“No, believe me, I’m definitely going to be aware none of them are you.” Turpis’ eyes skimmed over her before landing back on her face.
She laughed. He never changed. The boy couldn’t help but flirt with any pretty thing that spent more than two seconds in front of him. “It’s a shame I won’t be one of them. I wish I was going with you.”
“Really? I wish I was staying to watch the entrance exams. You’ll have to write to me about them. It’ll be the first time we have the Sordes no-names, seeing them and how they fare against our no-names.”
He had a point there. Aimilia said, “We’ll have to see, but it won’t be the same as if we had any of their proper clan mages. At the end of the day, a no-name mage is still a no-name with the vitae and skill that goes with it. I don’t expect our own no-names will impress me, much less the clan mages’.”
“Still, it’s historic, and the king is supposed to appear to watch. I’ll be off traveling, so I won’t even get to see if he’s as bad as rumors are purporting him to be.”
“I really don’t think you’re going to miss much,” Aimilia said, fighting to keep her voice steady even as her heart rate increased like it did every time King Nero came up. “The ambitious will fight for a spot on the command track, those who fail and those who know their limits will show their skills in combat, healing, and rune theory, and they’ll be sorted accordingly. All His Majesty has to do is sit there and stay awake. How hard can that be?”
“Then it’s a good thing it’s going to be such an easy task. That gives you plenty of time to train and stay sharp for when you have to fight for your own position again.”
“When you put it that way, I suppose I couldn’t ask for a better task. Hopefully it’s not for a long time yet.”
Turpis glanced over his shoulder and Aimilia followed his gaze to where it landed on Nikias, listening to Commander Prisca. Well, Aimilia hoped he was listening, but it was impossible to be sure since he was watching her and Turpis with a distinct focus.
“Commander Prisca told me about your grandfather’s health, and a few years sound about right for him. But as for the king?” Turpis whispered, shifting closer so no one could hear him. “I’m not certain he’ll last even to the end of the year.”
Aimilia ignored Nikias’ piercing gaze, leaning in as well so she could whisper, “Is the king really that bad? I’ve heard little recently other than that Queen Clelia is focusing on his condition.”
“I’ve got a cousin, really skilled healer, he’s been working on His Majesty since they returned from the negotiations. So, yes, I know it’s bad. My cousin for the life of him can’t figure out what caused him to fall so ill in the first place or why he’s continued to decline. If it were anyone else, they’d take risks to gather the data for future solutions, but with the king, their hands are tied. They’re just trying to keep him alive. No wonder Nikias is looking to get married and fast. He’s probably going to be crowned within the year.”
“They really have no idea what caused it in the first place?” Aimilia asked, hoping he took her breathlessness as concern and not betrayal.
How much did Clelia know? What made her think it wasn’t natural in the first place? Did they have any evidence that could come back and haunt Aimilia?
“Not a clue. Of course, Queen Clelia has forced them to investigate all known poisons. Given the timing of it all, it’s suspicious of course, and the Sordes benefitted greatly. But evenwith what we know of the Sordes’ abilities and poisons, it doesn’t match or provide any relief. My cousin knows Prince Nikias is investigating foul play on his mother’s orders, even if it’s an unknown poison, trying to find out who could have gotten access to the king and his food and drink around that time.”
“You don’t think they’ll accuse the clans of having anything to do with it?” Aimilia whispered. If Clelia hadn’t been referring to Aimilia that day, did she suspect Hypatia? “That will destroy the treaty and send us right back into that bloody war.”
“I have no idea. If the Sordes did…” Turpis shook his head. “Personally, I’m hoping my cousin and the other healers find out it’s some disease or rare condition.”
Aimilia was hoping for that too.
“Well, that turned into a rather somber parting conversation.” Turpis let out a soft, awkward laugh.
Aimilia took a deep breath.
No one was looking her direction. Yet.
Right now, all she could do was get through judging the entrance exams, focus on her own training, and accept whatever post Nikias would give her afterwards and bide her time until the day came she would fight for the head of House Mitis.
And maybe in the meantime she’d ask Marcella about the whole praying thing she did and Aimilia might take that up in the hope no one ever discovered out what she’d done.
“I’m sure we can find something lighter to part on,” Aimilia said, giving him a grin no one would ever know was fake.
They were still huddled together, one of Turpis’ hands resting on his horse’s flank. But then he pulled it away, moving closer. “Oh, I can think of quite a few ways to salvage this goodbye.”
Aimilia laughed and started to move back, ready to warn Turpis not to try any of his flirting with any of the mages at the Mitis estate, otherwise he might leave a string of broken heartsand end up with angry brothers coming for his head. However, before she could get a word out, a hand was on her shoulder.
“Lieutenant, your commander needs a word with you.”
Nikias was between her and Turpis faster than she could blink, and yet he was as rigid as marble.
Turpis shifted back, blinking at Nikias for a moment. Then he clicked his tongue and dropped into a respectful bow. “Of course, Your Highness.”
Once he straightened up, he took a few steps back until Aimilia could peer around Nikias and then he said, “Goodbye, Aimilia. I’ll be sure to write, so long as you reply.”
