The Last Wizard of Eneri Clare (23 page)

Rel had been listening to them, partly distracted by her own thoughts, but she gave herself a shake, and stood taller, “I must return to the banquet, Tash. I would far rather be here with you tonight, but as hostess, and Regent Elect, I will be missed if I do not make an appearance.”

“Go, dearest. Find some part of your triumph this day to celebrate. It is a magnificent thing. Rest easy that you are supported in every way. I am proud of you.”

“If I can, I will come to you, very late.” She smiled, soothed by his presence.

“I will be here.” The dragon promised. “Mage?”

“Yes, my lord?”

“My gratitude. You have done well. Keep her under your eye as you can, will you?”

“Yes, sir. Count on it.” and Tvrdik, still none too comfortable being addressed by a dragon, nevertheless turned away smiling.

He followed Jorelial, who had already disappeared through the trap door, and closed it behind them. Down the long staircase they wound, floor after floor, the Lady Regent conscious that she was already overdue at her own festivities. But as they left the tower and headed into the darkening courtyard, they were greeted by a very agitated Warlowe.

“What is it, Warlowe? I am on my way to the banquet now, if you were sent to find me…”

“My lady, I was sent to
intercept
you. You must come with me right away to the Hall of Audience. There is something within that you will wish to see.”

“Warlowe, with all due respect, I am already late for a banquet in
my honor.
Anything else can surely wait until tomorrow…” She was about to push past him, but the poor man, obviously uncomfortable, blocked her way, and tried again to deliver his message without saying too much. Tvrdik edged up closer to hear him.

“My lady, this cannot wait. It concerns your – your sister.”

“Delphine?” Rel turned white. “Is she alright? Where has she been? I’ve been worried sick about her.”

“She is fine, my lady,” Warlowe reassured, “but you will want to see this for yourself. Right this way….”

Without turning back, or hesitating even a beat, she shouted, “Come with me,” to Tvrdik, and the three of them set out across the courtyard at a run, to the familiar Hall of Audience, where they were greeted by a most bizarre scene. A number of palace guardsmen in full regalia were attempting to hold back a distraught and disheveled Delphine, in homespun britches and a tunic, from Mark, who was being detained somewhat more roughly by other guards. A number of carry-sacks and stuffed bags were strewn across the floor.

“What is this?” boomed Jorelial Rey, in her most authoritative voice, as she entered the room, “Release her.”

“Rel!” cried Delphine, and broke through the line of startled guards to fling her arms around her sister’s neck. “Thank the gods you are here. Tell them to let him go – they’ll hurt him.” A quick glance around told her that Mark had no intention of going anywhere, so she raised a commanding hand. The guards immediately loosed their hold on the hapless bard, but stood at attention, pikes in position to stop him if he should try to escape.

“Now, someone explain to me what is the meaning of all this? Why is my sister being forcibly detained in her own home?”

The Captain of the Guard stepped forward then and saluted her, every inch a professional.

“My Lady Regent, General Boone sent a portion of the guard out tonight as a precaution, to follow Lord Drogue and his company off of Theriole’s grounds. Our instructions were to make sure they broke camp and left without causing any trouble or attempting to return to the palace. While we were out on patrol, my lady, we came across these two, in travelling cloaks, and with all of this luggage, obviously planning to sneak off of the grounds together. Naturally we thought you would wish them apprehended in their flight and brought to you.”

“That’s not true!” shouted Mark, in as assertive a voice as anyone had ever heard the gentle musician use, setting off another wave of threatening motions among his guards. Rel raised a hand again to calm them. “It’s not true.” continued Mark. “We weren’t trying to sneak off the palace grounds at all. We were attempting to sneak back
onto
the palace grounds. We’ve been gone for nearly four days. Our timing was off, is all. We’d have made it back undetected if we hadn’t forgotten there would be so much extra security with the Grand Council and all.”

His words hit Jorelial like a blunt stone, and there followed an awkward silence where everyone’s eyes travelled from player to player in this little unfolding drama. Finally, Jorelial Rey, as the person ultimately in charge, summoned the captain to approach nearer, and in a low voice, addressed him.

“Captain, I think I see what is going on here. You did well to bring them in. I am most grateful for your vigilance.” Thinking she recognized the young officer, she placed a hand at his shoulder blade and urged the man a little aside. “I know you sir, don’t I? Your father worked in service to mine, if I do not mistake. Your name is …Virian, yes? Did we not only last year celebrate your wedding?”

The Captain relaxed a little and smiled, delighted at the Lady Regent’s personal reference. “My lady, it was two years ago last week. You do my family great honor to recall.”

“And how is your lovely wife, Virian? The Lady…”

“Anira, my lady. You are too kind. She is well, very well. We are expecting our first child within the month.

Jorelial Rey leaned in closer, “How wonderful! Please accept my heartfelt congratulations. So, Captain Virian, you are no stranger to the exquisite joys of
family.
The joys and (she sighed and cast a glance back at Delphine, who was now arguing with another guard over her carry-sack) the heartaches inherent in those bonds which touch us like no other force on earth.” The Captain raised his eyebrows, shifting his stance as the Lady Rey continued, “I wish you every blessing on your new family, Captain. As for mine…” she lowered her voice and gestured toward Delphine with her head, “I think I can probably take it from here. You and your company will see a small expression of my gratitude in your next pay – that is a promise. But for now, I believe you all have a more dangerous quarry to track, yes?”

The Captain came to attention. “Yes, Ma’am. Thank you Ma’am. Company, fall in…” Virian made bold to offer her a little wink, and turned on his heel, “March!” And with that, the handsome young man led his charges out the great doors and into the night, leaving the Lady Regent alone in the big room with her younger sister, Mark, and Tvrdik. Warlowe quietly excused himself to his customary position on the other side of the doors as they thudded shut.

“Sit,” she commanded the two youths, and they both set themselves down wearily at the great table. “Now, one of you explain to me what happened, and where you’ve been for the last four days. I’ve been searching everywhere for you, and have been nearly sick with worry.”

Mark replied first, “Really? Delphine swore we’d never be missed, as you had no time for her right now.”

“Ouch! Delphine, what an unkind thing to say, although I suppose I deserve it. Listen, I was so upset and confused after our argument that I flew off with Tashroth to the mountains for a day to cool off. When I got back, there was an awful lot of state business and last minute arranging for me to attend to, but I kept searching for you whenever I could. I wanted to apologize…”

“
You
wanted to apologize?”

“Well, yes…among other things, I thought I might have been a little insensitive with you. But you were nowhere to be found. No one had seen you. I was starting to panic…you know I am never happy when we are at odds. But the Council Meeting was demanding all my attention by then, and I had to assume we would patch things up after. Where were you?”

Delphine’s eyes were fixed on the floor, “After we argued, I couldn’t seem to find you either, so we decided to go off to Mark’s family estate in the mountains. We were going to – to - well, to elope.”

“Elope? After the discussion we had, you were going to defy me? Mark, I must say, this is not the best way to impress me with your good sense.”

“She talked me into it,” the poor minstrel hedged. “I had grave reservations, and I told her we should wait, but she was so sure, and I just can’t seem to deny her anything she wants.” He hung his head in misery. Rel frowned and turned back to Delphine, calmer now and genuinely trying to understand.

“Why in heaven’s name would you do such a thing to me, Delphine, after all we’ve been to each other? What were you thinking?”

Delphine was crying now. “I don’t know…I was so upset when you just out of the blue closed discussion, and then Tvrdik told me how you had so many worries and weighty affairs on your mind, and fears for the future… (Rel shot the mage a stern look, while he rolled his eyes heavenward and turned away, hands behind his back, a picture of innocence.) I…I thought I was just giving you one more tough decision to make on top of everything else, because you always feel you have to protect me. I figured that if we just went ahead and did it, and came back married, and you didn’t have to worry about making any decisions, you would be relieved and just get used to the idea in time. I…I hoped you would accept it and come to love Mark as I do, and then we’d all be happy…it just seemed like the right thing to do at the time.” The two sisters just stared at each other for a moment, Delphine still shaking and sobbing. And then, quietly, Rel spoke.

“You really thought this was a good idea? And you couldn’t see how it would hurt me?”

“You never noticed how hurt I was that all you seemed to want to do was keep me away from my happiness.”

“You want to be married as much as that?”

“Oh, Rel, he is my soul! Every day that we are apart is torture for me.”

Mark chimed in, “Nothing happened, if that’s what you are worried about, my lady. We couldn’t – I couldn’t go through with it after all.”

“Why not? Have you changed your mind about her?”

“Gods, no! I love your sister more than life. I want her to be my bride more with each passing day. But when we got to my parents’ home, and my little sister greeted us with such excitement – she’s only thirteen now, but growing up so fast – and I got to thinking if someday she just ran off with a boy I barely knew, and never gave me the chance to sing at her wedding, or to share in celebrating their happiness, I’d probably never forgive them. It just seemed so wrong. That wasn’t how I wanted to start off our relationship, my lady, yours and mine. That was never my intention. So I screwed up my courage and told Delphine we weren’t going to do it this way, and that we were going home. She wasn’t happy, but I made her go. We thought we could just sneak back in with everything going on at the palace, and just reappear before any real harm was done. We were wrong.”

“Young man, you have just risen to new heights in my estimation. I want to thank you for that – for your wisdom and thoughtfulness, and for delivering my sister home to me safe and sound.” Her tone changed, “But the two of you have no idea how you caused me to worry, how much
real
danger you were in out there wandering around unguarded in the mountains.”

Mark looked confused, “My lady, I know that region like the back of my hand. It is my homeland, and I know my way around. I would never have jeopardized Delphine’s safety in any way.”

Rel shook her head, “You see? Sometimes you just don’t have all the facts. This afternoon, I was elected by the Grand Council to be full-time, permanent regent to His Majesty.”

“Oh, Rel, congratulations! I am so happy for you.” Delphine jumped up and rushed forward intending to embrace Rel again, but the Lady Regent stopped her with a gesture.

“Save your congratulations; it is at the very best a mixed blessing. Lord Drogue was a candidate for the same position and lost to me. He swore up and down that he would take what was his by force if necessary, and be avenged on me personally in the bargain. Lord Maygrew threw him out. Three other mountain lords followed in protest. That’s why the palace guard is out in force – to make sure they all crossed the borders without wreaking any havoc. And wouldn’t Drogue have been delighted if a juicy plum like you should fall into his hands – one he could use against me to great effect. Oh, Delphine, the thought is unbearable! If anything ever happened to you, I don’t know what I would do.” Tvrdik, who had stayed silent all this time, letting the family drama play itself out, made a move toward Jorelial, and gingerly laid a hand on her shoulder. She did not shake it off. Mark’s face had become pinched and positively green, imagining what could have occurred.

“My lady, I am so sorry. I swear I did not know…”

“I am no monster to keep you two apart from sheer meanness. I have nothing against you, Mark. Indeed, I respect your gifts, your steadiness, and your ideas for the future. I believe you love Delphine the way you say you do, but will it be enough? If we are not officially at war now, we soon will be. The future is uncertain – I cannot keep you safe, or insure your financial security, or even your position. Times are tricky. What kind of circumstance is that in which to start a new life together? You could end up separated from each other, losing everything.”

Delphine, tears still glistening in her eyes, but a kind of serenity shining on her face, took both of her sister’s hands in her own and spoke with warmth and passion. “It is the best possible time to start a new life, Rel. If the future is uncertain, the present is all we have. One must cling to love and joy in dark times wherever one finds them. I don’t want to postpone our happiness one moment longer, do you understand? And you, too, need reasons to rejoice in these challenging days. Rejoice with me. Please?” They stood locked in each other’s gaze for a beat.

“Delphine, you are not royalty, but you are the daughter of one of the highest ministers at court – a counselor to kings. And you are sister to the Lady Regent. You are entitled to engagement announcements far and wide, celebratory balls, gifts from all of our peers, and the fairy tale wedding of your dreams. If we do this precipitously, you will be sacrificing all of that.”