Heir of Amber and Fire Page 5

  Taryn’s face appeared in front of me, level with my own. I smiled at my success.

  The Taryn image smiled back. “Good job, Your Highness,” she said to me. “I knew you could do it.”

  “You’re the only one who was sure,” I said.

  “Don’t cut yourself down,” she said. “You have a knack for magic. In your lessons, even if you were just learning a spell, you mastered it quicker than expected.”

  I nodded in thanks. “How are things back home?”

  “All is well,” she said. “The king asked for you this morning, but Queen Melandria convinced him that she changed your mind and you’ve accepted the match. So he thinks you’re in seclusion preparing for the wedding, and he’s gone ahead with preparations of his own.”

  “Yes, I saw some Calian riders earlier today,” I said. “And the farmer who was kind enough to let me stay for the night mentioned that formal invitations for the wedding are currently being sent out.”

  “We’re all taking on extra responsibilities for the wedding, in addition to our regular duties,” Taryn said. “King Hendon boasts that this will be a celebration like none in the Gifted Lands has ever seen before.”

  Calia had never been overly friendly with the other kingdoms. At best, we were neutral with the other countries. In actuality, on the rare occasions they fought their wars or had their problems, we turned a blind eye to them. I supposed a royal wedding was a perfect reason to try to build good relations with our neighbors, but the king had barely been civil to me growing up. Why would he want to be friendly with strangers, even for a political advantage?

  “How is my mother?” I asked. “Is she well?”

  “As well as we could hope for,” Taryn said. “She’s being watched.”

  I suspected as much, but hearing it affirmed made my heart sink. “What happened?”

  “The king himself came to visit her as we were making our way out of the palace,” she told me. Which in itself was suspicious, since in recent years the king and queen didn’t try to hide the fact that theirs was a loveless marriage. They put on a good show for the public, and sometimes even for the palace staff, but those closest to them knew the truth. “He wanted to talk to her about the dinner and the engagement. Your mother thought she had misled him well, but she’s noticed that there have been more guards near her rooms lately.”

  “She’ll be okay.” I tried to sound confident, but Taryn heard the unspoken question and tried to soothe me.

  “Yes, she will be. The queen is clever, and she’s aware of the king’s spies. Don’t worry.”

  Taryn filled me in on some of the other things happening around the castle, but we didn’t talk much longer. She was afraid of possible spies. For now, she said, I should contact her as often as I could, but if things got worse at the palace she would warn me to cut down on our communication. We said goodbye, and as I ended the calling spell, Taryn’s image winked out.

  Now alone, I thought this would be a good time to brush up on my magic lessons. I leafed through the book, reading carefully. But I was exhausted, and soon the day’s walk caught up to me. I was halfway though studying a spell when my heavy eyes gave in to sleep.

  Chapter Nine

  SUNLIGHT STREAMED THROUGH the windows, hitting my eyes and waking me. Turning, I felt something hard beneath my arm and realized I had fallen asleep on my spell book. I sat up, still a bit groggy, and reluctantly got out of bed.

  After a quick wash from the basin, I pulled on my dress and shoes and pinned my hair up to keep it out of the way while I walked. It wasn’t as neat or nicely done as the way Taryn dressed my hair, but it would do the job well enough. After packing my bag, I left my room. I wondered where my hosts were, since the house seemed so quiet. As I poked my head around the hallway, Asra spotted me.

  “I hope you slept well,” she said.

  “Extremely well,” I said.

  “Did you want breakfast before you go?” she asked me.

  Food sounded great, but I was eager to be on my way and cover as much distance as possible. “Thank you, but I’ll just head out now.” I pressed a coin into her palm. “Thank you for your hospitality.”

  Asra looked at the coin in her hand and whistled. “Thank you, miss. This is more than enough for one night’s lodging. Wait here, don’t go just yet.”

  She hurried away. A few moments later, she came back holding a small basket covered with a cloth. She held it out to me.

  “Oh, I couldn’t — ” I started to protest.

  “Please do,” she said. “What you just gave me more than covers it.”

  I thanked her for her generosity. She saw me out the door, waving as I left. “Safe travels, miss. Stop by if you come back this way.”

  I waved back and headed down the road.

  THE REST OF THE DAY passed uneventfully. I walked and walked, stopping around noon to eat the food Asra had packed for me. I should say, overpacked — I ate until l was full and there were still items left in the basket. There were two cloths in the basket; Asra had wrapped the food in one, and used the other to cover the basket. I tied one around my hair as a headscarf to keep my hair somewhat tidy during the rest of my walk.

  While I was stopped, I pulled my mother’s letter out from my pack and smoothed it out.

  I had put it off as long as possible, afraid to know what she had kept from me for years. But the cheerful, bright sun chased away the shadows of apprehension around my heart as I read.

  MY DARLING JENNICA,

  There is much to tell you, and so little time. Hendon grows suspicious of my every move, and once my theft has been discovered, he will surely punish me in some fashion. But I get ahead of myself. Let me speak plainly.

  Jennica, Hendon is not your father. The stories you have been told surrounding our courtship and marriage have all been lies. Many years ago, a dragon did come to Calia. His name was Joichan, and he was searching for something that had been stolen from him. A gold necklace with a moonstone pendant. Hendon had stolen it from Joichan, and Joichan had tracked Hendon across the Gifted Lands trying to find him and reclaim the necklace. Joichan’s search ultimately led him to Calia, where he lost the trail. So he took up residence in our kingdom while he continued to search the area.

  But people are superstitious. It was assumed that a dragon’s presence in Calia meant he would ravage the land until he had been appeased by an offering. A maiden every year, that sort of thing. Utter nonsense, but we believed it. To prevent any of our people from going to their deaths (or so we thought), I ran off to sacrifice myself to the dragon, hoping to stop any future sacrifices.

  It did stop any sacrifices from happening (and Joichan was very grateful that my presence meant he didn’t have to figure out what to do with an influx of maidens), but it caused a new problem: my father the king sent word to all the knights and princes of the neighboring realms to battle the dragon to save me, win my hand in marriage, and win the kingdom of Calia. This went on for two years, by which time I didn’t want to be saved — the dragon and I had fallen in love.

  Joichan is a shapeshifter, and can assume dragon or human form. We had planned on leaving Calia, when Hendon showed up. He was able to best the dragon, for he had Joichan’s moonstone necklace, and was able to use Joichan’s magic against him. Weakened, Joichan could only fly away and leave me, or be killed by Hendon.

  With his victory, Hendon claimed me for his bride and won the kingdom of Calia. I was pregnant with you, and it was safer for me to marry Hendon and raise you as his daughter rather than try to find Joichan. But I never forgot Joichan, and I never forgot what you are, and what you are capable of.

  The moonstone necklace is your birthright. With it you will be able to tap into the magic of dragons. Just as Hendon stole it from your father Joichan, I stole it from Hendon to give to you. Keep it safe, and bring it back to Joichan. He will be able to help us take the kingdom back from Hendon. Hendon has some dark plan, I fear. This marriage alliance is just his first step to conque
ring all of the Gifted Lands. And he somehow has even darker magic at his disposal.

  I will be counting the days until both you and your father return to me safely.

  MY MOTHER’S WORDS SWAM before my eyes. A tear slipped down my face and plopped onto the page, smearing the ink into an illegible blotch. I blinked my tears away, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand. Carefully, I refolded the letter and tucked it away in my pack, burying it at the bottom so it wouldn’t accidentally fall out if I needed to get something out of my bag. Standing up, I stretched my back after the long lunch.

  To think that all these years my mother had been living a lie. No wonder she supported my feelings against the wedding to Prince Anders. She didn’t want her only daughter to get trapped like she had. But something else was going on as well, something more sinister. Hendon has some dark plan... and even darker magic.

  What could the king be planning? And who was helping him? Hendon despised magic, and shared the Rothschan belief that it should be eradicated. The one thing I knew from growing up in Hendon’s shadow: he was a strong-minded man, a very black-and-white thinker. It seemed impossible that he would be willing to compromise on such an ingrained belief.

  I shouldered my pack to continue on my way, shuddering despite the sunlight shining down on me. Whatever Hendon was planning must be dire indeed.

  Chapter Ten

  CLOSE TO THE DAY’S end I came across an inn just off the road. When I entered the place, it wasn’t too crowded. There were two people sitting at a table, eating, but no other customers. The innkeeper spotted me and came over to talk to me. It was easy to secure a room for the night, and I was happy to learn that the price also included a meal.

  “I’ll show you to your room,” the innkeeper said to me. He started up the stairs, with me trailing after. He stopped at the second room down and opened the door. The modestly furnished room lacked the homey touches of Marchand and Asra’s house, but it had everything I needed.

  The innkeeper handed me the room key. “Dinner is ready whenever you are. Just come on back down.”

  He left me standing alone in the middle of the room. After I put my things down on the bed, I quickly washed the road dust from my face and hands and readjusted my headscarf. I dried my hands thoroughly and got my spell book out of my bag. Flipping through the pages, I found what I wanted near the middle: a locking spell.

  This bit of magic would be a little tricky. There was a certain hand motion to lock something, and to undo the lock, I only had to do the hand motion in reverse. But a universal lock spell meant that any magician would be able to undo someone else’s lock; therefore, the spell had to include something specific to me so the item I was locking knew to only lock and unlock for me. I knew the spell in theory, but had never added the personal element. The easiest way to do that would be to add in a small, extra hand flourish of my own design.

  I read and reread the spell until I was sure I had it, trying the hand motions as well. When I was sure I had it, I looked around for something to practice on. By the door sat a wooden chest, with a key on the table nearby. That’s a nice touch, I thought. Although it wouldn’t deter an extremely determined thief, it provided a bit of security for a guest’s belongings.

  Focusing on the chest’s metal lock, I reached out my right hand like I was twisting a doorknob and softly said, “Obfirmo.” I thought I heard a slight sound, like the lock mechanism was clicking into place. I tried lifting the chest lid and found, to my disappointment, that it opened easily. Placing it back down, I repeated my spell. This time I definitely heard a click. When I tried the lid again, it wouldn’t budge. I smiled in satisfaction. I reached out and reversed my doorknob twisting hand motion. “Recludo.” The chest lock clicked again, and the lid opened easily at my touch.

  I practiced a few more times until I was satisfied I had mastered the spell. I placed my belongings in the chest, locked it with magic, and took the key just to be safe. When I left my room I used my room key, and surreptitiously spell-locked the door as well. Then I headed downstairs to dinner.

  The common room was much fuller now. I scanned the room, looking for an empty seat. There was one, toward the front of the room nearest to the inn’s door. I picked my way across the room and sat down.

  The innkeeper’s daughter, a girl of about twelve, appeared almost immediately. “Evening, miss,” she said. “What’ll ya have? There’s a meat pie, or beef stew.”

  I requested the pie, and the girl moved away to the next patron. I looked around the room, wondering if I was unsafe as a woman traveling alone. I needn’t have worried. Although the room was primarily filled with men, there were a few women present. Mostly wives, it seemed, although I saw one family with three young children nearby.

  The innkeeper’s daughter returned with my meat pie and a glass of mead. The pie was so fresh that steam was rising from it, so I sipped at my mead and waited for my meal to cool a little so I could eat it comfortably.

  I had just popped a bite of pie into my mouth when the door to the inn opened and Prince Anders strode in. I nearly choked on my food and hastily grabbed my glass to wash it down. When I was able to swallow, I looked up at the prince, who thankfully hadn’t noticed me.

  The innkeeper rushed up to the prince, who was surveying the room with distaste. I slunk lower in my seat, wishing I had a hat or a hood or something. Hopefully with the kerchief tied around my hair I blended in with everybody else. I tried not to make eye contact with Prince Anders while still keeping an eye on him, which was not easy.

  “Milord, how may we be of service?” the innkeeper said to the prince.

  “I require a room for the night,” he said. “Two rooms, if you have them. If not, then a room large enough to accommodate myself and my valet.”

  The innkeeper said, “I do have two rooms, milord. I’ve a guest staying in the room between you, but I daresay you’ll be close enough if you need your man, sir.”

  Oh, great! I was going to be sandwiched in between the prince and his entourage! How would I come and go without them seeing me?

  “That will do nicely,” Prince Anders said. He gave the man some coins. “I trust that will be enough for the rooms, and for our horses lodging in your stable?”

  “You’re very generous, sir,” the innkeeper told him. “Meal’s included, too. If you’d like to sit down we can serve you shortly.”

  The prince nodded to the innkeeper and strode past my table. I brought a huge spoonful of meat pie to my mouth, hoping this would help disguise me. I didn’t dare turn around, in case the prince saw my face and recognized me, but I heard his footsteps stop somewhere behind me and to my left.

  The door opened again and the prince’s valet entered. He spotted the prince and joined him at his table.

  “The horses are settled, Your Grace,” the valet said. I nearly jumped. His voice was so close; I was pretty sure the prince and his man were seated right behind me.

  “Very good,” Prince Anders replied. His voice was equally close. Drat! How would I get back to my room without them seeing me?

  I heard the innkeeper’s daughter approach and ask them for their orders, then leave again after each man had spoken. I started eating my food as quickly as I could, hoping to leave the room while the prince and his man were distracted with their meal.

  “I’ll be glad when we’re back in Rothschan,” Prince Anders said. “I despise traveling.”

  “Understandable, Your Grace,” said the valet soothingly. “Unfortunately, we’ll barely be home before we have to turn right around and come back to Calia again.”

  “Unfortunately,” the prince agreed. “I’m glad Mother had the foresight to start the wedding preparations before we came here. This visit was merely a formality.”

  “Like there was ever any doubt that King Hendon would turn down your suit. All you really had to do was finalize the details.”

  “And make sure the princess of Calia wasn’t an ugly cow. Hendon was very eager to wed his daughter off.
But for the price of a future kingdom, I can hardly complain, can I?” Prince Anders laughed loudly, his valet joining in. At my table where I sat eavesdropping, I bristled.

  “You’ll make a fine king of Calia, Your Grace,” the valet said.

  “I hope sooner rather than later,” the prince replied. Both men laughed again.

  The innkeeper’s daughter returned with food and drink for the prince and his valet. I had finished my own meal by that time; it was delicious, but I had hardly tasted it in my haste to get out of there.

  I stood up, intending to go the long way around the room and up the stairs. Hmm, like that wouldn’t be suspicious.

  Just as I skirted the table to cross to the other side of the room, the family of five headed to the door. The father and mother talked with the innkeeper while the children played an impromptu game of hide and seek using their parents’ legs, the table, and nearby chairs.

  With my way blocked, I now had no choice but to pass by the table where Prince Anders and his valet sat, noisily eating and drinking. I took a deep breath and turned around. I tried hard not to look like I was hurrying as I started to walk by the prince’s table, keeping my face turned away from the two men as much as I could without looking obvious.

  Step by excruciating step, I had nearly passed their table when I heard the prince say, “Miss? Wait... Don’t I know you?”

  Chapter Eleven

  MY STEPS FALTERED. My heart raced. What should I do?

  The prince’s valet pushed his chair back so he was partially blocking my path. “His Royal Highness, Prince Anders of Rothschan, is asking you a question, young woman.”