Family of Lies: Sebastian

by Sam Argent

  Diana touched his shoulder gently. “Whatever we do is survival. They’ve tried to kill you twice, and they’ve forced themselves into our home.”

  Sebastian nodded and told the plants to find spores of the farer’s lotus and spread them near water sources. “What about Father?”

  Diana snorted. “He’s probably taking twice as many antidote potions since Trenton got here. I’ll also cook his food in case he’s not protected against it. What did you find?”

  “Farer’s Lotus,” Sebastian whispered.

  Diana whistled. “Mother would be proud.”

  “I could live without that,” Sebastian said.

  “Living is our first priority.”

  SEBASTIAN LADLED out a bowl of chicken stew, and Lord Orwell looked at it suspiciously.

  “Why are you cooking without me commanding you to do it?” Lord Orwell asked.

  “It’s a cold day, and I felt like it. Eat it or choke on it, I don’t care,” Sebastian said.

  “I was going to compliment you for being thoughtful.” Lord Orwell snatched the bowl and took it with him to the table. He sniffed it and almost dipped his nose in it trying to find any faults.

  Sebastian shook his head. “There’s an easier way to shove it up your nose, and I know at least half the family would be willing to help.”

  Lord Orwell ignored his son and began eating.

  Sebastian turned his back on him and smiled. Diana was right about sautéing the herbs in truffle oil killing the smell, he thought.

  “That smells delicious,” Trenton said over Sebastian’s shoulder.

  “I’m not a castle cook. I cook for family only, and if you want stew, you can hunt your own ingredients,” Sebastian said.

  “That’s not a kind way to treat people,” Trenton said.

  “We don’t know when the roads will clear, so supplies are precious. I also like my personal space.” A surge of magic made his skin crawl, but Sebastian pretended to be ignorant like anyone else without magic.

  “Sebastian, just give him a damn bowl,” his father growled.

  “Two silvers,” Sebastian said. “That will cover the cost.” Trenton’s power was almost like a physical wall pressing against him because of the wizard’s anger.

  “I remembered a thing I have to deal with outside.” Trenton stepped away from Sebastian and walked to Lord Orwell. “You really should speak with your son about manners, or I might.” He left the kitchen and Sebastian leaned against the stove.

  Lord Orwell shoved his chair back and stalked to his son, grabbing him by the front of the cloak when they were face to face. “Have you lost your mind? Do you have any idea how close he was to killing you?”

  Sebastian smacked his father’s hand away. “Just eat the damn stew. I won’t antagonize him again.”

  Lord Orwell looked at the bowl and then at his son. “What did you do?”

  “What I had to,” Sebastian said, a tremor betraying the tears falling inside his hood. Trenton might deserve to die, but Sebastian didn’t know if any of Trenton’s soldiers deserved the same fate.

  “I will get to the bottom of this,” Lord Orwell promised and left the kitchen.

  INSTEAD OF the kitchen, this time the Orwells watched the activity outside from Pratchett’s window. It had a better view of the stream of men and women dressed in no apparent uniforms.

  “Probably mercs,” Alice said. “They look skillful.”

  “I heard at the inn that Trenton made off with a chunk of the Anerithian treasury. It appears those rumors were true,” James said.

  “Even if they’re paid, mercs don’t like twiddling their thumbs,” Kevin said.

  “If they know Trenton has the Heart of Light, that would be a strong reason to stay by him after the disaster in Anerith,” Sebastian said. “The poison should take effect by tonight. It will be our best chance to steal it.”

  “It won’t be you,” Kevin said.

  “It’s my damn plan,” Sebastian said. “No one will notice my hood up in this weather.” Snow came down heavily most of the day, and visibility was poor for anyone without fey eyesight.

  “We voted that you take part in plan B,” Alice said.

  “I don’t recall a vote,” Sebastian growled.

  “Had to take one after Father accused us of hiding things,” Kevin said. “Surprisingly, he seemed extra curious after he saw you this morning. Any idea why?”

  “No,” Sebastian muttered.

  “That’s why you weren’t included,” James said.

  “Who’s going to do it?” Sebastian asked.

  “The sneakiest among us,” James said. “Pratchett and Mernon.”

  Sebastian frowned. “I haven’t seen Mernon for days.”

  “He’s keeping out of sight for reasons, and the fact you had no idea he’s been here the whole time makes him perfect,” Alice said, smiling.

  “Are you two hiding something?” Sebastian asked.

  Alice rolled her eyes. “Don’t bring up nonsense.”

  “Actually, I was wondering that myself,” Kevin said.

  “Focus on the job at hand,” Alice said sternly. “We have one shot at this, and none of you are going to fuck up with my husband’s life at stake, do you understand me?”

  James held his hand up. “The powerful talisman surrounded by an army first, and then we bug Alice about her secrets. We have to be a working team right now, so squash any hard feelings until after tonight.”

  “What the hell is plan B?” Sebastian asked.

  “We need insurance in case Mernon and Pratchett fuck up,” Kevin said. “You sneak out and head to your prince. Tell him whatever you have to for him to send an army of wizards our way.”

  Sebastian’s jaw dropped. “How am I supposed to get past Trenton’s army?”

  “Ophelia will tweak your cloak with a few extras. Luckily it’s already magicked, so we won’t alert Trenton by throwing strong spells at it,” James said.

  “I’m not a child,” Sebastian said. “Stop protecting me while you do the dangerous work.”

  James jabbed his finger in Sebastian’s chest. “Who else is capable of convincing a prince to send numerous mages to stop Trenton? None of us are sleeping with him, and frankly, we’re all too bitchy for anyone to give a damn about besides our spouses. It’s you or nothing, so take your head out of your ass.”

  “This is dumb,” Sebastian said. “Anyone sounding an alarm about Trenton would hold the king’s ear.”

  “Maybe in a day or two, but Prince Turren will drop everything the moment you arrive in his arms crying, and you better be crying, about your beloved family being in imminent danger. Stress imminent,” Kevin said. “Princes are arrogant bastards who love heroic shit like that.”

  Alice snorted. “They’re like ten Richards wrapped in one royal package.”

  Sebastian sighed. “Cecilia was the smart sibling by deciding to stay at her home. Did anyone talk to her before the wards went up?”

  Kevin drew breath through his teeth. “She was about to pop the last time Kraven talked to her.”

  Alice groaned. “If we miss her childbirth, we will never hear the end of it.”

  James mirrored Sebastian’s sigh. “I want to see my wife.”

  “Stop whining. She has months before her baby joins us,” Alice said.

  “This is why you have no friends,” James said.

  “Why do I need friends when I’m surrounded by so much family?” Alice asked bitterly.

  “Cheer up, sis,” Sebastian said as he touched the end of Alice’s nose. “You won’t have to put up with us anymore if we get killed.”

  “You are a morbid bastard,” Alice said.

  Sebastian shrugged. “Making fun of our situation is better than confronting the enormity of what’s at stake if we fail.”

  James smiled. “Richard would be proud.”

  “Those are words I never wanted to hear in my lifetime,” Kevin said.

  CHAPTER 33

  CLIMBING OUT Ophe
lia’s window is turning into a habit, Sebastian thought. Shadows touched the house and stretched out to the forest as he snuck out. Blood magic enclosed his cloak so the soldiers wouldn’t see him. At dark, Pratchett and Mernon would make their move. Sebastian wasn’t a praying man, but that day, he sent out wishes for his family to be safe. They drive me crazy, but I can’t imagine life without them.

  Sebastian’s cloak blended with whatever he passed, making him look like part of the property. As soon as his boots touched the ground, Sebastian sprinted for the parked wagons while staying close to the house’s walls. Ducking behind Alice’s wagon, Sebastian waited to hear any sounds. A merc stopped next to it and leaned on the side door. She reached into her pocket and took out a handkerchief to mop a sweaty brow. Sebastian frowned. The poison shouldn’t be at that stage yet. As her back turned, Sebastian took a deep breath and ran for the trees. There he would rely on his cloak’s innate power to blend with its surroundings. He looked back at the house, but the rest was up to his siblings.

  SEBASTIAN DUCKED behind another tree and cursed every god he could think of. Soldiers were on high alert everywhere, and he had no idea why. He was still a ways from Trellium, and the way would be even slower if he couldn’t get past Trenton’s people. The path had been clear for a mile, and then pursuit came out of nowhere. Why did their plan go bad so quickly? Who knew what tortures his family was enduring? I have to make it to Turren. Brush rustled on his right, and Sebastian dove to the ground. A lone man bleeding from an arrow in his chest collapsed onto a pile of leaves. Sebastian stayed on the ground for a minute, contemplating whether or not it was a performance. The man hadn’t moved since he fell, so Sebastian decided it wasn’t a farce. He cautiously crawled to the man and wondered at his ability to attract wounded people. Sebastian poked the man’s shoulder, and the man groaned, muttering gibberish and ancient Anerithian. Sebastian leaned forward, and he could decipher a few words. He caught something about the Heart of Light and brotherhood.

  “What nonsense are you going on about?” Sebastian whispered. The man stirred and turned on his side. He squinted and tried to sit up.

  “Why… are you… hooded?” the man wheezed out.

  “That’s the least of your worries, Mister. You need help, and we’re not in the best place right now.”

  “You’re the strange Orwell boy.”

  Sebastian rolled his eyes. “I do have a name.”

  “They say you never take off your—” A crackling cough interrupted him.

  “You should stop speaking,” Sebastian advised. “I’ll do what I can, but you have to stay quiet.” The man was beyond his magic, and the nearest medic was probably among Trenton’s soldiers.

  “I bet you’re beautiful.” The wounded man grinned, and Sebastian stilled. “You’re probably more beautiful than any other man living.”

  Sebastian sat on his heels, preparing to abandon the man if he did anything funny even in his bad condition. “Why would you say that?”

  “Because your heart is pure and that robe.” The stranger closed his eyes and sighed. “If I looked upon you, I would die instantly from shock.”

  “How do you know?” Sebastian asked, tiring of the man’s riddles.

  “I can’t… it’s hard to breathe… I… please come closer.”

  If it wasn’t for the tears trailing down the man’s cheeks, Sebastian would have ignored the request. But the man wasn’t going to survive, and there might be family who needed to be informed of his passing. Sebastian bent down, but clutched a knife under his cloak. “If you have any loved ones, I suggest you tell me their names.”

  “Love, purest love,” the man gasped out, and something clicked around Sebastian’s neck. Sebastian leaped back and touched his neck. A necklace hung from it with a large dangling clear stone. He looked back at the man, but his eyes were closed forever.

  “This had better not be what I think it is,” Sebastian whispered. The man shouldn’t have been able to touch Sebastian let alone put jewelry on him. He searched for the clasp but only smooth metal met his fingers. “Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit.” Sebastian took a deep breath and tried to clear his mind. It’s just a coincidence, he thought. Maybe he wasn’t being chased by Trenton’s mercs. Maybe it had nothing to do with the fucking necklace that’s around my fucking neck and not coming off. Sebastian bit down on his knuckle and sucked on the skin. Calm down, Sebastian, think, think. The plan. His brother and Mernon were sneaking into Trenton’s camp for an object that was no longer there. Not only that, they had no idea security would be increased because of the theft. Trellium or back home? Sebastian thought. Remembering the power Trenton displayed when angry, Sebastian turned back toward home.

  PRATCHETT LOOKED down at the merc puking his guts out on the ground.

  “Leave it,” Mernon whispered behind him.

  “What are you talking about?” Pratchett asked.

  “You want to take his coin. Leave it and keep moving. The poison has hit the final stages far too quickly.”

  Pratchett rolled his eyes. “He’s gonna be dead by the hour, so what’s he need it for?”

  Mernon stilled. “Shut up.”

  “If you think being Alice’s husband gives you the right to—” Pratchett stopped speaking after turning around and finding Mernon gone. “Where did you go?” He turned and slammed to the ground when an invisible force hit his back. Shiny leather boots came into view, and Pratchett glanced up into the face of Trenton Keyes. At least he didn’t catch me rifling through his man’s pockets, Pratchett thought before a boot came down on his head.

  SEBASTIAN PULLED aside Ophelia’s curtains and jumped through the window. Demetrius held a tumbler of liquor at his mouth, and Kevin stopped speaking.

  “Why are you here?” James asked.

  Sebastian waved at him to stop speaking and clutched his knees as he regained his breath after running the whole way. “Don’t send out Pratchett and Mernon.”

  Ophelia’s eyes lit up, and she clasped her hand over her mouth. “It’s too late.”

  “What are you talking about?” Kevin asked. “Why did you come back?”

  Sebastian opened his mouth to answer, but feet stepping on the windowsill distracted him, and he had to move out of Mernon’s way.

  “Where’s Pratchett?” Demetrius asked.

  “He was captured,” Mernon said. He turned to Sebastian. “Please tell me you ran into a band of incredibly strong wizards on the way to Trellium and that’s why you came back.”

  “No,” Sebastian said.

  “Then why did you return?” James shouted.

  “I’m trying to tell you!” Sebastian cried out. “The Heart of Light was already stolen.”

  “Did you steal it after we agreed you were supposed to go for help?” Demetrius asked.

  “No, but there’s a funny story behind that. I need to get to Father.”

  The door opened, and Diana came inside. “There’s a huge burst of power coming our way and whoever it is, is pissed.”

  “That would be Trenton,” Mernon said.

  Diana looked around the room. “Did he get taken?”

  “Yes,” Mernon said.

  “Ophelia, stay here and bar the door. We’ll think of a way to free ourselves from this mess.” She hurried out of the room, and the Orwell siblings followed her.

  Sebastian was at the end of the line and pulled on Kevin’s shoulder.

  “You should go to Ophelia’s room too,” Kevin said without looking back.

  “No, I have something important to tell you.” They reached the end of the stairs and found their parents walking toward them.

  “What have you done?” Lord Orwell shouted.

  “There isn’t time for that,” Diana said. “He has Pratchett.”

  “Why would he have Pratchett?” their mother asked, her face turning pale.

  Before Diana could answer, the front door exploded and Trenton stood in the doorway, Pratchett’s collar dangling from his hand.

  �
�Did you lose something, Caspian?” Trenton asked as he walked through pieces of the wrecked door and dragged Pratchett with him.

  “Whatever they did, I will fix it,” Lord Orwell swore. “Please don’t kill him.”

  “A quarter of my army is gone, and I had to spend crucial minutes making antidotes to save the rest of them. Can you replace those numbers within a night?”

  Lord Orwell looked at his children and shook his head. “I’ll find a way to make it right.”

  “Where is it, Caspian?” Trenton asked.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Lord Orwell said.

  “For once in your sorry life, I think you’re telling the truth.” Trenton turned to Diana and jerked the bruised and bleeding Pratchett. “You don’t look as confused as your father. Give me the amulet, and the rest of your family might live. No promises for this one, though,” he said while glancing at Pratchett.

  “We don’t have it,” James said, stepping next to Diana.

  Trenton smiled. “That’s too bad.” His hand glowed red, and Lord Orwell shouted for him to stop.

  As the red glow neared Pratchett’s face, Sebastian knew their father’s magic wouldn’t be enough to save Pratchett. He summoned as much magic as he could, begging the house, and the roots leading to the forest, to do his bidding. Thick tree roots and vines broke through the floor and encircled Trenton.

  “Sebastian, no!” Lord Orwell ran to his son while the astonished Orwells stepped back.

  The red glow dimmed for a moment but flared back to life as it burned through the plant’s shackles. It wouldn’t hold the wizard for long, and Sebastian sent out a small vine to retreat with a name screaming in his mind: Harold. He had never sent out anything that far, but it was their only chance.