Apprentice (The Black Mage, #2)(84)

"It's also the territory with the highest death count," Brennan, another Combat mage, supplied. "So keep that in mind. You might be brave and you might be strong but it means nothing when you come across a lot of Caltothian mages and you are without backup. My best mate died in his second year of service because he thought he could take on five of them on his own during a routine raid. We lose a surprising number of Combat mages up north because of our faction's heroic tendencies. Now, it's not to say you won't find glory – they memorialize every one of our deaths and the Crown supports the deceased's family heavily - but every bit of fame has its price."

Ella stared at the man curiously. "So you are not one for fame?"

Brennan snorted. "Of course I am. I spent my first ten years in Ferren's Keep building up a fancy reputation."

"Why did you leave then?"

"The north is no place to start a family. If you have half a mind to fall in love, don't do it there."





****





In no time at all we had finished our final patrol and it was time to return to the palace for the fifth-year's ascension ceremony.

I swallowed as I unpacked my belongings. In one year's time it would be my turn.

Assuming I don't ruin my chances by stabbing a prince or two.

I had only seen Darren and his brother once since we arrived. I preferred to keep it that way. The little time I had spent in their company already had been far from pleasant. Blayne had gone out of his way to insult me, and all the while Darren had looked at me like I was a cockroach in need of smashing.

Yes, I was going to stay far, far away from the non-heir and his entourage, as much as humanly possible.

Well, that's what I told myself, in any case. And I really was doing well – until I ran into Priscilla on the third night. The girl made a face as soon as she spotted me.

"Why aren't you at that musty old tavern with the rest of your lowborn friends?"

I stared at her. Even for her that was unusually curt. "I don't need to explain my actions to you." To be honest, I was pretty sure Alex and Ella had wanted some time alone without me tagging along. But I wasn't about to tell her that.

"You stayed behind looking for him, didn't you?" Priscilla laughed brazenly and it was then that I realized the wine goblet in her hand.

"Are you drunk?"

"No." She hiccupped. "Because if I was, I'd be sure to throw this in that harlot's face."

For the first time it wasn't me Priscilla was referring to. I smiled to myself and then prodded her, curious by the sudden change in demeanor. "Who is bothering the great Priscilla of Langli?"

"Don't mock me, lowborn, it makes you look graceless." She covered her mouth and belched. "Like her. Why don't you take a nice long stroll to the library and see exactly why you should never fall for a man with a crown."

My pleasure instantly dissipated. There was only one reason Priscilla would send me to see Darren and that meant it would hurt me. She was upset and drinking wine at the prospect of lost status. I would be broken.

I shook my head. "I have no care to see Darren's newest conquest."

"Well Blayne sure will when I tell him how much time Darren has spent romancing that future wife of his. Why, the two of them have been inseparable since we got back!" She sneered, "It's like when we were kids, only now they spend late nights in his chambers… and no, I am not lying, Ryiah, his servants confirmed that to me just last evening. They even took me by so I could hear them myself." She dropped the goblet and let it clatter to the ground.

Taking a wobbly step forward the girl grabbed me by the shoulders and whispered loudly. "They were talking about marriage. I heard them." She laughed haughtily. "Though why a princess would choose the non-heir over a crown prince is beyond me."

"I'm sure you heard wrong." The words were thick on my tongue.

Priscilla pursed her lips and released me. "I won't lose my chance at the throne to you or a Borea Isle princess. The Crown needs my family's wealth and Shina's. Blayne will put a stop to this. I know he doesn't want to waste another year trying to secure another engagement. Blayne has to marry above his brother. The only two higher than Shina are the princesses in Caltoth and Pythus, and believe me when I say neither of those countries - or their ambassadors - like Jerar enough to support a marriage. I know what Darren is trying to do and it won't work. The king will never make him his heir."

Is that what this is about? Is Darren trying to convince his father to make him crown prince? Suddenly it all made sense. It explained why he was suddenly pursuing Princess Shinako. He was trying to steal Blayne's betrothed right out from under him. The non-heir was more ruthless than I had ever given him credit for.

I had heard of families feuding in the old scrolls, but there hadn't been a fight over the crown in ages. Strife between the royal family was bad for politics, and it was even more foolhardy while Darren was pursing magehood.

Would the Council of Magic force him to give up his robe? Council Law stated an heir could not be a mage. But maybe they would change that. They'd already bent the rules to let a member of the royal family participate.

Was everything Darren ever did a play for power?

My head was spinning from the possibility and Priscilla's words were ringing in my ears. Maybe I really didn't know him. Love must really be blind. Four years of knowing Darren and it had taken me until now to see him for who he really was. A wolf; a power-hungry, ruthless wolf who had tricked everyone, including his own flesh and blood. And I'd had to hear it from the girl I had spent four years believing my enemy.