“As if any other woman would put up with your habits,” snapped Penny. “Get up, both of you. It’s time to go home.”
Matthew rose from his seat, trying not to wince at the sore places he had developed while sleeping in such an odd position. He didn’t bother trying to argue; he knew when it was time to surrender. His father, though, still had more to say.
“I’ll have you know I’m considered quite a catch!” said Mort in mock outrage.
Penny tried to keep up her angry expression, but her façade slipped and a smile peaked through. “I might believe it, if you didn’t smell! When was the last time you had a bath?” She looked over at her son. “You too. Both of you are starting to ferment.”
Watching them, Matt couldn’t help but laugh, which drew their eyes to him. When they paused, he spoke up, “Can we eat first? I’m starving.”
She looked at the two of them. “Bathe first, then you can have breakfast.”
***
As it turned out, Penelope Illeniel had planned an expansive morning meal. Being a countess meant that many mornings she wasn’t free to do the usual things that many mothers do, like cooking, but when she had the chance she rarely missed the opportunity. The house was filled with appetizing smells when they entered, and Matthew could see that Conall and Irene had been pressed into service helping in the kitchen. Karen was there as well, lending a hand, though she knew next to nothing about cooking.
The two men wasted no time accomplishing the goal required for them to eat. Magic had certain advantages, and neither of them wanted a long soak, so instead they heated their water rapidly and scrubbed themselves clean in record time.
The family table was full of waiting people when they entered. Apparently, Penny had forced everyone to wait for them. Moira gave Matthew a warning look when he entered. Something was up.
He found himself seated next to Karen, whose presence was mildly unusual, since it was supposedly an impromptu family breakfast, but there was nothing usual about that morning. Penny had made sure all those in the family, and even those who might potentially become family, were present. Matt had an urge to look toward the ceiling, since he had a feeling there must be one hanging above his head somewhere.
The food was wonderful, especially for the two starving men. Sausages were passed on platters, followed by smoked fish, fresh bread, and a savory porridge. A selection of steamed vegetables was included as well, and while Matthew briefly considered skipping it a stern glance from his mother quickly dissuaded him from that notion.
He wanted to eat slowly, for he knew the conversation would begin in earnest once they were all full, but his hunger would not be denied. All too soon he was stuffed to bursting, and he could see the others beginning to lean back from the table as well.
“Thank you for the wonderful meal, Mother,” he said politely. “May I be excused?” He started to rise from his chair.
Penny arched one brow. “No, you may not.”
Karen looked worried at the Countess’ stern demeanor, but Matthew’s younger brother laughed, “Nice try, dummy.” Mordecai and the others at the table did poorly at hiding their smirks. Only Moira seemed unamused, retaining a serious and flat expression.
“All right, I give up. What’s this about?” asked Matthew.
“Since you returned, you’ve been keeping yourself locked away in that workshop non-stop for almost a month…,” began Penny.
“Three weeks,” corrected Matthew, interrupting her.
Penny sighed, “The point is that everyone in the family is a little worried. More particularly, your father and I have been talking, and we think you’re planning on going back to retrieve Desacus’s egg.”
He glanced at Karen, but the expression on her face was one of surprise. Who else might have ratted him out? He had spoken to no one. He met Moira’s eyes but a subtle shake of her head indicated that she wasn’t to blame. Oh well, he thought. Taking a deep breath, he decided not to beat around the bush, “Yes. I do.”
“Didn’t your father talk to you?” asked his mother.
Matthew nodded. “A few weeks ago.”
“And what did he say?” she asked, as if she didn’t already know.
“He ordered me to stay home.”
Penny exhaled; she had been holding her breath. “Then you know you should drop this foolishness.”
He shook his head. “I won’t.”
Mordecai broke in. “Your mother and I are of one opinion in this. I’ve already told you no. Do you plan on defying both of us?”
“Yes,” he admitted.
Conall and Irene could barely contain themselves at his outright rebellion, and both of them were fidgeting. The urge to say something almost undid them. Moira remained quiet, while Karen’s eyes grew wider.
“And if we lock you up?” asked Penny, her voice strangely calm.
Matthew shrugged, “You can’t. Unless you plan on rendering me unconscious indefinitely. There’s no way to prevent me from going.”
Moira arched one brow, a strange expression on her face, but Mordecai gave her a terse warning. “Don’t even suggest something like that.”
“It was a joke,” she said sourly. “I wouldn’t do it.”
Matthew knew he had missed something there, but decided not to pursue it.
Penny looked at her husband, and Mordecai gave a reluctant sigh, “He’s right. We can punish him or disown him, but we can’t keep him prisoner.”
That was too much for Irene, and she let out an audible, “Awww.”
Matthew shot her a dirty look.
Looking down the table, Penny said, “Is there anyone here that thinks it’s a good idea for him to go back there?”
Conall spoke, “I don’t really want to be Count, so no.”
“Thanks,” said Matt wryly.
Mordecai grew serious. “You realize there’s a good chance you could be killed, alone on another world, and we’d never even know what happened to you? Have you thought about the consequences for your family?”
In point of fact, he hadn’t really considered it fully from that angle, but he knew it wouldn’t change his mind. “I’m sorry, Father. I know it would be a hardship for everyone, but I can’t turn my back on Desacus. That’s not who you raised me to be. If I obeyed and left the egg there, I wouldn’t be the person I want to believe I am.”
Penny covered her face briefly with her hands, “I can’t believe this is happening.” She seemed to crumple inward for a moment, but when she uncovered her face it was calm and resolved. “Fine. If this is what you’re going to do, then we’ll do our best to make sure you survive.”
Mordecai stood. “All right, Conall, Irene, you’re excused. The rest of the family meeting is for adults only.”
Karen looked at him, wondering if she should rise.
The Count grimaced. “No, you stay, Karen. If you would.”
The two youngest Illeniels filed out of the room reluctantly, knowing they were about to miss something interesting. Karen looked to Matthew, but he merely shrugged his shoulders. He was as clueless as she was.
Once Irene and Conall were gone, Penny got straight to the point. “You’ve both said several times that you’re just friends, but a number of rumors have begun circulating around the castle.” Karen blushed her odd shade of purple at this, and Matthew opened his mouth, but she held up her hand. “Let me finish. We aren’t really worried about the rumors, but rather whether you intend to court Karen or not.”
Matthew glared at Moira across the table, which caused her to exclaim, “Why does everyone always look at me? I had nothing to do with this.”
Mordecai intervened. “What really brought this on was a story heard from one of the castle maids.”
Matthew and Karen waited; neither had any idea what he was referring to.
“A while ago one of them found the bedsheets rumpled and mussed in the family rooms within the castle. They know very well that we aren’t actually using those rooms, and the two of you were seen
entering there—alone. Add in the fact that both of you have been hiding away from everyone lately, and people have started to put two and two together,” explained Penny.
Karen protested, “I was just reading. I’m not used to being around so many people here. I needed time alone…”
“And I just went to check on her. We started talking and I was worn out, so I fell asleep. Nothing happened,” finished Matt.
Mort and Penny looked at one another, and then Mort spoke, “So, you’re saying there’s nothing between the two of you?”
“Of course not,” insisted Matt, perhaps a little too forcefully. Karen winced slightly at his tone, a fact not missed by Penny’s sharp eyes.
Penny’s features softened slightly when she looked at Karen, and then she turned her focus to her son. “You’ve never been much for dishonesty,” she said, “so if you tell us that, I believe you. More importantly, though, are you considering anything more in the future? You’re both of an age to think about these things.”
Matthew was mildly shocked. “Wait, what?”
His father leaned in. “There’s no shame in it, Son. She’s asking if you’re thinking of courting her. If so, we can easily dispel any rumors hanging around the two of you.”
Karen had gone beyond embarrassment and into some place where she was merely a spectator. She was almost paralyzed, and yet still fascinated with the conversation. She desperately wanted to leave, but she also was curious how Matthew would respond.
Matthew glanced at Karen, uncertain, and perhaps looking for guidance, but when he could read nothing on her blank features, he addressed his parents, “Look, I’m not sure I’m ready to consider any of this. I know I’ll have to get married someday, but it isn’t really something I’m thinking about right now, so the thought of courting someone isn’t on my mind at all.
“I mean, sure, if I was going to, I wouldn’t have any real objection to Karen. She’s nice enough and all, but…”
He never quite finished, for Moira interrupted. “Matthew! Don’t be such an ass! ‘Nice enough’? What kind of thing is that to say in front of her?!”
Mordecai was shaking his head, but Matthew responded first. “What?! I don’t know how to say these things. I’m saying she’s nice. She’s pretty. I’m not insulting her…”
“Enough, Matthew,” ordered Penny. “We should have talked about this with you beforehand.” She spoke to Karen, “I apologize for my son’s lack of tact.”
Karen stood, painfully aware of their eyes on her. “I—may I be excused?”
Penny nodded, “Of course.” Before she could say more, Karen vanished, teleporting directly from where she stood.
“That went well,” muttered Mordecai.
Moira rose. “It was awful, and incredibly rude. How could you put her on the spot like that?”
Penny nodded, “I agree.”
“I’m talking about you,” exclaimed their daughter. Then she turned her eyes on her father. “And you. Matthew just made it worse, but you should have expected that.”
“Well, I didn’t mean for it to really go down this path exactly, but...,” began Mordecai.
Moira started for the hall. “I’m going to go find her.”
Penny left after that, and Matthew and his father were left alone in an awkward silence. Finally, Mordecai broke it, asking, “What are you thinking?”
“That it would be really handy to be able to teleport like that,” said Matthew.
Mort laughed. “Ha! It would. Especially since we’re left with the dishes.” They both grimaced at that.
Chapter 41
Karen stared down from the top of the main keep in Cameron Castle. She wasn’t sure why she had picked that place in particular. She had only been there once before, during the tour of the castle that Gram had given her, but it had seemed like a quiet place. There were one or two guards, but they didn’t bother her when she appeared suddenly. They had seen her before, and strange doings were almost common in a castle frequented by most of the wizards in Lothion.
She knew things were different in this world, but the conversation with Matthew’s parents had been too much. I am not some prize to be auctioned off, she told herself. That wasn’t what they had really meant, of course; but it had felt that way.
Matthew’s response to their questions had been even more embarrassing.
Then she felt a presence approaching from the direction of the closest stairwell. Unlike the guards, this was a mage. She had discovered the difference early in her stay there. Wizards had brilliant auras—they fairly shone with power, compared to normal folk.
She debated relocating, but then she identified her visitor: it was Moira. How did she know I’d be up here? Karen wondered.
The other woman stopped a few feet away from her and leaned on the short ledge between the merlons, but didn’t say anything at first.
After a while, Karen spoke, “I looked like a fool back there.”
“You were fine,” said Moira. “But I’m embarrassed about how my family behaved.”
Karen didn’t respond immediately. A raven flew up from the courtyard and passed overhead, and the two of them watched it fly until it reached the forest edge. “I think they were just looking out for their son, and maybe sending me a message.”
“A message?”
“I’m a commoner,” said Karen bluntly. “Your brother explained the expectations that nobility have here.”
Moira laughed. “Both of my parents are commoners. I don’t think they give two figs for traditional expectations among the ruling class.”
Now Karen was confused. “But, they’re the count and countess, doesn’t that mean…”
“Well, sure, now they are,” admitted Moira. “But they didn’t start out that way. Mom was a cooper’s daughter, and she used to work as a maid for the Duke of Lancaster. Dad was technically a noble from birth, but he wasn’t raised that way. His father, the one that raised him, was a blacksmith.
“The only message they were trying to send was to my idiot brother,” finished Moira.
“And what was that?” asked Karen.
“What you heard. They like you, and when they heard the rumors, they were worried that your reputation might be tarnished, since he hasn’t shown any sign of wanting to court you in a normal fashion. They probably thought that putting him on the spot would wake him up.
“What they failed to consider was how he would react, and how that would make you feel,” explained Moira. “If it makes any difference, they aren’t normally that stupid, but they’ve been under a lot of stress lately. Two of their children vanished, and only recently returned. I started a revolution in a neighboring country, and before that someone kidnapped Irene and murdered several people in the house. It’s been an eventful few months.”
Karen had heard most of that previously, during her time spent with Irene and Carissa, but it did put the evening’s strange events in perspective—somewhat. “I’m not really worried about things like reputation. In my world things are rather different. Even more importantly, I’m not looking for a husband. Your brother and I are just friends—like we keep telling everyone.”
Moira glanced at her for a second, meeting her eyes. What Karen saw there was unsettling, almost predatory, but the moment passed when the other woman looked away. “You have terrible taste in men,” said Moira.
“What?”
“My brother,” clarified the other woman. “I can tell you like him, and not as a friend. I just can’t understand why.”
Karen shook her head. “That’s not true, didn’t you hear…”
Moira cut her off, “Didn’t they warn you? I’m a little dangerous, even for a wizard. My trip to Dunbar changed me, and for the worse. You need to learn to shield your mind better. I can sense things from the others, even when they try their best, but you—you’re an open book.”
Karen had heard a few things about that, but Matthew hadn’t seemed to think it was as bad as his sister was now painting it.
>
“It’s worse than he thinks,” said Moira, replying to her unspoken thoughts. “He’s just too blind to see past his image of me. My brother is brilliant in his own way, but he’s never been very sharp with regards to people.”
“He’s a little rough,” Karen admitted, “but deep down he’s kinder than he lets on.”
Moira sighed, “You should give up on him. He’s not a bad person, but he’ll make you miserable if you pin your hopes on him.”
Karen found Moira’s remarks about her brother more than a little irritating. “I think his actions are more important than how anyone sees him, or whether he bothers to try to sugarcoat his words for people. More than once your brother has put himself at considerable risk on my behalf.”
“Be honest—you know he can be a bit of a jerk sometimes,” said Moira, deliberately needling her.
“I’m starting to find it annoying to hear everyone pointing out his flaws. Perhaps if you were less concerned with finding fault, he’d have nicer things to say,” snapped Karen.
Moira grinned. “There it is.”
“There what is?” asked Karen.
“The fire,” stated Moira. “You’ve got a real thing for him. I just wanted to be sure.”
Karen was thrown off balance once again. “Now wait, just because…” She stopped herself as a few memories that she would rather not share passed through her head.
Moira’s eyes widened. “No! I can’t believe it! Already? Wow!”
“Wait a minute!” demanded Karen. “What do you think you know? Or what did you see? That was just a stray moment of the imagination. It’s not…”
“Oh no,” said Moira confidently. “I know the difference. Don’t worry, though. Your secret is safe with me.”
Karen covered her face with her hands.
“It’s all right,” soothed Moira. “I’m on your side—his too, truth be told. I love my brother, even if we do argue a lot. If anything ever comes of it, I’ll support you to my parents, not that you’ll need it. They really do like you.”