The Fourteenth Key (The Chronicles of Terah Book 3)

by Mackenzie Morgan

  Karl nodded. Then he stretched and finished the last couple of swallows of his scog. “I don’t know about you, but I’m worn out. Let’s get some sleep.”

  ~ ~ ~ ~

  About the time Joan and Karl were heading off to bed, Kevin said he was going to the kitchen for a mug of scog and asked if Chris wanted one. When Chris offered to go with him, they left the office and walked through the quiet halls of the castle. It was barely 9:30, but the only people they saw were the guards standing at their posts. They didn’t hear any voices, and the only footsteps they heard were theirs and the guards on patrol.

  “It’s early for things to be this quiet,” Kevin said as they walked through the dining room. “No one’s even playing Octuro tonight.”

  “Maybe it has to do with the auction today.”

  Kevin shook his head. “I don’t see how. No one was involved but us.”

  “I think a lot of people were waiting to see what would happen today, hoping for some news about the people in Syrando. Almost everyone in the castle has gone out of their way to try to take care of Caitlyn and Corey. I imagine a lot of them were holding their breaths hoping Karl would come home with their mother. Sort of depressing when it didn’t happen.”

  “I hadn’t thought about that. You may be right.”

  After they poured their scog, Chris said, “This morning you said you had something you wanted to talk to me about.”

  Kevin nodded. “Let’s go upstairs.”

  The two men walked back through the castle, up the stairs to their quarters, and on to Kevin’s room. When they were settled on the couch, Kevin said, “I need to ask you something, and I need you to tell me the truth.”

  “Okay.”

  Kevin hesitated, not sure how to phrase what he wanted to ask. While Chris waited for Kevin’s question, he sipped a mouthful of scog. He was just about to swallow when Kevin asked, “Am I turning into a control freak?”

  Chris spewed half the scog on his tunic and strangled on the rest. “What?” he asked once he quit coughing. He grabbed his handkerchief and dabbed at the spots on his tunic. “Where in the world did that come from?”

  “This morning, while I was working out, I realized I’m usually the one in charge now, and I like it that way. The idea of sitting back and waiting to see what happened instead of being the one out there doing it bothered me. I was never like that on Earth. I hated being in front. Now I feel like I should be the one taking the risks, figuring things out, making the decisions, and I’m afraid of what that says about me. Am I trying to take over everything? Am I running over people?”

  Chris took a deep breath and asked, “Is that what happened this morning? When you quit in the middle of your routine?”

  Kevin nodded.

  “I’m not sure how to answer your question. You’re in charge of a lot of stuff, you have to run a lot of things, but that’s your job. You make a lot of decisions, and you have the final say on everything that lands on your desk, but you haven’t run over anyone to do it and you’re not a control freak. I’ve known a few of those. You don’t tell Gen. Crandal how to manage his army. You don’t tell Darrell how to manage the guards. You don’t order the pages around. You don’t tell Cryslyn how to run the household, or Miranda how to run the kitchen. You don’t tell Karl what to say to the ministers even when he asks you. A control freak has to be in charge of every aspect of everything they come in contact with, and that’s not you. You are not a control freak.”

  “Then why did it bother me so much to send Karl to the auction?”

  “You had no idea what he might face while he was there. You’re protective of all of us, and you’ve become protective of a lot of the people we’ve met since we got here. Do you ever get overly protective? Probably, but more like the parent who lets the kid take the car out on their own for the first time. You let Karl go and you let him handle whatever he ran into. You just sat here and worried. If you were a control freak, you’d have gone yourself.”

  “When we were traveling to Rainbow Valley, Karl was the point man, the one who went into the inn and made all the arrangements. That didn’t bother me one bit. To be honest, I’d have been happy with anyone in charge as long as it wasn’t me. So why wasn’t I comfortable with him taking the lead this time? Why do I feel like I need to be the one to take on the unknown all the time?”

  “Well, for one thing, you aren’t the same person now you were then. You were the 98 pound weakling then. You’re the pumped up muscle man now.”

  Kevin frowned. “I get the analogy, but I’m not sure I like it. The pumped up muscle men were the bullies. I don’t want to be a bully, Chris.”

  “Okay, bad analogy. You’re not a bully. You don’t run roughshod over other people. Believe me, I’d let you know if you did. I’m not going to stand by and let you turn into a bully.”

  “Good. I’m going to hold you to that, Chris.”

  “No problem there.”

  “I guess it hit me this morning how much I’ve changed, and I’m not sure all the changes are good. I have a lot of responsibility, but I also have a lot of power, and I don’t want to let it get out of hand.”

  “Don’t worry. You won’t. I won’t let you.”

  Kevin nodded. “And don’t let me run over Landis, or Rhianna.”

  “I don’t think a freight train could run over Rhianna. Landis, I’m not so sure about. Not sure quite what to make of her yet.”

  “I know. But don’t let me run over her. Best case, she’s a student. Worst case, she’s someone we need to protect.”

  Chapter 25

  Lunch with Dayed

  When Kevin met Glendymere at the canyon lands Sunday morning, he had no idea the dragon was going to try to kill him, but that’s what it felt like. After a grueling workout, he collapsed on the ground and stared at Glendymere. “Did I do something to make you angry?”

  A grin spread across the dragon’s face. “You needed a challenge, something to point out how vulnerable you are.”

  Kevin frowned. “Do you think I’m arrogant? Or cocky?”

  “No, but you’ve been worried about it. After what I just put you through, there’s no way you have a cocky thought left in your head, so now you can stop worrying.”

  “Nothing like sparring with a dragon to point out how incompetent you are,” Kevin muttered.

  “Don’t ever forget that no matter how good you are, as soon as you think you can’t be beaten, you will be. There’s always someone out there who’s better, quicker, more focused. A stray thought, a blink of an eye at the wrong moment, and you’re a pile of ashes.”

  Kevin nodded. “I know. I know how close I came with Gaynor. If it hadn’t been for the training I’ve had with you, I wouldn’t be here.”

  “And that’s why we’ll keep sparring. Now, what’s been going on at that castle of yours?”

  Kevin told Glendymere about the auction at Glenarbour, and Karl’s purchases.

  When he finished, Glendymere had a frown on his forehead. “I have never understood the human propensity for owning other humans. It doesn’t make any sense to me. What makes one human think he or she has the right to own another? And no, I’m not expecting an answer. It’s as old as time itself. People owned other people back on the world of my birth. I don’t know why the ones who are slaves put up with it. No other race would tolerate it, and none of the rest of us can understand it.” When Kevin looked like he was going to say something, Glendymere shook his head. “Don’t try to explain the unexplainable. Just accept it’s something I’ll never understand.”

  “Well, I was going to say I agree with you, and if I could figure out a way to get rid of it, I would. And by the way, it’s still a problem on Earth.”

  “I have to say I’m not surprised. So why did Karl buy them if you don’t want slaves?”

  “He bought them to keep them from becoming slaves. They’re children. He couldn’t stand the idea of what might happen to them. Anyway, yesterday I told them they’re not slaves a
ny longer, that they’re free to leave whenever they wish, but they can also stay as long as they want to. It’s their choice. Except for the eight-year-old, of course. Right now she’s staying with Joan and Karl, along with the two children from Syrando.” Kevin stood up and brushed off his leggings. “Guess I’d better get home. I need to change into clean clothes before Laryn sees me.”

  Glendymere tilted his head and looked puzzled.

  “We’re having lunch with Dayed today.”

  Glendymere nodded. “She’s taking you around to meet the family. Good idea.”

  “Well, it’s not so much for me to meet them, although I have to admit I’ve enjoyed it. It’s more to introduce them to Steve before they get married.”

  Glendymere’s eyes popped wide open. “Who’s getting married?”

  “I thought I’d told you. Steve asked Laryn to marry him and she said yes. They’re getting married the first weekend in December.”

  A gentle smile settled on Glendymere’s face. “I’m quite pleased. The amulet did its work and opened Steve’s heart. And I couldn’t be happier with the one who settled there. The only drawback I can see is she’ll probably outlive him, but that’s part of life. I must find a gift for her. One of my jewels. But which one?” Glendymere’s eyes clouded over as he mentally went through his vast collection. “I’ll find the right one. You’ll bring them to see me after they’re joined.”

  Kevin nodded. “I can bring them before if you’d like.”

  “No, the stone I’m considering should be given to a woman after she’s a wife, not before. But do tell them I’m happy for them, and wish them well.” Then Glendymere asked, “So tell me, how many of your aunts and uncles have you met so far?”

  “Dayed’s the last one.”

  “They’re quite a group, aren’t they? So different, yet so alike.”

  “Do you know all of them? Or have you just heard about them over the years?”

  “They’ve all visited here. Badec brought them after he became Master Sorcerer.”

  “Why hadn’t you met any of them before that?”

  “He didn’t have a key until then.”

  “But I thought you and his father were friends.”

  “We were, but he didn’t bring his children around. I hadn’t even met Badec until he asked me to take him on as an apprentice. Later, after Nolan died and Badec became Master Sorcerer, he’d bring one or two of them with him when he came for an unofficial visit, especially after Yvonne’s death. I think Laryn made sure a couple of them were around most weekends to provide some distraction, to keep Badec from dwelling on his loss, and from some of the stories I heard, they did a good job of it. I’ve missed them, so feel free to bring them around sometime. Bring them to a practice session. Let them see you in action. Interesting that all of them except Laryn are sorcerers. Most unusual to have six sorcerers out of seven children.”

  Kevin frowned. “I’m not sure I want them to watch you beat me up. It’s embarrassing. And I’m not sure my performance would inspire confidence.”

  “Best that they see you as you are, not as they hope you are based on the stories circulating around.”

  Kevin shook his head. “The thing that’s impressed me about them is how talented they are, and each of them in a different way. Shadron with his horses, Kyle with his dogs, Allisandra with plants, Danyelle with music, and from what I’ve heard, Dayed’s quite a master woodworker.”

  “They all have a lot of elf in them. Those talents are from the elven blood.”

  “Laryn seems to have been left out all around. Doesn’t seem fair. She’s such a terrific person. She missed out on being a sorcerer and then she missed out on the elven stuff, too.”

  “No, she didn’t,” Glendymere said with a shake of his head. “She’s quite an artist. Aren’t any of her pictures hanging up in that castle of yours? I know several are hanging in Blalick’s house. You’ve probably seen them. And she doesn’t sing in front of other people often, but her voice is lovely.” He looked at Kevin. “Why don’t you know this? She lives with you. You really should get to know her. She’s got a lot more to offer than just advice on how to handle your job. And now, since I do know her, and I know she doesn’t like to be kept waiting, you better get going.”

  ~ ~ ~ ~

  Laryn and Steve were in Kevin’s office when he got downstairs after changing clothes. “Where have you been?” Laryn demanded. “We should have been at Dayed’s half an hour ago.”

  “I was in the canyon lands with Glendymere,” Kevin explained. “He got carried away with our session this morning.”

  “Well, I guess that’s a good excuse. You couldn’t exactly walk out on him.” Laryn held out her hand for the key. “But we’re late. Let’s go!”

  Kevin handed her the key, but before he let go of it, he said, “You seem a bit tense. Has something happened?”

  Laryn shook her head as she held her arms out for Steve and Kevin. “I don’t like being late, especially to Dayed’s. He won’t care, but his wife, Dara, reads something into everything. She’ll take it as an insult, like they aren’t important enough for us to bother being on time.”

  “Sorry.” Kevin put his hand on Laryn’s arm. “I didn’t realize.”

  A couple of moments later they were in a forest in front of a two-story house. There was a huge barn-type structure about two hundred feet away, but he couldn’t see much of it for all the trees. A winding footpath had been worn between the two buildings. He could hear the sound of rushing water nearby, but he didn’t see the source.

  While Kevin was looking around, Laryn and Steve had climbed the steps to the porch and knocked on the front door. A moment later, a short woman with a bird-like face opened the door. Kevin expected her voice to be soft and light, but it wasn’t. It was harsh and flat.

  “I’m sure something very important came up to delay you,” Dara said as she motioned them inside. “Unfortunately, lunch was ready a little while ago, so it’s a bit stale now. Guess we’ll just have to make do.”

  Kevin felt his face warm. “Sorry. It was my fault. Something came up that had to be handled, and when I returned, I needed to wash up and change clothes. I didn’t want to track mud into your house.”

  “Oh, I’m sure no slight was intended,” Dara said in a haughty manner, “but in the future, when you’ve made plans that affect other people, you need to keep your eye on the time. After all, your tardiness means we all eat a less than satisfactory meal. If you’ll come with me, we’ll get started before it gets any colder. I had prepared a nice succulent roast, but it’s probably only fit for pigs now.”

  If it hadn’t been for Laryn, Kevin would have claimed another emergency and left. But as it was, he followed Dara into the dining room. The table had been set for six. He knew they had a child, a three-year-old son named Jasyn, but for some reason, he didn’t see Dara allowing him to eat with company. And he quickly discovered he was right. Dara had invited someone else to lunch, a woman about Kevin’s age.

  “Myron, I’d like for you to meet our neighbor, Katrin. She’ll be having lunch with us.” Dara put her arm around Katrin’s shoulders. “Katrin, would you be a dear and take Myron out to his uncle’s shop and tell Dayed they’ve finally arrived. Laryn and I will get the table ready while you’re gone.”

  Katrin nodded and tilted her head towards the back door. Kevin dutifully stepped over to the door and opened it for her. Once they were outside, Katrin said, “I have a feeling you weren’t expecting me.”

  “No, but it’s not an unpleasant surprise.”

  “Dara said you’re interested in finding a wife, and as I’m looking for a husband, she thought we should get to know each other. Are you looking for a wife?”

  Kevin shook his head. “No, but there are a lot of people who think I should be. I guess Dara’s one of them.” Then he added, “I haven’t had time to adjust to being the Sorcerer of Camden yet, much less Master Sorcerer. It’s all I can do to keep up with all the stuff that’s hitting
my desk. I don’t have time to add courting to the mix.”

  “I’m not looking for someone to court me. I just want to get married. Wouldn’t it make your life easier if you had someone to run your household? To cook for you? To take care of your clothes and things? Then you could concentrate on business. I’ve already packed. We could be married tomorrow.”

  Kevin wasn’t sure how to answer her. He shrugged and decided to go with the truth. “Katrin, I live in a castle complete with a meticulous housekeeping staff, a marvelous cook, and a whole troop of grounds men who take care of the gardens, the stables, and anything else that comes up around the castle. My assistant brings me coffee and pastries every morning and a mug of scog in the evenings. I have four pages who take care of my every need in the office, and bodyguards who go with me almost everywhere I go. I don’t have any need for a wife.”

  “But what about someone to share your bed?”

  Kevin felt a deep blush creep up his face. “That comes under the heading of a personal life, and at the moment, I’m too busy to have one. There are a lot of people who have offered to find the ‘perfect match’ for me, but I’m not interested at this time. Maybe one day, but not now. Marriage is not my top priority at the moment.”

  Katrin looked crushed. “Well, when you decide you’re ready, let me know. I can wait a little while longer.”

  They had reached the other building at that point, so Kevin knocked on the door, mentally begging Dayed to open it quickly.

  After a couple of moments, Katrin reached around Kevin and opened the door. “When he’s working, he doesn’t hear a thing. Half the time it’s like he doesn’t even know anyone else exists. Sounds like he’s a lot like you.”

  When they entered the room, Kevin felt like he’d stepped into an upscale warehouse. There were tables, chairs, bookcases, cabinets, valet’s, dressers, cradles, doors, just about everything imaginable that could be made out of wood, and they were all gorgeous. Every piece had carved decorations, and the carvings were exquisite. He wandered around for a few minutes admiring the handiwork, completely forgetting about Katrin and the awkward lunch that was waiting for him.