She stared into the old wizard’s eyes and added, “If I do not, I’ll always be a pawn, regardless of any apparent power I hold and no matter what crown I wear.”
“Well, I wouldn’t put it in quite so many words,” Vangerdahast replied, reddening and pointedly ignoring the smile that was growing on Azoun’s face.
“I would,” said the princess, crossing her arms. “Since this whole matter began, I’ve felt unprepared and unready. Unprepared to deal with my father’s illness, unready to deal with the vicious fights that promptly erupted among the nobles, and unwilling to take the throne on my own. That will have to change for Cormyr to continue. And you, wizard, will help.”
Vangerdahast stood up and bowed low to her. “When the crown princess calls, I will do everything in my power to advise and to aid.”
Tanalasta shook her head. “No. I’ll not be your puppet any more than I should have been Bleth’s. I want your real help. Long ago you and my father went traipsing all over the kingdom, did you not?”
“Ah, yes,” said the wizard carefully. “It was necessary for a prince to truly know the realm and its people.”
“And not a princess?” asked Tanalasta sharply.
Vangerdahast shrugged. “Well, I suppose we could make a few trips. You’ll need some proper walking boots and warm, sensible clothing… and you should know the bath water in the wilderness will be colder than you’re used to.”
He seemed to remember something and added brightly, “There may be weretigers…”
Azoun looked at the ceiling, but Tanalasta thought she saw the beginnings of a smile at the corners of his mouth.
“… but I’m told my snoring isn’t all that bad,” the old wizard continued, “and these old bones can still carry me a little way. But you already know most of what I could teach you: history, accounts, genealogy, and the like…”
“You can teach me magic,” said Tanalasta flatly.
In all his years with Vangerdahast, Azoun had never seen him stammer. The Royal Magician’s eyes opened very wide, and he stammered now, his mouth flapping as he tried to get out the words, “Oh! Ah! Oh-W-Well there’s never been an Obarskyr mage before…”
“Then it is seriously overdue,” said the princess, “and you’re the one who said that the kingdom needs both spells and swords to keep afloat! So what say you, mage?”
The wizard looked rather helplessly at the others. Dauneth Marliir stared at him intently, face carefully expressionless but eyes leaping with excitement, urging him to say yes. That one was going to be a diplomat, the wizard thought, and looked elsewhere.
Giogi patted Cat’s hand and raised a goblet in toast to the idea.
Azoun spread his hands and said, “It is your decision, Royal Magician. Of course, I can refuse my eldest daughter nothing.”
Vangerdahast let out a deep sigh, one that seemed to come from the core of his being. He blinked once, then smiled faintly.
“Very well,” he said raising his own goblet. “Once more into the breach, for crown and for country for king and for queen, and most of all… for Cormyr.”