Page 44 of Wickedly Ever After
“I can handle your good magic,” Hector said, nettled.
“You couldn’t even handle your own dragon today,” she retorted.
Hector’s reserve, always so easy for him to maintain in public, felt as loose as his stomach right now. “But he ismydragon. I see no reason for you to come,” he said.
“She’smyprincess. I’m coming.”
Was she insinuating she would take responsibility with him? He felt like he’d stepped out of reality and into a whole new fantasy world. “Very well,” he said, now completely wrong-footed. “Can you be ready to leave this afternoon?”
“We can leave now. My carriage is waiting outside. I’ll transfer my belongings and send the coachman and my…manservant, home.”
“This is all very responsible of you; almost chummy,” Agatha said with a sneer. “One would think that both of you have something to hide. One might think you’ve joined forces to cover up your mistakes rather than fix them. One does find this very interesting, and others might also find it…interesting.”
“You do know that talking about yourself like that went out of style about five hundred years ago,” Ida scoffed.
“Agatha’s right, though,” Tara said. “I, for one, want another observer along. But someone…more unbiased.” She shot a suspicious glance at Agatha. “Perhaps, I should go.”
“Out of the question.” Hector shook his head. “I can’t guarantee anyone’s safety, especially that of a good witch. We’re talking dragons here.”
“I can take care of myself,” Ida said icily.
Agatha glanced at the salamander, standing respectfully near the fireplace. “What is your name?”
Fire-bright eyes contracted down to narrow black coals. “I’m Cear, Your Wickedness.”
“Can you travel, Cear?”
“Yes, Your Wickedness. If I must leave the hearth, I travel in a flame.”
“You’ll accompany them. A salamander can’t be burned bya dragon. They don’t need protecting. And they always tell the truth. Hector will prepare a flame jar for you to travel in,” Agatha said.
Hector eyed the salamander. It had been a very long time since he’d spent any length of time with an elemental guardian of magic. In Council, they kept largely to themselves, only attending their respective Witch and maintaining the hall before disappearing back into their meditative existence. But he knew they were as long-lived as any Cardinal Witch. This one might even have been the entity staring him down at the dawn of Happily-Ever-After. Carrying them around in a can seemed demeaning. He could practically see the blue flames of anger lighting in the salamander’s orange-and-red body. “Only if they wish to go. I wouldn’t presume to order an elemental to do anything,” he added, shooting a warning look at Agatha.
“I will prepare the jar,” Ida said. “I can make it as large as a fireplace on the inside. I’ve done things like this before.”
“Not for elementals surely,” Hector said.
Ida’s jaw tightened. “For dryads. Before the forests were protected, I helped them transplant saplings from areas being developed for farmland. I used magical pots. They needed to be transported with their soil linked from one place to another to keep them from reverting into screaming babies. Cear, I would be honored if you would help me prepare the firepot. I’d like to make sure it is exactly what you need.” She bowed to the salamander.
Cear’s fathomless eyes softened. “I will, but only if his Wickedness assists. Your magic feels odd,” they said, reaching out a hand to touch Ida’s collarbone. “Almost as if something, or someone, has broken it.”
“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” Ida said, flushing purple.
“I have felt such things before,” they said, withdrawing their hand, “when the land was broken and magic with it.” They glanced at Hector. “It was long ago, but his Wickedness remembers. He was there.”
“I’ll fix it,” Hector said firmly.
Agatha’s face became a glow of happy accusation, and Tara smirked. Hector had never wanted to curse so much in his life.
22
Ida
My dear Malia,
I’m not coming home as anticipated. Matters have arisen that I need to attend to. I expect to be delayed for at least a week, possibly longer. I’ll say no more here. I’m sure you’ve seen the news.
I’m sending Hari home. I’ll be giving him additional responsibilities at the castle that should keep him busy, but please, please, please be gentle with him.
