The Dragon of Trelian (27 page)

“I should hope so,” Serek replied. “It would be unfortunate for something even worse to be brewing at the same time.”

“Well, does that help us? Can the cards tell us what to do?”

Serek shook his head. “Divination is a far more subtle and complicated magic than that. We were warned, but no dealing of the cards can speak plainly about exactly what will happen or what actions we must take. Another dealing would be difficult, as our own knowledge would intrude upon any meanings the cards might suggest.”

“But couldn’t we —”

“Calen. Do not push me. Accept that I know more about this than you do and let us focus on what can be done.”

Calen nodded reluctantly. If he had learned anything over the past few days, it was that there was a vast amount of magic lore he knew nothing about. Serek had been a full mage for years before Calen had been born, and even he was still learning. He wondered abruptly what Serek had been like as an apprentice. It was hard to imagine him ever being young or impulsive or uncertain. Perhaps he had always been as he was now. That might explain why he didn’t have any friends, or any apparent desire to make any. He’d probably never had any friends in his entire life. One more reason to be grateful for Meg.

With effort, Calen forced his thoughts back to the matter at hand. His mind had such a tendency to drift off in every direction. Probably because he spent so much time waiting silently while Serek was thinking about something. His mind had to occupy itself somehow, after all.

“Well,” Serek went on, “you have certainly proven yourself to be more than capable of surprising me, Calen. Not just with your news — though of course that, too — but also with your abilities and resourcefulness. You’ve given me a great deal to think about, not the least of which is how to proceed with your training.”

Calen smiled at the implied praise. “If you’re asking for suggestions, I think you should teach me some fighting and self-defense magic.”
So that the next time someone tries to kill me, I’ll be prepared.

“I was not asking,” Serek said. “And watch yourself. Whatever you’ve been through, you are still my apprentice, not my colleague.” He met Calen’s indignant stare and waited until Calen lowered his eyes. “However,” he went on, “I do believe some defensive magic may indeed be in order, since it appears you’ve developed quite a talent for placing yourself in harm’s way. It is likely that Sen Eva will attempt to kill you again when she discovers that she did not succeed the first time.”

“
If,
you mean.”

“
When.
Unless you’re planning to leave the castle grounds and remain in hiding until she returns to Kragnir or whatever she does after carrying out her plans?”

Calen shook his head. Of course he couldn’t leave. He just thought he’d be able to stay out of her way for as long as it took for Serek and the proper authorities to take her into custody. Which he had expected to be immediately. But he was beginning to get the feeling that wasn’t going to happen.

Serek looked at him for a moment longer before speaking again. “What I was originally referring to, if you’ll allow me to continue, were the colors you describe seeing. Have you ever wondered why I haven’t mentioned these colors during your training?”

Calen shrugged. “Of course. I figured you wanted me to learn the spells without relying on the colors to help me. Is that — is there a different reason?”

“Yes.” Serek was still looking at him in that strange way. “The reason is that I don’t see any colors when I cast spells. Nor did the mage who taught me. No other mage has ever spoken of colors to me, and I’ve never come across any mention of colors in any book I’ve studied.”

Calen felt his mouth working, but no words were coming out. Serek couldn’t see the colors?
No one
could see the colors? How was that possible? “But I swear I see them,” he managed. “I’m not making it up.” Was he crazy? Did it mean there was something wrong with him?

“I believe you. I think you may have a talent in this that’s uniquely yours, Calen.”

Calen just stared at him.

“Obviously, we will have to investigate this ability further. For now, however, there is the matter of Sen Eva.”

“And — and the things. In the woods.”
No one else saw the colors?

“One thing at a time. The creatures you saw were still some distance away, while Sen Eva is here.” Serek pushed Lyrimon off his chair and began moving some books from his desk to the newly cleared space, glancing at titles as he stacked them and occasionally putting a particular book aside. The gyrcat watched this process indignantly for a few seconds and then glared at Calen as though it were his fault. Then he vanished.

“What will we do?” Calen asked. He wanted to pull up his legs but didn’t want to give Lyrimon the satisfaction. Surely the cat wouldn’t attack him with Serek sitting right there. Surely not.

“
We
will not do anything.
I
must send word to the Magistratum. That, before all. I cannot take action against Sen Eva without their consent unless she provokes it with unmistakable actions.” He held up a hand to ward off Calen’s protestations. “Words are not actions, Calen. She has done nothing to harm Maerlie yet.”

“She tried to harm me,” Calen pointed out. “Doesn’t that count?”

“It would if I had witnessed it and could testify that she truly intended to kill you. I do believe what you’ve told me, Calen, but I cannot use that to justify taking action. Especially because your knowledge is based on your seeing the spell, which as far as the Magistratum is concerned is not possible. I do not even have proof that she is a mage, but that will not be difficult to verify now that I know to look for it.”

“You can tell by looking?”

“No, but there’s a way to sense her ability through physical contact. If nothing else I can stumble into her, but I’m sure I can arrange a less obvious approach.”

The thought of touching Sen Eva made Calen shudder. “But we have to do something! What if they don’t respond in time? You can’t just let her kill Maerlie!”

Serek sighed and fixed Calen with another of his barely tolerant gazes. “Thank you, Calen, for pointing that out. I do not intend to let her harm the princess. I will consult with King Tormon and Queen Merilyn when they return tomorrow.”

“Return? Where did they go?” Serek’s gaze was turning dangerous. Calen hurried to forestall a rebuke. “I’m sorry to keep asking questions, but Meg — I mean, Princess Meglynne — went to speak with them, to tell them what happened. She expected them to be home.”

“Well, she will find that they are not. No doubt she will simply wait until tomorrow.”

Calen laughed out loud at that. At Serek’s expression, he hastened to explain. “Uh, I’m sorry. Again. It’s just that you don’t know Meg the way I do. I doubt very much she’s simply waiting.” He swallowed nervously. “Sir.”

Serek opened his mouth to reply, but before he could speak, there was a hesitant knock at the door. Calen’s heart leaped into his throat.
It’s not Sen Eva,
he told himself firmly.
It’s not. It’s not.

Serek had turned toward the door at the sound. Now he looked back at Calen. Perhaps he could tell that Calen was frozen with fear, because instead of telling him to answer the door, he went to answer it himself.

Calen tried to quiet the hammering of his heart. Even if it was Sen Eva — and it wasn’t, of course it wasn’t — Serek wouldn’t allow her to kill him. Unless she killed Serek first. But surely if he was on his guard, she wouldn’t be able to do that.

Serek pulled open the door. His body was blocking Calen’s view. “Ah,” said the mage. He stepped back and gestured into the study. “Do come in.”

It was Meg, dressed in her serving-girl disguise. She stepped into the room and stood in the center, as though she didn’t know what to do with herself. Then she saw Calen and smiled. Serek closed the door behind her and leaned back against it with his arms crossed.

Calen jumped down from the table and went to meet her. “What happened?” he asked. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. Just tired. And my parents aren’t here.”

“I know — Serek just told me.”

“I told Morgan everything. She —” Meg took a breath. “She’s not sure if she believes me. She won’t do anything without talking to my parents, and she says even they won’t do anything without proof.”

“She is correct, Your Highness,” Serek said from the door.

Meg turned to face him. “You don’t believe us, either?” She had placed her hands on her hips.

“Actually, I do believe you. Or rather I believe Calen, which I take it means the same thing. But your sister is still correct. To act without proof in this matter would be foolish, if not dangerous. You would be wise to wait.”

“Wait for what? For Maerlie to die?” Meg shook her head angrily. “I mean no disrespect, Mage Serek, but I do not see the logic in waiting. I do see the logic in needing proof, however, which is why I’m here.” She turned to face Calen again and took his hands in hers. “Calen, I’m sorry to ask you this. But I need your help.”

He was afraid he knew what she had in mind. “What do you want to do?”

She looked straight into his eyes. “Tomorrow, while everyone is at breakfast, I want to sneak into her rooms and find some kind of evidence that will prove to everyone what she truly is.”

Calen’s skin went cold, except for his hands, which were still held warmly in Meg’s grip. How could she suggest such a thing without trembling in fear? If Sen Eva returned and found them there, nothing would save them. She would finish what she’d started in the guest suite, and they would both be dead. But what was the alternative? To hide, terrified and waiting, until it was too late?

It didn’t matter. He didn’t know why he was debating with himself. Meg needed his help, so he would help her. He met her gaze squarely, trying to reflect the same strength that shone from her eyes. He didn’t even have to nod. She saw his answer in his face and grinned.

“Um,” said Serek. For a moment, Calen had forgotten he was there. He and Meg turned as one to face him.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I can’t allow this.”

Meg’s eyebrows went up. Calen knew that look. He almost felt sorry for Serek.

“Are you presuming to tell me what I can and cannot do?” she asked quietly.

Serek was not daunted. “No. But I can inform your sister of your plans, which would no doubt bring them to a swift end.”

Meg’s eyes practically threw sparks at that. “Do you truly wish to see Maerlie die at the hands of traitors? Why would you want to stop us from proving what we know is true?”

“It is not the truth I object to, Princess, but your determination to put yourself in danger. I cannot in good faith allow you to proceed without attempting to stop you. It would violate my oath to serve and protect your family.” Serek spoke calmly, still standing with his back to the study door. His eyes were flat and hard. Calen knew that look, too. He thought that in a contest of wills, Meg would ultimately prevail, but it would be close.

“Could you come with us?” Calen asked abruptly. Meg and Serek both turned to stare at him. He tried to ignore their incredulous expressions. “You could help us seek proof, and be there to protect us if anything went wrong.”

Meg’s expression grew thoughtful. Serek, however, shook his head. “I appreciate your confidence in my ability to protect you from an unmarked mage of unknown strength and known malicious intent, but as I said, I cannot take action against Sen Eva without the consent of the Magistratum.”

“But this wouldn’t be taking action, exactly. You’d just be . . . observing.”

“No, Calen.” His voice grew even more serious. “You must understand this. A mage agrees to live by certain rules. It is sacrosanct within our order, and when you are fully inducted yourself, you will take vows to uphold them. We cannot simply bend or ignore those rules we find inconvenient. It is exactly this that we accuse Sen Eva of doing, and that makes her a criminal in the eyes of the order. I do understand your desire to act, but it cannot be. Accept this and be done with it.”

Meg opened her mouth to argue, but Calen placed a hand on her arm to stop her. Serek would not budge on this. Arguing would only waste time. “Let it go, Meg,” he said quietly. “He will not change his mind. We’ll have to think of another way.” He didn’t look at her face. He didn’t want to see the sense of betrayal he knew she must be feeling.

“I’ll need your word, each of you, that you will not pursue this.” Serek was still blocking the door.

“You have it,” Calen said. “I will not.”

Serek looked at Meg and waited. She glared back at him with a strange light in her eyes. “You have my word that we will not steal into her room while she is at breakfast tomorrow.”

Serek hesitated. It was clear there was much that Meg’s declaration did not include. But the mage only looked at her and nodded. Calen thought something passed between them. Then Serek stepped aside. “Will you escort the princess safely back, Calen?”

“Of course,” Calen replied. Meg took his arm and let herself be led toward the door.

“And Princess,” Serek added, “once this current crisis is sorted out, I would very much like to hear more about your dragon. I never thought I would have the opportunity to talk with one of the dragon-linked firsthand; it would be a rare honor.”

After a moment, Meg nodded. “Of course,” she said. “As long as Calen can join us. He’s my personal dragon expert, you understand.” She paused. “I suppose I’ll have to think of some official title for that at some point.”

Calen nearly choked at Serek’s pained expression. He yanked Meg back into motion toward the door.

“Good evening, Mage Serek,” she said as they passed him.

“And to you, Princess,” he replied.

Then they were through and walking along the narrow hallway. Calen heard the door close firmly behind them. When Meg led him silently toward a passage that led deeper into the castle and away from her rooms, he was not entirely surprised.