The Wizard's Daughters: Twin Magic: Book 1 (17 page)

There were a number of ways to see if two mages had compatible flows, but it came with a steep risk. Testing compatibility was a one-way trip: If two mages’ flows were proved to be compatible, there was no going back. They then had to marry, because the testing seemed to bring the flows into alignment such that no other mage would ever be compatible with either of them. No one had yet found a way to check compatibility of flows without creating this permanent match. The theory was that testing brought compatible flows into close enough proximity that a sort of marriage bond was created, before the marriage spell.

Such a match could also occur spontaneously, but only if two mages who were compatible—perhaps unknowingly—were to cast a spell together. Thus, the book warned sternly against this between unmarried mages. Once marriage had occurred, the marriage bond seemed to prevent such things, and mages could collaborate without risk.

Erich put the book down and reached over to scratch Shadow’s head.

He was sick to death of magery. It was time to move on.

25.

Walther rose the next morning to find Erich packing his things.

“Are you going somewhere?” he asked.

“I must leave Köln. It is not safe for me.”

He grumbled loudly. “You were at some point going to tell me what it is you are concerned about here. I think that time has come.”

Erich explained briefly about his brother and the sellswords coming for him. Walther shook his head.

“That is unfortunate. I had hoped for your assistance in returning to Weilburg, and that is assuming the girls do not need you as well.”

“You engaged my services to bring you to Köln. I have done so.”

Walther fumed. “Is there nothing I can do to change your mind? You are safe inside the university. Köln is an imperial city; your brother has no authority here.”

“That will not deter the men he has hired. I can assure you they will not be stopped by niceties of jurisdiction, having performed such work myself in the past.”

“They would not dare attack you on the university grounds. There are mages here who could boil their blood in their veins should they try.”

“Who is attacking him?”

He turned to see Ariel emerging from their bedchamber in her robe.

“Erich has come into some trouble, it seems,” he replied.

Ariel turned to him. “Is it your brother?”

Walther felt his eyes bulging in their sockets. “You knew of this?”

“He told me about his family.”

Astrid emerged as well. “What about his family? Is Wilhelm here?”

Walther threw up his hands in exasperation. “Am I the only one who knew nothing of this matter?”

“There are men coming to kill me,” Erich said sternly, “or at least take me back to Wilhelm in chains. They will be here in a matter of days. I cannot remain.”

Ariel rushed over to him, grabbing his arm. “You promised. You promised to stay until we were married.”

“I did not know. Would you have me attend your wedding as a corpse?”

“I think you overestimate the risk here,” Walther said. “Within the university, you should be safe.”

“And outside? When I must leave?”

“Couldn't you sneak out somehow?” Astrid asked.

“In all likelihood, they know I am with you. From what the guard captain who paid me the bounty for the ogres said, they were headed to Weilburg. And when they get there, there are those who can tell them where we have gone. They are likely on their way back here as we speak.”

Walther stepped between them, and put his hands on Erich’s shoulders. “And I will say again, you are safe in here. I will let Johannes know of the threat.”

Ariel took his hand again. “Please?”

Contact with his daughter seemed to melt Erich’s resolve. He sagged. “All right. I will remain for now. But you must all help me stay out of sight.”

“We will,” Astrid said. “I promise.”

“You can at least come to the equinox ball,” Ariel asked, “can you not?”

Erich laughed in disbelief. “Must I?”

“It will be held on the university grounds,” Walther said. “It is a custom of sorts here to wear masks or costumes. We can disguise you easily.”

Erich relaxed a bit.

“All right. A disguise it is.”

♦ ♦

The next few days were occupied with preparations for the ball. Ariel and Astrid tried on a succession of dresses and masks, insisting on Erich’s opinion. Since he did not dare leave the apartments unless necessary, he was stuck helping them. They settled on a matched pair in deep green, with bodices he wished were a bit higher to keep his thoughts in check.

A tailor came the second day to assist with adjustments to the dresses, which they had brought from home and now decided needed some embellishment. On the morning of the third day, he sent a page to the jeweler’s shop to check on the rings. He returned to tell Erich they would be ready that evening.

Wrapping himself deeply in his cloak, he slipped out the gate near dusk, watching carefully around himself at all times. He saw nothing. He likely had at least another day before the sellswords arrived.

The dwarf had done a fine job. The two rings were identical, with the sapphire cabochons set in ornately tooled bases of gold. He decided these were fair trade for the bracelet after all.

“Might I ask who these are for?” the dwarf asked.

“Two women who can never wear them,” Erich replied. The dwarf did not ask for further explanation.

On the fourth day, the day of the ball and the day Erich expected the sellswords to reach Köln, he remained in the apartments, refusing to leave or even look out the door. He did not like hiding in this way, but prudence dictated he not risk confronting nine dangerous men, men who were seeking at the very least to return his head to his brother, and at worst take all of him back for a long stint in Wilhelm’s torture chambers. Walther reported mid-day that he had discussed the matter with Johannes, and the university guards were on watch for the men he described.

In the afternoon, the girls returned with a new pair of pants and a black shirt for him to wear, along with a full-face mask. Then they went to get dressed.

Walther emerged from his room a bit later in a new robe.

“So they will match tonight?” Erich asked.

“With luck.”

“I take it they were not impressed with Franz.”

Walther chuckled. “No. To the disappointment of my friend, I am afraid.”

Erich took the book he had been reading from the bookcase. “I found this the other day. Is it accurate?”

Walther flipped through it briefly. “This is a book for novices. There is quite a bit more to matching and such, particularly the theory behind it all, but as far as it goes, it is accurate.”

“How do you know when to begin testing?”

“Mages who are experienced with natural magic, as Johannes is, can often sense when a match is possible. It is then up to the parties involved if they wish to risk a test. Many times they will not.”

“I suppose it will be good to finally bring all this to an end.”

Walther took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

“The house will not be the same without the girls, but so it goes. All I can do is help them make a good match.”

♦ ♦

Erich dressed, then pondered how to arm himself, if at all. He did not relish going unarmed, but the war knife was far too martial a weapon for a ball, and wearing the rapier was too much of a risk. He settled for his throwing knives, which were easily concealed under his shirt, and his jeweled dagger, which should not attract much attention.

The ball was being held in the main hall of the university, back in the quad opposite the main gate. When they emerged from their apartments, the faculty and guests—all lavishly dressed—were already streaming in.

The girls walked in front of Erich and Walther, and all eyes were upon them as they entered. One after another, faculty members came up to greet Walther and introduce themselves. Erich hung back behind them. As they had discussed beforehand, Walther did not introduce him to anyone, not that it mattered. It would have taken much to draw attention away from Ariel and Astrid in their luminous green gowns.

The introductions seemed to drag on forever, and the number of mages who appeared intent on matching with the girls was considerable. Most did not draw their interest.

Erich watched, unsure of how he felt. He had become close to Ariel and Astrid in the weeks they had been together, and he wished them well. Still, he wished they could have married in a more conventional fashion. This struck him suddenly as much the same as a village marketplace.

When the introductions finally ended, the four of them moved across the room to where the musicians were playing. Erich realized with a start that all of them were automata. He nudged Walther.

“They play well.”

“Yes. The head of the school of artificers here is a true master. What I know, I learned largely from him.”

Erich watched as the trim brass figures, all dressed in formal clothes, deftly worked their instruments.

“And it is all I can do to make one of those clean my house and swing a sword,” Walther remarked.

Erich felt a hand on his arm. It was Ariel.

“Will you dance with me?”

Erich inclined his head toward her. “I cannot have the last dance, so the first will have to do.” She smiled.

They joined the other couples on the floor. “I am out of practice at this,” Erich said.

“I doubt I will be able to tell. I am sure I am a terrible dancer.”

“Just follow my lead.”

They moved with the others around the floor. One or twice, Ariel stepped on his feet, but he pretended not to notice.

“Is there anyone here who caught your eye?” he asked.

“A few. It is difficult to know for sure.”

“Do you need to decide tonight?”

“No. But we might. There is little point in dragging it out for days.” She smiled. “And I want you to be there.”

“I will do my best.”

They danced for a few more minutes before Erich returned her to Walther. Astrid was waiting, and he extended his arm. She took it.

“You dance well for a swordsman,” she said.

“I have had practice, though it has been years.”

She was pensive and did not talk to him much as Ariel had. But as the music paused, she spoke up. “What if you returned and sought your brother’s forgiveness? Would it matter?”

“He has spent a great deal of money trying to have me killed, or at least captured. I suspect it is far too late for apologies.”

“I keep trying to think of a way out of this. There must be a way to resolve this vendetta of his somehow. You cannot run from him your entire life.”

“I seem to have no choice.”

When they returned to Walther, Ariel was already dancing with another mage, a blonde man of about thirty. Another came up and took Astrid back out to the dance floor.

So it went for an hour or more. Footmen were circulating with cups of wine, and Erich drunk more than he should have. He needed to keep his wits about him, but there was too much he did not want to think about.

As the university clock struck ten, Erich noticed Walther and Johannes in conversation at the edge of the dance floor. Johannes seemed to be pressing Walther about something, and there was surely no mystery what it was. He looked for Franz, and soon saw him standing off to one side.

Erich was not about to insert himself into their negotiations, but he felt like talking to Franz.

The young man saw him approaching, and seemed to realize who he was after a few moments, despite the mask.

“Are you enjoying the ball?” Erich asked.

“Yes. You are Walther’s man, are you not? I am afraid I have forgotten your name.”

“I am no one. My name is of no consequence.”

Franz fidgeted. “I saw you dancing with Ariel and Astrid.”

“I am here to help them make a good match. It might even be you.”

Franz frowned. “I do not think they like me.”

“You are trying far too hard to make that happen.”

“It is Father. He is pressing me most unreasonably on the matter.”

Erich glanced over at the two men. “You are not the only one.”

Franz followed his gaze, then looked back at him. “What do you recommend I do?”

“Dance with them. Just dance. Don’t worry about the rest of this. They are quite pleasant to be around if you let yourself relax a bit.”

“Yes. Thank you. I think I shall.”

Franz gathered himself up and went over to where Ariel and Astrid were talking to some other guests. He asked Ariel to dance, and the two of them went out on the floor.

Johannes noticed almost immediately and stopped talking to Walther. The two of them watched closely as Erich sighed to himself.

♦ ♦

Franz danced with both girls several times. Walther grew more grave, while Johannes’ face gradually filled with satisfaction. Other suitors came and went, but Franz seemed to have crossed a hurdle with Ariel and Astrid, and they stayed with him.

Near midnight, Johannes pulled Franz aside and took him off to a corner of the room to talk. Erich drifted over to the girls.

“Do I detect some progress?”

Ariel patted her face with a handkerchief. “He seems more tolerable than he did the other night.”

“He may have more potential than I thought,” Astrid said. “But we are still back to the issue of being stuck here in the university with him.”

“Could you not devote yourself to your studies for a few years?” he asked. “You are young; there is plenty of time to see the world.”

Astrid sighed. “I suppose you are right.”

“I think he would make an acceptable husband,” Ariel said. “At least more than anyone else we have met tonight.”

“Yes,” her sister replied. “Not that I count that as a compliment.”

“He seems kind. And intelligent.”

“And dull.”

Ariel’s face dropped a bit. “There is that. Yes.”

Walther approached. Erich could still see Johannes across the room with Franz.

“Johannes would like to test you with Franz. Are you amenable to this?”

The girls looked at each other, but said nothing immediately.