‘The rebels have put a bounty on my head; did you hear him?’
Nadhew chuckled. ‘Yes. To be loathed by Evader rebels is perhaps the highest badge of honour a Roser officer can earn; well, that’s the way it will be perceived in Tara. It’s marked you out as someone to watch, and I doubt you’ll run into any more difficulties with your colleagues in the militia.’
‘You heard about that?’
‘You broke that boy’s nose and jaw for insulting your family name, Danny. Did you think an old Taran gossip like me wouldn’t come to hear of it?’
‘I beat up a fellow lieutenant and I burned down a tenement in the Circuit; I’m a thug. How did this happen? Did you ever see me violent as a child?’
The old man shook his head. ‘Never, but then your mother would always step forward to fight your battles for you. Lady Aurelian is a noble and great-hearted woman, feared and respected by all, and now you’re getting a first glimpse of life without her protection.’ He ruffled Daniel’s hair. ‘I would say that you’ve made a good start, my boy.’ He turned. ‘Ahh, here’s my carriage.’
‘Thanks for coming up here today.’
‘I’m glad to be able to do a favour for you and your family, Danny. Now, spend a few peaceful days in the villa, and wait for the tribunal’s letter. I’ll arrange for a copy to fall into my hands at the same time, and shall be up here within a few hours of it arriving. Until then, take care and enjoy yourself.’
The lawyer strolled out to the carriage, waved to Daniel, then boarded. The driver urged the ponies on, and the carriage took off, its wheels rumbling over the gravel. Daniel stood in the shade of the veranda and watched as the wagon disappeared down the long, tree-lined driveway towards the road that led to Tara.
He turned and went back into the villa. He strode through to the central atrium, past the little channels that carried cooling water to dampen the heat of late summer. In a few days the rains and humid storms of Sweetmist would begin, and Daniel was almost looking forward to a break from the dry heat, although he knew that after five or six days of continuous downpours he would be tired of that too.
The villa was almost silent apart from the sound of the running water, and he savoured the peace. He still felt on edge from his month in the Circuit, and the old hands had told him it would take a while before he would be able to properly relax again. It was difficult for him to describe the relief he had felt at the news he would not be returning to Evader territory, but at the same time he felt guilty that so many other Rosers were still there in service of the City.
He passed a couple of Reaper servants cleaning the marble floor and went into the kitchen.
‘Is sir hungry?’ said a housekeeper, bowing.
‘A long, cool drink would be better in this weather.’
‘I’ll have one prepared for you.’ He snapped his fingers and a Reaper servant began to get his drink ready. ‘Fresh ice came in from the harbour this morning, girl, make sure you put some in.’
‘Yes, sir,’ said the servant, her eyes lowered.
‘And a small gin,’ said Daniel.
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Shall I bring it to your room, sir?’ said the housekeeper.
‘No, I’ll wait. Have one brought on the hour every hour after that, though.’
The housekeeper bowed. ‘As you will, sir.’
Daniel gazed out the kitchen window at the view of the landscape. The rolling hillside was covered in terraced vineyards and olive groves, with alternating lines of spruce and cedar trees as windbreaks for the stormier seasons, lying perpendicular to the rays of the sun. Workers were out, pruning and tidying after the summer harvest had finished a few days previously. Daniel was glad that he had arrived after it was over, as the estate was filled with itinerant Reaper labourers for the harvest’s duration.
‘Here you are, sir,’ said the housekeeper, presenting him with a filled glass on a tray.
Daniel took the glass. ‘Thank you. I shall be in my room if I’m required for anything.’
‘Very good, sir.’
He sipped the iced drink as he walked to his rooms. Once inside, he shut the door and closed some of the sunward-facing shutters to filter out the noon sun. He put down the drink and glanced around the small sitting room. How would he spend his days off? He caught sight of his well-stocked bookshelves and smiled.
Two hours later he heard voices in the villa. He put down his well-thumbed copy of The Last Mortal Prince of Tara and stretched his arms. The sound of voices got closer.
‘Damn it,’ he muttered. He had just got to the part where the God-King and God-Queen had exiled the Aurelian prince to a jail cell on the remote and wind-lashed Grey Isle in the Cold Sea, where he would spend the rest of his days.
There was a gentle tap on his door. ‘Daniel, are you in there, darling?’
His mother. He thought about remaining silent, but his mother clearly knew he was staying in the villa. He was about to answer when the door opened.
‘There you are,’ she said, striding in, ‘let me see my boy. Stand up, I want to look at you.’
He got to his feet and she gazed at him.
‘Senior lieutenant at nineteen,’ she said; ‘promoted faster than anyone else in your graduation class; you should have seen the look on Lord Chamberlain’s face when he heard the news. I’m proud of you, son; so, so proud.’
Daniel frowned. ‘You know I was only promoted because the militia commanders didn’t want to ascribe what happened at the tenement to a junior officer. Technically, I shouldn’t have been given command of two platoons.’
Her mother waved her hand. ‘Mere details, darling. The truth is that you were given the command, whether “technically” that was correct or not. It was what you did with that command that mattered.’
‘And what did I do, mother?’
‘You avenged the savage murder of innocent Roser wagon-drivers and troopers, Daniel. You showed those rebels that Taran officers will not stand by and watch our own people be cut down as if they were dogs.’
‘There were civilians inside that tenement, children…’
‘No,’ she said, raising a finger; ‘I’ll not hear about that. War can be a rough business.’
‘War, mother? We were supposed to be peace-keeping, not fighting a war.’
‘You’re right, of course. Personally, I feel we should withdraw at once, and let those Evader beasts fight it out among themselves.’
He sat back down and picked up his iced gin. ‘For once I agree with you, mother.’
She took a seat opposite him. ‘And the investigators’ visit? How did it go? I trust Nadhew was up to his usual standards; he was such a dear, to represent you for free.’
‘It was a complete whitewash.’
She raised an eyebrow.
‘In other words, mother, I’m to be exonerated, and my promotion stands.’
‘Excellent. The whole tribunal was a joke from the start. If it weren’t for Lord Chamberlain making such a fuss, it would never have been convened in the first place. Still, I’m glad it’s over; that’s a weight off my mind.’
The housekeeper knocked at the open door. ‘Your drink, my lady.’
His mother extended her hand and the housekeeper placed the glass into her fingers. He bowed, then left the room, closing the door behind him.
‘It’s difficult to believe it’s only been a month and a half since I last saw you, darling; it feels like years. You look different, older. More mature. More dangerous, if I may say so. The dark glint in your eye has developed a slightly rogueish timbre; I like it. It makes you look like you have a ruthless streak, which, I suppose, you have proved. Not only in the Circuit, but I see evidence of it in Tara whenever I bump into that oaf Gaimer, and have to gaze upon his misshapen nose. He deserves what you did to him. He was always a brute, and now he looks like one too.’
She sipped her drink.
‘How’s Todd?’
‘No idea. He was assigned to a comfortable positi
on running errands for the commander of a fort in the Union Walls. Many of your graduation classmates were given easy positions; desk jobs in Tara, or within a garrison, like Todd. The militia’s coffers must be bulging with all the bribes their parents paid to get them out of active duty on the front.’
Daniel attempted a smile. ‘Did you forget to send our bribe?’
‘It never even crossed my mind. I knew what the other parents were doing of course, but I saw it as an opportunity for you to win some acclaim and glory, and I was right. The other parents are riddled with regret, and all now wish they had done the same. You’ve no idea what this has all meant for me and your father; everyone is talking about you, even the lower classes in Tara have been singing your name.’ She eyed him. ‘Which brings me to another reason why I’m here.’
She gave him a smile.
‘You’re starting to worry me, mother; what have you done?’
‘Oh, I didn’t have to do anything, my dear; for once, they all came to me. It’s extraordinary how one act in the Circuit can change the attitude of every aristocratic family in Tara with an unmarried daughter. Two months ago, they were shunning us, and enjoying the gold that Chamberlain had given them for that purpose, but now? I’ve been put in the frightful position of actually having to turn some away; can you imagine?’ She leaned over and took his hand. ‘Flowers have been arriving at our home daily, along with notes begging, sorry, requesting an introduction.’
Daniel shook his head. ‘At least I’m here at the villa. I’ll deal with this later, when I have time.’
‘But, darling, don’t you have a few days’ leave while you wait for the tribunal’s decision? You should use that time productively. By the time you return to active duty, we could have a whole new engagement organised. A winter wedding sounds wonderful. An heir to the Aurelians could be on his way within eighteen months.’
‘You’re getting a little ahead of yourself, mother,’ Daniel laughed; ‘and besides, Nadhew and the investigators told me to stay here at the villa, so unfortunately I won’t be able to return with you to Tara.’
‘Oh, I know that, dear. That’s why I’ve brought the two most suitable candidates here with me today.’
Daniel spat out his drink. ‘What? You did what?’
His mother reached over and rummaged in the small handbag she had brought. She withdrew some folded slips of paper. ‘I’ve written some salient points regarding each of the two girls on these, to save you time.’ She handed them to Daniel. ‘Give them a thorough read, and then I’ll take you to the first one.’
‘But,’ he spluttered, ‘where are they?’
‘I put one of them in the drawing room, and the other in the conservatory.’
‘You left them alone?’
‘Don’t be silly. I asked each to bring a chaperone. Millicent brought her widowed aunt, and Emily brought her grandmother.’
‘And you want me to meet them today? Now?’
‘I want you get yourself cleaned up and suitably attired first, dear.’
‘I can’t believe this. I’m supposed to be resting.’
‘And what could be more restful than spending some time with two lovely young ladies? Both seem to have gone to great lengths to prettify themselves in order to meet you; though I suppose they had little choice in the matter.’
‘I’m not doing it, mother. I’m not leaving my room. I intend to get roaring drunk instead, and then perhaps I will roam the villa in my dressing gown, and play up to my new reputation as a boorish thug.’
‘Are you quite finished, dear? I have one word to say to you: Clarine. You owe me.’
He stared at her. Was there no escape?
‘If you even consider fouling this up, darling, I will be humiliated. I have just spent the last four hours sharing a carriage with them, regaling them with tales of your wit and bravery, and assuring them that you had matured somewhat since the failure of your previous engagement. Do you want me to seem a fool?’
Daniel stood, and walked to the shutters. Through the slats he could see the sky darkening from pink to red, the sun hovering just over the horizon of hills. Maybe one of the young women would be nice, he thought, trying to inject himself with some enthusiasm. A thought occurred to him.
‘How old are they?’
‘Read the slips of paper, dear, that’s what they’re for.’
He glanced at the first slip. Millicent Baccalaurian, second daughter of Lord and Lady Baccalaurian, aged seventeen. Enjoys pony-riding. Brown eyes, brown hair. Avoid discussing politics or history as it bores her.
He frowned at his mother. ‘These notes, eh…’
‘Yes?’
He shook his head. ‘Nothing.’ He read the second slip. Emily Omertia, only child of Lord and Lady Omertia, aged eighteen. Came first in her class for the end of year school certificate. Green eyes, blonde hair. Clever and pretty but, alas, she knows it.
‘You’ll do it, yes?’ she said.
‘How long will they be here for?’
‘That depends. If, say, you were to approve of one, or both, then I’ve arranged that they can stay the night. Don’t give me that look, Daniel; the chaperones will be sleeping in the same bedrooms as their charges; everything is respectable and above board. So long as you are discreet.’
‘So if I talk to them each for five minutes, and don’t like them, you’ll send them away?’
‘I require an actual effort from you today,’ she said, standing; ‘I want none of your nonsense. Even if it turns out that you despise them both, I want them to return to Tara saying nothing but good things about you. I’ll leave you now, and shall inform the candidates that you are getting ready. Put on the drill uniform; it’s not as formal as full-dress, and it makes you appear rather dashing.’
She smiled, then left the room.
Daniel stared out of the window, and almost wished he was back in the Circuit.
‘Good evening,’ he said, putting on his best smile; ‘sorry it took so long to get ready.’
Millicent and her aunt rose from the couch where they had been sitting.
‘Shall I serve some refreshments, sir?’ said the housekeeper.
‘Yes. I’ll have a red wine, not too dry,’ he said, ‘and whatever the ladies desire.’
‘Another round of what we had before,’ said the aunt.
‘Very good, ladies, sir,’ the housekeeper bowed.
Daniel glanced at Millicent. ‘Nice to meet you.’
She extended her hand and he kissed it.
‘I hope you had a pleasant journey.’
‘It was hot and sticky,’ said the aunt. ‘Ridiculous weather for travelling to the hills, but Millie’s parents insisted. You seem to be flavour of the month, young Aurelian, and there has been a most undignified rush to your front door.’
‘Aunt!’ cried Millicent. ‘You promised mother you wouldn’t.’
The older woman sat back down on the couch. ‘I have a tendency to speak the truth, however blunt, and that’s how I see it. What’s he done to deserve this attention; killed a few rebels? It takes a little more than that to make me go weak at the knees, girl.’
‘I agree,’ said Daniel. ‘I was only doing my duty, and hardly expected anything like this upon my return.’
‘Sit down, the pair of you,’ said the aunt. ‘I refuse to crane my neck any longer.’
Daniel and Millicent sat down opposite each other.
‘Might I say how beautiful you are looking, Millicent?’ he said.
The aunt snorted. ‘You’re either a liar or blind, lad. My niece is as plain as they come. The pretty one is waiting in the conservatory. So, let’s hasten through the pleasantries, as we all know you’re just being polite before you go on to the next girl.’
Millicent’s face went a deep scarlet.
‘That seemed a little uncalled for,’ said Daniel, his embarrassment growing; ‘and not true, either.’
‘Come off it, boy,’ said the aunt. ‘It’s not her you’re trying to im
press, remember; it’s me.’
‘But you seem to have already made up your mind.’
The aunt regarded him for a moment. ‘You’re correct, I have. I’ve seen what you did to that Gaimer boy; what guarantees can you give me that you won’t raise your hands to Millie?’
He blinked. ‘What?’
‘You heard me. Millie’s mother might be taken in, but my sister’s always had a blind spot when it comes to brutish men. Therefore, I ask again; with your tendency towards solving your problems with your fists, how do I know that you won’t turn them on my niece?’
‘I… I would never hurt a woman.’
‘Liar.’
‘I’m sorry?’
‘Weren’t there women, and children, inside that building you burnt to the ground?’
Daniel froze as images of the flames shot through his mind.
‘Your silence tells me everything I need to know. Before you go, do you have any other questions for my niece?’
He lowered his eyes. ‘No.’
‘Then goodbye, young Aurelian.’
Daniel stood. He glanced at Millicent, but she was keeping her eyes away from him. ‘Thank you for meeting with me; it was a pleasure.’
He turned and walked towards the door just as the housekeeper was entering with a tray of drinks. He took his glass of wine and went back into the hallway, his mind spinning. He had done exactly as his mother had requested; smartened up, been polite, given compliments, and yet the chaperone had ripped him to shreds. She had found his weak spot and twisted the knife.
‘Out already?’ said his mother as she approached.
‘Millicent’s aunt didn’t take to me.’
His mother nodded. ‘I thought she might be a hard nut to crack. Should I arrange for a carriage to collect them or do you want to try again later?’
‘A carriage, please.’
‘Such a pity; the Baccalaurians were my first pick. Never mind. Are you going to the conservatory now?’
He nodded.
‘Then either finish that drink or give it to me. It looks uncouth to walk in carrying a glass.’
Daniel downed the wine and passed his mother the empty vessel. Without waiting for her response he set off down the marble passageway. The warmth from the day was keeping the villa at a pleasant temperature, and he almost forgot what he was doing as he passed the water channels in the atrium, their spray glistening in the lamplight. He reached the conservatory, knocked, and entered.
The Mortal Blade: An Epic Fantasy Adventure (The Magelands Eternal Siege Book 1) Page 29
