The Bronze Mage (20 page)

"The last person to capture your arm: Mage James."

Tabitha jerked free of him and moved two paces away, eyeing Rayner warily.

"Rather a strong reaction to his name," he commented drily.

Tabitha wasn't certain how to respond. She focused on slowing her breathing and pulse. James's name had not caused the reaction. Rather the combination of the words "control" and "capture" with the idea of a successor had triggered a panic. Not that she was likely to share this fact with Mage Edgar's spy. Nor the fact that she was having nightmares more often, this time about the compulsion spell growing out of control. She'd begun wishing James really could see her dreams. Some part of her was certain that if he knew she was in distress, he'd change his mind, break the spell. But she wasn't in real distress, just imaginary. And he'd already refused her request.

Lost in thought, Tabitha had forgotten all about Rayner momentarily. He walked up to her now, as if approaching a skittish horse. Stopping a few inches from her, he laid his right hand on her shoulder again. It was hard for her not to flinch away.
 

"Don't," she said, firmly, but already she was feeling calmer.

Rayner shrugged and removed his hand. Relinking their arms, he suggested they catch up with Prince William and led her on through the maze. After a few moments, he asked, "Did he often use the spell on you?"

"Not often, at least not before...," she snapped her jaw shut when she realized she was answering him. Took the offensive before he asked her anything else. "Rayner, what exactly is a magic senser?"

"Someone who can see magic, but cannot cast spells."

"What does magic look like?"

"Well, like lines, or sometimes a pattern, but in colored lights."

That sounded interesting. "What affects the colors or patterns? How bright are they? Do they actually illuminate the things around them?"

Rayner laughed. "Unfortunately, no. Otherwise you'd be a walking torch. The color and brightness can be controlled by a skilled mage. It can intentionally alert other magic users to an item's power, or try to conceal itself."

"Does all magic look the same to you?"

"There are some differences. I can tell a spell from a curse, temporary magic from permanent. Yours are permanent spells, but after nearly two years, I suspect you knew that." Rayner glanced sidelong at Tabitha. "Why would he put a permanent spell on you, then release you? One would assume he was planning to take you back."

Tabitha nodded. "People did assume that. But if he ever did, he's changed his mind."

''Was he afraid you'd forget him? Is it some kind of souvenir?"

"That's exactly the term he used: souvenir."

"Surely there's more to the story than you're telling," Rayner insisted.

Tabitha shook her head, "He practically ignored me both when he was here and at Prince Cameron's wedding."

"That's not quite what I've heard..."

"Well, he's different when we're alone...or when he's asleep," Tabitha smiled to herself then realized what she'd just said. She blushed deeply. "That isn't at all what it sounds like."

"I wouldn't imagine it was," Rayner said, apparently enjoying her discomfiture. "There is a rumor that King Fenril would like very much to have you married to his court mage."

"Honestly, Rayner, you can say his name." Tabitha was beginning to hope the other girls would join them soon and change the conversation. She seemed incapable of editing her answers to Rayner's questions.

"Who opposes the match? You or your father?"

"James opposes it, from what I've heard."

"Perhaps. And you?"

With an effort, Tabitha clamped her jaw shut and pulled free once again of Rayner's arm. "Enough. It's time to interrupt William, before he makes plans for a clandestine meeting that will get us all in trouble."

"Why do you think Mage James changed his mind?" Rayner asked, ignoring her injunction, but keeping pace beside her.

"I suspect that when he saw me again he realized how plain I was and moved on."

"You were hardly the only girl he'd ever seen." Rayner once again reclaimed her arm, but didn't slow her progress.

"He was bronze for 28 years. After being a statue for so long, any female might seem attractive. Returning to Salbren opened his eyes."

"So it is true that he grew attached to you while you were together."

"There was a time I was sure that James felt...," Tabitha cut herself off, disentangled her arm and put distance between them. "Well, if he did, he's since altered his opinion."

With that, they caught up with Prince William, who didn't entirely welcome their company, but as his sisters joined them almost immediately afterward, he could hardly justify a complaint. Others soon added to their number and before long a riding party was organized for the next afternoon. Lunch would be packed and they would all journey to the coast to watch some of King Langston's trade ships set out on their journey to the western archipelago.

The three girls chose to dine alone that evening. Carissa was out of sorts with one of her beaux and wanted to avoid any chance meetings. Tabitha was glad at the excuse to avoid Rayner. The afternoon had been unsettling.
 

As usual Carissa dominated the conversation, detailing her many wrongs at the hands of her suitors. Irene attempted to console her, but Tabitha paid little attention. Her conversation with Rayner had stirred up her doubts. Could she really have misread everything? Yes, of course she could have, but that didn't help. Anyone would be confused by James's behavior. She could still picture his face when he'd turned to her in the hedge maze, before he realized he'd called her. Of course, she also recalled his expression as he realized it. What had he done to her afterwards? He'd never hurt her before then. She still didn't understand it. It seemed she never would.
 
He'd been quite blunt in Xentia, but he'd also called her every night. Why wouldn't he remove the spell? Why was she still tied to him after he'd rejected her?

After a while Tabitha forced herself to refocus on Carissa's problems. At least a few of those seemed solvable.

TWENTY-EIGHT

Confronting a Rumor

Several days later Rayner got Tabitha talking about James again. He'd wanted to see a view the siblings weren't interested in, so they sat on some rocks about thirty yards from where the others were picnicking. The vineyards were quite a sight, just starting to turn green. The scent of the soil blended with Rayner's cologne. He was sitting too close again, but Tabitha didn't feel like moving.

"So the infamous Mage James kidnapped you, ensorcelled you and stole your heart." Rayner said.

Tabitha flushed. "Hardly a great distinction."

"It was. You retired him for over a year." Rayner seemed not to notice Tabitha's lack of response. "So, did he ever sneak past your father's guards to visit you at home, or have you only seen him again since you've been in Westphal?"

"For a while I thought he haunted my dreams. Is that even possible?"

"Hmmm. It would be unusual if you didn't dream about him after your experience."

"No. It wasn't like that. It was like he was real. So real, it usually woke me up, because I'd realize everything else was a dream."

"How often does this happen?"

"Never now. But I think it was every night for a long time."

"Do you remember when it stopped?"

"After he visited Westphal to arrange Anya's marriage. But is that sort of thing possible? Why would I imagine it so long and then suddenly stop?"

"I've never heard of such a thing, but with the strength of the spell he has on you... perhaps. What did he use the spell for, Tabitha?"

She suddenly sat up and shifted away. Putting distance between them seemed the only way to stop telling him everything. "To frustrate those who try to remove it."

"I must admit, I'm impressed that even Mage Edgar has failed to break the spell. I'd always thought the stories about Mage James were rather exaggerated." Rayner leaned away and turned so he could face her more easily. "I heard he gave you a talisman you could use to send him secret messages, but your father melted it."

Tabitha laughed aloud. "Are you certain you're not a wandering minstrel? You spin a great story."

"Can't carry a tune," he smiled.

"What a shame." Tabitha made an effort to dismiss the previous conversation. "You're determined to make a romance out of some leftover politics. You should spend time in Salbren and plague James in person."

"I feel safer plaguing you."

Tabitha nodded. "You probably are safer with me."

That caught his interest. He scooted closer. Tabitha gave him an impatient look, but he ignored it. "Was he ever violent? Did he hurt or threaten you?"
 
Rayner seemed more intrigued than concerned.

Shaking her head, Tabitha asked, "Why are you so fascinated with James?"

"Maybe I've paid too much attention to rumors." He studied her face. "I was certain there was a story between you. Did he ever kiss you?"

"Twice." Tabitha couldn't believe she'd just admitted that. She clamped her jaw, willing it to stay shut.

"Did he win them or steal them?"

"I have no idea what you mean." The churning in her stomach suggested otherwise.

"Did he do something like this," Rayner leaned even closer to Tabitha, wrapped his arms around her and brought his lips within an inch of hers, "and let you close the distance or did he just kiss you regardless of your wishes?" Rayner's breath was warm and sweet. At this distance his cologne seemed to envelope her. Tabitha's eyes closed.
 

The guard whistled a shrill warning.

Tabitha's eyes shot open and she pulled away, blushing furiously. Without apparently noticing her reaction, Rayner released Tabitha and swiveled back to his original position.

Tabitha murmured, "He stole them," before she'd realized she was again answering when she shouldn't.

"How did you come to return home?"

This question she didn't mind answering. "I'm not exactly sure. It may have been coincidence, but I think I finally convinced him that he couldn't just keep me like a stray cat he'd found in his yard. I was determined to annoy him. He lost his temper and, well, scared me out of it, but the next day he told me he would send me home. Before that he'd acted like I should just get used to being there...as if that were possible."

"You annoyed him?"

Tabitha nodded. "I was rude, and I kept throwing things at him," she giggled at the memory.

Rayner shook his head. "You're either very brave or very stupid."

"I was very desperate," she remembered James's first kiss and sobered. "But I didn't need to be brave, he would never hurt me."

"So he must care for you!"

"Not in that way. He couldn't. Why would he?"

"Why are you so set against believing it?"

"Enough, Rayner." With that, she stood, ending the conversation, or so she thought. But as they reached the others, Rayner asked, loud enough for everyone to hear, "I was sure he'd sent you home with some magical token of his affection. Are you telling me he dropped you on the doorstep like a sack of clothes at a laundry?"

Carissa immediately tuned into the conversation. "Oh! Are we talking about Mage James? Well, of course he gave her presents! Jewelry and horses and, wasn't there a magic mirror?"

"Carissa! Where do you hear such things?" Tabitha protested. Will turned slightly red.

"I have a friend who lives on the border of Xentia...," he confessed.

"The infamous Patrick, source of all Westphal's rumors concerning me?"

Will turned slightly redder.

Rayner looked between the two of them. "You are being too harsh on Will. If you want the rumors to stop, supply the truth."

"We actually tried that in Valstadt, but it wasn't as helpful as you'd think."

"Maybe not with strangers, but among friends?"

Tabitha threw up her hands. "OK, you want to know if he gave me gifts. Yes." Carissa's face lit up. "But they were practical. He wanted a position in my father's friend's court. So he couldn't 'drop me on the doorstep like a sack of dirty clothes' as you so colorfully suggested, Rayner. Nor could he escort me home himself. I'd been wearing clothes borrowed from a village woman while I was with him, so he provided me with a proper riding outfit and gave me a horse. He also enchanted a necklace to ensure that I would reach home safely."

"Can I see the necklace?" Carissa and Rayner's voices formed a duet.

Tabitha rolled her eyes. "I haven't seen it myself since I reached home. You two are incorrigible."

Carissa looked disappointed; Rayner amused. Neither bothered even pretending to take the rebuke to heart.

"Patrick wasn't all wrong then: Mage James did give you jewelry and a horse," Will pointed out.

"One of each. No magic mirror." Turning to Carissa then Rayner, she added sternly, "No protestations of undying regard. No secret way to send messages. Just clothes and safe passage."

Rayner was not so easily dissuaded. "So it was a simple chain necklace with a temporary spell?"

Tabitha flushed and looked away. She wasn't sure how to convince them James had never cared, when she'd failed to convince herself. But whatever he'd felt then mattered little now.
 

Carissa sounded excited. "I'd say not, then. What was it, Tabitha?"

Tabitha closed her eyes to see it again, her hand wandered to her throat as if it were still there. "A silver chain and setting. A sapphire surrounded by shards of jet." She opened her eyes and met Rayner's gaze. "Permanent spells."

"More than one spell?" asked Rayner.

"How big was the sapphire?" asked Carissa.

"Three or four spells, I can't remember. The sapphire was about the size of my thumbnail."

"You said he made it specifically for you?"

Tabitha's flush deepened. "Not the necklace, of course. Mage Crandall believed the spells were new."

Rayner didn't bother to respond. He just raised his eyebrows and gave the others a victorious look. Carissa and Will echoed it. Irene had the compassion to stand and announce that it would surely rain soon and they'd better head home. Tabitha was grateful. Still, there was some enjoyment in the memories, and even in the teasing. It made her relationship with James seem like a normal romance rather than the mess it was.