“You already knew,” Aven realized aloud.

Fayton nodded. “It is my job as your steward to know this household, my lord. All of its workings, politics, risks, and intricacies, as well as its mechanical workings.”

“Who else?”

“It would be indiscreet to speak of such things, sir. I have, of course, never spoken of it to anyone.” But from his tone, the man knew more than he was saying.

“Tell me.”

“I believe the kitchen steward knows as well. Lord Dyon suspects but is always searching for more confirmation. The laundress Mada is very perceptive, and Master of Arms Devol has had plenty of opportunity. If he knows, he hides it well, but I can’t imagine him missing some of the things I’ve seen you do in his presence. There are likely others. As I said, I wouldn’t speak of it if at all possible.”

Of course. Of course some of them knew. And yet they acted as though they didn’t. Out of loyalty? Waiting for some moment to take advantage? Perhaps a little of both. Aven paused for a moment, thinking.

“Go to my mother. Come up with an excuse that she is needed privately, and tell her what’s been said and that Evana is leaving. We need to figure out what the princess has told to whom. Do the Takarans know as well? Can we trust our spies to find out? Also, we must decide if we wish to… prevent the princess from leaving. I can’t imagine we would, but it is a choice we must consider. Go, and make haste.”

Fayton nodded and strode to the door.

“Oh, and Steward?”

“Yes, sir?”

“Thank you.”

He frowned. “For what, sir?”

“You knew all these years. And never said a thing.”

“What is there to say? She is a zealot, and a fool at that. I know you will make a good king. Which will make for a good kingdom and a good place for my daughter to find her own family. I don’t see what magic has to do with it any more than the color of your eyes.”

“Still. Thank you.”

Fayton gave a quick bow in reply and hurried out.

Aven shared the news of Evana’s discovery with his mother and father in the king’s private chambers. The dinner chimes would ring soon, and they needed to know.

“Well, that didn’t take very long,” his father laughed.

“She has not taken to her carriage yet, but her things have been packed,” his mother reported. “From what we’ve been able to surmise in the brief time that’s passed, she does not seem to have told the Takarans, although it’s impossible to be certain. They, for their part, are not acting any differently and continue to show no signs of leaving.”

“Has she spoken to them or given any reason for leaving?” his father asked.

“An urgent duty has called her home.”

His father snorted. “To think she was one of the Devoted all along. How could we have suspected?”

“We should ban them from Akaria,” she said.

“That just calls attention to the matter. They are not common, nor are mages practicing openly enough to be found easily. Akaria is not a good hunting ground, so to speak. If we ban the Devoted, they will wonder why. It may even increase their numbers.”

“Will they act, do you think?” Aven asked.

His father shrugged and then rubbed his short beard. “I don’t know every detail of their code, especially what they advise when a mage is not a defenseless peasant. They may seek to turn diplomacy against us, or assassination. Or they may do nothing. We will have to trust our field men to go and find more about them. We just don’t know.”

“If we had an air mage—if we knew where they were headquartered—” his mother started.

“Now, now, Elise. The danger of the world knowing of Aven’s magic is not so certain yet as to begin hiring mages into our employ. Do you know the protests I’d receive? Lord Alikar is a priest of Nefrana of his own account, and Lord Sven is born of Isolte, married into his lands here. And that’s just what I know right now; the subject of magic rarely comes up for me to truly understand the politics of the matter.”

“I’m sure Lord Dyon would have some protest to be made,” Aven added in spite of Fayton’s earlier words. Could Dyon really suspect? If so, was that the cause of his animosity?

“No, no. You know he’s a reasonable man, Aven. If a mage would be the best tool, he’d be all for it.”

“How can you be so sure? Will he be reasonable if he knows of my magic?”

His father smiled at him. “Lord Dyon loves you, my boy.”

“He has an odd way of showing it,” Aven grumbled.

“His wife feels the same way. At any rate. We can figure out how to gather more knowledge of the Devoted and their knights later, but we must act now.”

They all knew what they needed to decide, but none of them wanted to say it. They could detain the princess and stop this matter before it started. It was possible word would still reach her order, but they would still have more information and leverage if she were in their possession. On the other hand, she had done nothing wrong. They all hesitated. The silence stretched on.

“There are no laws against knowing the truth,” Aven said finally.

“Just as there are no laws against being a mage,” his mother added.

“We must let her go.” Aven crossed his arms across his chest. He didn’t like it, but it was the right thing to do.

His father picked up his pipe and chewed on it for a moment, a nervous habit. “Indeed. Let the rule of law be upheld. We will not imprison her for our personal gain.”

They all nodded.

“We will need to figure out how to deal with the effects of this incident. Even if she tells no one, we should have already realized that this could happen and had a plan in place.”

“The days slip by so quickly,” his mother muttered, “and suddenly your little boy is a man.”

His father nodded, looking down at his desk. “A man who will be king! And possibly a mage besides.”

“She may not tell anyone,” Aven said. “It’s possible she intends only to tell her order.”

“Yes, but if she could discover this, so could someone else. Your magic isn’t going away, much as we’d like it to,” his mother said.

His father put down the pipe and clapped him on the shoulder. “I might have wished for an easier road for you, my son, but as you said… it is the truth. Perhaps it is time people knew it.”