“A gamble,” the king said in something almost like a grumble.
“It will take twenty years to prove I’m right on this issue, but I am content to wait that long.” Zak looked sideways at me, his gaze warm. “I expect them to be a most joyous twenty years.”
“Well said!” the Spoken Mage murmured.
Faylee stepped forward, having lurked in the background for so long that I had nearly forgotten her presence.
“I know the Robarts would welcome it, were you to bestow your royal approval on this union,” she said in a formal voice that made me eye her with concern. She sounded nothing like herself.
But when I took in her expression and manner, I realized she wasn’t speaking as herself. She was speaking on behalf of her powerful and wealthy merchant family, not as a single individual.
She continued on, strength in her voice. “We welcome the changing attitude toward commonborns in Ardann, even as we grieve our recent loss. It would bring us comfort in our grief to know that the crown supports those mages who begin to seeyour commonborn subjects differently.” She stepped back, and I waited with bated breath.
Still the king hesitated, glancing toward the queen.
It was Crown Princess Lucienne who stepped forward, speaking in her father’s place. “The crown welcomes young love wherever it is freely given.” She gave Zak and me a warm smile. “Of course we would be delighted to bless your union.”
The king let out a breath and nodded his head. He might have been less ready than the younger generation to embrace change, but he didn’t mean to gainsay his daughter and heir. Perhaps the rumors about his ill health were true. Along with those that said the crown princess had been taking on more responsibilities of late.
Zak bowed again, giving his thanks on behalf of us both, and to my relief I quickly found myself back outside the door. Only when it closed behind us, shutting us off from the royal family, did I take an easy breath.
“Did that really happen?” I asked in a daze.
“It did!” Zak looked exultant. “My parents won’t dare oppose us now.” He turned to Faylee. “Thank you, Faylee.”
“Robarts pay our debts,” she said with a smile. “As I have made clear to my family.” From her fierce expression I wondered if it wasn’t only the royals who were in the middle of a gradual handover of power.
I stiffened as the door opened behind us, but thankfully there was no sign of the king. The room beyond the door looked empty, so the royals must have left through another entrance. Only the Spoken Mage remained in the doorway, the baby princess still in her arms.
She gave Zak a conspiratorial smile. “That went exceptionally well.” She spoke quietly but with conviction. “I wasn’t sure if Lucienne would speak up for us.”
I blinked at her. The Spoken Mage had conspired with Zak to orchestrate that scene? That seemed to confirm that Prince Lucas had surprised the king with his suggestion of a reward.
Princess Elena smiled at me. “I’m determined that I won’t be the only commonborn to benefit from a change in social status. You have managed to win one of the best among the mageborn in Zakary, and I have high hopes that you will do much for the commonborn cause in the future—by your existence alone, although I’m sure your contribution won’t end there.”
“Th…Thank you, Your Highness,” I managed, stumbling over my words.
“And if Zakary proves right,” she said, “we could yet change Ardann’s fate.”
“You think it’s possible, then?” Faylee asked.
“His reasoning is sound.” Elena looked thoughtful. “Let us consider it an investment for the future. It will take time before we can be certain, but I have hope that future generations will live very different lives from those of the past.”
“Let us hope so, indeed, Your Highness.” Faylee and the princess exchanged smiles.
“Zak has ideas about how the commonborn could be benefited now,” I blurted out, startled by my own daring.
But Princess Elena looked intrigued as she smiled from me to Zak. “Does he? I would be most glad to hear them some time. You must come and drink tea with Prince Lucas and me before your wedding, Zakary, so we can hear all about these ideas.”
Zak flushed with pleasure, bowing low. I took his arm, filled with pride, although I still didn’t understand everything that had just occurred.
I refrained from any questions, however, waiting until we’d bidden the Spoken Mage farewell, and the three of us were safely back inside Faylee’s carriage.
“I don’t understand,” I said, as the carriage rumbled off. “What was all that about changing the future?”
Zak grinned. “I thought my theory might get the Spoken Mage’s attention, and I was right. If I’m proved correct, it upends the established thinking about the best ways to preserve bloodlines of power.”
I blinked. “What?”
