Priscilla pursed her lips and released me. "I won't lose my chance at the throne to you or a Borea Isle princess. The Crown needs my family's wealth and Shina's. Blayne will put a stop to this. I know he doesn't want to waste another year trying to secure another engagement. Blayne has to marry above his brother. The only two higher than Shina are the princesses in Caltoth and Pythus, and believe me when I say neither of those countries - or their ambassadors - like Jerar enough to support a marriage. I know what Darren is trying to do and it won't work. The king will never make him his heir."
Is that what this is about? Is Darren trying to convince his father to make him crown prince? Suddenly it all made sense. It explained why he was suddenly pursuing Princess Shinako. He was trying to steal Blayne's betrothed right out from under him. The non-heir was more ruthless than I had ever given him credit for.
I had heard of families feuding in the old scrolls, but there hadn't been a fight over the crown in ages. Strife between the royal family was bad for politics, and it was even more foolhardy while Darren was pursing magehood.
Would the Council of Magic force him to give up his robe? Council Law stated an heir could not be a mage. But maybe they would change that. They'd already bent the rules to let a member of the royal family participate.
Was everything Darren ever did a play for power?
My head was spinning from the possibility and Priscilla's words were ringing in my ears. Maybe I really didn't know him. Love must really be blind. Four years of knowing Darren and it had taken me until now to see him for who he really was. A wolf; a power-hungry, ruthless wolf who had tricked everyone, including his own flesh and blood. And I'd had to hear it from the girl I had spent four years believing my enemy.
The irony was that my real enemy had been there all along right in front of me. Smiling crookedly and convincing me we were friends. Trying to seduce me for the thrill of the chase. Chastising me for not trusting him that first year in the tower stairs at the Academy… Telling me he loved me.
And then tossing me aside the second I jeopardized his dreams. I wasn't what he had wanted all these years. I'd merely been a diversion in his pursuit of the crown.
I never should have trusted a prince.
****
During the night of the ascension ceremony a huge fight erupted in the great hall. I wasn't there to see but I heard about it when Loren and Ray joined us in the tavern for a nice dinner to celebrate our new status as fifth-years.
"You should have seen it!" Loren was laughing. "Blayne may be fit but he doesn't have a chance when his brother uses his magic!"
"Yes, but Blayne gave Darren a good shiner at the beginning!"
"And then Blayne was out cold. The king couldn't stop laughing! You would think he'd be angry but he actually enjoyed his sons' brawl…"
I concentrated on my stew and tried not to listen closely as Alex and Ella quizzed Loren and Ray on the action. I didn't want to know. It just made Priscilla's words that much more true.
I had just braved another large sip of the steaming hot liquid when Ian swung open the tavern door. He looked handsome in his black mage's robe - such a change from the training breeches and linen shirts apprentices wore. He pushed back some unruly curls and then spotted me at one of the far tables directly across from him.
I had been so busy in the past couple of months, training and training and not letting myself think about anything except the apprenticeship, so it was a sudden jolt to the system when he nodded in my direction and pointed to a small table in the corner.
Ella and the rest of my friends were too absorbed in conversation to notice. I didn't bother to excuse myself before making my way over to the newly ascended mage.
I didn't know what Ian wanted but I thought it was safe to congratulate him on his new status.
"Thanks." Ian cleared his throat, gold-flecked green eyes bright. "Care to join me?"
I sat. And then waited, drumming my fingers against the rough table's wood, waiting for him to say whatever it was he had planned. I owed him that much.
Maybe he will finally tell me what he really thinks of me.
Ian drew a long breath. "I'm sorry I was so cold… I wish I could have said it sooner but I needed time."
"I'm sorry I hurt you." I forced myself to speak. "You deserved much better than me, in any case."
"For what it's worth, I really thought the prince cared. I know what I said, but at the time I was just trying to hurt you."
"Well, it looks like we were both wrong." I wonder, I thought, what it means that I chose someone as cold as Darren over someone as kind as you?
The Combat mage held up his drink. "A toast to better love in our futures."
I joined him. "May the ones we love, love us much better."
Silence.
Then: "Have you received any offers?"
"A personal request from Commander Chen in Langli. Apparently my performance in the port's mock battle impressed him."
"Are you going to take the position?"
"I already have. He was at the feast earlier when I accepted."
"You'll have good company." I smiled. "There's a mage who goes by Andy in their regiment. She's got the same humor and reckless disregard for authority you and I share. And you'll like Cethan, too. I served with him during that mission. He's a quiet brute, but he's steady."
Ian took another sip of his drink thoughtfully. "Where do you think you'll end up?"