Alex blinked in confusion. "My… clothes? You want me to get naked?"
William blushed. "No! Just… your shirt."
The prince took off his shirt and remained bare-chested.
The mage knelt before him, took the dagger Alex had handed him, and cut his own palm. A thin line of red trickled down his pale skin.
Alex glanced at the wound with concern. "Are you sure this is safe?"
"We have no alternative; the blood is necessary. Once the ritual is finished, I will heal it."
He pressed his palm to the wound on Alex's shoulder. The prince winced in pain.
"It hurts."
"I'm sorry."
William placed his hand on Alex's chest and a tingling spread through the prince.
A magic circle appeared on his skin: straight lines and geometric figures radiated outward from William's hand, and a faint silvery glow lit the dim woods. The air was charged with energy, and the mage's eyes turned an intense green.
"I pledge my loyalty to my king. My magic will be his blade; my knowledge, his shield." The voice trembled, and the magic circle dimmed for a moment. "And my soul will belong to him until the end of time."
A fire blossomed at the point where William touched him and spread throughout his body.
The air around them shifted, as if reality itself had chosen a new path, and for a brief instant Alex felt as if a thread had been tied around his heart.
Then the glow faded and the circle shattered into a myriad of silver shards.
William closed his eyes and slumped against Alex. His face was pale and his skin cold.
The prince put his arms around the mage's shoulders.
"William? William!"
"I'm fine," William murmured. He clung to Alex's arm. "I just need to rest for a few moments."
Alex gently took his injured palm and bandaged it. Then laid him down with his back against the stump and slipped his own shirt back on.
The wound on his shoulder throbbed again and made movement difficult, and he hoped it would hold at least until they had defeated Reyne.
Afterwards he would have to face his father and tell him that he had accepted William, that he wanted answers about his magic and the real reason why his elder sisters had renounced the crown.
He was terrified of what he might discover.
A rustle made him tense.
He turned cautiously, but breathed a sigh of relief as soon as he saw Lady Lynden.
The noblewoman still wore the same defiant look as before; her dressing gown was streaked with dust and dirt, but it made her look like a war goddess.
"Is the mage all right?"
"He'll recover shortly."
Lady Lynden nodded and came closer. "You can count on us to defeat Reyne."
"It's dangerous."
"I know, but this is our home. And you are our prince."
"He wants me. I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to any of you. You also have a small child."
The noblewoman drew a breath and knelt before him.
"The Lyndens have served the crown for generations, ever since my ancestor fought under the first queen of the von Heitz line. Our fortune is owed to you; to serve you is an honor."
Alex frowned and turned his gaze away from the woman's face.
"I'm already putting William's life at risk, and I don't want more responsibility. I might not be able to protect you."
"You shouldn't carry other people's burdens." Lady Lynden sighed. "And you shouldn't be so arrogant as to believe you have the power to protect everyone."
Alex raised his eyebrows and looked at her in surprise.
The noblewoman smiled. "Forgive me, I was rude."
"I'm not offended. It's just that no one has ever told me that."
"Not even the mage?"
Alex managed a smile. "No, though perhaps he tried."
"You two seem very close."
"Do you think so? We've known each other only for a few days and have done nothing but bicker."
Yet, thinking about it now, Alex didn't find the man so unlikable. William was strange, certainly, and hard to understand, but one of the few who had been honest with him from the start.
"Arguing is inevitable. It's how we learn to get along." Lady Lynden smiled. "But you two have a peculiar connection. You remind me of my husband and I when we were young."
Alex flushed and covered his mouth with his hand. What on earth was she saying now?
"We are not lovers. We aren't even friends."
He liked William, but only as a human being.
Lady Lynden bowed her head. "I apologize. I must have misunderstood."
The heat in his cheeks subsided and Alex rubbed his forehead. Misunderstood, indeed — she'd spun her own fantasy!
"We may need support against Reyne."
Her expression turned serious. "We will do whatever it takes, Your Highness."
"Do you remember how many men he had with him?"
"Exactly half a dozen."
"Good. We've taken out three of them now; William and I killed two yesterday. So, if there aren't any others, there should only be one left."
"Do you want us to deal with him?"
"Yes. And anyone else who might stand between us and Reyne."
Lady Lynden bit her lip in thought. "We have crossbows at the castle. The gamekeeper can retrieve them for us."
"I could use a sword as well."
"I can have one arranged for you. And I'll watch your back."
"Do you know how to shoot?"
Lady Lynden let out an amused smile. "I was born a Lynden, Your Highness. My father taught me the art of hunting and the basics of swordsmanship. I can use a bow and a crossbow, and I'm fairly good at dueling."
Alex smiled. "You're quite capable. Your husband is lucky to have such a resourceful wife."
The noblewoman lifted a hand to her lips with a soft chuckle, which faded just as quickly. "He's awake."
Alex turned to William. "How do you feel?"
The mage frowned and his gaze hovered between coldness and disgust. "Are you flirting with a married woman?"
"No! Do I seem like the kind of man who'd do that?"
"Honestly? Yes. You frequent brothels; you're shameless enough to try seducing a married woman."
Alex clenched his jaw, swallowing down his anger. Then he flashed a cocky grin and leaned closer.
"Too bad I prefer men. Especially the ones with delicate features and a sharp tongue."
"Do you want me to turn you into a frog?"
"Remember, if you do, you'll have to kiss me to turn me back into a prince. And I doubt you'd enjoy that."
William looked away, sulking. "You're awful."
Alex stuck his tongue out. "That's what you get for scolding me in front of a lady."
He offered his hand, and the mage hesitated for a few moments before taking it and getting on his feet.
And Alex didn't feel any tingling—only a strange warmth spreading from his skin to the mage's.
A power that warmed his chest.
William released his hand, and the warmth faded.
"Let's go back to the castle. We have a mage to stop."
------------------------------------------
After leaving the little girl with some servants, Alex, William and the rest of the household — including Lady Lynden — returned to the castle.
The gamekeeper retrieved the crossbows and a sword for Alex, and the group took position among the trees outside the gate leading into the courtyard to assess the situation.
Judging by the position of the sun, it was just pass noon, and the castle lay in silence.
Alex peeked at the empty battlements. "I think he's waiting for us."
"He might take hostages," William said.
"That's what worries me most. I don't know how many people are left in the castle besides the Castellan, but they'd be easy targets."
And he was known for being a far too idealistic prince.
Lady Lynden joined them. "My husband isn't foolish. I'm sure he has thought of a way to get out of this."
"He could have done it sooner, couldn't he?"
"Not with our daughter's life in danger."
Alex returned his gaze to the walls, eyes sharp as he weighed every possibility.
"Wasn't there a secret passage that led inside the castle?"
"Not exactly," the noblewoman corrected him. "There are service passages running from the walls into the castle. Soldiers used them during sieges to shelter from arrows."
"Could you use them to get inside?"
"Perhaps." Lady Lynden frowned. "If you keep Reyne occupied, we can get in, deal with his men, and free those inside."
"That could work."
Alex turned to William.
"What do you think?"
The mage frowned, remaining silent for a moment. "It's a good plan. Reyne wants us; he probably won't expect we're not alone."
Alex straightened. "It's settled then. Wait for Reyne to be distracted, then move."
William pushed to his feet, and together they headed for the gate.
The moment of reckoning had arrived. One last effort, and Reyne might be defeated.
They stepped through the gate and stopped in the middle of the courtyard.
"Reyne!" Alex shouted. "Come out! It's me you want, isn't it? Then face me!"
As soon as the echo of his voice faded, a dense silence fell.
William kept his eyes fixed on the gate, his slender fingers moving as if plucking invisible strings.
Alex tightened his grip on the sword and stepped forward to shout again, but, with a sinister creak, the doors swung open.
Reyne emerged from the shadows, tall and lithe as a reed, descending the steps with calm indifference. He carried a grimoire under his arm, and his embroidered doublet had dark stains around the cuffs.
"Your Highness," he said with a mocking bow. "I've missed you, you know?"
"I haven't," Alex replied.
Reyne chuckled. "Funny. Yesterday you seemed very… engaged. Did you enjoy yourself after your mage chased me off?"
"Being drugged isn't exactly my idea of fun."
"What a shame! I suppose your mage saved your life." His gaze darkened with hatred. "He has a cunning mind, I'll give him that. You chose well."
Alex took a couple of steps forward.
"Surrender, and I might let you live."
Reyne shook his head, lips curling into a sad smile. "You really are as kind as they say, but I don't need your mercy. If I fail, there won't be much left for me to live for anyway."
He raised his hand to the sky, and a crimson glow enveloped him.
"And then… who knows, maybe my death will change the face of this kingdom."