5. Relations
‘Drako, your father is here.’ Drako heard the words clearly in his head. Jim; there was no mistaking the owner of that growling mental voice. ‘Come to my office as soon as you can.’
Drako recognised a “come immediately” order when he heard one. He abandoned his hunt in the forest to the men, hurried back through the people gate and ran along the new path back to the school. His father was here? He could not see anyone waiting outside the house. Where were the other members of the clan then? Drako jogged along the corridors to Jim’s office, certain from his tone, that something was amiss. He opened the office door and his heart leaped into his throat.
‘Father, what’s going on?’ Drako asked sharply. He was shocked to find Amelie in panther form standing facing his father, her back to the wall and defensive tension in her pose. Jim hadn’t changed form but his eyes had turned gold, a clear indicator the lion was close to taking over. Drako could feel his father’s bear was close to the surface too, probably in answer to the powerful defensive vibes emanating from Jim. Trent’s grizzly, in stark contrast to his own black bear, could be a formidable, forceful character if he felt thwarted. He also had a tendency to dominate those around him. His ignorance of exactly whom he was attempting to push around here could seriously backfire though, if Jim took real offence.
‘There you are,’ Trent said his gaze sliding over his son in disapproval. ‘What happened to you? You didn’t go to the winter meeting ground or even get word to them. Then I heard you had not left this place and certainly did not collect the duty. Therefore, I’ve had to come to do what you have failed to do. This is the female we were promised is she not?’ Trent added indicating the panther.
‘Dad, we need to talk. Stop threatening her. She’s his and pregnant. She is not animus either. They are both powerful wizards.’
‘Not animus?’ Trent said with a scowl of disbelief glancing again at the cat. ‘So you’re a prisoner here? These youngsters don’t look so powerful,’ he blustered.
‘Dad, they’re my friends. We’ve created a safe haven here. Let me show you,’ Drako urged.
‘This is absurd,’ Trent snapped. ‘I don’t know why I ever let you look after our people; you’re clearly not up to it.’ He glanced at the blond man sensing something amiss and found a huge muscular lion stepping out of his clothes. The panther shimmered and became a lioness. The lion went to her side licked her face and the pair turned to face him with matching unblinking yellow eyes. Her change into another animal was astonishing; very few had the ability to take more than one alternate form.
‘That is quite enough from you,’ Jim told Trent coldly. ‘Your son has told you the truth. I said silence!’ This time Trent opened and closed his mouth but no sound came out. His eyes went wide with shock. Then his face flushed furiously. ‘You called someone?’ Jim asked Drako, his tone curious and markedly calmer.
‘Did I?’ Drako asked nervously, a hand going up before his mouth. Only his father could reduce him to feeling a naughty child. A door slammed down the hall and they could hear running steps coming along the corridor.
‘Drako?’ Cassy said softly, assessing everyone including the pair of irritated lions. ‘So this is your father?’ She commented going swiftly to Drako’s side. Drako’s call to her had been full of angry frustration and need. She took his hand and leaned her back against him turning to face the silent stranger. Drako’s other arm crept around her, holding her; they both needed it.
‘Doesn’t he know what amazing things you and Headmaster Jim have achieved together here?’ she asked Drako for Trent’s benefit. ‘I’d have thought someone of his experience would know better than to annoy a pair of wizard lions,’ she added scornfully. She could feel Drako calming under her touch. Jim’s posture was no longer so threatening either. Witnessing a lion baring its teeth threateningly was damn scary. She was very glad his snarl had not been aimed at her.
Jim released Trent’s vocal ability now he seemed calmer, but Trent remained silent staring from Cassy to his son.
‘So she is why you did not return? What is she?’ Trent asked speculatively.
‘This is Cassy,’ Drako said and raised his chin. ‘She is a wizard student here.’
Trent growled, but his son returned his stare without embarrassment. ‘So, what are the achievements you think my son has made whilst here?’ Trent asked the bold young woman and was amused Drako seemed surprised he would question her directly. There would be time enough for discussions about her suitability once he had tested her mettle.
‘Come and see,’ Cassy said, unperturbed by this man’s sudden interest in her. Drako’s relief and approval of her actions were all that mattered to her. She went to the window and Drako came to stand closely on one side of her and Trent the other. She felt slightly dwarfed by these tall men knowing the top of her head barely reached their shoulders. Lord Trent was only slightly shorter than his son and had the same broad shoulders and warrior bearing. His clothes might be a little threadbare and patched, but they’d obviously been of quality originally and his proud bearing went a long way to disguising his attire. His hair and beard were grey but remained thick and his dark eyes were sharp.
‘See those buildings down there? Well you can’t see much of them from here; they’re mostly behind the hill. However, you doubtless saw the village on your way in. Anyway, that village wasn’t there at all two weeks ago. Drako’s people were in desperate need, hunted and some without any form of shelter. Jim took them in, but the only free space we had here in the school building meant they were very crowded. We realised they were in dire need of somewhere safe to pass the winter, and where their wounded could be tended properly. However, we learned that what they all really craved was the chance to stop running and to establish a new home. Drako negotiated with Jim for a more permanent solution. Those that wished to stay, now live within the grounds, in a village dedicated to them alone. I don’t believe anyone chose to leave?’ she glanced up at Drako and he shook his head. She abruptly wondered if she was overstepping Drako’s toes. This was not really her news to impart.
‘Carry on, you have his undivided attention and he needs to know all this,’ Drako told her mentally when she asked. He knew she picked up that he was a little sour that his father was listening to her when he rarely listened without interruption to his words. Trent was clearly assessing Cassy though, and it had to be good that he had not discounted or ignored her so far. He was listening with rapt attention. His father did not need to be standing close enough to touch her either, yet he was. Drako felt some of his nervous tension ease.
‘So, they each told us what they wanted by way of places of work and proper homes and once they’d assembled sufficient materials, Jim built for them. With help from the rest of us wizards,’ Cassy added with a small smile. ‘It’ll be a thriving community very soon indeed.’
‘You’ve let our people be indebted to wizards?’ Trent asked his son sharply.
‘Oh do stop snapping at him,’ Cassy said rudely. ‘Of course he has done no such thing. Go and speak to his people and learn for yourself,’ she said and left the window.
‘Why do you call them his people?’ Trent wanted to know, surprised into following her.
‘Because they are,’ she said simply. ‘Thanks to Drako and Jim, they now have warm safe places to call home, a strong perimeter wall and magical defenders. It’s a far cry from a tent in the forest in winter surrounded by enemies.’ She felt a surge of magic and glanced round; Jim had just returned to human form and was casually dressing. Drako’s grip tightened and she felt his sudden jealousy that she should be seeing Jim unclothed. She turned and raised a brow at Drako. ‘I haven’t seen that much of you yet, spoilsport.’
‘Just because he’s a show-off, doesn’t mean I want to be,’ Drako told her.
‘I like your bear, remember,’ she told him, also aware he now didn’t want her to be comparing his body to Jim’s. He was dark haired and bore the scars of combat. Jim wa
s blonde and his powerful body unmarked by hardship. She wrapped her arm about him sending him her assurance that she found him very attractive indeed.
Trent observed the way his son was looking at the pretty girl and knew he was smitten. He sighed and glanced at the other woman, now no longer in cat form. She was a striking young woman. The young man by her side had a tangible aura of power about him, especially in lion form. Trent nodded to them equally. They were remarkably young to be in charge but he had not seen any signs of chaos or mismanagement so far and a lion animal indicated a strong personality, as did her panther.
‘I would see our people now,’ Trent said to his son. ‘Would you like to join us?’ he added persuasively to Cassy.
Cassy met Drako’s eyes, asking what he preferred, before agreeing. ‘I’ll just get my coat,’ she said quickly and hurried out the door.
‘Why choose a wizard?’ Trent asked.
‘She chose me only a few days ago. There is only one single animus female here and she’s a doe. I think Gerald took a shine to her.’
‘Ah,’ Trent murmured. ‘Not much to choose from this time then. Hang on, you said single. So there are other women here?’
‘Yes, a wolf and a fox. They’re both in steady relationships already and now I’ve met Cassy I’m not looking anymore,’ Drako added with finality.
‘But this is a relationship of only a few days?’ Trent asked in concern.
‘Yes. The clan all know her, but not yet as my chosen,’ Drako added.
‘How do they know her then?’
‘I designed many of the interiors to their homes,’ Cassy replied coming up behind Trent who hadn’t noticed her re-enter the room and approach. ‘Come and see,’ she added. Drako moved forward to take her hand and they left the room, leaving Trent to follow or not.
‘Hi Jasper, this is Drako’s father Lord Trent visiting,’ Cassy said entering the planning room as it had become known. ‘I’m just showing him the plans you drew up for everyone’s house,’ she added and gestured at the festooned walls.
‘I thought you said that wizard Jim built the houses for our people?’ Trent queried his son.
‘He did, but he needed a plan to work from,’ Drako explained. ‘Jasper designed the buildings according to what our people wanted. See here the smithy, stonemasons’ workshop, sawmill and the carpentry shop. Jasper designed the exterior and Cassy spoke with each family and found out their preferences for their interior layout. Do you see this second plan here? Only once a design had been finalised and the clan had seen and approved it, was it built. Jim can create a complete building in an afternoon, but only by using the strength of all the wizard students. So in effect, you could say that all the wizards here have helped build our people’s homes. All we had to do was assemble the raw materials first.’ Drako fished in his pocket and pulled out his own list. ‘Look, here’s the list of materials for my house. This is the plan,’ he added moving over to it on the wall.
Trent examined the elegant picture shown, then the detailed plans covering the walls of this room. ‘There’s a lot of work been done here,’ he conceded, rather shocked at the depth of co-operation that had taken place here between the resident wizards and his clan. ‘Thank you,’ he added to the young wizard and then he turned to Cassy with another sincere acknowledgement. He returned to the walls and looked at each plan curiously. Then nodded and left the room, Drako and Cassy following. ‘So you live in the village in a house of your own?’
‘Yes. It’s only been built a week, so I haven’t got it properly furnished yet. But it’s nice to have solid walls around me,’ Drako admitted. He hoped that Cassy would come to him soon, that they would banish each other’s loneliness. It was still too soon for that though and he had to get approval for such a step. She walked between them, her hand in his. She met his gaze with a smile of reassurance. She was the one bolstering him and the top of her head only came to his shoulder!
In the village, he visited several clan members, showing his father the impressive kiln and pottery, the blacksmith’s workshop and talk to various people.
‘Wizard Cassy, how nice to see you,’ Bruce the blacksmith said warmly. He had noticed Drako and his father standing just outside the open window deep in conversation and only she came inside, probably to give them a chance to talk privately. Lord Trent however, and Drako too, were watching over her rather closely. ‘I’ll need some assistance with my place when you’ve got a minute,’ he added.
‘You’re next on the list, Bruce,’ Cassy assured him. ‘This is where you’re making the windows?’ she asked spotting the white stone block in a clean part of the workshop that was in marked contrast to the metalworking side.
‘Yes.’
‘What are these?’ she gestured at smooth metal sheets now resting on the stone, with loose straight metal strips stacked to one side.
‘I have been experimenting. Wood and stone are not ideal to mould molten glass. Look, these metal frames slot together at right angles in these notches. I can make two sizes of pane now. Metal’s a far better material to work with than wood, which does of course start to burn if you pour the liquid glass into it directly.’
‘What a wonderful idea. That does seem a better way of doing it, safer too.’
‘It’s certainly that. I’ve got loads of orders stacked up,’ he said gesturing at a labelled stack of window frames.
‘I’m not surprised Bruce, you make a good job of them,’ she said warmly and returned to Drako.
Her praise pleased Bruce, but he was more interested in her relationship with Drako. Drako took her hand, drawing her close and they looked at each other more than casually. He watched from the window as they walked away towards Drako’s house. The two men walked with Cassy between them, but her hand remained in Drako’s. Clearly, Drako was not hiding his affection for her in his father’s presence.
‘What’s this here?’ Trent asked as they turned off the main village street up a side lane to climb a hillock. An open area flanked the lane on either side but seemed to have many large odd lumps covered in snow.
‘That’s where the wolves’ houses will be. They are the last houses to be built now. That’s Freddie’s house, partly done, nearest mine. Those lumps are the piles of stone, tile and brick that the other wolves are gathering to build their homes. This is my house,’ Drako added gesturing up the hill.
Trent eyed the inviting looking house situated in a prominent position on the hill. There were extensive trees behind on the slope but mainly to its left. That, and the way it was set back, gave it privacy and plenty of outside space. Its unusual style was particularly intriguing. ‘It’s quite different from the other houses in the village. Why?’
‘Amelie designed it instead of Jasper. She and Jim were born in the Southlands across the sea. Cassy designed the interior,’ he added wrapping an arm around her. Both women had seemed to know what he would like better than he did.
‘It’s not as big as the other buildings, why?’ Trent asked wondering if his son had been slighted.
‘They have large workshops, this does not. This suits me very nicely,’ Drako added and led the way inside. He showed them both around the rooms downstairs, what few additions he had already made.
‘And what's upstairs?’ Trent asked.
Drako avoided Cassy’s eyes and led the way up the stairs and into the main bedroom. He turned to watch her reaction.
Trent laughed suddenly; his son had built a huge luxurious bed covered in warm furs. A row of hooks for his few clothes was all the room otherwise contained. Doubtless the priority in his choice of furniture building had been with this young woman in mind. None of the other rooms had any furniture but they were dry and pleasant. Fine views were visible through the sunny yellow glass. Downstairs the furniture consisted of a single wooden chair. A chunk of log sat opposite, indicating that it was also in use as occasional seating.
Drako revived the fire to a cheery blaze in the main living room and sat down on the log with his
father already in the lone chair.
‘Back in a moment,’ Cassy said to him. She knew Drako wanted her close but she didn’t think it appropriate to be sitting on his knee or be between him and his father. She went outside and eyed the big stack of firewood just outside the side door. She had been experiencing for weeks now exactly what Jim did to convert raw materials into useful objects and decided it was worth a try. She carefully visualised what she wanted and asked the wood to assume that shape. She laughed happily and met Drako’s astonished eyes watching through the window.
He came out immediately and stared at the twin seat wooden bench she had just created.
‘You just built this for me? You are amazing,’ he said softly and kissed her brow aware his father was doubtless watching his every move. He carried the bench inside and gladly shoved the block of wood out of the way. She trotted back down the stairs with a thick red deer pelt from his bed, which she draped over the bare hard wood. Now they could sit side by side, an attitude Drako relished.
‘You are talented,’ Trent acknowledged.
After some intent questioning by Trent on her views, where she came from and also her family’s views on animus, Cassy rose to her feet.
‘Now if you gentlemen will excuse me, I’ll leave you both to catch up properly.’ She noticed Drako’s disappointment; he would far rather spend time with her than his father. Nevertheless, Trent was here, and not saying very much of substance in her presence. ‘I have classes I’m meant to be in,’ she reminded him. ‘I’ve another eight of your people’s homes to design too. See you later?’
‘Yes,’ Drako agreed quickly. She stroked back his hair affectionately, nodded to Trent and left. Drako followed her to the door and watched her walk carefully down the icy hill and turn into the village. She raised a hand acknowledging someone in the village, although who it was he could not see. He wished he could go and join her; anything other than be alone with his father’s critical presence. He caught sight of her as she left the village and turned left onto the drive. She walked briskly, her hands deep in her pockets. She paused and turned to look across to his house, clearly visible on the hill, and raised her hand in a small wave. Drako wondered if she could feel he was watching, or just guessed. Either way, he felt warmed by the gesture. He glanced aside realising his father had silently risen and was watching him watch her. Drako reluctantly left the window but did not sit until Cassy had safely entered the house. He did not like the thought of her walking the grounds alone, especially when they had so many enemies who might slip in unnoticed.
Clan Green Bear: Wizards of White Haven Page 7
