by Guy Antibes
“We happened by,” Jack said.
The door to the litter opened. “I’m afraid I need some help.”
Jack turned to see Princess Glorie emerge. She clutched her leg.
“I was hit by an errant wizard bolt,” she said.
“Not so errant, Your Highness,” the lead litter bearer said.
“Oh, it is Lord Winder. Are you my savior?” she said, grimacing.
“Are we far from your destination?” Lorton asked.
“Just up there,” Princess Glorie said.
“The Corandian Embassy?” Lorton addressed her again.
“Why, yes.”
“Penny and Sera are there. You can come with us, or we will fetch them to you.”
“I can’t leave the fallen,” Princess Glorie said.
“I will stay with her,” Lorton said. “You can get there faster than any of us.”
Jack would have to teleport. “Then, if you will excuse me, I won’t be long.” He had to remember where the lobby was and teleported.
There were more people in the lobby than expected, and Jack didn’t land exactly where he thought he would. He ran to the counter.
“Where is the ambassador’s wife’s luncheon? There has been an accident, and I need to fetch a healer.”
“Up the stairs and to your right.”
Jack ran up the stairs and after threatening a few servants, barged into the luncheon. “I must take Sera and Penny from you for a bit,” Jack said.
“This is irregular, to say the least,” Enara Crabson said.
“Most accidents with injuries are.”
Once back in the corridor, Jack teleported both back to the scene of the accident in the midst of another attack.
“Stay down!” Jack said to the two healers as he touched the void and fought. Penny quickly used her two throwing knives to good effect, and then she pulled an energy rod out and began shooting. With the extra power, the second wave was repulsed.
“Ladies, there is work for you to do,” Lorton said.
Penny and Sera went to work under Lorton’s direction. Jack slipped into the litter to see how the princess fared.
“You have put down another attack?”
Jack nodded. “May I give you some healing strength?”
Glorie put out her hand, and Jack sent one of his general healing spells into her.
She grimaced again. “Healing is always uncomfortably hot,” she said, “but I think I am much better.”
“Are you fine in here? I can take you elsewhere. Maybe with healers here, elsewhere might be the safest for your men,” Jack said.
Jack teleported her to the same corridor where he had left the embassy.
“Through this door.”
Glorie raised her finger before adjusting her clothes and hair. “Now, announce me when you enter, I will follow.”
Jack opened the door. “Princess Glorie of Antibeaux has arrived.”
Glorie winked at Jack as she passed him and entered the luncheon. “There was an accident coming here. Lady Ephram and her companion are assisting the victims. They will return presently,” she said before being greeted by the ladies at the luncheon.
Jack teleported back once he closed the door. Servants must have had another entrance that they used, he thought as he arrived as a large squad of police entered the scene. They brought a healer of their own.
“Are you ready to return to the luncheon?” Jack asked Penny and Sera.
Penny looked around. “I am, since our relief has arrived, and your relief as well.”
Jack teleported each woman separately this time.
When he was about to return to the litter, Enara Crabson called to him. “Bring your friend and join us at the princess’s request.”
Jack was about to say no, but he realized he shouldn’t reject a royal order. He returned to the scene.
“We are to join the luncheon,” Jack said. “The princess’s order.”
Lorton’s eyebrows rose. “We can’t refuse,” he said with resignation.
“No. Your turn.” Jack took Lorton by the upper arm, and they stood in the now familiar corridor. Jack opened the door to applause.
“We didn’t know you saved our princess,” one of the women said. “Heroes are always welcome to a ladies luncheon.”
Jack and Lorton walked in. Jack was directed to Penny’s side, but Lorton sat next to the princess.
“Tell me what happened?” Princess Glorie asked Lorton. “I was shoved down into the litter cabin and told to be quiet.”
The room went silent as Lorton told a rather stirring tale of the fight. Jack fought on one side and Lorton on the other as the brigands were defeated not once, but twice, when Jack returned to stem the second tide. The ladies oohed and ahhed at Lorton’s description. Jack figured Lorton had some significant pub storytelling experience too.
“Enough of that distasteful tale. I am sure you didn’t come here to listen to an old policeman spout a tale.”
“I thought it very entertaining, and you are no old policeman,” Glorie said.
The conversations began in the room as the food was served. The luncheon wasn’t as filling as Jack would prefer, but he smiled along with Lorton. As Jack ate, his stomach reminded him that he might have overdone the teleportation. His hand went to Eldora’s box. He received only a trickle of power, reminding him that it would take him some time to recover from his wizardly activities, so he grabbed onto his hidden energy rod to get a boost.
“My hero again?” Penny said, distracting Jack from his thoughts.
“You came without a peep,” Jack said. “How did the healing rods work?”
“Superbly. The energy rods came in handy as well,” she said.
Jack looked across at Lin smoothly, talking with a group of ladies at her table. She looked languidly in Jack’s direction and lifted her glass as a salute. He wondered what was going on in her mind.
“Why were you so close to the embassy?” Penny said, almost offhandedly.
“It was Lorton’s doing. Despite his staying behind, he wasn’t about to shirk his bodyguard responsibility.” She looked over at the princess, still talking to Lorton. “It may be Lorton has found another body to guard.”
When the princess left, Lorton took it upon himself to escort Glorie out. Jack and Penny walked just behind the pair, followed by Lin, Sera, and Oscar.
A more heavily guarded litter awaited Princess Glorie when she stepped out into the lower level. She held out her hand for Lorton to grasp. He brushed his lips across her knuckles.
“It has been my pleasure to help you,” Lorton said.
“As it has been mine to receive your welcome assistance, Lord Lorton. We will meet again.” She smiled and nodded to Jack and was soon being wheeled away toward the castle.
“What was that all about?” Jack asked Lorton.
“I am afraid the princess might have taken a liking to me,” Lorton said very quietly.
“And you?” Penny said.
Lorton cocked his head. “She is a noblewoman in the best sense,” he said.
Lin walked out the door with Sera at her side. “That was a rather rude entrance, Jack.”
“And I don’t care if it was rude or not. I needed Penny and Sera to help the princess.”
“Sera said she didn’t help the woman.”
Jack almost recoiled at Lin using the term “the woman” rather than Princess Glorie. “I ended up healing her. She was well enough to attend the luncheon. Was my announcement acceptable?”
“It served well enough,” Lin said. “Shall we return? It is time for a debriefing.”
Lorton walked in front and Jack and Penny in the back as they made their way through the scene. Although the litter had been removed, there were still constables scurrying about.
Jack had to remind himself not to get angry. He thought he was an easygoing person, but Lin was putting him to the test. He kept quiet all the way to the townhouse, but he did notice that Penny held his hand tight
ly. When they sat in the sitting room, Lin asked Penny to take notes.
“Why don’t you take notes?” Penny said. “I’m a little tired about your having everyone do everything. I am surprised you found Jack’s call for help rude, considering one of the royal family needed help. You, alone, did nothing to help the princess. Honestly, you don't measure up to my expectations, Lin.”
The woman colored. Jack didn’t know if it was from embarrassment or from anger, but Jack was proud that Penny expressed exactly what he felt.
“Without me, you wouldn’t have gotten so far in Antibeaux.”
“I’m not so sure,” Lorton said. “Jack and Penny made the key contacts at the ball, from what I can see.”
“The embassy wanted me,” Lin said.
“I’m sure the invitation was written out to all three. Jack and Penny went out to lunch to Pol Asoule’s house with Ari, who also did all the investigative work that you were urging us to do. Just what have you really done?” Penny said.
“You are mistaken,” Lin said. Jack could sense a little loss of confidence. “I found the house, and I have been active socially.”
“And we found it riddled with spy holes,” Jack said, “and we have accumulated much more needed information. Have you ever asked anyone about where the mask is?”
“You are jealous that I am running this operation.”
Jack shook his head. “You don’t know me very well,” he said. “If you were doing your job, I wouldn’t be saying anything. We are here for results, not to be seen or become notable people on the social scene. Have you forgotten why we are here?”
Oscar finally stepped into the room after obviously listening outside. “Lin is under a great deal of pressure to produce results. You can see that.”
“Produce results for whom?” Sera said, quite unexpectedly. “Jack and Penny are only saying what Uncle Willet or Fasher Tempest would be pointing out.”
“I am strongly considering leaving for Dorkansee,” Lin said, jumping to her feet.
Jack couldn’t let this go on. He grabbed her hand. He noticed that she didn’t wear Ari’s charm. “Clean!”
Lin fell to the floor. Oscar’s eyes grew. Jack quickly grabbed him and invoked the same spell. He also fainted.
“What just happened?” Lorton asked.
“We were going to wait for a more opportune time, but I suppose this was it,” Jack said. “You’ve all noticed Lin’s change while we’ve been in Bristone.”
“Oscar is coming around first,” Sera said.
“That is because he is less powerful than Lin,” Jack said.
The butler sat up and put his hand to his head. “What happened?”
“You were ensorcelled by some person. When do you remember a change in your outlook?”
“Oh, that is easy. The agent who procured the townhouse. He shook my hand after we had rid ourselves of the spy holes. He said something I couldn’t remember, but then he gave me instructions to open up the attic listening post and keep the roof trapdoor unlocked.” Oscar shook his head. “We have been fools.”
“Did you wear the charm Ari gave you?”
Oscar looked at Jack blankly. “Lin told me to put it away.”
“Before or after you were ensorcelled?”
“Oh. Before. She was converted or whatever you call it before I was,” Oscar said.
“Do you know when?”
Oscar pursed his lips. “I noticed her acting increasingly uncharacteristically once we left Boxwood.”
“Before Ari gave us the charms,” Penny said. “That was why she was able to wear hers without being affected.”
Jack nodded. “We will have to wait for her to revive. I want to know who has been giving her orders.”
“Who do you suspect?” Penny asked.
“The Double P,” Jack said. “They would be more interested in grabbing the mask. If it were the WWS, they would already have the mask, if Pol Asoule is correct.”
“Correct in what?” Lorton asked.
“He thinks Etienne Tolmoux, the archbishop of the church knows where it might be.”
“Lin is coming around,” Oscar said.
Sera helped her to a chair. “What a fool I’ve been,” Lin said. She looked around the room. “I have been, you know.”
“Who has been controlling you?” Lorton asked.
“Our landlord,” Lin said.
“How did you know?” Lorton asked Jack.
“Pol Asoule said the agent is affiliated with them.”
“We must close the listening station in the attic,” Lin said, rubbing her temples.
“No,” Jack said. “We can feed them whatever information we want. Have you let anyone else into the house?”
Lin shook her head. “The servants are not his.” She turned to Penny. “You were right to challenge me. I have been kept on a leash like a pet puppy, and you know that is not me.”
“Who converted you first?”
“I don’t know him. He was a dancing partner in Boxwood, but I don’t think he was from Antibeaux.”
“Maybe a Black Finger?” Penny asked.
Jack scratched his head. “Maybe so. If that is the case, there are two antagonistic sects invested in our failure.”
“Did they tell you what their motives are?” Jack asked.
“The domination of Antibeaux. Charl Masson is one of their leaders, and during one of the few dances at the royal ball, he told me that Richard Raimon was one of them,” Lin said. “They are leery of you, to say the least, Jack,” she said. “I didn’t know about the attack that night, but you, Lorton, and Penny were the primary targets. Sera, unfortunately got in the way.”
“That doesn’t surprise me. Did you know about the attack on the princess?”
Lin shook her head. “I am little more than a servant to them, I am thinking.”
“A slave would be a better description,” Penny said. “What are we to do?”
“Nothing,” Jack said. “Lin still acts as a slave while she continues to go to lunches and other social engagements. We give them false information consistent with Lin still being under their control.” Jack turned to Lorton. “Do you agree?”
“I do. Now that I know Penny has her magic back, she should continue to pretend she has little power.”
“I can do that,” Penny said. “I had two healing rods with me and used them while I worked.”
“How do we proceed?” Lin asked Lorton.
“Ask Jack. I think he has a better idea of what is happening.”
Jack shrugged. “While we winter in Bristone,” he said, “Ari will help us find where the archbishop is. The factions will be the factions, except I’m concerned about the factions fighting each other. We shouldn’t do anything to promote that.”
“You mean stopping attacks on princesses and queens?” Lorton asked. “I think it is a bit too late for that.”
“That isn’t our responsibility,” Jack said. “Whoever attacked the princess wanted to stir things up, but it could be the WWS or the Double P behind the attack.”
“What about the APS or the Royalists?” Sera asked.
“It could be them as well, but why would the Royalists attack one of their own? As far as we can tell, the princess is unaligned,” Jack said. “We should continue in the same vein that Lin had us going.”
“That is nowhere,” Lin said.
“I wouldn’t say nowhere, but we won’t come up with anything the Bristonians don’t already know,” Jack said.
“We should make sure the attic entrances into the rest of the townhouse are locked down,” Lorton said.
“Then you and Sera can see to that,” Jack said. He looked at Lin, who nodded her head. “The shopping and frivolity need to be continued, but Lorton or I should accompany you when you go out.”
Lin smiled for the first time. “That will be a trial for both of you.”
“I’ve been through worse,” Lorton said.
“We will continue to insinuate ourselves into
Bristonian society.” Jack thought of something.
Lorton nodded. “Our presence and our roles have been compromised, but then everyone with a shred of intelligence can figure out we are Corandian wizards. We have not made it a secret that Sera and Penny are healers. Since Lin and Oscar were ensorcelled, all our secrets are open to everyone.”
“Do they know you are a wizard?” Penny asked.
Lorton laughed. “I have no idea.” He looked at Lin. “Did you tell them I’m a wizard?”
“I don’t recall,” Lin said.
“No one asked me anything. I am the servant, you see,” Oscar said with a wry smile.
Lorton nodded. “Then, I will keep my use of wizardry to a minimum and continue to carry Ari’s charm. Then it makes sense that Jack and Penny pursue the mask while the rest of us have a good time,” Lorton said.
“I didn’t think you were having a good time,” Lin said archly, but her comment didn’t carry the bite it had on the walk from the embassy.
“I was speaking in general,” Lorton said.
“I did suggest we talk about the luncheon,” Lin said. “I still think it is useful to add to our list. I will be the scribe.” She looked pointedly at Penny.
They talked about the luncheon. The only significant item was the attack on Princess Glorie’s litter. Jack didn’t mention Lorton’s possible relationship with the princess. That was for the policeman to bring up at this point.
Oscar had to leave to answer the door.
“Just to be safe, I will invoke the clean spell on Sera and Lorton. If you aren’t under a spell, it won’t have an effect.”
Jack was relieved that neither fainted.
Oscar returned with an invitation and gave it to Jack.
“It appears I am going on a tour of the villages. Anne LaForce, the agricultural minister has arranged it. I may take a guest.”
“Out in the cold?” Penny asked as she shivered.
“Yes,” Jack said. “I’m taking Ari with me if he will come.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
~
J ack looked back at the walls of Bristone and made sure that Ari Gasheaux was still behind him. At least Penny had returned to her normal self when they practiced that morning. She was easily able to touch the void, and her enhanced skills with throwing knives were back. She and Lorton could handle most things while Ari and Jack were gone.
