Stormcaster (Shattered Realms #3)(54)

“Bones,” he said. “I didn’t even know he was engaged. Who was she?”

“Her name was Aspen Silverleaf,” Lila said. “A clan leatherworker. I suppose that’s what he . . .” Her voice trailed off. “Anyway. I thought I’d better mention it.”

“I didn’t know about that. Thank you for letting me know, so I can avoid saying anything stupid.”

“I’m mainly looking out for him,” Lila said. “Don’t worry, there’s plenty of room for you to be stupid on lots of other topics.” She said this with an echo of her usual snarkiness, but Ash could tell that her heart wasn’t in it.

Just then, the cathedral temple bells sounded the quarter hour.

Ash draped his wizard stoles over his coat. They weighed on him, more than silk and stitchery ever had before. “I suppose I’d better go. Are you going to stop in for a little while?”

Lila came to her feet and shook her head. “Nah. I’ve seen the people I need to see. If I stay any longer, I’ll see the people I’d just as soon avoid.”

“Well, be careful,” Ash said.

“I’m not the one with a target on his back.” She hesitated a moment, then grudgingly embraced him. “Take care of yourself, healer.”

As soon as he was ushered into the queen’s reception chamber, Ash all but ran into Micah Bayar. The wizard took a quick step back, nimbly avoiding the collision.

“Welcome home, Your Highness,” Bayar said, inclining his head in a polite bow. “Your sudden resurrection has brought joy into your mother’s heart after an unusually dark season, and for that I am glad.”

Ash’s heart-to-heart with Lila had kindled old suspicions. Did Bayar know I was alive all along? Did my mother tell him or not? Did she trust him to know? Was he the one who betrayed me? He tried not to stare at Bayar’s High Wizard stoles—the colors he’d last seen draped over his father’s shoulders.

Bayar made no attempt to hide his own slow study of Ash. “I see your father in you more clearly now than before,” he said. It was impossible to tell from the wizard’s tone and expression whether he thought that was a good thing or a bad thing.

“If you see any element of my father in me, I consider that a compliment,” Ash said.

Bayar turned and motioned to a tall young wizard with white-blond hair, who stood just behind him and to one side. “I believe you know my nephew, Finn.”

“Finn!” Ash said, with real warmth this time. “It’s good to see that you—that you—”

“That I’m still alive?” Finn smiled a crooked smile. “That’s my line, I believe.”

They embraced.

“Finn has been attending the academy at Oden’s Ford,” Bayar continued. “Now I hear that you’ve been studying there as well.” He paused long enough to give that sentence a little extra bite. Did that mean that he hadn’t known Ash was alive, that his mother hadn’t confided in him? “Interesting that the two of you never crossed paths.”

Does he think I’m lying about being at Oden’s Ford? Why would I do that? So I could bask on a beach somewhere?

“Maybe we did, Uncle Micah,” Finn said, rolling his eyes. “It’s been four years. We’ve both changed. I’m not sure I could have picked Adrian out of a crowd—especially since I wasn’t looking for him, because we all thought he was dead.”

Really? Ash thought. Finn had changed—he appeared gaunt, a bit hollow-eyed, the bones in his face standing out more than before. But four years wasn’t all that long, and the wizard academy was smaller than in the past. Ash couldn’t help thinking that if he had seen him, he would have recognized him.

“Every marching season, Finn’s been fighting for the queendom,” Bayar said. “He’s played a pivotal role in keeping the southerners at bay.” Maybe Bayar was just proud of his nephew, but Ash wondered if that was intended as a dig at the runaway prince.

By now, Finn’s pale cheeks were stained with color. “Uncle,” he said, “I’d like to hear more about what Adrian has been doing.”

“Hasn’t the spring term already started?” Ash said.

Finn nodded. “It has, but I’m not going back. I have a new calling. I’m apprenticed to Lord Vega in the healing halls.”

Ash stared at him. “In the healing halls? You . . . you mean to be a healer?” Ash couldn’t ever remember Finn expressing an interest in that field.

Finn nodded, laughing. “Is that so hard to believe? As I said, we’ve both changed over the past four years.”

“Finn suffered a serious wound on the battlefield last summer,” Bayar said. “He spent a great deal of time under Lord Vega’s care. Now he’s got it into his head that he wants to be a healer. Hopefully a season emptying bedpans and treating Tamric boils will—”

“This is not some kind of whim, Uncle Micah,” Finn said. “I know you think I should have returned to the academy, but this is the path I’ve chosen. My parents are supportive, and that should be enough for you.”

“They’re more supportive of your betrothal than of your chosen vocation,” Bayar retorted. “Anything that keeps you here until the deed is accomplished is—”