CHAPTER FORTY-THREE #2
I wanted to ask what they already knew. Prince Thomas had been a human for three weeks already as I’d recovered. Yet their wary glances made it clear Prince Thomas hadn’t said anything of consequence.
He’d been too focused on caring for me.
I cleared my throat under their scrutiny.
The Grand Mage’s glare at Thom made my palms clammy, but Thomas simply rattled off the events of the past few weeks, his hand wrapped around my waist.
We told them about Lee’s experimental room in the Blackwood estate, and the chariot chase that followed our escape.
Fielding questions, we explained Lee’s plan to sell the cure, and our suspicions that his family knew more about the plague than they let on.
And after a few pointed looks, we confessed why our hands seemed to find each other even when our minds were elsewhere.
We told them everything.
And when we were done, Thomas stared at his father while the King leaned back and surveyed us both, his mind racing behind narrowed eyes.
“And you…” the Grand Mage asked. “Do you think you are one of these rare time mages?”
I nodded. “I’m certain of it.”
He rubbed his jaw. “Would you be interested in joining the Mage Council as an apprentice? Your accomplished skill set would, I’m sure, be most valuable to Amouridia.”
I expected Thom’s grip on me to loosen. He’d spent most of his life working toward a position on the Mage Council, only to sit aside as his pupil accepted an offer over him. But instead, his thumb rubbed the fabric at my waist, and when I looked at him, only pride lit his eyes.
So different than the pride I’d once expected—haughty and superior.
Instead, this pride was meant for me and me alone.
“Take it,” he whispered, but I shook my head, a grin on my face.
“I thank you most exuberantly, Grandsir,” I said, “but I’m afraid I’m already spoken for.”
The Grand Mage’s brow wrinkled.
“I’ve been offered a full scholarship at the University of Junira. Unfortunately, I’ll be too busy with classwork and extracurricular experimentation to serve on the Council.”
His mouth fell open, but he regained composure a second later. “We are sorry to lose such a valuable asset, but please know that the offer will still stand once you graduate.”
I bowed my head. “Thank you, Your Grandness.”
“And,” he added, “you will make a fine Master for many Amouridian mages. Perhaps a rare mage like you would be able to take my place in a few decades.” He shot me a wink and my breath hitched. I glanced at Thomas, who tilted his head, mischief in his eyes.
“You’ll have to fight me for it,” he teased.
“I’ve seen you fight,” I said. “And considering I hoisted us out a tower and led our getaway chase, I’d have to say that combat magic is not your strength.”
His eyes crinkled at me. “I was doing just fine on my own.”
“You almost croaked, Thom,” I said.
He snickered, clapping a hand to his mouth. He leaned back and shook his head. Warmth flooded my senses.
Theodore’s gaze danced between us, amusement written in his expression.
“Enough,” King Leopold declared, and the smile tucked itself from our faces. “You two need to do well, if you’re to be the best our kingdom has going for it. Take this seriously.”
“And what of Lee?” Prince Theodore asked. “We can’t leave the Blackwoods unpunished.”
“I’ll send men to search the estate. If he’s got any brains—which history has shown he does—all the Blackwoods will be long gone by the time we arrive. It’s been weeks. If only we had known sooner.” The King sent a pointed, irritated look to Thom. “This matter is larger than your feelings.”
Thom bristled, and I stepped closer to him. His fingers tightened around mine.
Theodore smothered a smile. “What an illogical choice for you to make on behalf of yourself and the kingdom,” the crown prince reproached him. He shook his head with a tsk. “Thankfully, your older brother is much more stable when it comes to matters of the heart.”
Thom rolled his eyes, but a corner of his mouth curved. “Says the man who wanted to go door to door throughout the entire kingdom, searching thousands of homes…”
“Boys,” the King’s voice said, cutting through the levity. “We are talking about the Blackwoods.”
Both pressed their lips together.
I inhaled sharply, emboldened. “But surely with the crown’s resources, we’ll find Lee.”
He gave me a sad smile. “We will look, I swear to you.” He glanced between us.
“To you both. But the Blackwoods have long been a thorn in my side. I doubt we’ve seen the last of them, or this plague, despite the cure you have procured, Thom.
And Master Carter has informed me of your theory on the illness’s spread, Ms. Smyth.
I believe your suspicions about the plague being manipulated, or at least encouraged by the Blackwoods, is correct. ”
“The amount of money made on delay draughts…” Theodore shook his head. “When it’s possible they’ve known the cure for far longer.”
“At least we know now thanks to Lyranore.”
I nodded in thanks, disappointment undercutting any sense of pride I’d had over my research.
“If we find the Blackwoods, they can tell us if they worked with anyone. But if we can’t, I would like to continue my research.
Perhaps we can get a better idea of where the Quiet Passing came from and why. ”
King Leopold leaned back. “That sounds like an excellent treatise topic for the two of you to put together during your next semester in Junira. I’ll be expecting your presentation by next Snowfest. What say you?”
I looked at Thom, whose eyes glinted as they met mine.
“You’ll have to work hard to keep up with me,” I told him, a smile gracing my lips.
He threw his head back and laughed. “When does my first lesson begin, Master Lyra?”