Page 16 of Ruled By Magic

Helen cast a glance around, then whispered, “I didn’t agree with it, them locking you up. You were well within your rights to expose what was going on. I was hoping you’d get released, until—”

She didn’t need to finish her sentence. Until I ruined all hope of that by taking the Lord Commander’s deal. Regret settled over me like a cloud, dampening the sunlight.

“How long have you worked for him?”

“Ever since he started in politics, so, three years.”

“Is he a good boss?”

The question seemed to catch Helen off guard. She frowned. “Yes, he is. He can be demanding, but he’s always fair. I have no complaints.”

A diplomatic answer. Was it truthful? We set off. A white stone pebbled path led into a manicured garden, bright green grass surrounded by fountains and tidy flower beds.

A million questions charged through my mind, but I didn’t want to push my luck. I had a strong potential ally in Helen, and it would be foolish to drive her away by bombarding her. Maybe one more. But what to ask? Politics or personal? As his private secretary, Helen must know him as well as anyone, barring close friends and family.

Straight to the point. “Is he a good person?”

Helen stopped and took my hands. “I think so. I’m sure it’s hard for you to believe at the moment. Give it time.”

She studied my face for several heartbeats, then released me. Helen strode off at a faster pace. An end to the discussion. Could I trust her? Sympathetic and kind, but a member of the Lord Commander fan club.

Helen showed me the amenities of the palace. Restaurants. An exercise center that catered for all the sports rich people played: stick-ball, skimmer-pass, and the ridiculous game ladies enjoyed, fragile balls balanced on paddles and passed between them. An ornate Zantusian shrine, decked out in blood red and gold. Mud baths which stank but which, Helen insisted, did wonders for the skin. A large swimming pool that sparkled and called to me. So much luxury.

Over one-hundred people lived here. The twenty-five Assembly members, their wives, families, and staff, along with the caretakers employed to manage the palace itself.

Children’s piping voices alerted me to a tiny school. A cluster of kids chased each other in the playground. I stopped to watch, and sadness tugged at me. For one foolish moment, I considered asking the Lord Commander about teaching while I was here. But that was ridiculous, of course. What posh mage parents would want me near their offspring? That part of my life ended the day I got arrested. I dragged myself away.

“Have you eaten?” Helen’s question drew my attention to my empty stomach.

“No. Shall we find somewhere to eat?” This conversation, so normal prior to my capture, sounded strange. Breakfast with a new friend, as if I were a free woman.

Helen smiled. “I’d love to. I’ve shown you most of the important things, and you’ll have plenty of time to explore the rest. Come on, I’ll take you to my favorite spot.”

We entered the palace itself through a side door. Inside, old and new mingled. Modern furniture rested against ancient looking tapestries, and stained-glass windows overlooked a sleek, high-class restaurant. I stopped outside to gaze at the menu. My brows shot up at the prices, but I wasn’t paying. The Lord Commander was. Might as well enjoy it.

Helen gestured to a table. “Let’s eat.”

We ordered, and Helen excused herself to the ladies. I walked to one of the stained-glass windows and craned up to see the design. An abstract pattern—circles of red, green, and blue glass arranged in a spiral. A shadow fell over me, and I turned. “Helen, what—”

A man in a long, bloodred robe stood behind me, a heavy gold chain holding a ruby round his neck. I stiffened. A priest of Zantus and, by the looks of his ruby, a senior one. “Good morning,” he said, voice soft. “I’m Father Amanthus, head priest at the palace temple.” His eyes traveled over my body in a very unpriestly way, and I backed up a step.

“Good morning.” I searched over his shoulder for Helen.

“Are you devout, my dear? Will you be visiting the shrine?”

Not if I could help it. “I’ll have to speak to the Lord Commander about it.”

I hated myself for dropping his name. But he couldn’t be religious, given that he mixed magic and tech. I hadn’t noticed an icon of Zantus in his apartment, either.

The priest frowned. “I haven’t seen him in the shrine once. Don’t let him strip away your devotion, dear, along with everything else.”

He raked his gaze over my skimpy outfit again and I bristled. “I’m fine, thank you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m about to eat breakfast.”

I pushed past him, back to my seat. His eyes lingered on me for a few moments before he left the restaurant, red robe trailing behind him.

The beauticians from the prison arrived at four p.m. sharp to prepare me for the evening. An ongoing arrangement, they explained. The Lord Commander appeared after they left and headed to his room to dress. Always in a rush. On emerging, he frowned at the clock.

“Why aren’t you ready?” He sat next to me on the small sofa. I edged away and sighed. I’d put off discovering what horror the wardrobe held for as long as possible. The day’s new circulars had provided a distraction. Pictures of me and the Lord Commander filled the pages. Depressing commentary, all speculation as to what sort of woman would parade about in such clothes, accompanied them. As if I’d chosen the outfit myself.

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