He set off along one of the paths that would lead them out of the rose garden and into one of the orchards. It would be cooler there, at least. And, hopefully, still secluded. Most people in the palace had better things to do than promenade through the gardens right now, and it wasn’t apple season.
“So what happened?” he prompted when they reached the outer wall of the rose garden. Sophie was walking smoothly, and her color was still good. She had obviously recovered for now. Though what she might have done if he hadn’t been there, he didn’t really want to think about.
She frowned at his question. “You can’t tell anyone about this. Promise me.”
“You have my word,” he said. He wasn’t keen to cause any more trouble for the pair of them. “This is just you and me.”
“Last night the queen-to-be, she had . . . well, I’m not sure. Some sort of relapse perhaps? A sudden pain in her head. The Domina . . . well, she did something like what we just did. Only she just took my hand and pulled power through me. I didn’t know what was happening. And in the end, I fainted.”
“She let you faint?” His gut tightened as anger flared.
“She was trying to help Eloisa,” Sophie said hastily. “I doubt she was thinking about me. I’m a problem. I’m not entirely sure she wouldn’t be happier if something happened to take care of me.” He frowned, and she shot him an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t say that. I didn’t mean it. Not really.”
Not really. Which meant there was a thread of truth in there somewhere.
“And just now? Am I to assume that she repeated the process today?”
Sophie nodded. “Eloisa was much better this morning. The Domina made me help with a dressing, and her burns . . . well, they looked a month old. So the Domina did it again.” She shivered.
“Are you feeling faint again?”
“No. No, I’m all right. It just . . . It wasn’t . . . pleasant.”
“You fainted again?”
“Yes. And this time when I came to, I heard them talking. The Domina said she thought she could channel more power through me because the binding to the goddess didn’t work.” She shook her head suddenly, looking frustrated. “I don’t understand it. I need to know more about the bindings. About true earth magic. The Domina said something about the temple archives, but I hardly think she’ll let me loose in those. I’m half tempted to talk to Madame de—”
“That wouldn’t be wise,” Cameron said quickly.
Sophie’s expression turned mutinous. “Maybe she could help me. Help us.”
He couldn’t fault her logic. Just the timing. He had to admit to a growing degree of curiosity about what had happened between them, but there had to be safer ways. “I’m not saying never,” he continued. “But there are other sources of information to try first. You haven’t been to the Illusioners’ library yet, have you?”
“No. There hasn’t been time,” Sophie said.
“You should go. This is the perfect time. Most of the Illusioners will be busy combing over the Salt Hall and the other wreckage. No one will be paying too close attention to what books you choose to look at.”
“Unless the Domina has told them not to let me in.”
“Perhaps. Though I’m not sure what reason she could give without revealing what happened. As far as the court knows, you’re a royal witch. You should go now.”
A smile curved across her lips again. “You’re right. I don’t have to be back with the queen-to-be until past luncheon. The Domina sent me out here to recover. So I have time.”
“I’ll walk with you,” Cameron said. It had been years since he’d set foot in the Illusioners’ Hall or had need to investigate the library. Back then he’d been a too-keen, wet-behind-the-ears recruit. This time perhaps he could learn something more useful than where they kept the standard manuals on battle magic and tactical philosophy.
Sophie’s lips were still tingling as they reached the Illusioners’ Hall. Cameron had stayed mostly silent on the short walk from the palace—apparently not wanting to discuss what they had been talking about in a more public place. He had defaulted back to the calm quiet she had grown accustomed to during their time away from the palace. Not a big one for small talk, her husband-to-be. Well, she would just have to learn how to coax him into conversation. There was an interesting man behind the soldierly stoicism. Maybe she could bribe him with kisses to talk to her more.
Though, perhaps that wouldn’t be the most sensible approach, at least not immediately. Maybe after they had been married for a time; then things wouldn’t flare so hot between them when they touched. Until then, and part of her suddenly hoped that it would be a very faraway then, kisses were likely to lead to activities other than talking.
Activities that made the faintest of shivers ghost over her skin when she thought about them. A shiver chased by a blush. She pulled her thoughts back. As far as anyone who saw them knew, they were merely a court lady and her escort. Nothing more.
The Illusioners’ Hall was, or at least, today it appeared to be, made of solid black marble. She was well aware that underneath the illusion was more ordinary stone, but she still felt a small thrill every time she saw it appear as something other than it was. Today in particular it seemed a proclamation of normality, of nothing to see here and undefeated defiance that they would spare the power to keep up their glamour.
They passed up the flight of stairs and instead of going left to the area Sophie had been before, to the library open to all, they turned right and walked to the entrance hall to the library proper. The one where the magical texts were held. A young-looking man in a pale gray novice robe, arms banded with mourning black, opened the door to them. His expression was distinctly unwelcoming.
“This is Lady Sophia Kendall,” Cameron said, and the boy’s face quickly smoothed to something more welcoming.
Still, that didn’t stop him from saying, “And you are?” in a snooty voice.