She took a cautious taste. Spicy, which tended to happen when you magicked your meal. But no longer inedible.

“Ha!” Emmett cried triumphantly, flinging the scroll to the floor. “I’m going to be knighted!”

Emry let out a sharp laugh. “I didn’t realize sarding the innkeeper’s daughter counted as a noble deed,” she retorted.

“Well, I’m practically going to be knighted,” Emmett amended, shoveling a spoonful of stew into his mouth. “Ugh. Why does magic ruin the flavor of everything? Anyway, King Uther wants me to live at the castle and train to be the next court wizard.”

Emry’s spoon clattered into her bowl. She’d imagined a handful of reasons the king had summoned her brother to Castle Camelot, but nothing like this.

“That’s—that’s wonderful,” Emry said, wishing she truly meant it.

“It’s about time Father’s legacy came in useful,” Emmett went on. “I bet half the ladies at court will take one look at me and drop to their knees.” He grinned wickedly. “Openmouthed.”

Emry blushed. “Don’t say things like that in front of Gran,” she scolded.

Or me, she almost added, even though, between Emmett’s miscreant friends and the theater troupe, she’d heard far worse.

“Well, it’s true.” Emmett shrugged. “Probably. I’ve heard Prince Arthur’s nothing special. And we all know King Uther’s bald as my arse.”

“Keep talking like that, and you’ll find yourself in the castle dungeons,” Emry warned. “Or worse, the gallows.”

“Two days,” Emmett muttered, ignoring her. He scanned the scroll again, making a face. “I should probably brush up on some magic. What’d you do with Father’s books?”

“Next to my bed,” Emry said. “Help yourself.”

Emmett yawned, leaning back in his chair. “Maybe later. The inn-keeper’s daughter wore me out.”

Of course she did, thought Emry.

It was all so enormously unfair. This was why their father hadn’t wanted to teach her. Why he’d brought her dolls and ribbons and had frowned when she’d mastered spells faster than her brother. He’d known this would happen.

Their father had served at the royal court. When he was alive, kings had trembled in fear of the great kingdom of Camelot, ruled by the powerful Uther Pendragon and protected by the formidable Wizard Merlin. And now Uther wanted to continue that legacy, with Merlin’s son standing alongside his own.

Well, good luck with him.

Emmett drained his second glass of wine and rambled on about his day, but Emry had stopped listening. All she could think was, Emmett’s going to London, to live in a castle and learn magic. And not because he’s smarter than me, or older, or more talented. Because he’s Merlin’s son, and I’m just his daughter.

CHAPTER 3

Emry sat up in bed, her heart pounding.