What did disturb her was the number of dead and dying trees along the road. There were more now than there had been on her first trip, just a few months ago. Well, that and Jathan. He wasn’t taking the desert crossing at all well.
Certainly, Jathan didn’t appear to feel any benefit from the wind. He slouched in his saddle, barely lifting his head. Why was the desert affecting him more than it did her? Because it was his first crossing? Or because he’d never had any experience of the desert to habituate him to it? Either way, she remembered how she’d felt during her first crossing. The only thing that had made her feel better was the oases. Therefore, the best thing to do for Jathan was to get him to the next oasis—one of the larger ones where the coaches stopped, if she remembered correctly—as quickly as possible. “The point is to cross the desert as fast as possible, isn’t it? Let’s go.” She urged Diamond to a canter. The others followed.
Just as she had, Jathan perked up at the next oasis, seeming to take his first deep breath since leaving the courier station. He sat, half-reclining, on the ground under one of those fern-leafed trees.
Rishiart watched his brother with concern. “Should we camp here?”
Jathan shook his head. “It’s only midafternoon. We can go farther.”
“Ailsa?” Rishiart asked.
Ailsa paced to the other end of the oasis and back. Then she knelt down beside Jathan. “I think it was a little easier, actually, taking the coach. I could sleep during the worst parts. But Grandmama said that it was important for us to get across the desert as quickly as possible. Based on my first trip, you’ll continue to feel drained, even on the main courier road, between oases. You’ll feel better at the oasis, but not really yourself until we reach the core of Far Terra, where there’ll be more living plants to surround you.”
“Then let’s go on,” Jathan said.
Ailsa looked up at Rishiart. “How far can we get if we ride hard?”
Rishiart bit his lip. “Not far enough. Not without killing the horses, anyway. We’d still be at least half a day out from Far Terra. We should have gotten an earlier start this morning.”
Ailsa nodded. “Then we’d do best to stay here overnight and let Jathan recover.”
“We still might not get there until after dark tomorrow,” Rishiart said.
Ailsa shrugged this off. “The road is straight and wide. We can ride after dark safely if we need to.”
~
Two days later, Ailsa paced across the courtyard and the stables all morning, stopping in to pet and talk to Pearl and Diamond before going back inside to ask if Jathan was up yet. Arriving home in Far Terra hadn’t been as much of a relief as she’d hoped, with Jathan all but comatose by the time they got in late in the night. After such a difficult journey, he’d never want to cross the desert again once he got back home. The thought kept her moving restlessly from one spot to another despite the tightening in her chest.
Jathan didn’t come out of his rooms until almost noon, still looking a little drained and tired.
Ailsa ran toward him, but stopped short. “How are you feeling?”
He grinned and crossed the short distance to take her in his arms. “Much better after a good sleep. I was just thinking of asking for breakfast in your garden. Is that possible?”
“Oh, yes. Nothing easier. There’s a nice little patio just off the kitchen. The garden will help, I think.”
“I expect so.”
Ailsa swallowed and made to step back. “I’ll . . . I’ll go arrange that, then.”
Jathan didn’t release her. Instead, he pulled her closer. “Ailsa, what’s wrong? You’re as tense as a bowstring.”
Ailsa looked down. “You’re never going to want to come to Far Terra again, are you? After . . .”
Jathan put his hand under her chin and lifted her face until he could look into her eyes. “I’m not saying that it’s something I’d choose to do for fun. But I’ve been thinking. There are probably ways to make it easier. Maybe your idea of using a coach rather than riding. It’d take longer, but, as you said, it might be easier to just sleep through some of that.”
Ailsa held her breath. She could hardly believe what she was hearing. “You still . . . You still want to . . .”
Jathan smiled. “Hey, just because it’s hard is no reason to give up. What would ever be accomplished that way?” He tilted his head to one side. “You know, I think there has to be a reason for two such powerful green mages to appear just now. Two green mages so . . . predisposed to work together. And I can’t think of a better use for our magic than Far Terra. That’ll be a legacy to leave behind us, huh? Besides, if you’re going to be here—and I know you are—then so am I. That’s the way this works. Anyway, we’re only talking about crossing like that a couple of times a year. I can stand it. That is, I can if I can get some breakfast.”
Ailsa laughed, more in relief than anything else. She’d been so sure she was losing Jathan, too. “More like brunch at this hour, but by all means, let’s see to first things first.” She led him out to the patio. Someone—Mama probably—had anticipated them. Hot tea, fresh bread, fruit, and cold meats were already set out for them.
“What I want to know,” Jathan said around a bite of fruit, “is why didn’t the desert seem to affect you as much as it did me?”
Ailsa’s brow furrowed in thought. “I don’t know. It was certainly worse the first time. Maybe that’s it. Maybe it gets easier with practice.”
“Huh. That’s hopeful.” Jathan winked at her. “So, what do you do around here for fun?”
Ailsa squeezed his hand under the table. “I really do want to show you Far Terra. But I’ve been thinking, too. There’s one advantage of arriving so late last night. With luck, King Ewart won’t know we’re even here until the Winter Ball tomorrow night.”
Jathan grinned and winked at her. “Quite a surprise for him, eh? Well, then, we’ll just have to find something to do indoors for now. You can show me the sights after the ball. The horses will probably appreciate the rest, anyway.”
From the way Jathan eased back in his seat and let his eyes drift over the garden, he would, too.
~
Ailsa smiled as Jathan leaped down from the carriage to offer her his arm. Two days of rest certainly seemed to have eradicated the lingering effects of the desert crossing. His velvet-trimmed brocade matched her velvet gown so well they looked like they’d been made to go together. Maybe they had. It looked good on him, anyway.
He winked as his gaze swept over her, taking in her gown one more time. “Too bad we probably won’t get a chance to dance tonight.”
Ailsa smiled. “There’ll be other times.”
“Indeed there will.”
Ailsa straightened. Chara had fashioned the jade green velvet into a gown similar to the one she’d worn to the Solstice Ball—a column of green that made her look taller than she actually was. Between that, and the jeweled coil that held her hair twisted up on her head, she looked royal. Majestic. Now all she had to do was quiet the butterflies in her stomach and act the part.
“You’ll do fine,” Jathan whispered in her ear. “You look like a queen. A queen among mages.”
They entered the Grand Hall just as they’d planned. Rishiart went first, then Papa and Mama followed by Jathan and Ailsa. Ailsa nodded to the side, drawing Jathan’s attention to the carefully-pruned holly trees in large pots that lined the Great Hall at intervals. They were ancient trees kept especially for this purpose, to act as decorations for the Winter Ball. They’d likely have a different use tonight. Jathan nodded back with a quick wink.
They walked straight across the floor to King Ewart’s dais. Rishiart gave the king a bare nod of acknowledgment with no shred of subservience. King Ewart frowned, but his eyes strayed to the sides of the room where Arrigo and his expanded cavalry company stood, and he said nothing.
When Rishiart stepped aside, Papa and Mama strode forward, but didn’t bow. Not this time. Papa gave a nod very similar to Ri
shiart’s. Mama just tilted her head up and held King Ewart’s eyes with her own, mage to king. Conversations around the room stumbled to a halt as all eyes turned to watch the confrontation. This surprise was what they’d planned for.
“Our turn,” Jathan said, leading Ailsa forward. Ailsa lifted her chin and met King Ewart’s eyes without a hint of deference. She had to lock her knees to keep them from knocking together and spoiling the effect.
King Ewart’s frown deepened. “Several months in the imperial capital have not improved your manners, it seems. You have forgotten the proper respect for your king.”
“I haven’t forgotten anything. I’ve learned my own value and place, which is at least equal to yours.”
King Ewart half stood from his throne. “You dare! You will bow to me.”
“Princess Ailsa doesn’t need to bow her head to you,” Jathan said.
Mutters broke out around the room at the use of her forbidden title.
King Ewart turned his attention to Jathan. “And just who are you?”
Rish stepped forward. “Forgive me. I haven’t had a chance to introduce my brother, Imperial Prince Jathan.”
The mutters increased in volume.
King Ewart narrowed his eyes as he stared at Jathan. “Stay out of this, your highness. This is a purely internal Far Terran matter.” He turned back to Ailsa. “You will regret it if you don’t show proper respect to me—now.”
Ailsa gestured down to her green gown. “I’m not your equal because of my title. I’m your equal because of my magic.”
“Even if you’re a water mage like your aunt, that won’t save you. We know how to treat mages here.”
Ailsa shook her head. “I’m no water mage.”
King Ewart snorted. “What, then? A heat mage like your mother? Not even anything useful for Far Terra and you think it merits respect? You’re a fool.”
“Not so great a fool as you.” She smiled slightly. In spite of all eyes being on her, Ailsa was beginning to enjoy this. Maybe Jathan’s love of show was rubbing off on her. “Slow learner, are you? Or just ignorant?” Over the gasps of the assembled barons and their families, she continued, “Water mages wear blue to formal public functions.” She gestured to her mother. “Heat mages wear red.” Her arm lowered to indicate Jathan and herself. “Only one kind of mage wears green.”
Ailsa raised her left arm, her right hand still being clenched tightly in Jathan’s. Beside her, Jathan raised his right arm, following her lead. Her anger with Sav had shown her just what an irate green mage could do. Now she was going to educate King Ewart and his barons. Ailsa’s fingers twitched and her magic reached out to all those stunted trees on her side of the hall, encouraging them to grow. Their roots broke out of the pots and down through the floor in search of nourishing earth. They’d never be removed from this hall again. Up and up their branches stretched, right to the ceiling, then the branches continued to grow across the ceiling until they entwined with the branches growing from Jathan’s side of the hall, turning the room into a living arbor. Other than the scraping of the branches, the room had gone completely silent.
Ailsa focused her eyes on King Ewart. “I’m a green mage.” She grinned. “And only half trained, at that. I may return after I complete my training, King Ewart. That will depend on you. You’ll have to be a good deal more welcoming.”
King Ewart’s eyes gleamed. “You are a Far Terran subject on Far Terran soil. What makes you think you will ever leave my jurisdiction again? You’ll stay here and you’ll do what I tell you to do.”
Ailsa squeezed Jathan’s hand as he moved to step forward. She appreciated his anger on her behalf, but this was not his cue in this carefully choreographed show.
Arrigo cleared his throat and took a step forward from his doubled cavalry troop. “I think you’ll find that difficult, King Ewart. It is my imperial father’s proclamation that all mages are henceforward under his protection. Princess Ailsa, however, has his special protection.” He smiled and nodded at Ailsa. “Not that such a powerful mage needs much in the way of defense.”
Ailsa let go of Jathan’s hand and turned to face the barons for the first time. “I could do a great deal for Far Terra. How much I actually do is up to you.” Then she turned and strode back down the length of the hall.
Behind her, Rishiart’s voice rose to be heard over the excited murmuring that had broken out around her. “She’s not just a green mage, you know. She’s a ninth-level green mage. And Prince Jathan, is a tenth-level green mage, the most powerful in three generations. They are training to work as a team. What they can do together . . . well, I suppose you’ll have to see that for yourselves. If you are prepared to meet their terms, of course.”
Ailsa slowed at the door so that Jathan could catch up to her without running. When they were beyond the palace gates, she whispered, “See what I mean about Far Terra?”
“What, you think one crazy old man is going to keep me away from you? We can handle him.” Jathan laughed. “We just did. And if ever we can’t, my father surely can. We have no reason to be afraid of him. I’m certainly not going to let him steal my happiness. Are you?”
Ailsa blinked. “No. No, I’m not going to let him take one more thing from me.”
Jathan grabbed her hand and turned her to face him so he could kiss her. He looked into her eyes, fingers stroking her cheek. “Good. Then we agree. And we’ll make it official, just as soon as we get back to Terranion.”
Ailsa smiled and lifted her face to his.
Chapter 27: Old Habits
Savyon wandered around the palace grounds aimlessly. Ailsa was gone. Worse, gone with Jathan. It didn’t help that Savyon could trace every single mistake he’d made, right from his awkward proposal onward. He’d made a hash of it all—just as he’d always feared he would. And now he was coldly certain that he’d lost Ailsa for real and true. He hadn’t wanted to believe it, but those last few days before they left she’d made no secret of her preference for Jathan over him.
Cergio was no help at all. In fact, his brother had an infuriating tendency to laugh at Savyon’s awkwardness in this. Cergio had never really cared about any of the girls he’d supposedly courted. It was all a game to Cergio. Losing occasionally was part of any game and Cergio never seemed more than a little put out when it happened to him. He just didn’t understand. Savyon’s lips twisted in memory of some of his brother’s comments.
Perion might understand. After all, he’d had a similar experience with Delea. But Perion hadn’t been around much since his testing. At least he’d found something to pour his energies into. Something to distract him. Savyon had no such luxury. He had nothing to do but wander around and think about everything he’d done wrong, every word and action that had ultimately cost him Ailsa. His feet led him down to the stables, not because he particularly wanted to ride. Not alone.
It was just that the stables were marginally better than the gardens. Ailsa seemed to breathe out of every shrub and flower in the gardens. He stopped to let his eyes adjust as he entered the dim barn. The empty stalls at the end, where Diamond and Pearl used to wait for Ailsa brought him up short. Maybe the stables weren’t a good idea, either.
“Well, are you coming in or not?”
Savyon spun to see Mayra feeding a carrot to her pretty little mare. “Oh, uh, hello, Mayra. I actually didn’t expect to meet anyone here.”
Mayra cocked her head to the side. “Why not? Aside from the fact that there are nearly always grooms around, it is Starday. Surely you know by now that I always ride on Starday. I wasn’t sure if you’d be joining me today, though.” Her eyes narrowed. “Are you going to ride?”
Starday. Savyon had lost track of the days. If it was Starday, then Ailsa had already arrived in Far Terra—with Jathan. In fact, the Winter Ball would be tonight. Both there and here, come to think of it. Another interminable ball to suffer through without Ailsa to dance with. He sighed. “I hadn’t planned anything, really. I’m just . . . restless.”
“Well, then, you might as well come for a ride,” Mayra said. “I wouldn’t mind a little company.”
Savyon shook his head. “It wouldn’t be appropriate for us to ride alone, Princess.”
Mayra laughed and shook her head in disbelief. A sweep of her hand evoked the ring of guards that always followed on these rides. “Hardly alone.” She cocked her head to the side. “Would it make you feel better if I asked your brother to join us?”
“No. I . . . part of why I came down here was to get away from Cergio for a while.”
Mayra smiled. “I can understand that. I feel the same way about my brothers sometimes. What about Prince Perion, then?”
Savyon had just been thinking of talking to Perion. But . . . not in Mayra’s presence. In fact, he somehow didn’t like to think about Perion riding with Mayra, either. “No.”
Mayra’s smile turned a little coy. “I thought you and Prince Perion were friends.”
Savyon shrugged. “We are.”
“Well, then, why not invite him along. He could probably use the exercise, too.”
“I . . .” Savyon couldn’t find the words to express his feelings about this. Probably because he wasn’t at all sure what they were.
Mayra arched her brows. “Well, never mind. You and I can go for a ride, then. You can keep me company.”
Savyon smiled faintly. Put that way, he could hardly refuse. “All right.”
~
Mayra looked around the ball room. Hmm. Savyon wasn’t here, yet. Perion and Cergio were, though, standing by the refreshments table. Maybe that was a good thing. Savyon’s reactions earlier had been . . . interesting. Now, would Cergio or Perion disturb him more? They were both princes. Hmm. Cergio was never serious about anything, so probably wouldn’t represent a serious threat. Perion, then.
~
Savyon entered the ballroom reluctantly. He’d always hated these things at home. Seemed he couldn’t escape them even here. And here he didn’t have the refuge of standing apart up on the dais—which was conspicuously empty anyway. He looked around and frowned slightly when he spotted Mayra spinning around the dance floor with Perion.
Daughter of the Disgraced King Page 26