The myriad warnings she had skimmed in the various texts flooded into her mind, filling her with sudden trepidation. What if she did become lost in that unreal place?
Thorn stared at the roiling landscape of the Dream, something about it like magic made manifest in all its glory and terror. Everything she loved and feared about magic in general and her own—possibly hitherto unknown—sorcery stared back at her in colors and shapes and twisting turnings impossible to understand. She was a fool to attempt this, just a stupid girl. Untutored in a sorcery even great mages feared to attempt.
The chill seeping into her bones drew her gaze from that compelling and repelling doorway to nowhere and up to that barred cellar door. She could wait, she supposed, and see if Jada returned. Perhaps put herself back to sleep and hope for the best. The prospect made her even colder, the dank dark pressing in on her like stones of a grave weighing down her body.
Or she could take the risk. Refuse the confining safety of concentric circles of imprisonment.
Bracing herself, assembling what she’d learned about walking the Dream and keeping it firmly in mind, Thorn stepped through the doorway and into the realm of dreams.
8
In the early spring, employment offers for Rose began coming in. As everyone had predicted, they were top-tier, from all sorts of powerful rulers. Clotaire offered to handle reviewing and selecting them for her—some would serve much better for their long-term ambitions than others—but, to Rose’s considerable surprise, her mother stepped in.
In a clandestine move, Shoshan hired a private counselor to advise Rose on the offers and to explain the legalities of the contracts. While Shoshan didn’t forbid Rose from telling her father, she advised against it. These sorts of counselors operated in secret, as the advice they gave often undermined the interests of the contract offerors. Also, her mother didn’t say in so many words, Rose could stand to be armed with her own understanding of the contracts, rather than blindly following her father’s lead.
It wasn’t the first time, by any stretch, that Shoshan disagreed with her husband, but never before had she hinted to Rose that Clotaire might not have her best interests at heart. It all had left Rose feeling uncertain, as she’d always counted on the fact that her father adored her beyond all others and wanted to see her succeed. But Rose used her day off to travel to meet with the counselor in secret, telling only Sebastien about her true destination, and he promised to tell no one, kissing her goodbye and wishing her luck.
“You’ll want to review all of these offers carefully,” said Sarah Older, the counselor. “Many students are tempted to accept the offer that pays the best. If you’d asked an academy counselor, they would push you in that direction. As the academy receivesthe value of the contract you’re offered, it’s in their interest to make the maximum profit off that sale.”
“Everyone wants a profitable contract,” Rose ventured, surprised by the vein of the discussion. Big contracts came from high-profile clients. Besides bragging rights, those wealthy clients would also pay her the best, wouldn’t they?
They met in Sarah’s small but cozy office in a city about an hour’s carriage ride from the academy. Besides the desk, stacked with scrolls and pages of contract offers, she also had a burgundy velvet fainting couch. “In case anyone needs to lie down a moment,” Sarah explained with a smile and a gesture. “Sometimes the terms can be a bit overwhelming.”
“I see.” Rose eyed the stack of contract offers before her. It had been so restful to plan on handing the decision over to her father. She might still do so. “So, howshouldI choose?”
“That’s the right question to ask,” Sarah answered with a wink and a cheerful smile, “and it’s my job to assist. First, let me explain why choosing the most lucrative contract can work against your best interests. For example, the highest offer is from King Soren, though the one from Queen Zarja is not far behind.”
“King Soren?” she repeated with alert interest. Sebastien’s father had offered her a contract, and a lucrative one. Well, well, well. Though no surprise, really.
“I see that sparkle in your eyes,” Sarah said drily, “and you should know that your parents are well aware of your affair with His Highness Prince Sebastien. They made sure I knew, as well.”
Oh.Rose supposed she should have expected that, since her relationship with Sebastien wasn’t any kind of real secret. Mostly they observed discretion as performative compliance with HASP rules. Still, she hadn’t thought her parents were keeping track of her social life that closely, certainly not her mother. Really, she was most surprised her father hadn’t said anything about it. “Do they disapprove?”
Sarah gave her a close-lipped smile, not unsympathetic, butwith a serious edge. “I wouldn’t say that, but your mother is… concerned that your affection for His Highness will sway your judgment. You will be aware that many people, including Queen Zarja, expect you to follow in Oneira’s footsteps and become her court oneiromancer. Her Majesty has followed your studies quite closely over the years.”
“I’ve gained a lover, not lost my sanity,” Rose replied acerbically, more than a little offended.
“Excellent. I’m glad to hear that. It’s the best attitude to have. Now, let me explain the math here. Let’s begin with King Soren’s offer, as the highest amount of coin, though that can be deceptive. The initial amount will pay off what the Hendricks Academy paid to your parents, quite substantial, as I’m sure you already know and which is a credit to you. It also completely pays for the costs of your room, board, and tuition at the academy, with coin left over. The academy stands to make this profit off of Soren’s contract.” Sarah wrote down a number, swiveled the piece of parchment to show it to Rose.
She tried to look suave and unimpressed, but it was a staggeringly high number. And that was just the profit. “What’s the full amount?” she asked, knowing she wasn’t supposed to.
But Sarah, after eyeing her, checked the contract and wrote down an even more shockingly huge number. “About half of that is the academy costs, which are quite inflated. They pad their numbers there, to ensure a profit even if one isn’t built into the contract offer. You can be proud,” she added quietly. “Even without your connection to His Highness the prince, this offer speaks very well of your abilities and potential. It predicts great things for you as you ascend in your career.”
“I… I didn’t realize exactly how much my parents received for me. I mean, I remember the number seemed like a lot at the time, but…” She felt faint enough indeed to take a turn on the velvet settee.
“They didn’t want you to know,” Sarah said gently and calmly,holding her gaze. “I advise you not to tell them you do, though that’s naturally up to you. I also suggest that you not hold it against them. It’s not easy to give up a child. No amount of money compensates for that, but neither is anyone allowed to keep a magically gifted child free of the blood geas. They had no choice but to sell you to someone. It’s good that they were well-compensated, if you can bring yourself to see it that way.”
Rose flushed, though she wasn’t sure if it was from chagrin or anger. She nodded. “Understood.”
“I hope you do.” Sarah flashed her a reassuring smile. “Now you know why I have a fainting couch. And we haven’t even dug into the numbers. What I want you to consider, very carefully, with that clear mind of yours is that this fortune is a credit to you, but it does not go to you. This becomesyourdebt. With your graduation, you become an adult and the moneys paid for your acquisition and education, and the hiring bonuses paid out not to you, but to the academy, all become your responsibility. That is the amount you will have to pay off—barring further increases in your debt, which we’ll get to—before you can be freed of the blood geas.”
“I know that,” Rose said, but she felt uncertain. It was one thing to know in the abstract and another to think about having that massive amount all her responsibility.
“Have you ever tried to challenge the blood geas?” Sarah asked, almost conversationally.
Rose blinked at her. “Not since I was a child, when the sorcerer who bound me tested it.”
“You wouldn’t have to, unless your contract holder gives you a direct order. But I can vouch that it is unpleasant when they feel the need to. Otherwise, they count on you to be compliant. Keep that in mind as you consider the debt you will take on. You must pay it in full before you can take any kind of step to live your own life free of those unfelt constraints.”
