Exploitable Weaknesses by Brian Keller (red queen free ebook txt) 📗

the door, resisting her attempt to close it, “The Prince said to tell you that he hasn’t yet made up his mind but that you should come as you are. I hope that makes sense to you, because that’s all I know. Now come with me.” She stepped through the doorway, pulling the door closed behind her while sorting through a jumble of thoughts, “If he hasn’t decided, that’s hopeful. It would be a simple thing to merely dismiss me. Then again, what could be the reason for summoning me so suddenly? Without giving me time to dress properly?” She unconsciously adjusted the folds of her robe and smoothed her hands over a few of the wrinkles that had formed from being seated during the last few hours.

The guard she was following didn’t pause at the doors to the Council chamber, nor did he knock; he simply worked the latch and pushed the doors open and stepped aside. The entire sequence of events suddenly felt odd, like she was in a boat being swept along by a swift current with no means to steer it. She entered the room, stopped and looked around. The Prince was seated at the central table, in a different chair than the one he’d been seated in when she’d left this room several hours ago. Another man was seated next to him and they were discussing something that the other man must have felt strongly about. The man was well dressed but somewhat less understated than was expected from a courtier. They spoke in hushed tones but the man poked his finger repeatedly at the pages in front of the Prince. As Iona drew closer she heard the man’s voice clearly as he stood, “My liege, you simply cannot ignore this forever!” The man gave the papers a push for emphasis as he turned and walked away. The Prince looked up from the papers with a faint smile on his face. The man passed by her, his state somewhere between irate and angry. The Prince had been watching the man leave but he now turned his attention to her. She had reached the table and was about to ask why she had been summoned so abruptly when she felt a surge of power from behind her. It felt like a sudden, immense accumulation of Fire, but perhaps that was because it was in sharp contrast to the previous calm. Iona turned to face the man who had passed by her, since there was no mistaking that he was the source of this power, and immediately raised her hands. The moisture in the air around her crackled as it coalesced into a fog and hissed at the periphery of her protective sphere, where it drew near the other man. The other man had an enigmatic smile on his face and his eyes flicked away from her, to the Prince. From behind her she heard the Prince’s voice, “Thank you, Mebin. Please return to you duties.” The man gave an abbreviated bow and his power dissipated with the abruptness of a sword being sheathed. Iona was slower to drop her own defenses, frost had begun to form on the chair beside her. She turned to look at the Prince. He was smiling at her, not quite an amused smile, but almost. Iona let her stored power fade, “My prince… what was this? Some kind of game? A test?”

Prince Lancaster’s smile widened, “A test. Yes.” He stood and continued speaking, “It occurred to me that with a Talent such as yours, you could show value in a way that you’ve likely never considered - if you had the instincts for it. And that’s what I needed to assess.” He paused to gauge her response. She struggled to remain impassive. He smiled again, “Yes. Indignant, curious…” He tilted his head as he studied her, “Not quite outraged, but more than just a little offended. Am I right?” Iona responded coldly, “I do not like being ‘toyed with’, my liege.” His expression grew serious, “No one does, but the only way to assess someone’s instincts is to surprise them. I am now prepared to offer you employment.” He paused to observe her response. Satisfied, he continued to speak, “On those occasions when I am meeting with someone I do not trust implicitly, or someone I do not know, I wish for you to be standing by, to provide warning in case they present a threat.” He paused to see if she presented some objection. She was too stunned to reply. The prince continued, “This position is not without some risk so I am prepared to pay you triple whatever Yoren was paying you, and you’ll be moved to quarters nearer to mine. These terms are, of course, negotiable; but I doubt you’ll find a more appealing offer anywhere outside the Palace. Questions?” Iona’s mind was whirling but she had the presence of mind to form the question, “So, I’m to be some kind of bodyguard, my liege?” The prince replied immediately in a slightly playful tone, “Well, I should think so. I can hardly be expected to continue to employ you if I’m injured or killed while you stand by and observe. Wouldn’t you agree?” She couldn’t find her voice to reply so she bowed her head. He added, “Besides, it’s my understanding that you have no desire to return to the University. Or have I misunderstood something?” She cleared her throat to reply, “No, my prince. You seem to understand things completely. I thank you.” Her last words almost came out as a sob.

He gently slapped the table and seated himself again, “Feel free to return to your room and dress properly. You’ll start immediately.” He picked up the sheaf of papers and gave her a conspiratorial wink, “In the meantime, I’ll direct my attention to this banquet menu or Mebin could return before you have the chance to protect me.”

*****

It felt odd that