The last person Imogene expected to see coming around the corner of the main barracks of the Imperial Mage Corps two days after the ball was the vanishing son of a duq himself.
Dressed in imperial black, brows drawn down as though contemplating something unpleasant, he didn't look as though he was expecting to see her either. But when he did, his face broke into a smile that chased away the regret she'd been trying to ignore since their evening had ended so abruptly. A sensation that was both pleasant and somewhat...alarming.
"Lieutenant," he said. "This is an unexpected pleasure."
"Major du Laq." She saluted—they were, after all, both in uniform—wrestling her expression away from the tickle in her cheek muscles that wanted to smile right back at him.
The sight of him instantly lifted her mood, but she didn't want to let him know that just yet. Not after he'd failed to reappear at the ball.
She'd waited for him for almost an hour, lingering around the edge of the dance floor, pretending to sip more campenois and watch the dancers while fending off offers from other men. But as the time had stretched, she'd begun to think perhaps he wasn't returning. Then Chloe had found her, armed with an invitation to continue on to a smaller gathering.
She could hardly refuse to go. Friendship trumped new flirtations. Besides, she'd had no idea whether her flirtation was coming back. A fact her body had lamented even as she'd left with Chloe and her friends.
"So formal, Lieutenant," Jean-Paul said. "Does this mean your disappearance from the ball indicated a sudden change of...heart?"
Imogene glanced around. They weren't inside the barracks, but this wasn't a conversation she would be keen for her fellow mages to overhear. By a strict reading of the rules, there was no issue with an officer in the mages being involved with one from the regulars, but it wasn't encouraged. Not that she was planning on being involved with the man, but his rank was an added complication. One she'd forgotten to consider back there in the ballroom with his hands on her waist and those storm cloud eyes making it hard to think.
They were making it hard to think now. The man was no less handsome out of his evening clothes. Perhaps even more so. The sleek lines of the uniform suited him better than the frippery of court dress. But no, she had to think not of how good he looked but whether she still wanted to encourage him at all.
"I'm not entirely sure this is the time and place for such a conversation, Major," she said. "I have to report for duty."
Not duty exactly. Generally officers were granted a week's leave following an extended foreign mission unless the army had urgent need of their services. She'd submitted all her reports, so her time was her own. But Colonel Ferritine had sent a note to request her to come to headquarters. Given he was the one who would decide whether she would be allowed to bond a sanctii, she wasn't going to keep him waiting.
"Is Colonel Ferritine your commander?" Jean-Paul said. "I'll walk with you. I have an appointment with Major Perrine."
He did? She felt her brows rise. The cavalry didn't usually cross paths with the Imperial Guard unless the emperor was going somewhere beyond the city. The guard protected their turf zealously when it came to asserting authority over the emperor's safety. But a lieutenant didn't ask a major why he was meeting with another senior officer.
"Very well."
"But before we go, Lieutenant, I wondered if you might like to try dancing with me again? There is another ball at the palace in three days’ time. It would be my pleasure to secure you an invitation. If you haven't had that change of heart I mentioned earlier?"
That was clear enough. He was interested enough to pursue the matter further. Though she wasn't sure how clear to be in return. Or if it was the wisest move to accept his invitation. The man was handsome, and his touch had made her breathless, but her career was at a delicate point. But surely just one night couldn't hurt. She could even bring Chloe to lend respectability to her appearance at another ball. "Just me?"
He frowned. "Is there someone else you would like to bring?"
"My friend, Chloe Matin," she said quickly, wondering why she was so keen to correct any misapprehension of his that she might have a man in mind.
"The Maistre's daughter?" His expression eased, and he nodded. "That would present no problem. Though is she likely to take it amiss if I monopolize your time?"
She smiled up at him. Chloe had managed herself well enough at the ball. She had known more people there than Imogene, in fact. "I'm sure she will not."
His smile matched her own. "Then, Lieutenant, I will have an invitation delivered to you. Now, let us walk. I wouldn't want to make you late."
Imogene's mind was still half on Jean-Paul as she walked into Colonel Ferritine's office. Which was why, perhaps, she came to a less than graceful halt when she registered that both Major Fontaine and Captain Brodier were in the room. She gathered her wits long enough to snap a salute. Honore flashed her a quick encouraging smile before her expression turned back to a more professional calm one.
"Don't look so alarmed, Lieutenant," Colonel Ferritine said. He gestured to the plain wooden chair beside Honore. "Take a seat." The colonel had short gray hair and lines in his face that spoke of his years of experience. His bright blue eyes looked friendly rather than annoyed, so Imogene hoped that was a good sign and she wasn't about to be hauled over the coals by all three of her commanding officers. Not that she could think of anything she might have done that would warrant it. Attending a ball wasn't forbidden. Still, she settled herself fast and stayed silent, waiting to find out why she was there.
"I believe you spoke to Captain Brodier about sanctii the other day," Colonel Ferritine said. "Have you thought more on what you discussed?"
"I have," Imogene said, keeping her voice steady. She folded her hands in her lap as her pulse sped up a little. "I know it's not a decision to be taken lightly, but it is something I am interested in pursuing, if it would help my work." There. That sounded like she was being a good little soldier rather than one enticed by the idea of having a sanctii for more selfish reasons.
The three officers exchanged a look. Imogene clasped her hands tighter, unsure what that might mean.
"It is not a choice you can make lightly," the colonel agreed. "But at this moment, there may be a case for making it quickly."
"Sir?" Imogene said, hoping she sounded enthusiastic rather than entirely unsure what the colonel was talking about.
"Our next round of preparatory training for those wishing to attempt a bond starts next week. As you know, we consider and select our candidates with great care. The decisions are made well in advance. But, as it happens, one of our candidates has changed his mind and does not wish to undertake the training."
Imogene racked her brain, trying to think who it might be. The process by which the army chose mages for this was secretive, as was the training that followed. The candidates held things close to their chest until they either succeeded or failed in their attempts. And those who failed sometimes pretended they hadn't even tried. Failure wasn't seen as a black mark on your career—bonding a sanctii was difficult and required a great deal of power—but Imogene imagined it could only feel like a catastrophe to try but fail. There were often whispers of speculation about who might be chosen, but she'd been out of the country for months now. She'd lost track of who could be in the running. But equally, she'd heard nothing of any junior officers being injured or ill. She couldn't imagine what else would make someone give up the chance.
"So, we have a slot to fill, Lieutenant." Colonel Ferritine nodded at her and then at Major Fontaine. "The major tells me Cesarus speaks favorably of you."
He did? That startled her enough that she turned her head to look at Major Fontaine. Who merely smoothed his neatly trimmed red beard and gestured her back to the colonel.
"All other reports are favorable, too. You have been an exemplary young officer since your first mission. And, on short notice, we don't have another candidate more suitable to put forward."
"You want me to bond a sanctii now?" It came out squeakier than she'd intended.
The colonel grinned. "Not right this minute. But soon. I understand, Lieutenant, that this requires some consideration on your part. But we need to know by the end of the week. If you accept this offer, you would commence training next week. If you say no now, it will not reflect badly on you, but I cannot promise you a place in the next round or even tell you when the next training might occur. You know how long the training lasts? And that you are confined to the training barracks while undertaking your studies?"
She nodded. Ten days for the initial training, she knew. Which covered more on sanctii lore and the learning of the very precise details of the bonding itself. After that, individual mages could take longer to study and prepare themselves. Mages outside the army sometimes took months. But she wouldn't have months. A mage who didn't have the courage to make an attempt as soon as possible would be quietly discouraged from trying at all. And that would be a bigger failure than failing to form the bond at first attempt.
A shiver ran down her spine. There was a healthy dose of apprehension now mingled with excitement. This was serious business. A decision that would change her life. Very few mages released a sanctii from its bond once they had one. If she chose to do this, she would have a sanctii watching her, helping her, linked to her until she died. A bond more intimate than marriage in a way. But the fact that there was still excitement mingled with the fear told her that she still wanted to try.
"You need my decision by the end of the week?" she asked, pleased that she sounded calm and direct.
"Yes. You have until then. Sooner would be better. It would give you more time to prepare yourself. I know you are on leave after your mission and were probably minded to pursue some frivolity, but this choice requires care. I trust your judgment, Lieutenant. I know you will take time to consider before you make it. But you should consider quickly. A good officer knows when to be bold, after all."