Elsie continued to squawk, and Betula, seeing the maid caged, began wailing. The noise was ridiculous in such a small space and managed to overturn even Captain Kergan’s determined calm. “QUIET.”

Charlotte’s two tedious companions turned shocked gazes on the captain but at least they were silent, for the moment.

Of course he took that moment to try and reason with Charlotte. “Miss, you’re on your way to your wedding, and new home, you can’t stay here.”

“Captain, this is a mage tower, and I am now its mage. I have to stay here.”

That set Elsie off again. “How could you be so irresponsible? You have an obligation to your family. You’ve been given a wonderful opportunity to marry into nobility and you’re going to waste it on a tatty hut in the woods?”

The tower creaked, Charlotte patted the wall again. “Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere, Elsie’s just letting emotion cloud her rational judgement.”

Betula quavered. “I don’t understand.”

“It’s simple. This is a mage tower. Like the ones in the Magic Woods outside Stormhaven. I was the first human to enter the tower, I have magic potential, and the tower and I have agreed that I will be its mage.” Charlotte paused to glare at her maid. “As Elsie well knows, a mage in the family is far more prestigious than an advantageous marriage.”

And it wasn’t like her marriage was a particularly good one. Betula’s brother might be heir to a title, but it was a minor one, without much money, and their was home in the wilds of the northern mountains, a long way from any place of power.

Elsie pushed at her cage. “Any other girl would jump at the union, but you just have to be difficult, don’t you?”

Charlotte tutted. “Elsie, do use your brain for one moment. I’m handing you a golden opportunity and all you’re doing is squawking like an old hen.”

She saw when the pieces connected for Captain Kergan, the dour captain actually grinned for a fraction of a moment, before he said. “But what of the contract, Miss?”

“My father, being the wily merchant he is, never actually named which of his daughters is the one to be married.”

Elsie choked.

Betula looked lost.

The root cage receded as far as Elsie’s shoulders, but continued to hold her, the tower clearly didn’t trust her.

Charlotte stood beside the maid and gestured between them. “Have you honestly not noticed how alike we look? Elsie’s my half-sister.”

“But she’s your maid.”

“And yet she’s also my father’s daughter, and the marriage contract, including the dowry, and the business agreements, are as valid for her as they are for me.” Charlotte looked a now-thoughtful Elsie over. “And we all know she’d do a far better job of being future lady of the manor than I ever would.”

Elsie corrected her. “It’s a castle.”

“Fine. You can be lady of the castle then. Tell Betula’s father that Papa sent both of us, make up any reason you like, and that I encountered a mage tower on the way. He, at least, should have some knowledge of mages and their value, so should be quite happy to have one a little more to hand than Stormhaven, and related to his son’s bride.”

Related posts