The Dragon of Trelian by Michelle Knudsen Read Free Book Online Page A

purpose. Those are the things that set him apart from others, and the reason why no mage may go unmarked — what he is capable of, not where he performs his duties.” He gestured at her with his knife. “If political appointments were important enough to be writ in flesh, madam, surely one as accomplished as you would bear some marks herself.”
    “I — I see, yes. Thank you, Mage Serek. I had not fully understood. I can see why you feel so strongly about this. I hope I have not offended you with my questions.”
    Serek suddenly seemed to realize he was pointing his knife at her. He lowered it and offered the hint of a smile, perhaps in apology. “It is a serious matter, Advisor. And one that all mages feel passionately about. But not one that non-mages are usually called upon to understand. I took no offense.”
    He near-smiled again, and Sen Eva smiled back with far more conviction. Maybe she was hoping her example would inspire Serek to do it right next time; apparently no one had ever told him that a smile was supposed to include your eyes as well. But Serek’s eyes never seemed to change, no matter what the rest of his face was doing. They were blue, and bright, but there was no warmth in them that Meg could see. Sometimes you could get a good sense of people through their eyes — Calen’s eyes, for example, had been like open windows showing the slightest change in what he was thinking or feeling, constantly flashing in anger or widening in amazement — but Serek’s eyes gave nothing away. It was as if he were hidden behind a wall, able to see out but revealing nothing of his own thoughts or emotions.
    Sen Eva turned away from the table to signal for more wine, and Serek suddenly and deliberately turned to stare back at Meg. She felt herself flush.
Caught again,
she thought ruefully, but this time she didn’t look away. This was too good a chance to miss.
    “How are you settling in at the castle, Mage Serek?” she asked politely. It wasn’t the most dazzling of questions, to be sure, but it was the first acceptable thing that came to her mind. She could hardly ask the sorts of things she really wanted to know. “I hope it’s beginning to feel like home.”
    “Thank you for your concern, Your Highness,” he answered formally. “My quarters are quite comfortable and adequate for my needs.”
    Well,
that
was certainly revealing. Before he could turn away, she quickly spoke again. “I’m glad to hear it. Mage Fredrin seemed to like his quarters very much, and I know my parents hoped you would be as happy with them as he was.” He nodded, clearly doing his best to avoid prolonging the conversation. A question, she had to ask a question. She cast around desperately for something to ask. “How, um, how do they compare to your former residence? Where was that, again?”
    Clumsy, but it did the job. “My last station was in Eldwinn, Your Highness. I had the pleasure of serving the governor of that province. One of your royal cousins, I believe. My residence in Eldwinn was also quite comfortable, though certainly not so grand as this castle.”
    “Ah, yes. I hear Eldwinn is lovely, though I have not yet had the opportunity to visit there myself.” They sat for a moment, looking at each other. He just wasn’t going to give up anything willingly, was he? Finally she added, “And was Calen with you at Eldwinn as well?”
    Serek raised his eyebrows at this, and she knew immediately that Calen hadn’t mentioned their meeting this afternoon. Well, of course not. She was being stupid again. He’d been sneaking around just as she had. Certainly he wouldn’t have told his master about it.
    “I was not aware you had met my young apprentice, Your Highness.”
Now
he seemed interested. Meg cursed inwardly. The last thing she wanted was to get Calen in trouble! “I hope he hasn’t been making a nuisance of himself.”
    “Not at all,” she said, trying to think. “In fact, I met him only once, by chance,