Page 16 of Kingdom of Dance

For all his friendliness, the eyes that passed over Obsidian held a glint of something almost like greed.

“I heard excellent things about your service during the war, my dear boy,” the enchanter went on. “I have no doubt your father would have been very proud indeed.”

Obsidian’s hand clenched at his side, but with an effort, he controlled the mingled rush of anger and shame. Better not to respond at all. He had no intention of discussing his father with this man.

“Master Hughes, I’m sorry to tell you that you’ve wasted your time if you came here to try again to get me to join the guild. I have no interest in doing so.”

“Yes, yes, well, we can talk about all that later,” said the enchanter vaguely.

“With respect, Sir,” Obsidian said through gritted teeth. “We just have talked about it. My answer is final.”

His visitor looked a little disgruntled, but he made no further comment. “I didn’t come about the guild. I came on behalf of King Basil, who seeks your assistance.”

“What in dragon’s flame does he wantmefor?” Obsidian asked.

Master Hughes looked surprised at his reaction. “I was under the impression that he’d met you before, and that this wouldn’t be the first time you’d provided him with assistance.”

Obsidian frowned. “He sought my help during my active service,” he admitted. “But we were on a battlefield then. Now that the war’s over, and the king is back in his castle, he has plenty of other enchanters to assist him.” He gestured at his visitor to emphasize his point. “All of whom are better qualified than I am.”

The older enchanter shrugged. “He didn’t confide all the details in me. I just know that he has a problem which he believes you might be able to help him with, while the enchanters residing in the capital apparently cannot.”

Master Hughes spoke the words with a hint of distaste, and Obsidian didn’t blame him. How could the king think that?

“But that’s impossible,” Obsidian said. “Because I—”

He cut himself off, but Master Hughes finished for him. “Because you’ve been at such pains to hide the fact that your magic is not weak, as you’ve always claimed, but in fact unusually strong?”

Obsidian looked blankly back at him, determined for his features to give nothing away.

The other enchanter just laughed at him. “My dear deluded boy, you can tell your average person whatever you wish. But do you really think that any competent enchanter could fail to recognize the quality of the magic that resides in your person?”

Obsidian glared at him, before shooting a quick and anxious look toward his mother.

She actually rolled her eyes. “Sid, I’m your mother. There isn’t much about you that I don’t know.”

Obsidian blinked, processing her entirely unruffled response. But before he could press her further, their visitor spoke again, the words disastrously clear.

“I don’t think there was ever any doubt of your capacity, young man. Your grandfather, for all his faults, is one of our strongest enchant—”

“He’s no family of mine,” snarled Obsidian, losing his grip on his temper at once. “I refuse to acknowledge him, and I want no part of his magic. If this whole mission has anything to do with—”

“Calm down, Obsidian,” interrupted his mother, in a voice that was tranquil but unyielding. “There’s no use in getting worked up.”

“I should think not,” said the guild member, a little shocked. “My dear boy—”

“Stop calling me that,” snapped Obsidian.

“Very well.” There was a crisp note in Master Hughes’ voice now. “I can assure you, Lieutenant, that Master Enchanter Lleuad has nothing whatsoever to do with the king’s summons. As far as I know, he’s not even aware of my visit to you.”

“Good,” said Obsidian, his thoughts dark as they dwelled on his grandfather. “Let’s keep it that way.”

“Such dramatics,” muttered the enchanter disapprovingly. He drew a calming breath. “How soon can you be ready to leave for the capital? I am to accompany you back.”

Lucky me. Obsidian had a better hold on his temper now, and he managed to refrain from uttering the sarcastic words aloud.

“Give me ten minutes,” he said curtly. No reason to put off an unpleasant task. The sooner he went to Tola, the sooner he could be back.

With a nod, Master Hughes accepted a glass of fresh water, and settled at the cabin’s small table to wait. Obsidian’s mother followed him into his room, watching silently as he packed a few essentials into a small satchel.

---