Trickster Noir (Pixie for Hire Book 2)

by Cedar Sanderson

  “Only you and I know, and her, of course.”

  Mark’s ears perked, metaphorically. “The library?” He looked back and forth between us.

  Alger shook his head. “This is a deep dark secret. Family business.”

  I broke in. “Tell him. If he’s your new apprentice he may need to know, and Ash is family.”

  Ash looked pleased around the cookie he was eating. Mark looked nonplussed. “Apprentice?”

  “That’s what they call it around here, when you are learning. Especially from him, the greatest living wizard.” I kept my tone dry, trying not to betray my misgivings. Apprenticeship with Alger had a high price, and I had almost paid the highest price.

  “To help Lom teach Bella magic, I sent a spell with a library wrapped up in it. She wasn’t supposed to be able to reach anything but the instructional books,” he shrugged, “Well, she has access to everything. More, I think, than I do, anymore.”

  “What?” I didn’t believe that.

  He shook his head, and sat back, stroking his beard with his good hand. “I am not at the height of my powers any longer. There are... I’m not sure I can explain. It’s a physical place, you know?”

  “No, I didn’t know that.” I’d heard her describe looking for books, and handling them, but I had assumed it was a way of mentally dealing with the magic involved, especially when she was so new to it all.

  “I didn’t build it. I found it, as a young man.”

  There had to be a story there. I could see the faint shift of his eyes, his body reading discomfort to me, but the others didn’t see it, I thought.

  “And then I added to it, any books I found, cataloged and tagged for retrieval. Wound all that up into a single spell like making a ball of yarn.” He pulled a pipe out of a robe pocket and started the lighting process. Again, he was avoiding parts of the story.

  “That’s what I gave Bella. The thing is, I’m not able to reach some of the areas in the library any longer. They are... blocked,” he shrugged. “I haven't gone back to the library itself, to see if shelves collapsed, or if the tagging came undone.”

  “Why not?” Mark asked.

  “It’s too dangerous.” Alger looked at me. “Lom, she can reach things I can’t. I asked her enough questions, and she was able to just.. pluck them out of the library and answer from books that are barred to me. And this has been gradually creeping further from one corner of the library inward. I’m losing it, m’boy.”

  He looked grey, and defeated, and very old. I didn’t believe a word of it. “If you can’t, why can Bella? And what is so dangerous about the library?”

  “She’s strong. I don’t think any of us know how strong she is. Last time I saw anything approaching this level of ability was...” He shut his lips on the pipe and drew, then blew smoke rings, which chased one another around our heads.

  “Was what, Alger?” Ash knew him perhaps the least of us, Mark having spent some weeks with Alger now.

  Alger shook his head. “Lom, dealing with the council is easy enough. Just out yell them.”

  “If you’re talking about Duke Mulvaney, then the answer is sure, but you get to be my mouthpiece.”

  I knew we weren’t going to get an answer out of him on the other topic. Ash had caught my eye a minute ago and subsided. Alger’s mouth dropped open, and he barely caught his falling pipe. While he was fumbling with it, I permitted myself a smile. It wasn’t often I got to astonish my esteemed who-knows-how-many great-uncle.

  “Eh? What?” he managed finally.

  “I can’t sit in Council. Right now, I’m not strong enough. Later, I intend to be too busy. Devon’s too young, and I have other plans for him. Who else?”

  He got a gleam in his eye that did not bode well for the politicians of Court. “Well, well, m’boy.” He beamed, and started to say something else, but I cut him off.

  “I am tired. I am going to go rest. Ash, you’re in charge of the kitchen until Ellie relieves you. Mark, could you...”

  He stood and went with me to the stairs. “Need a hand?”

  “I don’t think so, but... could you follow me up so if I do fall? And I’m going to be slow, dammit.”

  Mark nodded. “Don’t push yourself on account of me. You’re still sicker ‘n a dog, and pride goes before a fall.” He pointed at the stairs and grinned.

  I laughed and held onto the handrail. Same as the armory stairs, taking three or four, then stopping a bit. He patiently paced me. At the top of the stairs, I leaned against a wall to catch my breath.

  “Alger’s an odd one.” Mark leaned his shoulder against the wall. “He puts on this front...”

  I nodded. “Don’t believe it.”

  “Oh, I can see through it. He reminds me of Bob, sometimes, lots of bluff and bluster. But there is a core of steel.”

  I nodded and headed for my room. “Do you want to be his apprentice?”

  “Yeah, I suppose. I’m learning a lot, things I never dreamed possible, and it’s all fascinating. He’s a cranky old bastard, but not mean.”

  I waved him in and we sat at my table. “I was his apprentice, as a kid.”

  “I’d heard.” He cocked his head at me. “You had an accident?”

  “You could say that. Anyway, the point is, don’t let him run roughshod over you. He’s powerful, more than he makes out, and can be capricious. Stand up to him and he’ll respect you for it.”

  “Makes sense. I’m going to get out of here, though. You are drooping.”

  I supposed I was. “I’ll see you at dinner.”

  “If you don’t sleep through it.”

  I made a face. “I’m supposed to be getting on a regular schedule.”

  He laughed. “Bella, now, she’s one I wouldn’t want to cross.”

  Political Maneuvering

  Mark closed the door behind him and I let my droop happen. I’d been putting it off, but the fatigue was pulling me down. Bed beckoned. I slept a couple of hours, and wakened to a knock at my door.

  “moment...” I rolled out of bed and reached for my pants. Ellie’s voice came through the door.

  “Dinnertime, want it here or in the kitchen?”

  “Kitchen.” I scratched my bare chest and contemplated my toes for a minute. I’d taken the time to strip down to preferred sleeping gear - that is, nothing, and it was a chore to put real clothes back on. But who knew what company would be down there. I’d never run around the house in only skin, out of courtesy for Ellie, but I didn’t wear much, some days.

  The stairs were not a pleasant thought, I got to the top and glared balefully down them. And I wasn’t much happier when someone bubbled me and I popped out in the kitchen.

  “Don’t do that!” I snapped, staggering slightly. The bubble had gone down a couple inches short of the floor and that meant it wasn’t Ellie or Alger, who were both experts. “I can make it down the stairs on my own, dammit!”

  I didn’t see either Mark or Ash, my two suspects, just a startled Ellie.

  “Lom...” She started, standing.

  “It’s ok, I know it wasn’t you. Where are they?”

  “Upstairs, I think, they ate already.”

  I looked at the food and decided the lecture would wait until after I had eaten. “Any messages?” I asked as I took the plate she handed me.

  “Bella won’t be home until, as she said, past your bedtime, but she will look in on you, she promises. Also, she says Council went well, and your mother seems to have other plans well in hand.”

  I could guess what that meant. “And?”

  “The king requests your presence, if you are able, at a private audience tomorrow early.”

  “Ah...” I’d been waiting for that shoe to drop. “Can you respond for me with an affirmative?”

  Ellie nodded and then left the kitchen. I really needed to get Devon and explain to him how he was going to help me. I’d write a note after dinner, I didn’t feel up to trying to chat with him. He was a teenager, no doubt the Manor was fully w
ifi equipped, even if there wasn’t flush plumbing yet. Meeting with the king would mean taking up my ducal banner, as it were. Which also meant unpleasantries, like calling on the other dukes, and parties. I finished my meal, but I had lost my appetite.

  Composing various notes and letters consumed my time until the big library clock chimed an hour Bella had designated my bedtime. I wasn’t tired, I thought, until I stood up and then it hit me. Now, I could use the transport help.

  Evidently Ellie had given them a piece of her mind, though, and I tackled the up-stairs in the slow rhythm I’d developed. I was fully ready for bed, and didn’t even need ‘The Tytles and Duties of Elleria’ in order to fall asleep.

  In the morning, I got ready to go see the king. I hated this, needing to wait for someone to show up and ‘give me a ride’ as it were. I had to take it on faith that Bella had been home at all, I had missed her when I awakened in the morning and had slept through any nighttime visit. She had left another note for me to read with breakfast, and I hoped to catch her at Court today.

  “Ready?” Joe’s voice broke into my reverie. I had been sitting in the library trying to read, and hadn’t even heard him come in.

  “Yeah, I guess so.” I got up and went to him, so he could bubble us both. “How is he?”

  “Practically giddy. Bella is a powerhouse, and the Council is running scared.”

  I grunted a laugh. That didn’t surprise me a bit. “I’ll shake it up a bit more today, then.”

  “How’re you?” He eyeballed me closely.

  “Alive. Getting back on my feet.” I shrugged. “Be happier when the hectic times are past.”

  He dropped me off right in front of the small meeting room where I had so often met Corwin, King Trytion, in the past. Hard to believe I’d actually miss those more carefree missions, now. I raised my hand to knock and the door opened to reveal a smiling Bella in court dress.

  I stepped in and looked around the otherwise empty room. “I’m not complaining, but...”

  “You’re still meeting with him, but he was held up and said I should come entertain you until he could get here.”

  I waggled my eyebrows at her suggestively. “Sadly, since we don’t know if he will be a moment, or an hour, I can’t follow up as I want to.”

  She laughed, and led the way to the comfortable chairs, arranged around a small table laden with food and drink.

  “Now, this is not normal.” I pointed out. “We will occasionally have a cup of coffee, and even rarer, something to knock the dust off...” three times that I recalled, all of which had been bad missions. Stories for another time.

  She poured me a cup of coffee. “It was like this when I got here, and Lady Dahlia said it was to refresh us.”

  “Lady Dahlia?” I sat and took the cup, then patted my knee. She grinned hard enough to make her dimples show, and perched in my lap.

  “Let me know if I squish you.” Bella tucked her head onto my shoulder.

  “You’re not that heavy, at least for a while.”

  She giggled. “Lady Dahlia is my lady-in-waiting here at the Court. As I understand it, she’s something between a secretary and receptionist. It’s a little... no, a lot weird, and I don’t know her at all, so I don’t know that I can trust her. But I don’t know anyone, besides your family, and Joe, and his son, and Dorothy.”

  “So ask Dorothy.” I sipped the coffee. A decent brew, a touch weak, but it wasn’t exactly popular here at Court, I was happy to get it at all.

  “Could I? I didn’t know if she had school, or...” she fluttered her fingers. “I just don’t know enough.”

  “Which is precisely why you should get Dorothy to help. As for school, we handle that a bit differently Underhill. Life is... slower, because we are so much longer-lived than humans.”

  “I can see how that would change, yes. Will Lady Dahlia feel put out if I have Dorothy join us?”

  “Lady Dahlia will be put out if you don’t have several someones join your entourage. More for her to boss around. But start with Dorothy. Helping you will be a wonderful chance for her to learn more about life above. Which I can assure you she’s fascinated with.”

  “Hm... that’s a fair bargain, then. And gives me someone close to me at Court I can talk to.” She nuzzled my neck and then sat up a bit. “How are you feeling?”

  “Pretty good.” I proved it with my fingers, making her wriggle as I found a tickle spot.

  “Will you be at Court, then?”

  I shook my head. “Sorry, honey, I know you want company, but I have made arrangements for my council seat.”

  “Oh?” She kissed my ear. “I never quite get used to your ears being pointed.”

  Amused, I responded, “Yours are too, Bella.”

  “But they don’t feel that way. And I don’t look at them. I look out through my eyes and don’t see myself. You didn’t answer my question.”

  “I know. I’ll tell you both when the king shows up. As for me, I am going to try to get better faster, which means more exercise and letting Ellie fatten me up.”

  “I approve of that plan. I can still take you to parties sometimes, and Dean others. It may make people talk, though.”

  I laughed out loud. “All of Faerie is talking about you, Belladonna my love.”

  “And they will keep talking about it if you two carry on like this in public.” Corwin’s voice broke in on us, sounding like he was about to burst into laughter.

  Bella jumped up off my lap, blushing deeply like a teenager caught being naughty. Now I did laugh. “Bella, we are to be married, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. And we have had little enough time together.” I shot the king a mock reproachful look.

  Bella gathered her composure as the king sat in a chair. “Tea, and how shall I address you? I still feel a little odd calling you my lord.”

  “Well, no.” Corwin pointed at me, “that’s his title once he has you bound up in marriage.”

  Bella looked startled and he started laughing helplessly. “No... I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist. In private, call me Corwin, and yes, tea please.”

  She poured for him and brought the coffee pot to me. “Do I really have to...?”

  “No, you don’t. I’m your partner, not your ruler. Someone has an atrocious sense of humor.” Now I did glare at him, but he just leaned back and sipped his tea, his eyes twinkling over the rim. He was enjoying this far too much. We weren’t having a Court flirtation, we really did love one another, and for some reason Corwin both found this funny and was fostering it.

  “I’m sure you didn’t bring me here to ask me about my intentions toward Bella.” He really was acting parental, which was both hilarious and oddly reassuring. “And I’m equally certain you want us in this meeting together for a reason.”

  The king sobered and leaned forward, setting his cup on the table. “I need to call on you as Duke Mulvaney, Lom. The Council is problematic. I don’t know if this is a remnant of the late Queen’s influence, or something more sinister.” He paused, and I know all three of us were remembering the traitorous human, Jenny, and her efforts to bring Court to an end. Low Court was...

  “Did I kill the Low King?” I asked abruptly.

  This startled him. “Yes. You didn’t know?”

  “I wasn’t sure. I mean, yeah, I got him square in the chest with a shotgun slug, but there are ways. Which Low Court would stoop to.”

  He nodded. “No, he was very dead. Which is why the Hunt wanted you. And Low Court still wants your hide, I might add.”

  “So what else is new? Both of them have hunted me since I started... hunting for you.” I looked at Bella, who was calmly listening. I still didn’t know that I was the best choice for her, but I was past denying what she wanted, as I did, too.

  “The Council is becoming openly defiant. I fear they will make our life difficult.”

  “And that someone sitting on it has a touch more of the Low Court than the High?”

  He nodded. “Your presence would be...�
� he pursed his lips, looking for a diplomatic wording.

  I put it bluntly. “I’m your strong-arm, and they know it.”

  “Yes. Bella is seen both as strong, and weak. They know she is magically powerful, but uneducated as to our ways, and they will both court her and try to undermine her.”

  She wrinkled her nose like she was smelling something bad. “I know this.” She sounded calm, but I knew how she felt about politics.

  I suppressed a maniacal laugh as I answered him, “Sorry, Corwin, no can do.”

  “What?” He looked confused. He hadn’t expected a blunt denial of his request. And admittedly, over the years I had never said no, flat out.

  “I offer instead a substitute for my seat, to speak with my voice, or rather, that of Duke Mulvaney.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Lucia?”

  I shook my head. “Alger Mulvaney.”

  His eyes got big and his jaw dropped. He started to bluster, “You’d saddle me with that cranky, contrary old...” Corwin stopped dead, and then leaned back in the chair with a huge grin on his face.

  “That magnificent bastard.” I finished. “Talk about having the Council running scared. They will stop looking at you and Bella, when we drop the cat amongst the sparrows.”

  “He’ll still be a pain in my...” he glanced at Bella and amended his language, “behind. Which I can live with.”

  “But he’ll be more painful to them, let me assure you.” I let my tone go dry as dust. “And it will have him out of my hair. He has a very unusual apprentice, did you know?”

  “I have had the pleasure of meeting Bella’s cousin Mark, yes. Briefly, but he seems to have his head on his shoulders solidly.”

  I nodded, “I don’t know him much better, but yes, he seems to have sense. Might be good for the old man.”

  Bella spoke up. “Mark is very solid, yes. His practical side is a bit shaken by discovering that not only is there magic, but he can use it, but I don’t expect that to go to his head.”

  “Good, that’s settled. I can still make more... informal personal appearances, but I don’t want to sit on the Council, Corwin.”