----

Something slowly pours into Claire’s mouth. She chokes at the sensation. “Easy, it’s water.” The glass is set aside for the moment. Claire opens her eyes at the sound of the voice.

“Don’t you have duties to attend to?” She asks, frowning deeply.

“I put Cynas in charge of it.” Linden says as he places his arm over her torso. “Don’t try to save my life again.”

“A kingdom needs its King.” Claire answers as she pulls the covers to cover her nose. “When was the last time you bathed?”

Linden breaks out in a full laugh. “I should be asking you that, my dear.”

Claire frowns as she attempts to sit up. “How long has it been?”

“You were lost for nearly two days, and you’ve been asleep for another day.”

“I was lost after I completed the spell?” Claire scoffs. Linden relays the adventures of trying to find her.

“Cynas thinks that using the frogs saved you.” Linden says as he yawns and stretches to relieve a cramp in his neck. “He says there are some frogs that spend months close to death, so a few days wouldn’t hurt you.”

“I remember asking the frogs to help me survive…” Claire shrugs. “Thank you for finding me.”

“I should have a greater reward than that!” Linden protests as he pulls off one of his rings, a silver band with the royal insignia across the band. He takes one of Claire’s hands and slips it onto her thumb. “Be my wife.”

“I thought rings went on the ring finger.” Claire says, ignoring his words.

“That finger is practically useless. But without your thumb, you’re worse off than the apes.” He pulls on her thumb. “Without you, I’d be dead.” He slips closer to her and rests his chin on her shoulder. “Marry me.”

“What about having a season?” Claire protests, pushing him away.

“You already proved yourself by saving my life with that spell to repel steel. My country calls you a heroine.” Linden rests his forehead against hers to make her look into his eyes. “You have no more protests Miss Claire.”

“I do!” Cynas announces as he strides to the bed, his face red and slick with sweat. “What of your enemies? What will they call her?”

“Why would it matter what my enemies called her?” Linden shoots back.

“They wanted to kill her, and they knew how.” Cynas’s gaze falls on the ring on Claire’s thumb. “If they see that, your enemies or even those against magicians, will be after her life, or yours.”

“Am I to never be with her then?” Linden asks as he stares from Claire to Cynas, back to his love.

“Not in marriage,” answers Cynas.

“And not in the bedding sense,” adds Claire with a grimace.

“Marriage is only a slip of paper,” Linden retorts. He hesitates before continuing, “And I have sought your company without it being confined to a bed.”

“Then that may last, but your country may still wonder about her company about you.”

“But she is an advisor!”

“Perhaps,” Claire says softly, “You should simply find another woman. Wouldn’t that make things so much simpler?”

Linden’s eyes widen to the size of saucers as his mouth drops open to the size of a dinner plate. “How can you say that?”

“Because, my dear King, I have never said that I wanted to be with you. I never said I had feelings for you.”

“On the rooftop, your lips—”

“That means nothing.” Claire interrupts. “It was just to increase your heat, so that I could feed off the energy for the spell.”

“Then—then where does that leave us?”

“Exactly where we started,” Claire says softly. “But this is the end of it. Ever since I met you, chaos has shaken my life and yours. I’ve been ill or seriously injured three times in less than two years time. I cannot continue this, especially when I have no emotional connection to you. I will remain a loyal advisor, but nothing more personal.”

Linden’s face droops, like a leaf under the weight of raindrops. Claire takes off the ring from her thumb, takes Linden’s hand and places the ring back onto his finger.

“Thank you for visiting me, Your Majesty.” Claire says firmly, meeting Linden’s eyes. “I have been exhausted by this conversation; may I request that you leave me to rest?”

“I—But you,” Linden fumbles for words. Finally, he sighs. “Of course. Good day Miss Claire, Mister Cynas.” He straightens himself and leaves without another sound or glance back.

“Claire!” Cynas says in a loud whisper. “Tell me you did not just wipe his memory, that you did not use a spell to go against his free will. You know the consequences if you did such a thing.”

“No,” Claire says as she turns her face to the opposite wall. “I used the reason every sane person possesses. Please Cynas, I am tired.”

Silenced, Cynas leaves her bedside in a huff. Claire stares at the wall until exhaustion pulls her back into sleep. The only sign of her suffering is a wet stain on her pillow next to her cheek.

----

“Claire!” Linden calls out as the meeting ends. “May I ask you a question about your report?”

“Of course,” Claire says as she watches the other members of King Linden’s administration file out of the chamber. She makes the long journey from one end of the table to the other. As the newest member, she was automatically placed farthest from the King.

“Please, have a seat.” Linden gestures. Claire quietly takes the seat beside him. “These numbers here, about the magical schools, they seem much lower than the schools for nonmagical children.” Linden says, staring daggers at the report.

“We had fewer schools because our schools are generally larger and encompass a larger district than the other schools. If that is all,” Claire places her hand on the armrest to support herself as she stands. Linden places one hand atop hers while he stands and wraps his other arm around her waist.

“Hush,” Linden says as he places his forehead onto hers. “I know why you did what you did. You really should give yourself more credit.” Claire tries to shake her head in confusion. “You deserve me, Claire.”

Claire scoffs. “That is one of the vainest things I have ever heard you say,”

“I know, I surprise myself everyday.”

“What if, what you considered a reward is a punishment for me?”

“Then you would have struck me by now.”

“Is that an invitation? I believe striking the King leads to a long prison sentence.”

“That would keep you close to me.”

“Linden,” Claire says in protest.

“Right, yes, I know. All I ask is your honest opinion, without treating me as a king, and letting me treat you as any average man for a moment very week or so.”

“Average men do not get this close to me.”

“You haven’t saved the lives of average men, have you?”

Claire remains silent for several moments. “I believe it has been a moment.”

Linden slowly, reluctantly, releases her.

“You realize you must marry and produce an heir before people become suspicious of you inspecting my reports after every meeting.”

“’Inspecting reports,’ is that what the kids call it these days?” Linden asks with a grin. “Don’t worry about the heir. I have Cynas searching the local orphanage. He’ll select a boy and girl; they’ll begin their schooling on ruling as soon as they are three years of age. The best out of the two will rule and the other will serve the court in the former’s absence.”

“How wise,” Claire compliments as she turns to leave. “Goodnight, King Linden.”

“Goodnight, Miss Claire. Dream of me,”

Claire stops and stiffens, keeping her back to him. “I no longer have the dreams, Your Majesty.”

“Of course, I meant it in the platonic sense.”

Claire frowns in confusion, but does not fall into the trap of staying longer to sort out his answer. She steps out of his office and shuts the door.

----

Months later, Claire finds some peace in her bedroom. She starts undoing the laces around her collar when the knock startles her. She quickly reties the string and calls out, “Enter.”

The door creaks open and shuts soundly. Claire starts speaking as she turns, “I thought my reports were in order—Oh, Cynas,”

“Expecting someone else?” Cynas asks as he approaches her with a mischievous grin. “I have never seen you with that top before.”

“Linden gave it to me as a midsummer’s gift.” She shrugs. “Excellent for this hot weather. And I had thought it was Linden again. He has been finding every excuse for us to have a private chat. He has no idea how to care for children.”

Cynas sits on the corner of Claire’s bed and laughs. “I told him to put the children through the same schooling he received.”

“He insists on me teaching them. How could I do better than the private schools of royalty? They’re not even magicians.” Claire sits beside him. “What brings you here now?

Cynas crimsons as he looks around the room. “I simply wanted to inquire about Linden.”

“Then shouldn’t you be talking to him?”

“It is about your relationship with him.” Cynas fixates on the farthest corner of her room.

“There is nothing left to that.” Claire says with a wave of her hand as if shooing away the cobwebs. “He only means to irritate me. But I believe he is starting to understand that I cannot and will not be with him.” Her hand drops to her knee.

“Are you rejoicing that fact?” Cynas brings his gaze back to her face.

“Why wouldn’t I?” Claire says with a whimsical smile.

“Because if you had wanted to be with Linden,” Cynas says as he places hand over hers and presses it gently against her knee. “Then I would not want to step in between you two.”

Claire frowns for several moments before Cynas dares to speak again. “Do you know how difficult it was to keep my thoughts of you from your very receptive mind?” Claire, quite numbly, shakes her head in the negative, not realizing an answer to the question isn’t needed.

“I had nearly gotten up the courage to speak to you about your season, so that you could officially take callers. In fact, I wanted to use the season opener, the opener I brought Linden to, as a conversation starter, to try to persuade you. Then I saw his aura flare. I hoped you would only be a passing interest for him. But how could you? You are like a spider that does not know she spins a web that catches every heart that passes.”

Claire’s eyes erratically dance over Cynas’s face, searching for a sign of a lie or prank. Her teeth dig deeper into her bottom lip.

Cynas sighs, making the sound of a man who has just surfaced after minutes underwater. “The weight is off my heart now. It was a pleasant burden, but the Heavens know that it kept me up at night.”

“Perhaps you should take the burden back.” Claire says finally as she pulls her hand back. Cynas draws his hand back before it touches her knee. Claire stands and takes a step back from him. “I became seriously ill and nearly died twice, and I wasn’t even in a relationship with Linden. If I enter into a relationship with you, I fear I may be shortening my life.”

“Claire,” Cynas stands and approaches her. Claire holds out her hands to keep him back as she averts her eyes from him. He gently brings her hands up and brushes his lips over her fingertips. Claire’s gaze returns to his face. His eyes are bright and brimming with hope. “I, and the King’s cavalry, shall protect you. Linden has already agreed.”

“You spoke to Linden about this?”

“You were right to say I should speak to Linden about himself. After a slight difficulty, he gave me his blessings.” Cynas waves his hand over his face to reveal a black eye.

“He struck you?” Claire cries out.

“It was in the heat of the moment. He unreasonably thought I had sabotaged his opportunity to be with you and that I would be taking you away from him, even as a friend.”

“That is no excuse for a physical strike!” Claire takes half a step towards him and touches his face. “What has he been doing? Training for the knighthood? It looks like he broke your cheekbone. Why hasn’t this started healing yet?”

“He didn’t actually strike me with his hand. He threw a figurine that was on his table—it had a steel base. I apparently need quicker reflexes. He apologized profusely afterwards and gave me his blessings, as well as the protection of the royal guards and such, seeing as you seem to run into trouble. Ah!”

“Sorry,” Claire says as she continues to stretch a healing spell along the perimeter of the bruise. “Sit on the bed so I can have a closer look at it.” Cynas obeys.

“Perhaps I should get attacked more often.” He says with a wince as he stares up at her.

Claire glares at him. “This is very much unlike you, to say such things.”

“It is me. This part of me has hidden from you for the past—for how ever long I’ve known you.” He lifts his two arms and encircles Claire around her waist, resting his hands on the small of her back.

“Cynas, don’t.” Claire says as she tries to step away.

“Why? I will protect you. Linden pledges it as well.” Cynas looks up at her with pleading eyes. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

“I will lose my life. Couldn’t you value my life above your happiness?”

Cynas pauses for several moments before dropping his arms away. “Forgive me for acting so bluntly. Forget that I made such a fool of myself.” Claire backs away to allow him to stand.

As he reaches the door, Claire calls out, “Linden, drop the masquerade.” Cynas stops just as his hand touches the knob. He spins around and the illusion breaks, revealing Linden underneath.

“How did you know?”

Claire rolls her eyes. “The speech pattern and thoughts weren’t anywhere close to Cynas’s. Did you get Cynas to do this for you?”

“Well, he thought that this disguise was better than allowing everyone to see that the King was visiting you. An old close friend wouldn’t arouse any suspicion.”

“And he knew you were going to say these things?”

“Not exactly, when he gave me the illusion, it seems I glimpsed this part of him. The feelings are true, but I suppose he would not have expressed him as I have. You are going to tell him about this, aren’t you?”

“I think I must!” Claire thunders. “You abused his gift.”

“I thought you would.” Linden smiles. “I knew you would see through this as well. But perhaps—you could act on this information?”

“Why would you want me to be with him? Didn’t you just say that you struck him?”

“Hardly. That is what Cynas believes my reaction will be.” Linden shrugs and smiles wickedly, “Even kings enjoy happy endings. Good day, Claire.” With that, he shows himself out.

Claire ponders at the miracle of Linden leaving first for once, then returns to unlacing and removing her sweat soaked tunic. Pulling out of her trunk, she finds a shirt Cynas had often said he was fond of. With that, she returns to her afternoon classes refreshed and enlightened, while planning a visit to a close friend.

----

Cynas falls back against his seat. They are in his royal office room as the Assistant Magical Advisor. If it had not been labeled thusly, anyone who enters the room would think it was a library. “Do you believe any of it?” Cynas asks finally.

“What a strange response,” Claire says as she sits across the desk from him. Piles of paper cover his desk, topped with assorted paperweights. “I thought you would have denied it outright.”

Cynas drops his face into his hands. “I’m going to be executed for regicide.”

Claire suddenly stiffens in her seat. “Then he told the truth,”

Cynas scoffs into his hands. “You knew that Claire, didn’t you?”

“I honestly did not.”

“I thought for certain that you had sincere affection for Linden,” Cynas shakes his head roughly. “I thought I saw you cry when you pushed him away that last time in the infirmary.”

“Tears of self-loathing.” Claire explains. Cynas finally looks up from his hands, his mouth open in surprise. “I realized that whatever I had felt for him had been from my unconscious desire to be close to power, the power that we magicians cannot ever attain. I hated myself for leading him on, even if it was not with my waking mind, to simply get power, and I nearly killed myself!” Claire shrugs with a wave of her hand. “Linden is a decent friend, when he’s not trying to marry you.”

“I wouldn’t know.” Cynas says with a forced grin. “Would you be willing to endure my attempts to marry you?”

“That was a strange way to phrase the question.” Claire says as she stands to leave.

“Oh,” Cynas slumps into his seat.

“You may try, as long as you do not send me to the infirmary more than three times a year while you try.”

“I might send Linden into the infirmary…”

“Don’t ruin a possible happy ending with murder,”

“Happy ending?” Cynas throws up his hands. “This isn’t an ending, it’s our beginning!”

The End (Sorry Cynas...)

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