Page 42 of The Prince's Curse

fifteen

Benjin

Benjin hurried down thehall toward the Grand Magus’ lab, eager to get to work. His sleep the previous night had been restless, filled with imagined riots in the streets and half-glimpsed images of Prince Haldric.

Sometimes, the prince would be dead, lying in a pool of blood with his throat slit in some back alley or strung up by an angry mob and ripped apart. Other times, the prince lay sprawled in bed, a half-smile on his lips, his green eyes soft and welcoming as a mossy glen. He’d beckon Benjin closer, his lips parting, and…

Benjin shook his head to banish the thoughts. Both sets of dreams were equally disturbing. Better to occupy his mind with alchemical mixtures and ingredient prep.

Alchemy had proven a fickle art. Recipes took the place of sigils much the same way hand gestures and words did in standard casting. Haldric claimed it all came down to differentmeans of capturing the same fundamental order underlying reality. To Benjin, it just seemed like esoteric nonsense.

Entering the Grand Magus’ tower, he was surprised to find his master in a rush. Dexil had swept aside his usual alchemical instruments to make room for some of the lesser used, more advanced equipment he kept on his shelves.

Benjin surveyed the unfamiliar apparatus. “What’s all this about?”

Dexil gave him a distracted smile. “Why, it’s for your trip, my boy! Prince Haldric is departing this afternoon for Khordan, and I’ve arranged for you to accompany him.”

A jolt of shock zipped down his spine, leaving an unsettling tingling in its wake he wasn’t entirely sure he liked. “What? Why?”

“The prince is heading to the city of Luxem to court Lady Katalin of House Galax.”

Benjin froze in mid-step. The words hit him like a blow to the gut, though he couldn’t say why they upset him so much.

Can’t…or won’t?

Shoving his confused jumble of emotions aside, he said, “I meant, why do you need me to accompany him?” His stomach fluttered. “Did Haldric request my presence?”

“Not as such, no. I requested your presence on the trip, and King Roland agreed. The roads are more dangerous than ever, and it never hurts to have an extra mage along on such a journey. Besides, it will be a good opportunity for you to continue your training together.”

“But—”

“Not to mention,” Dexil interrupted, gesturing to the workstation in front of him, “I am in the middle of preparing some notes and research I’d like you to deliver to a fellow mage there: an old friend by the name of Percival.”

Benjin felt a wriggle of suspicion. Though the delivery offered a plausible enough excuse, he hadn’t missed the casual way Dexil tossed in additional training with the prince.

“You’ve been pushing for me to spend more time with Prince Haldric ever since you brought me on as your apprentice. Why? And don’t tell me it’s solely for the benefit of my training—I could practice my runes just fine from a book.”

For the first time since Benjin had entered, Dexil paused in his preparations and glanced up, his expression carefully guarded.

“Most perceptive, Benjin. I’ll admit, I hoped you might keep an eye on the young prince in my stead.”

That answer didn’t sit right with Benjin. He could tell there was more the Grand Magus wasn’t saying, and he thought back to Dexil’s vague words right before the Summit.

“But…aren’t you the king’s adviser? What could I possibly tell you that you don’t already know?”

Dexil’s violet gaze flashed. “As I told you before, King Roland and I don’t see eye to eye as much as we used to. Besides, it never hurts to have an extra pair of eyes and ears around the palace.”

Benjin knew he should let it go. Any further questions risked angering the man responsible for his livelihood here. One word from Dexil, and he’d be dismissed and back on the streets struggling to make ends meet for him and his mother. Still, his stubborn curiosity got the better of him.

“Butwhy?Why do you care about gathering information? What’s going on?”

For a moment, the Grand Magus’ expression hardened. Benjin shrank back at the cold fury burning in his gaze. Though Dexil didn’t have runeflame summoned, Benjin swore he felt the faint crackle of latent magic upon the air.

Then, the Grand Magus seemed to deflate, his fury fading as he grew quiet. “Sometimes, life forces us to confront difficultsituations with no right answers. When that happens, all you can do is watch, listen…and follow your heart.”

Benjin’s skin prickled when Dexil met and held his gaze before turning back to the table before him. “Now, leave me to my preparations and go see to your own packing. Be ready to depart by noon, or the carriage may leave without you.”

Not wanting to risk the Grand Magus’ wrath any more than he already had, Benjin sketched a hasty bow and retreated, shutting the door behind him.

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