The Prince's Mark

Chapter Twenty Nine

As it turned out, Pendaer was fine. He could hear someone approach from a ways away, giving him plenty of time to dive into a pile of hay and hope for the best. When Ina and Tracou returned to the barn, they didn't see him until they called out to him, at which point his greenish head popped out of some straw.

"If you would just speak on your way here, I wouldn't have to hide," he hissed, brushing hay off of him as he left his pitiful hiding place.

The three of them sat on the floor as Tracou regurgitated his findings to Pendaer. Mirthal was trapped in the castle and they had to save him. For the next few hours, Tracou, Ina, and Pendaer sat in the barn, trying to come up with a plan to save Mirthal. As a minor landowner whose primary concern for years had been clothes and magic, Tracou was utterly out of his element. He spent most of the time listening to the others. Ina suggested several plans, all of which Pendaer shot down for some reason or another. They couldn't use Pendaer as a distraction because another elf sighting would lock down the castle. They couldn't sneak into the castle and rescue Mirthal all in one night because the castle was teeming with guards. They couldn't have Ina pose as a cook or something else because she was obviously Aodehsh. What kind of Aodehsh person would travel to Winlea to take work in the far poorer country of Dorssur, much less in the royal castle? It was too suspicious.

"I think all three of us would have to go," Tracou said, his arms folded over his chest. He kept his wand in his hand, eager to hold it whenever he could. "Even if you could get in, Ina, you'd be by yourself."

Pendaer scoffed. "Don't be stupid! They wouldn't let you in, let alone me."

"They might let me in if I was important... and they would definitely let you in if you'd let me use magic on you!"

Grimacing, Pendaer made a reluctant sound in the back of his throat. He was quiet for so long that Tracou considered using his magic on him anyway, so Pendaer wouldn't have any excuse that Tracou was somehow going to maim him or whatever it was he thought would happen. Tracou glanced at Ina, who shrugged her shoulders.

"Will... will it hurt?" Pendaer eyes had locked onto Tracou's wand as though it might suddenly leap at him and spear him through the throat.

What a question! He sounded like a child that had just been gifted his first wand.

"You're an elf, aren't you? Does elf magic hurt?"

Pendaer flinched. He mumbled to himself and at first Tracou thought it was Elvish, like normal, but he caught a 'use' in among the other words.

Tracou eyed Pendaer. Come to think of it, while he had seen Mirthal use magic, he had never seen Pendaer do the same. Surely he could have done so by now.

"Pendaer... do you know how magic works?"

Such a question should have prompted a sneer or some kind of disgusted look, but Pendaer blanched. Blinking rapidly, he shrugged his shoulders.

"Magic is below me. If dezmek study it, then why should I?" he muttered, the words crawling out of his throat.

"Mirthal uses it. Why not you? Are you bad at it?"

"It's below me!"

"But Mirthal is the prince! How could it be below you and not him? I bet you can't use it at all!"

Color gone from his face, Pendaer's mouth opened and closed like a fish. His eyes darted around the room as he tried to materialize a response, but none came, so he settled for balling his fists and glaring at Tracou.

Perfect. Tracou smirked at Pendaer, feeling as though he had grown three feet taller. Pendaer couldn't use magic! Tracou was, without a doubt, far superior to Pendaer in the most important aspect: magical ability. As long as Tracou had his wand, Pendaer was powerless before him. He sat up, puffing his chest out with pride.