Page 86 of Kingdom of Dance

“I think I may have given the wrong impression when I asked for your help recently,” Obsidian said darkly. “I wasn’t expressing any interest in joining the guild, or inviting you to share every detail of my movements.”

The enchanter looked baffled, and Obsidian’s impatience flared.

“I don’t appreciate you sending someone to my home to question my mother,” he clarified. “It was no concern of yours if I chose to leave Tola for a time.”

“My dear Lieutenant, I did no such thing,” said Master Hughes, with a hint of reproach. “You’ve made your position clear, and I believe the guild has amply shown our willingness to protect your family’s privacy.”

Obsidian frowned. “A guild member visited my mother,” he insisted. “She said he told her he was sent by you. His name was Roan, or something like that.”

Master Hughes still looked blank. “There’s no Roan with membership at the guild,” he said. He frowned thoughtfully. “There’s Rohl, of course…but I didn’t send him anywhere.”

“Then he went rogue,” Obsidian said crisply.

Even as he said it, however, a more likely thought occurred to him. It had probably been Lleuad who’d sent the enchanter to hound his mother. The guild’s protection from all those years ago was still in place, preventing his grandfather from going himself. Of course he would have told the enchanter to use Master Hughes’ name instead of his own besmirched one. A scowl spread across Obsidian’s face. Was that what his grandfather had wanted to talk to him about?

“Lleuad,” he spat. “He was behind it.”

“Let’s not jump to conclusions,” said Master Hughes uncomfortably. He fidgeted for a moment, then sighed. “Since you bring up the topic of your grandfather, I understand that you are owed an apology. I was not aware that he had been approaching you here at the castle. The king has asked me to instruct him not to do so, and I can only regret that I didn’t think to take that action preemptively.”

“Do you know what he wants with me?” Obsidian asked. “He claimed it was something important.”

The enchanter looked more uncomfortable than ever. “That was an exaggeration,” he said. “If my guess is correct, that is.”

Obsidian waited impatiently, and after a moment Master Hughes sighed.

“He’s been very interested in acquiring the crystals with your magic. Seems to feel he has some claim, given the family relationship.” He cleared his throat. “I regret to say that he succeeded in convincing a junior assistant to hand one over, and he’s been eager to take custody of the rest ever since. Naturally he will not be allowed to do so,” he added quickly.

Obsidian could only stare. “What are you talking about? Crystals with my magic?”

“Oh.” Master Hughes looked like he regretted speaking. “I assumed you were aware…” He cleared his throat. “Well, I understand that you visited the caverns shortly after your arrival in Tola. Are you aware that the crystals in the caverns have a certain aptitude for power? When magic is released in their vicinity, they absorb and store it.”

Obsidian frowned. Zinnia had said something about the crystals being a conduit, but he hadn’t understood the implications for his loss of control.

“So I left magic down there? Stored in the crystals?”

Master Hughes nodded. “King Basil asked us to assess it, and we drew out what could feasibly be removed, and received permission to harvest those crystals which were fully saturated, to use for purposes of public benefit.”

He gave Obsidian a measuring look. “If I may say so, Obsidian, it was an impressive display. Your magic is potent. I’m not at all surprised that, having had a glimpse, your grandfather was so eager for more. But never mind that—the more important consideration is that if you were inclined to be cooperative, you could do a great deal of good.”

“You’re saying my grandfather has magic of mine stored in a vessel?” Obsidian demanded, disregarding this exhortation. “And he can use it at will, as if he was wieldingmypower?”

“As I said,” Master Hughes spoke soothingly, “he only acquired one crystal. The rest are safe in the guild’s keeping, and—”

“They should be destroyed,” Obsidian growled. “I didn’t give permission for them to be harvested.”

“If you don’t like it, let it be a lesson to you not to be so reckless with your power in such a magic-sensitive environment,” Master Hughes told him sternly. “The crystals are the property of the guild now, and I think you’ll find King Basil doesn’t approve of waste. Sheer stubbornness is not a good reason to destroy such a valuable resource.”

Obsidian jerked up one shoulder as if flicking off a fly. He had neither the time nor the energy for this argument. Maybe once he’d actually slept, he could go down to the guild and try again.

“It’s not important right now,” he said flatly. “I have other things to think about.”

Master Hughes considered him for a moment, then sighed. “I am sorry about the breach of your privacy. I’ll look into the visit to your mother.”

With a curt nod, Obsidian turned away, striding back to the king’s study. The interaction hadn’t improved his mood any, but he truly did have more important things to think about. At his insistence, one of the guards knocked sharply on the door.

“Enter,” the king called, and Obsidian hurried inside.

After one glance at his face, the young king ordered the captain of his guard unceremoniously from the room.

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