“I don’t think it’s likely, but it’s not impossible.”
“Why, though?” Sei lifts his hands helplessly. “I’m hardly the only grail in Draskora. Why would I be worth so much effort?”
“You’re not just any grail,” Marek says. “You’re the grail my father bought for half a ton of scalestone.”
Sei freezes for a moment. Not a flinch, just a moment of stillness. Marek’s stomach twists, wondering if Sei’s thoughts align with his own. Naming Sei’s price tag feels wrong, though Marek isn’t the one who put it there. That was King Imrik and Lady Naoko, debating how much scalestone one Porcelain Guild grail was worth.
What tremendous irony that Sei has been given to Marek, the one mage in Ostomar who would refuse to use him. Perhaps the only Draskoran mage outside the clans.
Marek hates the responsibility, but he can’t deny it. After he’s broken the betrothal, he has to find somewhere safe for Sei. Even if he can’t think of a solution yet.
“Prince Kazia warned me about mages today too,” Sei says after a moment. “I thought he was just trying to frighten me.”
Wonderful. Marek rubs the bridge of his nose. “You met with Kazia?”
“He was in the laboratory before Radovan arrived,” Sei says. “I don’t think he likes me very much.”
Even better. Marek sometimes feels ridiculous harboring so much animosity towards a teenager, even if Kazia started it. Kazia was only six when Marek was adopted into House Dire, and Marek used to think Kazia was jealous of their parents’ attention. But Imrik and Aliza have always clearly favored Kazia, so that doesn’t make sense.
Marek suspects Kazia resents Marek’s magical inheritance. Kazia was born with neither Imrik’s storm magic nor Aliza’s blood magic. Imrik could have granted him magic through the inheritance spell, but perhaps Kazia wasn’t strong enough.
Or Imrik sensibly decided Kazia’s temperament was unsuited to lightning powers.
Whatever the reason, Kazia doesn’t like anyone, and he especially doesn’t like Marek. He has every motive to fuck with Sei.
“Don’t meet with Kazia alone, all right?”
“I wasn’t alone,” Sei protests.
“That’s even worse,” Marek says. “If Kazia is being a brat, can you trust Osric not to maul him?”
Sei glances across the room, where Osric lounges peacefully in front of the fireplace. “Point taken, Your Highness. I’ll take guards with me next time I leave the garrison.”
“Thank you,” Marek says, glad to figure that out.
Except next Sei asks, “Who can I discuss the schedule with? I don't want to take people away from their work without warning. There are a lot of places I want to go this week.”
“Like where?”
“I want to tour the castle. I also want to visit Queen Aliza if she’s free.” Sei looks up and away as he thinks. “Osric told me about the queen’s stone garden, which sounds lovely. I should also check when Radovan is available so I can visit his laboratory.”
Osric stretches along the hearth.
Sei nods, hair swaying around his delicate jawline. “Thank you, Osric. Yes, I want to go into the city too.”
“Is that it?” Marek asks, taken aback.
“Yes,” Sei says, which is a relief until he adds, “That’s all for this week.”
It’s not possible. The Ostomar dragon corps garrison is small and tightly run. Everyone has their own duties, and extending guard duty to Sei is enough of a stretch already.
“You can talk to me or Kamil Ivo about scheduling outings in advance.” Marek feels too guilty to refuse upfront. They’ll figure things out.
“Thank you,” Sei says.
Marek claps his hands. “Great! All right, I need to go—”
“Wait, Your Highness,” Sei interrupts. “Could I ask why you’re avoiding me?”
