"Far from it. I've been trying for years to erase some of Dulci's silliness, ever since Arabella dashed my hopes and ran off with that scheming prince from over the water. When she started showing a growth in common sense, along with a tendency to sleep later than usual every morning, I took to spying on her. It wasn't that easy to follow the dogs until I contrived a bag of birdseed and hung it on the back of her nightgown. The silly girl never noticed it. The next day, I followed the trail of birdseed to the inn, then that evening I waited at the inn until the dog returned, and determined what room he went into. Your soldier is rather a romantic, almost too noble for his own good." He sighed. "And that might just be what will save Seafoam."
"By showing some restraint and not taking advantage of your princess, he's counteracting the silliness curse?"
"In the distant past, a frustrated suitor cast a spell on the royal family, to punish them for not handing over whichever royal daughter he wanted. They've only had daughters for the last two hundred years or so, and every time the poor girl is seduced before the wedding, the silliness just grows and the king is sucked into the downward spiral."
"Serves him right," Merrigan muttered. "There's a proper way of doing things. If you want the princess and the kingdom, you have to earn them through daring, not seduction. I've made a study of fables of magic, and there's a sort of protective spell, not really mentioned, but hinted at, if the hero waits until the wedding night."
"I should like to meet your teacher."
"You will." She felt a little flutter at the thought of Morton and Bib together. The two would probably get along famously. She only hoped it wasn't so well that the chancellor would try to keep Bib in Seafoam, to advise him. "Can I presume you approve of Warden?"
"Oh, absolutely. The changes in him since taking up company with you are quite admirable. I should hire you out as a groomer for heroes and would-be kings. The only question is, what are you looking for when you sneak through the palace each night?"
"You know enough about me to know about my apprentice, Elli."
"Odd-looking, yet pretty. The innkeeper's boy is nearly lost for love of her. I'm guessing she has some sea folk blood?"
"Mermaid. The prince who married your Arabella gave a jewel-encrusted knife to King Devon. That knife was used to cut off Elli's hair when she refused to be seduced. Until we get the knife back, she's doomed to two legs and can't even swim."
"Is that so?" Morton nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing in thought. Then he laughed. "Serves him right, then. I was feeling a little sorry for Arabella's prince. The last reports from over the sea say the common sense in his kingdom is slowly fading. It seems the curse on the royal family isn't limited just to Seafoam."
"Most likely, he seduced Arabella."
"She was silly enough to let him." He sighed. "Well, I must admit to a great deal of relief. I've been living in fear the last few years that I would be forced to marry Dulci. That's part of why I've been trying to build up her common sense, to protect me and the kingdom. Do you know if she's in love with Warden, and he's in love with her?"
"Oh, he most definitely is. According to the dog brothers, he was ready to leave because he thought himself entirely unworthy of her, and the thought of running a kingdom properly terrified him worse than any battle he had ever been in."
"There's a man with the kind of common sense this kingdom needs."
"Indeed. Once I offered to help him become worthy, he jumped on it like a starving man on bread. The pains he has taken to learn deportment, to learn statecraft, it's quite admirable. If he weren't already so heroic—you need to ask him about the wars he's been in, you'll be impressed—if he weren't already so heroic, the work he has done ensures it." She sighed.
"What's wrong, Mistress Mara, king-maker?"
"He has one vanity that makes him rather endearing. Warden is rather nervous about seeing Dulcibella in the light of day. His gray hair, his weathered appearance, that scar. He looks older than he is, and he doesn't want to displease her. Candlelight does wonders for softening our flaws. You wouldn't happen to have a spell or a magic ring or something that would make him look a little younger, scrub away a few of the years?"
"As a matter of fact, I do." Morton held out his hand and they shook, though Merrigan did hesitate just for a moment. After all, they hadn't really agreed on any bargain. She had to trust that the chancellor was as honorable and sensible as he appeared.
That evening, a messenger came from the palace with a small package for Merrigan. She tried not to let her disappointment overwhelm her, when the box was too small and too light to hold the knife. It contained a ring, with the instructions that if Warden wore it for an entire moon straight without taking it off, it would become invisible and impossible to remove until his death. Even more important, his physical appearance would improve gradually, so there would be no shock at sudden changes, for those who knew him.
Warden went down on one knee when Merrigan gave him the ring and explained the properties and rules for making the magic work. He caught hold of her hand and promised undying loyalty and gratitude all his days. It was a very pretty speech, and proved that Bib was an excellent teacher. The book deserved the title of king-maker far more than she did.
Two nights later, when the most drastic of the wrinkles had faded from
