When my elemental found the place, it hadn’t any bad intent. As soon as it went back to steal, it was destroyed out of hand. I needed to figure out a way around that. Well, I’d planned to read the palace’s mage library remotely, maybe the protective spells wouldn’t object to handling the books if there was no intent to steal them, or to remove them from the cave complex.
I casted an air elemental this time, joined its sight with another glyph spell, and sent it back to the cave. I held my breath as it went inside, and giggled in delight when it picked up the first book on the shelf and opened it. I shook off the giddy feeling, and focused my mind so I could recall the information later, and started to read the spells within.
Over the next few days, I learned a lot. First, the charging conundrum turned out to be rather simple. Elementals have their own magic, the two pedestals that summoned elementals charged all of the enchantments in the rooms, as well as the objects they were connected to. It was obvious, I’d known elementals possessed their own magic, I’d never considered that they could actually charge an enchantment though.
I thought about all those hours wasted charging my hidden spy enchantments back in Zual, it would have been much easier to send an elemental to do it.
There was also a system in place to determine if something was low on charge, the center pedestal ward would automatically engage the enchantments on the two elemental pedestals when something needed to be charged.
The reason it needed two elemental pedestals, was that elementals couldn’t charge the enchantment that summoned them, so they had to charge each other’s.
I learned how to create enchantments faster with an elemental’s help to scribe the glyphs, which was obvious in hindsight but I’d never considered it before.
I also found the ritual associated with the charging glyph, which meant I could make my own self charging enchantments now. Not that I’d ever need to. I saw no reason to give enchantments away, or even sell others power. I could keep the ones I wore charged by simply wearing them.
In fact, I considered trying to break the wards that were responsible for charging. I was pretty sure I could do it, since it was built into the actual stone of the artificial caves. That meant a small earth elemental could flow up that pedestal, and break the stone into gravel, without ever actually going inside the room itself.
It was a serious design flaw.
I still wasn’t sure though. It would stop the protections in place to stop Zual, and also destroy the items Lethia depended on as the enchantments drained for the last time. But it would also force them to start trusting mages again. Either that, or they’d face Zual without enchanted swords and fast communication, once the master dark mages discovered the change.
It was a complicated decision. Plus, it would also break all the magical items still in use in the other two kingdoms, which might be bad.
I couldn’t decide which decision would benefit me the most. Leave it, or destroy it? I wasn’t worried about being blamed, no one would figure out what went wrong.
I also read the journal of the woman mage, who was named Silvia. She was from Zual as well, and had discovered the secrets from other sources after escaping her master there. I also read toward the end, where she arranged to have her body delivered to the caves when she died, so the enchantments on the royal daggers and Marie’s necklace were maintained for the royal family, who she loved.
It was kind of tragic actually, she’d given Lethia so much, I bet her spirit was pissed off if she could see the current state of the kingdom, and how the family she loved hated mages so. Apparently, she was the one who used the communication portion of that necklace, with Queen Maria the first, three hundred years ago. So she’d had to arrange her body to be moved to a charging room, which also became her grave.
Though how she arranged to have her body delivered without exposing her secret stash wasn’t alluded to.
The most important thing I learned was the secret of the power behind the energy spells and beings that guarded the passes between Zual and Lethia. What I had been trying to learn from the start. Unbelievably, it was a combination spell of all four elements, along with two extra intents. Which meant it took holding fourteen thoughts at the same time. Even I would have trouble with that in the heat of battle. Still, it would create an elemental or elemental magic attack at four times my intrinsic magical power.
If I was truly in a jam, I could make that eight times my intrinsic power by summoning a demon first.
The only thing that confused me, was that her bracelet was described as being able to summon five of those beings. But there wasn’t a glyph for all four elementals, just one glyph I didn’t recognize on each setting. I tried to cast that glyph with intent, but it didn’t work. There was still something I didn’t know, but whatever it was, it wasn’t written down in her magic books or her journal.
It was a mystery.
I dismissed it, I’d just have to do it the hard way. If I ever learned it later, I could make changes then. I also believed it would make things easier to cast. It was almost as if she’d made her own glyph.
Which was crazy, because that was impossible.
I took off my bracelet which was already enchanted and broke all the enchantments. Then I summoned an earth elemental to smooth away the engraved portion in the back, and went with a whole new design.
I brought up an illusion glyph, and cast it.
I created an illusion of all the glyphs for the travel ritual, and then shrunk them down to fit on a small portion of the bracelet, and had the earth elemental inscribe them in. It was so small I couldn’t even see the glyphs, I wasn’t sure if this would work but it seemed worth a try.
I was undercover, and could hardly carry a mage’s staff carved with rituals and spells.
I did the same to create a combined four elementals into one energy creature, and had it inscribed four times. Then I did the same for a four elemental attack spell that wouldn’t be a creature at all, just the energy. Then I added the protective spell that I’d had on the bracelet originally, but I used the combined elemental instead of just one to enhance it.
I continued to have the elemental inscribe the ward that would prevent anyone but me from using the bracelet, and attack anyone that tried. Lastly, I did the same with hidden magic, which would hide all the magic in the bracelet. Then I dismissed the elemental.
None of the enchantments were active at that point, just inscribed. I still needed to embed the intent in each of the glyphs, and to make them permanent.
That took me three more nights to do that, because I needed to sleep too.
The last thing I did had nothing to do with power, but was more about covering my ass. I had the earth elemental carry my enchanted pack with all the books and black robes to the cave system. As I’d suspected, the protections didn’t respond, adding items hadn’t been an issue.
I could even retrieve it, because there was no intent to steal, those items were truly mine so it wouldn’t set off the wards. I only kept a little of my gold and silver back, and put it inside one of the other packs and then locked that one up.
Chapter 12
I waited in the garden for Daniel, he said he’d meet me here after a meeting with the queen, and my mind was in turmoil.
I’d the power I sought, but I wasn’t sure what to do with it. While I’d studied and attained that power at night, during the days I’d grown closer to Daniel. We’d gone on walks, visited the city, and spent a lot of time together. Marie had usually been with us as well, to prevent me from getting sullied by any more of those kisses, which wasn’t a good thing in my opinion.
Though it was hard to hate her for it.
Still, I started to get a little restless. The power had been my excuse for staying in Lethia so long, and being courted by Daniel was just a pleasant part of my cover. Or so I had convinced myself. Now that I’d reached my goal for coming to Lethia in the first place, I had a decision to make.
I definitely didn’t want to become queen
, though I thought I’d have been able to manage it by force. The nobles took care of most of the little details, so all I’d have to do was make judgements and keep them too scared to rebel, which I had a lot of experience doing. Experience scaring people I mean.
That didn’t appeal to me though, and not just because it would make Daniel hate me.
Another option was to rule behind the throne. That would be easy, considering she didn’t even have any protection against magic it would take a simply mind control spell. Again though, did I really want that? There were more options as well, I could actually open up a business, economic power was much more important in this kingdom than it had been in Zual.
Not to mention destroying the competition sounded like a lot of fun.
Of course, I could also leave, and see what my options were elsewhere, in other kingdoms. Kingdoms where they didn’t hate, enslave, and kill mages simply for being born. Even in Zual we didn’t do that.
The truth was, deep down I knew what I wanted. If I could be court mage, and influence the throne I’d be happy and secure in my power. I’d also be able to be with Daniel. But that could never happen considering it was contrary to the reality of the situation, which meant I should leave here.
The truth was though, was that I was reluctant to leave Daniel. Somewhere along the line it stopped being a cover, and became something else. No matter how much I berated myself for being weak, I couldn’t help how I felt about him. Worse, I knew he would hate me, probably more than any other mage, if he found out what I was. Simply because I’d been hiding it and lying to him for so long.
The fact that I liked the royal family, with the exception of Timothy, really confused me as well, considering their true feelings for mages. I also still hadn’t decided if I should destroy the recharging rooms. I had a fantasy that they’d have to accept me then, for protection, but it was a stupid thought and would never work.
The power was important to me, because it made me more secure, safer. But did I really need to rule? If it wasn’t for the need to hide, I think I would continue to just court Daniel and see how it went. I imagined myself to probably be one of the most powerful mages alive, if not the strongest anywhere.
It didn’t make me invulnerable though, if enough mages combined to oppose me I’d die. Of course, the only two mages I knew in this whole kingdom were weak and pathetic.
Daniel touched my shoulder, “Hi Cassie, tired of waiting?”
I nodded, and said rather breathily, “Definitely,” and looked up into his eyes smolderingly.
He blushed as he caught on to my alternate meaning.
I hadn’t been joking either, partially teasing perhaps, but not joking. I wanted him, and it was only worse when he was with me. I was curious, sex hadn’t been something I was interested in back in Zual, but that was when I figured it was all about the man holding me down and grunting as he took what he wanted. Somehow, I doubted Daniel would be that way.
Of course, it would never happen. He’d have to marry me first, which was out of the question. I couldn’t take my deception that far, it would kill me in the end.
Marie, our ever present chaperone snickered, “You’re wicked Cassie,” she accused merrily.
I laughed at the irony of that, “You have no idea princess.”
I grinned unrepentantly when she blushed.
Daniel sighed, “We need to talk about something.”
I frowned and patted the bench I was sitting on, and he took a seat.
“What is it?”
He explained, “As the second heir, it’s my responsibility to maintain relationships with the other kingdoms. My mother wants me to go to Sandoval and Mendell, and go over the treaties. It’s something that gets done every ten years to ensure we don’t go to war, and the treaty changes as the needs of our kingdoms change. I’ll probably be gone about six months.”
I tilted my head, “So… you want me to come along?”
He’d damned well better want me along.
He asked rather confused, “Aren’t you waiting for a factor to arrive with equipment?”
I shrugged, “He or she can handle the business, and they have the details to get started. I’ll just have to review the books when I get back.”
He added thoughtfully, “You’d also be able to see your family when we visit Mendell. I suppose you could come along, although it would be irregular, and you’d be on your own while I’m discussing the treaty behind closed doors.”
Crap, that’s almost certain to be awkward. I mean, meeting my non-existent family will be. The good side was I could check out the other kingdoms, maybe I’d be better off setting up in one of them, for whatever I ended up doing. I’d also be able to use this enchantment for travel for more places than the capitol, Rockbend, and Zual. It might be a useful skill to skip kingdoms in a second someday.
I said brightly, “If you’re sure. I don’t want you getting away.”
Daniel looked like he’d rather that not happen either.
Marie cleared her throat, “I’m afraid you two on the road with only knights and soldiers for an escort won’t be politically acceptable. I don’t suppose…” she trailed off hopefully.
Daniel shook his head and said, “I don’t think that’s a good idea, it will be dangerous.”
Marie crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes, “But you’ll let the woman you love take the chance? I’m not a kid anymore Daniel, I’m as old as the woman you constantly ogle.”
Wait, he loved me? When did that happen?
He raised his hands in surrender, “Fine, but you’re the one that has to convince mom.”
She smiled a little triumphantly, “I will.”
I’d no illusions why she really wanted to come. She no doubt felt suppressed and wanted to get out there in the real world. I hoped she was up to that. Not that she wasn’t my friend too.
I took Daniel’s hand, “Don’t you owe me a story?”
He’d said he’d talk to me about his father almost a week ago, and hadn’t yet. Normally I wouldn’t care, but for some reason I did in his case. I really wanted to know what happened.
He frowned, “I don’t really like to talk about it. We were out in the city on my birthday. I was just a kid and seven years old. Mages… have undergrounds. It seems like every time we’re finally free of them, another one pops up.”
I bit my lip when he paused. I’d had a feeling his father was killed by a mage, it explained a lot. Still, it was fuzzy thinking, all mages shouldn’t be judged by the actions of a few. Especially when it was the very way they treated mages here in Lethia that caused the problem in the first place. It was self-perpetuated madness in my opinion.
Suppressed people struck back, that was how the world worked.
He continued, “He must have recognized us, and took the chance to assassinate us I suppose. It was terrifying, he summoned a fire elemental that looked like a dragon, about the size of a wagon.”
Again he paused.
He sighed, “My father had an object that would have protected him, but when the dragon attacked, he gave it to me. The dragon pounced, and the next thing I knew I was alone, two blocks away, and my father…”
I frowned, must have been the dagger. Well at least now I knew what the elemental part did in the protection spell, it moved the holder out of danger. Clever really, that would thwart even a more powerful mage, as long as they weren’t overwhelmingly stronger.
Still, that wasn’t the important part of the story. I squeezed his hand lightly. I wasn’t sure what to say. What was there to say? I just sat there and held his hand. No wonder he’d refused to listen to my point of view back in Rockbend. Although, it was a weakness they all had. They allowed their fear to override the truth.
I wondered if they would even relent if I destroyed the recharging pedestals, but I thought it possible that they would stubbornly follow their current course until they died from a Zual mage. That was… really wrong. I’d no idea how to change it ei
ther.
Finally, I said, “I’m sorry he died that way,” because I felt the need to say something.
My true thought, which disturbed me, was that his father had probably deserved it. The whole family did for what they did here and continued to do here to the mages. Yet, I held his hand with mine, and knew I’d hate to see that happen to him.
Marie cleared her throat, “Let’s go see mom? When do you have to leave?”
Daniel cleared his throat, “Morning the day after tomorrow.”
I stood and walked with them…
Chapter 13
I looked rather doubtfully at the carriage with four white horses.
Daniel snickered, “It’s expected, a prince and princess can’t show up at the neighbors riding like a common man on horseback.”
I looked at him askance, “I was looking forward to it.”
He laughed, “Too bad. Even better, you can wear dresses.”
He waggled his eyebrows like a bad villain as he looked me up and down.
I shook my head in mock despair, but got in the carriage. Marie, and Daniel climbed behind me and shut the door. The evil woman cleared her throat when Daniel sat a little close to me. He moved over reluctantly.
Honestly, at this rate I’d die a virgin. Still, without Marie I probably wouldn’t have been allowed to go along with him, and would have probably left Lethia at that point.
I felt blind, and closed in. What if we were attacked? Although it was unlikely, there were fifty soldiers and twenty knights, which would be poor odds for a ten mage strike team from Zual. Save one led by a master level mage that is. I wondered for a moment what demesnes they were from, and how their masters had kept such a thing secret for so long. A mystery I’d never solve, but it was only a passing curiosity anyway.
I wasn’t afraid of small spaces or anything, it was not being able to see around us that truly bothered me, it made me feel out of control. I reached over and took Daniel’s hand.
“This thing needs windows.”
Marie laughed, “That would be drafty in winter.”
The Rise of a Dark Mage Page 7