, he looked just the same as he always had: a tall man with silver-grey hair cut close to his head, a neatly trimmed beard, and sharp blue eyes a shade darker than Cayr’s.

  “This is…” she stuttered, utterly thrown. “You can’t just leave. Rionn doesn’t need a stronger mage.”

  Astor shifted in his chair. “The king has promised me an estate. In truth, I’m looking forward to my retirement.”

  “Does my father know about this?”

  “He has known for some time.” He nodded. “Your father, the king and I talked about it together.”

  Alyx stood with a frown. Astor was one of the most stable pillars of her life outside Cayr, Dashan and her father, and this news shook her.

  “So you’re leaving the palace? I don’t want you to go, Astor. Who else am I going to visit when Cayr is busy?”

  “You’ll be fine, child.” He gave her a reassuring smile. “And you’re welcome to visit me as often as you wish.”

  “You say you want this, but you’ve been shifting in that chair incessantly since I walked in. There’s something you’re not telling me.”

  He chuckled. “You have quite an imagination.”

  “No.” Alyx had known Astor since childhood, and he’d never been fidgety around her. “There’s something else.”

  “There’s nothing else,” he said firmly. “Now, it’s almost dusk. You should be getting back home.”

  Alyx hesitated at the door. “Has the new lord-mage been to Alistriem before? I can’t recall a mage travelling through the city for almost a year now.”

  “No, I don’t believe he has. He’s come direct from Carhall, where he was working for the Mage Council. I understand he left their service to take up this appointment.”

  “So there are a lot more mages in Tregaya?” Alyx referred to Rionn’s northern neighbour, of which Carhall was the capital.

  Astor chucked. “Many, many more, child. And in Zandia and Shivasa too.”

  She frowned. “So why do we only have one, the lord-mage?”

  “That is a very long story, and I’m fairly certain you have a formal dinner to prepare for.”

  She was late. Alyx hesitated in the doorway, a sense of loss filling her. “Will you still be here tomorrow?”

  Astor crossed the room to draw her into a warm hug. “I won’t be moving for another week or so while I help Lord-Mage Casovar settle in. Make sure you come for another visit soon.”

  “I will,” she promised, stepping back.

  “Good. Now get along with you.” He was smiling at her, but his gaze was distant—as if his thoughts were miles away from her and the Alistriem palace.

  Chapter 2

  Alyx rode back through the palace gardens, still savouring them despite her hurry. When she reached the river, she followed its banks all the way back to the still-open gates of her home.

  Her father was wealthy, a close friend of the king’s as well as being amongst his most senior advisors. Their estate, just above the city and adjacent to the palace grounds, had been held by her family for generations.

  The hill she’d ridden down—owned entirely by the royal family—reached its pinnacle on a sharp precipice, with a river running from the hills beyond that flowed down past Alyx’s home and out to the ocean. The palace sat at the top of the precipice, looking down over the city of Alistriem, capital of Rionn.

  The western face of the precipice ran down to picturesque blue ocean, a delight for royal guests staying in rooms on the western side of the palace. The southern face of the hill was where Alistriem sprawled. The forested eastern side of the hill sloped down until it hit the wide road leading either out to the east or to the south of the country, depending on which fork was taken at the junction.

  Beyond Alistriem lay miles and miles of rich, green farming land nestled amidst rolling hills and myriad lakes and streams. Further south, hardier travellers hit thick, lush forests, which covered the southern tip of the large peninsula that formed Rionn.

  From stories read as a child, as well as what she’d learned from her lessons, Alyx knew that if she travelled north of Alistriem, she would almost immediately hit the rugged, forested, mountain terrain that marked the northern-most border of Rionn. The border area was close to impassable, and Rionn did much of its trade with the rest of the world via shipping; their western coastline was ideal for it with deep harbours and more shallow ports. Beyond the northern border of Rionn were the infinitely larger kingdoms of Tregaya, Shivasa and to the far, far north, the desert country of Zandia.

  Alyx rode through the front gates of her home at a canter, taking Daffodil to the stables and waiting for Henri to come out and help her dismount.

  “I’ll get her unsaddled and rubbed down, Lady Egalion,” Henri said cheerfully.

  “Thanks.” She rubbed the mare’s nose affectionately. “Make sure she gets a nice hot mash, too.”

  Alyx skipped up the front steps and pushed through the double doors, pausing for a moment on the threshold. No matter how many times she saw it, she was always struck by the magnificence of the entrance foyer. Directly across from her, a large painting depicting a rolling Rionnan landscape hung above three closed doorways that led to other parts of the house. Completing the look was a hundred-candle
chandelier that hung from the middle of the ceiling. When lit on formal occasions, the chandelier alone was a sight to behold.

  But Alyx was distracted from the familiar beauty of the foyer as she stepped down into it and saw her father waiting there, a disapproving frown firmly in place.

  Garan Egalion had a handsome but strong face and a piercing gaze that could quell people with a single look when he was angry. On more than one occasion as a child, Alyx and Cayr had peeked through the door during the king’s Council meetings and watched her father use his air of formidable capability to bring the other Council members into line when they fought over contentious issues.

  “Where have you been, Aly-girl?”

  “Visiting Cayr,” she replied. “But I’ve come back in plenty of time to get ready for the dinner, Papa.”

  “I know you and Cayr are close, and I’m not going to forbid you seeing the boy, but can’t you understand why I worry about you climbing into his bedroom at any hour of the day?”

  “You keep saying that we’re older now, and that changes things,” she said. “I know it’s true, but we’re not anywhere near marriageable age yet, let alone betrothal age. Cayr is still four years from his coming of age. He’s my best friend, Papa. I can’t remember my life without him in it. That’s never going to change.”

  Garan sighed. “Things do change when you get older, Alyx, whether you want them to or not. You’ve had a very sheltered upbringing, but you’ll see what I mean very soon, if you haven’t already.”

  She grinned cheekily at him. “You’re talking about kissing, aren’t you?”

  “That, amongst other things,” he said dryly. “What do you know about kissing anyway?”

  “Lissa was talking about it when we were at the ponds the other day. Apparently Jaran kissed her by the rock pools last Seventhday.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Yes, she was giggling and blushing about it all day.” Alyx thought briefly. “I don’t know why. Jaran is ugly. He has pimples on his chin.”