After a few minutes I had explained to them the basics of the plan and we prepared to exit the house under cover of Walter’s invisibility spell. Rose left instructions with Angela to keep lamps burning to give the impression we were still there. Then we left via the garden door and made our way quietly around the house to the street. From there we had a short walk through the streets to the main city gate.
When we reached the gate I had an unexpected surprise. I had forgotten that the portcullis was lowered, sealing the city at night. While I could probably get myself past them, finding a way to do the same for everyone in our party was a daunting task. Walter released the invisibility spell so that everyone could look around once he realized I was no longer leading us forward.
Rose saw the look on my face and laughed, “Don’t worry Mordecai; I’ve already planned for this.” She led us to the door that led into the main bailey that protected the gate. It was also the traditional home of the Hightower family, her father’s residence. Minutes later she had taken us past her father’s guards and down the corridors of the bailey.
Unlike the last time I had come with Penny, we didn’t ascend any of the stairs. Instead she took us on a circuitous route that led to a small protected doorway. “What’s this?” I asked her. My senses had already confirmed that it led outside the city walls but I had to ask anyway.
“A private door,” she answered mildly, “It leads outside the city.”
“Wouldn’t that compromise the defense of the town during a siege?” I asked.
She laughed, “Hardly. This door is outside the inner portcullis, which is closed, but inside the outer portcullis which is usually open. If this were time of war the outer portcullis would still be open and the gates would be shut. If an invader did penetrate the gates the outer portcullis would be dropped behind him and the murder holes above would ensure he did not live long to regret his mistake. This sally door was built to allow us to clear away the bodies, or to allow quiet egress at night.”
Her speech was matter of fact and I was reminded that she had been raised by the family most responsible for protecting the capital in time of war. I decided to stop asking questions and let her lead the way.
Soon enough she was leading us down the dirt lanes that were common in the ‘outer’ city. Though the city itself officially was bounded by the large stone walls, it was surrounded on most sides by more informal collection of buildings, houses and small businesses. After a short walk she led us to a large wooden building with several large doors big enough to drive a wagon through.
I had expected a warehouse or possibly even a barn but the multiplicity of large doors seemed odd. “What sort of place is this?” I asked.
“A carriage house,” she replied amicably. “One of my father’s friends operates a business lending carriages for short term use. Most of his customers are visiting nobility that don’t maintain a private residence in the city itself,” she explained. Reaching into a small purse she withdrew a large brass key and unlocked one of the doors.
Within, the large building was filled with carriages of every size and description, but some of the stalls where they would have parked were empty. Rose indicated one of them with her hand, “Will something like that be sufficient?”
“More than sufficient, thank you Rose,” I replied.
“What now?” asked Harold.
“Now you watch and wait for a while. You will know when I’m done,” I answered and hefting my staff I walked over to clear away the floor in the stall Rose had chosen for us. Using the staff like a much larger version of the silver stylus I began inscribing symbols on the smooth stone floor with a thin line of fire. The work took me three quarters of an hour before I finished and set the location keys for the circle to match those of a circle I had constructed earlier in Lancaster.
Glancing up I saw the others were silently watching me. “I’ll be right back,” I informed them and then with a word I vanished, reappearing in Lancaster. I had made arrangements with James on my previous trip and true to his word the Duke was waiting for me when I appeared.
“I had begun to doubt you would come,” he told me as I stepped away from the circle.
Clasping his arm at the elbow I clapped his shoulder with my other hand. “You should have known better than that,” I replied. Looking around I could see he had twenty men and as many mounts armed and ready to ride. Several men in the rear held the reins for their ten spare mounts.
“Are you sure this will be enough?” James asked me as the men began assembling on the circle for transport to Albamarl.
“If it isn’t then an army wouldn’t have been sufficient,” I said grimly. “If things go as planned even this is probably more than we need.” Reaching into my pouch I drew out the small wooden boxes I had enchanted and handed him one of them.
I spent the next several minutes demonstrating and explaining their function to him. Thankfully the Duke was quick witted and had little trouble adapting to new ideas. “Once we’ve secured the hostages I’ll send word immediately,” he reassured me.
“Just be sure to take care of yourself James, the future of Lothion will rest on your shoulders,” I replied seriously.
A pained look crossed his face. “I don’t like this plan of yours Mordecai. You do not have the power to force this and you cannot be sure of enough support. Without that it will mean war, and war of the worst sort, with brother fighting brother. I am tempted to refuse.”
I’d had enough of self-doubt and striving to appease those who had done nothing but attempt to manipulate me and my anger showed as I answered, “You have no choice James Lancaster. I have been pushed and prodded till my back is to the wall. They will accept this or I will make them regret ever choosing to cross me.”
James stared into my eyes as if seeking assurance but whether he found it I couldn’t tell. He nodded and looked away while I returned to transporting his men and horses back to Albamarl.
***
Rose and I watched them ride from the carriage house and into the dark night. The road they followed went westward but soon they would be leaving it and taking what amounted to little more than a goat trail into the wilderness to the northwest. Riding in semi-darkness, even with an experienced guide and a wizard to light their way, I worried that they might easily lose the path and wander aimlessly. Anything that delayed their arrival might doom my plan, or at the very least drive me to unfortunate decisions, decisions with irrevocable consequences.
“It’s just you and me now,” Rose said as we stood in the darkened building. “When will you act?”
“As soon as I receive word that they have our friends safe,” I responded, tapping the box I held in my hands.
“What do we do tonight?”
“The theory is that we get a good night’s rest, but somehow I doubt it will be easy,” I replied. “Do you mind sleeping at Castle Cameron tonight?”
“Why there?” she asked.
“Without Walter it won’t be easy to get back into your house or mine unobserved. We can take this circle back to Lancaster and then from there we can go to Castle Cameron easily enough. Tomorrow we can teleport from there back to my house when we receive word,” I explained. “Tonight we can enjoy good food and be among friends at least.”
Chapter 43
That night proved every bit as difficult to get through as I had expected. I tossed and turned for most of it, and slept fitfully for the rest. During the night I woke constantly and found myself staring at the small wooden box sitting on my bedside table. Each time I thought I had seen a flicker of light coming from the ruby embedded in its lid and each time I discovered it was just a figment fabricated by my sleeping mind.
Morning found me sitting on the divan, dressed and awake, watching the box from across the room. Given the time they had ridden out of Albamarl I was expecting a note from James at any moment, yet the ruby on the lid stubbornly refused to light up.
“Come in,” I said loudly in the direction of the b
edroom door. Rose was standing on the other side about to knock but I had already sensed her approach. She opened the door and glanced inside.
“Any word yet?” she asked anxiously. Despite the early hour she was already dressed in an elegant gown and her hair was a delicate mixture of braids arranged to restrain the rest of her free flowing hair. I couldn’t imagine how she had contrived that miracle. Penny was altogether more practical when it came to morning hair… as long as it was tied up and out of her way she was happy.
“No,” I said abruptly. “Why are you dressed like that?” My mood was sour or I wouldn’t ordinarily have been so rude.
If I offended her she showed no sign. “I’m nervous, and when that happens my first instinct is to do this,” she gestured at her gown and hair. “I blame it on my upbringing.”
I was tempted to ask her about the weaponry she had strapped to her thigh and hidden in her bodice, not to mention the steel spike nestled amid her braids but I kept my silence. If I gave away my knowledge of those things it might lead to an unfortunate conversation regarding what else I was capable of glimpsing.
“Have you eaten?” I asked.
She shrugged, “My stomach is full of butterflies. I haven’t tried to put anything in it yet.” She examined me carefully for a moment before speaking again, “Are you planning to meet the King dressed like that?”
The question nearly made me laugh, “Why does it matter? I’m going to kill him when I see him… one way or another.”
She bit her lip, showing a hint of delicate white teeth. “Because I’m going with you and I won’t be seen being escorted by a lout in a stained linen tunic and patched leather boots.”
That got my attention and my eyes lit upon her. “You aren’t going with me.”
Rose’s eyes sparkled as she sensed a challenge. “How well did that work when you told Penny that?”
She had me there. Most of those occasions had ended with her coming with me anyway. “Doesn’t matter,” I replied crossly, “you aren’t my wife.” I stood up to keep her from looking down on me.
She didn’t back away from the challenge; instead she stepped into my personal space and stood just inches from my face. “Your wife isn’t here and until you get her back I’m in charge of taking care of you.” A strange urge to strangle her swept over me but I restrained myself. I could see her nostrils flaring as she breathed and I felt my face flush. The tension I was feeling wasn’t just anger and if I’d laid hands upon her it wouldn’t have ended in a fight. It would have been far worse.
“Fine,” I said stepping away from her, seeking cooler air to calm my emotions. “I won’t be held responsible if something happens to you there. I can’t guarantee your safety.”
“I didn’t ask you to,” she replied calmly. “Why don’t you see about a bath while I look through your clothes,” she added with a serenity that belied the anger she had shown only a moment before.
I left and went looking for Joe McDaniels. By the time I had found him I had made up my mind to follow her advice and take a bath. It had been days already and I was starting to smell.
Rather than have the copper tub taken to my room, as Penny and I had normally done I used the communal baths in the barracks. Given my state of mind and the hormones that had been flying through the air already this morning it seemed the safest option. Thankfully Joe didn’t ask why I suddenly wanted to bathe there; he simply showed me where the towels and other things were located.
Normally baths were taken in the evening so there weren’t any other bathers present, but then neither were the fires lit so I had to make do with cold water. That actually suited me even more than I cared to admit.
When I finally returned to my room I was in a much better frame of mind. The first things I saw upon entering were the clothes Rose had laid out for me upon the bed. I ignored them and checked the wooden box, but the light still wasn’t lit.
Returning my attention to the clothes I couldn’t help but admire her choices. Grey trousers matched with black boots and a sable trimmed doublet. Gold accents marked the doublet itself as well as the cloak she had set beside it. I wondered if any of it would fit, but I needn’t have worried. Though I hadn’t ever worn the clothes before, Penny had had them made by the same tailor that made my more usual wardrobe items. Knowing Penny, she and Rose had probably discussed all of it before she had ever commissioned them to be made. The two of them had been thick as thieves when it came to my wardrobe over the past year.
Joe appeared after I had dressed. “You need to eat something,” he said as soon as I opened the door.
“I don’t think so.”
“Nothing heavy… just a bit of porridge,” he insisted. “You’ll need it later.”
I didn’t have the heart to argue so I let him have a small bowl brought up to me. It wasn’t easy to start, but once the first few bites had gone down I discovered I was ravenous. I finished the portion and gave serious consideration to asking for more.
Rose arrived before I could send for him. “You look much better,” she commented dryly.
“I feel better, thank you. Though I think I must look a fool in these clothes.”
She smiled, “You look dashing.”
“Isn’t the hero supposed to wear white?” I said questioningly.
“You aren’t quite that good,” she replied. “You’re planning to commit regicide. Dorian might be good enough for white, but I’m afraid the best you should wear would be shades of grey.”
Her words stung a bit but I shrugged the feeling aside. “These clothes are mostly black,” I noted.
“It looks better than all grey.” Looking at me she frowned. “Stop pouting. I told you once before, you’re the right man for this task. There are some things that require shades of grey.”
I opened my mouth to speak but she put her finger on my lips. “Close your eyes and be silent for a moment Mordecai,” she said gently. Something in her tone struck a note within me, and I did as she bade. Stepping forward she planted a quick kiss on my cheek, which surprised me, and then she wrapped her arms around me.
“You’re a decent man Mordecai, not a perfect one, but better than most. I love you almost as much as I do Dorian, and I love Penelope just as much. You have to promise me one thing today.” She stepped back and I opened my eyes.
“What?” I asked suspiciously.
She sighed, “So cynical at such a young age. I want you to promise me, for Penelope’s sake, that whatever happens, you will try to survive… no foolish sacrifices.”
I was tempted to remind her that she was only a year older but it seemed a crass thing to say. “I cannot do that,” I said instead. “As you told me just last night, I have learned that we each have a right to make our own sacrifices. I cannot make any promises when there is so much that is uncertain…” I paused without finishing. From the corner of my eye I could see a red glow had appeared on the small box near the bed.
Forgetting everything else I strode quickly to the side table and opened the lid. Inside was a small slip of paper. Carefully unfolding it I found it carried a message written in James’ neat hand:
We have safely recovered Walter’s wife and young son. Of Penny, Dorian, and his older daughter we could find no sign. There were no survivors among the priests. No witnesses to our attack either. We have searched the area to no avail and are now returning to Albamarl.
I am truly sorry, Mordecai.
James
A cold calm washed over me and I let Rose take the note from numb fingers. Walking over to my writing desk I quickly penned a response:
Wait for me at the carriage house tonight. If I do not appear by morning ride for Lancaster and prepare for war.
Mordecai
I could have embellished the note in any number of ways, but I didn’t. My heart was too cold to care anymore. Closing the box I handed it to Rose. If any further messages were to be sent she would have to be the one to manage it. Walking to the corner I belted on my enchanted pouch a
nd lifted my staff. Then I headed for the door… the time for waiting was over.
Chapter 44
The palace gates rose up before me in the afternoon sun and the guards standing beside them were blissfully unaware that today was the day their world would change. My walk from my house in the city to this point had been mundane. Rose and I had garnered quite a few looks given our extravagant clothing. In most cases people wearing such clothes would be inside a carriage, or be riding at the very least. We simply strolled.
I didn’t care if we drew attention anyway. I’m dressed for the funeral, I thought to myself. Considering it in that light it was everyone else who was underdressed. I suppressed a chuckle at that thought.
Rose glanced over at me, “Everything alright?” Her features displayed nothing of her nervousness, but my senses could pick up her racing heartbeat.
“No,” I told her truthfully. “I doubt things will ever be alright again. Not for us, in any case, or anyone close to us.” I was referring of course, to Dorian and Penny.
The guards watched us approach with curious eyes. They had already recognized us but I doubt they had expected me to appear dressed for a high society function in the middle of the afternoon. One of them addressed me as we drew close, “Pardon me your lordship, may I ask you your name and reason for seeking entry to the palace today?” The man’s tone was formal and very deferential.
“You already know my name,” I replied. “And very likely you know to expect me.”
He bowed his head respectfully, “Yes your Excellency, the questions are mandatory. Please pardon me if they seem strange.”
For a moment I felt sorry for him. Neither of these men had done anything to deserve the chaos my presence would visit upon their lives today. “What’s your name?” I asked him suddenly.
“Nathaniel, your Lordship.”