Merchants and Mages (Highmage's Plight Book 2) (35 page)

 
Hanrahan gaped. There was a collective groan.

 
“Lady Presilla, would you consider taking on a greater role in cleaning up my Court and Household? I’m certain my interim Chancellor would not mind stepping aside to allow you the post.”

 
“Me, Your Grace? But I’m just — a, uh, servant of the courtly.”

 
“Right… I look forward to your family and staff moving onto the palace

grounds.”

  “My entire family?”

 
Esperanza had a momentary vision and laughed. The Lyai glanced at her and frowned, “Of course.”

 
“In that case, I’m honored, Your Grace.”

 
“General Winterhil, you are recalled to duty. You will take charge of the Legion in the capital and a call up our militia. I have no doubt that we need to show our good citizens that the city and the province are prepared for anything.”

 
The weapons dealer smiled, “Hmm, I’ll need to recall a number of former colleagues.”

He glanced at his companions, whose hands were on their dagger hilts.

  “Of course, General,” the Lyai said with a thin smile, which made the Court even more uneasy.

 
Se’and whispered to George, “Don’t do that again.”

 
“Do what?”

 
She frowned and said, “Throw yourself into harm’s way.”

 
“Couldn’t be helped. The good news, though, is I’m out of the Chancellor business.”

Reality’s Orphan

Ch
apter 58

T
erhun arrived at Lord Constandine’s home to find it surrounded by those in Winterlorn livery. “Master Terhun, his lordship begs you hasten inside.”

 
“I understand the matter is urgent.”

 
“Please, ask no questions, the matter is rather delicate.”

 
Once inside the home’s wards Terhun heard the shouting, “Nils, where’s my husband?!”

 
“Ehlana, I’m sorry, but we believe he’s been long dead,” Lord Winterlorn replied.

 
She wailed.

 
Terhun entered the room and noted that only a single servant appeared to be in the home. The old woman cowered back. “Milady Ehlana, pardon my intruding at this time of grief…”

 
The elvin woman glared at him, “Grief! Grief? What do you know of what I’m feeling? That elf was a beast! I’ve been a prisoner in this house for years!”

 
Winterlorn gasped, “Milady?”

 
“Mildred, tell them!”

 
“He — he was evil,” the old woman said. “This was our prison. When we learned he was dead, his creatures fled. Their talisman failed, and the Lady cursed them but good!”

 
Ehlana grimaced, “None will live out the week” She shook her head, “Explain it to them… I — I can’t!”

 
“It was Lord Erianda. He was masquerading as Constandine,” Terhun replied. “He’s our prisoner in the palace. He’s admitted to

having killed your husband years ago.”

  “That’s a lie! He did not kill him — the other one did.”

 
Winterlorn and Terhun chorused, “The other one?”

 
“The other Lord Erianda, the older one,” Mildred replied.

 
“What are you talking about?” Winterlorn asked.

 
“Fools, do you know nothing? The one that fathered my daughter!” Lady Ehlana shouted, then sobbed.

 
“Ehlana, you have no daughter… you had a son, who died as a lad.”

 
“Yes, I had a son. That bastard, Erianda, killed him! Mildred, fetch her!”

 
Winterlorn gaped as a raggedly dressed elvin woman, barely into womanhood returned with the old servant woman.

 
“That is the murderer’s get! Erianda didn’t even recognize her, thought she was but another servant. His tools didn’t even know her! Take her! I never want to see her again!”

 
Winterlorn frowned, “Come with me, child. It will be all right.”

 
She rushed to him and began crying.

 
Terhun urged them out, then closed the door and faced Constandine’s widow, “Milady, we’ve done what you’ve asked. Now, please tell me about this other Erianda.”

 
The elvin woman sat down, lowered her head and said, “You’d think I’d be pleased when he vanished, seemingly from existence. But then I had this Erianda you’ve caught. That one, he was no less vile that his unremembered bastard of a brother. He asked me about him after.”

 
Shaking his head, Winterlorn said, “I do not understand.”

 
“How could you? Do you remember that I was Consecrated in my youth?”

 
“Why, yes…”

 
“I have been living in vision… I remember that which never was — but his foul get was here! I will not be left a madwoman! Erianda’s stolen enough from me!”

The Lyai sat with his new Inner Council. His interim Chancellor was present with the Lady Se’and, who was chatting with Lady Persilla. George had a feeling he was about to get quite the cleaning bill before they left the Provincial Capital.

 
Master Hanrahan, now Lord Hanrahan, sat frowning, uncertain whether his rise in fortunes was for good or ill. The General clapped him on the back, “Be of good cheer, think of all the taxmen you lead into battle on behalf of the Exchequer.”

 
“Hmm,” Hanrahan muttered, then grinned.

 
The Lady Esperanza entered and the Lyai rose. “Milady, any word from the Scryer’s Network?”

 
“Aye, Your Grace. Niota will shortly be completely reinforced. We’re tracking events in the Crescent easily now — likely for the first time in decades. It’s the Northlands we’ve still blind spots.  Without the Consecrated’s Tower the Network is spread too thin.”

 
General Ebrim said, “Cannot their famed talisman pool be repaired?”

 
“I — believe it can, but it will take time,” Esperanza said. “I think I’ve found a new Lady Mother. One of the Consecrated who never married and is trained in magery. She completed her training before the Lady Mother who trained me arrived. A marriage had been arranged, but… well, she broke with her family’s wishes and… joined the Faeryn Mages.”

 
Lady Persila chuckled, “Strong willed and decisive. My kinda girl.”

 
Esperanza merely nodded. “The Tower’s only other problem is that they are in need of two new Consecrated, in Amira’s and my absence.”

 
“You graduated, my dear,” the Lyai said with a broad smile.

 
“I suppose so.”

 
Lady Persila said, “Consecrated must be virgin. I’ve a granddaughter, who could use such training and she has talent,

which might come in handy for your Tower.”

  George glanced at her. “I take that to mean she’s the family talent?”

 
“Oh, most assuredly, Milord,” his successor replied. “And if she’s to stay virgin, getting her out of the city’s a fine idea.”

 
That comment drew stares.

 
“She fancies a no good for nothing who doesna give her the time of day. I’m been afraid what she might do to gain his attention.”

 
“Well, the Tower can certainly use her,” Esperanza said. “She can accompany the Lady Mother when she leaves the city tomorrow.”

 
The Lyai nodded, “Now, on to our discussion of our next steps.”

Dustin stared at himself in the mirror. “Please, Master, don’t make me do this!”

 
“Put this necklace on, lad.”

 
“But, Master!”
  “Put it on!” Galt ordered.

 
Hesitant, Dustin put it around his neck, then said, “I don’t —” he gasped. “What is this?!” he shouted in a woman’s timbre.

 
“Like it? Now, comb that hair you’ve so conveniently forgotten to have cut these last several years.”

 
Dustin sank into the chair and glanced down at the robes of a Consecrated Lady Mother.

He lowered his head as the scryer in question returned to begin her next tutorial in Tower life and mores. “Oh, Lady Mother, you’re looking lovely.”

  “Oh, don’t you start!” he replied in a voice he didn’t recognize.

 
“Oh, such a lovely voice you have, my dear.”

 
Galt laughed as Dustin groaned, thinking that he would, at least, finally be leaving the city. One girl in particular had been making him very uncomfortable of late by her attentions.
Well,
he thought with a sudden smile,
at least he would have thirteen young elvin ladies to himself.

 
“Oh, and do keep Lady Esperanza’s warning to heart,” Galt added, “If you ever wish to leave the Tower you’ll need to remain a virgin.”

Dustin cringed.

#

Esperanza found her grandfather waiting for her when she finished her tutorial with the Lady Justine.

  “Milord?”

 
He shook her head, “I’ve been fool enough for two lifetimes. I’m sorry I rejected you and your mother when you came to the city with your father’s letter.”

 
“It’s — long past, Milord.”

 
“It seems only yesterday to me. I’m sorry she died leaving you an orphan. I should have brought you into my home then rather than sent you to the Tower. I owed that to your father’s memory at least.”

 
“Grandfather…”

 
“Well, I bring you a gift of the dilemma that confronted me. I’ve come from Lord Constandine’s home. It seems he had a daughter — well, Lord Erianda did, I should say. Her mother wants never to see her again. But the lady was trained in that Tower of yours, so I thought, perhaps, the Tower was the proper place for her daughter.”

 
‘Consecrated Thirteen the Tower shall field,’
sang the ghost’s voice in her mind.

‘Talisman to scry against Darkness Rise — and beware the day the Tower stands Three. For the Elfking moves before only those three see true.’

  Her mail became fluid and she saw…

The Lady Mother boarded the carriage with the Scryer’s sigil with her two new recruits, who, only minutes before, had taken Oath.  Legionnaires flanked the carriage as they settled in their seats before the driver urged the carriage forward.

  Gesturing for the pair to relax, both young women lowered their cowls. “Lady Mother,” Lady Ehlana’s daughter said, “I am Liadrea.” Dustin’s heart beat faster. She was beautiful and her eyes seemed so full of life. She couldn’t help but glance out the carriage’s window as if she’d never seen the city before.

 
The other lowered her cowl and Dustin stiffened. “Lady Mother, I’m, uh, Katrin.”

 
Esperanza saw Dustin’s beringed and manicured fingers curl in his shock, “How lovely to meet you both.”

 
‘Oh, Esperanza, I’m really beginning to love this place,’
the ghost said,

interrupting her vision.
‘This lad obviously thought he had made a clean

getaway, I believe the Humans used to say. Oh, this Tower of yours is in for an interesting time, indeed.’

  That’s when Liandrea glanced up and Esperanza could have sworn she heard the ghost say, ‘Oh, shit.’

 
“Esperanza?” her grandfather said in concern.

 
She shook herself, “Oh, Liandrea will do fine, I’m sure.”

 
“Liandrea? How do you know her name?”

 
She coughed, “Scryer’s secret.”

 
He laughed, “My dear, you are like no scryer I have ever heard of.”

 
She nodded, “Oh, I’m not unique. There’s another like me…”

The Lyai made a private gift presentation in his study to the healer. “This isn’t the black sword, but I’ve been assured you will find it to your satisfaction.”