“Now, what is the purpose of yourvisit?”
“I have heard rumors that a mage is being hunted here in the capital,” Yarim said, “and that she was spotted here in the castle walls today. Is ittrue?”
Raglar grimaced. “Yes,” he said. “The guards are still on high alert. The captain is furious she slipped in and out undetected. Why are you asking?” His eyes narrowed. “Are you seeking to assisther?”
“I would never presume to break your laws while taking advantage of your country’s hospitality,” Yarim lied smoothly, “but I must admit I am curious as to this Tariel’s origins. By all accounts, she sounds as if she has Maroyan blood, just as you do, and I cannot help but wonder if there is aconnection.”
Raglar scowled. “I do hope you have not shared this idea with anyone outside thisroom.”
“Of course not,” Yarim said, pretending to be affronted. “I am not withouttact.”
Raglar relaxed. “I admit Tariel’s situation is quite strange. She is technically a ward of the queen, my aunt, and yet I know nothing of her origins and have never met her. She was sent away from the castle a good six months before I was born, afterall.”
Yarim frowned. “Were any of your mother’s ladies-in-waitingpregnant?”
“I would not know, though my aunt and uncle might, or even my father,” Raglar said. “They would become very suspicious if I asked those questions, however, and I do not wish to bring trouble yourway.”
“I appreciate that,” Yarim said, “but I cannot help but look out for the welfare of my countrymen, especially one who is rumored to have magic. It sounds like Tariel’s only crime is being born in the wrong country—if she had been raised in the Empire, she would be taught to wield her magic and use it to help others, not suppress it for fear of being run to ground like arabbit.”
Something that looked like regret flashed in Raglar’s eyes. “I imagine she is trying to make it to the Empire now,” he said, “but unfortunately, I can’t see any chance of her succeeding. Sir Jerrold will catch her, and she will be executed along with her allies. Her existence has become so publicized at this point that there is no way my family could intervene even if we wantedto.”
“Ifwe wanted to?” Yarim repeated, starting to get annoyed. “Would you really stand back and watch an innocent woman burn at thestake?”
“I cannot afford to sympathize with her publicly, especially with my own Maroyan ancestry,” Raglar said, his eyes glittering. “And I would suggest you keep your own sympathies to yourself, lest you find yourself burning right along withher.”
Yarim gritted his teeth. “Has it occurred to you, Your Highness,” he growled, “that you have magical blood running through your ownveins?”
Raglar stiffened. “I am no witch,” heprotested.
“No, you wouldn’t be, as a man,” Yarim agreed, “but everyone knew your mother had strong magic. What if you have daughters, and that magic is passed down to them? Will you wait until they are grown to execute them, or shall you burn them while they are still squalling in theircradles?”
Raglar recoiled. “I would never do such a thing! I…I admit I have not considered the possibility, but of course I would not murder my ownchildren.”
“And yet you are perfectly willing to stand by and let someone else’s child be murdered.” Yarim shook his head in disgust, rising to his feet. “I believe I have heard all I can stomach from you today, Your Highness. Goodday.”
He stalked out of the room, frustrated and angry. Prince Raglar was obviously more tolerant than most Fjordlanders, but he was still as stubborn and ignorant as the rest of them. He could not trust the prince to keep this conversation private; there was always a chance that he could tell the guards of Yarim’s interest in Tariel, if only to keep Yarim from telling others about the prince’s own sympathies. Boarding his carriage, he ordered the driver to take him to the docks. He would sail for Carliss tonight, and finally be rid of these barbaricpeople.
The cold wind snapped at the edges of his coat as Yarim stalked up the boardwalk, heading for theJamuna, his baghlah. One of the sailors saw him coming and went to alert thecaptain.
“Good evening, Sir Yarim,” Captain Sarlian said, doffing his hat. “What can I do foryou?”
“I would like to depart for Carliss as soon as possible,” Yarim said, sweeping his gaze across the deck. The ship was in impeccable condition, though of course he expected nothing less for a crew as intensely loyal as Captain Sarlian’s. “Can the ship be readied to leave bymorning?”
The captain’s face fell. “I was afraid you’d say that.” He pulled a spyglass from his coat pocket and handed it to Yarim. “Take alook.”
Yarim put the spyglass to his eye and looked out at the ocean. His heart sank as he picked out icebergs floating in the distance, visible even in thedarkness.
“Winter has come earlier than we thought,” the captain saidgrimly.
“Indeed.” Yarim closed the spyglass and handed it back to the captain. The eastern passage was frozen, the ice making it impossible for the ship to safely navigate the waters. He was toolate.
27
“Thank the gods,”Riann grumbled as they trudged into the inn. “I thought we would never get out of thecold.”
Tariel nodded, silently agreeing with him. Clenching her jaw against her chattering teeth, she stomped her snow-caked boots on the mat, then approached the woman seated behind the desk just inside theentrance.
“We’d like a room for the night,” she said, placing a coin on the woodensurface.
