The (sort of) Dark Mage (Waldo Rabbit) (37 page)

Lilith closed her eyes. “I know what sort of rumors have been going through the family. I do not doubt that all of you have already buried my son. Well, unbury him, Waldo will survive to return home, don’t doubt it. It may take many months, but he will return, so I have no need for a new heir. For ten generations this line of the family has held power and I will not see the line end with me. He is my last child and he has my blood. I mean to see him rule this family after me and I will do whatever it takes to ensure that.”

That certainly made things clearer. He felt the sudden need to take a long swallow of wine. His dream of becoming part of the main family had been realized, and then crushed, within the same conversation. He took the bottle and began refilling his cup. “Then why do you need my son?”

Lilith sighed. “I don’t.”

“What?”

“I want your daughter.” Lilith said, spelling it out for him. “The child I was referring to was your daughter not your son.”

“You want to adopt Hera?”

“You really do jump to conclusions don’t you? I never mentioned adoption.”

Andris looked at her dumbfounded. His daughter was sixteen and already very talented in the Dark Arts. However she had certain issues. He had planned to give her a few more years to mature, before taking her under his wing and teaching her about being a trader. “I don’t understand. What do you want with Hera?”

Lilith stared into her wine. “The council sees my son as a fool. That will not change no matter what he does on his quest. Once I am gone they will simply try to use him or arrange an accident for him.”

She looked up from her wine and her dark eyes stared into his. Andris shifted uncomfortably in his seat, the intensity of her gaze was unnerving.

“I know what you and the others think of him. No matter what you may believe, Waldo is strong and has great talent. One day, I promise you, all of you will see him as I do. You will see his power and tremble.”

Andris could only nod; he didn’t dare to so much as make a sound.

“Until that day comes though, he will need someone at his side the council will fear. If they will not respect him then they must respect someone close to him. That is the only way he will survive long enough.”

To Andris’s relief she turned her focus back to her wine.

“I will take your daughter on as my apprentice. I will instruct her not only in the deeper magics, but also in the ways of politics and show her what it really means to rule over others. I will bring out her full potential and make Hera someone to be feared.”

He was trembling slightly. The hopes that had been raised and just as swiftly dashed were rising again. Members of the council very rarely took on apprentices outside of their own immediate family. When they did so, it was always a sign they’d found someone of extraordinary ability. His daughter’s future was suddenly looking very bright. Andris was not about to bring up his concerns and risk damaging Lilith’s high opinion.

XXX

Lilith stared into the wine and imagined her son’s reaction when she told him. She knew of Hera’s faults and doubted she could fix them completely. Lilith didn’t expect Waldo to thank her, or be very happy about what she was planning. The fact was though this was what he would need to continue once she was gone. If a foul tasting medicine would save you then you held your nose and forced it down.

“When my son returns he will need a proper wife, to guide him and start giving him children with suitable blood. Someone who can point out the hidden dangers, someone the council will respect. I think your daughter would make a fine wife for him.”

She drank the wine and thought it tasted a little bitter.

Chapter 27

The New Apprentice

It was the nose.

One couldn’t help but focus on it.

It wasn’t just big, it hooked. It looked like some sort of fleshy beak. When you looked at her face your eyes were just drawn to it.

Poor girl,
Lilith thought. For a woman there were few things worse than to be ugly.

Lilith considered the girl’s features with a critical eye. She was small, just barely standing five feet and very much on the thin side. Even in black robes it was obvious her chest was as flat as a boy’s. The rest of her features were bland. If she had been blessed with a cute little button nose, she still would still have been plain.

What was more interesting was her posture. She stood straight with shoulders back and eyes returning Lilith’s scrutiny. Her face were not defiant, but there was nothing submissive there either. Despite the situation and how much was at stake for her, she seemed confident and calm. Lilith was quite skilled at reading people, yet she could not be certain whether the girl was as relaxed as she appeared or hiding her natural anxieties.

Either way it was a promising start.

“Welcome to Castle Corpselover Hera. I trust your father has explained why you were summoned?”

“Yes Aunt Lilith, he told me I was to become your apprentice.” The girl bent her neck ever so slightly. “I am deeply honored and will work hard to prove myself worthy of your selection.”

Technically, Hera’s father was a fifth or sixth cousin to Lilith. It was tradition that within the extended family older relatives were referred to as uncle or aunt, younger relatives went by nephew or niece, and those close to the same age were simply cousin. This made things less confusing.

“Did your father tell you anything else?”

“He said that you wanted me to marry your son, and that you very sure he would return from his First Quest.”

“What do you think about that?”

Small shoulders gave a small shrug. “If that is the price for being apprenticed I will pay it.”

Lilith lifted a single eyebrow. “You don’t like the idea of being married to Waldo?”

“I like the idea of becoming your daughter. Even more I like the idea of becoming your apprentice. I don’t have any special interest in being married.”

“Just with Waldo or with anyone?”

“I have no wish to be married to any man.”

“Well I was never married, but that was because I would have no longer been head of the family. I always had my lovers though.”

“I have no use for men. Except for my father, I have never met a single man that I liked.”

“Oh,” Lilith said after a slight pause. “It’s like that then?”

“It is.”

Lilith was not shocked. Hera had a reputation for hostility and rudeness, especially towards men. For a Corpselover such behavior was fine, when it was directed towards those beneath her. It became a problem when it was aimed at other members of the family, or at members of the other houses.

As for her personal preferences, those were unimportant so long as they were limited to the sex slaves. In Alteroth all pleasures could be indulged without fear.

“That is fine niece; I have some lovely slave girls I keep for just that sort of thing. You are free to indulge your tastes.” Lilith saw the girl lick her lips ever so slightly. “However, when the time comes, marrying my son and giving him children will be part of your duty.”

“I have already said that I understand Aunt Lilith, and will do what I have to.”

“My son has a very likeable personality. You might actually enjoy being his wife.”

“I doubt it.”

Well that’s fair, I doubt Waldo will much enjoy being your husband.
“I am sure once you have some children you will come to love them and be happy with your new family.”

“If you say so Aunt Lilith. What really matters to me is the chance to learn more magic. I want to be a powerful and feared necromancer like you. I want you to teach me everything.”

“My, my, so young and filled with ambition. Do you want to know why I chose you?”

“Certainly.”

“It’s not because of your talent for necromancy, though that was an important element. It’s also not because of your intelligence or your vast potential. Obviously, it wasn’t because of your looks or your sweet disposition.”

Hera did not look either pleased or upset.

“I chose you because I needed someone who was ruthless.”

Hera grinned. “Thank you.”

“Tell me, what happened to your younger brother Malcor?”

“He had an accident.”

Lilith smiled knowingly. “An accident?”

“Yes Aunt Lilith. He fell down the stairs and died.”

“When you just happened to be the only one with him?”

“Accidents happen my aunt.”

“Oh they certainly do. Though usually not until after a child has earned the black robes and can protect himself. Your brother was, what, six at the time and you were fourteen?”

“That’s right.”

“Did you really think he was so dangerous to you? Were you afraid he might be a threat some day?”

“No. I just didn’t like him.”

There was not even a hint of guilt.

Yes,
Lilith thought.
I picked the right one.
“I think you and I will get along splendidly my niece.”

“I think so too Aunt Lilith.”

“There is just one thing I need to make clear to you first though.”

“Yes?”

“My son Waldo will not suffer any accidents.”

“Of course not,” Hera assured her. “I would never…”

Lilith cut her off.

“Yes you would. It’s obvious. I am sure you are already calculating how long you would have to wait and what the best method would be. You probably wouldn’t dare while I am still around, but I will not live forever. Frankly my dear niece, you wouldn’t be the person I need if you weren’t already thinking about it.”

Hera considered for a moment, and then nodded. “Do you blame me? You say I will have to endure being married and having some screaming children tear their way out of me. Very well, if that’s the price I will pay it, but why would I suffer it longer than I have to?”

“Because within one hour of my son’s death you will know your own.”

Hera’s eyes widened.

“Do you know what a Death Seal is Hera?”

The girl nodded.

“Before you marry my son I will place one on you connecting your life to his. I did not bring you here because I need an apprentice. I brought you so that you could act as my son’s advisor, and do the things for him that he cannot do for himself. You will live only for his sake, and all your strength and knowledge will be placed at his service. You will be a proper wife to him Hera, whether you want to be or not.”

“I see, so the price for my apprenticeship and joining the main family is not only my freedom, but eventually my life as well. That seems rather high.”

“Oh it’s higher than that still. The sort of power you seek always demands a very heavy cost. If it is more than you are willing to pay say so. You can return home and learn how to be a merchant or a common mage for hire.”