‘Impressive,’ Lord Aubrey remarked as they left the noisy and burning hot smithy. He couldn’t help noticing that the boy hadn’t stopped working the bellows to keep the furnace coals glowing orange, even with strangers in his midst. Two youths also continued working at separate tasks alongside the burly smith, creating a dreadful din as they each hammered the glowing metal on their anvil into particular shapes. The smith, briefly introduced as Bruce, did pause to acknowledge the small crowd entering his shop, but also continued working the long length of glowing metal before him. It was clear they were working to some kind of urgent deadline. Aubrey was well aware that a smith could only work metal when it remained hot and malleable so he didn’t engage the smith in conversation but allowed him to continue. He did however notice the smith nod respectfully to the young blonde woman who had come closer and now seemed to be accompanying them on the tour. From the glance passed her way, he surmised she was someone of importance in the village and certainly Jim seemed to accept her presence.
While they were given a tour of the bakery and his guards were distracted by the sight and scents of fresh baking, Lord Aubrey gestured Jim aside.
‘Is Drako here at the moment?’ he asked quietly and noticed Jim’s immediate frown of concern. ‘These are his people, are they not?’
‘What makes you think that?’ Jim asked, keeping his voice low too.
‘After your visit last winter, one of my patrols spotted you driving the wagon across the river in the snow,’ Aubrey explained. ‘I recognized him in the party that had come to meet you.’
‘Ah.’ Jim glanced at the men briefly, making sure none had moved back into earshot.
‘I don’t think anyone else recognized him in the background. It has been years since anyone has seen him and you were taking centre stage!’ Aubrey noticed Jim’s direct gaze and whilst he felt no intrusion, he wondered if this wizard had indeed just read his mind.
‘Cassaria,’ Jim said, aware he was surprising her with use of her full name. ‘Is your husband in right now?’
‘Husband?’ Aubrey repeated softly and noticed the bakers had glanced up alertly too. Jim was now looking at the blonde woman in the direct way Aubrey was beginning to recognize meant they were mentally conversing. She must therefore be a wizard, but Drako had married her?
‘If I may, my lady, I would like to see him while I’m here,’ Aubrey said to her directly. She glanced sidelong at his guardsmen and raised a brow at him inquiringly. He nodded understanding to which she inclined her head discreetly.
‘This way, my Lord,’ Cassy invited, gesturing to the door and he joined her swiftly. ‘Get inside Drako,’ she urged mentally, aware he preferred his vantage point of the shady swing-seat where he had a wonderful vista and a partial view of his village.
‘Ah, your guard companions,’ Aubrey remarked to Jim, recognising the tall men emerging from the cottages flanking this steep little lane. That Jim had been allowed to borrow Drako’s personal security force meant they must feel safe here and showed an amazing level of co-operation.
‘Indeed.’
Persuading his guardsmen to remain outside the house when they were not allowed to check it first for hidden dangers obviously didn’t sit well with his men, but they obeyed, partially because Curtis and Jim were going with him.
Cassaria opened the front door and invited Jim and Aubrey inside, closing it gently but firmly in his men’s curious faces.
Aubrey followed her into the house and through into a spacious living room, carefully closing the door behind her. He glanced around a large room, simply furnished but remarkably restful. It felt warm and inviting and the views from the unusual pale yellow tinted windows were panoramic. A tall, broad shouldered figure stepped through from the room at the back and into his sight.
‘My Lord,’ Drako said quietly and bowed. ‘Welcome to my home.’
‘It is you!’ Aubrey exclaimed, only just remembering to keep his voice down. He hugged the young man who had been his squire, realising as he did so that Drako was a very solidly muscled man now rather than the lanky youth he had once been. ‘I’m so very glad to see you.’ He stepped back and Drako invited him with a gesture to be seated.
Cassy went through to the kitchen to prepare refreshments and Jim went with her, allowing the two men to talk. She nodded at Dustin, discreetly watching through the dining room window, while Rupert kept an eye on the soldiers at the front. She knew the soldiers recognized Rupert and probably all the pack and that it had not escaped their understanding that their Lord was privately meeting someone of importance here with Jim. She heard a guffaw and recognized Lord Aubrey’s voice, and glanced through at them. Drako too was laughing about something, but he was far less audible. She glanced at Dustin and noticed his pose was less anxious; he would have heard that laughter too, and perhaps even what had triggered it. Jim settled on the stool in the kitchen by the back door and smiled at her encouragingly. She put a mug before him, glad he had taken the awkwardness away by giving them a chance to talk privately.
She set a tray out on the small table before them and was relieved to watch Lord Aubrey curl his large fingers around a mug and sit back clasping it, not offended to be served in something as mundane as a pottery mug. The pastries she’d asked for whilst at the bakery were clearly a success too, for moments after their appearance on the table, only crumbs remained. She was a little apprehensive to sit facing this Lord as though she was his equal. It had felt simpler when she’d merely been a part of the crowd. Now however, she could no longer put off sitting beside Drako and meeting Lord Aubrey’s assessing gaze.
‘I’d like you to meet my wife, Cassaria,’ Drako said formally.
‘Honoured to meet you, lady Cassaria,’ Aubrey responded rising so she would. He took her hand and kissed it near the wedding ring on her finger. The subtly designed ring gave the impression of age, and had been beautifully crafted. This then was probably an heirloom. In fact, it seemed vaguely familiar. She had to look up to meet his gaze since she was relatively small, but she boldly did so. She was very attractive and, first impressions to the contrary, neither timid nor slow of wit. ‘Please forgive me for asking, but do your parents know who you have married?’
‘They do indeed. They did of course have initial reservations in my choice, but that was before they met him for real. They have also met his father and everyone seemed to get along,’ she added with a small smile to Drako.
‘They did?’ Aubrey queried in surprise.
‘My father is a wizard of some standing. Of course Lord Trent would befriend him,’ she explained blandly.
‘I imagine he would, yes,’ Aubrey chuckled. It was good to hear Trent had not fallen into depression but was still interested in political manoeuvring and planning for a brighter future for his people. Doubtless Drako and his new bride had quite a hand in that positivity, alongside this safe refuge. ‘I suppose I’d better get going before my men decide to come in to check on me. It relieves my mind greatly to see you happily settled Drako. May good fortune smile on you,’ he added and headed out the door.
***
‘Why did Lord Aubrey insist on seeing you?’ Jim asked Drako mentally as he followed Aubrey from the house to return back up to the school.
‘You know I was his squire for a time?’
‘Yes, you mentioned that and that he later went out of his way to help you escape detection to return to your family,’ Jim said. ‘I’ve never understood what motivated him to do that, aside from believing it the fair thing to do.’
‘We are distantly related,’ Drako told him.
‘Ah, that explains much. He’d be a bear too, I’d imagine, if he had the ability.’
‘His branch of the family have never had the active animus ability. Some years before the persecution of our people began; his father and my grandfather had a serious falling out. The families never publicly made up, because by the time we privately did, it suited us all to allow people to forget the link.’
Lord Aubrey too, was reminiscing as he walked. Seeing Drako had brought back so many memories. He wondered how Trent fared; he hadn’t dared ask where he was living now. It was enough to know Trent was still regarded as an important part of the family and the Clan Green Bear people as a whole. Clearly he was still alive and well somewhere and probably nearby. Aubrey was glad for Drako’s happiness and relieved that he was finally safe and settled. Hearing that he’d been hounded, attacked and his people hurt had been particularly hard for Aubrey to stomach. He’d had his hands tied, watched too closely to be able to intervene.
Lord Trent was Aubrey’s second cousin. He remembered the rift between their families, which had come about from a simple miscommunication that had disastrous consequences. Aubrey’s father had failed to hear and therefore come to Clan Green Bear’s aid in time to make a difference in the crown’s earliest persecution, which led to a serious falling out. That family anger was in part fuelled by frustration as they watched the crown’s troops gain footholds in their neighbouring territories, thinning Clan Green Bear’s allies one by one. That weakening of support subsequently led to Féarmathuin Castle’s destruction. The cousins eventually discovered they had both been duped, fed lies to divide and weaken their relative positions. Trent had hunted down the traitor responsible, and thus they turned their anger where it truly belonged. By that time however, the damage had been done, but the public rift in the family had some unforeseen benefits.
Lord Aubrey’s side of the family had originally split off because his great grandfather only had latent animus ability. His bride had no magical ability whatsoever and so the magic in their line dwindled generation after generation as they continued to dilute it with plain humans. In contrast, Clan Green Bear were proud of their animus ability and ensured they married other animus to keep themselves strong. Now, it was barely remembered that Lord Trent and Lord Aubrey were related, however distantly.
When Drako was old enough to be apprenticed, Lord Trent had approached Lord Aubrey, knowing he would train the boy as a squire, incidentally giving him the knowledge of etiquette and society that his father could no longer provide. Drako had flourished under Aubrey’s wing and the families had secretly regained closer ties once more. Another reason for that was the tragedy of Aubrey’s family. His beloved wife had died in childbirth but had left him a son. Drako shared the same dark hair and eyes as Julian, but there the resemblance ended. Julian was raised by a succession of tutors, who all had one thing in common; their failure to instil respect or obedience into the arrogant boy. One of the many things father and son did not agree on was their animus heritage. Julian thought his blood had been tainted and whilst believing his father had done the right thing in choosing a non-animus bride, he did not like to be reminded of it. Drako’s presence had been a particular thorn in his side. Drako had effortlessly befriended many of the warriors and in particular the animus patrollers, despite his comparative youth. Julian knew Drako possessed “unnatural” strength and speed advantages over “pure” humans and thus he never confronted him directly. Julian avoided him as much as possible and seemed to prefer spending most of his time away at school.
When Julian returned for holidays however, he made no secret of his annoyance that Drako would be “lurking” somewhere. He had even smiled on hearing how widespread dislike of animus was becoming and that it was turning to hate. Aubrey now knew Julian had been behind writing to the crown enforcers and getting backing for the directive he’d subsequently received to fire all his animus staff. Julian had also made particular reference to Lord Trent’s son’s whereabouts. He’d been livid when Drako managed to evade capture. However, his letters had not gone unnoticed and Julian himself was now in demand. Without a backward look he left Cedar Castle and his father, having applied to become a crown enforcer. Unfortunately, his new career was cut short only months later when he underestimated an animus adversary and was killed.
Lord Aubrey was completely alone. His son had been a disappointment, but he’d been his son and only heir. Now however, he had a chance to rekindle contact with Drako who had been more of a son to him than Julian and to get to know his new wife.
‘Let me know when your Inn is built. I’m curious as to how you’re planning on policing the bar. Besides, I now have people to visit,’ Aubrey added quietly. What he really hoped was to be able to meet up with Trent. They hadn’t seen each other for far too long and Aubrey missed having someone of like mind to talk to. Meeting up in a lively bar environment was far more appealing than his silent formal dining hall. Drako had the right idea in the design of his house; it was definitely a welcoming home and of course he had a wife to come home to as well.
27. Camouflage
Jim stood silently, sending his senses out towards the village, seeking a particular person: hmm not there. He turned and scanned in the opposite direction and finally found the signature of the person he wanted and thereby his location. It was early morning and the school was quiet, with the majority of its populace in their first class of the day. Glancing out the window Jim sighed and pulled on his coat. He nodded to the workers tending the plants in the glasshouse on his way through and then was outside. Low clouds lay heavily overhead from which an annoying drizzle seeped. Thick banks of wet mist obscured visibility and gave every view a sinister feel. Turning his collar up and buttoning his coat, he grumbled to himself about his wayward imagination and walked quickly.
The path that he’d been concerned was becoming too clear was still quite overgrown. Long grass snaking around his ankles quickly soaked his trousers and the bushes he had to brush past seemed to delight in offloading their burden of raindrops on him. He pushed a larger branch aside and what felt like an entire bucket of water dropped on his head and poured inside his collar, drenching him. Damn! People tended to notice when he used magic and could often pinpoint his location; they might notice he wasn’t in his office. He doubted anyone would bother to follow him outside in this weather however just to discuss some mundane matter. But, enough was enough! He created the quietest shield he could, in terms of magical signature, and then filled it with a hot breeze to dry himself and his clothes. As he walked on he watched with satisfaction as his shield brushed the foliage and the water pattering down now ran in beads and rivulets over an otherwise transparent shield leaving him warm, dry and unaffected. As he stepped out from behind the last of the bushes and into the Portal clearing the men already there jumped and spun to face him.
‘Sorry to make you jump,’ Jim said quickly and came forward so they could see him better and thus put away the weapons they’d drawn. ‘Darius, can I have a word?’
‘Wizard Jim. We didn’t hear or smell you coming. How is that possible?’ Darius asked in consternation and then noticed the very peculiar way the rain was acting around the wizard.
‘As the rain shows, I’m shielded. I got soaked through just a few paces into the trees.’
‘Yes, miserable weather. Useful trick that, although you now have me worried that other wizards could sneak up on us using such a shield. Anyway, what can I do for you?’ He frowned nervously as the water misted shield seemed to move all by itself from between them to hover just above both of their heads. Darius too was now under shelter. ‘Thank you.’
‘I’m concerned that students might come exploring the paths that your people are now creating and find the Portal. As you can imagine, stopping them from gossiping about such a find would be nigh on impossible.’
‘Yes, the same thought has crossed my mind. What can we do? Walking through the same woodland daily is inevitably going to leave tracks and we really need to start using wagons to carry the timber, which will only make it worse.’
‘I think what we need to do is build something to visually camouflage the portal. We also need to have an excuse for why there are people working up here at odd times. I’d also feel better if someone was permanently on site and able to guard it.’
‘I agree,’ Darius responded thoughtfully. ‘You have no p
roblem with us working up here in your space?’
‘Only if it causes me a problem,’ Jim said frankly. ‘The current setup is going to be a problem sooner rather than later. What we all need is for the students to think there is nothing odd going on up here that incites curiosity. Your people also need to be able to come and go openly during the day with carts. Any thoughts?’
‘Yes, actually I think I have a solution. Our bulkiest loads are primarily going to be from the sawmill. I’ve noticed that the village doesn’t have a lumber yard or charcoal maker and with the extra work we’ll need Bruce to do, he really needs more charcoal than the school can currently supply him for his forge. Our camouflage needn’t be a useless building. We have a real need for charcoal and that is an industry often positioned in woodland, has to have someone living on site to supervise the burn, and would explain a large shed full of lumber.’
‘I like it,’ Jim said in relief. ‘Do you have anyone with charcoal making experience?’
Natalya: Wizards of White Haven Page 30
