Page 5 of Pawns of Fate
Nicholas had handled star crystals before, but only in school.
He wasn’t a talented enough mage to justify carrying one of the valuable stones around.
Still, it buzzed in his palm, soaking up a little bit of his lightning-infused mana before he could close off the channel.
A stone with purity like this would give the right mage heaps of extra power. It was worth a small fortune.
“You just picked this up in Hector’s swamp?” Nicholas asked incredulously, watching tiny sparks of lightning dance inside the stone.
Syzman nodded, a fox-like grin painting his face.
“That… and other things.” The shadows at his feet wriggled as if they’d turned into worms on a hook.
He snapped his fingers and whispered a short command spell.
On Syzman’s arm, Nicholas could faintly see the deep purple runes glow, then the shadows around Syzman disappeared.
Nicholas wished that he didn’t find Syzman’s magic so off-putting. The man was one of the Sharp family’s most loyal and competent vassals. But shadow magic was just so unsettling.
His father cleared his throat, then said, “Hector sent me a letter about the mines and your marriage a month ago. I didn’t mention it to you because I thought he was exaggerating the size of the mines. It wasn’t supposed to be worth our time, let alone your marriage.”
“But, through my explorations,” Syzman drawled, “I found that the viscount wasn’t lying.
The mines are extensive, running deeply under the whole swamp.
Unfortunately, with all of that magical energy comes a host of monsters.
They’ve been attracted to that area for centuries, if I’ve read the Robson historical accounts correctly.
It’s why these lands close to the castle are free of monster attacks.
The monsters are too busy in the swamps. ”
“The viscount let you access the Robson historical accounts?” Nicholas questioned .
Syzman raised one shoulder in an effortless shrug.
“What Hector doesn’t know won’t hurt him,” his father interrupted, waving off Nicholas’s concern. “Both families stand to gain considerable wealth from this venture. Enough wealth that I am willing to accept an expendable woman of lower rank as your bride.”
“Rose is a noble,” Nicholas said, surprised at himself for how defensive he sounded. His father’s dismissive treatment annoyed him, even though he had only interacted with her once.
“Yes, but she’s an orphan, and, in terms of titles, the Robsons don’t rank nearly as high as we do. I am concerned that you care this much for a girl you’ve just met. Has York’s romanticism infected you?”
“Why is it a problem to feel affection toward my soon-to-be betrothed?” Nicholas snapped.
“Don’t raise your voice!” his father replied. He exhaled as though it would free him of all stress. “Because the main reason I agreed for you to take a wife is so we can use her as collateral to end this business with the Ojoh and free up our armies to clear out the mines.”
“I’ll marry her just to turn around and trade her away?” Nicholas asked. The rocks in his stomach came back. He wasn’t going to treat Rose any better than her uncle had.
“Yes. It’s what’s best for the family. I don’t know how else to end things quickly and cleanly with those desert-dwelling idiots.
The only other option we have is to send Ava.
You know that York would lose his mind if we did that.
And we need him and his lightning to be fit for battle if we’re going to invade a swamp full of monsters. ”
Nicholas clenched his fists. He’d be the first to admit that York’s abilities in battle were far superior to his, especially where lightning magic was concerned.
Nicholas could only channel a few weak spells through the runes on his sword.
York could take down a fully grown drake or a mountain troll himself.
And it was true that a mage’s emotions affected their magic.
But his father was taking things too far.
“I arranged all this for you to have a convenient bride, not a romantic relationship that addles with your duties as the Sharp heir,” his father added.
This wasn’t the first time that Nicholas sacrificed so York didn’t have to.
It was his duty as the oldest to bear the burden of doing what was best for the family, even if it dirtied his hands.
Nicholas didn’t like it, but there wasn’t anything to be done.
His responsibility to his family came first.
“If it weighs on you that much, we could still change our offer to Luanna. I’m sure the viscount won’t mind.
” His father crossed his arms over his chest. “That said, Rose might have been our better option all along. She’s served as political collateral for the Robson family before.
I think she stayed at the Dahtey Castle for a few months while the border negotiations were completed, and with the Ado before that. Perhaps she’ll bear it gracefully.”
“Or perhaps she’ll be tired of it and wish for a husband who treats her better than her weasel of an uncle.” Nicholas frowned and ran a hand through the loose curls on his head. The Sharp family was about to repay Rose’s kindness toward Ava in a very twisted way, and he was at fault .
Perhaps he should just marry Luanna, but the thought of a lifetime with an immature partner filled him with dread.
“Nicholas!”
“It’s fine, Father. I’ll bear with it, and she’ll have to as well.”
“You’ll be able to buy her enough gifts to make up for it when we see the dividends from this venture. I promise.”
Nicholas offered a half-hearted smile. He didn’t think that all the gifts in the world would make up for what he was about to put Rose through.