Master Blaine slumped down into a chair by the fireplace in Davin's room. His mind had been in a daze since hearing the petition brought to the Great Council--of course he had heard Davin's words and then Michael's traded insults with Demel, but it was if another person was standing there and he was somewhere else. He couldn't believe that Erik, Davin's cousin, would make such a play for power. Shesha, his daughter and Heir, was only nine summers old so in effect Erik would be Regent. It made no sense--why set forth a plan that would alienate him from his peers and most of all his family? Why make this mad gamble when he had his own province to run? Why do it at all--unless he fully expected to win or else had a sure way to win?
Blaine shook his head. No manner of planning would help Erik now--thanks to Michael his plans were less than smoke in the wind. The Great Council had for themselves seen Michael not just negate Demel's spell, but absorb its energy--they all knew that only a Heartsworn had power to channel magic and a Mirrorer had not been in Ardith for several hundred years. Blaine had moved into action when he saw Michael collapse--being unaware of his power, he had not known how to release the borrowed magic and it built up inside of him--and had pulled the trapped magic from Michael's convulsing body and used it to snuff the flames in the torches on the gallery above. It had been only a Tranquil spelling that Demel had cast and would have just put Davin and Michael to sleep. He turned and looked at Michael and saw that he still rested. Davin sat half on the bed with an arm about him and one hand held in his. Blaine smiled at the worried concern on Davin's face--although Michael may have made a permanent enemy of Demel, it would be cost enough if it brought Davin and Michael together.
"Do not worry, Davin, he is fine and just needs to rest."
Davin just nodded in an unbelieving way, not wishing to speak and wake Michael. He looked down on his sleeping face and thought of how his life had turned around since he had come. He also thought of how he had dressed down Demel and gave a low chuckle as he brushed aside a lock of hair from his forehead.
Michael awoke slowly, groaning as he became aware of his headache. He felt dizzy as he was shifted slightly and propped up on the pillows more and opened his eyes and saw Davin's eyes light up and his worried expression give way to relief. Michael looked down and saw that Davin had one hand twined in his own--this was almost as bad as facing the light in those blue eyes. He turned to the fireplace as he heard a grunt and saw Blaine getting up from a chair. Blaine smiled, looking like a cat which had not only swallowed the canary, but gotten the cream as well and not gotten in trouble for either one. 'Damn! Is there nowhere safe to look?' He thought as he settled on a spot between Davin and Blaine.
"How are you feeling, Michael?" Blaine asked as he moved to the bed.
"My head hurts and I'm a bit dizzy--what happened?"
Blaine looked at Davin and then at the door. Davin just moved closer to Michael and stared at Blaine. Blaine sighed and looked to Michael and said, "You are what we call a Mirrorer and can absorb magical energy and release it. It is a power that shows up very rarely in Heartsworns--the last Mirrorer was born some three hundred years ago. Demel cast his spell, you took its power in, but didn't know how to release it. I took the power from you. As soon as you are feeling better we shall return home and begin your training."
"But what of the Council and Davin?"
"The Council all saw you use your power--a power that only comes to a Heartsworn. Erik's petition is now as dust in the wind and Davin will truly rule--after your Joining."
"But I am not. . ." Michael began feebly, starting to admit that he couldn't be Davin's Heartsworn.
"How could you be else? The Great Council saw you move to protect Davin and just how you did it. They recognize you as Davin's Heartsworn."
"You know very well just 'how I could be else' considering who my kin was. I won't go through with it."
"I don't see that you or Davin have any choice in the matter now."
"Just what are you two talking about? What do you mean you won't go through with it, Michael? Blaine, what does his kin have to do with this?" Davin asked, a furrow etching his brow as he tried to understand them. "What don't I know?"
Michael was quiet, but he shuddered slightly. Blaine just looked at Michael in a resigned manner.
"My ancestor was a Heartsworn," Michael whispered, telling only part of the truth, and glared at Blaine as if to tell him not to talk on it anymore.
"Alea," Davin breathed as he recalled the day he had shown Michael the Gallery. He turned to Blaine. "Did you know of this?"
"No, Davin, not until Michael saw the portrait--I swear as a Master."
Davin nodded, got up from the bed and walked out to the balcony. Michael got out of bed, adjusted his shirt and unsteadily got to his feet. He held out his hand, barring Blaine from helping him and nodded to the door. Blaine nodded then left for his own room. Michael walked slowly to the doorway and rested against the open door. Davin rested his elbows on the railing and looked out over the grounds and did not look back at Michael.
"Davin. . ."
"You should have told me."
"I only learned of it recently and am at odds with it still."
"Are you in anyone's employ?"
"Employ? What just do you mean, Davin?" Michael asked, effrontery filling his voice and eyes.
"Did someone send you here--are you being paid by someone to be here--to cause me harm?" Davin asked as he turned and grabbed him by the shoulders.
Michael's eyes flashed hotly as he pushed Davin away forcibly and moved past him. "You pathetic, paranoid narcissistic, pre-Copernican egotist! Everything has to revolve around you! I'm sent here to what--kill you, perhaps to spy on you, or could I even be paid to seduce you and distract you from some hidden conspiracy plot carried out by a dark, unknown enemy? How dare you accuse me of such--I have faced a lot since I came here--just one of them being that I have lost family, friends and home! It's bad enough that Blaine wishes to move me like some wayward pawn in a game, but he wouldn't accuse me so! Me--murder you? It is you who kill me--every day a bit more as I fight myself constantly from feeling that. . ." Michael broke off, the anger fading as he realized what he had been about to say and swallowed back the words and turned to the balcony since Davin now stood in the doorway. His shoulders shook and his jaw ached as he fought to restrain his tears. Until he had spoken those words about his losing all he knew, he had been in denial--thinking that impossibly somehow or something would happen to enable him to go home.
Davin stood frozen as he felt the weight of his words, spoken and especially unspoken. He cursed himself roundly for losing his temper, but sometimes the fear was too great--fear that some neighboring ruler or Council Master would prey on his lack of Heartsworn and power. And even if he'd find a Heartsworn, how could he bring someone he loved into this deadly game when it had already cost him one love already? Davin swore to himself after losing Trey that he'd rule as Regent and had immediately set up Erik's Shesha as Heir. He recalled the heated argument with Blaine, but there had been nothing to dissuade his decision. . .until now. He moved forward and gently wrapped his arms about Michael and leaned down and whispered, "I love you."
Michael relaxed in Davin's arms and smiled as he rested one hand on Davin's forearm. He was amazed that three little whispered words could carry such weighty emotion. Davin's tone was a mix of 'I am sorry--I believe you,' 'I want you in my life,' and 'I will always be there for you.' Michael turned and locked his hands around Davin's neck. Michael took a deep breath and looked up into Davin's blue eyes. "I can honestly tell you that I alone am responsible for my being in Ardith--and that I do love you."
They kissed long, deeply and tenderly as both released their fears and expressed the emotion that each had been long denied. As one they moved to the bed and undressed--hands sliding along pecs, biceps and strong shoulders, tongues enflamed and kisses soothed as Davin pulled the bedcovers over them both. Michael rested his head on Davin's shoulder and Davin pulled his love closer.
"Goodly night, my love."
"As to you, my own," Michael responded as they both drifted off to sleep--each warm and contented now that their love had been given and returned.
A shadowy man who was barely revealed as the moon peeped out from a cloud and lit on armor slowly sank further back into the shadowed safety of a recessed doorway located underneath Prince Davin's balcony. He had heard everything and had news to pass on once his duty was done.