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  She didn’t dare let herself hope that later, there might be time to explain.

  Gemma stared at her for a few minutes, then gave herself a shake. “Can we get him back?” she asked.

  Surely she had to know? Elizabeth hesitated. “The Dome is surrounded by a magical forcefield, Gemma. No one goes in and out other than a few select mages. A rescue mission has no chance of success.”

  Gemma looked devastated. “There must be something we can do,” she said, wringing her hands.

  Elizabeth hesitated. She didn’t want to raise Gemma’s hopes, but she also couldn’t bear to see her so distressed. “There’s one chance,” she said slowly. “We could ask them.”

  “Do you think that will work? I’m sure Jocelyn would…”

  Elizabeth bit back a laugh at the thought. From the little she’d seen of Jocelyn, she didn’t think she’d have any hope of convincing the mages, even if she could get near them. She obviously thought she was someone important, but given her lack of any magical ability, the residents of Linarra were unlikely to agree. “No, I don’t think a plea from Jocelyn would help in this instance, even if she could get anyone to talk to her.”

  “Who then? Me?” Gemma asked nervously. Elizabeth could see the slight shake to her hands, but she straightened her shoulders, prepared to do whatever she had to do protect her child.

  Elizabeth couldn’t help feeling proud, even though she could claim no responsibility for how this woman had turned out. “Much as an impassioned plea from a mother should melt their hearts, you can’t get past the forcefield. I’ll have to go.”

  “You? How are you going to get past the forcefield?” Gemma asked, confused. Then her eyes widened. “You’ve been there haven’t you? Is that where you went?”

  “Yes, I’ve been there, but not when I left here. The Dome didn’t even exist then.”

  Oh, how much simpler her life would have been if it had. If it had, she would have known that she wasn’t going mad. That magic really existed.

  And there would have been somewhere she could have gone to get help.

  “Do you think they’ll listen to you?” Gemma asked desperately.

  Elizabeth hesitated. Her chances weren’t high.

  “I don’t know, Gemma. I’m just an ordinary mage. I can’t promise they listen, but I can promise that I will do anything in my power to bring Mitchell back. At the very least, I should be able to find him and talk to him.”

  She hesitated. She’d seen how nervous Gemma was around magic, especially hers, but she had to offer the far more likely option. “If I can’t convince them to let him leave, do you want to go to him?”

  “To the Dome? Is that possible? I thought only mages lived there?” Gemma’s voice shook.

  “No, there are some non-mages there. Not many, but some.”

  Gemma nodded hesitantly, then with more surety. “Of course.”

  Elizabeth nodded. “Do you want me to come with you to tell Jocelyn, or shall I go straight away?”

  “Won’t you need supplies, a horse?” Gemma asked in confusion. “Come to think of it, since they only left last night, can’t we catch up to them before they get there? It’s a long way to the Dome, isn’t it?”

  Elizabeth shook her head. “They are already there Gemma. I can feel the remnants of their teleport.”

  “Teleport?” Gemma asked in confusion.

  “A kind of magic that can move you almost instantly from one place to another.”

  “Can you… teleport… too?”

  Elizabeth nodded. “I can.”

  Gemma sighed. “You’d better go then. The sooner you find him, the sooner he can come home.”

  Elizabeth nodded. She was relieved Gemma had taken it so well. And that she was still determined to get her son back, even if he did have magical powers. She hesitated briefly before stepping forwards and folding Gemma into an embrace. “I may be gone a few hours, or even a few days,” she warned.

  Gemma nodded, looking like she was about to cry. “I’m not going anywhere,” she said firmly.

  Elizabeth pulled her stone out of her pocket and for the second time that day, she teleported to the receiving area inside the Dome.

  Chapter 7 - The King

  This time the official recognised her, though he didn’t comment, simply took her stone and made his notations. “You may go, Mage Salinga.”

  Elizabeth nodded respectfully, then paused. She’d come this far on impulse, no real plan of what she’d do when she arrived, and now she was unsure where to go. If Mitchell were here, he’d most likely be at the Academy, the school for mages.

  But though she could just turn up and begin searching for him, it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. The Academy had thousands of students all at various stages of learning.

  Even if she could locate him, she couldn’t take him through the force field of the Dome with only one stone anyway.

  She sighed heavily and contemplated the option that had been in the back of her mind since she’d told Gemma she’d come.

  Sean.

  It had been nearly twenty years since she’d last seen him, but even the thought of him still caused a delicious swirl in the bottom of her stomach, followed by the crushing sense of guilt and hurt.

  She’d tried, twice, to contact him at his palace, but each time she’d been refused entrance. Did she really think this time would be any different? Even if he’d see her, did she really think he’d agree to help her?

  Oh, he had the ability. As a prince and advisor to the king, helping her get Mitchell out of the Dome would be a snap of his fingers. But there was no reason he’d be inclined to lift so much as a finger in assistance for her. Not after how they’d parted ways.

  No, that avenue was a pointless waste of time. It would only sidetrack her.

  There was only one real option. One that seemed easy in comparison.

  She took a deep breath and teleported again, this time within the Dome, to the room set aside for magical travel within the publicly accessible sector of King Lisanna’s palace.

  This was the first time she’d been to the king’s palace, but she was so preoccupied with finding Mitch that the rich vermilion tapestries and skilfully painted landscapes barely even registered.

  She did however, notice the crowd.

  She must have arrived on Plea Day, the one day of the month when King Lisanna threw open his doors to hear the hopes and wishes of the public. That meant she was unlikely to get turned away. Unfortunately, it probably didn’t improve her chances of actually getting an audience with the king.

  There were several dozen other people here all waiting to speak to the king too, and the day was half over already.

  With an inward sigh, Elizabeth joined the two other late arrivals giving their name to the scribe. Tradition said they would be seen in ‘order of importance’, although who defined that order wasn’t made clear.

  When Elizabeth’s turn came, she gave her name readily, then hesitated over how to describe her request. “I’m hoping the king can help me find a boy who has come to the Dome recently.” Then she winced. It seemed almost too trivial to bother the king with when she put it like that. The scribe didn’t say anything though, just wrote down what she said, looking bored, and waved her to one of the many seats.

  Elizabeth sat and prepared herself for a long wait. If she couldn’t see the king today, she’d have to try again tomorrow, though her chances would be far lower.

  She’d barely had time to wonder if it would be worth staying overnight, or returning to Selenthia and coming back tomorrow, when she heard her name called, “Mage Elizabeth Salinga?”

  Startled, she jumped up and crossed to the official standing by the open door at the end of the hallway.

  “The king will see you now.”

  She followed the man down a hallway to another door at the end.

  That was fast? Surely there must be people here with greater concerns than hers. Of course, rank would get you an audience mo
re quickly, but her rank of mage wouldn’t put her above the rest of the room.

  Cardinals, those who had pledged their allegiance to the king the day Linarra had been formed, had no need to see the king on Plea Day. They could simply speak to King Lisanna at one of the many functions he held for those so privileged. A mage would be the highest rank in the room, but that would only put her on equal footing with the rest of the hopefuls.

  She could think of no reason why she had gained an audience so quickly, she was nobody important.

  Except… Her heart skipped a beat.

  Surely King Lisanna didn’t know who she was? Elizabeth’s footsteps faltered, but the official didn’t pause.

  As far as she knew, Sean had never spoken of their relationship with anyone. As advisor to the king, Sean might be closer to him than some, but surely he hadn’t…?

  Even if he had, what were the chances that the king would remember a woman one of his princes had been involved with twenty years ago?

  And yet, perhaps he would remember the mother of a prince’s son?

  Her heart was fluttering in her chest by the time the official opened the great doors at the end of the hall. If it weren’t for the fact she’d promised Gemma she’d find Mitch, she might have retreated.

  The king’s audience chamber was imposing, as she’d expected, but the man sitting on the golden throne was not. He was smaller than she’d imagined and aside from the throne and the crown, could easily have passed for an ordinary man.

  No, not ordinary.

  No matter where one met him, he would never be ordinary.

  His dark hair curled slightly around his temples, and the small goatee he sported gave him a look of youth that was belied by the years she could see in his eyes. He had the same spark that had always set Sean apart from everyone else.

  She remembered protocol suddenly, and bowed low. “Thank you for taking the time to see me, Your Majesty,” she said formally.

  “The pleasure is all mine, Elizabeth. You don’t mind if I call you Elizabeth, do you?” His voice was low and warm and when she glanced up to meet his eyes, they were twinkling kindly, as though he knew some joke she didn’t.

  Sean must have mentioned her.

  Oh freck.

  “Of course not, Your Majesty,” she stammered.

  “Please, Elizabeth. There is no need to stand on ceremony. My name is Hugo.” His voice was smooth and soothing.

  His words were not. This was getting out of hand. Fast.

  “King Lisanna, I couldn’t possibly…”

  This wasn’t how she’d expected conversation to go at all.

  “What, are you going to disobey an order from your king?” Hugo raised an eyebrow in a friendly manner, but there was an undertone that said he would brook no argument.

  “No, of course not… Hugo.”

  She was surprised to find that the name came hesitantly. She wasn’t usually one to stand on ceremony. Hell, she’d been on a first name basis with Sean for years.

  But he hadn’t been a prince when she’d met him. And even when he was, they’d never met in public.

  King Lisanna stood and removed his crown, setting it down on the arm of his throne.

  He walked over to her and she realised that appearances could be deceptive. He was a good head taller than her and far more imposing close up.

  “Please, Elizabeth, won’t you take a seat?” He waved her to one of the straight backed arm chairs that sat near the window. Until now, she hadn’t even noticed them. She’d been too busy staring at the king.

  She sat obediently, at a loss for words. She felt at a distinct disadvantage, not able to work out what he knew about her, or what his perception of her was.

  “So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”

  Elizabeth couldn’t believe that it took her a few moments to pull her scattered thoughts together enough to remember. “It’s my grandson, Your… Hugo. I’m reasonably certain he was… well… recruited, by some Seekers last night.”

  The king raised an eyebrow. “And? What does this have to do with me?”

  “His mother is very distraught,” Elizabeth tried to explain. “He’s only young, and I don’t believe it’s right for him to leave home yet.”

  “You want me to let her come to the Dome too?” King Lisanna guessed.

  “No, I want to take the boy back to Asherad with me,” Elizabeth said boldly.

  Might as well take the chance, since she’d come all this way, even though she was becoming increasingly convinced he was going to say no.

  The king stared at her for a moment, his expression a mixture of surprise and amusement. Then he leaned back in his chair and stared at her. “Well, that is a big ask.”

  His reaction gave no clue as to his thoughts, and Elizabeth began to realise the stupidity of coming here. Why would he help her? No one left the Dome once they were here.

  With the notable exception of her of course, who had practically been thrown out.

  “I’m sorry, Your Majesty, I shouldn’t have come,” she began, and started to stand.

  He put out a hand to stop her. “I have not said no yet, Elizabeth. Please sit.”

  She obediently sat again before she even realised what she was doing.

  No wonder this man had remained king of Linarra for decades without being challenged. It was next to impossible to argue with him.

  “You of all people should know why we bring mages to the Dome,” King Lisanna said softly.

  “Yes, of course.” She didn’t need anyone to remind her of that.

  “If the boy is a mage, then he needs to learn to use his magic safely. If he returns to Asherad, how do you propose this be accomplished?”

  Elizabeth hadn’t really thought that far.

  There was only one possible answer though, and she didn’t hesitate. “I’ll teach him, Your Majesty.”

  “Hugo,” he corrected absently, watching her curiously. “That would mean you would have to remain in Asherad, you realise?”

  A vague feeling of unease settled over her. Surely he knew she hadn’t lived in the Dome for a long time? He could, with just a word, make sure she never left again.

  She swallowed. “Yes, of course.”

  “Are you willing to make that commitment? To stay there until he can be trusted not to hurt anyone?”

  In contrast to being trapped inside the Dome, staying in Asherad seemed minor.

  Still Elizabeth hesitated. It was a bigger commitment than she’d made in a long time. It meant leaving Digger, giving up her job and, to some extent, the freedom she’d had for so long.

  Yet somehow, despite never even having laid eyes on the child, there was no question about her answer. “Yes,” she said simply.

  Hugo smiled. “Good, then I think we can come to an arrangement.”

  “An arrangement?” Elizabeth asked, surprised. What did he mean?

  “Yes,” Hugo sounded amused. “Your grandson’s arrival here in Linarra, followed by yours, has given us an opportunity we couldn’t pass up. Don’t worry, I’m not asking something of your, but of your family.”

  That made Elizabeth even more nervous. “I cannot speak for my family, Your Majesty, I can’t make promises for anyone but myself.”

  “Whatever happened to Hugo?” He raised an eyebrow. “Of course I understand your reluctance completely. You will be given plenty of time to go home and present our proposal to them. The boy isn’t going anywhere.”

  Elizabeth sighed inwardly at the thought of yet another teleport out of, then back into the Dome. The enormous amount of magic she’d used already today was starting to take its toll, even if it was refreshed every time she entered the Dome. “I will be more than happy to present your proposal to them, Hugo.”

  If she was going to be making deals, she’d be damned if she’d keep referring to him as Your Majesty. That put her at a distinct disadvantage. “What do you propose?”

  “Your family, Jocelyn I believe, has in her keeping a map
that will lead her to a cache of magical items we have been seeking for quite some time. I believe though, that because of the opposition, she has been unable to retrieve them. I’m proposing a mutually beneficial arrangement, whereby we help your niece get her items, in return for having our pick of one item from the trove.”

  Magic items? Just what did Jocelyn’s business do? Elizabeth had to admit, her curiosity was piqued. If Jocelyn had managed to find something the mages in Linarra had been searching for, she must have some impressive resources of her own.

  Either way, the deal he presented seemed reasonable. She wasn’t completely sure Jocelyn would see it that way, but it wasn’t her decision to make.

  “That seems fair,” Elizabeth said cautiously. “But I’m not sure how much luck I’m going to have convincing Jocelyn to trust you. She has to know that if you want the items, you could easily take them all.”

  The king raised an eyebrow. “Elizabeth! Are you doubting my integrity?”

  Elizabeth flushed. For a moment there, she’d almost forgotten she was talking to the king, not an equal. She needed to watch herself.

  “My apologies, Hugo,” she said quickly. “I didn’t mean to imply that I don’t trust you, only that I’m not sure Jocelyn will. I’m sure she’s aware that just because someone is in a position of power doesn’t mean they can be trusted. In fact, quite the opposite. Enough power means you can do what you like, regardless of other’s feelings.”

  “Elizabeth, I think you are letting your past cloud your judgement in this matter,” Hugo said gently.

  So he did know. Elizabeth felt herself blushing, something she hadn’t done in a long time.

  The fact that he was right didn’t make her any more positive towards him. She was relieved that she could keep her voice steady as she said, “Only because I know from personal experience that power can be misused.”

  “You may not like what happened, Elizabeth, but you cannot deny that Sean did not break any agreements with you. In fact, he was simply seeing that you stuck to the agreement you had made with him.”

  Elizabeth had prepared herself for more skirting around the issue. She hadn’t expected him to come outright and say it, not so blatantly.