To Play the Lady

by Naomi Lane

  The men looked at each other. “I know of the incident with Delia,” said Logan, the healer. “I don’t recommend you try to use your abilities here.”

  “Why not? She’s done for anyway.”

  “But you could be hurt. You aren’t properly trained. Listen, she has a bad fracture. If someone here had the skill to heal it, we would, but healing magic is less effective with animals.”

  “May I at least help calm her down?” she asked. Barrett sighed, but nodded to the handler who went inside the stall with Jenna. “What’s her name?” she asked.

  “Storm,” replied Barrett. “She has been one of the horses used for riding instruction for many years. We are sorry to lose one so well-trained.”

  Jenna emphasized calm to Storm as she approached. She reached up and put a hand on the mare’s face. Storm finally began to calm some, and Jenna closed her eyes. She sent images of their one short ride together along with emotions of gratitude. Storm sent her images of other times she had performed jumping, sometimes in front of large audiences. These were happy memories for her. She then sent less pleasant images to Jenna of her front foot. There was almost no weight on it. She pleaded with Jenna for help.

  Jenna decided she would do what she could, the healer be damned. It was risky, but she was so grateful to Storm for their ride, she would try. She began to concentrate as she had in her magic class. Through her link with Storm, she could sense the source of the pain and even see the fracture in her mind. It was uncanny, unlike anything she had ever seen before. She lightly placed her hand over the broken bone.

  “Jenna,” said Peter. He began to move in to retrieve her, but she held her ground, eyes closed.

  “Wait, Mr. Mallory.” Logan put a hand on Peter’s shoulder. “Blast it. I think she’s in trance. It’s best now to wait until she finishes.”

  Jenna was happy with this development and continued to concentrate. She felt the magic from her heart stir, and let it flow out down her arm again, this time into the horse. Storm reacted when the magic hit the injury, but Jenna continued to send her calm thoughts. Jenna’s heart leapt with joy as she saw the bone begin to knit inside her mind. She continued to send the magic until the bone showed no further improvement. Storm’s mind had also greatly eased. She was in far less pain.

  Jenna then ceased the magic flow and slowly opened her eyes. She turned her head to see the group of four staring at her and smiled. When she tried to take a step, she felt dizzy and stumbled, but Peter came over and took her arm to steady her. “I healed it,” she said.

  Logan went over to Storm. “It’s true,” he said. “I no longer sense a fracture.”

  “By the gods,” said Barrett. “You do have quite the gift with them.”

  Jenna smiled, but the world began to spin some more and she began to fall down. Peter couldn’t hold her, and she ended up sitting on the floor of the stable. Logan came over and placed his hand on the side of her face. “She’s just exhausted and needs rest.” Jenna felt warmth from his hand. “She’ll need some help getting back to the East Wing.”

  “I can take her,” said Peter. “But our horses are still outside.”

  “We’ll take care of it,” replied Barrett. He nodded to the handler who went out to where Rune and Bree still waited. “You have done us a great service today. You have my thanks.”

  Logan and Peter helped Jenna up, and she nodded to Barrett before making her way back to the East Wing clutching Peter’s arm.

  Although out of earshot of the rest of the group, Peter spoke to her in the Rahtani language. “You should not have done that.”

  “Why not? She was in pain. I had to try.”

  “Something could have gone wrong. I thought you couldn’t share the healing?”

  “I thought so too. It’s never happened before.” Then she remembered the time Peter had the pox. She was at his bedside after the healer said he most likely would not live to see the next sunrise. She had prayed so hard for him to get better. “At least I don’t think it has. But the time you had the pox…” Peter’s arm tensed for a second as he let out a breath and looked at his sister. He put his arm around her shoulders, and they completed their walk to the East Wing in silence.

  Chapter 8

  “You will wait here.” Mrs. Hawes let the door slam shut, and Jenna found herself once more inside the Queen’s study. The Queen and high mage were supposed to meet her there shortly to discuss her magic training.

  Although Jenna continued having trouble fitting in, she still had misgivings about the prospect of leaving the palace. Peter insisted there was no point to going to the Great Desert, but she did believe her magic required training. Her ability to heal Storm had convinced her of that. Eventually she let out a sigh. There was no point in worrying about it all. The Queen and high mage would know best, except where were they?

  Jenna continued to wait, attempting not to fidget, but it grew more difficult as time passed. She wished she had brought a book. At one point she heard voices in the hallway and wondered if it were the Queen arrived at last, but no one entered. She stood and began to pace around the room. After waiting close to an hour without hearing from anyone, Jenna left the study in search of Mrs. Hawes.

  When she found the proctor outside her dormitory, Mrs. Hawes looked taken aback. “Miss Mallory,” she said, as Jenna neared. “I apologize. I forgot about you.”

  “Is something wrong?” asked Jenna.

  “The Queen will not be able to meet with you right now. There has been an accident. Her son, Prince Sebastian, has been injured.”

  Jenna was surprised by the news. She hoped it was nothing too serious. The Queen as a high-level healer would certainly be able to help. “I’m sorry to hear that,” she replied.

  “You may head down for supper now,” said Mrs. Hawes. “I’m sure the Queen will meet with you when she can.”

  Jenna just nodded and walked downstairs to the dining room. Most of the other Ladies were there and had already begun eating. She took a seat as far from Yolanda and Crystelle as possible. Another Lady sat down across from her, one Jenna knew had healing ability.

  “Constance, is it bad?” It was Aurelia who asked the healer. The entire table looked up interested to hear the news.

  “Yes,” replied Constance. “He broke his neck in a riding accident.” Apparently everyone had heard about Sebastian, but all the Ladies reacted in shock that the injury was so severe. Jenna thought briefly of the stallion, Sebastian’s horse, but chastised herself. The Prince’s life was far more important.

  “He’ll still be okay, though, won’t he? There are so many strong healers at the palace,” said Aurelia.

  Constance pursed her lips and shook her head.

  “Heavens above,” said Yolanda. There were some murmurs around the table.

  “Poor Queen Mirella,” said Aurelia. “First her twins and now this.” Jenna was vaguely aware that the Queen had lost infant twins during the pox outbreak. She said a silent prayer for the entire royal family and continued to pick at her food for awhile.

  After sunset, she returned to the dormitory and attempted to read by mage light. She found it difficult to concentrate. The sense of unease that had formed while she was waiting for the Queen had never left her. She wished she could talk to Peter because he would know what happened.

  In the end, she climbed into bed a little earlier than usual and tried to rest. After tossing and turning for several minutes, she finally fell asleep, but it was a restless sleep. She didn’t dream exactly, but she felt as if a weight were constricting her chest. Then, suddenly, she heard a loud crash and a horse neigh—the stallion. It was all in her mind, but it still woke her from her sleep covered in sweat. She rose from her bed and entered the bath to throw some water on her face.

  The stallion’s mind still tugged at her, and she couldn’t resist him. She grabbed a robe and slippers from her wardrobe and slipped out past the snoring proctor. Once out into the hall, she moved quickly down the stairs and outside; lucki
ly no one saw her. She ran through the park toward the West Wing, and some restoration workers called out to her, but she kept running until she reached the stables, where she heard agitated voices as soon as she entered.

  She hurriedly pushed open the door to where the Crown’s horses were kept and saw two men were at the stallion’s stall, both of whom she recognized from her excursion to the stables the previous day: Master Barrett and the handler. They were attempting to lead the horse from his stall, but he was not being cooperative. When he sensed Jenna’s mind, his agitation increased, and Jenna ran over.

  “Miss Mallory,” said Master Barrett. “I believe I’m having déjà vu.”

  “Don’t hurt him!” Jenna begged.

  “Listen, girl, for what it’s worth I sympathize, but you aren’t going to win this time. Please run along before—”

  “What’s the delay, Barrett?”

  Jenna looked up, and the blood drained from her face when she saw the King with Master Durand. Both men’s eyes practically bugged out of their heads when they saw her standing there in her night dress and robe.

  “I apologize, Your Majesty,” Barrett replied. “Miss Mallory was just about to be escorted back to the East Wing.” He nodded to the handler, who left the stallion’s stall and grabbed Jenna’s arms from behind. The stallion neighed in protest as the handler attempted to force her to walk with him. Master Durand went inside the stall.

  Jenna began to struggle. “No!” she cried. She elbowed the handler in the solar plexus and broke free from his grip. She ran to the stallion, pushing Durand aside and threw her arms around the horse’s neck. He finally calmed. “Please don’t hurt him.”

  “Girl, I understand you are some sort of horse mage,” said the King. It was obvious from his tone of voice that he grew impatient. “But that horse killed my son. He cannot be allowed to live.”

  “He didn’t kill anyone. I’m sure it was an accident.” Jenna sent the stallion an image of him throwing a rider in an attempt to stir the horse’s memory. In response, he sent an image of the West Wing restoration workers.

  Durand came over to her and gently laid a hand on her shoulder. “Jenna,” he said.

  “Wait,” she replied, as the horse’s memory replayed. She saw the workers were on some scaffolding restoring brick when the scaffolding gave way. “There was a noise. Some scaffolding fell where the workers were performing restoration. The stallion heard the noise and got spooked.” She saw the image blur as the horse reared and then saw who must be Prince Sebastian lying on the ground unconscious. “He reared when he was spooked. It was an accident, an inexperienced rider on a young horse.”

  The King sighed. Jenna saw signs of weariness around his bloodshot eyes, totally changed from the day of the feast. “The horse told you this?” he asked.

  Jenna nodded.

  “And I can confirm the truth of what she says, Majesty,” replied Barrett. “There was an accident with the restoration workers.”

  “You have quite a gift, Miss Mallory,” said the King.

  “It’s extraordinary,” said Durand.

  “Yes,” continued Barrett. “She healed one of my best-trained horses yesterday.”

  “Healed?” The King looked surprised. “I thought you could only self-heal?”

  “So did I, Majesty,” replied Jenna. The stallion had calmed, but she continued to stroke his neck. “My magic has been doing strange things lately.”

  “Is there any possibility you could help my son?”

  “He still lives?”

  “He still breathes.”

  Jenna thought about her new-found ability to channel her magic power and about healing Storm and possibly Peter. “I would say it’s a long-shot, Majesty, but there is a chance.”

  “Then you will come with me.”

  “The horse, Majesty?” asked Barrett.

  “Let him be.”

  Jenna gave the stallion one last reassuring pat and followed the King to the stable exit. “May I ask where we are going, Your Majesty?”

  “To see the high mage.”

  The King led her through the West Wing and Central Tower at a fast pace. Jenna practically had to jog to keep up. Once at the East Wing, he took her up two flights of stairs to what must be part of the Royal Suite. He opened the door to a large drawing room. “Wait here, and I shall fetch Lord Harcourt.”

  Jenna took a seat beside a small card table. Finally with a chance to catch her breath, she became self-conscious of her appearance in her nightdress, but she did not have long to worry before the high mage arrived. He too looked weary, his short white hair ruffled, but his violet eyes still held the same vibrancy Jenna remembered from the feast. They were matched in color by his mage robe. Jenna didn’t know what that signified. Purple was not a guild color. “Miss Mallory, I see we finally get the chance to meet.”

  Jenna rose from her chair to perform a slight curtsy, still feeling awkward. “I wish it were under better circumstances, My Lord.”

  He took a seat across from her at the table, seemingly unfazed by her appearance. “The King has informed me you think it possible, though not probable, that you could assist the Prince. I researched your magic, but admit I was not able to find as much as I wanted to. I found records documenting regenerative ability among the Rahtani, but no records of the ability to share the healing gift with others or any mention of horse mages. Did you write to your mother?”

  “Yes, but I haven’t received a response, and my brother assures me that the Rahtani do not have magic training schools.”

  “So what makes you think you can help?”

  “Well, yesterday I healed a horse with a leg fracture.”

  His violet eyes narrowed. “How?”

  “I could see the injury in my mind. I’m not sure how, through my link with the horse’s mind, I suppose. Then I channeled my magic as Delia had shown me, and I saw it heal.”

  Lord Harcourt was silent for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. “When you say you saw the injury, was it a clear image or just a sense of wrongness?”

  “I could see bone and tissue.”

  He lifted one eyebrow. Jenna began to feel slightly uncomfortable in her seat, and an itch formed behind her eyes. “I have heard you can communicate with horses by sending and receiving images. Do you ever receive images from people’s minds or hear their thoughts?”

  “No.”

  Lord Harcourt paused for a moment. “Have you ever heard of mind mages?”

  “The evil mages who are now extinct?”

  Lord Harcourt sighed and rubbed his forehead. “Certainly not evil and not quite extinct. You are speaking with the last known mind mage.”

  “Oh.” Jenna’s face went red. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

  “It’s fine. Many people find the idea of mind magic uncomfortable. You should also understand that some of your horse magic bears a resemblance to it, but all mind mages in recorded existence have had their strongest mind-linking skills with other people, and I have definitely never heard of anyone having animal communication that is species specific.

  “The other major category of mind magic ability is far-seeing. You said you could see the horse’s injury. Have you ever had visions, vivid dreams, or felt yourself leaving your body.”

  Jenna gulped. “Yes. I’ve always had vivid dreams and twice have had dreams where I left my body.”

  Lord Harcourt leaned forward in his chair. “What did you see when you left your body?”

  “The first time, I saw the Zidarian Mountains and the Badlands.” Jenna paused as she tried to think of the best way to describe the man she saw, but the high mage interrupted her.

  “And the second time?”

  “I saw you.”

  “Me?”

  “You were speaking with the Queen about my magic. You examined the disc from my training and found it was red underneath the brown.”

  The room went still for several seconds. Eventually Harcourt spoke. “Miss Mallory, t
his information has helped me understand your abilities, but other than healing the horse is there any other reason you have to think you could replicate the ability with another person?”

  “My brother had the pox during the last outbreak. The healer said he wouldn’t live to see the next sunrise. My mother allowed me to see him, and I prayed harder than I ever had for him to get well and he did.”

  “You think you helped him.”

  “I didn’t at the time, but now I remember feeling exhausted afterward. People thought I had contracted the pox, but I was just tired for a day and then felt fine. It was similar to the tiredness I had after healing the horse and the… incident with Delia.”

  Lord Harcourt rubbed his hand over his face. “Well, Miss Mallory, based on this information I will let you in to see the Prince. Are you aware he has a spinal injury?”

  “Yes.”

  “Such injuries are notoriously difficult to heal.”

  “My understanding is that they often result in paralysis or death.”

  “Indeed. He is now unable to breathe on his own, so a healer must do it for him.”

  “The Queen is with him then?”

  Lord Harcourt’s eyebrows rose. “Yes. She has not left his side.” He paused. “Before you attempt to heal him I want you first to attempt to see his injury. Do you understand?”

  Jenna nodded. “Yes. I understand.”

  Lord Harcourt led her down the hall a ways and into a different room. Jenna recognized the King and Queen at the bedside of a blond-haired boy who could only be Prince Sebastian. His head and neck were in a brace, and he looked ashen. The Queen kept a hand on the Prince’s shoulder and stared intensely at him. She did not even look up as Jenna and the high mage approached. The King, however, glanced in their direction. “What have you determined, Lord Harcourt?” he asked.

  “I request that Miss Mallory attempt to use her magic to see Prince Sebastian’s injury. If she can, she may be able to help with his healing.”

  “Then proceed.”

  “Miss Mallory,” said the high mage. “I want you to attempt to replicate what you were able to see when you healed the horse, but you must be careful. Do not touch the Prince, and to avoid the possibility of you interfering with the Queen’s magic, I will stay mind-linked with you the entire time.” He put his fingers near her temple. “You may feel some discomfort when I do this, but if you relax, it will be easier.”