County Wycliffe
A knock sounded from Ed and Nadine’s chamber door. Forcing Ed to climb out of bed, and throw on a robe before opening the heavy oak a few inches. He found Q standing on the other side, soot stained and wearing a sheepish expression. Ed smelled the alcohol, smoke, and sweat wafting from the young man and groaned internally. He could already tell it was going to be a long night. Instructing Q to go clean himself up, he asked his grandson to meet him in his study once he was finished.
Fifteen minutes later, Ed sat behind his desk with Q and Cedric standing before him, casting nervous glances at Garrick, where he’d taken a place near the door.
With only a brief hesitation, Q reported the events of the evening. Taking full responsibility for their actions, and for unintentionally revealing his gift. Ed listened to the entire story, all the while keeping his thoughts and impressions to himself. At the end of his grandson’s tale, he thanked Q for coming to him straight away, telling the two young men to go get some rest. They would discuss it more in the morning once Ed had time to consider the consequences of all that had transpired.
Garrick held the door while they filed out, Q’s head lowered in shame. Closing it behind them, he turned to meet Edmund’s gaze.
“Is there anything he left out?” Asked Edmund as he rose to his feet, and made his way across the room, groaning as he sunk into one of the cushioned armchairs. “I feel as if he told me everything.” Ed continued, waving Garrick to the seat next to him.
“That was the whole of it, my lord. I was not there for the initial interaction with the barmaid, but it matches what I witnessed from across the room.”
Nodding, Ed felt a deep sense of satisfaction and pride that Q had been forthcoming with the truth. “What was your impression? Did they do anything unbecoming their station?”
Garrick gave the question serious thought before answering, “I cannot see fault in your grandson’s actions, my lord. He fully intended to retreat from the situation and was courteous dealing with the other nobles. It was only when his father was disrespected that he reacted aggressively.”
Ed grimaced and rubbed his forehead. Sighing, he said, “It’s almost worse that Henry shared what he learned investigating Julian’s death. It will only make dealing with the taunts and verbal attacks against his father more difficult for Q to shrug off.”
“The boy is fairly slow to anger, my lord, but that is a surefire way to manage it,” agreed Garrick. “His Gift, my lord? Dozens of people saw him use it to put out the fire. People in the tavern knew him by name. What will you do now? I cannot imagine it will take long for word to spread and the entire kingdom will know your grandson is norm-born.”
“It was only a matter of time,” Ed said with a sigh. “And this moment was one of the reasons I rejoined the Council of Mages in the first place, to handle the fallout. As for what we will do next? I’m not entirely sure. I will speak to Nadine in the morning.”
With those parting words, he dismissed Garrick for the evening, and began the walk back to his and Nadine’s bedchamber—a normally short journey that tonight, seemed to stretch for miles.
“So, the secret of his gift is out. What do we need to do first?” Nadine asked the following morning. She and Ed were enjoying their breakfast out on the veranda, discussing their grandson’s actions and what they now meant for his future.
“The altercation with Count Hargrove’s spawn will go nowhere. Considering neither Cedric nor Q used magic in their little scuffle. The Count will not bring the issue to court, not knowing all the damage was caused by his son’s irresponsible use of his Gift.” Ed said, taking a sip of his tea before continuing, “I will leave for Gremelda in the next few days. It is better if we register Q and his Gift before it gets back to the Mages Council. I can also get his name enrolled in the next class at the Academy , something we would’ve had to do anyway.”
Nadine beat her fingers in a staccato rhythm on the tabletop, a habit she fell into when thinking deeply on a subject. Groaning, she complained, “The floodgates will open once you do. I can only imagine how much interest he will have when his power becomes known, regardless of how people view his father.”
Ed let out a snort. “If any of the ladies interested in him as a match, make the mistake of disparaging either of his parents. Their prospects will be short-lived.”
“Who will he marry, Ed? We can push it off for a few more years, but I don’t believe he will be able to completely avoid the new laws as you have.”
“Technically, he has nine years to take a wife.” Ed argued. “There is a lot that can change in that time.”
“No, dear. He has nine years to take three wives. Unless he plans to marry all three at the last moment, he will have to make a decision sooner than that. And do you see the Crown, the Mages Council, or the peerage allowing him to go without pressure during that time? What if the King makes a demand as he did with Henry? Q would not be able to disobey him.”
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With a deep sigh, Ed acknowledged her point with a nod . “Then I am sorry to say it, my dear. The dance of arranging a marriage will be on you to help him navigate. I will do my best to shield him from the Council , and I’m sure Henry will do what he can with the Crown. You are his only defense against the Peerage .”
*****
Capital City of Gremelda
The Royal Palace - Private Audience Chamber
The King entered the chamber, his arm entwined with the Queen’s as he guided her deeper into the room, taking in the scene. The request for an audience had been vague, but bearing the Archmage’s seal, Frederick had been reluctant to dismiss it on that fault alone. As his gaze swept the occupants, he was glad he hadn’t. Whatever was going on, it had to be important after noting that Archmage Highbridge was not alone. Several other members of the Council were present—most unfamiliar to the King, but their heavy purple robes unmistakably marked them as councilman and women.
Looking from person to person, Frederick waited, reveling in the knowledge that, as King, he never had to speak first unless he chose to , it was a petty triumph, but one he cherished .
“Your majesty, there has been a development … that we feel the need to bring to your attention.” Archmage Highbridge explained, slowly.
Frederick’s curiosity roused, and he raised a brow while waving for her to continue.
“One of our Councilmen has registered a new student at the Mages Academy to start in their next available class. The issue being, that according to our records… his father was not Gifted, your majesty .”
Frederick’s other eyebrow rose to meet the first, nearly at his hair-line. He traded a look with Queen Clarissa, who looked just as surprised as he felt. “To be clear, you are saying that a norm-born male has been registered with the Mages Council? I did not think that was possible, it was just a lie told to commoners to give them hope.”
Several people in the room winced at the king’s words, but no one spoke up in disagreement.
It fell on the Archmage to answer his question. “Yes, your majesty. That is exactly what we are saying. It hasn’t happened in several hundred years—but we have documented instances of norm-born men popping up from time to time.
“Have you sent anyone to confirm that the boy is in fact Gifted? Could this be a farce?” The king asked, his excitement growing.
If we can figure out what made the Gift awaken in this boy, we might learn how to make it happen more frequently. Frederick thought, trading another look with his wife. She had a thoughtful expression on her face, and he was excited to hear her thoughts on the matter.
Unaware of the king’s thoughts and desires, Archmage Highbridge was ready with an easy answer to his question. “If the registration had not come from a member of the Council, we would have done exactly that, your majesty. In this case, they brought with them eyewitness reports corroborating an event where the young man in question used his gift in public to put out a burning tavern.”
The king smiled and exclaimed. “Then this is fantastic news! Another male to add to the ranks of our Gifted.”
Clarissa, who had been quiet since entering the room, had been processing everything that was being said. Yet, one detail stood out to her, something her husband had overlooked. The Archmage wouldn’t have dragged half the Council to the palace simply to deliver good news, if that was all this was.
There was a problem, she thought. One they didn’t know how to handle.
“What is the issue, then? As my husband said, this should be cause to celebrate.” Clarissa asked , cutting to the heart of the matter .
Archmage Highbridge met the queen’s gaze , and answered. “The issue, your majesty, and why we requested this meeting is in regards to who the boy is, or more appropriately, who his father was.”
The Queen fought down the urge to rub her forehead, knowing that she would not like the next words out of Highbridge’s mouth.
“Your majesty , the norm-born boy is the son of the traitor, Earl Julian, and Lady Katherine Ashford, grandson of the previous Lord Marshal, and grandson to our own council member, Count Edmund Wycliffe.”