Ascendant (19 page)

Carlana
stepped back from the drapes and whispered to the maid.
“
My daughter is reading scrolls?
Historical scrolls?
”

Nurellka
nodded, and whispered back
“
Yes,
ma
’
am. Been at
it most of the day, she has, her and the boy. They carried the scrolls down
from the library, and they
’
ve
been very careful with them. Very proper, the two of them, don
’
t you worry, ma
’
am. No funny stuff between
them; your daughter knows better, and I think the boy is more than a little
afraid still to be in the palace, and afraid of the princess, too."

Carlana peeked
around the corner, to see Ariana and Koren hunched over a scroll, happily
reading the ancient history of Tarador. The Regent didn't know how she felt
about her daughter spending time with the wizard's servant, spending time so
closely. But, if Koren was indeed to become the most powerful wizard in the
land, as Paedris said, then it was important for Ariana to develop a good
relationship now, before they each came into their powers.

But the two
were not just queen-to-be and potential master wizard. They were also girl and
boy. Girl and boy who had shared, and survived, a traumatic experience, which
could naturally draw them closer. The girl, Carlana felt sure, was somewhat
infatuated with her hero. The boy, and she knew Koren was a healthy young man,
she was actually less worried about. While a boy Koren's age would have
feelings about girls, Koren certainly knew that, in the end, he was a commoner,
and Ariana was royalty, and that was the end of it. Just listening to Koren's
awkward stammering when he spoke, Carlana had to smile. He looked like he was
about to pass out, if Ariana got any closer. "Very well, let them
be."

“
Yes, ma
’
am. Should I get her
dressed for dinner?
”

Carlana shook
her head. This was a good opportunity for the Regent to get a closer look at
the boy wizard who would soon be a very important part of her daughter's life.
“
No, not tonight. I will
inform the chief of protocol that I shall dine in my chambers tonight. Tell
Ariana I would like her to join me, she can come dressed as she is. And she can
bring her friend.
”

When Paedris returned
with the army two days later, Koren was ready. Standing on the wall above the
main gate to the castle, Koren looked down at his new tunic, the same shade of
purple that the wizard usually wore. With a yellow lightning bolt down the
center, as an insignia. When they couldn
’
t
find a proper servant
’
s
outfit for Koren in the tower, Kyre had his maids cut up an old set of purple
drapes to make several sets of tunics for Koren to wear, when  Koren was
going on about Lord Salva
’
s
official business in the castle. Since a lightning bolt was the court wizard's
official insignia, Kyre decided on his own to add one to Koren's official
outfits. Koren hoped Paedris would approve.

The army wound
its way slowly up the streets of the city, through the gate in the thick walls
of the castle. Koren thought he had never seen such a magnificent sight. Horses
had been brushed until their coats shone, soldiers with polished armor
gleaming, pennants of the nobles to which the various army units belonged, and
at the head of the column, Paedris and the army unit
’
s captain. The two men
waved, and smiled and laughed. Paedris had a sack on his lap, from which he
threw candies to the children in the crowd. It was a victorious army that
marched in triumph through the gates of the castle.

Koren had not
seen the wagon of wounded soldiers which had sped through the city
’
s less-used northern gate
ahead of the army, nor the horses that marched without riders because their
masters were dead. It was a day for celebration, and all too rare occasion in
the centuries-long war between Tarador and Acedor. When Paedris was through the
gate, Koren raced down the stairs to greet the wizard.

Paedris
heartily approved of Koren
’
s
new tunic, and never noticed the missing drapes. The wizard was also delighted
to see how clean his tower was, although he did suspiciously check the wards on
doors to rooms where he didn't want people intruding. Following the official
ceremony to welcome the army, there was a feast, and Paedris brought Koren to
the royal palace as his servant. Koren
’
s
job, according to Cully, was to stand against the wall behind the wizard
’
s chair, and keep his
master's glass full of wine. Mostly, Koren gawked at the assembled nobility,
and had to be poked by the other servants to remind him of his duty. And, of
course, he tried to eavesdrop on the conversation between Paedris and Carlana.
Koren frowned when he learned the Regent and the court wizard did not seem to
be on the best of terms. Apparently, Carlana had not wanted to send the army
out, and even after the battle, she wasn
’
t
sure it had been wise to fight.

“
That was a rather grand
entrance, Lord Salva.
”
Carlana said, holding a wine glass in front of her lips in an attempt to keep
her words private.
“
Throwing
candy to the children was a bit overdoing it, though, don
’
t you think?
”

Paedris gave
the Regent an unfriendly smile; his lips curled appropriately, but his eyes
glared at her.
“
The
people need to celebrate a victory, Your Highness, it
’
s good for morale. There
have been too few victories recently; too many defeats. And far too much of Tarador
doing nothing while Acedor
’
s
power grows to encircle us. The important thing is that I located the wizard
who sent that bear to kill your daughter, and the force they intended to raid
LeVanne with, in the confusion after Ariana
’
s death. I also sensed a much larger force
behind them, beyond the border.
”

“
And it was such an easy
victory, Lord Salva.
”
Carlana shot back.
“
Why,
one wonders where was this enemy you warned us about, this terrible threat to
the kingdom? Perhaps in the future, we can send you alone to fight our battles,
and save the cost of raising an army.
”

“
Do not underestimate our
enemy, Carlana,
”
Paedris deliberately used her first name,
“
we
had the advantage of surprise this time, their raiding force was caught
unawares. They thought they were safe, hidden in the Thrallren woods.
”

Carlana took a
sip of wine, and spoke from behind the goblet, to prevent her voice from
carrying.
“
The
Thrallren woods, according my army captains, is impassable, and we didn
’
t need to be concerned
about an invasion from that direction.
”

Paedris
shrugged.
“
So
thought Duke Yarron, and those are his woods. His sheriffs patrol those woods,
but I think it would be prudent to send, perhaps, two dozen Rangers to assist
Yarron
’
s
sheriffs.
”

“
Two dozen? Why not four
dozen, or make it an even hundred Rangers? You are always quick to send my
troops out to battle.
”

“
I would think you
’
d like the idea of Rangers
being in the field, where they can mostly live off the land. Here in their
barracks, you have to pay for their keep.
”
Paedris saw that remark caused a flash of anger from the Regent, so he hastened
to continue
“
Yarron
would no doubt be grateful for extra protection, and he is one of your
strongest allies. Besides, a force of Rangers could also train some of Yarron
’
s own troops, so they
could eventually be entrusted with the task themselves.
”

“
And a force of Rangers,
operating on their own, could of course be trusted not to provoke the enemy? I
think not.
”
The Rangers, a small, elite force of the royal army, had a reputation for being
aggressive, sometimes to the point of foolishness.
“
You defeated the enemy
’
s raiding force. I think
we will not face much of a threat for while.
”

Paedris could
perhaps be forgiven his rudeness, for he was very tired. Healing Ariana and
Koren, then riding out with the army patrol, destroying the enemy raiding
force, battling the enemy wizard, and doing his best to heal the wounded on the
long ride back, all had drained his strength.
“
Eight men died in this
‘
easy
’
victory you speak of, and
many other men were wounded. The enemy has been bold enough to attack us
because they sense Tarador is weak. Your late husband Adric knew the threat we
face.
”

“
Yes, and he died because
he followed your advice, Paedris Don Salva.
”
Carlana hissed under her breath.
“
My charge as Regent is to
assure Ariana, and Tarador, survive to for her to assume the throne. This war
has lasted for many years, I think it can wait until Ariana will becomes queen,
and you can try convincing her to engage in military adventures. I will not go
poking sticks into hornet
’
s
nests.
”

“
Those hornets, dear lady,
are going to be setting up their nests right here in this castle, if we do not
fight them. It is the survival of all Tarador, and not just the Trehayme line,
that should concern you.
”

Carlana was
about to reply, when Baroness Sedgwick, alarmed by the argument that had grown
loud enough for everyone at Carlana
’
s
end of the table to hear, stood up and proposed a toast to the wizard, for leading
Tarador to victory. The distraction broke the tension, and the royal
chamberlain clapped his hands for a troop of musicians and acrobats to perform
for the crowd.

“
Oh, I ate too much. Koren,
this is one of the few times I appreciate wearing these silly formal robes, I
can loosen the belt  and get comfortable. Ahhhh.
”
The wizard sighed
contentedly as he sank back into his favorite chair, in his chamber near the
top of the tower.
“
Koren,
sit down, sit down, relax. Oh, put some more wood on the fire. And, do we have
any more of that wine from Holdeness, the sweet red wine? Get the bottle, oh,
and get two glasses, if you like sweet wine.
”

Koren smiled
to himself at the wizard
’
s
idea of
‘
sit
down and relax
’
,
it seemed to involve a lot of work for his servant. After he walked all the way
down the stairs, out the door, and around the backside of the tower to fetch
logs from the woodpile, walked back up to the pantry where the wine and glasses
were kept, and returned to the wizard, he found the man asleep in the chair,
his head lolled to the side, snoring softly. Koren had to set the wine down
quickly and cover his mouth to stop from bursting out laughing. He poured a
glass of wine, set it on the table next to the wizard, and put a log on the
fire. When he closed the door to the stove, the creaking metal woke up the
wizard with startled, interrupted snore.

“
Snnnxxx- Uh! Oh, oh, it
’
s you, Koren. I must have
dozed off. Why, here
’
s
my wine.
”
Paedris look a sip of the wine.
“
Ah,
that
’
s good. I
’
m more tired than I thought,
it was a very long ride back, with few comforts. And less of a joyous welcome
that I had hoped for, that didn
’
t
help matters.
”
He grumbled into his wineglass.
“
Still,
most things look better after a good night
’
s
sleep, eh? You had best get some rest, too, I hear you
’
re going to a party
tomorrow?
”

Koren was
suddenly embarrassed.
“
The
princess is opening her maze in the garden, I hear many people are invited.
”

Many people,
Paedris thought to himself, but only one commoner servant boy was likely invited.
“
I hear the
princess has been inviting you to dine with her?
”

Koren nodded,
embarrassed. He knew tongues were wagging around the palace, about the servant
boy who dined with the princess. Jealous, spiteful tongues.

Anyone who
thought Koren might have romantic ideas about Ariana were idiots. Commoners,
even if they were stupid, did not have romantic notions about royalty,
certainly not when the royal person was the heir to the throne, and held the
power of life and death over lowly-born commoners. Koren
’
s people were peasant
farmers, who survived only on what they could grow on their land, or by illegal
hunting in the forests that belonged to the local baron. At harvest time, the
sheriff came to collect taxes based on the amount of land being farmed, whether
it was a good year for crops or not. If there wasn
’
t enough food left over
for the family, they went hungry.

Koren wasn
’
t just a commoner, he was
a penniless servant, a farmboy who didn
’
t
even have a family. Did Koren sometimes get a funny feeling in his stomach,
like butterflies, when he was around Ariana? Maybe so. When they were sitting
around a table, looking at maps, and Ariana leaned close enough that Koren
could smell her perfume, and the curls of her hair might brush against his
hand, and she looked at him with that cute little smile-

Maybe Koren
did daydream, just a little, about Ariana. When he wasn
’
t thinking clearly. When
he was thinking clearly, he remembered his place, and that place had no
business even being around the crown princess.

So Koren
grumbled uncomfortably when Paedris asked him about dining with the princess.
“
She
’
s teaching me about
history, and maps and stuff. There
’
s
a whole building full of scrolls and books, that she can borrow. She calls it a
library.
”

“
Good, good.
”
Paedris was pleased that
Koren was learning about Tarador, there was much the boy needed to know, even
before he began his training in a few short years. Knowing Koren didn
’
t want to talk about
Ariana, Paedris changed the subject.
“
Do
you, uh, do you have something appropriate to wear to the party tomorrow?
”