Scholar of Magic (Art of the Adept #3) - Michael G. Manning Page 0,205

wound in his spirit wide open all over again. “Did you need so many men to make your request, Captain?”

“The streets are not safe, sir. They are merely for your protection.”

Unable to find fault with that, Will gestured to the others and started forward, but the captain spoke once more. “The invitation is only for you and Miss Nerrow, sir. No one else is allowed in His Majesty’s presence.”

Laina’s hand tightened around his upper arm. Will lifted his chin. “I won’t be separated from them.”

“They can still accompany you, sir,” explained the soldier. “But they’ll have to wait outside the receiving room.”

Will relaxed. “Oh, of course.”

The four of them were loaded into a plain but well-built black carriage, while soldiers marched in front and behind them. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t necessary, as the palace was practically next door to Wurthaven. Will could have walked there on foot in ten or fifteen minutes, and in much less time if he were running. He didn’t mind the carriage, though; it seemed appropriate, especially since Laina was with him.

As soon as he realized what he was thinking, he laughed at himself. Maybe I am turning into a nobleman. When would I have ever worried about a ‘lady’ needing to ride rather than walk in the past?

They arrived at the palace without trouble, though he paid close attention to their surroundings through the small window on his side. The palace gates had to be opened for them to enter, which was in itself unusual. Ordinarily the gates remained open with only a small guard. The palace had been locked tight. Will could see guards, sorcerers, and military men in every direction. The palace yard was full of busy men.

The carriage stopped at the main palace entrance, and they were shown into the front hall with all the respect and courtesy that any landed lord might expect. I suppose Laina counts, thought Will, even though she doesn’t actually have a title of her own yet. Of course, as the princess’ husband he should have been granted a title or two, even if he was lowborn, but Will hadn’t exactly married the king’s daughter under the most amiable of circumstances.

He’d openly defied the king on several occasions, as well as refusing to accept either an elemental or a grant of land and title. It wasn’t so much that he was averse to moving up in society; rather, he knew such a ceremony would involve swearing fealty to the king. To make matters worse, he’d openly told the king as much.

The public might not know it, but as royal sons-in-law went, he probably rated slightly lower than the city rat catcher in King Lognion’s estimation, which suited him just fine. In Will’s own appraisal the king was only slightly less repugnant than a demon-lord.

And he’d met one, so he figured his opinion counted for something.

A footman approached, bowed respectfully, then gestured with his arm. “If your friends would follow me, I will make sure they are kept comfortable while you are attending His Majesty.”

Tiny glanced at Will, who nodded. The big man and Darla went along without trouble, while a second footman led Laina and Will down a smaller side hall. She draped her hand over Will’s arm, but he leaned over and brought his ear closer when he felt a slight tug. “Have you ever been summoned like this before?” she asked.

He nodded quietly. In fact, he hadn’t, but in the more general sense, he’d been in similar situations with the king. Once when he had been released from the royal dungeon, once after saving Selene from a hungry demon, and then once when he had invited himself in to steal the princess away. On almost every occasion he had been subjected to violence at some point. Except when I took Selene, he noted.

“How did it turn out?” Her voice was smooth, but given her last encounter with their monarch he knew she was nervous.

He wanted to reassure her, but after their recent spiritual exploration of one another, he knew that kind words would only make it worse for her. She wouldn’t believe them. “Usually I try to be polite but eventually I offend him