Scion's Freedom (Siren Publishing Classic) (13 page)

“Merry meet, Princess Cassandra. You, your bonded consort, and companion may pass,” the Maiden greeted. She gestured outward to the gate as if she held both sets of iron bars in her hands. The gates swung open. Her expression never faltered. “Welcome and be well met.” She stepped aside to allow the van to pass.

Cassy walked ahead until the van could free itself of the gatehouse arch before returning to the side door. Behind them, the gate shut and locked itself. The gatekeeper was nowhere in sight. Only a swirl of shimmering mist was left.

“Creepy,” Cap said, looking around for the young woman. “My gun is missing! Where the...”

Cassy interrupted, “She took it.”

“David still has his. Why?”

“They have their own reasons. I can’t explain it. What were you thinking? Gatekeepers often have the ability to determine if someone has a secret,” explained Cassy.

“Are they all like that?” He drove up the long drive with a sullen scowl.

“No. Just wait until we get to the main house. Gatekeepers hide most of their power because the public has more access to them. The others won’t bother with facades. Behind closed doors, they are a law and a land unto themselves. They aren’t a part of the outside world and don’t want to be. No one has attacked them in over a century. They like being ignored by the wide world. Try not to be too startled when something unexpected happens. We don’t want to give offense,” Cassy warned.

“I think we’re there. Wow! Would you look at the size of that house?” David exclaimed. Cap sat slack-jawed leaning on the steering wheel. Cassy smiled at their reaction.

The massive chateau-style house was ablaze with light nestled into the darkest pitch of night. Its light-colored exterior and green-patina copper roof was like a beacon. Two more pale young women stood by the front door. Instead of long gowns, they wore uniforms reminiscent of the Roman legions. Loose white skirts were topped with tunics and armored breast plates. Lace-up leather boots covered them from foot to knee. Leather gauntlets covered each arm from wrist to elbow. Each had a quiver and a bow slung across their back. A short sword hung in leather and metal sheaths by their waists. Each held a spear in one hand and the sword pommel in the other.

As they exited the van, one of the massive doors opened. The spilling light was interrupted by a middle-aged woman in a pale green gossamer gown similar to the gatekeeper’s. A long, dark braid speckled with gray draped over one shoulder. She smiled warmly and beckoned them up the stairs. Cassy greeted her with a kiss to each cheek.

“Merry meet, Mother. Thank you for seeing me on such short notice,” Cassy said.

“Merry meet, Cassy. Please, bring your consort and companion in out of the cold. There is much to discuss.” The woman disappeared back into the house. Cassy followed without looking back at the men. She could hear them following her.

The entrance opened up into a sunken palm-lined court. The marble floors and soaring ceiling gave her the impression of being in a garden. There were wicker chairs and small matching tables scattered around. Mother motioned them to have a seat.

When the woman had left, David leaned in to whisper questions to Cassy. “Why did you call her Mother? Is she your mother? You referred to the gatekeeper as Maiden. Why?”

“No, she’s not. My mother died when Sherman set fire to Atlanta. Mother is a title indicative of a witch’s age and status. It means she has given birth at least once and gained enough wisdom to no longer be a Maiden. The gatekeeper is always called Maiden. The job usually goes to someone with enough knowledge to be called Mother but who has chosen not to have children,” she explained. “This is a matriarchal society.”

Cap cleared his throat and joined their conversation. “So, are we supposed to just sit here and look cute while you conduct business?”

“No. You may request information, but you have to make it a request. Never lose your temper, and be polite. They will answer or else let you know why they refuse. They do nothing without a reason.”

David asked, “Why won’t they just tell us what they know?”

“The Burning Times. If I rounded up over a million people, tortured them, and then set them on fire in an effort to eradicate a single group, would you expect those same people to care what happened to me or my kind?” She waited for an answer.

“I guess not,” David answered. He looked down at his hands.

Cap scratched his head, looking around. “Is that why they are so neutral all the time?”

Cassy shook her head. “It isn’t neutrality. They just don’t care what happens to mankind. Nor will they allow themselves to become pawns in the power plays other magical creatures conduct. They genuinely want to be left in peace.”

Cap stopped looking around and addressed Cassy. “So, what’s to say they’ll tell us anything?”

“They’ll want an information exchange. We have the thumb drive. It may be of use to them,” Cassy said. Cap shifted uneasily in his seat.

A single piece of rolled parchment fluttered down in front of her. Before she could pick it up, it unrolled itself. On the blank surface, writing began to appear.

Please join us in the dining hall.

Lady Helena

“I guess we are invited to dinner,” David surmised. “Good, I’m hungry. We drove nonstop up every winding pig-path between here and there avoiding the interstates.”

“Whiner,” Cap muttered under his breath. “Does anybody know where the dining hall is?”

“Yes,” said Cassy. “It’s been a long time since I was here last, but I think I remember.”

They stood together. Cassy exited the indoor courtyard to the rear and entered a small room with a large oval table and chairs. Passing through this room, she led them to a door on the right. The soaring ceiling was surrounded by glass windows along the top. Even so, the heavy wood panels and darker décor made the room seem dim in comparison to the indoor courtyard. The enormous fireplace was lit with a roaring blaze. A table long enough to seat everyone in the house sprawled out before them. At the far end sat thirteen gray-haired women, six on either side of the table’s head.

In the principal chair sat a very old woman. She wore a heavy black cloak over a thick woolen gown. Her grizzled features had been ravaged by the ages. Her eyes were taking on a milky haze. Cassy could not tell how old the woman was. Witches were never immortal, but she knew their life spans were extremely long.

“Sit with us and take refreshments,” the crone offered. She flicked her fingers. The chairs closest to the seated women slid out. She raised one hand above her head and snapped. Charging plates and glassware floated down, landing in front of the three offered chairs. Silverware landed neatly to either side of the plates. By Cassy’s plate, stainless steel replaced the silver.

“Thank you,” Cassy said. “It was kind of you to see me, Lady Helena.”

“Think nothing of it, child. I have memories of you from the moment of your birth. Your mother was a favorite of mine. I was most vexed at hearing she passed into the summer lands. We are pleased to offer you assistance,” Lady Helena chuckled. “It is good to see you again, too, David Ashe, son of Lucinda, grandson of Godfrey. But you are much changed since last I saw you.” She ignored Cap completely.

“You know me? I beg your pardon. I don’t recall meeting you,” David said with uncertainty. He seemed genuinely confused.

“Of course, you were only a newborn. You would have no memory of it. Now, let us begin with food and end with conversation,” Lady Helena commanded. She clapped her hands twice. The glasses filled with wine. Trays with plated food floated through the air to the table. When the trays landed, the plates lifted themselves up, landing on the chargers in front of each person. Roasted meats, potatoes, and leafy greens mounded every plate, save one. Cassy’s held black pudding and a side of blood sausage. Her glass held a blood-wine mixture. Until the plate presented itself, Cassy had not realized how hungry she was.

No one spoke throughout dinner. Glasses clinked, forks and knives made noises against the plates, and the fire crackled at the end of the table. When everyone was finished, the old woman clapped twice again. The used dishes returned to the trays and levitated. They drifted out of the room the way they had entered. Another clap and the fire went out. The thirteen women rose in unison. Cassy, David, and Cap followed suit.

“Child, I wish for you and your consort to follow me to the library. You have questions in need of answers. Let us see what we can find.” The old woman strode ahead back through the indoor courtyard, past the entrance hall, and stopped at a tapestry-lined gallery. Before entering the gallery, she turned to face the group. “Lady Ursula, would you be so kind as to show the Princess’s companion to a guest room. I would prefer a private audience with her and her consort.”

A tall, thin woman to her right stepped away from the group. She extended a long, rail-like arm toward Cap. “This way, please, Captain George Duffington.” It sounded like a polite invitation, but the weight behind it had a driving force. If Cap had any objections, he kept them to himself. He followed her up the spiraled staircase in a trance-like state.

David whispered in Cassy’s ear, “Is he okay?”

“We have done him no harm, but this conversation should be between only us, for the time being. Once vetted, he will rejoin us,” said a shorter woman whose gray braids made a crown interwoven with small flowers. Her eyes were the same icy blue as the gatekeeper’s. Cassy suspected this was her grandmother.

The remaining group entered the gallery and proceeded to the library at the end. The dark wooden walls were lined with thousands of volumes of old books. Heavy furniture filled the floor space. The fireplace was a dark hole in the wall until erupting into life. The balcony railing that ringed the upper floor cast shadows against the walls. The women took seats either in chairs or on oversized silk pillows piled on the floor. Lady Helena sat nearest the fire. She pointed at two cushions and crooked her finger. They scooted across the floor, stopping at her feet.

“Come, children. Sit with me and talk,” the grizzled crone invited. Cassy and David obliged. “Now, Cassandra, dear, tell me your story. Why are you here?”

It took a considerable time to weave the story and fill in the details. She started with Erica bringing home the box and thumb drive and finished with calling the crow. David told how the department suspected a mole in the unit and his distrust for using others to keep the only survivor safe. The group sat intently listening. When they had finished, the old woman sat stone-faced and silent.

“We have heard of these murders. Until we look at the information you brought, we may be unable give you what you seek, vindication or condemnation. As for why you are being targeted, I think you will find these victims have more in common than vocally predicting The Fall. They have you.
You
are the focal point,” Helena said with considerable stress.

“Me? How can they be tied to me? I have never met any of them before in my life!”

“That is something we may be able to tell you once we have seen the documents you brought.”

She held out her hand for the thumb drive. Cassy laid it down gently. The old woman curled her hand around it and opened her palm to reveal empty space.

With considerable amount of patience, the crone asked, “Did you call your father as Erica requested?”

“No, Lady, I didn’t.” Cassy admitted, chagrinned.

“Is this man why?” She motioned to David. There was no judgment in either her actions or her tone. Sincere curiosity dripped from her voice.

“Not exactly, Lady. I didn’t want his help. He made it clear at our last meeting any future help would come with a price. I wasn’t interested in finding out what it might be. Then David and I started bonding. I don’t want Father to take him from me. I won’t let him take David,” she said. Without thinking, she laced her fingers into David’s and pulled his hand closer. The woman smiled at the possessive gesture in a knowing way.

“I see silver in your touching auroras. You do not yet have a full bond, but it is very strong. A strong bond for the strong-willed young. You have a streak of stubbornness and courage in you, Cassy. You would have made a formidable Lady. David is one-quarter witch, as I think you already know. There is something more, but I cannot say for certain what it is. It is not witch, whatever it may be.” She turned her attentions to David.

“You were tested as a baby. We found nothing about you that would lead us to believe you or your offspring would develop any magical abilities. What has changed, we cannot say, but something has.” She pushed herself out of the chair to address the others.

“Let us rest and meditate on what we have learned this night. Please show them to a safe room for the coming day.”

Lady Ursula had returned unnoticed during the meeting. “I will, Lady Helena. This way, please.” This time there was no weight, no demand or force behind the request. They followed her to the second-floor guest rooms. Outside one door stood two centurion-style guards. Ursula led them to a room two doors past it. A flick of her wrist opened the door. Another flick turned on the lights. A pointed finger drew back the covers to turn down the bed.

David looked alarmed. “Was that Cap’s room? Why is he under armed guard?”

“There are things we must learn before trusting him. He repeats only his full name in his mind as if reminding himself who he is. That is not the action of someone free of harmful secrets. You may come and go as you please, David, son of Lucinda. Use the bell system should you need anything,” she said, pointing to a call button on the wall. “The windows were upgraded to UV protection and the curtains are heavily lined. Sleep well, Princess. We should have more to tell you come nightfall.”