Read The Fire Mages' Daughter Online
Authors: Pauline M. Ross
“Thank you,” I whispered, although I wasn’t sure whether Arran loved me or just the high rank I brought him.
He chuckled. “There was a time you wouldn’t have listened to any advice from me. You’d have told me to mind my own business.
‘You’re not my father!’
How many times have you said that to me, eh?”
“And then flounced off. I did a lot of flouncing, didn’t I? But I was wrong. You
are
my father, in every way that matters. So thank you.”
He held me very tight.
I had not a moment to myself that sun. With Yannassia resting and not allowed to leave her apartment, on Mother’s orders, I found myself in charge of all the Drashona’s formal engagements for the sun. There were private meetings with an envoy from the Karningplain, two new Moon Temple priestesses, an army commander from the eastern border, a spy with news of the elusive Vahsi, and several nobles with a variety of complaints. Nobles never brought anything but complaints. It would have been nice if one would occasionally say how well Yannassia was doing her job, or congratulate Zandara on the progress of the war. But even when things were going well, they fretted constantly.
It gave me a deeper insight into what my life would be like if Yannassia had her way, and I became Drashona in my turn. The boredom was penetrating, and the need to listen politely, to smile at appropriate moments and to say, “How interesting!” as if I really meant it taxed me to my limits.
The only interesting moment was the spy. He was another nondescript man, just like Lathran, so I could see why he was selected for the role. He had been living amongst the Icthari for some moons, posing as a woodcarver and moving from one village to another, talking to people and listening in taverns, or whatever the Icthari had that passed for taverns. He reported that there was widespread concern on the eastern borders about the number of Vahsi in the area, and many Icthari were packing up and moving west in fear of an invasion.
When he had left, I turned to the steward. “The commander we saw earlier – she was from the eastern border, wasn’t she? Can you fetch her back? I’d like to know if she’s seen the same thing.”
I don’t suppose she was very pleased about being dragged back from the guests’ refreshment room, but she hid it well.
“It is true enough,” she said. “There are a great many Vahsi about this year. It varies by season, but numbers have been building every year, ever since that trouble in the Karningplain.”
“Of course. Now that the war’s over, the Karningers have been pushing south, and building new settlements. That’s been disrupting the Vahsi’s ability to follow the kishorn herds.”
“Yes, Highness,” she said, her expression blank. The eastern border of Bennamore was her remit, not the Plains of Kallanash.
“But you have had no clashes with the Vahsi?”
“Oh, no, Highness. They are far to the north of us. They know we are well-defended.”
But the Icthari were not. Well, it would not grieve me if the war-like Vahsi invaded Icthari lands. It would keep the Icthari too occupied to trouble about the traitor’s spawn, perhaps. And the news of Vahsi activities would give me another argument against Zandara’s plan to withdraw troops from the eastern border to fuel a further push into the Clanlands.
Then I had an assembly to attend, reluctantly sitting in Yannassia’s chair, while Axandor glowered at me. Zandara was far too controlled to glower, but she argued every point with me, her voice all sweet reason. Vhar-zhin was the same as ever, staring into space and saying nothing at all. Hethryn, only recently allowed to be present, leaned forward in his chair, his face alight with interest in everything that transpired and practically bouncing with enthusiasm when asked for his opinion.
Later, a reception to celebrate the marriage of one of Yannassia’s cousins. Normally such affairs were restful, and I could skulk in a quiet spot, observing the flow of guests. Now, everyone wanted to talk to me. I had a plate of delicious sweetmeats in my hand, and managed no more than a bite or two the whole afternoon.
After that, an hour with Yannassia, telling her everything she had missed, and answering her always penetrating questions. But Mother was there, so I had the opportunity to steal a little magic from her, for I was tiring a little by then. So much to do, draining my energy and leading me to the brink of exhaustion. A little boost of magic perked me up, and was less dangerous than going to the Imperial City.
While I dressed for the evening, I talked to Jayna about some mage problems. Then a formal meal with the goldsmiths and silversmiths, all of them displaying so many jewels my eyes hurt. Finally a dramatic performance, which was so dull I amused myself by entering the mind of a cat prowling the streets outside. When he started hunting in earnest, I summoned Sunshine and had her fly over Kingswell so that I could look down from a height.
It was very late when Arran and I reached the apartment. He’d said nothing to me all sun, although he’d shadowed me everywhere, from the assembly onwards. Now he undressed in silence and got straight into bed, his back to me. Still huffy, then. How annoying.
I was used to him helping with buttons and ties, so it took me an age to get everything off. That didn’t improve my temper. But I was not going to allow this little tiff to fester, so I slid into bed beside him, and stroked his leg, gradually working my way up to his thigh.
Before I reached the interesting parts, he chuckled. “Got over your grumps, have you?”
I snatched my hand away. “My grumps?”
“You were very off last night, my sweet.” He rolled onto his back, and even in the dim light of the night lamps, I could see the lascivious way he was grinning. “But it is quite understandable, and I am sure you can think of ways to make it up to me.”
“Make it up to you?” I said, stupefied.
“For my disappointment.” And he winked.
His disappointment. Well, that made two of us. Anger burned through me, but I controlled it. Yannassia had trained me well, and it seemed I must use my skills even in the bedroom. I would not be bullied by my own drusse, but there was no need for a quarrel. There were other, more subtle, ways to deal with him.
Slithering closer to him, I propped myself on one elbow so that I looked down at him. With a smile, I leaned forward and touched my lips to his. When I pulled away, his eyes were gleaming in anticipation.
“Do you love me, Arran?” I whispered, nuzzling his cheek and drifting little kisses all around his face.
Surprise in his eyes. “Of course, my little flower, you know that.”
“And you like being my drusse, I think?” Another kiss, longer.
Something shifted in his face. He was definitely wary now, wondering where this was leading. “I do, yes. I like it very well.”
“That’s good. Because I like having you as my drusse.” Kiss. “I like how respectful you are in public, and how sweet in private.” Kiss. “I like the considerate way you do so much for me.” Kiss. “You are very good to me, and I love you for it.”
“I… that makes me happy, my love, naturally.”
I moved closer for a longer kiss. It was a moment before he responded, but then he got into the spirit of it and rolled me onto my back, his legs entwined with mine. I closed my eyes and revelled in the glorious sensations as his hands roamed all over me. Everything was perfect again.
But I think he understood the point.
~~~~~
Come to me! Come now!
I was out of bed and reaching for my clothes almost before I was awake.
Come to me! Come now!
The compulsion was so strong, I was half-dressed before reason intervened. What was I doing? Dawn had broken, but only just, for four of the night lamps still burned. It was hours yet before I needed to stir from my bed, yet something was driving me to go – where?
Closing my eyes, I let my mind float free. Some mice under the floor nearby. A cat on the prowl. Further away, Sunshine was awake, too, and agitated.
But beyond that…
Come to me! Come now!
I turned slowly until the sensation was the strongest. Something tugging at me, from far away to the northwest, calling me. Summoning me.
Ly-haam.
Now that I was fully alert, I had no trouble resisting. He was summoning me, but his power over me was weak. There was no possibility of further sleep, so I dressed and curled into an armchair, waiting. As the hours crept past, I watched Arran as he slept. When he was deeply asleep, he sprawled, arms and legs spread out. Just now, one foot peeked from beneath the blanket, and an arm trailed carelessly over the edge of the bed. A curl of blond hair fell across his face. My heart was so full of love for him, I thought I would never tire of watching him.
The night lamps winked out, one by one. When only the last one burned, I knew Yannassia would be awake, so I left Arran slumbering and crept out of the room. The two night guards outside the bedroom door sprang to attention, and silently followed me.
Yannassia was up and dressed in a loose robe, drinking her morning brew with her new drusse in her innermost sitting room. He was a fine looking man, although a few years younger than she was. He came from a family even lower ranked in the nobility than Arran’s, and he, too, had met his drusse-holder when he was her bodyguard. They sat either side of a small table beside a window, smiling and holding hands. It was such a picture of domestic happiness that I stopped on the threshold.
“I beg your pardon,” I said. “I will come back later.”
The drusse sprang up at once, bowing to me. “Not at all, Highness. Your business must be urgent, so I will withdraw and leave you to your discussions.” He bent and kissed Yannassia, who blushed like a girl. “I will be outside if you need me.”
“He has excellent manners,” I said, when the door had closed behind him. “But how are you this morning?”
She pulled a face. “This is not the best time for me. I had forgotten the unpleasantness of it. But Torthran has no children of his own, and he generously wishes to gift his nose to posterity.”
“It is a very shapely nose.”
“Indeed it is. I trust posterity will be grateful for it.” She pushed away the brew. “Ugh. I cannot drink this stuff. I wish the peaches were ready. I have such a longing for peach juice. But never mind that. Has something happened? No one is hurt?”
“No, no! Nothing of that sort. I had… a strange experience, that is all.”
I told her the whole of it, although it sounded crazy when put baldly into words. I wouldn’t have blamed her for dismissing it all as nonsense or a bad dream. But perhaps my warning of the Icthari had given her faith in my oddness.
“So was he talking to you directly? I recall you told me he could do that.”
“No, that hasn’t happened for a while. This wasn’t really words, although my mind interpreted it that way. It was more like… oh, how can I describe it? It’s like the marching drum the army has that makes everyone want to march. Or a lively jig that makes you tap your feet. Only… stronger,” I finished lamely.
“You said he was summoning you?”
“That’s what it felt like – he was calling me to go to him. But maybe I’m too far away, or his power isn’t strong enough, because although I’m drawn towards him, in a way, I don’t feel compelled.”
“What does he want, do you suppose? Why is he summoning you?”
An unanswerable question. I chewed my lip. “I don’t think he’s summoning
me
specifically. It felt very undirected, more like a general call to his people.”
Such a vague description, but Yannassia didn’t blink. She accepted my word without the slightest hint of disbelief. “Ah. Interesting. What do you propose that we do about it?”
That was another question I couldn’t begin to answer. “I’m not sure there is anything we
can
do, without further information. But perhaps we should send word to the High Commander to be alert for any unusual activity.”
“Very well. I will have a message sent discreetly. I think we should tell no one else about this, not yet.”
“Except Zandara, I suppose?”
“
Especially
not Zandara. She has a quite irrational dislike of you, Drina. She will certainly not believe in this summoning, and will imagine you are inventing it to increase your importance before the Nobles’ Council. I will not give her any reason to undermine you just now.”
I accepted that, although Zandara’s logic was faulty if she thought I had any interest in increasing my importance. The nobles would be meeting soon to make a decision on Yannassia’s proposed heirs, and I would be delighted if they refused to accept me.
“And I trust you not to come up with any of your tricks,” she went on. “I know how little you want this, but if you consider the alternatives, you must agree that you are absolutely the right choice, as I hoped from the moment you arrived here. You have the best of both your parents in you – your father’s initiative, and your mother’s pragmatism. Whereas the others got the worst of each. Zandara got all my ambition, coupled with her father’s ruthlessness. She is so cold, I can hardly believe she is my own blood. And Axandor has his father’s looks, and his mother’s stupidity, I regret to say. As for Vhar-zhin, she is all her mother. She has nothing of Vordryn in her at all.”
“Hethryn is the most like you,” I said.
She smiled. “You like Hethryn, I think. He is certainly sharp. I will watch him, for the future. He might make a good Bai-Drashonor.”
“He would make a good Drashonor.”
That made her laugh. “No, you will not get out of this so easily. But if he learns from you, perhaps in time I will be able to be rid of Zandara.”
“She would not like to hear you say so.”
“True enough,” Yannassia said. “She is determined to be Drashonor, and she would be horrified to learn that she might not even be Bai-Drashonor. You must be careful of Zandara. She has worked for years to establish her position, and she will not like to have it snatched away at the last minute.”