“I’m just relieved everyone stopped thinking Torrens was somehow behind the incident,” Elowen went on, thankfully not noticing his abstraction. “We would never wish your sister harm. I met her once, did you know? During the years when she was studying at an academy in Toledda.” She smiled at him. “I was jealous that she got to return to the academy at the end of the dull, royal luncheon in her honor, whereas I had to go back to my stuffy tutor.”
Theo returned the smile sympathetically. “I know Miriam counts herself fortunate to have had the opportunity to study at an academy.”
“I heard they were even allowed to study magic craft,” Elowen added. She sighed. “It wasn’t ever part of my approved education.”
“Nor mine,” Theo said regretfully. “But even without the aid of magic, I still occasionally see wolpertingers in the forest in the west of Siqual. It’s riddled with them. I’ll organize an official search for you.”
She smiled shyly at him. “I would like that.”
Theo felt bolstered as they rode through the rest of the copse. Things were going better with his intended bride in this relative privacy. They’d lost some ground under the trees, and they had to ride hard once they left the copse to bring Prince Patrick’s group back in view.
They’d reached a town, and it had required them to slow down, allowing the second party to gain ground. They’d almost caught up when the prince’s group cleared the town. One of Elowen’s guards had ridden ahead, and he hailed the prince just as he was about to increase his pace again.
The look on Prince Patrick’s face as they drew level told Theo that his presence was saving Elowen from a scold, at the very least.
Theo felt a flash of sympathy for the princess. He knew that Miriam was sometimes frustrated with his caution on her behalf, and the greater restrictions she faced compared to her brothers. But he had no doubt she knew he cared about her. There was no such warmth in Prince Patrick’s eyes. Theo couldn’t imagine ever looking at his sister the way the other prince looked at Elowen.
“This is certainly a surprise, Elowen.” The prince’s voice was forbidding, although he injected a note of respect as he added, “Prince Theodore.”
“Don’t let us slow your progress,” Theo said. “I understand there’s some urgency to your errand.”
“There is,” Prince Patrick agreed. “And I find myself now in the difficult circumstance of being unable both to safely escort my sister back to the capital and pursue my original task efficiently.”
“Surely there’s no need to escort anyone back to Toledda,” Theo said mildly. “We will ride onward with you, of course. The princess wished to inspect the damaged dam with you, and I was glad to offer her my company.”
“My, what an indulgent husband you’ll be, Your Highness.” There was no mistaking the derision in Lord Bertrand’s voice, or the anger in his eyes as he looked at Lady Sophia. Elowen wasn’t the only one who would be taken to task by her brother later. Theo’s only response to Bertrand’s mocking words was his frostiest look, which didn’t dismay the viscount.
Prince Patrick shot a fleeting look of annoyance at Lord Bertrand before responding to Theo’s words. “Certainly, if you wish it, Your Highness.” He inclined his head with a hint of stiffness.
His manner convinced Theo that he hadn’t wanted the visiting prince to witness whatever situation they were about toreach. It made Theo all the more determined to understand what was going on within the allied kingdom.
The group started into motion again, crossing a small river by means of a stone bridge. Theo’s eyes fell on a mill a short distance downriver. The large wooden wheel was churning powerfully, the water falling from it in a steady cascade.
“You’ll see a few mills like that in this area,” Prince Patrick told him, noticing him watching the wheel. “But this isn’t our primary wheat region. The wealth of this region comes from ore mined from further west,” he pointed, “and from vast orchards. Both the ore and the fruit are some of Torrens’s primary exports.”
“Those, and princesses,” Elowen murmured, the addition so quiet Theo barely caught it. He glanced over at her, but her eyes were straight ahead, and her expression steady.
Theo cleared his throat, politely thanking Prince Patrick for the information and refraining from pointing out that he was already well versed in the kingdom’s imports and exports. He noticed that Lord Bertrand was throwing him a disgruntled look, not seeming happy about the conversation, and the next moment, Prince Patrick had pulled ahead to join the viscount. Theo threw one more glance back at the mill.
“It might not be the biggest wheat region, but there are still a lot of wheat farms in this area,” Elowen commented, following his gaze. “And they produce a fine quality of flour.” She nodded toward the man sitting alongside the mill, his posture tense and his eyes focused on the movement of the wooden wheel. “They use the Dust already being generated by the mill’s movement to further treat the flour. That’s how they get it so fine.”
“So that man is a craftsman, then?” Theo asked, interested enough to slow his horse for a better look.
She nodded. “I believe some mills employ more experienced craftsmen who can even use the mill’s magic to removeimperfections and pests from the wheat before it’s processed. It’s a well-developed system, but I don’t know all the details.”
“It’s an excellent notion,” Theo said. “I’ve heard of craftsmen being employed to harness the magic of mills in Siqual, but I believe they only increase the volume of wheat that can be processed, rather than further refining the product.”
They needed to hurry now to catch the others, but he lingered for one more moment, watching as another man came out of the building, slapping his fellow on the back. Theo could see the posture of the first man relax as, with a nod, he retreated into the mill.
Theo understood the necessity for frequent changes in shift. He’d learned enough theory of magic craft to know that the magic produced by movement couldn’t be stored. It had to be harnessed and used as it was created, or it was simply reabsorbed into the environment. A sophisticated craftsman could mold it into an enchantment that might have an extended effect, but they couldn’t store it as raw power to be molded later. It would take great concentration and endurance for a craftsman to continuously mold power for any length of time, hence the need for regular shift changes. And any time the mill didn’t have a craftsman on duty, the Dust stirred up by the wheel’s movement would simply drift back into the landscape. It was impressive that the business had been able to employ two craftsmen.
The group was soon moving with a sense of urgency that told Theo they were nearing their destination. Sure enough, as the road wound around the base of a small group of hills, a body of water came into view. Prince Patrick spurred his horse off the main road and along a smaller track that ran around the water’s edge.
A sharp intake of breath sounded from Lady Sophia’s direction.
“That’s the dam that’s in peril?”
“What is it, Sophia?” Elowen asked.
