Would it be impolite to rip her hand off Ronan? Probably.
Ronan gave Floris a slight bow. “I’m afraid I must disappoint your curiosity.” He lowered his arm to remove Floris’s grasp, stepped over to me, and offered his arm to me. “Lady Marcella.”
I took his arm with perhaps too much self-satisfaction and let him lead me from the room. When we were down the hallway, Ronan flicked his wand and said the muffling incantation so we could speak in private, despite the presence of others coming and going.
“I refrained from turning Floris into a toad,” I said. “I think I should be commended for that.”
“I’d commend you if you actually had the ability to turn her into a toad.”
“I’m working on animal transformations. One never knows when the capability will appear.”
He headed toward the front entrance. “You’re far too kind for that sort of prank. And besides, I turned none of the men who paid you attention into toads.”
“I would let you turn a few into toads.”
Ronan laughed and shook his head. “You trust me to resist Floris’s charms, don’t you?”
“I suppose.”
“Good, because I’ve other matters to discuss with you. The king asked my opinion on whom he should appoint as the new headmaster at Docendum. Your time there with wizards hasgiven you insights that others might not see, so I’d like your opinion as well. I’ve several I’m considering and?—”
“Mage Bodkin.” I’d liked him since I’d heard him joking with the other wizards during the king’s inquest.
“Mage Bodkin?” Ronan’s tone said the man wasn’t on his list of possible candidates. “He’s qualified, I suppose, but not among the most powerful or knowledgeable of wizards.”
“And not among the most cunning or ambitious either. Let the apprentices have a man who’ll teach them decency first and magic second. Let them have someone who’ll make them laugh more and compete less. Perhaps then our country will be like Odeway where the wizards don’t fight one another.”
We walked for a bit in silence while Ronan contemplated my words. “How did you become acquainted with Mage Bodkin?”
“I’m not acquainted with him. I spied on the king’s wizard meeting and found him refreshingly unlike the rest of you.”
“I’ll ignore the implicit insult in that assessment, as well as your confession of a crime, and add Mage Bodkin to my suggestions for the king. He’s a good fellow and perhaps that’s what the apprentices need.”
We went out the front entrance and Ronan led me along the road that carriages took when dropping visitors off.
“Now I’m curious,” Ronan said. “What would your suggestions be for new members of the wizards’ council?”
“Stewart,” I said.
“Stewart?” he repeated as though he had no idea who I meant. He shook his head, “I’ve too little sleep. What’s his mage name?”
How would I know that? “He was a few years your elder at Docendum. When we were children, Wolfson did something to his horse. You recall it disappeared. Stewart must have refused to bend to whatever horrible thing Wolfson was attempting to force him to do.”
“Ah, yes. Stewart goes by Mage Vincere now. I’ll consider him. He hasn’t much experience, but I suppose experience can be gained more easily than character.”
Instead of heading around the castle toward the gardens, Ronan guided me further along the road. “Where are we going?” I asked.
“To the stables.”
I slowed my pace, suddenly wary. “Why?”
“Because I know Alaric won’t speak to me without you there and I require his help.”
“Why?” What sort of help could a wizard need from Alaric?
“Ah, Marcella,” Ronan said, shaking his head, “did you never calculate the consequences of your revolution before you put it in motion? Next time, you should be more careful before you force a king to enact your policies.”
“I…what consequences do you speak of?”