Page 43 of Of Books and Mages
“If a powerful mage can marry a commonborn and his or her children will equal the power of the mage parent, then the crown should be encouraging mages to look to the commonborn population for romantic partners. We could increase the total number of mages exponentially within only a few generations.”
I gaped at him. “But?—”
“Oh, the royals won’t do it themselves,” he said with a laugh. “The crown must preserve its power. And there will always be couples among the mages, that’s inevitable. But if we can increase the number of mage bloodlines proportional to the general population—if we can regain the numbers Ardann used to have before the old wars decimated the mage population…”
Faylee leaned forward to grin at me. “We could be like the Sekali Empire, who never lost their original mage numbers.”
“You mean, everyone could be sealed as toddlers, like the Sekalis are?” I asked, not quite comprehending the enormity of what she was suggesting.
Faylee leaned back again, but her smile was one of satisfaction. “As Elena said, it’s not something that will happen all at once. But there is hope for the future.” She winked at me. “And profit to be made for those at the forefront of history.”
I shook my head, laughing in spite of myself. Of course Faylee had acted on my behalf for more reasons than one. It was no wonder people predicted she would be head of the Robarts before many more years had passed.
“But that’s all for the future.” Zak took my hand. “The important thing for now is that our betrothal has royal approval.”
He swayed toward me, but Faylee cleared her throat loudly, and he pulled back, glancing at her and chuckling.
“I confess there are a few more matters in the here and now that still interest me,” she said. “And I suspect Aria might be interested in at least one of them as well.”
I turned a questioning gaze on her, and she grinned, an expression that looked more predatory than amused. “I thought you might like to know that Teacher Wendell will never be receiving a job offer from the Robarts. He is entirely unsuitable—and untrustworthy besides.”
I nodded, part of me relieved to hear that his misuse of his position wasn’t going to be rewarded. But that meant he would remain in his current role, and I couldn’t help feeling bad for his students.
“I’m glad to hear he won’t receive a lucrative job offer,” Zak said grimly, clearly suffering no mixed feelings. “And I intend to make sure he doesn’t remain a teacher, either. He cannot be allowed to hold power over the future of any more young people.”
I squeezed his hand. “Thank you,” I murmured, my heart full. I hadn’t even needed to voice my concerns. Zak already shared them without needing any prompting from me.
He responded to the soft note in my voice, turning to me with a light in his eyes. “Will you agree to set a date for the wedding now?” His expression turned wheedling. “It can be as far away as you like, but I want to know how many days I need to count down.”
I laughed and slid against his side, tucking myself against his shoulder.
“Let me think,” I said in mock consideration, winking at Faylee on the other side of the carriage. “Perhaps the day after we graduate from the University? That’s only four years away.”
“Four years!” he cried in horror, and Faylee and I both broke into laughter.
“Very well, then,” I said in mock surrender when we regained control. “Perhaps we can set an earlier date.”
Zak gave a laugh of his own and dropped a kiss on the top of my head. “How about a midwinter wedding? I’ve heard those are lovely.”
I considered the idea, a grin spreading over my face. “That sounds perfect.”
Zak gazed down at me, so much love in his face that Faylee sighed.
“I’m still here,” she said, setting Zak and I off into a fresh round of laughter.
I wasn’t sure I was going to stop laughing with joy and delight for a long time to come. I had never imagined that my future could so far surpass the dreams I had worked so hard for. But with Zak at my side, I knew that we would fulfill every hope the Spoken Mage placed in us.
