The change took Prin by surprise. So far, Maude had offered her help, made suggestions, and allowed interaction, but that was behind.
“I’ll do as you say,” Brice said.
Maude turned to Prin. Her voice cracked like a whip, “You will study with us, too. Now.”
Prin stood, and noticed the shocked expression on Sara’s face, an expression she quickly hid. Prin followed the two others to the doorway beside the fireplace. Maude paused at the door and turned back to Sara. “Oh, you might as well come, too. There might be something to learn.”
Inside, Maude strode confidently to a shelf of books and searched for a moment, then pulled one down and opened it, scanning the headings of the pages. “Here we go.”
She handed the book to Prin. “Read and study that spell. Take care to get it right, and do nothing until Sara independently reads it and the two of you compare your findings. Then we will discuss it—and others.”
Prin noticed Brice was across the room, sitting on a stool, his eyes locked on something he held in his hand. A candle. He was looking at the wick intently.
Prin mouthed softly, “Can you prevent Brice from hearing us for a short time? I need to talk in private.”
Maude made an intricate wave with her hand, and Brice seemed to sleep while sitting. “Go on.”
Her tone of voice was again that of a gentle grandmother, somewhat fawning and overly protective. Prin hesitated, then decided to plunge in. “Sara knows most of what I’m going to tell you about me, but I want her to remain quiet because I have much to say about our situation. Will Brice be okay for a while?”
“He will be all right as long as you do not talk until sundown.”
Maude’s tone had returned to snippy, but that couldn’t be helped. Prin faced Maude and said, “We have secrets, you and me. If we’re going to live together for three, four or even five years, we need to talk about them now. There must be trust between us.”
Maude crossed her arms over her chest and remained silent.
Prin glanced at Sara and ignored the little head shake. “When I look at you, I see a woman of fifty, but when I saw you today with the wrinkles and big nose, I wondered. Then I looked at your hands when you held your cup. They are not the hands of a fifty-year-old woman.”
Prin saw the widening of Sara’s eyes, but she said nothing. Prin waited, determined to be as stone-faced as Maude. After waiting and taking several deep breaths, Maude’s features softened and changed to those of a woman nearer thirty, a lovely lady with a long straight nose, full lips, and classic features. She still said nothing.
Prin said, “I believe you know and suspect part of my secrets. I do not know what I am, a sorceress or mage, or both. I’m only twelve, but I know something strange is going on with me.”
Maude pursed her lips.
Prin held up her index finger, and a tiny flame appeared. Maude’s eyes went to it and gawked. The flame was no higher than a speck. To further impress Maude and make her understand, Prin half-closed her eyes and drew heat from her hand and arm, clear up to her shoulder. The flame erupted as if oil had been thrown on it, rising taller than her head, the heat causing both to draw back.
It scared Prin, and she quickly extinguished it. But her finger tingled, her hand hurt, and her arm ached. They all felt cold. The silly stunt had drawn so much heat, even for the few instants of existence, she knew she would suffer for hours.
Sara mouthed, “The gods below are dancing.”
Maude said, “How is that possible?”
“I don’t know. But you suspected I was different.”
“I thought you perhaps stronger. A potential master sorceress. There has never been a woman mage, but I have seen it for myself. You are a sorceress, too. There has never been such a thing.”
Tears started streaming down Prin’s cheeks, but she didn’t stop talking. “That’s not all. I am a princess. My mother hid me from the royal court and then died, but my true father came to me and took me to meet the king. I was placed on the role of succession and will follow him, his son, and two ancient relatives to the throne. If I survive.”
“This is so much—all at once.”
Prin wailed, “My real name is Hannah, spelled the same frontwards or backwards. Hannah, which means princess in the old language. We changed my name to help us hide. Also, Sara’s name is really Sage. We are so scared.” The words came out in a tumble, tangled and jumbled in her hurry to relay the truth and correct the past lies.
Maude said, “Calm down, Prin. Those people after you? They are trying to kill you because of all that?”
“Princess Elenore, the wife of Lord Jeffery, held my position in court before the King brought me forward. If I die, she assumes my place on the throne.”
“But you said there are three people ahead of you, besides the king. Why would she assume she will be crowned?”
Prin said, “The King’s son is next, but he will have no children to pass the crown to. It is said he has a handsome boyfriend and will probably refuse the duties of the crown.”
“I see. The other two?”
“Henry and Willard, cousins or uncles of mine, I don’t know. Both are old. Henry is near eighty, and Willard a few years younger, but ill.”
“So, that leaves you, a sorceress and mage of twelve-years-old, an heir to the throne of a far-off land.” Maude made no attempt to move or react. Her furrowed brow told of her concentration as she considered the different aspects of the situation. “There is more?”
“I’ve put together bits of information from several people and think I understand. Rumors about me have circulated since my birth. Only a few knew of me, my whereabouts, and my possible relationship. I think, to protect me after my mother died, someone placed me in the morning kitchen as the fire starter for the Earl so he could hide me until the time was right.”
Maude rubbed her chin as she thought. “Powers begin appearing around puberty in boys and girls. Eleven is a little young, but who knows? But there is still a mystery. Has this Princess Elenore the power to order a search for you that is so extensive it carries across oceans?”
“No. There is another factor. At least a few of the younger mages banded together to overthrow the rightful King, along with some of the other Royalty, probably Princess Elenore. They killed my father, the King’s mage. I have no idea of how that revolt is progressing, but the kingdom may be in an uprising. The King will punish those mages who took part, but his powerful and trusted mage, my father, is dead.”
Skipping over the information about a kingdom she had never heard of, Maude went right to the relevant point and said, “So, your father was a mage.”
“One of the most powerful, they say.”
“Your mother?”
“A minor member of royalty, and sorceress, some say, but one who rejected all magic. She wouldn’t allow it in our home, and that was the reason she and my father couldn’t live together. Since she was so against it, I’m beginning to think she was a reluctant sorceress.”
“I’ve always heard that magical powers are not inherited. Could that be wrong?” Maude answered, but she seemed in awe of Prin, almost deferential. “And I’ve never heard of a mage and sorceress having a child.”
Prin said, “There. I’ve said it all. I hold no more secrets from you.”
Maude said, “Secrets, no. But there is still much to know. I suspect you’ve questions of me, too, but for now, our time is limited because of Jam, those searching for you, and Brice’s departure. Sara, you study that page and when you think you understand, bring it to us. Prin, you and I will work with Brice.”