Apprentice (The Black Mage, #2)(69)

"Why he thinks it's appropriate to come here before seeing to his family is-"

"This way." Darren hastily stood and pulled me up, leading me to the back of the enclosure. He gave a nod to Heath and the man strode off in the direction of the heir with a smirk. A moment later I heard him and Blayne exchange words – Blayne demanding to see the inside of the kennels and Heath insisting he hadn't seen Darren all day.

"Let's go."

I turned sharply and saw a doorway I had never seen before, it had come from one of the panels in the wall. "Where did-"

Darren yanked me through the door and slammed it shut just as Blayne's voice reached the hounds' enclosure.

"You see, your highness? Darren never-" I didn't get to hear the rest of their conversation, Darren was already dragging me behind him through a musty corridor that was hard-packed stone and completely dark except for the light Darren had cast in his palm.

I crinkled my nose - the entire passage smelled like mold and cold, dank earth. "Where are we?"

"The servant's use this tunnel to feed the animals. It's the shortest route directly through the kitchens. Cook gives them the leftover scraps – it helps the hounds keep up their stamina. Blayne doesn't know about it because he had never stopped to bother himself with…" Darren cut himself off, and I just knew he had been about to say something very derogatory about the crown prince.

"Blayne would see through your disguise?" I teased.

"Unfortunately, my brother is suspicious of everyone." Darren's tone wasn't particularly enthusiastic. "And with you there in a place you would never have been otherwise, he would have almost certainly guessed it was me… Ah, here's the door." Darren did something to the wall and a door swung open to a very hot room teeming with steam and the tempting aroma of fresh roast and stewed vegetables.

"What's this – why is a beggar woman in my…? Oh, please excuse me, your highness, I haven't seen you in that costume for quite some time." A hefty man in cook's robes flushed, cheeks red as cherries.

Darren patted the man's arm cheerfully. "It's okay, Benny, just tell me if Blayne has already been down here." He strode forward and snaked two peeled oranges from a large bowl on the counter.

"You put them back – those are for my marmalade!" The cook strode forward and snatched the fruit back with a huff. I smiled to myself. The man might be a servant but he was particular about his craft, even around the prince. "And, yes, your insufferable brother has already been down here twice asking if any of us have seen you. He's in quite a tiff, that one, raging about my kitchens and putting everyone in distress even though we have double the food to cook now that the apprentices are here. I told him you were probably with that mutt, he didn't seem too happy about it – and I can see from where you've just come that I was indeed correct."

Darren grinned. "We just missed him."

"Well, he's set to check the training grounds next so you've bought yourself a half hour before he returns."

"Thanks, Benny."

"Thank me by telling me who this young lady is. I must say I like her looks a lot better than that Priscilla who is always insulting my scones."

"This is Ryiah." Darren held my hand tight. "She is – well, let's just say there will be some big changes before I leave."

The man clapped his hands excitedly. "Does this mean…?"

"Don't say anything to the others, don't even think it," Darren warned. "I need to speak with Father first. If he hears a rumor, it will destroy any chance I have of convincing him and you will be stuck with Priscilla forever."

The man drew two fingers across his lips, indicating he would keep silent. "The day that horror can't dictate my scones will be the day I take a wife."

Darren snorted in disbelief. "Well, Ryiah and I had better be off so we don't catch Blayne in one of his moods."

"When is he not? It was nice to meet you, Lady Ryiah. I can tell you that anyone who takes Miss No-More-Raisins-In-My-Scones' place is a welcome addition to my kitchen. Especially such a pretty redheaded one as yourself."

I looked away shyly and Darren elbowed Benedict. "Enough flirting with the lady."

The cook winked at me. "Ohhh, I think he's jealous. Good, you'll need to keep this one on his toes – he gets too sure of himself if there is no one to challenge him."

Darren's gaze slid to me and he grinned. "Oh, she challenges me all right. Since the day we met."

I felt myself blushing from head to toe.

"Until we meet next time, Benny?"

The cook nodded and Darren led me through the back of the servants' hall to the fourth floor of the palace.

"Ryiah?" Darren had just asked me a question.

I startled. "Huh?"

"I said, did you want to see the Council's chamber? Usually it's off limits but I know they are in the war chambers with the commanders and my father right now-"

"Of course I do!" I squealed.

Darren raised both brows, trying to hide a grin. "If I knew I could get that response, I would have done this a lot sooner." He led me down a narrow corridor to the right, and up another flight of stairs past stained windows and powerful tapestries of previous kings. We must have walked another ten minutes before we finally found ourselves in front of an elaborate set of doors, stained black with metal engravings that stated, "Council of Magic: Official Chambers" and then in smaller writing, "Do not interrupt – meetings are by appointment only, please see Artemis to schedule."