“Let's do it then.” He lifts his hands and I can't hide a flinch. “It won't hurt.”
A white light shines from his hands and encompasses me. I feel only the air around me though, nothing more.
“Have you ever had a truth spell cast on you before?”
“No. Father never did.” He mistakenly assumed I'd never dare lie to him.
“Tell a lie then, any lie, so you know what it will be like.”
Lie on purpose, what does one say to that? I go with something easy. “I've only brothers.”
The light surrounding me pulses and becomes dark.
“To get it back you need only tell a truth. Remember, if at any time you'd like to stop, just let me know and we will.”
“All right.”
The light goes back to white. Chancellor Zade moves closer to me on the bench. “Are you asking questions about the council on behalf of your Father?”
“No.”
“Why are you asking about it?”
“I'm curious about what's happening. I want to know more.” The light remains white.
“Are you in any way trying to get me off of the council?”
“No.”
“Are you associated with anyone trying to end my life?”
I tilt my head to the side. Though I know of the intruder searching for him, I wasn't expecting the question. “I'm not.”
He nods like he anticipated my answer, but a few of the lines ease from his face. “What do you know of my family?”
“Your family? Why is that relevant?”
“You can answer the question and we'll talk about the council, or we can be done.”
I didn't know his family was such a taboo subject. “I know very little about your family and just what you've told me. You respect your mother.”
He gives a small smile. “What are your intentions toward me?”
My intentions toward him? “I have none.”
The light turns ashy. He lifts his brows. I look at the fountain. Why doesn't the spell like that answer? Why don't I? “I don't know what my intentions are.” The light pales a bit, though still off. “You're different than other warlocks, but I don't know if I can trust it. If you're true to your word, I wish you nothing ill.”
The light flashes back to white. “And if I don't stay true to my word?” He holds up a hand. “Never mind, don't answer that. I'll stay true to my word. I didn't cast this spell to invade your privacy.”
He waves his hand and the spell lifts from me. “Your Father wants me out of the council and I have to protect myself against that. Thank you for being willing. What do you want to know?”
It almost seems silly now, wondering about the council. But one thing did make me wonder. “Why did you ask me if I was associated with those trying to end your life?”
“There have been more death threats against me than the attempt you know about. A few, not enough to get concerned over, but I want to make sure before I tell you too much.”
“A few?” As in more than one? My mouth goes dry.
“Nothing to get concerned over.”
It sounds like something worrisome. “Do you know where the threats are coming from?”
He shakes his head. “A few guesses, but no evidence of anything. In fact, I would feel better if you learned to use a gun.”
“A gun? Me? I'm not sure I'm supposed to touch one.” No one in Chardonia uses one, man or woman.
“I checked the laws, there's nothing that says you can't. The idea might sound foreign, but it'd help me out if you had some sort of protection if they come to the house again. It's warded, but sometimes that's not enough.”
This is something he seriously thinks I should do. Remembering how scared I was when I heard him coming, thinking he was an intruder and not knowing what to do, helps me understand where he's coming from. But one of those guns in my hands? “I don't know.”
“You can think it over, but it'd be best.” His expression eases. “Didn't you want to know something about the council and not things about me?”
After talk of guns, my brain feels muddled. “I don't know what to ask. It was silly of me.”
“Not silly. You were willing to put yourself through a spell of honesty. If you ever think of anything, please come ask me.”
“You asked me what I know of your family, is there something I should know about them?”
“I guess if we're to be married, you should know something. They're nice. Different from your parents. A lot different. Mom never lets Dad tell her what to do. In fact it usually goes the other way around.”
I'm stunned. “Your mother punishes your Father?”
“No, never that. Mom's just the bossy one.”
“Oh.” The concept is still foreign to me. How can she be bossy without getting punished for it?
“Do you have any other questions?”
The only one I can remember right now is the major slip I let out about going to a council meeting. I'm not bringing that up again. “If I think of anything, I'll let you know.”