Iris sat next to her husband. “Jarid? She rested her hand on his where it lay on the table. “Can you hear me?
He turned toward her and touched her face. He traced the line of her chin and cheek, then felt her hair. With an exhale, he dropped the metal sphere against his chest. As the spell faded, he folded his arms on the table and put his forehead on his arms.
Iris laid her hand on his back. “Can you speak?
No answer.
The queen looked up at Allegra. “What happened?
“I a-asked Allegra took a breath to stop her stammering. “I dont know. We were talking. He went into a trance. I think.
“What were you talking about? Iris said.
“The armies and Taka Mal. She had been nervous about her own conflicts with spells and violence, and the intensity of his reaction frightened her. “I asked if he could use his mage gifts to do harm rather than to heal.
Iriss face paled. “Ai, no wonder. She leaned over Jarid, her hands on his shoulders. “Come back, love.
He lifted his head and felt for her face, then kissed her. His eyes were unfocused.
Standing, Iris drew him to his feet. “Come, sleep. Perhaps it will be gone when you awake.
He gave no sign he heard. He started to walk, feeling his way along the table, and she helped guide him, her hand on his arm.
“Im sorry, Allegra said, dismayed. “What did I do?
Iris looked back at her. “Nothing, child. Its not your fault. Here, come with us.
Allegra joined them. Once they were in the corridor outside, with no chairs or tables, Jarid seemed better. But he kept his hand over Iriss on his arm, and his gaze remained unfocused. Allegra felt certain he could neither see nor hear. He couldnt even talk. Why?
She could hardly believe what he had done, calling forth such a tremendous power from the highest possible shape. If a green spell of that magnitude came so easily to him, what else could he do? Could the impossible be true, that he was an indigo mage? This might be the price he paid for that immense power, the loss of his senses.
Iris took them through back halls, choosing narrow corridors with fewer mosaics. They ended at a side door. Allegra opened it for them, but it wasnt until they were inside that she realized they were in the royal chambers. The understated elegance made the rooms no less breathtaking. Gold and white gleamed, from the gilded walls to the drapes to the chandeliers. Exquisite patterns of interlocking rings bordered the archways, and hexagonal tiles patterned the floor. The goldwood tables were octagons or circles. Roses and violet royal-buds bloomed in white vases set within wall recesses. It stunned Allegra that they allowed her into their private rooms.
Iris guided Jarid to a worn armchair. He visibly relaxed as he let himself down into it, and Allegra wondered if it was his favorite chair.
“Do you want anything? Iris asked him.
He touched her face, his fingers skimming her cheek as if to reassure himself she was there. Then he waved his hand, sending her away.
Iris turned to Allegra. “This is a private matter. We would like it to remain that way.
Allegra stepped toward the door. “Ill go.
“No, I didnt mean that. Iris rubbed her eyes, then dropped her arm. “I would like company. If you dont mind.
“It would be my honor to stay. Then Allegra added, “Ill say nothing about what happened.
“Thank you. Iris lifted her hand to a nearby couch. “I should stay close, in case he needs anything.
Allegra glanced at Jarid. He had leaned back and was staring at the ceiling with an unfocused quality. She thought it must be terrifying for him to lose his sight.
“Im sorry, she said to Iris as they went to the couch. “I dont know what I did.
Iris sat down with her. “Its happened a few times before. Hell come out of it. Her face was drawn. “He will.
Allegra doubted Iris was anywhere near as certain as she tried to sound. “Is it something to do with his being a mage?
“In a sense. Our inabilityour refusal to do harm is a foundation of what it means to be a mage. What we do to others, we do to ourselves.
Allegra smiled wryly. “I almost put myself to sleep when I used the spell on Markus and his men.
Iris nodded. “You can give sleep because you sleep. We feel only emotions we can experience ourselves. I can heal a wound that isnt mortal, for it could eventually heal itself. Even after so many years at Suncroft, she had a tinge of the dialect from the Tallwalk Mountains of her home. “But I canna heal a mortal wound.
“I never thought of it that way, Allegra said. “It makes sense.
“You have studied the different types of spells, yes?
“Some. Allegra wondered how this connected to Jarid. “Red brings warmth and light, orange eases pain, yellow soothes emotions, green senses them, blue heals wounds, indigo heals emotions. Except She hesitated.
“Yes? Iris asked.
“Do indigo mages actually exist? Legends say the House of Dawnfield once had such Allegra trailed off, not wanting to tell the queen she found such stories hard to believe.
“Im not an indigo, if thats what youre asking. Iriss expression shuttered. “Nor is my husband.
Allegra wondered why she had withdrawn. “Blue, then?
“No.
Allegra waited. “Your Majesty?
Iris spoke as if she hurt. “If my husband considers using his abilities in battle, he loses his sight, hearing and speech. I fear that if he ever uses spells in war, it will destroy him. She glanced at Jarid. “His parents were killed by highwaymen when he was six. Jarid blamed himself. What can a child know? He turned his power against himselfand for fourteen years he was deaf, blind and mute. He lived in a hovel with one of the highwaymen able to do nothing but make spells. In a quiet, even voice, the queen of Aronsdale said, “He spent fourteen years purifying the spells of a violet sphere mage.
The blood drained from Allegras face. Violet came after indigo. Such a mage was beyond her ability to comprehend. In a low voice, she said, “The power to save lives.
Iris met her gaze. “Or take them.
“He can kill with his spells, she said numbly.
“Aye. Iris watched her husband. “You asked him a question he has struggled with since we saw Cobalts army. Perhaps this is his way of focusing inward to search for answers.
“I didnt mean
Iris laid her hand on her arm. “He must wrestle with this himself. It isnt up to you or me or anyone else.
A sudden thought hit Allegra. “Is Aron a mage?
“Aye. We dont know his full power yet. Blue, maybe indigo.
“Gods. Allegra felt like an imposter. “Why am I even here? My spells are such silly, puny things.
Iriss expression softened. “Della tells me they are lovely and pure.
“And weak.
“Dont be so hard on yourself. The Dawnfield traits have been forged over millennia. Her gaze looked much older than her face. “My husband can use violet spells anytime. He has the greatest power of any mage alive. But the price he will pay, if he doesI doubt he will survive.
Softly Allegra said, “Perhaps his senses wont come back. He would have to stay here, then.
“He would hate himself for it. Iris let out a breath. “Each of the few times this has happened, I have feared that he wouldnt recover.
Allegra thought of Markus chained in the dark. Jarid lived in a cell of his own making that was as much a dungeon as the one that held her husband. Then she thought of Ozarson. All of thisarmies on the move, mage powers gathering, the survival of royal Houses against Cobalts inexorable powerit had all been put into motion by one boy who had lost so much.
CHAPTER 22
THE LONG ROOM
Two guards escorted Allegra to her suite. Ozarson came running out of his bedroom as soon as she entered the main parlor.
“Is Markus all right? the boy asked anxiously. “Did they hurt him?