Mageborn The Line of Illeniel by Michael Manning (top novels of all time TXT) 📗

now he’s lost both sons. Don’t underestimate how circumstances may have changed your old friend. He’s bitter and nursing a grudge.” The king looked at me, “Young Illeniel, I have business with you.”

“Yes, your majesty. I am at your service,” I answered promptly.

“Assuming you are acquitted of wrongdoing tomorrow I will have your oath of fealty shortly afterward.”

“I will give it now if you wish sire,” I said.

He shook his head, “No tomorrow will be fine. However there is a serious matter to discuss. Have you given thought to your bonding?”

My what? “Excuse me your majesty; I’m not sure what you mean.”

“If the reports are to be believed you showed a great deal of magical prowess during your battle with Devon Tremont. Much like your father, tradition demands you be bound to a partner, your Anath’Meridum,” Edward was matter of fact.

“Your pardon sire, I had thought the knowledge of how to create such a bond lost.”

“It is not. In fact the ancients were very careful to preserve the knowledge. We have several books here detailing how it is done. I am not an expert in the matter but your father once told me it was an easy thing to accomplish. The choosing is the hard part,” he replied.

“In what way sire?”

“It should be obvious. The person you choose will die when you do, and vice versa. The one chosen should be a friend, or someone close, but it isn’t easy to put such a burden upon one you love.”

James interrupted, “I thought that part was just a myth.”

“Oh no! It’s absolute truth, it’s the very reason for the bond after all,” Edward said.

“Your majesty, if I may? Do I have to choose immediately?” I inquired.

“The sooner the better, there’s still a trainer here, from the days when your mother was chosen. He will return with you when you leave, to begin preparing whoever you choose.”

That was a surprise, “Did he know my mother?” In my haste I forgot to add the proper honorific, but he took no offense.

“Certainly, he trained her.”

“What sort of training is it... your majesty?” I remembered my etiquette that time.

“It involves martial training, some meditation, and a lot of history and indoctrination regarding the secrets and reasons for the Anath’Meridum, or so I’m told.”

I was having difficulty imagining putting such a burden on Dorian, or Penny if she came back. In truth the thought of having to worry about anyone else dying when I did was... I remembered why Penny had left. I couldn’t possibly choose anyone now; it would be a death sentence. “Are there any consequences if I decline to form such a bond with anyone?” It was an ill-considered question but I needed to know.

“Apart from death? I would be forced to rally the kingdom to have you put down. Don’t tell me you’re considering such a thing?” his eyes grew wary. I could almost see him suddenly regretting the informal setting, the lack of guards.

“No of course not sire! I was just curious. I’m very new to all this and I’ve never had a teacher, or any formal training.” I tried to put as much sincerity in my voice as possible. In my mind I went over his words... have you put down. Like a rabid dog? The phrasing made it sound as if I might go mad if I wasn’t bonded to someone. Once again I cursed my lack of knowledge.

“Good. I’ll introduce you to the trainer tomorrow, assuming you are acquitted of course.” He smiled at me, but I could not help but think of my father’s old advice, beware a smile on a dog.

James and I returned to my rooms after that. The wine had largely worn off, but neither of us felt like dinner in the great hall so we said our goodbyes and he returned to his city home. I managed to get a light supper brought to my room.

While I was eating I realized Penny’s things were gone. She must have returned for them while I was out. I guessed she was serious. I lay in bed for what seemed like hours after that. Sleep, when it finally came, was far from restful.

Chapter 7

Morning arrived bright and shining; with no regard to my personal feeling on the subject. It should have been raining, if anyone had bothered to consult me on the matter. I took breakfast in my room. The service at the royal palace was definitely a step up from Lancaster. The duke’s cook would boil someone alive for requesting a meal in their room, much less between the set meal times. Of course to be fair, the royal kitchen served a lot more people and probably had a whole crew of cooks managing things.

The hearing was set for nine in the morning. A terrible time for me to be sure, but I suspected that the king liked to get unpleasant things out of the way early. Adam showed up to help me dress. He was just as efficient at the task as Benchley had been, but he made sure I knew that true men of quality brought their own man-servants. I was tempted to ask him to empty the chamber pot after that, but I held my temper.

I got directions to the Hall of Lords, where our hearing would occur. I made my way along the corridors alone, without escort or guard, without Penny. When I arrived the man at the door announced me as ‘his lordship, the Count di’Cameron’ and an usher led me to my seat. I was pleased to find James and Genevieve sitting close by. I suppose as his vassal the seating arrangements put us close together.

The hall itself was large, with a vaulted ceiling and seats on the floor for nearly a hundred people. I say people, but those seats were for the lords and ladies of Lothion. Spectators were allowed to sit, but only in the galleries on either side of the main hall. The king sat in