Borrowed Magic (6 page)

“And you.” She waited until he’d disappeared
before sucking in a deep breath.

Without even thinking, she glanced back
towards the training field, searching for Philip. But instead of
observing him from a safe distance, she found herself meeting his
eyes and realized he’d been watching her.

Her instinctive reaction was to retreat, to
walk away and not look back. But she couldn’t. She was caught, as
if he were pulling at her, preventing her from any thought except
him. And then she didn’t want to look away. This wasn’t a formal
encounter amidst the rest of society. It was unexpected – almost
intimate. In that one moment, she felt as if she could see the real
Philip. Not the one he’d shown her, even in their few moments
alone. Not as assured as he led everyone to believe. More
vulnerable. Even scared.

And although that would have been enough to
keep her locked in his gaze, what truly kept her riveted was that
she sensed it wasn’t unintended, that he wanted her to see him this
way, that there was something he wanted to tell her.

For one second, she considered going to him.
She even took a single step forward.

And then he was distracted as a soldier
appeared at his side, demanding his attention.

The moment was lost. Before Philip could
turn around, she fled.

As soon as she was out of sight, she rested
against a nearby tree while her hands and knees stopped
shaking.

At least during the siege, she felt in
control. Now, whenever Teige was nearby, she was in pain, and
whenever Philip was nearby, she was in a different kind of
pain.

She sighed. The kingdom was safe. That’s
what was important. She glanced up at the castle behind her, the
symbol of Tredare.

It really was beautiful, built on a small
hill that overlooked Delorme below. Its gray stone appeared to be
etched right into the sky and looked so much a part of it that as a
young girl she’d often wondered if she could reach out and touch it
if she were to climb to the topmost tower.

If only life were as simple as it had been
as a child.

Then she wouldn’t know about sieges or dark
mages or heartache.

Movement in the city caught her attention
and a second later her fists clenched at her sides. Some of the
other monarchs had arrived. How dare they come here? Especially
after everything.

She could just make out an elaborate
carriage making its way towards the castle. Outriders rode in front
and behind. Flags bearing a crest whipped in the breeze. Smaller
carriages followed behind.

She compared it to the day Philip had
arrived. He hadn’t come in a carriage, waving flags and proclaiming
his identity.

But the entire city had cheered.

Now, it was silent, as if even the walls
distrusted outsiders and what they might bring.

Five

Maren hesitated at the door. She’d
met all the kings before. Most of them had been…bearable. One had
made her so angry she’d said things she wouldn’t ever utter in
polite company. But as much as she’d like to, she couldn’t avoid
them. She slipped into the hall unnoticed. It wasn’t that hard. The
visiting rulers and their entourages stood around the room, patting
each other on the back, smiling, acting as if this were some kind
of social event, a time to get together, dance, and drink wine.
They were even pretending to like each other for the moment – or at
least tolerate each other. Their lesser petty land disputes and
trade agreements could wait. “Helping” Tredare was more
important.

Especially if they got something in
return.

Daric stood to the side. He wasn’t exactly
frowning, but it was close.

“If you could all take your seats,” Daric
called over the cacophony. “I’d like to begin.”

It took longer than it should, but
eventually everyone separated into their individual kingdoms:
Toreweth, Sevela, Cralle, Elacien, and Prendak. Each king had
brought several advisors, usually members of the nobility who had
won favors or the trust of their king. Tables had been set up for
each kingdom, with Daric’s at the front of the room, and the others
spread out in a semicircle around him.

Maren slid into the seat on Daric’s left.
Philip sat to his right and Lord Berk was next to him. Teige hadn’t
warranted an invitation. He might be a hero, but he hadn’t yet
proved himself personally to the king. However horrible the rest of
the meeting would be, she wouldn’t be in pain – at least not more
than normal.

Daric smiled at her, squeezed her hand under
the table, and then stood.

Before he could even begin,
King Senred almost exploded out of his seat. “What is
she
doing
here?”

Daric’s hand clenched on the table, but it
was the only sign of his anger. She feared she hadn’t hid hers as
well. An angry flush colored her cheeks, and she would have risen
to her feet were it not for Daric’s steady hand on her shoulder.
Philip and Berk, however, did stand, firm defenders of their
king.

“I invited Lady Maren as an advisor,” Daric
said, his voice so calm it was frightening. “Just as you all
brought advisors.”

“And what’s she going to do?” Senred chided.
“Ask for the help of our healers again? Beg? We’ve already seen her
do that.”

A few chuckles echoed through the room, but
they were quickly silenced by Daric’s scathing glance.

Maren felt rather than saw Philip’s head
jerk her direction. He hadn’t known.

“Lady
Maren,” Daric emphasized, “came to you at my direction,
seeking the help of your healers for an injury she’d sustained. We
kept it quiet for reasons we preferred not to disclose. Only a
handful outside of this room even know about it.” His eyes scanned
the room. “Some of you tried to help. Others…didn’t.”

A few shifted uncomfortably.

“She didn’t beg,” Daric finished, a note in
his voice that dared anyone to challenge him.

“She begged,” Senred growled. “And then she,
a girl, dared chastise me. A king. I’ve never been so insulted. If
she’d been one of my subjects, I would have had her hanged.”

“Instead, you sent her back with nothing,”
Daric said. “Even though she came on my behalf, seeking help,
hoping that if we all united against Kern, we’d be able to defeat
him before… Well, before what happened.” His eyes scanned the room,
challenging.

The silence was deafening.

“We didn’t know,” King Edwin finally said.
He actually sounded sorry. “If we had…I mean…two and a half
years…”

Maren couldn’t stay quiet any longer. “You
mean if you’d known Kern was an evil mage who would go to any
lengths to get revenge?” She let her words sink in. “You did. You
all did. And we paid for it.”

King Edwin’s shoulders sagged. “Yes, we did.
And yes, we did nothing. But we tried to help you when you were
injured, put our best healers at your disposal.”

Her tone softened. “You did, Your Majesty,
and for that I’m grateful. But you’re attributing that same charity
to everyone here. And unfortunately it doesn’t apply.”

Shouting broke out around the room, and she
just sat there, waiting for it to be over. “I’m sorry,” she
whispered to Daric. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

“It needed to be said. They just don’t want
to hear it.”

“But you still feel the same? Your decision
hasn’t changed?”

“No.” His mouth set in a firm line. “My
decision hasn’t changed.”

Philip watched the exchange, eyes darting
between the two of them, obviously wanting to ask more questions
than he could put into words but knowing it would have to wait. She
almost felt bad for him. Almost. He’d abandoned them for three
years. He deserved to be ignorant about what happened while he was
gone.

“Well, I think they’ve had enough time to
yell at each other,” Daric finally said with half a smile before
raising his hand and waiting for silence. “We aren’t here to argue
about what happened in the past. We’re here to discuss the present.
I know you’ve all come with proposals, and I’d like to hear them,
starting with Senred.”

Everyone sat except for Senred. “I’d like to
begin by expressing my deepest sympathies for what you’ve been
through.”

If he sounded even the smallest bit sorry,
it would have helped. Instead, he looked more like a victor ready
to collect his spoils.

“As you know, Prendak has the best quarries
in the known world. I can offer you granite, slate, precious
metals, almost anything. I know your cash reserves aren’t what they
were, but I’m sure we can work something out. Trade. Delay payment.
Something.”

Or he could have offered them for free, to
right past wrongs. But Maren knew he didn’t truly want trade or
payment. Well, maybe trade. Tredare had the only known diamond
mines. But mostly he wanted power, control. Some favor or pressure
he could exact from Daric in the future.

“It would go a long way to helping you
rebuild the castle and the surrounding town. We could also offer
food, supplies, and men to patrol the border between our kingdoms,
make sure any potential problems are taken care of.”

Potential problems? She frowned. Did Senred
think Daric was stupid? That he’d just leave matters of dispute in
the hands of Senred’s soldiers, who were almost guaranteed to be
biased?

“Thank you,” Daric said, his face betraying
not a hint of emotion. “Bayde?”

And on it went, through all five kings. They
all offered the best of their kingdoms, and all of them acted as if
Tredare couldn’t survive without them, as if it were the backward
cousin that needed their guidance. Had they forgotten Tredare’s
past, that it was Tredare’s king who had negotiated the first
peace, that it was Tredare who had the greatest history of magic
and warfare, that it was Tredare who had defeated Kern not once,
but twice? King Edwin was the only one Maren felt any true sympathy
from. And still she didn’t want his help.

Once everyone had a chance to speak, Daric
rose to his feet again. “Thank you for your proposals.” He paused,
looking around the room at each of the kings. “I truly do
appreciate them. However, I’m not going to accept.”

The room broke into chaos. Only this time,
Maren enjoyed watching it.

“Who do you think you are?” Senred yelled
over the commotion. “We have offered you the best we have and you
refuse? Do you think you can brush us aside as if we’re
unimportant? You are young, Daric. Your father died before he could
teach you what you needed to know. We can forgive you your youth.
We can’t forgive stupidity.”

Maren jumped to her feet. “How dare you? He
is as much a king as any of you are. Age is of no consequence here.
Leadership is. And what we went through, what he did, what we saw
and endured…” Her voice broke.

“Well, I guess we know who advised him
against accepting our help,” Senred sneered. “Imagine, a king
taking counsel from a girl.”

She straightened her shoulders. “It was a
decision already made, but when asked, yes I agreed, and yes, I
would have advised against it. And do you want to know why? Because
when we asked for help, it wasn’t given. When I personally came and
begged, yes begged, for your armies and your mages, you refused.
You left us vulnerable, alone, subject to Kern and his siege. You
were cowards. No, I don’t want your help. I know too well that you
wouldn’t offer it unless you hoped for something in return, and I’m
not willing to let you hold power over this kingdom or its king in
return for rocks and a few ears of corn.”

Senred turned bright red and looked as if
he’d like to murder her. “Are you going to allow her to talk to me
like that?” he yelled at Daric. “I’m a king!”

Daric drew her hand through his arm. “She
didn’t say anything I don’t believe. And given her previous
experience with you personally, yes, I think she has a right to
talk to you however she wants.”

“If you treat your allies with such
disrespect, you won’t have any left,” King Albert offered, voice
laced with anger. “Not a position you’re strong enough to be in
right now, Daric.”

“I don’t want to lose any allies, or disrupt
the peace,” Daric answered. “I just want to be left alone to
rebuild Tredare how I see fit.”

“And if we don’t see it that way?” Senred
asked.

Daric didn’t flinch. “Then know that I have
the strongest army ever assembled currently under my control. They
are seasoned, dedicated, and loyal. They have fought and died to
protect this kingdom.” He nodded to Philip. “And they have a leader
they would follow anywhere. Not to mention they are brave, brave
enough to fight against Kern.” Daric’s eyes traveled the room,
meeting each king’s directly. “And win.”

An uncomfortable silence moved through the
room until Edwin stood. “I think we’re done here.” He actually
walked forward and shook Daric’s hand. “Thank you for your
hospitality. I’ll be taking my leave. You have a lot of work to do
and don’t need me or my people getting in your way. But in all
sincerity, my offer still stands if you ever need it.”

“Thank you,” Daric said. “I’ll remember
that.”

After that the meeting was effectively over.
Daric’s military threat was significant. And at least for now, none
of them dared oppose it.

Senred was the last to leave. He shook hands
with Philip and offered a few polite words. Then he turned to her.
“Lady Maren, it’s always a pleasure.”

His words were belied by the coldness in his
eyes and the unpleasant tilt to his mouth.

“May I inquire about your health?”

She gave him her most polite smile. “It’s
fine, thank you.”

He grabbed her left arm before she could
react and applied just the smallest amount of pressure.

Pain shot through her shoulder and caused
her eyes to water.