The Flames of Deception - A Horizon of Storms: Book 1 (66 page)

Balzan sat back and nodded. He took a breath. “I think,
perhaps, we have become side -tracked. In any case, I applaud you
princess for your conduct.” He sighed. “I feel I need to be candid
about my actions relating to your request. May I?”

“
I would
prefer
it,” Josephine said.

He nodded. “I am deeply concerned about your
request of a meeting with the regent. You hint at an unspecified
danger, but you will not tell me what that danger is. You have
emerged in our realm without warning - a
princess
bringing such news? Why not an
ambassador?
Why
such a small party?
None
of this makes
sense
to me. Neither does the fact that you will
not tell me. If the danger is as imminent as it sounds, why not
tell me what it is?” He stood. “But, above
all
else, I am
very
concerned about the company you keep.” He moved to
stand over Matthias. “I do not trust Mahalians. Even
lower
ranked ones.”
Matthias’s nose wrinkled. “That you are here as an advisor to
Aralia troubles me, Matthias Greenwald. I am forced to
wonder
how much influence
my former countrymen now
have
with your king. Aralia has always had difficulties
freeing itself from the leash of the council.” He turned back to
Josephine. “It is that reason that has given me great pause. To
allow access to the regent under these circumstances may present
not only a danger to him, but to these people I now
protect.”

“
You haven’t told him the regent we’re here,
have
you?” Luccius asked
suddenly, joining in the discussion.

Balzan looked at him soberly. He shook his head. “No ansuwan
man. No I have not. I am sorry to have deceived you.”

Josephine sat forward. “You have not informed
Regent Caldur I am even here? Then what have we been
waiting
for?”

“
I
was looking for some proof from our information gatherers that
would convince me you are here for the greater good,” he said. “Or
some part of me that could justify setting up the meeting you
requested. I could find none that could warrant the
risk.”

“
You have not told the regent because you fear for
his
safety?
” Josephine asked, the frustration evident in her voice.
“Is that the reason you deny me this right?”

“
I
have not informed him because to allow a wizard and those
potentially under his influence to have access to the most powerful
man in this country. I need to know of what it is you want to speak
with him about!” he said, gesturing heatedly with his arms.
“Royalty or not, your highness, that is the crux of the
matter.”

Josephine stood from her chair. She was a head shorter than
the protector, but she looked up at him with no less authority for
it. “Do you care for the people of this realm?” she asked
him.

“
Unquestionably
,” he responded.

Josephine stared at the man. “I believe you,” she
said, and then, after a moment, she nodded. “You are correct.
You
do
have a right to know what is happening
here.”

“
Princess
,” Matthias said warily. Josephine turned to
Matthias, who was looking at her anxiously.

“
What is more
important
here Matthias?” she asked him. “Keeping secrets
or
stopping
this threat?”

Matthias looked from the protector to the
princess, his eyes analysing them intently. “He is not to be
trusted!
” he exclaimed.

“
I don’t
believe
that,” she rebuffed. Matthias looked hurt. His
cheeks flushed. Josephine noticed and her face grew softer.
“Matthias, you have looked after us along this journey and I have
trusted your judgement this far. But I
have
to listen to my instincts first.” She
turned back to the protector. “I have been told you are a cruel
and
devious
man. I may be able to believe the
latter
, as I have never met a wizard who
is
not
so. Even
this
one,” she nodded to Matthias. “But cruel?” She stared into
his eyes. “I do not see it.”

Balzan smiled. “Then you see a greater truth than
your
companion
, my dear,” he said warmly.

Josephine turned her head to Matthias. “You may not trust the
protector Matthias, but do you trust me?”

Matthias stood and looked at Balzan. His eyes
drowned in confusion. Then he looked to Josephine and meeting her
gaze again, he took a breath. “
Implicitly
.”

“
Then let me
do
this,” she asked.

Matthias smiled at her and then, slowly, he nodded. “Tell
him.”

Protector Balzan poured himself another glass of wine - his
third in the space of the hour Josephine had taken to tell him
about her journey. Now she was finished, they sat and watched as he
sniffed at the glass.

“
I
do enjoy a spiced wine. It reminds me so often of the drinks of
Mahalia. Do you not agree Matthias?”

“
I would rather hear of your thoughts regarding the
information Princess Josephine has just
given
you than your musings about the comforts
of home,” Matthias replied acidly.

Balzan sipped at the wine. “It is a
very
good vintage.” he
said and set the glass on the table, regarding Josephine. “That you
can wield one of the powers is one thing, your highness. But...
that you are an
Akari?
” He recited, shaking his head. “It is hard to
comprehend.”

Josephine smiled. “I said that you would not believe me, did
I not?”

“
Did I say I
didn’t
believe you?” Balzan responded. “It is just
hard
to do so, when one
takes all the current truths of the world into
consideration.”

Josephine nodded. “Well that is who I am, whatever your
opinion is on the matter. Or at least, I am the heir to their
power, if I am not a part of their race. If I have to demonstrate
the powers I wield, I will do so. Though you may want to remove
anything of value from the room. I am... still
learning.”

Balzan smiled. “I do not think that will be necessary,” he
said. “Your convictions speak louder than any demonstration
can.”

“
You
do not think this is some kind of Mahalian plot?” Matthias asked
with surprise.

Balzan chuckled. “As deceptive as Mahalia can be,
it is beyond even
their
means to weave such a
farfetched
tale.” He proceeded to pace the room. “Your
involvement in this Matthias is almost as surprising as the
other
aspects of this
tale. It seems much has changed in the council if members of its
ranks would so openly defy the Consensus.”

“
This is not a betrayal,” he said pointedly. “Before you try
to find similarities between our two situations, protector. I am
acting in the best interests of my people, even if they do not
consider it to be so.”

The old man smiled. “You still have
much
to learn,” he
commented and moved to the window, where he stared out at the city.
The pillar holding the dragon stretched into the air, and from the
perspective of the window only the tail and wings were readily
visible. “I believe you,” he said.

“
You
do?” the princess said with surprise.

He nodded. “I believe that you are what you say
you are, or at the very least, that you are a women who can wield
one of the powers. I am an
expert
judge of character, even if I say so myself.” He
let out a snort of laughter. “And having practiced the art of
deception for so long as a part of Mahalia’s council, I have
learned to spot an untruth as soon as it leaves someone’s lips.” He
turned to Josephine. “You are no liar, princess. Of that much I am
certain. And your companion is not practised enough in the art to
pull the wool over
my
eyes.” Matthias gritted his teeth as Balzan looked back out
the window. “That being said, I cannot see how anyone could be
working to release the dragon. I test the wards around him
regularly. I have never found
any
weakness.”

“
These sorcerers are clever,” Matthias interceded. “They have
hidden for centuries without being found. Age has undoubtedly
brought them wisdom.”

Balzan sniffed. “I have found that age mostly
serves to highlight how little we still truly know of the world.
For
most
people, age simply brings
wrinkles
. Myself
unfortunately
included.”

“
If it were only the gift of
youth
these men were after, I would not be
so concerned,” Matthias retorted. “But they seem to have other
plans afoot.”

Balzan sighed. “I cannot see what releasing the
dragon would accomplish, even if these men
are
the sorcerers you believe them to be.” He
squinted at the pillar.

“
Protector, I have told you what you wanted to
know,” sighed Josephine. “It is
all
we know. Regardless, I hope you
realise
now that we are
here in your best interests and that we have not come to hatch some
plot to undermine you?”

Balzan left the window and returned to where they were
gathered behind him. He nodded. “I will accede as much.”

Josephine bowed her head in response. “Then I will
repeat my
original
request. Will you grant me a meeting with the regent?” she
asked. “I understand you have a great many things to make sense of.
But you may puzzle over the intricacies of our situation whilst I
convene with him. We do not have any more time for
deliberation.”

Balzan’s jaw worked as he thought. After what seemed an
eternity, he finally dipped his head. “I will visit him now and
tell him all you have told me. I cannot say how long I will be, but
I will send for you as soon as I can.”

Josephine smiled. “You have my thanks, Protector Balzan. You
have made the right choice.”

Balzan smiled. “
That
remains to be seen.” The man swept across the room
and opened the heavy door. He turned to regard them once again. “To
think, I was having rather an
uneventful
day...” He smiled and shut the door behind
himself.

Luccius let out a deep breath. “Well, I am
glad
that
is over!” he exclaimed. “I have never felt so awkward! I’m
only sorry I had nothing to add. I felt like a
mute!”

“
I think Matthias interceded more than enough for
all of you,” she said tersely. “I do not know what you are
thinking
of, acting so
rudely! How are we to earn the trust of the man if you manage to
anger him at every opportunity?” She raised her hands to the air.
“And I thought you were the one who was supposed to be heading up
this quest!”

“
I cannot pretend to
like
the man Josephine. You might believe he is a good
man. I can’t.” Matthias shook his head.

“
Not that I am always a good judge of character,
but he didn't
seem
to be a dishonourable man,” Thadius added. “In fact, aside
from his bluntness of earlier, he was rather accommodating when you
explained everything to him.”

“
I agree,” Josephine said. “With that in mind, I
would ask that you restrain yourself the next time. You may be a
master of your magics Matthias, but this is court life -
politics
- and I have lived
in such a world since birth. I
know
how to talk to these people.”

Matthias opened his mouth to rebuff her comments,
but then, he stopped himself. “You... you are right. I’ve let my
personal feelings for the man take over my common sense. You have
done exceptionally here, Josephine, whereas I have done the
complete
opposite.” He
sniffed. “But I
still
can’t bring myself to trust him.”

“
I am not
asking
you to trust him,” Josephine said. “I just need
you to remain calm in his presence until this is over. I need your
support,
now
more than ever.”