His father grimaced. “I think I know how she feels now.” Stepping closer, he put a hand on Matthew’s shoulder. “Why don’t you come get
something to eat? You can tel me about what you’re working on.”
His dad was probably the one person he could reasonably expect to understand his work, but he was loath to stop just then. “It’s complicated.
It wil be easier to show you when it’s finished.”
“Let me see what you have so far.”
He worried briefly. He didn’t want his father to figure out that his project was related to his plan to return for Desacus, but he decided it couldn’t hurt to show him what he had so far. Picking up four metal cubes from one side of the bench, he tossed them into the air. With a touch of aythar, they spread out into a floating square formation in front of him, roughly two feet to a side. Matthew voiced the command word, and the enchantment worked into the cubes flared to life. The area between the cubes turned black—not an everyday black, like coal or ink, but an
absolute black that gave nothing back. It was as if everything ceased to exist where it touched the black square hanging in the air.
“Fascinating,” said Mordecai. “I sense nothing of it from this side, and from the other…” He moved to stand beside Matthew on the other side of the square; from that perspective, the square had a different appearance. It was stil black, but not the same unforgiving void it had been on the other side. He reached out as if he might touch it.
Matthew slapped his hand away. “Don’t!”
“I wasn’t going to touch it,” said his father, with a hint of petulance in his voice. “What is it doing, exactly? It feels odd to my magesight. On this side it’s strange, and on the other it feels like a complete absence of anything .”
“It’s a one-way translation pane,” he answered, making up the name as he said it. “It’s a gateway to another dimension, but it only goes in one direction. Things can pass through, but they can’t come back, and if you put something through only partway and then pul it out… here, let me demonstrate.”
Matthew picked up a slender stick from a pile he had lying on the bench for that purpose. Holding it out, he stuck the end of the branch into the square from the side that was absolute void. “As long as the stick keeps going in it’s fine, but if I pul back…” As he puled, the stick came away missing the portion that had entered the translation pane.
“Wow.”
“Now look at this,” he added, warming to his subject. Matt picked up a smal rock from the bench and threw it at the translation pane, this time from the other side. It passed through and hit the wal of the shop without harm. He gathered it up from the floor and threw it back, this time into the other side. It vanished completely. “It’s one directional,” he explained. “From this side, it’s a one-way portal, but from the other it doesn’t exist at al.”
“But it’s dark on the other side as wel,” began Mordecai.
“Because the light from the other side is being completely absorbed,” said Matt. Taking up another branch, he stuck it through from the less dark side. It emerged from the other side, but as soon as he puled back, the portion that entered the void side vanished and the stick fel to the floor in two pieces. “If you try to pul back from that side, it gets cut as wel, so it’s stil dangerous.”
His father’s eyes were ful of interest. “That’s fascinating. What are you planning to do with it?”
Matthew chose his words with care. “After my last trip to Karen’s world it felt like there was almost no way to defend myself properly. A
normal shield takes a lot of power to maintain, and over there aythar is at a premium, since the whole dimension is devoid of it. This could be used as a shield of sorts, one that could absorb any attack, since it doesn’t stop the attack, it merely translates it to another dimension.”
Mordecai rubbed his beard. “It could do that just as wel if it was a normal two-way portal.”
Matt nodded, “Yes, but this makes it more dangerous to would-be attackers. If they touch it, they’l lose hands, arms, whatever, but more
importantly,”—standing on one side he sent a smal blast of fire through the square, scorching the air on the other side—"you can stil attack from this side.”
His father spoke up, “Though the main problem is you’l stil be vulnerable from other directions.”
“Which is why I’m working on a design to let each cube serve as an interstice for three sides instead of just one…”
“So you can connect them up and surround yourself on every side,” agreed Mordecai, “or even above and below. But if you did that…”
“You’d be blind,” finished Matt. “I have an idea to handle that problem.”
“What about gravity?”
He smiled. “I worried about that too, but it doesn’t seem like it’s as much of a problem as you might think. It doesn’t affect the translation panes. They only move with the cubes, which the user directs.”
“So you won’t fal through the ground? But you can’t stand on one, you just demonstrated what happens to anything that goes through from
even the wrong side,” said Mordecai.
“I’m planning to add a shield on the inner surface of the bottom pane to prevent that,” said Matthew enthusiasticaly.
“What about the other ones?” asked his father. “If you accidentaly touch one you’l lose a finger, or worse.”
“This is just a test model. I’l make it much bigger, roughly six feet on a side, so that it wil be more than an arm’s length away. I’l also tie the position of the translation cubes to a master that the user wears, so that they move with you. You won’t be able to fal into them.”
“Can you move them if they’re active on al sides?” asked Mort.
Matthew shrugged. It was a problem he hadn’t found an answer to yet. “I’m not sure. I think not, but I haven’t gotten far enough to test it.
Probably the bottom wil have to be turned off if the user wants to walk or run.”
“Let me see your enchantment formulae,” said his father.
“It’s stil a little rough,” he answered. “It’s a work in progress.” He puled out a large sheet of parchment and roled it out flat on the
workbench.
His father stared at it with interest, and then observed, “Your handwriting is atrocious.”
“I know, Dad.”
“What does this part do?”
He began explaining the structure, and after a while his father started making suggestions. “There’s a way to simplify this piece…” Soon the two of them were in the thick of it, and the hours began to melt away.
***
“This again?!” said a sharp voice.
Matthew rubbed his eyes. The voice belonged to his mother, and as he became aware of his surroundings, he could see she was glaring at his father, who was raising his head groggily from the bench where he had been resting it. They had falen asleep in the workshop.
“Mmm , good morning?” said Mordecai.
Penny scowled. “Don’t give me that! You said you were going to talk to him.” She gestured in Matthew’s direction. “Instead, I find you
sleeping in here. Is this where you’ve been al night?!” Her hands were on her hips, and Matthew could tel she was just getting started.
His father grinned. “No, of course not, m’dear . I was with another woman. I just stopped by this morning to see if the boy had taken my
advice and I was so worn out by the drinking and debauchery that I had to take a nap.” Mort winked at his son. “He was only here to try and help cover for his father’s sins, but now you’ve caught me. Don’t blame the boy, though. He has promised to mend his ways. I’m the only one at fault.”
“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, stil had more to say.
“I’l 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 smel! 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 Ileniel 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 filed with appetizing smels when they entered, and Matthew could see that Conal and Irene had been pressed into service helping in the kitchen. Karen was there as wel, 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 ful 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 al those in the family, and even those who might potentialy 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, especialy for the two starving men. Sausages were passed on platters, folowed by smoked fish, fresh bread, and a
savory porridge. A selection of steamed vegetables was included as wel, 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 al ful, but his hunger would not be denied. Al too soon he was stuffed to bursting, and he could see the others beginning to lean back from the table as wel.
“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.
“Al 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.
Conal and Irene could barely contain themselves at his outright rebelion, 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?”
Conal spoke, “I don’t realy want to be Count, so no.”
“Thanks,” said Matt wryly.
Mordecai grew serious. “You realize there’s a good chance you could be kiled, 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 realy considered it fuly 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’l do our best to make sure you survive.”
Mordecai stood. “Al right, Conal, 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 Ileniels 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 Conal 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 realy 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 realy 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 wel that we aren’t
actualy 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 starte
d 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 fel 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 forcefuly. 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 tel 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 stil
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’l have to get married someday , but it isn’t realy something I’m thinking about right now, so the thought of courting someone isn’t on my mind at al.
“I mean, sure, if I was going to, I wouldn’t have any real objection to Karen. She’s nice enough and al, 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