The King laughed heartily. ‘So Emerence has been at your ear again!’

  ‘Yes, and I blame you, Theo. Do you know what your men said to my niece?’

  ‘Yes, yes, I heard. You need not fear, the man in question has been suitably chastised.’

  ‘Chastised? Fine, but Quince Abelard and his cronies are no longer welcome in Belcanon.’

  ‘Exiled from the entire province?’ The King laughed, ‘I imagine that was Emerence’s idea?’

  ‘Indeed, though I must say I share her displeasure. Are we in such dire straights that pregnant women must be recruited for this war?’

  The King’s humour faded. ‘Emerré is a shadow mage. She is not a woman.’

  ‘She is a member of my family, Theo,’ and Jacques could hear quiet anger in the Duke’s voice, ‘it was entirely inappropriate for you to even ask her to assist you. If you really need her, you should have talked with me first.’

  ‘Mance-Jolune is at war, Dashiell, I expect my subjects to obey me at all times, and especially now.’ The King replied, his tone no warmer than Dashiell’s.

  ‘My father has said everything there is to say on that. I will add no more.’

  ‘My uncle seems to forget he is not King of Mance, and never was.’

  ‘Seeing as he forgets he is no longer Duke of Belcanon, is that really a surprise?’

  The two men lapsed into quiet.

  Then the King said, his tone relaxed, ‘you do not even like Emerré, Dash.’

  ‘That’s hardly the point, she is family. Besides, she is a favourite of my father,’ the Duke’s tone soured, ‘as you know.’

  ‘He has always preferred Emerence and her children to you and yours!’

  ‘Indeed, arrogant woman. Father seems to think that is the appropriate attitude for one of his offspring however, and Emerré is even worse than her mother. What does he say? Emerré is no more bound by the rules of princes, than a duke is bound by the rules of the common man. It matters not whether anyone else agrees, she knows, and she knows that is all that is necessary.’ he quoted, ‘Alain, at least, is better.’

  ‘You do not project confidence like you should, Dash. At least your father and I agree on one thing, weakness is for those who are ruled, not rulers.’

  Jacques moved away from the balustrade as the two men talked, speaking of quieter, less important matters. He wasn’t sure how to feel about the confrontation below. So the King knows of Quince’s behaviour, perhaps even personally sanctioned the meeting. To think he would be willing to test his relationship with Belcanon so... Dashiell may not object to the war, but Edgard Laurent has been more than clear, and still has many supporters... it would make things easier for Theuder if the old Duke would hurry up and die. Whatever the King thinks of Belcanon or Lady Emerré, I’m the one who has to deal with the other shadow mages. Not that the King would care about inconveniencing Jacques. At least he did not try and shift the blame... Jacques couldn’t help the sudden sense of failure that always came when he thought about that mission. His patron was fully aware of Emerré’s position in Mance-Jolune and that of her family, approaching her was a delicate matter which was why he’d had Jacques handle it personally.

  Yet he’d failed phenomenally, it couldn’t possibly have gone worse. My patron did not send Quince to Belcanon, and even if he did, the King is not one to shift blame, because that would suggest someone else has the power... Jacques let out a frustrated sigh. The King was an arrogant man, which Jacques had always known, arrogant and controlling, which was not particularly unusual in a monarch. There was nothing Jacques could do about it, all he would do is inform his superior and try and keep the other shadow mages cooperative.

  CHAPTER 28

  21 Maurth, 1353

  The group left the coast of Lakasha without incident. The days were peaceful and utterly boring. Bo spent the days cheerfully following the captain around. The man had seemed a little put out by it at first (perhaps Bo’s attention had ruined some plan of his), but he’d gotten used to it eventually. Julietta knew enough about stars and navigation to know they were going in the right direction, if the sight of the land dwindling behind them hadn’t been enough.

  Asmara came out on deck most days. Each day Julietta found it harder to bear. Asmara could barely stand on the rocking, rolling deck. Watching her struggle even to maintain her feet Julietta thought how graceful she’d been before. She had never noticed before how easily, fluidly she’d moved. Asmara’s attitude though was worse than her movement. Julietta could not keep her growing despair from her face, and Dorian angrily and frequently insisted that Asmara was getting better.

  ‘She couldn’t even stand before!’

  ‘Look, she’s eating on her own now!’

  And so on.

  Asmara did not talk often anymore. She would speak if spoken too, and she had mostly regained control of her voice. But gone were the jokes, the laughter, the constant teasing. It was like she was a different person.

  ‘The weather looks nice today.’ Julietta said as she stood by the rails with Asmara, who was carefully gripping them.

  ‘Do you think it looks nice today?’ Julietta prompted. ‘The sunrise was beautiful.’

  ‘It’s nice.’ she replied, looking up at the sky, a vague expression on her face. ‘There are no clouds.’

  ‘We’ve missed the Autumn Festival, it must have been on the day we left Port Eliach. They weren’t celebrating anything, they must have different festivals in Lakasha, or perhaps they just celebrate the end of summer a little later.’

  ‘It will be colder when we arrive, not as bad as Sontmor though.’

  ‘Y-yes...’

  ‘You must be happy,’ Julietta said with false cheer. ‘Dorian’s been giving you a lot of attention!’

  Asmara looked at her blankly, and then as if it was a struggle, as if she was retrieving a distant memory, she forced a smile and said, ‘I am being... needy.’

  ‘Maybe we could play a game... do you have any cards? Maybe Bo has something.’

  ‘Oh... maybe.’

  ‘I’ll go look for something for us to do.’ Julietta said with a bright smile, though to her ears her voice sounded strained. Her eyes burning, Julietta strode over to Bo and demanded he hand over any amusements he may have.

  ‘A game is a good idea, ask Dorian to play with you.’ Bo replied in Manunian. The captain glanced at them as they talked, a disinterested expression on his wrinkly face.

  Julietta sniffed and nodded, wanting to say something but not sure how to begin.

  ‘She is getting better.’ Bo said with a sigh. ‘It will just... take some time.’

  Julietta shook her head. ‘Even if she does... Asmara’s old for a shadow mage, Bo. It will be harder for her to resist the next time, even if she does recover, sh-she’s worse than Blaise! It’s like she’s already dead!’ Julietta cried, her words confused and muddled.

  Bo put a hand on her shoulder, his face etched in sorrow. He didn’t say anything.

  ‘I did-didn’t realize- I miss her!’

  Without a word, Bo put his arms around her and Julietta realized she was crying.

  When Julietta, sniffling, withdrew, Bo said, ‘we have to be strong for her Julietta. It might not always be obvious, but Asmara is ... she is not happy.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘She’s afraid. We have to be strong for her and help her. Perhaps... I will have to write to her parents anyway. It might be best for her to return to Clare.’

  Julietta felt a spark of hope. Her parents would know how to help her, they’d done it before. Clare was peaceful, there would be no need for her to use her shadow magic to help anyone. A little voice inside said that maybe it was too late for that, and maybe she would use her power again regardless of any danger.

  ‘No, she can’t go back to Clare.’

  Julietta looked up to see Dorian.

  ‘Clare’s boring. You’ve heard her talk about it.’

  ‘It will be up to Asmara anyway, it is too soon to make a decision.’ Bo said. ‘Now, I believe you wanted to play cards?’

  As the days wore on Julietta started to feel some hope. As the group continued pushing her and drawing her into conversation, Asmara slowly improved. Bo in particular seemed to know the key to drawing her out. He’d tell her jokes and make her participate and ask questions, and occasionally, his efforts would pay off and she would laugh.

  Despite the fact that she couldn’t properly stand on the deck, Asmara sometimes preferred being outside (when she wasn’t consumed by despair). Her moods would oscillate, from determination to disinterest to hopelessness and then back again.

  ‘Shouldn’t be much longer. I’m so tired of dried meat and biscuit.’ Dorian muttered as they sat against the rail, Asmara next to him and Julietta next to her.

  ‘We could catch some fish.’ Julietta replied. ‘I think we gave up too soon.’

  ‘I would think a sorceress of your skill would be able to catch fish without a fishing rod.’

  ‘I’m resting!’ Julietta shot back primly. ‘And I haven’t seen you use any magic!’

  ‘Also resting.’

  For a moment there was silence as both looked towards Asmara, desperately hoping she would chime in.

  She held onto the railing, her legs dangling over the side next to Dorian and Julietta’s legs. Her gaze was not fixed on anything in particular, her expression slack.

  ‘What on earth are you thinking about, Asme?’ Dorian demanded impatiently. He rarely spoke gently to her, but Julietta could feel the thread of worry underlying his tone.

  ‘Hmm?’ she turned her face towards Dorian. ‘Oh. I was... thinking about fish.’

  ‘Really?’ Julietta said hopefully. ‘What about fish?’

  ‘I was trying to remember if I’d ever gone fishing.’

  ‘Have you?’

  Asmara didn’t say anything.

  ‘Come on, Asmara, tell us how bad we all are at fishing.’ Dorian prompted.

  The sea breeze whipped Julietta’s hair about her face and into her eyes. Asmara did not suffer the same; Julietta had braided her hair for her. I should have done my own, she thought.

  ‘Do you really want to talk about fish?’ Asmara said.

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘It’s boring.’

  A smile lit Dorian’s face, ‘you noticed?’

  ‘Mmm...’

  ‘Well what do you want to talk about?’ he pushed excitedly.

  ‘Um... where did all our money go?’

  ‘Our money?’ Julietta asked.

  ‘We gave it all to that man, didn’t we?’

  ‘That was days ago, Asmara.’ Dorian said.

  ‘You’re right,’ Julietta said, ‘we gave it that man to take us across the sea.’

  ‘Even Dorian?’

  ‘Of course I did. You think I’m a cheapskate?’

  ‘No...but what about... don’t you usually give it to your family?’

  ‘I do.’ Dorian replied. ‘If you feel like being nosy, now’s the time.’

  Above Asmara’s dark head Dorian met Julietta’s eyes for a moment and they shared a hopeful smile.

  ‘No... I...that’s all.’ Asmara replied.

  Dorian’s face crashed down into a frown. ‘Really? Usually you’re a font of unsolicited advice about my money.’

  ‘Oh...’

  ‘You’re always telling me I shouldn’t give so much to them and how horrible they are and on and on...’

  ‘What?’ Julietta exclaimed.

  ‘Really?’ Asmara replied.

  ‘Look, Julietta wants to know.’

  Julietta ducked her head, blushing.

  ‘Maybe you should tell her, Asmara.’

  ‘Me?’

  ‘I think I’m going to have a nap. You should tell her all my secrets.’

  ‘I’d much rather hear it from you, Asmara.’

  ‘Um...ok....’ as Asmara talked Julietta again got the distinct impression that it was a struggle for her to recall these details, ‘Dorian comes from a farm...he has a mother and father and little sister...’

  ‘Oh, really? I thought I just emerged from the ground one dark night...’ Dorian muttered under his breath.

  ‘...Dorian isn’t a very good farmer...’

  Dorian frowned and looked like he was going to say something but he managed to keep his mouth shut.

  ‘He always snuck away to practice magic...and his family didn’t approve....’

  ‘I always did my work. I was a perfectly good farm boy.’

  ‘His family wasn’t happy with him...and he left...and he sends back half of everything he earns...and his sister got a big dowry from the money and married someone...and they’re mean to Dore, and he keeps sending money back.’

  As Asmara became more confident Dorian started smiling again.

  ‘Considering how much you’ve sent them, I’m surprised they don’t just give up farming and relax on your earnings.’

  Julietta couldn’t hide her surprise at Asmara’s words, but at the same time she was smiling.

  As the boat rocked up and down the sea came closer and then further away from Julietta’s booted feet.

  ‘Maybe you could explain that to me as well, Dorian.’ Julietta prodded when Asmara failed to add anything, hoping to draw her back into conversation.

  ‘I think Asmara covered it.’ he said, his smile fading. ‘My parents didn’t approve of my magic. I learnt on my own because we didn’t have the money and they didn’t have the inclination to have me trained. I left when I was sixteen and I help them out now and then.’

  ‘All the time.’ Asmara interjected.

  ‘You only met them once, Asme.’ Dorian chided.

  ‘She met your family?’ Julietta said, her voice rising.

  Dorian nodded at Asmara and she said, ‘we were in the area... Dorian wanted to go say hello so I went with him. They didn’t like me.’

  ‘You’re a spell-sword and you work with me, and they don’t approve of my work.’ he shrugged. ‘It wasn’t because you’re Chelleskan.’

  ‘They were rude to me before you even introduced me. And I’m not Chelleskan. I’m not exotic.’

  ‘I know, I’m sorry- it’s just-’

  ‘They think I’m Chelleskan.’

  ‘Yeah. But it wasn’t about that, they’re horrible to everyone.’

  ‘Your father said-’

  ‘He’s rude to everyone.’ Dorian cut her off, flushing with embarrassment. ‘He’s a bitter old man.’

  ‘What did he say?’ Julietta asked, earning her a glare from Dorian. She felt bad to push, but Asmara had spoken with such heat...

  ‘He made a comment about... foreigners.’ Asmara replied. ‘Even though I’m not a foreigner.’

  Dorian’s discomfort did not last long. Soon he smiled with a relaxed ease he hadn’t had since they’d arrived in Lakasha. And then Asmara lapsed again.

  ‘You don’t talk about your family much, Julietta.’ Dorian said into the silence, an eye on Asmara.

  ‘My family?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  Julietta glanced down at Asmara and sighed. ‘I’m not sure Asmara is interested...’

  ‘Are you, Asme? Do you want a chance to poke around in Julietta’s business for once?’

  Asmara stirred. ‘You never read your letters.’

  ‘Well, no,’ Julietta replied, startled Asmara had noticed. She’d never mentioned it before.

  ‘Letters?’ Dorian asked. ‘Oh yeah, I’ve noticed you get a few.’

  ‘She never reads them.’ Asmara repeated.

  ‘Oh really? Why don’t you tell us about that, Julietta? Look, Asmara wants to know.’ Dorian said, a gleam in his eyes as if he was relishing this opportunity.

  ‘Certainly, I have nothing to hide.’ she primly. ‘And since you’ve been so forthcoming with me-’

  ‘Incredibly forthcoming. Don’t you agree, Asme? Come on, Asme, nod.’

  At his direction, Asmara managed a nod, and she turned to look at Julietta.

  ‘I don’t read them as I know what they’ll say. Being a practicing sorceress is not necessarily of benefit to my family, it must be carefully managed. I’m sure you already know all this.’

  Dorian frowned. ‘Nope. I’m just a farm boy, I can’t imagine the problems nobles would have with magic.’

  ‘A sorceress, particularly a powerful, practicing one is less eligible for marriage. Young men have particular preferences about women.’ and she fixed Dorian with a cool look. ‘If a trained, magically gifted woman returned to her family home to take up the duties of a noble lady... why, that would be easy, and it would certainly improve her marriage prospects as she might have magically gifted children.’

  ‘I think I see...’ Dorian frowned. ‘So you being a highly gifted sorceress who runs around in Sontmor is a problem?’

  ‘If I am highly gifted, and become well-known for my unusual talent... then it is less of a problem, as that would bring prestige to my family, and balance out the difficulty my father will have in finding a husband. Women in the Royal Mages are in an odd position... their standing within magical society is clear, but outside of that... the ungifted have some difficulties with it.’ she shrugged. ‘It is of no concern, I simply do not wish to read another letter from my mother reminding me.’

  ‘Being an aristocrat must be so difficult.’ he said, giving her an amused smile.

  ‘I do not concern myself with it!’

  Dorian just laughed.

  They turned back to Asmara but had trouble involving her in the conversation, but the brief moments when she talked normally gave them hope.

  Nine days after they departed Port Eliach, they arrived back on the shores of Mance-Jolune.

  CHAPTER 29

  30 Maurth, 1353

  As she stood on firm ground, back in her homeland, Julietta couldn’t help a relieved smile. Behind her the boat slowly sailed away, back to Lakasha. She’d seen no other ships while making the journey across the Partagon Sea, merchant, naval or otherwise, however Bo had told her the scrawny boy who spent most of his time in the crow’s nest had seen a few, and the captain had directed them away. Considering how slow the vessel sailed, she thought they were lucky they hadn’t seen anyone.