Free Davie the Mage (Generations of Eredwynn Book 2) by Daniel B. Harris

Mother nodded to her and she let it fall back. Encouraged a bit by Amee’s success, Eda took her turn and failed. Mother explained that the percentage of success was around twenty percent and the girls had hit that number exactly. She whispered to Lia for a second and Lia closed her eyes. A blank wand dropped to the floor in front of her and she picked it up. She gave the wand to Amee and told her that she’d teach her how to use it. Amee was given the choice of living at Wizard’s Castle and being trained there or staying at Perlsea and having Mother come here and train her.
                  A blushing Amee said, “I think I’d rather stay here and be trained, if that’s all right with Amber. I really hope to be a consort to her family someday.”
                  Amber smiled. “It seems that I’ve had a change of heart. I know that even though Davie might take another girl to bed, he still belongs to me. I know he won’t love me any less and in situations like last night, he might even love me more! I’ve decided to take on the other three girls as consorts, if Davie agrees.”
                  My mother couldn’t have grinned any wider without splitting her face.
    Amber looked at me and I nodded, “We’ll discuss the details later.”
    She seemed genuinely happy at our decision and I know I was, too. All the girls were very beautiful and although I thought that Lord Tassin was a jerk for buying consorts, he did have very good taste. I led the way from the room to the vault and opened it.
    Grabbing a pouch from a stack that was by the door, I asked, “Mother, how much do you think you would need?
    She grinned, “I’m pretty sure that a hundred platinum coins should be enough.”
    I counted it out saying, “If you ladies spend the yearly wage of twenty families on clothes today, I’ll have to see if this place had a dungeon!”
    Amber winked, “You know, a dungeon sounds like a place where I could think of all kinds of enjoyable games!” Causing me to blush profusely.
    My mother giggled, “After that little comment I think I’m going to keep Amber and not bring her back. I do believe that I’ve fallen in love with her all over again.”
    Everyone in the group disagreed with that idea because we were keeping our little family together. Mother had everyone circle and hold hands and she recalled them out. I watched as they arrived at Wizard’s Castle and begin the short flight to Valeview.
                  I put ten gold coins in my pocket in case I needed anything and locked the door on my way out. I glanced with a sigh at the door of the unkempt vault that the regent had left me. I walked into the kitchen and found all the house staff having breakfast. My presence caused everyone to jump up with bows and curtsies.
    I smiled, “Please everyone, sit back down! I’m just here for breakfast too, and would like to visit with everyone if you don’t mind my company.”
    They were quite surprised that the lord of the castle would be interested in what they had to say but I knew that happy staff was the secret to a healthy castle. I’d learned that at my father’s knee and he had the happiest castle in the kingdom. As they loosened up, I learned that Lord Tassin had over two dozen consorts that took off as soon as he died. They’d all been purchased or otherwise taken against their will. The staff knew of the four girls who had stayed and were very happy that they’d been accepted by my family.
    I questioned my staff a bit, “I was just wondering what the staff here was paid.”
    A cook stepped forward, “My Lord, everyone here in the kitchen and the maid staff make five silver coins a week and meals.”
    I informed them, “Starting immediately, I am doubling everyone’s pay to one gold coin a week and meals.” I left the kitchen a much happier place than it had been when I entered.
                  Exiting the castle, I went to the courtyard