Guild Mage: Apprentice

"If I didn't know you were adopted before, it would be obvious now," Triss teased Liv as the two girls descended the stairs together. "Only one good dress? What self-respecting young lady would come downstairs wearing something like that?"

Liv groaned. "I'm not even adopted yet," she told the older girl. "And this is a perfectly fine dress for a commoner, which I currently am." She plucked at the gray skirt with her fingers.

"You know I'm just having a bit of fun, don't you?" Triss asked her, following Liv to the library. "I don't think I even own one dress. The last time I found one in my rooms I burned it in the hearth."

"That must have smelt awful," Liv guessed, wrinkling her nose at the thought.

"I can assure you that it did." The unfamiliar, gruff voice took her by surprise. Baron Henry had not been waiting alone; he was seated in an odd wooden chair with cart-wheels attached to it, which had been placed near the armchair closest to the hearth. There sat a man with close cropped gray hair, a thick neck, and broad shoulders, emphasized by his red and black doublet. There was a bottle of brandy on the end-table near them, and each man had a glass of it.

"Father!" Beatrice exclaimed from beside Liv. "I didn't know you were coming to dinner."

"And I expected you home after tea," Baron Crosbie told her with a dry humor. "I did, however, receive a report from the coachman, and a letter from Baron Henry inviting me to come to dinner and pick you up here. He's just been telling me about this duel you're involved in."

"Don't look so surprised," Henry said, after a sip of brandy. "While my wife was putting you through your paces, Liv, I took a few steps of my own. I haven't seen Arnold for twenty years or so, but we have met before, so we had a bit to catch up on. Come take a seat, girls, while we wait for everyone else to come down."

Liv sat herself down on the lefthand side of the nearest couch to the two men, and Triss took a seat next to her. "It isn't Triss' fault, my lord," she said. After all, the girl had agreed to be her second on the very day they first met. It was the least she could do to take the blame for this mess. "She was simply kind enough to offer to help me."

"I would have no objection to my daughter serving as your second, under any other circumstances," Arnold Crosbie said. "In fact, I'm pleased to see you standing up to protect others, Beatrice. It's what a lady in your position should do. But taking sides against the royal family is another thing entirely. You know we need their support to hold Valegard."

"What we need is the guilds to stop raking us over the coals," Triss complained.

"The Crosbies," Henry explained to Liv, "watch over the Foundry Rift, on the eastern marches of Duke Thomas' holdings. It is one of the most dangerous rifts in Lucania, prone to a great deal of trouble even between eruptions."

"Which is why my daughter is the only one of my children to accompany me here," Baron Arnold said. "Beatrice, while your brothers hold Valegard in our absence, you are here to make a marriage alliance. Or did you forget that?"

Liv could feel the older girl stiffen next to her, stirring the cushion they sat upon. Before she could think better of the gesture, Liv reached out and clasped Triss' hand with her own. "I haven't forgotten, father," Beatrice said, and Liv was shocked at how subdued her tone was.

"Putting that aside for a moment," Baron Henry said. "Arnold, we are very grateful for your daughter's support, and we recognize that it may place you in a difficult position. My wife and I have a proposal that may help to make it up to you."

"And will, I suppose, bind me even further to Julianne's cause," Arnold grumbled. "I don't see a way that you win this, Henry. Even if you could convince the king to legitimize her, Prince Benedict has spent years building alliances while you and Julianne puttered about off in the mountains doing trinity knows what."

"Trying to stay out of this, for the most part," Lady Julianne said, sweeping into the room. "How odd, I thought my son and that Talbot boy would have gotten down here before I did." Like Liv, she had changed into a clean dress, and there was no sign of the bone wand she'd used down on the beach.

Baron Arnold rose, though the sour look did not leave his face. "And how has that worked out for you? Staying away from the capitol?" Nonetheless, he took Julianne's hand when she offered it, bowed, and then waited for her to be seated before returning to his chair.

"For the most part, quite well," the baron's wife said. "We had nearly twenty years to raise our son in peace. If the king hadn't called a great council, we would have stayed at Whitehill - and hopefully out of the queen's intrigues."

"We're thick in them now," Henry said. "No use moaning about it. Arnold, what if we could help you to strike a better deal with the trading guild? A better exchange of all that metal you trade to them for food?"

"You mean what we've been trying to get the king to negotiate for years?" Baron Arnold asked. "Of course we would want it. The fools bleed me of every coin, while never stopping to think about what would happen if we can't hold the rift. It's shortsighted, selfish, stupid-"

"Would that be enough to place you firmly in our corner?" Julianne asked.

Arnold took another sip of brandy. "If you could do it," he said, after a moment. "And if you could guarantee no repercussions from the queen. Then yes, I would be satisfied."

"Then we need your vote twice," Julianne said. "And to allow us to speak for you with the guilds."

Matthew and Cade Talbot strolled into the room before Beatrice's father could answer, and that meant a round of introductions.

"An honor to meet you, Baron Henry, Baron Arnold," Cade said, shaking each man's hand in turn after they'd been introduced. Matthew was finished first, having been introduced only to Triss' father, and took a seat before Cade could, in the chair closest to Liv. That left Cade Talbot next to Triss, in the only empty seat close to the fire.

Liv watched the two boys closely: they had taken quite a while to come downstairs, as Lady Julianne had observed. In her experience, Matthew hardly ever took very long to get changed. There was something odd about the way they held themselves, as well: a certain stiffness or wariness.

"How is your father, Lord Talbot?" Baron Arnold asked.

"Well enough," the dark-haired boy answered.

"He never did remarry, did he?" Lady Julianne inquired.

"No," Cade admitted. "I'm his only child."

"A good match for any young lady," Arnold pointed out. "It's a pity you're not a few years older, or I'd consider you for my Beatrice."

"I'm sure any man would be lucky to wed your daughter," Cade said, though Liv thought the words must have tasted sour in his mouth, from his tone.

"Dinner is served," Archibald called in from the doorway. As everyone began to rise, however, Lady Julianne interrupted them.

"Young master Talbot," she said, "remain a moment. And Liv, as well." Baron Arnold rose, took up a pair of handles on the back of Baron Henry's chair, and carefully wheeled the crippled man out of the library. Liv's jaw must have dropped, for Lady Julianne told her, "One of the advantages of coming to the capital. The royal workshops can make all manner of clever things."

"I assume we're bringing one back to Whitehill?" Liv asked.

"One?" Julianne laughed. "We've commissioned three more." She waited until Matthew had escorted Triss out, and then gave Archibald a pointed look. Only after the first footman had closed the door did she speak again.

"Out with it, then," she said, leveling a gaze at the boy.

Liv looked back and forth between them. Julianne's eyes were hard as the bones of the mountains, but Cade refused to back down or look away. "Perhaps my lady would like to ask a question," he said.

"You want me to say it out loud, then?" Julianne asked. "Fine. Wandering by the beach could be coincidence. Coming back could be infatuation. Offering to carry her up the stairs? Yes, my son told me about that. I suppose it could still be young love, I remember how quickly that comes on, and how overwhelming it can be. But offering to champion her against the princess?" The older woman shook her head. "What are you looking to get out of this?"

Liv suddenly felt sick. She'd thought Cade was just being nice to her - and yes, maybe it had felt good for a boy to actually pay attention, for once. Certainly no one in Whitehill ever had. Was it all part of some scheme, and she was just too foolish to see it?

Cade must have seen something in her face, for he turned toward Liv and reached out for her hand. Liv yanked it away. "Answer her question," she said, and tried to keep the shame out of her voice.

"It wasn't quite coincidence to wander up the beach," he admitted. "I wanted to see who was living here. I was not expecting to meet - well, a beautiful girl," he said. It was the first time in their short acquaintence Liv had ever heard the boy stumble over his words. "But I also knew my father wouldn't approve of anything that wasn't a good match for the family. I'm his only son and heir, so I had to sell him on the idea."

"The idea of what?" Liv asked.

"I'd like to court you," Cade said.

"You know she isn't my daughter?" Julianne asked.

"Yes," Cade Talbot said. "My father asked around as soon as I talked to him. The king has already approved of the adoption papers. When Liv signs, that will make her legally the daughter of a baron. More than suitable."

Liv couldn't meet his eyes any longer, so she looked down at her lap. She wished her cheeks and ears didn't burn up every time something like this happened. Not that anything precisely like this had ever happened before, but- it was just frustrating to be so easy to read!

"There are a score of girls who are suitable, but do not bring with them the enmity of the queen," Julianne pressed him. "What are you looking to get out of this?"

"My father agreed that it could be very advantageous for our family if the next generation had Eldish blood," Cade said. "Even if our children were to live only ten or twenty years longer, or have a strong talent for magic, it would be an investment that he agrees is worth some risk."

"So I'm to be your brood mare," Liv hissed.

"No," Cade protested. "That's just how I convinced my father, Liv. I like you. I hardly know you, so I suppose it's silly to say that, but I want to spend more time with you. Like that morning swimming in the sea."

"So the bargain is political support in return for my adopted daughter's hand," Julianne said, with a voice devoid of emotion. "Thank you for making your intentions plain, Lord Talbot. If - and I emphasize the if - we agree to this, your father will vote as we decide twice during the council. Please convey that to him. We will send a letter to your home after we've had a chance to discuss your offer."

"I'm not staying for dinner then, I take it," Cade said, rising.

"I think it's best you don't, no," Lady Julianne said, standing up. "I'll convey your regrets to the rest of the party."

"Very well. Thank you, my lady, for your time and your hospitality," Cade said, and then turned back to Liv. "This wasn't how I wanted to ask," he said. "I hope - I hope I haven't hurt you or completely made a mess of things, Liv. It isn't either, or - I like you, and I think it would be a good move for my family, both. I hope you'll consider me, and I hope that whatever answer, we can be friends."

Liv tried to swallow, but her throat was dry. She knew what was expected of her, so she extended her hand without looking up. Instead of simply taking it and bowing, the dark haired boy pressed his lips to her knuckles, and a shiver ran through Liv's body. "Good evening, Lord Talbot," she said.

"Good evening, Liv." Cade released her hand, and she waited until his footsteps had receded from hearing before she looked up again.

"I won't make this decision for you," Lady Julianne said. "But if you want to refuse him, I am more than willing to take the blame."

"Would it help?" Liv asked. "Those two votes, I mean."

"It would mean that we have a block of four votes when we negotiate with the guilds, rather than three," Julianne said. "I want as many as we can get, before we go that far."

"Summerset, Grenfell, and now Crosbie," Liv counted. "Talbot would make four."

"Yes." Lady Julianne extended a hand. "Let's go in to dinner. You don't need to decide right now."

"You have a plan, though," Liv asked her, accepting help to her feet.

"I do," Julianne said. "A block of votes to support the guilds gaining a place on the great council, in exchange for their votes on what I really want."

"That's why you sent me to make friends," Liv guessed.

"Yes. Beatrice was a good find," the baron's wife said. "Is there anyone else you think you could invite here, who would accept?"

"Sidonie Corbett," Liv said. "In fact, can we have her over tomorrow? She seems good with spellwork, and I think I could use her help."

"I'll have Archibald send over an invitation. Come along, they're waiting for us." Liv accompanied Lady Julianne into the dining room, though she was unable to help glancing at the empty place setting that would have been for Cade Talbot.

"Lord Talbot was unfortunately called away," Julianne said. "But he wanted to thank you all for a lovely evening, and convey his regrets." Liv set her staff in the corner, and once both ladies had taken their seat, the footmen began to serve. She noticed that neither Master Grenfell, nor Mistress Trafford were present at the table, and wondered where they were.

"I believe you owe us a story, Mother," Matthew spoke up. Liv observed that he had been placed between his mother and Triss, while Baron Arnold had been seated between Liv and Henry.

"I suppose I do," Julianne said, then wet her tongue with a sip of wine. "The first thing to know, I suppose, is that my mother was hardly more than a commoner. She was the daughter of a knight, and my father would never have met her at all if he and his brother hadn't stayed for a night in Carinthia on their way to cull a rift. They were just princes, in those days."

"A prince would never be allowed to marry the daughter of a mere knight," Matthew observed. "A baron could get away with it - it isn't unheard of. But not a prince."

"I'm told the night in question didn't occur at their first meeting," Julianne said. "But when my father came back from the rift wounded."

Baron Arnold gave a huff. "That's an old story. He wouldn't be the first man to fall for the woman who nursed him back to health."

"Regardless," Julianne said, "when he found out I existed, my father sent for me to be brought to court. He couldn't keep me in the palace, so he put me here, at Acton House, with a nursemaid and governess and everything else you could imagine. He spent a good deal of time here, too, until his marriage." Liv noticed a slight smile on Julianne's lips. There must have been at least a few good memories from those times.

"What about your mother?" Triss asked.

"She couldn't come, of course," Lady Julianne answered. "It was already enough of a scandal. I don't even remember her."

"Let me guess," Matthew broke in. "The queen didn't appreciate having you around."

"That would be an understatement," Julianne said. "Especially once Prince Benedict was born. Anything that could be a threat to her son's succession became an obstacle to be removed. The entire reason my father let me go to college at Coral Bay was to get me away from the endless duels. You'll notice, Liv, her tactics haven't changed. It's a legal way to kill someone."

"Of course, what the queen hadn't counted on," Baron Henry broke in, "was that Julianne was actually quite talented. She was a star pupil at Coral Bay, and all of a sudden people began saying that House Loredan might produce a second archmage."

"Which made me even more of a threat," Julianne said. "I had to leave Coral Bay after one of my classmates slipped a dagger in my back while we were culling the Tidal Rift. It seemed like wherever I went, whatever I did, she'd keep coming after me."

"When I made a marriage proposal," Henry said, "I sweetened the pot for the king with a few Vædic artifacts from my father's collection. But the real argument was that Whitehill is about as far away from Freeport as it's possible to get and still be in the kingdom."

"So you were safe," Liv said, "until we left home."

"Mostly," Julianne said. "Though you will recall there was one attempt on my life, when Matthew was born. An attempt from which you saved me, Liv. I'm sorry that instead of repaying you as you deserve, I've only succeeded at dragging you further into my own troubles."

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