“They both wanted your Tower chambers,” Forterran said.
“In Edenrich?”Halithe asked.
“The Guild Hall is in Edenrich,” Foreterran said irritably.“The Tower is always found where it needs to be.”He looked keenly at Ritathan.“It would be safer for you both in the Tower.”
Ritathan stared over to where the horses were.“No, I don’t think so,” he said slowly.“I found my key, yes, but not the holder.Yet the contract remains in effect.”He nodded to himself.“The last survivor of the Airion Blood is in the Black Hills.He might know more and perhaps he has contact with the marcusi.”
“Lord High Baron Orval?”Forterran shook his head.“Hard to say if he survived his ‘honors.’”
Ritathan fixed him with a glare.“He and his family might also need protection.”
Halithe lifted her glass and drank.She remembered Orval.She’d been in the throne room when he and his lady had been invested with their titles.That poor man, looking so pale, with that limp.She frowned for a moment, thinking there’s been gossip about his lady too, something to do with their twins.
“I know you cared for Tithanna and Xykahn,” Foreterran said.“But don’t let your heart rule your head…or other parts of your body.”
Halithe choked on her drink.Obeda just rolled her eyes at her husband.
Ritathan drew himself up.“I am offended.”
“Lucky for you, I don’t care.”Foreterran rose.“Walk with me, Ritathan.”
Halithe watched them go.
“Bring tea, if you would,” Obeda called over her shoulder.“I want to rouse Ila.”
Halithe reached out to touch Ila’s hand, but Obeda stopped her.“No dear,” she said, shaking her head.“You never want to startle a mage awake.”She smiled.“Talk and tea will rouse her soon enough.”
A server brought a tea pot and cups on a tray and set them before to Obeda.As he walked back to the tent, Halithe leaned forward.“Might I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”Obeda smiled, pouring a steaming cup and placing it before Ila.
“I thought—” Halithe forced herself to take a breath.“I was told that using magic made one…sterile.That a woman who chose magic sacrificed everything for it.”
Obeda grew serious.“We let those outside the Guild believe that for good reason.The truth is that the use of our will to practice our arts does not render a woman sterile.”Obeda poured another cup and offered it to Halithe.“But pregnancy changes a woman’s body, Halithe.It also changes a woman’s focus.”She glanced at her husband.
“I am a mage, true enough, but I made a choice to have children and in doing so, I walked away from greater powers.Most women mages do not have children; for they place the desire for power over the desire for family.There is no right or wrong choice in this.It is up to each woman who enters the Guild.”
“But Ila,” Halithe gestured.“She’s—”
“Incredible,” Obeda smiled.“Incredibly gifted in the use of portals, and incredibly vicious with destructive magics, especially once she had grandchildren.But those powers didn’t come easy and she didn’t develop them until after Forterran came of age.”Obeda leaned in.“In time, you will make your own choices.For now, use the babysbane I gave you, and let me know if you need more.”
Choices?Halithe blinked as a pressure rose from her chest.She could make choices?People…and the vore…kept telling her that, and she wanted so much to believe it.But her life, so far, argued against it.
“Your name,” Halithe blurted out.“You were supposed to be—”
“Obedient?Yes.”Obeda gave her a steady look.“I wasn’t.”She settled back and tapped her spoon on the edge of her teacup.
Ila gave a little snort, lifted her head, and opened her eyes.“Tea?How nice.”
Forterran led Ritathandown a small path to a stream that ran nearby.
“We don’t have to go this far,” Ritathan grumbled as he slapped a bug off his sleeve.
Foreterran sighed.“Ritathan, I hate to say this, but the longer Satia is on the throne and the more she rewards her supporters, the more her strength grows.It’s against my better judgement to portal you to the Black Hills.The new Lord High Baron and his wife might already be dead for all we know, lying in a ditch with their throats cut.The Black Hills are filled with men and women who have lived hard lives and hold no love for the Blood of Xy.”
“Which was why Satia sent him there,” Ritathan’s voice was cold and hard.“And you aided her.”
“Well, yes, I probably shouldn’t have opened that portal to send them into exile, but it drained away quite a bit of her precious funds.”Forterran said.“The Guild,ourGuild, must now tread a fine line.”He cleared his throat.“The harsh truth is that she is on the Throne and carrying a potential heir.She’s won the Crown, now we have to see if she can keep it, and if we can survive her rule.Thrones aren’t that secure; they require support.From the nobles as well as the commoners.More so the Guilds, who have grown in strength.All their loyalties depend on what is in it for them.So far she has irritated people, but also placated them.”
