To Play the Lady

by Naomi Lane

  Jenna was convinced Sir Gerard was right about the new republic, but for a reason she dared never reveal. A few months before she had arrived at court, Jenna had a restless night. This was not an unusual occurrence, and to pass the time she went to find her brother, who was up late studying.

  NO! She tried to suppress the memory again, but it kept replaying. She didn’t find Peter at his desk, but instead he was standing outside the door to Papa’s office. She sneaked up to him to surprise him, but he quickly grabbed her and put a hand over mouth to make sure she was quiet. She then peered through the crack in the door herself. Papa was talking to someone, a man, but she couldn’t get a good look at him. He stood in shadow near the window. Perhaps the most shocking thing was that he spoke in Kelé, the Tenarran common tongue.

  “…so I wish to offer assistance,” said the man.

  “To start a rebellion? In Sevalia?” Papa shook his head.

  “Your people are also at the mercy of a dictator. Why not?”

  “The King may, in a strict sense, have absolute power, but I am no Tenarran slave. I have wealth, a happy home, and I am not alone. The mage guilds have long served the Sevalian people in ways no Tenarran noble ever did. The King has already overturned many laws restricting people’s freedoms. As my influence and the influence of other wealthy commoners expands we can demand more concessions. I find no reason for violence and do not want to see my home ripped to shreds.”

  “I… understand.”

  “Listen, I bear you no ill will. I heard my father’s stories enough times to know what your people suffered, but Sevalia is not Tenarra. I do not believe you will find much support among us.”

  “Very well, but I’m afraid…” The stranger’s voice began to sound uncomfortable.

  “You bring bad news.” Papa’s voice grew somewhat strained.

  “Yes.”

  “I don’t want to hear it.”

  “But, please—”

  “No! You have your answer. Now please leave my home.”

  “I’m sorry.” The Tenarran rebel then placed a package on Papa’s desk before leaving so quietly Jenna hardly noticed he was gone. Jenna didn’t fully understand what her father had meant by bad news, and Peter dragged her away from the door before she could see anything more. She tried to get him to talk about it, but he wouldn’t. Then the next day, her father announced Alex had died in a freak accident.

  Chapter 20

  Though the memories surrounding her brother’s death were upsetting, Jenna managed to wipe her tears and gather her wits to finish her letter to her mother. The writing was slow, especially since she wrote in the Rahtani language, but she managed to finish it before she needed to head down to supper. Regarding her magic, she only asked if her mother had successfully managed to contact Uncle Rafid and also if the weapons were somehow involved.

  She hoped this time she would get more specific information, but she sighed. Given her brother’s reluctance to speak about it and her mother’s first vague letter, she began to wonder. Of all the people who had known about her magic, one stood out as being most adamant she never speak of it: Papa. Jenna now believed it was her father who was responsible for her current lack of knowledge.

  She then began to doubt her letter’s effectiveness. If her father intercepted it, and given his controlling tendencies Jenna had little doubt he would, then her mother may not give her an honest answer. She may be stuck prying the information out of her brother. But the letter was written, and she would at least try to get some answers.

  She was about to leave for supper, but as she rose from her seat, the dormitory door opened and in stepped the Queen. Jenna was surprised and quickly curtsied.

  “Miss Mallory, I extend an invitation from Sir Gerard to speak to you.”

  Jenna smiled. “He’s feeling better then?”

  “Yes. Lord Merrin has dropped his suit against him.”

  Jenna’s smile broadened. “Of course I accept the invitation.”

  “Then please follow me to the West Wing.” Jenna slipped her letter into her pocket before following the Queen out. Given her past troubles, she liked to keep her letters with her even though no one would understand the language they were written in.

  The Queen quickly led her inside the West Wing to a broad door where she stopped and knocked. A male voice inside said, “Enter.” Jenna followed the Queen inside and curtsied when she saw Sir Gerard, who was still suffering from a black eye from the fight with Lord Merrin.

  The Queen quickly greeted him and then left them alone. Jenna was surprised that it was a private meeting, but considering her young age and his reputation back home as a confirmed bachelor, she figured no one would think it improper.

  Gerard smiled. “So, Miss Mallory, sneaking around the secret passages were you?”

  Jenna blushed. “Well… we just wanted to watch the dancing.”

  He chuckled. “I know. I’m just teasing. I’m actually extremely glad that you were curious, but even more grateful that you came forward about what you heard. Lord Harcourt also said it was your idea to use the mirror, which was very clever. I don’t think anything less would have persuaded Merrin to back down. So I thank you, Miss Jenna Mallory.” He bowed. “You have saved my hide quite literally.”

  Jenna continued to blush, but she also smiled. “You have always been a good friend to my family, Sir Gerard. It was the least I could do.”

  “So.” He paced a bit. “Is there anything I can do for you in return?”

  Jenna was surprised by the offer. She was going to politely decline, but then her fingers happened to brush the letter inside her pocket.

  “There may be something,” she replied.

  The knight’s eyebrows rose. “Oh really?”

  “Do you plan to leave for Navia soon?”

  “Yes. I plan to stop at Vermillion Manor first, but only for a week or two.”

  Jenna thought the delay unfortunate, but still felt Sir Gerard may be able to help her. She withdrew her letter. “I would appreciate it if you would deliver this letter safely to my mother’s hands and only to my mother’s hands.”

  “I see.” He stopped pacing. “I am to assume this is something you don’t wish your father to see.”

  “Yes.” Jenna thought she should be blunt. If he didn’t want to cross her father, then she may as well find out now and take her chances with the normal palace post.

  He held out his hand to receive the letter. “I accept, though I admit getting anything by your father is not easy.”

  Jenna bit her lip. “You’re sure you don’t mind?”

  He smiled. “Miss Mallory, it’s the least I can do. And I would be the last person to criticize anyone for keeping secrets from their father.”

  “Thank you then.” Jenna handed over the letter, but she found his last statement somewhat odd. It triggered a memory. “I saw you sitting near Lord Fyrian at the high table. Is he your father?” She realized belatedly that might not be the best question to ask, but Sir Gerard just nodded.

  He then looked confused. “You were never told that?” His face then relaxed. “Of course you wouldn’t know. You have done such an excellent job of making friends here that I forget you are still new to court and the twisted family ties of the Sevalian nobility.”

  Jenna was pleased at the unexpected compliment, but she just shrugged. “I thought I saw a resemblance.”

  “You are perceptive then, just like your own father. You know, I wonder how much of your magic you just inherited from him.”

  Jenna felt a little awkward speaking about that subject. “Uh, well, Lord Harcourt believes he is a level two mind mage.”

  “Hmmm, yes, well, in any case, I’ll be sure he doesn’t see the letter.” He smiled. Jenna said another quick thank you and then wished Sir Gerard well on his trip south before she returned to the East Wing for supper.

  The next day was Sevday, and Jenna felt happy to leave some of her troubles behind and go meet Sebastian at the library. She wonde
red along the way how much she should tell him about all of the excitement. She figured he would probably know about most of it by then anyway, especially since Eamon was involved.

  After she got dressed early in the morning, she told a proctor she was headed to the library to return some books. She dropped them off at the main desk, and once again the librarian let her know someone was waiting for her upstairs. This time she smiled, knowing exactly who it was. When she saw him up in the stacks reading a book, she reflected, briefly, on how much had happened since their first meeting. She considered her friendship with Sebastian to be the best thing that had happened to her at court.

  She looked around to make sure no librarian happened to have followed her, knowing the staff would keep an eye on them. Since no one was around right at that moment, she decided to sneak up behind the Prince and grab his shoulders. He jumped, dropping his book, but he smiled when he saw her.

  “Hi,” she said. He shook his head, so she continued. “You know, you may want to work on those reflexes. The next time it might not be a friend sneaking up on you.”

  He laughed. “Could be.” Jenna once again admired his blue eyes as they twinkled. He put his hands behind his head and leaned back as Jenna grabbed a chair. “So,” he began. “What should we start with?”

  Jenna grinned. “I have an idea.”

  “You do?” asked Sebastian, somewhat surprised. “Is this related to your little jaunt into the secret passages the other day?”

  She winced, but then smiled again. “Eamon told you?”

  “Oh yes,” he said. “He punched me in the arm and congratulated me for ‘showing her the passages.’” Jenna started to laugh as she pictured the scene.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to explain the truth to Eamon. I went with some of the Ladies to watch the ball. I came clean with Sir Raymond though.” Jenna shrugged.

  “I know. Eventually Dominic came over and explained it. Sir Raymond must have told him. It was almost a shame. I lost some respect in Eamon’s eyes.”

  “Oh really,” said Jenna. “Well maybe you’ll have to show me around the passages one day.”

  “Maybe I will.” The look on Sebastian’s face changed. It was an unusual look for him. Jenna got an odd sense of… anticipation from his mind. It was hard for her to place, but she carried on.

  “So, the reason I got lost in the passages was because I don’t know how to make a mage light. Is it difficult?”

  Sebastian burst out laughing. Jenna even sensed it drew the attention from the library staff. “Lord Harcourt, the most powerful mage in the entire kingdom never showed you how to make a mage light?”

  “No,” Jenna replied, meekly.

  “The thing that every Sevalian noble learns by age five?”

  Jenna rolled her eyes. “It’s that easy?”

  “Pretty much spell number one, though there are different techniques.”

  “Please share.”

  “Well some people can make a light by making their skin glow, especially healing mages. Others make objects glow. Fire mages usually just make a torch and light it by magic. Others can just make glowing lights in the air.”

  “What about mind mages?”

  “Ah.” Sebastian’s expression grew concerned. “Actually I’m not sure. Well, I can share with you the technique, and we’ll see. Let me show you first.” He cupped his hands in front of him. “When first learning, it’s usually good to go into a light trance to enhance your focus. Then concentrate on the air you want to light and send your magic to it. Will it to glow.” As he spoke a white light appeared in his hands and then went out. “Once you make the light, the next step is to move it around, but not every mage can do that. You try.”

  Jenna nodded and focused on her breathing to fall into a trance. She sent her mind magic to her hands and willed light to appear. Except she felt odd about it. It wasn’t working, so she increased the intensity until she suddenly felt a click inside her mind. Sebastian grabbed her hand and made the air she was trying to light glow. Jenna quickly came out of her trance.

  “Well, that was odd,” said Sebastian.

  “What happened?”

  “I think instead of making the light, as a mind mage you linked to my mind and willed me to do it instead. It was weird; I felt compelled.”

  “I’ve never tried to compel someone before. Actually, it’s forbidden magic unless in self-defense.”

  “It’s okay, Jenna. You’re still learning; I understand. Maybe it means your mind powers are improving.”

  Jenna shrugged. “Except it won’t help me make a light when I’m alone. You said healing mages can make their skin glow. Maybe with my healing magic I can make mine glow too.”

  “You’re welcome to try. It’s the same basic technique, focusing the energy, but on your own body instead of the air. Just go slow, and if you feel any discomfort, pull back.”

  Jenna nodded and tried again. This time she sent the magic from her heart into her hand. She wanted it to glow, but all she felt was warmth. “Still doesn’t seem to be working. I’ll try both.” She sent her mind magic to meet the other stream, something she hadn’t done since her first week at court. Once the streams met, she felt a jolt of power run through arm. Her skin glowed momentarily, but then ignited.

  “Oh gods, Jenna! Pull back!” Sebastian practically screamed the words. Jenna was so shocked she cut her trance. Normally that would end any spells, but her arm kept burning, and she had lost the contact with her magic to be able to pull it back to her center.

  “Sebastian! I’ve lost control. What do I do?” Jenna was somewhat frantic. Her only consolation was that her arm didn’t hurt, but felt hot.

  As the library staff came running up the stairs, Sebastian went into action. He made a gesture with his hands, and Jenna sensed some magic hit her arm like a block of ice. The fire died. The table they were sitting at looked a little singed, but nothing else appeared damaged. Jenna breathed a sigh of relief. “Miss Mallory, is your arm injured?”

  Jenna looked over and saw the head librarian. “Uh…” She looked at her arm and wiggled her fingers. “No, it’s fine.” She did her best to smile. “So sorry that I… uh… threatened the books. I was just trying to make a mage light.”

  “I take responsibility,” said the Prince. “I encouraged her, knowing it’s a relatively simple spell, but we should have worked inside a protected circle.”

  “I am sorry, Your Highness, but I will have to report this to Lord Fyrian,” said the librarian.

  Sebastian nodded. “I understand.” He then turned toward Jenna. “Miss Mallory, let me escort you back to the East Wing.” She nodded, relieved he also felt the need to get out of there. She took his arm, and they walked outside. Except instead of going straight back to the East Wing, he led her into the woods along a path and sat down with her on a bench. Jenna just followed along in a daze, only half realizing the impropriety if anyone saw them. “Holy gods, Jenna. What happened?”

  “I don’t know,” she replied. “I just mixed the streams of magic, and it all went to hell.”

  “Mixed what streams?”

  “I sense the mind magic as residing in my head and the foreign magic near my heart. Apparently when I mix them bad things happen like lighting my arm on fire.”

  Sebastian took her hand and examined it. “Are you sure it’s okay? We can go to a healer.”

  “No, it’s fine. I think my self-healing magic prevented any damage.”

  “I’ve heard of people having two kinds of magical energy in their body. It occurs when a mage has strong talent for more than one of the seven magical lines. It’s exceptionally rare though.”

  Jenna shrugged. “One of a kind.” She was still a little shaken up. “You didn’t have to claim responsibility.”

  “No, No. It’s fine. In fact, I’m sure I’ll get more accolades from Eamon.” Jenna managed to smile. “Look. I know something else we can do. I was going to show you anyway, and I think it might cheer you up.” />
  “Uh. Okay. What?”

  “Just wait here.”

  Jenna continued sitting on the bench and waited for Sebastian to return. When he did, he had some strange-looking boots with him. They had metal blades on the bottom. “What are those?”

  “Ice skates. Ever skated?” he asked, slightly out of breath.

  “No.”

  “Didn’t think so. Come on. I can show you.”

  Jenna rose, still confused, but Sebastian’s smile was infectious. She followed him deeper into the woods. “But doesn’t this qualify as going off alone together.”

  He looked back at her and grinned. “You mind?”

  She shrugged. “Guess not.”

  “Good.” They continued on and stopped once they got to a small pond that was completely frozen over. There was a bench near it, and Sebastian sat down with her and started taking off his boots so he could put on the skates.

  “Here,” he said. “I hope Mother’s fit you. You are about the same height.” She put her foot inside the boot, and luckily it seemed to fit pretty well.

  “I think they’ll do.”

  “Excellent. Lace them up tight.”

  She complied, but had no idea how she would walk on such things let alone ice skate. Sebastian helped her stand and then held both of her arms as they walked over to the edge of the pond. He easily stepped off onto the ice, leaving her there. He skated one quick lap. “See, it’s easy. Just takes a little practice. Once you get good, you can really build up some speed.” He stopped at the edge of the pond where Jenna waited. He took her hands again. “Just start slow.”

  Jenna put one foot on the ice and tried to keep it still as she brought the other one forward, but it started to slip, and she almost lost her balance. Only her grip on Sebastian’s arms prevented her from falling down. He began to glide backward, taking Jenna along for the ride. “Steady now; try keeping your weight over the blades.” Jenna nodded, but it was difficult. Her feet felt very wobbly. “Try to keep your ankles still, knees bent a little. Again, it’s all about keeping your center of mass balanced over your feet.” Jenna heard the words, but she was having difficulty making them reality.