Page 27 of The Mage and His Stolen Prince
“Prince Treasure,” I said. Too late, I realized my intonation hadn’t been inquisitive enough.
Fitz’s brow furrowed slightly. “Yes, how did you know?”
“An educated guess. You’re of a similar age, if I recall, so I’m not surprised you’re close.”
“Not, close exactly. This will be our first introduction.” The furrows in his brow deepened and he frowned down at his cup. “At least, I think it is.”
I had no idea whether they’d met earlier in Trey’s twelve-year mission. Fitz shouldn’t remember any of the other meetings between the royal champions, and yet … Delilah’s scattered memories made me wonder what all had slipped through the cracks. “If you did meet before, he must not have left much of an impression.”
Fitz continued to pensively stare at his coffee for several long seconds before shaking his head. “I’m sorry, I was trying to get to know you better, but my head’s off into the clouds. Shall we finish up here?”
“Of course, I’m sure you’re busy.” Dammit, I’d lost my opportunity to talk about Treasure and the upcoming meeting. Frustrated, I shoved the last bite of my egg pastry into my mouth and washed it down with a long gulp of coffee.
Fitz blinked at me, his eyes huge and owlish behind his round glasses. Weakly, he raised his hand to call for the check. Silence stretched between us as we waited, then he fussed with paying the bill. Even after it was paid, he remained seated, fiddling with his fork.
I’d promised the new minions I’d review their contract today. If I wasn’t going to strengthen my friendship with Fitz or secure an invitation to the quest, at least I could see to my other duties.
I started to stand but paused when Fitz asked, “Do you have somewhere else to be?” His eyes were pinched, his lips pursed and quivering slightly.
“No,” I said carefully, “but I thought that was a dismissal.”
“No!” He lunged toward me, hand outstretched.
I raised my own hand to ward him off, unsure of his intentions.
He bumped into the table in his enthusiasm, rattling the dishes. The coffee cup he’d been toying with tipped over into his lap. “Shit!”
The noise attracted the guards and the waitstaff, who both ran over to investigate. The waitstaff saw the guards’ drawn swords and skidded to a halt, bumping into another table that was thankfully empty of any patrons.
The guards reached us a few seconds later. One of them aimed their sword at me while the other grabbed the prince and yanked him away from the table.
“I’m fine!” Fitz insisted. “I spilled coffee on myself, like a damned idiot! That’s all!”
I looked at the sword pointed at my chest, then back up at the guard. His eyes widened and he instinctively stepped back. When he realized what he’d done, he tried to play it off as only following orders, bowing to his prince. Both guards remained within arm’s reach.
Fitz shoved his glasses up and rubbed his eyes. After taking a moment to compose himself, he dropped his hand, looked me in the eye, and asked, “Would you like to join me for an afternoon of quest research? That’s what I meant. It wasn’t a dismissal; it was a suggestion to change locations.”
A genuine smile spread across my lips as my plan progressed gradually in the correct direction. “That sounds wonderful.” The minions could wait a little longer.
That Evening
The Lord of Grimnight’s Evil Lair
Meeting with Unhappy Minions
I teleported into the throne room this time to find the orcs on one side and the lacertians on the other, glaring at each other. I didn’t rememberthis much tension between them any of the times before, but perhaps their displeasure stemmed from a lack of clear contracts.
Fyodor glanced at me and drawled lazily, “Your Lordship.”
I’d taken the title for myself in a heated moment. Now that my temper had cooled, the address settled on my shoulders like a cloak of thorns. “I apologize if I’ve kept you waiting.”
The orc’s brow furrowed, and the lacertians exchanged uncertain looks.
I pulled two contracts from the shadows and said, “Leaders, step forward.”
Fyodor and the lacertian leader stepped forward.
“What is your name?” I asked the lacertian.
