To Play the Lady
Page 12
“You mean when you finished with these ones you found more?” Jenna’s eyebrows rose.
“More or less.”
“You’re a walking encyclopedia.” Jenna clamped her hand over her mouth. “I apologize, Your Highness.”
He chuckled. “No, I understand. But you see, being royalty is often trumped up like some grand thing. In reality it is often rather dull, so I filled my hours with reading.”
“It’s all right,” Jenna replied. “I used to read constantly back home myself. So, you think access to the book you remember is restricted?”
“Possibly. But there are others.”
Jenna’s eye was drawn to an unusual book. “Have you read that one?” She pointed to it.
“Ah, no.” He pulled it down, and Jenna recognized foreign writing. “I was never taught Khazaric, though Peter has been teaching me some of it now. Let me see, I believe the title translates as A Meeting of the Minds. It appears to be a history of Sevalian and Khazaran relations. It’s probably a little bit gory for you, Miss Mallory, but I may keep it. I would enjoy the challenge of puzzling it out.”
Jenna knew that it was probably just the kind of book she was looking for, but she could hardly blame the Prince for being interested, and it was her fault for pointing it out.
“You look rather upset. Did you really want to read it?” Sebastian held out the book. “I realize you speak Khazaric too.”
“Uh, well, it’s just that I have been speaking with Princess Aylin a lot, learning more about Khazaran. It might be interesting.”
“Huh, actually Peter might appreciate it given that he is now officially involved with negotiations.”
Jenna then realized it was probably best her brother have it. “You’re right. Please give it to him if you would.” Jenna gently shoved the book back toward him. She figured she could get more information about the Black Magister from Harcourt anyway.
“Sure. But that still leaves you without anything to read. Hmmm… Well if you like international relations and early history you might like this.” He pulled out a thick volume. “Grayson is a bit verbose, but it is a good history of the founding of the Tenarran Kingdom and their unusual fire magic.”
“I would like that,” said Jenna. “Thank you.”
Sebastian looked at her and smiled widely. Jenna returned the smile and appreciated his eyes for the first time. They were a deep blue like the waters of the Southern Sea near her home.
“I noticed the weather is most pleasant today,” he said, while still in eye contact. “I’d be happy to escort you back to the East Wing.”
Jenna’s hand twitched to read her letters, but since she was enjoying Sebastian’s company, she decided the letters could wait a little while longer. “I would like that, Your Highness.”
After checking out their books, they exited the library and headed out of one of the Central Tower’s main exits. “Tell me,” said Sebastian. “If you haven’t read many books on magic, what else have you checked out from the library?”
“Oh,” said Jenna. “I read several folktales and one book about the Rahtani, except it was full of factual inaccuracies.”
“That doesn’t surprise me. The Rahtani tend to keep to themselves.”
“Yes. It’s true. Though Father has helped open up trade.”
“Indeed, I’ve wondered how he managed it.”
“His father sent him to the desert when he was still a young man. My father immersed himself in their culture and learned their language. By meeting them on their terms, he managed to do quite well. Securing the horse trade, though still limited, was extremely important to the success of the family business.”
“He broke the Crown monopoly on desert horses.”
Jenna just smiled, while Sebastian looked down at his feet. Jenna didn’t have to be a mind mage to see he still felt awkward discussing horses. Although she knew it could backfire, she decided to take a risk. “Speaking of desert horses, Kedar does feel awful about what happened.”
“Kedar?”
“Your old horse. I gave him a Rahtani name. It means powerful.”
Powerful enough to throw me to the ground.
Jenna was quite startled when she realized she had heard Sebastian’s thoughts.
“Are you feeling okay, Miss Mallory?” he asked.
“Uh huh.” Jenna nodded, though her heart was racing. She quickly attempted to regain her composure. “It’s just that Kedar wants to apologize.”
“Apologize? How does a horse do that?”
“I can help, since I can sense what he is thinking.”
“You know, I really don’t wish to ride him anymore.”
“Well you’d better not because he’s mine now.” Jenna smiled again.
Sebastian took a deep breath, but agreed to walk with Jenna all the way to the West Wing stables. After they entered, Jenna half ran over to Kedar’s stall. She sensed the horse was happy to see her as always, and she gave him a small pat on the star on his forehead the way she knew he liked. Sebastian, with some hesitation in his step, walked over. As he approached, Jenna sensed Kedar growing confused. He sent her the image of the accident. Jenna sent calming thoughts.
“How does this apology work then?” asked Sebastian.
“He knows you,” said Jenna, as she slipped deeper into the horse’s mind. The memory continued to replay. “After the… accident, he saw you. He was confused and afraid from the noise, but quickly understood that there was no danger. Everyone around him was still panicked though; people were yelling at him. He then knew he had greatly wronged you. He was sorry; he felt so foolish.” Jenna allowed her link to Kedar to lessen. “Can you forgive him?”
Kedar lowered his head toward Sebastian. The Prince seemed a bit at a loss, but nodded. He stroked the horse’s mane a bit. “You can really see their memories?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“That is quite amazing. Do many Rahtani have this ability?”
“Um,” Jenna bit her lip, thinking of her mother’s letter. “I’m still trying to find out.” She paused. “Wait here for a second.” She returned with an apple. “He really likes these.”
The Prince took the apple and hesitantly held it up to the stallion. Kedar bit into it with gusto.
Jenna chuckled. “Told you so.”
The Prince smiled slightly. “I suppose it was foolish of me to be angry with him, but I’ve never been that comfortable riding. That was always Dominic’s thing.”
“He’d love to go for a ride right now. Do you have another horse available?”
“Um, yes. But Miss Mallory…” Sebastian blushed slightly.
Realization dawned on Jenna that two young people of the opposite sex going riding alone would be somewhat scandalous among the nobility, but she had an idea. “Why don’t you go fetch Peter, and I can ask some of the other Ladies to join us.”
Sebastian sighed slightly but agreed, and a plan was formed to meet in an hour at the park. Master Barrett helped lead Kedar to the East Wing stables so he could be saddled to ride.
While Sebastian went off in search of Peter, Jenna jogged back to the East Wing to find Aylin, but she stopped by her dormitory first to drop off her letters. Becca was there reading. Jenna asked if she had seen Aylin, and Becca replied that she thought she was working at the looms. It wasn’t long before Jenna found the Princess weaving as Becca had said. She was sitting with Aurelia, and Jenna thought she may as well ask them both if they wanted to ride.
“It is a little late for a ride, is it not?” replied Aurelia.
“Well, the sun should still be up for another couple of hours, and Prince Sebastian and my brother will join us.”
At that, Aylin and Aurelia looked at each other. “Let’s go for a ride then shall we,” said Aurelia, with a smile, as both girls put the weaving aside and stood to follow Jenna to the stables. After they arrived, Jenna noticed Tobin became somewhat upset to be saddling her horse that late in the afternoon, but when he saw Aylin he smiled. The Prin
cess smiled back at him, and he began to work faster. With Jenna’s, and even to some extent Aurelia’s, help, they were soon riding out to the park.
“Look! There they are.” Aurelia pointed to the west. Jenna saw her brother astride Rune alongside Sebastian, who was riding a roan mare that Jenna did not recognize. They rode out to greet them. Once they were near, Jenna wondered if she should start the introductions, but hardly knew where to begin. Luckily, Sebastian saved her the trouble.
“Lady Aurelia, a pleasure to see you again.”
“Your Highness,” she replied.
“Allow me to introduce you to my friend, Mr. Peter Mallory.”
“A pleasure to meet you, sir.”
“The pleasure is all mine, My Lady.” Peter bowed his head, and Jenna noticed a slight smile on his face. She rolled her eyes, knowing he had inherited their father’s taste for beautiful women.
Aurelia continued the introductions. “I present to both of you Her Highness, Princess Aylin of Khazaran, and Miss Mallory, of course, you already know.”
Both young men greeted the Princess, and soon they rode down one of the trails. Peter rode alongside Aurelia, while Sebastian followed closely behind next to Jenna and Aylin.
“My brother has been teaching Prince Sebastian Khazaric,” said Jenna to Aylin.
“Really?” said the Princess. “What do you think of the language?” she asked, in Khazaric.
“It is a beautiful language, with challenging pronunciation though,” replied Sebastian, in thickly accented Khazaric. They continued to chat about languages and several other things, sometimes in Khazaric, sometimes in Sevalian. If the topic ever turned toward anything controversial, Jenna helped steer it back toward safer subjects.
Kedar kept urging Jenna to ride faster, but she kept him under control. Mainly she was just happy to see Sebastian actually enjoy himself on horseback.
Since the hour was growing late, the ride had to end sooner than later. Sebastian and Peter took their leave, and the girls dismounted outside the East Wing stables. Tobin was still happy to help with the horses, and Jenna left Kedar with him so she could finally run upstairs to read her letters, hoping she could still read them by herself just before supper. When she finally reached the dormitory, her blood ran cold. One of her letters was in Crystelle’s hand, and Yolanda stood by with her hands over her mouth in shock.
Jenna felt her anger rise. She grabbed the letter from Crystelle’s hand, and found the other open on her dresser. “How dare you!” she said.
Crystelle shrugged. “Just as well that I did because now we know what you truly are.”
“A mind mage among the Queen’s Ladies,” said Yolanda. “I always knew there was something… wrong about your magic.”
Jenna felt a strong urge to strike Yolanda, but she kept her cool just barely.
“The Crown protects you now because you saved the Prince’s life,” said Crystelle again, her eyes narrowing, “but when my father hears of this scandal, you will surely be locked away where your tainted blood and evil magic can’t harm anyone.”
Jenna knew Crystelle’s father was Lord Merrin, ruler of the western province, and she had no doubt that this would become a huge scandal. Her rage and shame became almost unbearable. She knew only one thing: she wanted to get away from all of the other Ladies and the palace that had completely unbalanced her life in only a few short weeks.
She ran, out of the dormitory, out of the East Wing, and into the woods. She didn’t stop running until she stumbled upon the meadow where she usually met her brother on Sevdays. She collapsed by the tree stump, and a tear began to run down her face. Her letters felt heavy in her hand, and she had to know just what scandal she and her whole family would soon face. Taking her mother’s letter, she discovered it was written in Rahtani. At least she was spared from anyone knowing this one’s contents. She read it to herself.
Dearest Daughter,
I wish I had more answers for you, but the desert magic is not often discussed among women. It is most often the men who carry it, but on rare occasions, women do.
If your main concern is that it requires training, please do not fear. No magic schools exist in the desert. If the Crown wishes you to be trained, then they must do it themselves, though I hardly see the necessity.
I hope this letter finds you well. I miss you.
Love,
Mama
P.S. I will contact my brother
Most of the letter was much as Jenna had expected. She hadn’t known about the gender division among the Rahtani, but she knew certain Sevalian magic was the same way. The only perplexing thing was the post script at the end. It seemed to be scrawled hastily, with a large ink blot at the end, and in Sevalian not Rahtani, but she still recognized her mother’s hand. She must mean her uncle, Rafid, the one who also supposedly had magic. Maybe he would know more.
Jenna, in the day’s fading light, finally took her grandmother’s letter and began to read.
Darling Jenna,
I was most surprised to receive your letter. I had thought that this issue would never have to be brought up again, but if it is as you say and you carry the magic, then I must inform you of the whole story.
When I was a young girl, only a few years older than you are, I worked as a maid for Count Verlesti in the foothills of the Zidarian Mountains. Shortly after your grandfather and I had decided to wed, a strange man came to visit the Count. I knew him only as Quintus. I don’t remember his appearance that well, but he had gray eyes, and his white hair made it difficult to tell how old he was.
That night at supper, he looked at me as I was clearing some food. It’s hard to describe how uncomfortable I felt under his gaze, but I remember feeling compelled to go to the stables that night after my work was completed. He was waiting, and what happened was the greatest shame of my entire life.
The following morning, guards came and arrested him. Soon after, I heard he was executed, a rogue mind mage they said. I began to fear when I learned I was pregnant. I was lucky to have your grandfather. He stood by me, married me, and raised the child, your father, as his own. We told your father of this when he was a young man. It was a difficult time, but we worked things through. I now feel blessed to have such a wonderfully diverse and loving family.
I would prefer you not speak of this to outsiders, except to the Queen as required for your magic instruction. I am sure you will handle this magic fine as long as you have the right teacher.
I wish you well,
Grandmama
Jenna began to sob. The letter did clear up the mystery surrounding the mind magic’s origins, but now the whole court would know she was a mind mage, her biological grandfather a criminal, and her grandmother raped. Most of all, she felt she had already betrayed her grandmother’s trust by not keeping the letter out of the wrong hands. She cried for what seemed like ages until she was absolutely exhausted.
When she finally came to enough to get her bearings, she discovered night fell early in the hunting grounds. She heard a noise, which made her jump before she discovered it was just an owl. She wasn’t sure if she should head out in the dark to return to the castle. She wasn’t even sure she ever wished to return to the castle at all, though it was starting to get cold.
“Miss Mallory?”
Jenna nearly jumped out of her skin. She whipped around to face the speaker.
“Your Highness? What could you possibly be doing here?”
“I sensed you out here,” said Prince Sebastian, as he approached her. He sat beside her on the tree stump. “Here,” he said, as he formed a small mage light in his hand. The light rose just over their heads, illuminating their faces and the surrounding meadow. “That’s better.”
“I still don’t understand,” she said, shaking her head.
“I have a connection to these woods,” said Sebastian. “They are quite magical, and you are not the only one with unusual mage ability.” He pulled a medallion out of his pocket, one that looked like the di
scs used to reveal magical talent.
“It’s white,” she said, as he handed it to her. She could see other colors as well, as if the medallion were iridescent. “It’s beautiful. What does it mean?”
“That I’m a defense mage.”
“Oh,” Jenna replied. “But that’s good isn’t it, not like having the talent of the Black Magister?”
“Well, that’s true, but there hasn’t been a defense mage born in Sevalia for over two hundred years.”
“But that’s not how I learned about it in magic class. They said it was just rare.”
“Normally it is only associated with the Sevalian monarch. He gives the magic to his heir upon his death or retirement. Being the only one born with it has always made me feel different from everyone else.”
“Even your father, the King?”
“Yes. I experience the magic differently than he does. I’ve tried to read about it, but there isn’t much material written. It’s frustrating. I don’t even know what I can do, but the same cannot be said about mind mages. Lots of scholars have written about them. Here.” He handed her a book. “From Mother’s collection. It was written well before the time of the Black Magister. Flip to the marked page.”
Jenna began to read aloud. “From the years 600 to 650 as the number of Sevalian mind mages nearly tripled, the Mind Mage Guild grew in strength until it now stands unrivaled for power among the several guilds. No Lord or Count is without at least three higher-level mind mages on their staffs, and many more serve the lower bureaucracies of the townships.”
“You see,” said the Prince with a smile. “They were highly respected and powerful. One bad apple tried to ruin it.”
“But the extermination—”
“Was mainly conducted by the Black Magister himself,” continued Sebastian. “He killed the mind mages that wouldn’t follow him. Those that were left had to be destroyed. If anything, it was a great tragedy. Your magic already saved my life; I know there is much more good it can do. Lord Harcourt is also considered indispensable to my father.”