hears them as he stiffens at my side. My heart beats hard in my chest, his quiet confession warming a part of me and soothing a craving I didn’t even know I had. I want to say it back, I do, but the words lodge in my throat. I’ve never experienced love before, is this what it feels like? That warm feeling when I see him, the sentiment that I would do anything, including sacrifice myself, for them?
If Wilson was to die… No, I can’t even complete that thought without my heart threatening to break in my chest. I don’t feel a romantic kind of love towards him, but I feel the same way about him that I do Jayne, who’s watching our interaction with a smile on her face. Pulling away, I laugh to break the tension Grayson seems to be radiating.
“Turns out it takes a lot to kill me,” I joke quietly with a shrug, but I am interrupted by Grayson, who pulls on my arm as he starts walking again, tugging me along behind him.
“Don’t joke about that,” he snaps, not looking at me as he marches forward. The others follow in our wake, Wilson jogging to catch up with us.
“Come on, Grayson, she’s just trying to lighten the mood—”
“Now is not the time, we need to go,” the high mage states, cutting Wilson off without even glancing at him.
We share a look. Something we said has gotten to him, since he’d been fine previously. Fine, if he was going to be like that, then we’ll just ignore him. I glance over at my friend who seems to have the same thought as me.
“Is there going to be food at this thing? I’m starving,” Wilson complains loudly, and I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face as other lords and ladies turn to stare at him. We are in the main corridor now, and many other people have joined us in the journey to the great hall.
“You’re always starving, you intolerable being,” a familiar, lilting voice retorts, and Wilson’s face completely changes. He lights up, and I know he’s working on his best insults as we reach another hallway. I see the pretty, auburn-haired girl, dressed in her usual colours—a crisscrossing of blues and greens—on the arm of her father. I saw him at the ball with Aileen not long ago, but even if I hadn’t, it’s easy to tell they’re related. He’s wearing a smart shirt and trousers, and a large swath of the same cloth as Aileen’s dress is strapped across his chest.
“Oh, Lady Aileen, how delightful that you could join us,” Wilson greets with what I’m sure is a much more subdued greeting than he was planning. Aileen’s father watches him with an amused expression.
“Lord Bastian, it’s good to see you again.” Grayson steps forward and addresses the man. “Have you met Lady Clarissa of Lake Haven?”
“High Mage Grayson, it’s good to see you as well,” the tall man replies, his accent thick. “Not personally, but I have heard much from my daughter.” He smiles at me before looking at his daughter with open affection. Turning back to the magician, he frowns and quietly asks, “Do you know what this meeting is about?”
Grayson sighs and shakes his head. “No, at this point, you know as much as I do.”
We’re all silent for a few moments before Grayson gestures for us to start walking again. There’s some light talk between everyone, but the tension is obvious, and becomes even more so when we step into the great hall. The tables are arranged as they are during banquets. There are four long rows of tables with plates and food set out as if this is just an ordinary day—except for the presence of all the armed guards who line the walls.
Jayne makes her excuses, and goes to join the other maids and servants who are all standing at one side of the space. I can see that the other three high magicians are already here, sitting at the top of one of the tables. Grayson leads us towards them with Aileen, her father, and Wilson trailing behind us. I remember hearing a phrase once, and I feel it applies in this case—strength in numbers. I hadn’t understood before, but here, with them all surrounding me, I realise what it means.
Taking our seats, we greet the other magicians and engage in small talk as everyone arrives. However, I watch those who are entering the hall.