Page 73 of A Kingdom Restored

Heath heard the other man’s self-deprecating laugh.It is understandable that you would make such a speculation, Your Majesty. But there is no magic about me. As I have told you, my family has served the Dragonfriends on the island for a generation now. I assure you, they are not satisfied with the place of their exile—they are determined to rule a kingdom, as their Kyonan brethren do. I believe there is a scheme to join the Valorian and exiled lines, to rule Valoria together.

Heath’s blood was boiling by now. They were such clever lies—just enough brush with the truth to make King Matlock pause. It wouldn’t be hard for any inquirer to discover how Heath felt about Merletta. If she really was some distant cousin with powerful magic in her veins, and if his family really did have visions of seizing the crown, it would make sense for the two of them to have more reasons than love to come together.

There was a moment of silence between the king and his companion, during which Heath became vaguely aware of his cousins trying in increasing anxiety to get his attention. He must seem like he was in some kind of a trance. He ignored them.

I will consider these matters, said King Matlock at last.I expect I will wish to discuss them with you further.

Of course, Your Majesty,said the smooth voice.There is some urgency to my own travels, but I am willing to stay in Arinton for two days to make myself available to you.

The king nodded what was clearly a dismissal, and panic started to rise in Heath. He had to know who the king was speaking to!

“Help me!” he yelled aloud, keeping one eye on the king as he pulled his awareness back to Brody’s room. “I need to see more—everyone, pool your magic!”

“What…what are you talking about?” demanded someone. It sounded like Jasmine. “Heath, what’s going on?”

“I’m watching King Matlock with my farsight, but I’m not strong enough to see his surroundings on my own,” said Heath impatiently.

“You’re doing what?!” Several voices spoke in chorus now, and Heath actually growled in frustration. The man would surely be out of the king’s vicinity soon.

“Your magic!” he yelled. “Right now!”

There was a moment’s pause, then he felt a tendril of Bianca’s familiar power reaching toward him. He latched on to it eagerly, feeling the way it swelled around his own magic. Soon more strands followed, and he reeled from the rush to his head as his extra sight received a sudden boost. His view zoomed backward, and he saw that King Matlock was standing on a grassy mound, his guards watching closely from just out of hearing range. Heath cast his sight around the area, searching for the other man. The king stood close to a large body of water, its hilly bank covered with yellow flowers. On a nearby slope, a town of gray stone rose up, the buildings starting right at the water’s edge, and continuing up a central street which was so straight it was visible even from a distance.

There! A lithe, silver-haired man was walking toward the town. Heath pressed forward mentally, his sight following the lone figure. The man glanced back, and Heath received a shock.

He knew that face.

Send a courier to my steward immediately.King Matlock’s words alerted Heath to the fact that one of his guards had approached him.I want Lord Heath and his foreign visitor watched at all times. And I have been more than gracious with the depth of the formal investigation. Lord Percival’s execution will take place in one week.The guard gave a smart nod and jogged briskly away. King Matlock’s next words were murmured to himself, with no expectation that anyone could hear—certainly not the subject of his mutterings.

And I had better not find that Lord Heath has been playing me for a fool.

Heath broke the connection with a gasp, his hands groping blindly around him as he tried to regain a sense of his true surroundings. A warm hand gripped one of his, squeezing reassuringly. His sight came into focus to see Merletta watching him grimly.

“What did you see?” she asked.

“It’s him,” Heath panted, feeling like he’d run a great distance. Merletta’s brow creased in confusion, but before Heath could explain further, he was swamped by his cousins.

“Heath, what was that?”

“Do you have magic after all?”

“Did you say you havefarsight? Like the dragons?”

“You can actually watch King Matlock? This is brilliant! We can anticipate his every move, and he’ll never know why he can’t outsmart us!”

This last enthusiastic comment came from the well-meaning but young Max, and it snapped Heath out of his stupor.

“Yes, I have magic.” He frowned around at his cousins. “It’s been emerging over the last few years. According to Reka, it’s the strongest of our generation.”

“This is excellent, Heath!” Leonora cried. “You’re one of us! What exactly can you do?”

“But why didn’t you tell us?” Brody demanded over the top of her.

Heath turned slowly toward Leonora, his heart suddenly so heavy he could hardly bear to have the conversation.

“I thought I was always one of you,” he said quietly. “I thought we were blood.”

The room fell instantly silent, and Heath met Brody’s eyes before he continued.

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