Page 26 of The Prince's Curse

Benjin answered Haldric’s quirked eyebrow with a glare. This time, he refused to break eye contact until Haldric blinked and turned away.

The prince strode toward the table, holding up a hand shimmering with azure bands of runeflame. “I can help if you wish,” he said, sounding almost eager for the first time since Benjin had met him.

Dexil waved him away. “No need, Your Highness. I have it handled. Although, I’m afraid we’ll need to reschedule your lesson. Once I finish this potion for Lady Samilla, I still need to attend to the wards for the Provincial Council’s Summit next month.”

A faint frown flickered over Haldric’s lips before he smoothed it away. “Of course. Another time, then. I have my own preparations I should make for the Summit anyway.”

The prince turned to depart, Benjin glad to be rid of him, when Dexil called out, “One moment, Your Highness! Just because I’m too busy for our regular lessons is no excuse to slack on your studies. Perhaps we can find another arrangement.”

The Grand Magus glanced at Benjin, who tensed. He had an unpleasant feeling that he wasn’t going to like what Dexil suggested next.

Sure enough, the mage said cheerfully, “As you yourself pointed out, my apprentice requires more practice. Why don’t the two of you train together?”

Benjin leaped to his feet, scrambling for any excuse to get out of it. The last thing he wanted was to spend time alone with the arrogant prince. “What about the wards, master? And your potion. I should be here in case you require my assistance.”

His face flushed at Haldric’s incredulous snort.

Dexil, however, fixed him with a kind smile. “Thank you, Benjin, but I’ll manage. You need to learn to walk before you can run.”

“Perhaps he’d accomplish more practicing the fundamentals on his own,” Haldric said. His gaze lingered on the scarred tabletop Dexil was still in the process of mending. “To avoid any…unnecessary distractions.”

Dexil shook his head, dashing Benjin’s fleeting hope. “Benjin will learn much quicker—and more safely—with supervision. And it never hurts to refresh your own memory of the basics. What better way to bolster your mastery than to convey your learned wisdom to another?”

His face back to an emotionless mask, Haldric inclined his head. “Very well. If that is what you believe best.”

Benjin’s stomach sank as he glanced between the two of them. Seeing no good way out of it without further disappointing his master, he said, “If the prince is willing, then so am I.” After all,how hard could it be to tolerate a spoiled noble’s presence for a single afternoon?

“Excellent.” Dexil focused back on the table, his runeflame flaring brighter as he added another coating of powder to the tabletop. “In that case, why don’t the two of you go find an unused chamber to practice in? You can start by reviewing the fundamental runes and memorizing their common variants. I’ll check in with you later this week, Prince Haldric. As for you, Benjin, I expect you back here this evening. There are a few deliveries I need you to make, as well as some fresh ingredients to sort.”

Muttering his assent, Benjin trudged after the prince’s stiff back. He snuck a quick glance at Dexil as they exited the chamber and swore he caught a pleased smile on the Grand Magus’ face. Perhaps Dexil found it amusing to pair them up when they so obviously disliked one another.

Benjin followed Haldric down the hall, doing his best to keep track of where they were within the palace. He’d gotten better at navigating since he’d arrived but still struggled once he left the main thoroughfares.

Eventually, they came to a small sitting room in a quiet part of the palace. Intricate wooden carvings—at least by Ilthabardian standards—paneled the walls, depicting the rolling plains that made up most of the country.

Benjin settled into a cushioned seat, watching warily as the prince shut the door and stood before it, crossing his arms.

“So, what has the Grand Magus already shown you?” Haldric asked. “I need to know how simple to make this lesson. I don’t want to be here all day.”

Benjin bristled at the prince’s dismissive tone. “I’m not a child. You don’t need to dumb things down for me.”

Haldric tightened his jaw. After a tense moment, he expelled a breath. In that instant, his tired face appeared almosthuman. Benjin found himself admiring the sharp planes of his cheekbones and the firm contours of his well-defined jawline. Of course, then the prince had to go and ruin it by speaking.

“Look, I realize we got off on the wrong foot and things haven’t exactly improved since. But despite what you might think, I bear you no ill will. I simply wish to get through this tedious exercise so that I can attend to more important duties.”

More important duties. As if Benjin needed more evidence that Haldric viewed Benjin as beneath him.

“Whatever. Get on with it, then.”

Haldric’s full lips twisted into a frown. “Very well.”

He strode over to the far wall and waved a hand at it in a complex gesture. Azure runeflame flowed from his fingers, conjuring a black slate. More flicks of his fingers etched silver words atop it.

“In the early days of Allaria, the first humans living in the Mortal Realm drew lifeflame from the natural world around them and soulflame from within their own bodies and minds. Then, came the discovery of the Shroud adjacent to our reality. Aspiring mages learned to tap into its power, harnessing its runeflame to alter the fundamental order of the world.”

Annoyance flared in Benjin. “I’ve heard all this before—most everyone has. Then, greedy mages pushed too far and accidentally opened a rift in the Shroud to the Void.”

“Indeed. Thus, did they discover voidflame, a twisted echo of runeflame’s order. Their folly broke the world asunder and left the uninhabitable Netherwaste as a testament to their hubris. Many were tempted by the power promised by voidflame.” He fixed Benjin with a hard look. “Don’t be one of them.”

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