Davie the Mage (Generations of Eredwynn Book 2) (4 page)

              Amber took off her pack and laid it on the couch, turned and faced me. “I love you and trust you, Davie. Show me something that will convince me.”

              I lifted her off the floor and floated her under the canopy of the double king bed. With her floating three feet above the mattress, I flew across the room and hovered just below her. I lowered us both down until she was lying on top of me and I kissed her. She returned my kiss with a ferocity that almost frightened me. I knew that she believed every word that I’d said and didn’t want to lose me.

              She rolled off me and said, “Prince Davie, why would you want to be with me? I’m sure that you could have your choice of any number of girls.”

              “I’ve been around the girls at the wizard’s school all my life. They flirted and were quite friendly, but I wasn’t interested. When I met you, my heart jumped into my throat and I had to be with you. The thought of not being with you made me feel ill. I want you and you alone. If you decide that you want consorts, that can be discussed later. I know from my father’s stories that consorts aren’t a part of the lifestyle there, so that might deter that.”

              She was puzzled. “What are consorts and why would I want them?”

              I laughed, “Consorts are women who live with the Lord and Lady or Prince and Princess. To the female of the house, they are her friends, confidantes, and caregivers to the children. For the man of the house, they take care of him and any needs or desires that he may have, mainly physical desires. Maybe that will help you understand.”

              “So if I had consorts, you’d be sleeping with other women and I would be expected to just accept that? What kind of craziness is that? When I marry you, and I will, you’re mine and I’m not sharing! If that’s the wrong attitude, then so be it.”

              I laughed, “James has a wife and five consorts. You’ll meet them after my mother leaves. They all love each other and it’s exactly like an extended family. If you don’t ever want a consort, I’ll be perfectly happy. I’ll have you and that is all I need.”

              She rolled to me and kissed me. “Do you think that we have time before your brother shows up for me to prove I’m all you need?”

              I sighed, “As wonderful as that plan sounds, I think that I’m going to take a shower and get ready to meet the family.”

              I asked if she’d like to shower and change too. She was hoping that we could shower together, but I knew if we attempted that we wouldn’t be ready to go when we were notified that mother had left. I took her to the closet on what would be her side of the room and showed her the towels and shower. Since the layout was almost exactly the same as the rooms in Valeview, I knew where things were.

              Roger had Valeview plumbed, after an enormous effort by my Aunt Alice and Father. Since they were on the top of a cliff overlooking the river valley, the well and geothermal heating drop had to be very deep. It had taken days just to make the holes.

              Amber took off her clothes to climb into the shower and it took all the willpower I had to walk to the other side of the room and crawl into the shower there. I relaxed under the hot water and prepared myself for the coming days as best as I could. I wasn’t afraid of my mother but I was afraid of my mother making a scene! I just hoped that I could garner enough support with my father and siblings that I could ease her into the idea.

              I climbed out of the shower, toweled off and dressed. I walked back into the bedroom and found something unexpected. Maybe I should say someone. Sitting on the bed was a twenty-two year old lady! Her name should have been ‘Trouble’ but she’d been misnamed Lia. She was my beautiful big sister, who loved to be involved in any bit of mischief that went on in the kingdom. She seemed to have a sixth sense about things and would always show up.

              “Hello, Lia! You surprised me. I didn’t expect anyone to be out here. So what brings you to Kethos?”

              “Hey little brother, I got the strangest letter dropped in my lap a few minutes ago. It said that you’d returned from your escape trip and were here. It also said that you’d brought a young lady with you who had stolen your heart. She’s supposed to be a beautiful young lady but since the letter was from your brother, I had to come see for myself. The only way he judges if a girl is beautiful is when they are walking away from him.”

              The closet door on the far side of the room opened and I hurried over. I met Amber coming out and informed her that we had company.

              “Amber, I’d like for you to meet my sister Lia. She is a wonderful young lady who loves to cause mischief. She would be a great asset in getting my mother ready for the shock of our impending marriage.”

              Lia squealed, “So you are going to get married! I’m so happy for you both! Amber, do you have clothes that would be suited to meeting the King and Aunt Alba?”

              Amber giggled, “Is she always such a high energy person?” Then to Lia, “All I have are a couple pair of pants and a couple shirts. When I met Davie, I wasn’t planning on dressing up. Davie gave me a handful of cash to carry and I don’t think he’d mind if I spent it, if I could just find a store.” She pulled the money out of her pocket and showed Lia. Lia looked at it incredulously and said that she had plenty if she wanted to go to the tailor’s.

              I asked, “What tailor will you be taking her to? There is a perfectly good one here in Kethos but I know that you’re partial to the one in Valeview. There’s no need to drag her five hundred miles just so you can go to your favorite shop.”

              “Davie, why don’t you find something to do and let the women talk? You know that five hundred miles to us is the same as five feet. You’re the one that has to hide, not Amber. She is a beautiful thing, too, and I see why you had to bring her home. Even the part that James uses to judge is very nice. Amber, would you like to do some shopping? When your clothes are ready, I’d bring them to you.”

              Amber walked over and kissed me. “Davie, would it be all right if I went and got some clothes? If I have to meet the King, I’d like to do it dressed more nicely than jeans. I don’t know how to bow or anything and maybe Lia could teach me that, too. I’ll stay if you ask, but if you think it would be safe, I’d like to go.”

              I sighed. “You may do anything that you want, my love. Lia, she means the world to me so look out for her. She’s from a completely different realm and has no idea what this place is like.”

              Lia giggled, “Little brother has it bad! It is good to see you looking so happy and caring for someone the way you obviously care for her. I’ll look after her for you and won’t let any of the cute guards steal her away.”

              “Thank you, sis. You girls have a good time and I’ll be here when you get back.”

              I lay back on the bed after they’d ported out and dozed off.

Chapter Three

            
 
S
oft lips on mine startled me awake. Lia was standing at the foot of the bed giggling and Amber had a big grin. I guessed that they had discussed the best way to wake me. It was one of the better ways I’d been awakened in my life. I was filled in on the trip and the two girls had seemed to hit it off famously. They had ordered a dress that she could wear for her presentation to the King and my mother. Lia had also ordered an outfit for her to wear when she was out that would be more comfortable. She said that it was in the same style as the wizards wore and she knew that Amber would look stunning in it. She said that when we got our own place, she’d take her shopping again and help her fill her closet. She’d shown her around the target range at Wizard’s Castle and let her watch the students work spells. She’d thought it great fun to see Amber gasp at
magic arrows
and then fall completely over when an Apprentice started working on
flamestrike
.

              Amber said, “Davie, I saw things that I wouldn’t have believed just yesterday! Those wizard girls are so impressive with the spells they can do! I hope that you’ll take me back to watch again, sometime.”

              Lia giggled, “Haven’t you figured it out yet, Amber? My brother is head over heels in love with you and will give you anything to make you happy. Do me one favor and don’t hurt him. He is the tender sort and nothing like his ornery mother.”

              Amber hugged me and said to Lia, “I love him, too, and won’t ever hurt him. He took me away from a trek through the woods, with nowhere to go, and brought me here. If we have to live in a shack on the outskirts of town, I’ll be content.”

              Lia laughed, “From what I’ve heard, you won’t exactly be in a shack. Father already had a little place picked out for Davie when he decided to leave. I’m sure that he’ll let you both move in there after the wedding. I’m so excited for you two! Oh, your mother just returned home and James is on his way.”

              There was a knock on the door and Lia went to answer it. Amber asked how she knew that someone was coming. I gave her a basic explanation of how our
remote viewing
worked and also let her know that Lia had perfected the ability to be looking in one place 23wqand talking to you all at the same time.

              James came in and invited us all to join him and his family. He’d sent down for dinner already and Star was looking forward to meeting Amber. We followed him around the stairway to the other double doors and went inside. I heard a familiar squeal and dropped to one knee as Ivy ran the length of the room and jumped up to hug me. I introduced Ivy to Amber as the first wizard Halfling ever in Eredwynn. Ivy glowed with pride and took Amber to meet Star. Star waved at me from behind a stack of paperwork and then stood to meet Amber. James dragged me to a couch and we sat.

              James said, “So tell me about your adventure. I see that you found out that the sixteen year old trip to freedom can get you hooked! She is a lovely young lady and seems to be nice, too.”

              “Like I said earlier, she was getting robbed and I interfered. It seemed like none of the other people around wanted to even take notice. Father came from a harsh world. The first business that I went to cheated me badly and the manners of the people are nonexistent! Men were cursing, women and children cursing, children playing games pretending to kill one another. It’s an awful place and I don’t think that Amber will miss it much. There might be some things that she will, but for the most part I think she’ll be happy here.”

              “Well, I recommend that tomorrow you show up at Wizard’s and let father know that you’re home and that you’ve found the woman you intend to marry. He’ll be happy for you and Mother will do everything she can to help and to push consorts on your betrothed.”

              “Amber is dead set against consorts. So that won’t be a problem for us. I’m too much in love to think that I’ll ever want to be with another woman, anyway.”

              “She says that now, but I know that father is assigning you to Perlsea Castle. That place is almost as large as Kethos and will take work to run. When she finds out that she’ll be expected to handle staff and payroll for the entire place, which should make her want help. Then she’ll have to answer all the castle shopkeepers’ requests for orders and inventory. When children come, she’ll be taking care of them on her own, too, unless she has consorts to help.”

              “We’ll figure it out, I’m sure. Don’t mention to her that we’re getting the castle. I have her convinced that father has a small house just outside a little town. She seems happy with that and I want to see her reaction when she learns we’ll have a castle.”

              James laughed, “You’re as much the joker as I was at your age and in your position. I hope that things turn out for you as well as they have for me. I’ll go pry your companion away from my ladies and you two can eat and call it a night. You should try to get to Wizard’s Castle early, because your mother rarely goes to the throne room before lunch. I’ll expect you back here afterwards, to tell me how things went.”

              We all gathered around the table and enjoyed the meal. We talked about nothing for a while and then I excused us so we could call it a night. Everyone grinned and told me how sweet they thought Amber was and that they were planning on being at the wedding. We said goodnight and slipped back to our room.

              The next morning, we were awakened by a quiet knock on the door. I woke and nudged Amber to wake her as two maids came in. They were bringing our breakfast on bed trays. They assisted with propping our pillows and set the trays across our laps. We thanked them; they curtsied and left without a word. Amber looked at me and grinned. “I could get used to that kind of service!”

              “You know that when we’re married, you’ll be Princess Amber and can have that kind of treatment whenever you’d like. I just want you to be kind to the staff, if we have any, and not let it go to your head. Forgive the term, but there have been many cases of ’commoners’ marrying Lords and becoming cruel and demanding.”