The Bronze Mage (12 page)

By the night of the actual ball, Tabitha was extremely reluctant to attend. By the time it was over, she wished she'd refused altogether.

As was custom, the two kings opened the ball by leading a dance with their wives. Partway through, the three children joined them with pre-arranged partners. Tabitha's was the son of a duke. He was a capable dancer and she would have enjoyed it had he not been eyeing her as nervously as if she were a coiled serpent. As soon as the song was over, when the floor was opened to the general attendance, he escorted her back to her table and fled. Xentian custom dictated that married couples only dance with each other, so although her parents sat out several dances to keep her company, she couldn't dance with her father as she often did at home. Her brother danced with her a few times, but there were so many young ladies vying for his attention that Tabitha assured him she'd rather sit and sent him away.

Six hours later, the minute the ball was officially over, Tabitha ceremoniously fled to her room. She kept her door locked and her light off as her family returned to the suite and headed to their own rooms. Then she carefully wrote a note to her parents and packed her things. The trunk she left for the footmen. But she packed a smaller bag and her purse to take with her. She waited three hours, figuring that was plenty of time for even the stragglers to clear the passageways, and left for the stables. By sunrise the castle was nearly out of view.

Around noon, she stopped at an inn and bought herself lunch. She nearly fell asleep at the table waiting for it. She didn't want to throw off her schedule by stopping for the night already, so after eating she forced herself to press on. This proved to be a mistake. By mid-afternoon she was halfway between towns and unable to keep her eyes open. She turned off the road, found a sheltered spot and hoped a short nap would revive her.

When she awoke the sun was setting. Even hurrying to the next town, she would be riding two hours in the dark. Alone. She wasn't even armed, since the borrowed blade she normally wore when riding was still back with the guards. Cursing her foolishness, she quickly mounted her mare and set her at a brisk trot. There was less than half a moon, but no clouds to obscure it, and the road was kept in good condition, so Tabitha barely slowed as twilight became full dark. Still, her nerves were on edge.
 

After a time, she found herself leaving the road. She didn't know why exactly, but she needed to follow a path that bypassed the bridge ahead. She was heading into a wooded area that bordered the river. A remote part of her knew this wasn't right, she should stay on the road. She should hurry to the inn. But she entered the trees nonetheless.

Tabitha realized she must have fallen asleep in her saddle when she recognized the man awaiting her as James.

FIFTEEN

Unexpected Escort

Tabitha had never dreamed James so angry before.

"What were you thinking?" he demanded. "Where are your father's guards? They should be fired for dereliction of duty. Or executed."

He was really scary-looking when he was mad. Reminded her of his statue...and why didn't his voice wake her? "I'm heading home," she answered. "I must have fallen asleep...why can we talk this time? Usually I wake up when you talk to me."
 

James closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Releasing it, he asked again, "What were you thinking, sneaking out of the castle without an escort?"

"I just needed to get out of Salbren. I hate it there. It's even worse than home and I'd really hoped that wasn't possible. Besides I hadn't meant to arrive so late..." Tabitha gave him the whole explanation, just like she'd been planning to give her father. As she talked, she realized she wasn't dreaming. James really was here. How could he be? Why? She also realized this was taking time and the night kept getting later. "I have to go. My family is waiting for me at the next inn. I'm already late."

"Hours late and riding in the dark by yourself." Now James's tone was calmer, but still disapproving. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"I have to go. Now."

"I'll ride with you to the inn."

Tabitha nodded in relief. James made for a very secure escort. She turned and remounted her horse. James mounted his stallion and rode beside her. He looked disapprovingly at her mare.

Blushing, Tabitha admitted, "My brother rides the gelding."

"I suppose your mother wears your necklace. She doesn't need it: she has the sense to travel with armed guards."

"It's kept in the treasury," Tabitha said, then added as a consolation, "Mage Crandall was very impressed with it."

"I didn't enchant it for him. Or your mother."

"I thought they were gifts for my family. Like the Southern Empire sent when they wanted an alliance. You said you wanted to collect allies."

"Did you tell your father that?"

"He doesn't trust you. But it's not like I could keep them."

"Because?"

"Because of what everyone is saying anyway, even though I didn't. Because it would be so much worse if I had." Because none of it's true. "Why did you give them to me?"

James didn't answer. Tabitha hadn't expected him to. She'd just been ranting. He never answered questions like that. He did things that made her life complicated, but he never explained.

She took a deep breath and stilled her thoughts. They were a long way from the inn.

"Are you afraid?"

His question startled her. "Should I be?"

"I don't mean you harm. But why aren't you?"

"Because you don't." She thought for a minute. "I don't think you ever did."

They rode in silence for a while. Tabitha wanted to ask him a million questions. She picked the most obvious.

"Why are you here?"

"To make sure you reach the inn safely."

"But how did you know?"

"I arrived at the stable while the grooms were readying your family's horses. They were talking about how early you had left. I made some inquiries and discovered that your family planned to meet you at this inn tomorrow at lunch, but that they expected you to reach it by sunset tonight."

"Wait. I thought I'd be here by dinner and they'd arrive by nightfall. That's what I left in the note."

"So I surmised. About what time did night fall?"

"Oh. At dinnertime. I shouldn't have slept at all."

"You should have stayed at the last inn and sent word to this one. Or stayed in Salbren and traveled with your family." It was obvious which he thought would have been the better choice.

"So my family isn't waiting for me?"

"No. They'll meet you tomorrow."

"Are they waiting for a return message?"

"No. They know King Fenril sent someone to guard you and that they'll only hear if there's a problem."

Now the penny dropped. "King Fenril sent you." Probably he was still hopeful that Tabitha could distract the mage from Anya. "Does my father know that?"

"I sent me. I notified my king and your father."

"My father knows you're with me?" If so, they should be overtaken by her father's guards fairly soon.

James didn't answer.

So, probably not. Next question. "How did you know where to wait for me?"

"I rode from the inn back along this road. I didn't want to pass you in the dark, so I waited here."

"You rode from where we're going? I thought you started at the castle?"

James snorted.

"Oh. You traveled there magically." She thought another minute. "When I left the road, was that the same spell you used on the porch?" She hoped he knew what she was referring to because she didn't think she could explain it further. The more she thought about it, the more embarrassed she was for bringing it up.

"Yes." He sounded amused.

Tabitha wanted to crawl under a rock. She longed for the noise and distraction of the inn. Then she thought about the people and pulled her mare to a stop. "We can't show up at that inn together!"

"That took a lot longer than I'd thought." He was definitely laughing at her. "Don't worry. I checked in hours ago under a different name. Not even you will recognize me while we're there. I'll send you ahead the last mile or so. You will check in alone. None of this would have been necessary if you'd been wearing your necklace."

"According to Mage Crandall, that necklace is worth my whole dowry. I can't accept a gift like that from any man, especially not from you. Don't you understand that no one will believe you don't mean anything by it?"

"Except you. Your whole dowry? I'm disappointed. I would've thought a princess would have a small fortune for her dowry."

"Well, I don't. You caused a mess decades ago with your failed coup and it continues to cost a lot to convince the Southern Empire that everything is fine and we're way too well protected by defensive magics for them to attack."

"I thought they were sending you presents, not the other way around."

"They did, but my father had to return better than he received, and he has to employ mages to patrol the border to keep out their scouts. Hasn't King Fenril done almost the same with the Northern Empire?"

"Similar, yes."

"Well, he only has Anya, so she gets the family lands with their income and the throne as her dowry. My brother Jerrold will inherit our family lands with their income along with the throne. My father has to pay for Melanie's schooling and provide dowry for two daughters. So, yes, if that necklace was mine, it would pretty much double my dowry. Speaking of Princess Anya...."

"Which we weren't."

"Well, she was speaking of you. Several times."

"Her father usually keeps me close to him. Does that worry her?"

"That wasn't the nature of the conversations."

Silence.

"She just kept mentioning you. I think she wanted to know whether the rumors were true."

"What did you tell her?"

"She didn't ask any questions, so I didn't tell her anything."

"Did you ask her any?"

"About you? No. It's none of my business."

"Then why are you telling me?"

That stumped her. Why was she? She had to admit to herself that she was fishing for his reaction just as she suspected Anya had been fishing for hers. His presence brought back all the feelings she'd been suppressing and denying. She silently swore at herself for acting like a ninny. He was playing with her again. Of course he was. But why now? There was no reason to, not when he could win Anya. But she wasn't ready to ask him outright. Besides, what were the chances that he'd answer? She decided to use his own tactic and stayed silent.

Before the inn came into view, James sent her ahead. She stabled her horse, paid for her lodging and headed upstairs. Despite her stomach's growls, she skipped ordering a meal. The three-hour nap hadn't compensated for staying up all night, and she was more exhausted than hungry.

The next morning she woke up ravenous. She lay still with her eyes closed as she pieced together the events of the previous day. Once she was certain of what she'd find, she opened them and got up. She was on her way home. She had survived the ordeal of the ball. Tabitha threw on clean clothes and packed her things. She toyed with the idea of riding back toward the previous inn to meet her family, until she opened the door to her room and saw a stern-looking guard in Xentian armor awaiting her. She greeted him and headed down for breakfast. He followed and stood behind her while she ate.

"Is that strictly necessary?"

"'Scuse me, highness?"

"Do you need to stand guard so formally? The inn is almost empty. Have a seat. Eat some breakfast. My treat."

"Oh, no, highness. Can't do that while I'm on duty."

"Did you stand outside my room all night?"

"Not me, your highness. I just went on duty 'bout an hour ago."

"How many of you are there?"

"Jus' one at a time, highness."

"Where did you come from?"

"From Salbren castle, highness."

"Doesn't anyone in Xentia walk or ride a horse? How do the inns stay in business with all of you magicking around everywhere?"

"Oh, we don't usually 'magick 'round' as you say, highness. This was my first time. I hear it takes a lot out of those mages to send people magically. You must've got him serious sweet on you, if you don't mind me saying, highness."

"I do mind. He's not sweet on me."

"If you say so, highness."

"Are you married?"

"Yes, highness, almost a decade."

"Before you married your wife, were you sweet on her?"

The soldier chuckled. "Very much so, highness."

"And what would you have done to anyone who talked about her the way everyone has been talking about me?"

"Well, highness, I guess I would've given them reason to stop talking."

"And has Mage James done anything at any point to give people a reason to stop talking about me?"

The guard thought for a moment. "No, your highness, I don't believe he ever has."

They were both silent after that.

After she finished eating, Tabitha walked with her escort over the countryside around the inn until her family arrived just before lunch. Then the guard bid her good journey and returned to the inn. By the time everyone had disembarked and the grooms were taking care of the horses and carriage, he was nowhere to be seen. She suspected he'd returned to Salbren. Tabitha was fairly certain that was not James in disguise. She didn't think he'd have started teasing her again, though she wasn't sure. Either way, she felt better having let someone in Xentia know what she felt about their ridiculous rumors.

SIXTEEN

Winter In Valstadt

After surviving the Xentian court, Tabitha found the balls in Valstadt more bearable. Word had spread that James had avoided her and she had not sought him out. Word had also spread about how the young Xentian men had spurned her. Forgetting that they had been treating her the same way, the Val nobles took the offense personally and began to rally around their slighted princess. It was true that none of the young men paid her more attention than was obligatory to her rank, but they no longer ignored her. And their parents were as likely to say something conciliatory as snide, which was a nice change.