Wicked As You Wish (A Hundred Names for Magic #1) - Rin Chupeco Page 0,69
an unexpected circle of bright light. Immediately, two dozen swords shifted directions his way.
“So much for subterfuge,” Ken muttered, reaching for his sword.
“Wait, Ken!” Zoe said sharply.
“At ease, gentlemen,” the man commanded at the same time. He drew closer, unafraid. The firebird studied him, then made a show of yawning.
Chuckling, the man stepped back. “Firebirds despise the Snow Queen as much as we do, and none would travel with those touched by her Deathless. My apologies, young West. Times are hard, and the Cold Lady’s strength grows, even cut off as we are. The Dame predicted that you would arrive six months ago. But she also claimed there would be a Makiling among you, so I can understand her error. If I may ask, milords, how long has it been since the frost felled Avalon?”
“A dozen years, my lord,” Ken admitted. “I’m sorry we couldn’t have come sooner.”
The count fell back, his face falling. Even the knights, previously so well-disciplined, all stirred uneasily, glancing at one another with expressions ranging from concern to horror. “As always, my mother was right,” the count said heavily. “I never doubted her, and yet I’d hoped…but no, the evidence is all before us. West, I am glad you still remember me, though you must have been just a toddler then. And you must be Margrethe Inoue’s son, Kensington.”
It was Ken’s turn to look amazed.
“I stood as godfather to Margrethe; she was a distant cousin of my dear wife’s. I see her face in yours. A considerable number of your mother’s thoroughbreds have made their homes in my stables.”
“You’re a man of fine taste, Sir Tintagel,” Ken said, grinning.
“And the young man over there must be the Nottingham boy. You have your grandfather’s eyes and general bearing.” Cole shifted uneasily.
“And His Royal Highness.” The man bowed low, his tone switching to awe. The other knights stood to attention, raising the hilts of their swords in greeting. “You honor my house with your presence, Your Highness. I am sorry we could not protect His Majesty and the queen.”
“It sounds like you were well prepared for our arrival, milord,” Alex noted. “Despite the six months’ delay.”
“I’m surprised she could make a close enough prediction given the—the Makilings call it an agimat, do they not? That you are here at all is something to celebrate. Even now, the cold air reeks of new wars. You may very well be the first people to enter Avalon after the frost, and though I rejoice in the knowledge, I also fear what that might mean.” Without warning, the man dropped down to one knee before Alex. Behind him, the knights followed suit, their armors clattering.
“The House of Tintagel greets the Firekeeper, the true Heir of Avalon,” the man intoned, the words sounding old and archaic. “From winter’s darkness, till dawn of light, do man and dragons battle night. Our swords are yours.”
“Our swords are yours.” The words echoed from knight to knight. The light from the torches flickered against Alex’s face, his expression revealing little. The firebird inclined its head formally, acknowledging the strange pledge.
“Thank you, milord,” the prince said formally. “It’s a long way to Maidenkeep, and we’ll be needing all the help you can provide us.” He turned toward some of the knights, many of whom didn’t bother to hide their gawking.
“It’s a miracle,” one of them muttered, then launched into an unfamiliar language Tala presumed was Avalonian, while gesticulating at Alex. “Creverun duodeci annorum,” he said, “per singol annos.”
Murmurs of assent swept through the group, falling silent at a sharp command from the count.
“He grew twelve years in a single one,” West whispered, translating for them.
“My apologies, Your Highness. You were only a young boy of five when we saw you last. You take strongly after Her Highness Marya, the queen.”
“I’m sorry?” Alex asked. “It’s only been a year for you?”
“So none of you outside the barrier were aware of this? The frost was not the only spell to hit Avalon, Your Highness. My mother said that for every month we spent here, a full year would have passed for the rest of the world. When you thought us lost for twelve long years, we had endured for only one.”
16
In Which the Castle Wants Tala to Be Its Guest
They had entered the castle none too soon; the sudden deluge of hailstones and the rumbling thunder rang in their ears as the storm hit, sending scattered chunks of solid ice railing against the windows, the panes rattling with their