Sworn To Transfer

so badly that it had refused to let her mount back up. She’d ridden double with a kind knight the whole way back to the palace, her face flaming.

Ciardis waved her hand impatiently to dispel the embarrassing memories.

“What are we in for today?” she said in exasperation.

The darker skinned girl shrugged. “I’m not sure, but Vana and Serena are excited about it.”

Lady Vana called out, “Girls, girls, come over here!”

As they walked toward her, they saw that servants had set out a tall object with a cloth hanging over it. As they walked Ciardis noted with admiration that Terris had woven beautiful beads into her thick black hair which clanked together with her every step. Ciardis tried to ask her how her Patron Hunt was going, she knew that Terris had narrowed her choice down to two candidates, but didn’t have enough time. When they reached the two sponsors, Vana pulled off the cloth to reveal a full-length mirror.

“Today we’re going to work on presentation and illusion,” said Serena. “You both will soon be presented to court and before the Companions Council as the Companion of an esteemed Patron. Terris, I’ve been told that you’ve yet to decide on your Patron. Is that correct?”

Terris nodded. “Yes, ma’am. I believe it’s an important decision and I’d like to take some more time to get to know my suitors.”

“Which is a perfectly acceptable choice for such a large commitment,” Lady Serena said smoothly. In the meantime, Ciardis watched the conversation with boredom and dismay. She loved the pretty dresses and the pageantry of being a Companion, but surely there was more to it than this. And on top of that, she was being targeted for murder. Did Lady Serena even know? What was more, did she care?

No wonder my mother ran away, she thought bitterly, I wonder what she thought of this? What was it like for her? And then it was if a light clicked on in Ciardis’s head – she was surprised that she hadn’t thought of it sooner. She had had very few memories of her mother from before she became an orphan but that didn’t mean others didn’t. At the first ball of the Patron Hunt she had met someone who had known her mother. In fact that someone was still at court: the duke of Carne!

Ciardis tuned out of Lady Serena’s instructions, which mostly pertained to how to use refracted light to subtlety enhance yourself. Perhaps knowing more about her mother and the history of the Weathervanes could help her control those powers.

“Lady Serena,” said Ciardis politely once Serena had stopped speaking, “I was asked to call upon the duke of Carne’s event this afternoon. If you would be so kind as to allow me use of the carriage for the evening?”

“Really?” said Lady Vana, “Terris was invited for afternoon salon, as well.”

Ciardis had a moment of panic. Looking over at her protege, Vana said, “My dear, you didn’t tell me that Ciardis would be coming along.”

Terris glanced over at Ciardis at the corner of eye in time to catch a look of panic cross her face. She knew that Ciardis hadn’t been invited to come along. They would have been in their rooms planning their dresses for hours if she had. But she wasn’t going to leave her friend hanging in the wind either.

“Oh yes, Milady,” she quickly said, “An invitation was sent; it just arrived later than usual.” She squeezed Ciardis’s hand in reassurance. “We are both meant to attend.”

“Very well,” said Serena, oblivious.

Lady Vana pursed her mouth dissatisfied. She knew the two trainees were hiding something, she just had to hope that whatever it was couldn’t be too bad. After all Terris was an excellent protege and role model for other trainees. She’d never get into the sort of displays that Ciardis did.

“I expect a full report from you in the morning,” Vana instructed.

“Yes, ma’am,” they said together to their respective sponsors.

As they headed off to the outdoor salon, Ciardis took a moment to change. Certain times called for presentable clothes, and certain times called for drop-dead gorgeous attire. This was the latter. She was going to meet not only the duke of Carne and his family, but he also held court with the oldest noble families of Sandrin. They were sure to be in attendance. None would miss an afternoon soiree in the duke of Carne’s salon if they could help it. He was known for his intellectual gatherings once a month, and they were always the talk of the city for weeks afterward.

He had been known to invite authors, artists, military officials, and even diplomats to speak on the various topics and host discussions surrounding their chosen fields. That being said, many of the attendees came to the soiree to see and be seen. Intellect was a fashionable accessory in the high courts, education being highly favored by the emperor, but you didn’t have to be smart to be able to repeat intelligent phrases. As they swept down the long colonnade to the outdoor gazebo where the event was being held, Ciardis fought the distinct urge to tug on her dress—a bad habit she’d been trying to break since she arrived as a trainee at the Companions’ Guild. It wasn’t that the dress itched or was uncomfortable; merely that she was nervous and needed something to do with her hands.

As they approached, Ciardis could see that they were using the Swan Lake gazebo. Located near to the empress’s rose garden, it was actually built on a mage-made island in the center of Swan Lake. A thankfully short line of people waited before the single crossing onto the island—a charmingly carved bridge that arced over the water. As Ciardis walked forward in her fine gossamer dress the color of struck silver, she took in the richly attired guests. The woman two people ahead of her wore a small tiara with inset rubies that matched her mage robes. In contrast to Ciardis’s hair, which was pulled up into a messy ponytail with curls scattered haphazardly around her face and down her neck, most of the women wore elegant hairstyles including buns and elaborate twisted curls with hats. Ciardis had tried to improve her last minute hairdo, but there was only so much she could do with the bouncing curls in so little time.

As she eyed the full gazebo that she drifted ever closer to while in the line, Ciardis saw two distinct clusters of people alongside several smaller groups of individuals chatting. The first cluster surrounded the older Duke of Carne as he raised a wine glass and exuberantly talked about some topic. Another cluster surrounded another figure that Ciardis couldn’t quite see, but the conversation looked just as animated.

When they reached the gazebo, Ciardis wanted to head straight to the corner where the duke held court. Terris convinced her otherwise, that she must mingle before approaching the host and his guest of honor. So talk she did. She tried polite chatter and was managing it for some time. Until the second cluster parted and she finally got a view of the central figure. It was none other than Sebastian. With surprise, Ciardis noted that she hadn’t felt him when she’d entered the gazebo. It was large, but not that large, and she should have been able to sense his emotions from across the bridge in an area this small. Weird. Taking a glass of wine, she walked forward. Sebastian turned just slightly and caught her eye. She couldn’t read his expression and couldn’t feel his emotions. Did he want her there?

Halting with uncertainty, Ciardis prepared to quickly melt back into the surrounding crowd before the courtiers around the prince could see that she was approaching. And then he turned fully and held out a hand, palm up, with a welcoming smile. Gingerly, Ciardis walked forward and took his hand in hers. He tugged on her hand gently so she moved to his side, and he turned his smile back on the man in front of him.

“Lord Admiral Kanter, may I present Ciardis Weathervane, Companion Trainee.”

As Sebastian spoke, she felt him in her mind, as well. Relief and worry colored his thoughts.

“Ciardis, I’ve heard some disturbing news. My uncle, Duke of Cinnis, is not pleased with you.”

“Yes, I know,” she replied.

“This isn’t the time to be flippant. It could mean your life.”

Before she could explain further, Lord Admiral Kanter smiled and spoke. “Miss Weathervane. It’s a pleasure. I’ve heard that you were in our courts but am delighted to finally meet you in person.”

He reached out a hand to take Ciardis’s and she had no choice but to release Sebastian’s and hold out her left hand as protocol demanded. Lord Admiral Kanter smoothly bent over and laid a chaste kiss on the back.

Smiling, he said, “Are you enjoying your time in the courts of Sandrin?”

“Very much so,” she said politely, dipping into a curtsy.

They exchanged further courtesies, and she turned to see Prince Sebastian was now engaged in a heated conversation with a man who looked nothing like the surrounding nobility. Curious, she turned to move forward into that conversational sphere. But then she halted in surprise. She’d just caught a glimpse of the duke’s guest of