To Play the Lady

by Naomi Lane

  “Miss Mallory! I have news from the Queen that I expect you will be glad to hear,” he said.

  “Aurelia’s request will be granted?”

  “Yes.”

  Jenna clapped her hands and jumped for joy. She ended up kissing Durand on the cheek in the process.

  He laughed. “I take it you will also want instruction in riding astride.”

  “Of course!” Jenna replied. “The Queen will allow it for all her Ladies won’t she?”

  “Yes, as long as their families permit it. Since you have already had instruction astride, your training may commence without further wait.”

  “Should I have my old saddle sent?”

  “Please do, but I’m arranging to have one on loan in the meantime.”

  “Thank you, Master Durand. This is wonderful news.”

  “Softens the blow of losing Kedar, I hope?”

  “To some extent, but I will always miss him. Does Aurelia know?”

  “Not yet. Feel free to give her the news though.”

  Jenna nodded. “I should leave now. Prayers start soon.” She said goodbye and went back to her dormitory to bathe and change clothing. Aurelia was there, and she and several of the other Ladies were quite excited to hear the Queen’s decision. They gossiped as they walked to the central courtyard.

  As the prayer session began, Jenna was looking forward to thanking the Heavens for her new riding instruction, but it became apparent that this prayer session would be somewhat different from normal when the earth mage leading the group began a special prayer of thanks for the safe return of the northern border defenders. Jenna noticed that for the first time Prince Dominic and Prince Eamon were there. They stood at the front with the King and Queen, and Lord Martis stood with them, dressed in black. After the prayer of thanks, another prayer began, one of mourning for the King’s sister, who had perished before returning to her homeland.

  “Poor Lord Martis,” whispered a voice behind Jenna. It sounded like Becca. “Imagine losing your entire family.”

  “I know,” replied another voice, possibly Yolanda. “How awful. His entire family murdered.”

  “Murdered?” Becca replied. “I thought his mother died in an accident?”

  “Well, I heard otherwise. I heard it was one of the infamous shadow mages that set the fire.”

  Becca gasped. “Those cowardly assassins. They should be wiped off the face—”

  “Shhh!”

  Someone tried to hush the speakers, and they quieted down. Jenna had never heard of the shadow mages and made a mental note to ask Sebastian or her brother about them. When she glanced over to take another look at Lord Martis, she noticed him wipe a tear from his eye. It was hard to stay angry at Kedar’s new rider when he had suffered so much loss. She didn’t mind staying angry at the Crown Prince, though. When she glanced at Dominic again, she noticed he was standing next to a man with another familiar face: Sir Raymond. Jenna remembered her brother’s words, but still wondered at them.

  “I can’t believe the Crown has accepted Sir Raymond’s service.” This time it was Crystelle who whispered. “My father will be livid when he hears.”

  “But still, that scandal would be nothing if the rumors are true about Prince Dominic—”

  “Shhh!”

  Jenna had no idea what they meant by that comment. She supposed that somehow Sir Raymond’s scandal had touched the Prince, but she wondered why neither Sebastian nor Peter had ever mentioned anything. As the prayer session continued, Jenna began to wonder at Sebastian’s statement about Prince Dominic, about how he was known to be awkward around girls. Perhaps he was like Sir Raymond, then. Although the entire issue still confused her, she knew if the future King of Sevalia refused to take a wife that would be a huge scandal.

  Eventually the gong sounded, and as Jenna rose to leave the courtyard, she caught sight of Sir Raymond again. By appearances he did not look to have an attachment to the Prince. He barely even glanced at him before speaking short words to Sir Gerard and leaving on his own. Even at a distance Jenna could sense angry emotions from his mind. As her magic training progressed, she could sense people more easily, but usually not without effort. This meant Sir Raymond was either an exceptionally strong mage or had exceptionally heated emotions, or perhaps it was some combination of both. Technically, Jenna was supposed to follow the Ladies back to the East Wing for lunch, but her curiosity about the young knight got the better of her. She mentioned to Aylin a desire to spend some time alone in the park and headed out in pursuit.

  She followed him along the West Wing colonnade until he went inside the knight training facilities. Jenna bit her lip, knowing she was not allowed there. It would also appear scandalous if she were caught with him alone, though given his stated preferences perhaps less so. She ducked inside quietly and saw him holding a bow aimed at an indoor archery target. As he let the arrow fly, the door shut behind her. Its audible click made him turn around, and his eyes went wide as he caught sight of her.

  “Miss, you really are not supposed to be here,” he said.

  “I know,” she replied from across the room, but she began to walk toward him.

  “You care to explain?”

  Jenna sensed he was still quite angry and knew her decision to follow him did seem odd, but as she thought about it for a few seconds, she realized what the reason really was. “I want to thank you, I suppose.”

  “Thank me? Thank me for what? Have we even met, Miss…”

  “Miss Mallory, Jenna Mallory.” She gave a brief curtsy.

  “Of course. The one Dominic slapped across the face. I should have recognized you.”

  Jenna’s face grew hot, and she stared at the floor.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I shouldn’t have brought that up. No one betrayed your secret, but Eamon and Sebastian were teasing Dominic constantly, and he eventually admitted it to me. You could have him whipped you know?”

  “That won’t be necessary.”

  “Then what is this about?”

  “I wanted to thank you because your scandal has trumped my own. For once, I am not the talk of the entire palace. It’s a relief, actually.”

  He then smiled a little, and Jenna felt the intensity of his anger begin to dull.

  “You shouldn’t worry too much, though,” she continued. “I’m sure I’ll mess things up again and cause another scandal, and then everyone will begin to forget about you.”

  He continued to smile. “You refer to the scandal over your mind magic?”

  She nodded.

  “I don’t know, Miss Mallory. My scandal is pretty hard to beat, even for a mind mage. And everyone already knows about that.”

  “Trust me; something will happen.” As she looked at his weapon, she thought of the ones buried in the linen chest. “Something will definitely happen,” she added.

  “You know how to use a bow?”

  “No,” Jenna replied, smiling. “I only used one once when I was little. My brother was trying to show me how to use it, just a small one for training. But when my father saw, it was over.”

  “You speak of your brother Peter?”

  “No, my dead, illegitimate half-brother, Alex.”

  “Oh,” he replied. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s all right. But I told you, still plenty of scandal.”

  He chuckled.

  She looked over to where he had hit the target. His shots were well-aimed. “You’re good,” she said.

  “Not really. Good enough, I guess. I do, however, find it calming. Something about the repetitiveness of the draw and release. You want to try?”

  “What? Trying to help the scandal along?” She smiled.

  “Not really. The Ladies are allowed to practice archery, though usually more often in winter. It’s traditional, for the Hunt.”

  “Oh. My woeful ignorance strikes again.” She held out her hand. “What do I do?”

  “Here.” He helped position her into the proper stance and showed her ho
w to aim. She let one shot fly, and the arrow hit the target near the edge. “Not bad,” he said. His eyes grew distant as he looked at the target. “It was Dominic who really showed me how to use the bow.”

  “You’re friends?”

  “Yes. Just friends,” he added. “Though I don’t know. Maybe I don’t want to be friends with a man who slaps innocent girls and steals their horses.”

  Jenna began to blush again, but this time had the wherewithal to respond. “He didn’t really steal him. Kedar belongs to Prince Dominic.”

  “Kedar belongs to the Crown. The King and Prince Sebastian agreed you should have him.”

  “But Prince Dominic has a point. Kedar was bred for war, and Lord Martis needs a proper horse.”

  “No he doesn’t.”

  “What? I’m sorry; I don’t understand.”

  “Lord Martis refuses to ride Kedar. He prefers to keep his current horse because his late father gave it to him.”

  Jenna’s mouth fell open. “Then what of Kedar? Who will ride him?”

  “Good question.” He began to smile more broadly. Jenna, beginning to understand, smiled back, but just then, they heard voices outside one of the main entrances.

  “I’d better go,” she said. “Thank you again, Sir Raymond.”

  “A pleasure to be of service, My Lady,” he bowed. “And before you leave you may wish to visit the stables. I understand Dominic will return there in about an hour.” The conspiratorial gleam in his eye remained.

  She nodded and left through a side door and was soon walking over to the main stables. She still didn’t know exactly what she was going to do, but she knew if she wanted her horse back, she should act quickly. She dashed over to get a bridle for Kedar, hoping to lead him out back to the East Wing without too much notice. People were generally used to seeing her with him anyway.

  Using her mind magic, she was able to avoid certain people who might stop her, including Master Barrett. She hoped he wouldn’t be angry when he found Kedar was missing. In the meantime, Kedar was thrilled to see her and anxious to ride. She just wished he would remain calm enough until she was ready for him.

  She led him back to the East Wing stables and put him inside an empty stall. “Wait here,” she said, sending him more calm thoughts. “And be quiet until I get back.”

  She ran up to the dormitory and began to put on her riding outfit once more. The other Ladies in the room thought it somewhat strange for her to ride again so soon, but weren’t terribly surprised given her reputation. Afterward, she ran back to the stables and asked Tobin for a saddle she could use to ride astride while she waited for her old one to arrive. He shook his head a bit, but pointed her in the right direction. Within minutes, she was saddling Kedar. Just as she was finishing up, she began to hear footsteps. She panicked and tried to think of a way out, but it was too late.

  “Miss Mallory,” said Master Durand. “Going to ride astride already?”

  “Uh…” Jenna, for the life of her, could not think of any reply. “I, um… Kedar is…”

  “Kedar? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Oh.”

  “Carry on.” Jenna still just stood there. “Quickly now.”

  Jenna nodded and thanked the Heavens that Durand was being so kind to her. She had no idea what she did to deserve it, but did not dwell on it as she mounted Kedar and began to ride in the direction of the main stables. She just hoped that Sir Raymond was right about the Crown Prince.

  She worked Kedar up to a canter in the park and gave thanks again because she spotted the Prince speaking to Sir Raymond just outside the main training paddock. Sir Raymond stared right at her as she approached, and as the Prince turned his head toward her, she urged Kedar to speed up and got him to run at full speed in the direction of the hunting grounds.

  As she entered the woods, she waited briefly to see what the Prince would do. Shortly after, she saw him ride out with Sir Raymond close behind.

  “You ready?” she asked Kedar.

  Her horse just huffed and sent her an image of herself dressed as a knight slapping the Crown Prince. She laughed and rode deeper into the woods, hoping to give the Prince a decent chase before she finally confronted him.

  She headed in the direction of the Tower and circled around its backside. Kedar kept up a quick pace, but she had to slow down on occasion when the terrain was uneven or thickly forested.

  True to his reputation as a horseman, the Prince was soon close behind her. Eventually, he was able to veer off the main trail and come around to block her direct path. She stopped Kedar and heard Sir Raymond close in on her other side. Raymond at least had a smile on his face, whereas Dominic looked ready to kill someone.

  “Do you care to explain yourself, girl?” he asked.

  “I just wished to take my horse for a ride.”

  “Your horse? Didn’t we already have this conversation? I clearly explained that—”

  “Lord Martis won’t ride him.”

  “That is not the point!” The Prince’s voice grew even louder. “That horse is Crown property.”

  “And the King gave him to me.”

  “Subject to my final word. And I do not give you leave to ride him.”

  “Then who will ride him?”

  “Someone… else.” The Prince obviously looked somewhat flustered that he had not yet found a suitable rider.

  Sir Raymond came up closer beside Jenna. “And just what is so unsuitable about Miss Mallory?” he asked. “She has shown herself to be a capable rider. Durand himself now trains her.”

  The Prince sighed. She sensed he was still angry, but his voice was quieter when he responded. “Kedar is still meant for war, and that is not a Lady’s place. Do you dispute that?” he asked Jenna.

  “No,” she replied, with a small sigh. This was not going quite as well as she wished, but she still had one more card to play and prayed it was enough to make him think she was worthy of Kedar. She made a mind-link to his mount, a mare with desert blood and closed her eyes to go deep within the horse’s thoughts. She showed the mare an image of the Prince riding her, asking for details. The horse responded with memories.

  “You first met when you were just a boy, maybe nine or ten.” She was recounting the horse’s thoughts so Dominic could understand the power of her gift. “You began to learn to ride her right away.”

  “What is this?” The Prince was now confused.

  “Hush,” Raymond replied. “She’s made a link to Valla.”

  “A few days later, you sneaked into the stables and fell asleep in her stall. She thought it was cute.”

  Sir Raymond began to laugh.

  “Not everyone was so understanding, however. The Queen found you and took you away. After that, you rode her every day. If the weather was poor, you just rode her in the indoor training paddock. If the weather was better, you rode in the park, then the hunting grounds, and then the plains. Durand began to instruct you by age twelve or thereabouts, but before your official knight training began. Once it did, there was trouble.”

  Sir Raymond’s chuckles grew quiet.

  “Valla stood by you. She would defend you from the boys who made trouble. She would defend you against anything.” She opened her eyes. “You share a strong bond with your horse, Your Highness.”

  The Prince just stared at her, cheeks somewhat pink, struggling with the right words.

  “Very impressive, Miss Mallory,” said Sir Raymond, still smiling, but somewhat subdued. “Can you link to my horse?”

  Jenna made a quick link to his mount, a black gelding. She caught a memory of Sir Raymond as a young teenager, virtually terrified at the thought of riding. “I could,” Jenna replied. “But it would not be as flattering.”

  Raymond chuckled. “Too true. What say you, Dominic?”

  The Prince finally spoke. “You say I have a bond with Sevalla, and you claim the same kind of bond with Kedar?”

  “Yes,” she replied. “Kedar has chosen me to be
his rider. He will not be happy with anyone else. We began to bond when he first saw me several months ago, just after my arrival here.”

  “I see.” Prince Dominic let out a long sigh. “You promise to train him properly and do everything Durand says.”

  “Yes.”

  “And given the trouble on the northern border, if war should call, will you give the Crown leave to take him in support?”

  “I hope it never comes to that, but I will.”

  “Very well then, Jenna Mallory of Salara. You may train Kedar for one year. After that, if Durand reports your training is progressing well enough, you may keep him.”

  Jenna began to beam in triumph. “I will not fail, Your Highness.”

  He gave her a curt nod, then glared at Sir Raymond before riding off in the direction of the palace.

  “Well done, Miss Mallory,” said Raymond smiling. “I’ll attempt to smooth things over with Barrett, but don’t stay out too late.” He headed off after the Prince.

  Jenna sent Kedar all of her joyous thoughts along with images of riding him in the woods and of being trained together. Kedar was just as happy, and they made a brief victory lap through the grounds before she finally returned to the East Wing to give Durand the news.

  Chapter 16

  Late one evening about two weeks since she had gained permission to train Kedar, Jenna headed to her dormitory bed feeling exhausted. She wasn’t sure why since normally she had plenty of energy to spare. It was probably her magic training that day. Lord Harcourt kept her busy learning how to mind-link.

  Jenna kept asking him about the Dark Mage, but it seemed little progress had been made. An unregistered healing mage just wasn’t a high priority at court. The King’s other advisors generally agreed the mage should be arrested, but there was difficulty in reaching him at his mountain castle given its remote location. The Khazaran ambassador also still hadn’t been consulted, though it was planned. Jenna offered to scry for the mage again to gain more information, but Harcourt refused, telling her that he would deal with it. She trusted her teacher’s abilities, but wished the Dark Mage was locked away where he could not harm her.