I don’t mind you drinking. You’re an adult.Osric doesn’t sound sure of that part.I just don’t like you going out and drinking at taverns. Anybody could be at taverns! If you have to drink, I would rather you drink at home.
No. Sei wouldn’t forget yesterday for the world. He got to ride a horse! Marek held him the entire way back to the castle! Sei only wishes the journey had been longer, so Marek would have to keep holding him.
All those years in the guild, Sei never knew what he was missing. Now his skin yearns for touch.
Careful distance separates him from Marek today. A reminder that Marek only touches Sei when he has a reason to. Riding Loska. Showing Sei how to use a scale-brush. Acting as claim and claimant in front of Countess Zora. There’s no reason now, because even though Marek promised not to abandon him, he still doesn’twantSei.
The wedding is a month and a half away. Sei only has that much time to prevent Marek from breaking the betrothal. The last thing Sei wants is to start over with some new Draskoran stranger.
Osric sighs mentally.You aren’t listening at all, are you?
Sei just scritches Osric’s head.
The aide runs off when they reach Radovan’s laboratory. Radovan emerges to greet them before they knock.
“Welcome, Your Highness and Sei.” Radovan bows. “Are either of you wearing scalestone?”
“Not today,” Marek says, and Sei shakes his head.
Radovan eyes Osric suspiciously but waves them in. “I’m glad for visitors to brighten the tedium of progress. Do you want to see anything in particular, Sei?”
If anything is new in the crowded chamber, Sei can’t tell. “Actually, I asked to meet because I think you and Prince Marek should talk.”
Osric flicks his ears.I thought you wanted to look at the interesting rats.
“No, that was you.” Sei jumps, remembering himself when Marek and Radovan look at him oddly. “Sorry, I was talking to Osric there. Perhaps I’m wrong, and this is a foolish notion. But last time I was here, Radovan described his teleportation enchantments.”
Osric stalks away.I’m going to look at the rats.
“Teleportation enchantments?” Marek asks politely.
Radovan adjusts his spectacles. “It’s a difficult magic to render as an enchantment anyone could use. My experiment focuses on very small objects, and it fails more often than not.”
“It’s still very impressive,” Sei says. “Yesterday, His Highness told me that scalestone can harm wraiths, but the army can’t afford to waste scalestone on them in battle.”
“Right, it’s not practical,” Marek says.
Sei takes a deep breath. “What if you could shoot the scalestone projectiles, then teleport them back after they hit?”
Both Marek and Radovan stare blankly at Sei. The only sound in the laboratory is the quiet clicking of metal instruments. Then Marek’s eyes light up, and Radovan’s eyebrows lift.
Marek turns to Radovan. “That would be really fucking useful.”
“Temper your expectations,” Radovan cautions despite his clear excitement. “It’s theoretically possible. I can’t imagine aportablesetup, not something you could carry on dragons. But some sort of catapult…”
Marek gestures. “We could install them in the more remote mountain villages. A first line of defense while they signal for the dragon corps.”
“So, it could work?” Sei asks.
“It very well could,” Radovan says. “Though a workable prototype would take years.”
“Wraiths won’t stop being a problem any time soon.” Marek crosses his arms, his expression sharpening with thought. “Radovan, I’ll send a couple corps enchanters your way this week. Catch them up with your results so far. Unless you personally have time to travel north with us?”
Radovan slumps, some of his creative light dimming. “Unfortunately no, Your Highness. I’ll have to talk to your enchanters. I’m in the middle of a project for the king and queen that I simply can’t abandon. Teleportation is just a small side project I’ve been toying with in my spare time…”
Sei doesn’t have much to contribute to the conversation after that. The theory and strategy all go over his head, and he doesn’t recognize half the Draskoran military terms Marek and Radovan throw around. They don’t talk long before Marek says they should go, and Radovan says, “You surprise me, Sei. You’re not at all like Lady Naoko.”
“What do you mean?” Sei asks, startled. It’s strange to remember his mother walked these palace halls before him. They may share space, but never time.
