by D. J. McCune
Adam’s thoughts were interrupted by a fresh wave of barking. He jumped up and peered round the corner of the stall, just in time to see the barn doors open. He was about to call out a greeting, when to his horror he realised that it wasn’t Caitlyn as he had hoped.
Three men were trooping into the barn – and none of them were going to be happy to see him.
Adam groaned inwardly and slunk back behind the stall end. Great. Now he was going to be in trouble. Slinking off from any Luman event was a big no-no, at least until the Chief Curator had left the party. Nathanial would be annoyed but Elise would be furious. His mother was especially sensitive to any breaches of etiquette.
The obvious thing to do was lie low. Adam eased away from the pen door and flattened his back to the stall wall. ‘Sssssh!’ he mouthed at Sam and Morty and for once they obeyed him and lay down at his feet. Maybe being back in Ireland and under Caitlyn’s tutelage was doing them good.
Adam had hoped that the men were just getting a chance to admire the wolfhounds. But his hopes were dashed when he heard their voices coming closer to the end stall. This wasn’t a general tour for the benefit of the Concilium; this was three senior Lumen sneaking away from a party to have a private chat. Based on previous conversations Adam had overheard, he had a feeling they weren’t going to welcome an audience.
He had a moment of indecision, torn between walking out before he could be discovered or staying still and hoping for the best. But as the voices drew closer another feeling kicked in: curiosity. Why had they slipped away from the party when they could arrange a meeting at another time? Clearly something urgent had come up and Adam had learned that sometimes the things most worth hearing had to be overheard by stealth.
His legs were moving before his brain caught up with the decision. He crept across the stall and squirmed in behind the straw bales at the back of the pen. Morty tried to follow him but Adam hissed and gestured the big dog away. He whined but turned obediently and moved to the gate, wagging his tail in greeting as Nathanial, Uncle Paddy and Heinrich came into view. Adam lay absolutely still, his eye pressed against the gap between the bales.
Uncle Paddy was talking. ‘And of course you know these two.’
Heinrich leaned over the gate and patted Sam and Morty’s heads in turn. ‘Of course. Both excellent animals.’
Nathanial nodded. ‘They’re good dogs. Agreeable and obedient.’
‘Well, you know yourself, I keep the best as working dogs. There’s a lot of demand for the Luman pups. If you think you’ll be needing another one, Heinrich, you’d be as well to let me know and I’ll keep you one aside.’
‘I will do.’ Heinrich fell silent. He was still petting Morty but absently.
‘So you said you needed a word, Heinrich.’ When there was no answer Uncle Paddy glanced at Nathanial.
‘Is it about the Marking? Have you decided on a date?’
‘Oh, the Marking. Yes, it will be soon.’ Heinrich blinked and seemed to come back to the present. ‘I hope just a few weeks away. I must discuss the date with the Lady Fates. I would like to have as many High Lumen there as possible.’
‘You’ll be glad to have an extra pair of hands. Alexander is young to be Marked but he’s a good boy. Steady and kind. He’s good with the souls, especially the children.’
‘Aye, he’s a fine lad. A credit to you both.’ Uncle Paddy nodded in agreement.
‘Yes. He is. We are most proud of him. More proud than you could know.’ Heinrich didn’t look proud. He looked tense and unhappy.
Uncle Paddy was never one for beating round the bush. ‘Heinrich, you’ve a face like a wet Sunday in July. We see a lot of them so I know the signs. I have a feeling that it isn’t the Marking that you want to be talking about. Do you want to tell us why we’re really here?’
Heinrich gave a sharp bark of laughter. ‘I do not want to tell you but I’m afraid I must.’
Nathanial put a reassuring hand on the older man’s shoulder. ‘Heinrich, whatever it is, you know we’ll do whatever we can to help.’
Heinrich sighed. ‘It is I who wish to help you, my friend. Believe me when I tell you I am trying to help although it may not seem like it.’
‘Help me how?’ Nathanial’s face was calm but his hand dropped back to his side.
‘By warning you. Darian has convinced the Concilium that there is still a rogue Luman at work in the Kingdom of Britain. He has gained the necessary votes to launch an investigation. He will be staying in your Kingdom to oversee your work.’
Chapter 6
or Adam, the silence that followed Heinrich’s statement seemed to go on forever. He lay concealed, thankfully too stunned to even squeak with disbelief. It seemed he wasn’t the only one.
Heinrich was the first to speak. ‘I know this has come as something of a shock.’
‘Yes. A shock indeed.’ Nathanial gave a short, barking laugh. ‘It’s always a shock when you realise that another human being hates you enough to keep their loathing burning for decades.’
Uncle Paddy was less restrained. ‘What in the name of the Fates is the man playing at? A rogue Luman at work? In Britain? Is he out of his mind?’
Heinrich sighed. ‘Darian has made these accusations before, Patrick. This isn’t a new allegation.’
Lying concealed, Adam could feel his heart beating faster. He had overheard this conversation once before. He had ignored it then, stupid enough and arrogant enough to think that he would get away with it. Because of this he had almost given Darian his heart’s desire. Darian wanted to destroy Adam’s family; wanted it so badly he had been prepared to stand by and watch humans being killed to get rid of Nathanial. Only two people with this knowledge had survived – Adam and Darian himself. If he had realised that Adam knew, Adam would more than likely be dead himself by now.
But the investigation – why now? Adam hadn’t saved a soul for six months. Six long months, feeling the horrible ache when his doom sense flared, ignoring it, knowing that he was condemning a soul he could have saved. He had kept his head down for six months – well, until a couple of days ago. He felt a prickle of unease. But what were the odds really that Darian would have found out about that? And even if he had, there was no proof that Adam had known the man should have died. He had been careful to keep the fact that he was a Seer well hidden from his family and the Luman community. What happened in the park was just good luck as far as any observer knew – a casual act of kindness, saving a stranger from a wasp sting.
Nathanial was talking. ‘He made these accusations before and I found no evidence. If anything my Kingdom was under attack by … the previous thread-cutter. But to seek permission from the Concilium to investigate us is another level. What is this really about?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Of course you know!’ Uncle Paddy was angry now and Adam could understand why. ‘It’s been twenty years! Will he hold a grudge against Nathanial forever? He can’t bear to see Elise happy with someone else, the vengeful bastard!’
‘His hatred cannot run this deep. Can it?’ Nathanial sounded bewildered. Adam closed his eyes and answered the question silently. Yes, Father, he hates you enough to see you dead and I nearly gave him the opportunity he needed.
‘Listen, enough of this.’ Uncle Paddy had run out of patience. ‘The whole thing’s a farce. How that gobshite ever got himself on the Concilium I will never know but that’s not our problem. Nathanial does not give consent to his presence in his Kingdom and there’s the end of it.’
‘No, Patrick. That is not the end.’ Heinrich was calm but there was something taut in his voice that alarmed Adam. ‘I wish it was the end of the matter but it is not. Darian is a Curator and as Curator he is entitled to certain … privileges.’
The silence that followed this pronouncement made Adam feel sick. He was waiting for laughter or anger or anything at all from his father; anything apart from this quiet. What privileges did they mean?
As if Heinrich had read Adam’s mi
nd he continued. ‘I know the old ways are not always followed but the Laws remain unchanged. Darian is a Curator. He has asked to monitor Luman activity in your Kingdom and he has support to do this. He has also expressed his wish to live under your roof. He expects your hospitality. I spoke with him at length but he did not seem dissuaded.’
Nathanial was silent. Adam clasped his hand across his mouth, trying to stifle his protests. The thought of that monster in their house, like a snake in the grass … He tried to imagine Darian sitting at their table night after night. Adam wouldn’t give him any reason to point blame at Nathanial – but what about the other Lumen in the Kingdom of Britain? Mistakes were sometimes made. Lumen were still human. Nathanial smoothed over disputes and guided his workforce calmly and fairly but how would the other Lumen cope with the constant scrutiny from a Curator?
More than that though, Darian would be living in their home, spending time with Elise. They had been close once; just one of the reasons that she had been expected to marry him. They barely saw their French relatives; they had never forgiven Elise for her ‘betrayal’. Adam wanted to believe that his mother wouldn’t give a hoot about their opinion – but they were powerful and wealthy and very persistent. If Darian did manage to find something and bring Nathanial down, would they pressure her to disown her husband and remarry? And would she go along with their plans, to save her family from complete ruin? Adam closed his eyes and shook his head. He was being crazy and paranoid. There was no way any of it would happen. Nathanial wouldn’t put a foot wrong – and neither would Adam.
‘There is another way.’ Heinrich hesitated. ‘If a place were to arise on the Concilium. If you were to become a Curator … then you could veto the visit. The Kingdom of Britain would no longer be your direct responsibility.’
‘I don’t want to be a Curator. I don’t see enough of my family as it is, Heinrich.’
‘Aron has come of age.’
‘But Luc and Adam haven’t. Both of them need me at home. They need support.’
‘It’s a fine opportunity, Nathanial. I would second you, you know that.’ There was a pause as Uncle Paddy looked at Heinrich. ‘Is it your own place you’re talking about?’ At Heinrich’s nod he grimaced. ‘I’m sorry to hear that.’
Heinrich smiled. For just a second his shoulders drooped and Adam caught a glimpse of the burden he carried. Millions of people died every year and every single one of them had to be guided safely through their Lights. Heinrich had the ultimate responsibility for this. ‘It has been a privilege but I confess that I grow weary.’
‘How long?’
‘Months. A year perhaps.’ Heinrich shrugged. ‘It is difficult to tell. There is much to do before then.’
‘Including getting Darian to turn his attentions elsewhere,’ Nathanial said. ‘Let him come. Let him sleep beneath our roof and break bread with us. He will find our Kingdom beyond reproach.’
Heinrich sighed. ‘I have no doubt of that, old friend.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘We should return before we are missed.’
‘I’m sorry, Heinrich. That your time is short, I mean.’ Uncle Paddy held his hand out and the Chief Curator shook it. ‘I wish every Chief Curator followed your lead.’
Heinrich smiled. ‘Let’s see if you’re still saying that in a month or two, Patrick.’ He laughed. ‘I am not stepping onto the Unknown Roads just yet. There is still time for me to do something outrageous.’
Nathanial smiled. ‘There’s still a Marking to look forward to.’
‘Oh, to have more sons,’ Uncle Paddy grumbled. ‘They’re straightforward, the boys. Get them Marked and get them to work. The girls are the tricky ones and I have five daughters to worry about. In fact, let’s say I have six. Caitlyn alone will give me all the bother of two.’
The men laughed and followed him back towards the barn doors while Adam lay blinking at the ceiling and wondering what the hell he was going to do.
A few minutes later, Adam was sneaking back into the house, brushing off dust and instructing himself to stay calm. It was hard. The way he felt at that moment, calm was a pretty distant concept.
Upstairs, the party was in full swing. Music was playing and he could hear laughter and the clink of glasses. Just another Luman party. Just another freaky night in his freaky world; the world that he could never bring Melissa or his friends into. The world he wouldn’t want to bring them into.
Adam looked in the mirror above the hall table, smoothing his hair and checking his back for stray specks of straw; breathing in slowly. What was the point in getting upset? He couldn’t stop Darian coming to Britain. He couldn’t even keep him out of their home. As long as Adam lay low and didn’t save another soul there was no way for Darian to attack Nathanial. One thing was for sure: there was always a plan with the Frenchman. He didn’t do anything unless he thought he would gain something from it.
Adam climbed the stairs back to the drawing room, trying to paste a smile on his face. He would be polite and normal and not let Darian or anyone else have the faintest idea what he was up to.
Of course, as ever, his plan didn’t work out the way it was supposed to. As he was stepping into the drawing room a figure crashed into him, almost knocking him flying. He scowled and found himself facing an equally unhappy Chloe. ‘What are you doing?’
‘Just going downstairs for a while.’ Chloe’s face was flushed with something between excitement and annoyance.
‘Why?’
She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. ‘What’s it to you?’
‘I just want to make sure you’re OK.’
Chloe rolled her eyes. ‘Don’t worry. I have plenty of chaperons. No danger of anything exciting happening here.’
Adam stepped aside but a twinge of unease made him hesitate by the door. He’d thought she was trying to sneak off to get some quiet time with Ciaron but he could see Ciaron on the other side of the room, laughing with Aron and Auntie Jo. Adam frowned and slipped into the alcove by the fire, pretending to look at the pictures on the wall but surreptitiously watching the door. An awful suspicion was forming in his mind.
Sure enough, a minute later a tall, blond-haired figure excused himself from his group and slipped out through the door, holding two glasses. The knot in Adam’s stomach returned with force, beating a pulse in time with his heart. He counted to ten and sneaked out into the landing. He peeked over the banister, just as Darian reached the bottom of the stairs, glanced around and slipped through a door.
His heart in his throat, Adam crept downstairs. Darian hadn’t dared to close the door fully behind him – that would be breaching protocol even for a Curator. Through the gap Adam could see his sister standing by a small piano. The room was lamp-lit and warm light sparkled on her earrings. She was holding a champagne glass and looking up at Darian, half confused and half pleased. Adam watched the older man smile at her and felt his stomach contract.
They were talking in French. Adam was competent but Chloe spoke the language like a native, thanks to Elise’s determined tutoring. Standing just outside the door, Adam tried to follow the conversation. It all seemed fairly innocent – comments about the party, the food and the weather – the basic social chit-chat every Luman was trained in from birth. Still, if it really was as innocent as it seemed, why had Darian lured Chloe down into another room?
A minute later Adam’s suspicions were confirmed. Darian raised his hand and brushed a stray lock of hair off Chloe’s face. ‘You look very beautiful tonight. A young woman, not a girl.’
‘Thank you.’ Chloe smiled at him, not looking at all uneasy. She had known Darian since she was a child, just as her brothers had. Adam felt his fists clench. She would have no idea where this was going or what it was leading up to.
Darian adopted the tone of a teasing uncle. ‘And who was all this effort for? Was there someone in particular you were trying to impress?’
Chloe’s cheeks flushed. ‘No … not really. Maybe …’
Adam could understan
d her discomfort. Betrothals were deeply private affairs and weren’t supposed to be discussed outside those involved and their guardians. They were serious commitments that were rarely broken but when they did go wrong enormous hurt and humiliation was inflicted on not just those involved but their whole families. Darian knew this better than anyone. Elise’s family were still angry at her after all these years.
Darian smiled and feigned ignorance. ‘Well, I don’t know who he is but I’m sure he was impressed. More importantly, I was impressed.’ He took Chloe’s hand and raised it to his lips. ‘I hope we will soon be spending more time together. It is my intention to visit your family soon. I look forward to getting to know you better … and your brothers of course.’
Suddenly, without knowing how, Adam was standing in the room with them. Chloe was staring at him horrified while Darian had drawn back a pace but was watching him with a hint of a smirk.
‘What are you doing here?’ he asked his sister.
‘Nothing!’ Chloe was glaring at him but Adam couldn’t help noticing how she had edged away from Darian. ‘Just talking! What are you doing more like?’
‘I came to find you. You shouldn’t be down here. Not with him.’ Adam spat the last word out with more force than he had intended.
Darian’s mouth was a tight line but it twisted into a cold smile. ‘I assure you your sister’s honour is safe with me.’
‘I doubt that,’ Adam said. He stepped towards the older man, anger making him reckless. ‘I’m not sure you know much about honour.’
