Wizards At War

Coming toward them was a woman—not as tall as Roshaun’s father, but so beautiful that the sight of her made Dairine simply stop where she was. She wore the Wellakhit long overtunic and soft trousers, but in flowing hazy blue; and her hair was the original of Roshaun’s, except longer and fairer, and so feathery light that it seemed to float around her as she came toward them. Dairine was immediately devoured by a desire to have hair like that, even though taking care of it would leave her with no time for a social life, and buying the necessary amount of conditioner would destroy her college fund. “Uh,” she said, “Roshaun—”

He had already brushed past her, hurrying. Dairine had never seen Roshaun hurry before. He went straight to the woman, reached out, and took both her outstretched hands and pressed them against his forehead.

The woman smiled and pushed Roshaun a little away. “Are you taller?” she said.

“Motherrrrr…!” Roshaun said.

She smiled past Roshaun at Dairine. “Roshaun tekeh,” she said. “What about your friend?”

“Ah,” Roshaun said. He let go of his mother’s hands and glanced over at Dairine.

She smiled, too, and headed over to them, immediately impressed by anyone who could make Roshaun sound like he wanted to roll his eyes. Roshaun looked at Dairine as he put an arm around his mother and said, “I would make you known to Miril am Miril dev ir Nuiiliat, the Sister of the Sun, the Lady of the Lands of Wellakh. Mother, this is Dhairine ke Khallahan.”

Her smile was so friendly and kind that Dairine was tempted to simply say, “Hi, Roshaun’s mom.” But for the moment she did what Roshaun had done, and took the hand held out to her, pressing it to her forehead.

“You’re very welcome, young wizard,” Lady Miril said in the Speech. “And you also, sir,” she said to Spot, who was peering out from behind Dairine. “I heard you say you were in a hurry, Roshaun, so I won’t keep you.”

“You heard all that?” Dairine said.

“If the Queen of Wellakh doesn’t keep her ears open,” Lady Miril said, “things deteriorate… especially around this one and his father.” She hugged Roshaun a little harder. Roshaun squirmed, but only slightly.

“There was a little, uh…”

“Friction?” said Lady Miril. “Always. These two stalk about in all directions doing good, and then hardly have a kind word for each other. If there’s a way for either of them to rub the other one the wrong way, he’ll find it. And in recent days the intensity of the game has increased somewhat.”

“Mother,” Roshaun said, looking at her with a surprised expression, “you saw all this coming.”

“It hardly takes a wizard to tell what’s going on with your royal sire, my son,” said Lady Miril, “when you’ve known him since he was just a badly behaved prince.” She grinned. “And as for you—”

Roshaun actually blushed. Lady Miril, though, went quite sober. “But the weariness has been growing on your father, Roshaun. And then while you were away, there was another attempt.”

Roshaun looked at his mother … and then the expression on his face went very strange.

“That was meant for me, was it not?” he said.

“I believe so,” said his mother.

“That was why you wanted me to go on the excursus,” Roshaun said softly. “You wanted me out of the way, on Earth.”

“The thought of a vigorous new power in charge of the planet would annoy some people,” Lady Miril said, glancing at Dairine. “They prefer the status quo to an unknown.”

“And then,” Roshaun said, “Father was caught up in an attack meant for me…” He turned a shade that even for him was pale. “And now, what I just did—”

Was the most idiotic thing I could possibly have done, Dairine heard Roshaun think. I have thrown my father straight back into the situation from which he thought he had finally been freed. I have—

Roshaun disentangled himself from Lady Miril. “Mother—” He held a hand out to one side. In it, blinding, appeared the little globe of white fire that was his manual. He slipped his other hand into it, feeling around for something. “We should go.”

“No, royal son,” said Lady Miril, and the fire-globe vanished. “Not in here. If you will be King in name, you must be King in action as well, or you leave your father in greater danger than before. A king does not sneak away. If he leaves, he does so where his people can see him.”

Roshaun looked over at Dairine.

“We can teleport, if you like,” he said.

“I don’t mind the walk,” Dairine said after a moment. “I can use it to compose myself.”

Lady Miril flashed Dairine an amused glance. “When will you be back, Roshaun?”

He paused. “I am not sure. Father has told you about the expansion…”

She looked grave. “Yes,” she said. “Go do what you must. We’ll wait. Dhairine—”

Dairine took the Lady’s hand again. “Go well,” Lady Miril said.

She turned away.