“Are you saving for an expansion, Miss Mage?”
“Jocasta. And no, we are only keeping our business as it is. Times are hard for the people in this little town. I daresay it is different for the rich royals and their servants at Tundra Spring.”
“I don’t know. I think times are hard everywhere, depending on who you ask. I’m sure there is at least one fat, buttered landowner or tax man about these parts.”
“A landlord, that is what. Here. Chilblains are all too common for the fishermen who have no magic in their blood.” She plunked a small brown glass bottle on the counter. “That’ll be two sovereigns. One and a half for the fish, one half for the potion.”
“Thank you, Miss Jocasta. I’m most grateful. Would you mind awfully if I sent another of my acquaintances here for your excellent catch—and your most assuredly useful potion?”
She shook her head with a smile at the big Bear’s manners. “It’s a free kingdom. Anyone may enter the shop—and as long as he behaves himself, I’ll not throw him out. Does he suffer from chilblains, too?”
“No. His problem is rather more personal.”
She tried not to look disgusted. “The creeping itch?”
“No! No, no, he is a fine man of morals. But I still think you might have something to aid him. He’ll definitely be glad of the fish. He has a fierce appetite.”
“I can well imagine, if he is a Bear of your size.”
Cole’s eyes locked with hers, and a slow smile that held a hint of a smirk crossed his lips. “Oh. He’s much bigger.”
Jocasta’s mouth dried out. Something in his tone made her think of suggestive things. Shame on him.
“Come back if you need more potion,” she said in a firm, clear voice, grateful that her dark brown skin wouldn’t reveal her blushes.
Bears. Really.
Chapter Three
“Majesty!”
“Cole! Thank God! Where have you been?” Girion ripped open the door to his chambers.
“All the way out at one of the human fishing settlements, on the trail of a powerful mage, the daughter of a poor fisherman—and then I have been in the taverns in Frost Hills and Alban Leigh, inquiring about her and her people. She is the youngest of three, the only surviving child. Her parents are aged, honest, and of fine reputation. When their second son died, they took a mortgage out on their fishing business, including the shop and the boat. They’re not in arrears, but heading that way, and quite hard up by the looks of things, even though they bring in huge catches, and the daughter is a healer, too.” Cole babbled as he burst in, instantly heading to the fire and kneeling in front of it, warming his hands.
Girion tried to follow the thread, struggling. Not that it was confusing, but because he only cared for one thing. Was this woman a suitable option? Or would he have to marry Lady Renata to save his people?
“There’s a Fox, some Fox living in Caledon, but not in the human settlement, who took over the mortgage payments and keeps raising the rates. The woman, Jocasta, would probably be keen to ease her parents’ burdens with a queenly sum placed on her by her royal spouse. And as in-laws of the King of Caledon... Well, I imagine they’d have no more trouble with sly Foxes or even greedy humans.”
“Money? She’d wed me for a bride price?”
“Well, sire, that’s to say nothing of the lust that will inflame her comely feminine bosom when she claps eyes on you. I told her I would be sending a friend her way tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow! But I have Lady Renata here, curse her dainty bones,” Girion hissed, pacing behind Cole as his trusted friend finally rose.
“Then you will have an excuse to escape her clutches for a while, dainty though they may be—and you had best make a good and convincing impression, sire.” Cole’s teasing smile switched off. His eyes became serious, and his voice dropped. “She is a strong mage, Majesty, strong enough to help heal the land, to say nothing of what a child born from your combined blood would offer. I saw her, with a little grunt and a flick of her fingers, raise hundreds of pounds of fish and float them through the air, not losing a single one, not battling the wind. She is powerful, she is a hard worker, and she is a beauty—in a human sort of way. Small in stature and sturdy. Full cheeks. Fuller lips. She looks as though she’d stick a fishing spear through any man who gave her cause.”
Girion chuckled in spite of the tension tugging at his temples. “She sounds far more my sort than Lady Renata. But she doesn’t sound like she is one who would be easy to woo—especially not with my charms.”
“What charms?” Cole asked.
“Thank you ever so, Cole. You could be demoted, you know.”
“No, sire, I apologize. I was asking frankly. What charms? What charms do you think you need to woo?”
“Oh, I don’t know. One must be witty and deft with compliments, one must flatter and praise, and know how to dance, one must be graceful and honey-tongued...”
Cole winced. “Well, sire, I do not think Jocasta would necessarily want all of those things. Caledonian queens and kings have always been more—practical.”
