again. “I assure
you princess that my words were sincere.”
The princess squinted at him. “ Fascinating ,” she whispered, peering
closely at Matthias’s face.
Matthias coughed. “’Fascinating’, Your Highness?”
“ Your eyes. They do not glow with magic as I would have
expected of one of your kind.”
Matthias smiled at her. “That’s a common
misconception. Our eyes retain their natural colour unless the
earth power is wielded. But when it is seized, they turn blue. A little like yours shine now,” he
added.
The
princess gave a start, and her breathing caught a moment, but she
regained her composure almost instantly. “They are a gift from my
mother’s side," she advised. "Her family have been known for their
beauty for centuries."
“ You
have never met one of my kind before?” Matthias asked. “Not even
Lord Fenzar?
“ I try to keep my daughter out of my discussions with Mahalia,” the king
interrupted.
“ Would you show me what they look like?” the princess
asked.
“ I’m sorry?” Matthias queried. “Show you
what what looks like?
“ Your eyes . I should like to see what they look like when
you use your magic.”
“ Josephine, perhaps another time would be better to
satisfy your curiosity,” the king interrupted. “We are in the
middle of our breakfast and the ambassador and I have a lot to
discuss.”
“ It’s alright, Your Grace,” Matthias replied. “I don’t
mind.”
He
stepped back a pace and held out a palm upwards in front of
Josephine. His irises cracked from hazel to sapphire, and from thin
air a ball of water no larger than an apple whirled into existence,
spun and swirled three inches above his palm. He let it hang there
a moment before his fingers twitched and the ball began freezing.
In a second he had formed a sphere of ice, which dropped into his
waiting hand. Matthias clasped it tightly. The princess watched
with amazement.
“ Incredible ,” Thadius whispered.
Matthias smiled, and from between his fingertips water began
to leak. The ice melted, evaporated almost instantly, leaving only
behind a small pool of cold water on the wizard’s reopened palm and
droplets on the floor. “It’s just parlour trick, Your Highness,”
Matthias said, wiggling his hand until the remainder of the water
disappeared. “But I hope you approve?” His eyes flashed back to
their natural hazel.
The
princess took a breath. “Most impressive ambassador,” she said. “An
effective demonstration.”
“ If
you would like I can show you more of my abilities? The earth power
allows me to tap in to all the elements of the world. I can light a
flame as bright as the sun from nothing and then extinguish it with
water as cold as ice.”
“ That will be quite alright,” The king said sharply. “I think your
spectacle is more than enough for one morning.” He turned to look
at his daughter sternly. “My dear, I have business to discuss with
the ambassador now.”
Josephine withdrew into herself at his gaze and
nodded. “Of course father. Please forgive me Your Grace.” She
nodded to Matthias. “Ambassador, it has been a brief but interesting pleasure.”
Matthias bowed to her. “The pleasure has been mine,” he
replied.
The
princess nodded to Thadius and then turned to her father. “Your
Grace,” she addressed him again and bowed before turning and
swiftly leaving the room. Matthias stared after her, lingering on
the door as it closed behind her.
“ I must apologise for my daughter,” the king said.
“She does not get to meet many people outside of the usual nobles. It is not
often that we have guests that prove to be more interesting.” He
beckoned for them to sit again.
Matthias shook his head. “It was an honour to entertain your
daughter, however brief it may have been,” he said.
“ Well, now what is left of our soup is likely cold and the pleasantries
are over with, perhaps we should discuss your reason for your being
here?” the king
you princess that my words were sincere.”
The princess squinted at him. “ Fascinating ,” she whispered, peering
closely at Matthias’s face.
Matthias coughed. “’Fascinating’, Your Highness?”
“ Your eyes. They do not glow with magic as I would have
expected of one of your kind.”
Matthias smiled at her. “That’s a common
misconception. Our eyes retain their natural colour unless the
earth power is wielded. But when it is seized, they turn blue. A little like yours shine now,” he
added.
The
princess gave a start, and her breathing caught a moment, but she
regained her composure almost instantly. “They are a gift from my
mother’s side," she advised. "Her family have been known for their
beauty for centuries."
“ You
have never met one of my kind before?” Matthias asked. “Not even
Lord Fenzar?
“ I try to keep my daughter out of my discussions with Mahalia,” the king
interrupted.
“ Would you show me what they look like?” the princess
asked.
“ I’m sorry?” Matthias queried. “Show you
what what looks like?
“ Your eyes . I should like to see what they look like when
you use your magic.”
“ Josephine, perhaps another time would be better to
satisfy your curiosity,” the king interrupted. “We are in the
middle of our breakfast and the ambassador and I have a lot to
discuss.”
“ It’s alright, Your Grace,” Matthias replied. “I don’t
mind.”
He
stepped back a pace and held out a palm upwards in front of
Josephine. His irises cracked from hazel to sapphire, and from thin
air a ball of water no larger than an apple whirled into existence,
spun and swirled three inches above his palm. He let it hang there
a moment before his fingers twitched and the ball began freezing.
In a second he had formed a sphere of ice, which dropped into his
waiting hand. Matthias clasped it tightly. The princess watched
with amazement.
“ Incredible ,” Thadius whispered.
Matthias smiled, and from between his fingertips water began
to leak. The ice melted, evaporated almost instantly, leaving only
behind a small pool of cold water on the wizard’s reopened palm and
droplets on the floor. “It’s just parlour trick, Your Highness,”
Matthias said, wiggling his hand until the remainder of the water
disappeared. “But I hope you approve?” His eyes flashed back to
their natural hazel.
The
princess took a breath. “Most impressive ambassador,” she said. “An
effective demonstration.”
“ If
you would like I can show you more of my abilities? The earth power
allows me to tap in to all the elements of the world. I can light a
flame as bright as the sun from nothing and then extinguish it with
water as cold as ice.”
“ That will be quite alright,” The king said sharply. “I think your
spectacle is more than enough for one morning.” He turned to look
at his daughter sternly. “My dear, I have business to discuss with
the ambassador now.”
Josephine withdrew into herself at his gaze and
nodded. “Of course father. Please forgive me Your Grace.” She
nodded to Matthias. “Ambassador, it has been a brief but interesting pleasure.”
Matthias bowed to her. “The pleasure has been mine,” he
replied.
The
princess nodded to Thadius and then turned to her father. “Your
Grace,” she addressed him again and bowed before turning and
swiftly leaving the room. Matthias stared after her, lingering on
the door as it closed behind her.
“ I must apologise for my daughter,” the king said.
“She does not get to meet many people outside of the usual nobles. It is not
often that we have guests that prove to be more interesting.” He
beckoned for them to sit again.
Matthias shook his head. “It was an honour to entertain your
daughter, however brief it may have been,” he said.
“ Well, now what is left of our soup is likely cold and the pleasantries
are over with, perhaps we should discuss your reason for your being
here?” the king
Similar Books
