The Heart of Alchemy

by James E. Wisher

  She chewed her lip and looked away. “I’ve heard stories, mostly told by people of Rolan coming to trade in the barony. They say he’s done awful things. That your friend is an evil wizard bent on destroying the world.”

  Wolfric couldn’t stop himself from laughing. When Jade’s eyes flashed with anger he realized his mistake. “Forgive me. I didn’t mean to make light of your concern, but anyone calling Otto evil has never met him. The only reason we have an empire, and you and your uncle aren’t living under Rolan’s rule, is because of his tireless efforts. Everyone in Garenland owes him a debt for all he’s done.”

  “I would have thought he owed you the debt,” she said. “He serves at your pleasure, not the other way around.”

  Wolfric wondered sometimes how true that was, but now was not the time to point out his insecurities. “Be that as it may, if we are to have a life together, you will need to meet Otto. And in this case, I believe sooner is better. You can see he’s not a monster and he can see you’re not a grifter.”

  Her frown twisted her lovely features in unpleasant ways. “Grifter? Is that what he thinks, that I want money?”

  Wolfric sighed. He was really making a mess of this. “Otto mentioned that it was a possibility. I assured him he was wrong. Even in the short time I’ve known you, I can tell you aren’t that sort of person. For the good of the empire, I can’t have my best friend and the woman I love mistrustful of each other. So, we will have lunch together, right here, in two days. Just the three of us. Okay?”

  She nodded as the door opened and a pair of servants entered carrying salads and a carafe of wine. The food was placed in front of them and the servants withdrew.

  When they’d gone Wolfric said, “Let’s not talk any more about Otto. Lunch will take care of itself. There are far more pleasant subjects we can discuss.”

  And so they did. Through three courses they talked about history and art and the future. When the last bite of cake was gone Jade sighed and stretched, giving him an eyeful of her curves.

  “Another wonderful meal.” Her smile turned sly. “What shall we do now?”

  Her subtle suggestion made his heart race. He forced himself to calm down. Just once he wanted to do things right. “Perhaps we should say goodnight.”

  Jade’s eyes widened in surprise. Clearly that wasn’t the response she expected.

  “I want to wait. Our first time together should be special, not some after-dinner tumble.”

  “That’s very sweet.” She leaned over and kissed him on the lips. Heat flooded him and it took everything in him to remember what he’d just said. “Consider that a promise for the future.”

  He walked her out of the dining room before staggering back to his bed, alone. Maybe waiting hadn’t been the right decision after all.

  Chapter 8

  “Where are we going again and why am I coming with you instead of Corina or your actual wife?” Sin walked through Gold Ward beside Otto as they went to visit Baron St. Croy. Instead of her usual skintight leathers or a dress that would make a whore blush, Sin had on a simple but stylish white skirt and blue blouse. She cleaned up nicely, he couldn’t deny that.

  So nicely, in fact, that more than one head turned as they passed despite the heavy cloak that protected her from the bitter cold. If he had cared what Annamaria thought, he might have worried about word getting back to her. However, that was hardly a concern for either of them now.

  For a midmorning this time of year in Gold Ward, the streets had quite a few people out and about. He’d expected to find the streets empty as the rich and powerful hunkered down by their fires. He shrugged and put the locals out of his mind.

  “You’re with me because Corina is still too young and inexperienced to notice subtle things that might be wrong. As for Annamaria, I prefer not to have backup that would just as soon see me dead. It’s usually best to only have one enemy at a time to worry about if at all possible. Remember, you’re playing the part of my secretary. Don’t speak unless you’re asked a question.”

  “I know. We already went over all this at the warehouse. Don’t worry, I’ve played plenty of parts over the years, though none as boring as a secretary.”

  Otto could well imagine the parts she’d played. They reached the rented villa and strode up to the front door. The design wasn’t all that different from the Crow’s Nest, the former home of the thieves guild and current residence of the former king of Lasil. The paint differed, the rental being a bright white instead of dark gray.

  “How much do you suppose to rent a place like this?” Sin asked.

  “A lot for a commoner and a trifle for a nobleman.” Otto knocked. “All depends on your point of view.”

  The door opened and a broad-shouldered man in a black and white servant’s uniform looked them over. Dark, narrow eyes brushed past Otto, took a little longer with Sin, then returned to Otto.

  “Do you have an appointment?”

  “No. My name is Otto Shenk and I would like a few minutes of the baron’s time.”

  “You should send your servant to make an appointment then. There are many people that wish to speak with Baron St. Croy.”

  He wasn’t seriously going to close the door in Otto’s face? No servant could be that stupid.

  Then again, as the door started to swing shut, maybe he could. A flick of Otto’s ring and a bit of ether bound the door’s hinges open.

  Otto let his expression grow hard. “I wasn’t asking.”

  The muscles in the servant’s shoulders bulged as he tried to force the door shut. He was more likely to break the wood than Otto’s spell.

  “Ahmed?” a voice called from deeper in the villa. “What’s the trouble?”

  “We have a visitor that didn’t make an appointment, my lord.”

  A moment later a balding, middle-aged man dressed in a dark silk tunic and matching pants stopped behind the servant’s left shoulder. The baron looked his visitors over and asked, “And who might you be, sir?”

  “Otto Shenk.”

  The baron’s eyes widened a fraction. “Ah. I’ve been expecting you. It’s alright, Ahmed. This is the emperor’s chief advisor. He hardly needs to make an appointment to visit a backwater baron like me. Please, come in.”

  With a final glare, Ahmed moved aside. The baron guided them to a sitting room furnished with the usual collection of overstuffed leather chairs and a coffee table. He motioned Otto and Sin towards two of the chairs then sat across from them.

  Sin crossed her legs to draw his attention, just as she was supposed to. Being a man with a pulse, Baron St. Croy flicked a glance at her smooth calf before turning back to Otto who had used the distraction to prepare himself to watch for lies along with weaving a silence spell around them.

  “I imagine you’re here to talk about Jade,” the baron said.

  “Yes. It’s just a standard precaution whenever anyone gets close to the emperor. I’m sure you understand.”

  “I do. As I said, I’ve been expecting your visit since the gala. They had their first night alone last night, so I assume things are getting more serious.” The baron drummed his thin fingers on his knee while his toe tapped at a rapid clip.

  “That’s my assumption as well. Shall we start with what happened to her parents?”

  “My sister and her husband died in a fire five years ago. A horrible accident involving an oil lamp. That’s why I prefer to use Lux crystals.”

  “She came to stay with you after that?”

  “Not immediately afterward. At the time, Jade was fourteen and adventurous. That’s why she wasn’t home when the fire happened.”

  “And her intentions toward Emperor Wolfric?”

  “I believe her intentions are genuine.”

  So far he hadn’t lied, but he was also answering in such a way that made it difficult to tell. His tension and the vagueness put Otto on alert. Something was up, he just needed to figure out what.

  Time for a more direct question. “Did you bring her to t
he gala specifically to meet the emperor in hopes of her seducing him?”

  “Yes. His Majesty hasn’t taken a wife yet. Having the emperor as an in-law could only be good for my barony.”

  All true. Otto considered his next question carefully. Maybe just a blunt yes or no would be best. Hard to talk your way around those. On the other hand, he didn’t want to do anything that might aggravate Wolfric. These things were so much easier when the emperor wasn’t directly involved.

  Sin tugged on his sleeve and he spotted the servant entering from a different door. Ahmed bowed. “My lord, you have a meeting with Count Carne in five minutes.”

  That was a dead lie. Probably an excuse to end the conversation before the baron said anything obviously incriminating.

  Otto stood. “That’s okay. Thank you for speaking with me. Can’t be too careful where the emperor is concerned.”

  “I understand completely. Stop again anytime.”

  Otto and Sin saw themselves out. As soon as they were clear of the villa she asked, “What do you think?”

  “They’re hiding something. Whether simple greed or something more nefarious, I’m not sure yet. What about you?”

  “That servant isn’t an ordinary servant. The way he moves suggests some military training. He’s probably a bodyguard as well.”

  “Interesting. I barely even looked at him. This is exactly why I brought you along.”

  They made their way back to the warehouse. Otto’s mind raced with the possibilities. Unfortunately, the only way to find out for sure risked angering Wolfric and Otto needed him happy and going with the program.

  Maybe when he met Jade in person, she’d reveal herself, one way or another.

  Chapter 9

  Two days passed quickly and Otto found himself on his way to the palace for a much-anticipated lunch with Wolfric and Jade. The air held the sharpest edge so far this winter and even with his magic, the chill reached Otto’s bones. Once again he was happy that Franken Manor sat only a short walk from the castle.

  Despite their best efforts, neither Allen or Sin had come up with any more information about the baron and his niece. As usual, it fell to Otto to find the truth of the matter. Unlike a proper interrogation, he would have to approach Jade with kid gloves lest he anger Wolfric. It felt like he was wading into a trap-laden battlefield with no map or reinforcements.

  The guards nodded as he passed and Otto made his way straight to the emperor’s private dining room. The palace guards on duty outside opened the door for him. Inside he found Wolfric pacing and wringing his hands. He wore his finest black and gold tunic and trousers and his boots had been polished to a mirror shine.

  Jade, it seemed, had yet to arrive.

  “I’ve seen men awaiting the gallows that looked less nervous than you,” Otto said. “Is all well?”

  “Yes, no, I’m not sure.” Wolfric finally stopped and looked at him. “You and Jade are the most important people in my life now and I want you to get along. When I suggested this lunch, she looked terrified. Like you were going to turn her into the main course.”

  Otto chuckled, but inside he went cold. If Wolfric already considered her that important, he would need to be even more careful.

  “My friend, all I want—all I have ever wanted—was for you to be happy and the empire strong and peaceful. If this woman brings you the former without endangering the latter, I will love her like my own sister.”

  “Really?”

  “I swear by all the angels in Heaven and all the demons in Hell. But just so there are no surprises, I did pay her uncle a visit yesterday.” Wolfric blanched and Otto hastened to add, “A simple background check. Rest assured I was perfectly polite and no threats were made. I believe he expected me sooner.”

  Wolfric sat, poured himself a glass of red wine, and drank it down in one go. “And how did you find the baron?”

  “Evasive, but not outright dishonest. He’s hiding something, but whether it’s a threat or something embarrassing I don’t know. His servant claimed he had another meeting, but that was a lie. I think he wanted to end our conversation before I had a chance to learn more.”

  “What do you propose to do about it?” Wolfric barely forced the words out.

  “I would like, with your permission of course, to ask her a few gentle questions. Just to clarify one or two things.”

  Wolfric chewed his lip then nodded. “She’s already terrified of you, so please, don’t upset her. The poor woman has already lost both her parents.”

  “Yes, in a fire. Her uncle mentioned that. Don’t worry, it’ll be fine.”

  Ten minutes later the door opened again and Jade entered. She wore a pale-yellow dress and her hair was up in a bun. Two small pieces of silver jewelry, a ring and a necklace, were her only decorations. Not that she needed more. In her own innocent way, Jade could have given Sin a run for her money in the beauty department.

  She took one peek at Otto and quickly looked away. Could she possibly be that frightened of him? Most of the things Otto had done that were apt to frighten someone weren’t exactly public knowledge.

  Wolfric hurried over and helped his fragile flower into a chair. He sat beside her and Otto took the chair directly opposite. He shifted his vision to watch how her brain reacted to his words. He hoped for everyone’s sake she was exactly what she said, a noble girl that had fallen in love with an emperor. Based on all he knew about the nobility, Otto seriously doubted that was possible.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you at last,” Otto said. “Wolfric’s told me a great deal about you, though he may have underplayed your beauty.”

  “Lord Shenk,” she said, her voice little more than a whisper. “Your reputation precedes you.”

  No lie there, so far so good.

  “I stopped by to see your uncle the other day, but other business cut our chat short. I was hoping to learn more about St. Croy Barony. I’ve never visited the southern provinces of Garenland. I assume it’s much different from the central district.”

  “It’s much like Rolan. Before the war, we crossed the border all the time. Our neighboring baron was on good terms with Uncle. I even spent an occasional summer in Rolan, at a town called Blue Cove.”

  “I’m not familiar with it,” Otto said. So far she hadn’t lied.

  “It’s a fishing village on the coast. The clearest water you’ve ever seen. And the food was beyond compare. I should very much like to visit more often.”

  “You said you spent some time there this summer since the war had ended,” Wolfric said. “Had it changed much?”

  “Not at all. In fact, it was like the war never touched it.”

  “I’ll have to take a trip there some time,” Otto said. “Assuming my work ever permits. One last thing and then I promise I’ll trouble you no more. Were you friendly with any Rolan nobles?”

  She shook her head. “My parents didn’t approve of Uncle getting so close to nobles from another nation.”

  That was a lie! Why she lied about it he couldn’t say, but she clearly just made that last sentence up. Otto forced himself to focus on what came next.

  “By the time they died, things had become so tense, even Uncle stopped visiting his neighbors regularly.”

  “Well,” Wolfric said. “Now that we’re all one big happy empire, hopefully he can resume his visits. If that’s everything, perhaps we should eat.”

  “Excellent idea,” Otto said.

  As soon as they were finished, he would have to pay a visit to Rolan. Whatever she was hiding, Otto meant to learn the truth.

  After lunch with Wolfric and Otto, Jade made her way back to their rented villa. As she walked through Gold Ward, doing her best to project timidity and fear, she reviewed everything that had happened before and during the meal.

  Otto was clearly suspicious of her. Jade’s best guess was that he imagined her as some sort of gold digger looking to marry well. Not an unreasonable theory given Wolfric’s position. If he had any inkling of her true pur
pose, Jade had no doubt she would currently be sitting in a dark hole awaiting questioning and execution.

  But just because he didn’t suspect her true motives now, didn’t mean he wouldn’t figure it out. They needed to move and move fast.

  She pushed the villa door open rather than wait for a servant. Ahmed needed to move his timetable up as well. Killing the wizard would give her a little more time to finish with Wolfric.

  Baron St. Croy poked his head out of one of the doors as she stalked by. Jade just glared at him until he pulled back out of sight. The old fool had done his job. As long as he stayed out of the way, he might live through this. After all, no one had paid the Coiled Serpent to kill him.

  At the top of the stairs she met Ahmed and led him to one of the unused bedrooms. When they were out of sight she said, “You need to move against Otto soon. He’s becoming suspicious of me. If we delay too long, he’ll figure out who we really are.”

  “He was here asking questions earlier,” Ahmed said. “I don’t think the old man said anything incriminating and I cut them off as quickly as possible given my supposed position. As for moving soon, I still haven’t come up with a good plan.”

  “What about taking the baby and using it as bait? That was what we talked about with our local contacts.”

  “I know, but it’s not really my way. A direct confrontation would suit me better.”

  Jade grimaced. He had far too many scruples for someone in their line of work. “You don’t have to hurt the baby, just use it to lure him out of the city away from all the soldiers. Then you can have your one-on-one fight. After you kill him, take the brat back to a church or something. They’ll make sure she gets to her mother.”

  Ahmed’s scowl deepened, but he nodded. “Very well. I shall begin scouting the estate. Two days should be enough.”

  “Good. I’ll try to time my move against Wolfric for the same moment. If the Reaper stands with us, both our targets will be dead and we long gone before anyone knows what happened.”