The Bronze Mage (15 page)

"I doubt my king would approve," James said, smiling at Irene. Tabitha felt something unpleasant twist her stomach, but refused to identify it.

"I doubt the mage can even enter Valstadt." Cameron was staring hard at James. "The last time he visited he was planning to take over."

"Cameron!" Carissa rebuked. "That was decades ago."

"I wouldn't presume to enter Valstadt without permission from its king." James assured them equably.

This more serious turn to the conversation left the group silent for a few moments. Tabitha could hear her heartbeat. She realized she was holding her breath waiting for someone to mention James's more recent offense to Valstadt. When Tabitha heard the murmur of the sisters' voices, and eventually the hum of William and James's, she relaxed. After a few more minutes she asked Cameron a question about the winery and the ride continued as before.

After they had toured the winery and tasted its products, the group settled into an outside eating area for a late tea. The table was round. Tabitha didn't think she was up to sitting next to James, so when Carissa motioned her to the seat between herself and Cameron, she gratefully took it. William sat on Cameron's other side, possibly to serve as buffer between his brother and James. Irene was all smiles as she claimed Carissa's other side, doubtless because James would have to take the seat next to her. The seat directly across from Tabitha. At a round table it would be difficult to hide her reactions. She'd just have to control them. She and James had pretended they were friends once. Now she would pretend that they were strangers.

He seemed to be better at it than she was. Mostly Tabitha avoided looking at James, but when she did he seemed comfortable enough. Meanwhile her appetite had fled and she was having a hard time entering into the conversation.

"I think we'd better head back soon. Tabitha looks like something didn't agree with her." Irene suggested when it looked like even the boys had eaten their fill.

"It's probably all the fresh air. Normally we can't get her nose out of a book," WIlliam joked. Tabitha tried to laugh, but it sounded fake. Irene had started to apologize for the inside joke and explain to James that Tabitha was nearly always outdoors, when Cameron interrupted.

"She looks almost as rattled as when Brendan brained her yesterday." Cameron looked from Tabitha to James. "It must be you." His voice sounded light, but edged.

Irene interjected, "How could it have been Mage James's fault if Brendan hit her in the head?"

"Because Mage James had just ridden by. Tabitha mentioned having seen a rider from Xentia. I'll bet she recognized him."

Tabitha could feel her face heating up. Everyone was looking at her. She took slow breaths and tried to sound nonchalant. Nodding at James, she said, "I thought it might be him and was concerned. Court mages aren't often sent to deliver trivial news."

"Knowing father, trivial or not, it will remain a mystery to us," William laughed.

"Still an ominous sight, I'd think. Father should have warned us he was coming, in case he decided to attempt in Westphal what he had in Valstadt." Was Cameron trying to pick a fight? It was so out of character for him that Tabitha had no idea how to defuse him. His siblings appeared equally surprised.

"That was decades ago, Cameron." Carissa repeated. "He's different now or Dad wouldn't have sent us off with him."

"I wasn't referring to his failed coup." Cameron turned to Tabitha. "Is he different? I think you'd have the best knowledge of his character, considering the amount of time you spent with him."

Tabitha stared at Cameron, horrified. How could he bring this up in front of everyone, when he'd never even let on that he knew? She had to swallow three times before she could get her voice to work, so she could answer him.

"I think your father's right to trust him."

"Do you trust him?"

"Yes." Embarrassment was turning to anger. "He's proved himself trustworthy."

"When did you spend time with Mage James, Tabitha?" Irene asked.

Tabitha glanced at James. He didn't look like he was going to help. She almost suggested Cameron tell the story since he was so eager to discuss it, but was afraid of the version he'd heard. Might as well tell it herself, make sure it was accurate. "Evidently, some of this is known to some of you already." She glared at Cameron, who was glaring at James, who looked completely unconcerned. "Fine."

 
Tabitha gave an extremely brief history of her abduction. She'd told the story so many times in Valstadt the words came automatically, though she couldn't bring herself to attempt eye contact with anyone during the telling. "Since returning home I've had to deal with rumors, insinuations, speculations and superstitions. I was sick of it, so when the opportunity came for me to visit someplace that wasn't directly involved in this mess, I came gratefully." She stood and stepped back from the table. "If you have any further questions, feel free to ask James." A certainty that she did not want to hear his version of the tale prompted her to add, "After I'm out of earshot."

On the way back, she rode with the sisters, leaving Cameron to lead the pack by himself. Once it became obvious that Tabitha wouldn't be talking about James, Carissa rode up next to Cameron. Those two evidently had a lot to say. Tabitha was glad she couldn't hear it. Irene graciously distracted Tabitha with small talk about plants they passed, the weather, their wardrobe. When they reached the castle a messenger summoned William, Cameron and James to the king. Tabitha was curious, but also relieved to have them gone for a while. She walked by herself through the hedge maze and thought about the afternoon. She wasn't sure who she wanted to corner: James or Cameron. She wanted to ask Cameron why he wanted everyone to know the story and why he would bring it up in that way. Didn't he care about her feelings at all?
 

She wasn't sure what she wanted from James. An apology? A reaction? Some indication that he recognized her? It was odd though, she hadn't realized before that she really did trust him. His presence made her nervous, but it wasn't fear of him. Just of what chaos might follow the encounter.

When the king, Philip, William, Cameron and James all failed to appear for dinner, everyone's curiosity was piqued, but there were no answers that night.

TWENTY

Matches Made

Tabitha didn't see Cameron until weapons training the next morning. His age group sparred first and drilled second, while Tabitha's did the reverse. She divided her attention enough to notice he was sparring seriously for perhaps the first time. He lost some of his matches on points, but his opponents looked worse than he afterwards. Tabitha had always suspected him of holding back. This time he was putting all his strength behind his blade. She was glad it was blunt. The sword master, who had shared Tabitha's suspicions, took advantage of the opportunity and sent everyone in Prince Cameron's class against him, one by one, until Cameron was obviously too exhausted to continue. He didn't complain. Rather he seemed glad of it. Tabitha easily recognized his mood, since it was more common to her than him. Whatever he had learned last night, he wasn't happy about it.

After class, she sought him out.

"Can you talk about it?"

He glowered at her. She returned his stare. Whatever it was, it was between Xentia and Westphal, so it couldn't possibly be her fault. He relented, shrugged.

"Why not? Just don't write home about it until after the Winter Solstice."

He led her to a stand of trees between the training yard and the stables, sank to the ground. She sat facing him.

"Your mage has been spending time with Princess Anya," he said.

Tabitha ignored the possessive and forced a non-chalance. "She's the heir. He's new. I doubt anyone's surprised." Tabitha shrugged. "She talked about him a lot last fall."

"Well, her father objects. Not that I blame him." Cameron glared at Tabitha a second, then gestured with his hands, "How are you two not betrothed? King Fenril's been pressing your father for a year now to settle the matter. I'd think your father would want it even more."

"Whatever you may have heard, Cameron, my father has no compelling reason to favor the match. I haven't heard that James does either."

Cameron studied her a minute, then shook his head.
 
"I don't know about that." He sighed. "You say you trust him, but it seems like both your father and King Fenril are going out of their way to make sure he doesn't end up related to them. Mage James was sent here to discuss a marriage alliance between Princess Anya and either Will or me."

Tabitha considered that. "That would be a good plan, even if James was still a statue. It would present a united border against the Northern Empire. Still, it seems odd for King Fenril to send James to arrange it rather than working through his ambassador."
 

"It's either punishment, send the would-be suitor to procure his replacement, or it's because King Fenril knows you're here," Cameron said. "Or he's hoping James will get distracted by yet another princess. I wish you'd tell Irene something that would scare her away from him. I don't want him anywhere near my sisters and Irene is practically throwing herself at him. I never thought I'd have to worry about her."

Tabitha wasn't certain how to respond to that. There were definitely stories about James that would scare Irene, but were they still true? She didn't think so. "How do you and Will feel about the alliance? Anya is very beautiful, and you'd have a chance to be king someday."

"Will wants me to accept the offer. He likes being the second son. It gives him a strong edge with the ladies without all the looming responsibility. Plus, his land inheritance would double if I married Anya. He'd be quite the catch." Noticing Tabitha's quizzical expression, he explained. "Whoever marries Anya has to give up all ties to Westphal, including inheritance."

"But would eventually get King Fenril's lands in Xentia as co-heir with his daughter." Tabitha guessed. Cameron nodded. "What about you? Do you want to be a king?"

"Does it matter? The alliance makes sense for both kingdoms. But I hadn't thought I'd have to worry about marriage for years. Father is only now working with Philip to find a match for him. It seems unfair that I get shipped off to Xentia, to a political marriage, before either of my brothers has to settle down."

"Have you ever met Princess Anya?"

"No, which is another thing: what if I hate her? Or she hates me? I won't meet her until we go there for the wedding. I have no idea what she's like, other than rumors that she's beautiful."

"I met her last year, and she's a friend of my sister. Maybe I could help with that. James could, too. He won't be spiteful."

"If you say so," Cameron sounded unconvinced, "but that's not a bad idea. What do you think? Will I like her? What about her family? I've never even been to Salbren, though I know a lot about its politics and history."

Tabitha spent the next hour discussing Princess Anya, King Fenril, and Xentia in general and was surprised to find that she enjoyed it. She was surprised that she wasn't more disappointed, or even a little jealous, but she'd never really had a shot at winning Cameron. Truthfully, Tabitha could hardly believe Anya wouldn't be marrying James, despite King Fenril's objections. She'd been unconsciously bracing herself for news of their betrothal for months. The more she talked with Cameron about his possible bride, the more she became certain of her own heart. It scared her.

It could have been serendipitous, James coming here. Westphal was neutral territory for them. He could visit her without worrying about her family's grudges. They could actually court. Except that James didn't want to court her. King Fenril was the only one who'd wanted that match, and now that his daughter was going to marry someone else, even he might lose interest.

After they parted, Cameron headed back to the castle to talk with James. Tabitha had encouraged this, since James knew so much more than she about all things Xentian. However, this left Tabitha alone again. She decided to avoid Carissa's chatter about yesterday by heading for the stables. It was too late to make it to lunch anyway.

Tabitha and her ubiquitous guard explored the lands surrounding the castle for hours, ranging out in slowly expanding circles, partly for curiosity, but mostly to kill time. She felt confident of James's ability to find her if he wanted to talk to her, but she didn't believe he would. Still, she was knew she was hoping to find herself inexplicably drawn to wherever he was. Every time she realized this, she'd push her mare to a gallop until her head cleared. By the time she decided to head back to the castle, both her and her escort's horses were looking tired. Back at the stables, she spent extra time brushing out her mare then gave her a scoop of oats.

She had run out of excuses to avoid company. It was almost time for dinner and her stomach was growling embarrassingly. Skipping another meal wasn't a practical option. Tabitha reluctantly left the barn and headed to the castle so she could bathe and change before dinner.

TWENTY-ONE

Meeting With James

The king and his heir presided over the meal. Will ate with Tabitha and his sisters. But neither Cameron nor James were in attendance. Tabitha was surprised. She found it hard to believe they could still be talking. Wasn't James a little anxious to get away from the guy who was stealing his dreamgirl? What could they still be talking about? She felt gloomily certain it was nothing related to her.

Shortly after the meal ended, Tabitha saw Cameron at the end of a hallway, taking his leave of James. Tabitha headed for the gardens. She tried not to hope that he would seek her out.

She'd been walking lost in thought for what seemed a long time when she realized she was heading to the hedge maze. This time she recognized the impulse wasn't hers. Out of curiosity, she tried to stop. She didn't even miss a step. She tried to slow down or change her path without any effect. Strangely, the spell seemed able to guide her around obstacles. This was a relief, because otherwise she'd probably barge right through the hedges of the maze. Although she did want to see James, she was annoyed that he never did anything the normal way. And never left her a choice.