“Your words about the Majis and their power over the sea made me realize that they are partially responsible for his death.”
Onric’s spine stiffened. He still was not sure where these thoughts were going, but he was starting to tie the pieces together. “And you have an idea about the Majis?”
“Perhaps. This idea could have consequences and...” Her voice dropped, along with her eyes. “I don’t have the protection that might come with a certain status.”
You’ll always have the protection of my status.The surprising thought seemed to slam through his head, smashing against his skull. He wanted so desperately to say it aloud. But that would be highly inappropriate and likely do the complete opposite of offering her calm or safety. He had enjoyed the incredible privilege of his station in life, and while he wished he could offer that to everyone, sometimes his gift could be a burden. Although he had only known Ashlin a short time, he could not deny that he wanted to offer her everything that was within his power to give. Especially after spending the past few days entertaining the various women whom his brother might choose from. The women who were supposedly the very best that the five kingdoms had to offer. In contrasting his every interaction with Ashlin to them, he clearly knew he had to take his growing attachment to this quiet seamstress more seriously. It was not that he had started to build his dreams around her, it was just that... every time he thought of himself in a future situation, she was always present as a permanent part of his life. This realization gently electrified his entire body.
These thoughts had all gone through his mind in the space of second, but they felt right. He felt right. But she didn’t. She was scratching the stitch again with her fingernail, though her eyes were still trying to gauge his reaction. She had been asking about the needle and then speaking of doing something dangerous. “You want to try the needle again?”
She did not nod, nor did she shake her head. She watched her hands as they gently ran across the surface of the tapestry.
“You want to try the needle... on the tapestry?” It was brilliant. Why hadn’t he thought of that?
“Never mind. It was a bad idea to begin with.” She shook her head. “The risk is too great. What if it destroyed the tapestry? Now that the steward and Her Highness are aware of it, we could not hide our actions.”
“True. But if wedidtry it,” Onric replied, “what do you think it would do? If it were spelled and did work?”
“I had wondered if maybe... if the needle were indeed spelled...” She danced around the words she was trying to say.
Having realized many days ago that she often took an extra moment to frame her thoughts, Onric waited.
“The tapestry is so old,” she continued, “and it’s possible that it is from the same era as the needle, so I was thinking that perhaps the needle might be able to reconstruct, somehow, the damaged panels of the tapestry. I’m sure it is not strong enough to do it, though.” She was back to nervously fingering the stitches on the tapestry.
“It’s brilliant,” Onric assured her. “I’m embarrassed that I did not think of it myself.”
She gave him a confused smile.
“I’ll be right back.” Onric dashed out the door.
Chapter 16
Ashlin kept stitching with her regular bone needle. She tried to swallow, but her mouth was dry. What she had proposed was punishable by years of imprisonment at the very least, and she had spoken it to a member of the royal family. What if he returned with the palace guard?
She shook her head. He was the head of the palace guard. He would not have had to leave the room in order to arrest her. And what was she thinking? Of course he would not be arresting her. The only reason she had shared her idea with him was because he had first shared his search with her.
Mistress Cedrice was right. Her father would not have wanted this for her, for their family. But she was also not completely at fault for his death. There should not have been such a fierce storm during the warmest season. The least she could do now was try to protect others as much as she could from the sorrow and despair that would follow in the wake of the Majis.
She looked up as the door creaked open. Onric stepped inside the room and carefully looked back down the staircase. He paused for a moment, listening, then closed the door.
“Just making sure I was not followed.” He stepped to the other side of the makeshift table, across from her, and held out his hand. It was clenched in a tight fist around a silver object. “Before we try this, I want you to know I am responsible for any negative consequences that might befall us. My examination of magical objects is not entirely done in secret... I want to assure you that those with more power than I are aware of what I am doing and have given their permission for it.”
Ashlin felt lightheaded. If even the king and queen did not trust the protection of the Council, then they were in serious danger. She nodded. “I understand. But I too want to do my part in protecting Iseldis from further sorrows.”
He opened his fist, revealing an elaborate silver needle case. Mistress Cedrice kept her most expensive bone needles in a similar case. Ashlin had always planned on getting herself a silver case for her own favorite needles, someday when she was a successful seamstress.
“Shall I make the first stitch?” Onric asked, his voice filled with concern.
“With all due respect, Your Highness, I’m not letting you anywhere near this tapestry with a needle, magic or not.” She attempted to smile despite the gravity of the situation.
He smiled. “You make an excellent point.”
She reached across the makeshift table, taking the needle case from his hand. A strange sensation immediately sparked up her arm, and she nearly dropped the case. Was the magic already affecting her? Her cheeks started to warm as she realized she had brushed his hand with her fingertips. The innocent contact with his skin had caused the tingling reaction up her arm, not the needle case. She could feel herself blushing as she hoped he had not felt it too. She tilted her face down and focused on examining the intricate case to hide any feelings that might be visible on her face.
Pressing her thumb against the delicate clasp, she opened the case and stared at the needle within. She had seen it before, of course, but she had not known its history or potential then. It was larger than most regular needles, and not smooth. The iron had not rusted, but the patina was dull and shadowed. Even the point of the needle itself looked dull, and she was not sure she would be able to drive it through the dense fabric and stitches of the tapestry. She hesitated to pick it up, but they were not going to learn anything by staring at it through the case.
“You’re sure it didn’t do anything to harm you when you tried it?” She looked up at him.
“No. Nothing that I’m aware of. Although if it made me less smart, I would not necessarily know that, would I?”
