“Im sorry. She pulled off her cap, letting her hair tumble around her shoulders. “My name is Allegra Linseed. Im expected.
“Allegra! The womans entire manner changed. “Child, weve been worried sick.
“I had aside trip. She suddenly felt tired. She didnt know what to say to anyone.
“Goodness, lets get you settled. The woman wiped her flour-dusted hands on her apron. “Im Marnie, the cook. Ill show you where you can wash up and change. Then we can go meet the guild mistress. She frowned at Ozarson. “Your letters didnt say you were bringing a brother.
“Hes my ward, Allegra said.
“Well, he cant stay in here, Marnie said sternly. She thought for a moment. “I guess he could sleep in the stables.
“The stables! Allegra had no intention of leaving the king of Jazid to sleep in a stable. “Cant he stay with me?
Marnie crossed her arms. “You cant have a boy with you.
“I can sleep in the stables. Ozarson looked delighted with the prospect. “Ill look after Shadow.
“Shadow! Marnie exclaimed. “Youve another boy here?
Allegra smiled at her aghast expression. “Hes our horse.
“Ah. Marnie relaxed. “Well, its settled then. She even beamed at Ozarson. “Youre a handsome fellow, eh? Better watch out or the girls will chase you.
Ozarsons face turned red.
“We should look after the horse, Allegra said, rescuing him. “Ill be back as soon as were done.
“Ill tell the guild mistress youre here. Marnies strict demeanor eased. “The boy can come into the dining room to eat. But hes to stay out of the rest of the house.
Allegra hoped Ozarson wasnt upset. For a child who was used to adults kneeling to him, the past few days must have been quite an experience. He hardly seemed to notice, though. He was already out the door.
Allegra spoke in a low voice to Marnie. “Hes from Jazid. He lost his parents during the war.
The cooks expression softened. “Well, he can stay as long as he needs. In the stable, though. Just dont tell anyone.
“Thank you, Allegra murmured.
The stable turned out to be a barn with a couple of stalls. Fresh hay lay everywhere, filling the air with its aroma. She found Ozarson rubbing down Shadow. A boy with yellow curls was lounging against the half door of the other stall, watching him.
“Thats surely the biggest horse Ive seen, the boy said.
“Hes part Jazidian Black, Ozarson told him.
“You from Jazid? the other boy asked.
“Thats right. Ozarson kept his attention on his work.
Shadow whinnied as Allegra came toward them. Ozarson whirled around, then relaxed when he saw her. “Look at all the hay. He motioned around the stable. “Its everywhere.
“What, your horse doesnt have hay? the other boy demanded. With a grin, he scooped up a handful and threw it at Ozarson.
Ozarson dodged the flying hay, then stood with his mouth open.
Laughing, the other boy threw more hay. “You look like you forgot to think.
“Hai! Ozarson glared, then grabbed a load of straw and heaved it at the towheaded boy.
Within moments, straw was flying everywhere. Allegra tried to duck into Shadows stall, where he watched the proceedings with a dubious air. Then someone showered her with hay. With a whoop, she grabbed an armful and hurled it in the direction of whoever had attacked her.
“Allegra? Marnie said from the door of the stable.
Laughing, covered with straw, she turned around. Except it wasnt Marnie. An older women with ruddy cheeks stood there, her face framed by gray curls. She was taller than most women, and her gaze held a calm authority. She wore a white and violet tunic with gold layers, the colors of the royal House of Dawnfield.
Mortified, Allegra stared at her. “Mage Mistress No-Cozen. II didnt expect you so soon.
“Marnie saw us walking in the village and called us over.
Allegra felt like an idiot, covered in hay, dressed in a stable hands scruffy clothes, her hair tangled, her face smudged, standing with two rapscallion boys who gaped at the mage mistress.
“Us? Allegra asked weakly, wondering if she was about to embarrass herself in front of someone else.
Della stepped asideand a youth walked into the stable.
Prince Aron.
CHAPTER 16
SUNCROFT
Allegra thought she would die of embarrassment. She went down on one knee with her head bowed. She had seen portraits of the prince, but even without that, she would have known he was a Dawnfield. He wore a violet and white tunic with the royal seal on the left breast, swords crossed on a field of stars.
Silence filled the stable. Aron said nothing, which seemed odd. She glanced to her left. The yellow-haired boy was on one knee with his head down, his hair falling across his face. Peeking the other way, she saw Ozarson
Standing up.
Damn! He was watching Aron curiously, waiting to see what he would do. The prince looked back at him, puzzled. They were a study in contrasts. Ozarson was, for all appearances, a scamp in worn clothes. Aron looked exactly the way Allegra had imagined a prince, with a handsome face and light brown hair, the classic Aronsdale curls falling down his neck and over his ears. He couldnt be more than nineteen or twenty. Her age.
“Ozi, she said softly. “You must kneel. This is Aron, the kings heir.
He gave her a quizzical look, and she wondered if he had ever knelt to anyone in his life. She took his hand and tugged. With an awkward motion, he dropped to one knee and lowered his gaze.
The hay crunched and then someone knelt in front of Allegra. She looked up into Arons face. He smiled and offered his hands to her. She didnt know what to do, so she took them.
He drew her to her feet. “You are Allegra? The mage?
“Thats right. She wanted to hide.
He let go of her hands and pulled straw out of her hair. Then he grinned, his boyish smile sparkling in a way guaranteed to break hearts all over Aronsdale. “That looked like fun.
Allegra flushed, acutely aware of Ozarson. He also stood up, though Aron hadnt given anyone else leave to do so. The prince seemed to have forgotten. He stared at Allegra, and she wondered if she had straw stuck in some strange way in her hair or clothes.
Then concern washed over Arons face. “Who hit you?
She put her hand on her cheek. The black eye had healed some, but the bruise was still visible. “I got into a fight, she improvised. “Just a little scuffle.
“A fight! He laughed, and a brown curl fell into his eyes. Pushing it aside, he said, “Ill have to remember not to anger you. Im afraid my combat skills are rusty.
Saint Verdant. Did he have to be charming as well as gorgeous? She knew why he was looking at her, asking her name. She hadnt been presumptuous. He was supposed to marry the strongest eligible mage. They had invited her here to help her develop, and Allegra knew now she had the ability they sought. If Prince Aron had found another mage to marry, he would already be betrothed. Well, he wasnt betrothed. She wanted to run, to hide from him, because he was fresh and sunny, perfect in every way, but she couldnt encourage him, for she already had a husband and saints help her addled brain, when she looked at Aron, she thought of Markus.
“Im honored to meet you, Your Highness, Allegra said. “But II must clean up after my travels.
“You look lovely, he said. “Like a forest sprite.
How would she get out of this? “I must go now. Augh, that sounded rude, and to a member of the Dawnfield royal House no less.
“Perhaps you could dine with us tonight at Castle Suncroft? he asked.
“Allegra? Ozarson said. He sounded stiff. Cold.
“I, uhI dont know She stumbled on the words.
Della No-Cozen came forward and extended her hand to Allegra, somehow gracefully extricating her from Arons grip. “Im sorry to put a damper on matters. But before Allegra goes anywhere, I need to discuss her placement at the guild. She gave Aron a stern look. “We must let our guest relax. Shes had a long trip.