Marius stood beside him and raised its hood for the ceremonial pose. Sparkling gemstones danced across the stream of sunlight, the prince lit up like magic itself. His whole profile a heavy, ethereal glow.
Sheathed in heavy shades of darkness and light.
“Prince Darren, the new Black Mage of Jerar. A Colored Robe of the Council of Three. Lead Mage of Combat to the Crown. Representative for Combat upon the Council of Magic. We welcome you to your new role.”
The roar was deafening. I pushed the twinge of envy aside as I screamed loudest of all. I could see Darren searching the crowd with his eyes, and when he finally spotted me beside Ella he gave a small smile. Fear was still written plain across his face, but he gained a bit of color after that.
That’s the boy I love. For a moment I forgot myself and thought only of Darren. He worked so hard, I’m happy it’s him. And I meant it.
****
After the first hour and a half Darren finally managed to break from the parade of endless courtiers and found me at the back of the room picking at the fresh array of cheese fritters, gingered custard, roasted leeks, and lamb and chickpea stew. His cheeks were flushed and from the way his eyes flitted to my bandage and then fell, I knew he still felt guilty from before.
I made a point to cut the tension before it became worse. “The robe suits you. You look…” I made a hand gesture. “Possibly too good. I don’t like the way the other ladies have been admiring you.”
I meant it. He looked like a god among men. And every woman in court was watching him—though, to be fair, they had never stopped. Not that I would ever tell him that.
The tension left the prince’s shoulders as he advanced. “Have they now?”
“I’ve been struggling to keep from locking them in a tower.”
Darren’s grin turned wicked. “Perhaps I can wear it one night when we are alone.” He lowered his voice. “If it truly looks that amazing I’d like to see what that means for you.” The implication was enough for me to blush.
“Ryiah! Darren! Just the two I wanted to see!” Andy’s voice rang out from behind.
We turned to find our old comrade from Port Langli’s regiment, striding giant steps across the room with her stodgy cohort, the much quieter Cethan. We had spent a month serving alongside them when we were only apprentices, and in that time both Darren and I had gained a fondness for the two Combat mages of our past.
Darren smiled. “Andy, Ceth, it’s great to—”
I shrieked and threw myself at the tall woman, forgetting my injuries until it was too late.
“Not smart, Ryiah.” I stepped back with a self-admonished critique as the others hid a grin.
“Glad to see you both remember us.” Ceth’s smile was a bit strained given the room. He was uncomfortable at events like this—the man preferred sea with the silence of wind and a bit of bitter ale as company. Certainly not a crowd overflowing with nobility and wine.
“Gods, this place is a bit much, don’t you think?” Andy hadn’t outgrown her habit of speaking her mind.
Another familiar voice cut through the crowd like a knife. “Cassandra, that is no way to speak to the Crown!”
Andy made a face and I cringed.
Mage Mira appeared with a courtier’s smile aimed at the prince. “Your highness, how pleasant it is that we meet again. I’ve just been conversing with your dear brother. Ryiah… I see you are still here.” Her expression made it clear she didn’t care for it. “Well, carry on. I won’t keep you from your night of celebration, your highness.”
“Thank you, Mage Mira.” The words flowed so easily from the prince’s tongue. “It has been pleasant to see you as well.”
When Mage Mira had returned to the wretched hole she crawled out of Andy smirked at me. “Dragon Lady misses you.”
“I don’t miss her.”
“She was cursing your name the whole way to the capital.”
“Is she still in Langli?”
“Blessed gods, no. She’s been running around the countryside in one of those fancy Crown’s Army regiments with a promotion under her belt.” Andy grinned with a nod at Darren. “Or did you forget your little stunt in Dastan’s Cove? Our unit hasn’t seen quite so much action since.”
I started to laugh and then stopped—a moment of shame soiling the brevity. I couldn’t believe I had forgotten our time on Caltothian soil so easily. The little girl and her mother. Our mission. What had ever happened to them? My eyes shot to Andy, but she shook her head, already guessing my question from the expression on my face.
“Nobody knows.” Cethan’s gruff voice was a low rumble that blended in with the rest of the crowd. We were still under Crown orders not to discuss the assignment. Ever. I had to press closer to hear the rest. “We dropped them off at the city limits. Two men from the King’s Regiment came and took them away.”