"Thom!" Alanna shouted as she burst into the chambers she used to share with her brother. The room was in terrible disarray, with stacks of dirty dishes on the table and books and papers strewn everywhere.
Thom jumped at his sister's abrupt entrance, but then his features lit up. "Alanna! You're back. Good. I really do need your gift. Has to be yours, or at least one stronger than that worthless page Delia found-"
"Thom!" Alanna repeated angrily. "What in the Goddess's name were you doing?"
"Oh, you're upset about Lady Eleni, aren't you? She'll be fine. She shouldn't have been meddling with things she doesn't understand. Now, you'll be here for the winter solstice, right? Because that's-"
"Thom," Alanna said a third time, this time with quiet intensity replacing loud anger. "What did you do, and what does it have to do with Eleni?"
Thom sighed dramatically. "As I told you before, I had an important experiment. I finished at midnight on All Hallows. It seemed to have worked for a second, but it didn't-" he gestured with both hands as he searched for the right word. "It didn't stick. I could tell I had done everything right; there just wasn't quite enough power behind it. I was using an unfamiliar gift to bolster my own. Yours would be stronger and familiar."
"And Eleni?"
"She started probing my spell. I didn't know who it was at the time. To be frank, I didn't care. I needed to focus. So I just incapacitated her for a little while. Like I said, she'll be fine after a week or so. Sir Myles has already given me an earful."
"And tell me, Thom," Alanna said, fighting to keep her ballooning anger in check, "what was so important that it was worth striking down my mother-in-law and making your power felt a day-and-a-half's-ride away?"
"I wanted to test the limits of mortality itself," Thom said.
"You wanted to make yourself immortal?"
"No, not that. And it wasn't for me. I wanted to reverse the effects of mortality."
Suddenly Alanna remembered that he had mentioned Delia. She jumped up and walked into her old bedroom, which she knew Thom had turned into his workroom. It was locked with a formidable spell to anyone unwelcome, but Thom had never bothered to remove her access. When she flung the door open, she saw a familiar jeweled rod in the center of a circle of candles and intricate markings.
Alanna found that she was shaking as she turned to her brother, who was now standing behind her. "You tried to raise Roger from the dead?"
"I knew you wouldn't understand. But imagine what he and I could do together if he were under my authority."
"YOU TRIED TO RAISE ROGER FROM THE DEAD!?"
"Alanna, calm down."
"The queen's weakness is his fault! He very nearly killed Jon!"
"I know, I know-"
"You warned me about him. It was your warnings that got me to trust my gut about him! You know he's evil."
Thom finally stopped trying to interrupt and dropped into his desk chair.
Alanna began to pace. "This is the stupidest, the most arrogant, the most unbelievable...How could you!? And you wanted to use my gift to do it?"
She wiped angry tears from her eyes as she stopped and stared down at her brother.
"I'm...sorry," Thom finally managed.
"Swear to me, SWEAR TO ME, that you will never attempt this again."
"Alanna-"
"Or so help me, Goddess, I will see you tried for treason myself."
"I swear it," Thom said finally.
Alanna continued to glare at him with smoldering fury. "You're positive it didn't work?" She demanded.
"I don't lie about failure," Thom snapped.
"I'm going to see Eleni. You better pray that she does make a full recovery."
Alanna stormed out of the room and broke into a run when she reached the hall beyond.
Seeing Eleni in her severely weakened state did nothing to help Alanna's temper. She spent over an hour sparring aggressively with George in the courtyard of Myles and Eleni's home before she was finally able to relax.
Jonathan came later that day when he heard about Eleni's condition, and Alanna relayed what she had learned from her twin.
Late that night, with Jonathan's blessing, George snuck into the crypt and burned the eerily well-preserved body of the Duke of Conte to ashes.
The following day, Thom was debating between wine or a more substantial breakfast when someone knocked on his door.
"Now isn't a good time," Thom shouted, too miserable to be curious about his visitor.
The door opened anyway, and Jonathan strode in. Thom berated himself a second time for not changing who could bypass his locking spells since Alanna had moved out.
"I don't suppose it is," Jonathan said coolly. He looked for a clean seat and, finding none, leaned against the door he had just shut.
"Are you here to arrest me for treason?" Thom asked from where he sat.
"Were you trying to commit treason?" Jonathan asked calmly.
"No, but go on, yell at me, punish me, whatever you came to do. But I doubt you'll top Alanna and Myles."
"I'm not here to yell at you. I'm here for an explanation. I would like the truth, please."
Thom sighed. He moved some rubbish off a chair and motioned for Jonathan to sit down.
"It was stupid. I see that now," Thom began. "Lady Delia befriended me and told me tales of what Duke Roger could do. He wasn't just powerful; he was also quite ingenious. He wove many different disciplines together in brilliant ways. That sweating sickness, evil as it was, was an incredible piece of mastery."
Jonathan's face remained impassive as Thom continued. "She needled me. It was flirtatious at first, but then she started to issue real challenges. She got into my head - told me that if I was as good as I thought I was, I should be able to raise the dead."
"And Roger was your deceased of choice?" Jonathan asked.
Thom got up from his chair, feeling stifled under Jonathan's steady gaze. He walked to the window and looked out into the foggy morning. "I'm not sure how much Alanna told you about our father, but he would forget about everything else when he was enmeshed in one of his scholarly pursuits. I swore I would never be neglectful like he was, but I suppose the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I wanted to prove I could raise the dead, and I wanted access to Roger's knowledge. With blinders on to the rest of the world, it made perfect sense."
"So you weren't trying to help Roger finish what he started, with him in your debt?" Jonathan asked.
Thom turned around slowly and met Jonathan's eyes. "I know this sounds unbelievable, but political power didn't even cross my mind - only magical power. I did briefly consider that Alanna and others would be angry, but that was a price I was willing to pay to be the best."
They sat in silence as Jonathan processed Thom's words.
"So, what is to be my fate?" Thom asked when he could take it no longer.
"The way I see it, you have a choice. I take it Alanna didn't tell you what we learned in Tusaine?"
Thom shook his head.
"They're planning something. We don't know what exactly, but they're gathering and honing mages. I don't feel adequately prepared for a major magical attack, and I doubt my father will take the threat as seriously as he should. So, I could try you for treason, but I'd much rather have your help."
Slowly, Thom dropped onto his knees before Jonathan. "I am at your disposal, Highness," he said stiffly.
"Good. Then make defeating whatever Tusaine may throw at us your all-consuming mission. Prepare yourself and train me. And make amends with Alanna. I need her trained up as well. Probably others, too."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Take three days to pull yourself together. Then the work begins." Jonathan stood to leave.
"Thank you," Thom said, almost too quietly to hear.
Jonathan tipped his head in acknowledgment before disappearing out the door.
Fortunately, Eleni recovered fully, and Alanna returned to her healing duties, including seeing her previous rotation of patients.
"What do you think of Princess Josiane?" Queen Lianne asked as Alanna started her routine. "Now that you've spent some time with her."
"She's the perfect courtier," Alanna said. "And she's smart and obviously beautiful."
"Certainly. But do you think she's right for Jonathan? I've been hoping that she's the one. I desperately want a grandchild, and the marriage would clearly be advantageous."
"It's hard to say. She certainly isn't like me, which is a very good thing in this case, but she isn't like you either. And I think that's a problem."
"What do you mean?"
"She isn't kind-hearted the way you are. I think she would challenge Jonathan to be an effective ruler, but not necessarily one who does what's best for his people."
"And you think he wouldn't do that on his own?"
"I think he wants to want what's best for his people, but he's a little spoiled. Forgive me for saying so, Majesty. I hope you know by now that I think the world of him, but he's lived a very gilded life as a royal."
"No apology necessary. I wasn't a princess when I married my prince, remember? So I know what you mean. Go on."
"Princess Josiane has been reared well to her station, but I'm afraid she's even more spoiled than he is. Jon has experienced war and learned discipline as a knight, and befriended commoners. As far as I can tell, Josiane hasn't experienced anything like that."
"Have you told this to Jonathan?"
"Not yet."
"I think he would appreciate your perspective."
"Oh, good. Time for my check-up. How else would I know if I'm sick or not?" Jonathan said dryly when he opened his door.
"I suppose it was only a matter of time before you turned on me as well," Alanna said as she walked through the door he held open for her.
"Never on you, just on this pointless ritual," Jonathan said.
"Your mother is a much more grateful patient, you know. You should learn from her."
"How is she?"
"She's doing well. Eager for grandchildren."
Jonathan rolled his eyes. "Of course she is."
"She wanted to know what I thought of Josiane."
"What do you think of her?"
"You really want to know?"
"Yes."
"I think she has a lot going for her, but that she wouldn't ultimately be good for you or for Tortall. She's too spoiled. And she definitely wants you, but I'm not sure she sees much beyond your crown and your handsome face."
Jonathan sighed. "Honestly, I think I agree. She enjoys being a princess too much. And I've seen glimpses of cruelty from her that concern me. As to the other part, you may be right, but you're also the only young woman I've ever met who was immune to my crown and my good looks."
"I wasn't immune to your crown; I was wisely wary of it. And I wasn't immune to your looks either."
Jonathan suddenly looked triumphant, and Alanna scrambled to change the subject. "I need to check your ears next. Turn for me."
Jonathan continued to look at her with a very self-satisfied expression, not turning an inch.
"Did your fragile ego need that reassurance?" Alanna asked tartly.
"I wasn't sure if my looks had any effect on you. It's a high compliment to know that they did."
"Yes, you're very pretty, and I noticed," Alanna said flatly. "Can I look in your pretty ears now?"
This time Jonathan did turn his head for her, though his grin stayed intact.
"Have you talked to your father about what we learned in Tusaine?" Alanna asked as she shone light from her gift into his ear.
"I gave a vague report and had Myles tell him that his sources said Tusaine was planning some sort of magical attack. I think he believed Myles, but he doesn't want to do anything too preemptive. He is requesting that the City of the Gods send us more people, though. They're going to bring students and masters in the name of learning magic in a more practical and less theoretical environment. Sounds like a good idea to me even if there wasn't a looming threat."
Alanna nodded. "And what do you plan to do?"
"Go back to studying with Thom and work twice as hard at it."
Alanna stopped her examination to stare at him. "You're just going to forgive him that easily? Roger tried to kill you! He nearly succeeded."
"I am upset about that, but I'm more afraid of what Tusaine will do than what a resurrected Roger might have done. Your brother craves a grand purpose to drive him. You're actually very alike in that way. So I'm going to give him one."
"You think I crave grand purpose?"
"Definitely. And fortunately for me, your favorite grand purpose appears to be keeping me alive. Which is part of why you're so furious with Thom - you perceive that he worked against that purpose."
"It's not a matter of perception. Roger definitely tried to kill you!"
"But Thom thought he could control Roger, which was naive-"
"Delusional!" Alanna interjected.
Jonathan chuckled softly at that. "Delusional, but not malicious."
"Maybe," Alanna said finally.
"I know you don't want to train with him yet, but I hope you will soon?"
"I'll try."
"Fair enough. So what's the prognosis? Am I dying?" Jonathan asked as she began packing up.
"No, you will live to complain another day."
"Excellent. What would I do without you?"
