“Why?”
“Remember, she mentioned a tag, putting a tracker on him? I’ll bet that’s her goal, but I have no idea of what it is or how it works.”
“But she did say she had to put a tracker on him, not a spell or something else,” Prin agreed. “I suspect it is something like a coin that has been enchanted that she will slip into his purse. And, I like your idea about us having hair, by the way, but have a couple of things to say. We can’t grow our old colors without being recognized, and the styles have to be different.” Prin watched the front window and waited for Sara’s response.
“Agreed.”
“Did you notice her nose?”
Sara laughed, “How could I not?”
“Maybe she can help us with that, too. Make us look older, or a give us noses like hers, so nobody will think I’m me. I also want a spell on my knife like the one on your arrows that can’t miss. And a new Treeman.”
Sara laughed again. “Okay, those things sound reasonable, but the spell on my arrows is cast on wood, which was once alive. I don’t know any spells that work on iron, but maybe Maude can help.”
Prin accepted the explanation while dreading what was to come. She had seen the iron knife in her father’s apartment with the spell that whatever it cut never healed, but that must have been done by a mage. Since she was at least, part mage, could she duplicate it?
Should she ask Maude? But, while Maude hadn’t come out and said it directly, Prin believed she suspected Prin was both a mage and sorceress, and had hinted at it more than once.
Actually, Prin had two secrets to worry over. She believed she had the powers of a mage, at least some of them. And, she knew of no other way to investigate those powers but to observe things only mages would do and try those herself. But if she was honest with Maude, together they could try to explore the limits of her powers. Admitting her powers to any mage would probably cost her life the instant he knew. Their reaction would be swift to protect their male domain.
The second secret concerned her lineage to the crown. Only Sara knew of that, and perhaps she should keep it that way. The fewer who knew, the better, and the less they could reveal if taken by an enemy.
Sitting on the sofa sipping tea quietly gave her the opportunity to plan and think. She could ask Sara for her opinion, but she didn’t wish to depend on her too much or place unnecessary burdens on her. She needed to reason things out for herself, and the answers seemed obvious. Maude would figure out her mage magic sooner or later. She should simply tell her and not risk offending her by keeping it to herself. To do otherwise would break their trust.
But wouldn’t withholding the fact she was not only a princess but probably the next queen, also be a betrayal to Maude? Her mother had schooled her in court politics when she was young. She had often told Prin that a lie can be both something told, or something not told. The phrase she used was a lie by omission. Prin remembered that because of the confusion in her mind, and her mother had died before Prin understood it, but her mother had stressed the importance of the concept.
It had been a long time since the image of her sitting beside her mother listening to her talk about the subject, but Prin saw it clearly in her mind. So precise were the memories, she knew exactly who wore which dress. And those memories solidified her decision.
Maude was to be her friend, benefactor, and teacher. Instead of looking at the subject from Prin’s understanding, she needed to look at it from Maude’s. How would Maude feel if she found out either of the secrets? Would she ask them to leave? If so, she had every right.
Besides the apparent betrayal, there was a danger. Maude knew people were searching for her, but not why. If Jam or some lame second-rate mage brought troops down on Maude’s home, it would be Prin’s fault.
“Sara, listen to me,” Prin said in a tone that drew Sara away from her studies. “I have to tell Maude I am a mage and a princess.”
“I know.” Sara turned back to her book as if she had expected Prin to arrive at that decision.
Even though she hadn’t shared the information with Maude, it felt like her lungs could finally draw in a bull breath. A smile formed. She was going to do the right thing, and nobody had counseled her. She was growing up.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Both Prin and Sara were hard at their studies when Maude strolled in the front door, the disguise with the dark skin, wrinkles, and huge nose dissolving into her regular features as she entered the room. Prin watched the transformation and realized that Maude was such an accomplished sorceress that the image they saw of her daily might not be the real Maude.
Prin looked closer. Maude might be any age, color, height, and so on. She shook it off because of having withheld information about herself from Maude. There was the trust issue in a nutshell. She felt guilty not telling all, and now suspected Maude of doing the same.
Prin said, “You put a tag on him?”
“And you’re beating your head against the wall wondering what that is?” Maude chuckled. “What have you come up with so far?”
“Sara thinks you enchanted a coin and slipped it into his pocket, so you know when the coin is close.”
Maude said, “Splendid idea. But, what if he spends the coin and I follow another person who holds the coin? Perhaps more than one exchange would have me chasing all over Gallium.”
Sara said, “I told her that as an example.”
“Liar,” Prin teased.
Maude said, “Well, you’re almost right. It is very close to a coin. I placed a simple find-me spell on a couple of burrs from the weeds at the side of the road. I call it a tag. He was standing near the top of the hill trying to locate a vantage where he can see down into my garden. Of course, I made sure there is no such place, but as his concentration was centered on his task, I walked past and accidentally brushed against him, as I put one burr under the collar of his shirt. Then, while apologizing for my clumsiness, I dropped a glove and while retrieving it, placed the other in the cuff of his pants.”
Prin said, “How will you track him? How does it work?”
Maude sat primly on the edge of the sofa. “Technically, since I am your instructor, I will not track him, but I will track the burrs I tagged. I can sense them with the spell.” She pointed off to her left. “They are both right there. As he moves away, they become fainter. Stronger, as he approaches. With a bit of practice, a sorceress can estimate the distance accurately.
“For how long?” Prin asked.
“Oh, two days, perhaps a little longer. Most magic fades quickly unless steps are taken to extend the spell, but that is usually either costly or interferes with the spell in some manner.”
Brice returned from his nap, interrupting the two secrets Prin intended to share. She had considered sharing them with Brice also, but decided against it. Better if he didn’t know, and besides, it might place him in more danger.
Maude said, “Are you refreshed?”
“If you’re asking if I’m ready to learn more magic, the answer is no.” Brice sounded firm and frustrated at the same time, perhaps even angry.
“Well, dear. You plan to depart in a month, or so. We really need to get you whipped into shape first. I will not be comfortable if you sail without certain necessary skills, and I may prevent you from going without them. It would be far too dangerous for you. And us.”
That was the first any of them had heard her say about preventing him from leaving. Her tone had subtly changed, and so had her normally relaxed posture. She now sat rigidly forward, her eyes locked on his. For the first time, Prin saw her as more than an interesting old dowager. Prin saw strength and determination, a will that would be obeyed.