“Well they would include the Krauss and Wingler Houses from the east, Munsun from down south, and Bahyt. There’s also Branham in the guard of course, and his family,” Rander listed. “There are probably others, but those are the major ones that most of us know about.”
“Does anyone else have any ideas of things we ought to do?” Alec asked.
“Would you like to start putting some of these people to the question with spirit ingenairii?” Chester asked.
“I think that would create a very nasty ruckus here on the hill if we started to just accuse ingenairii of plotting like that,” Bethany said.
“I was thinking more of doing it with the people from the palace,” Chester clarified. “Maybe try kidnapping some of them so they don’t know who has taken them or questioned them, and just probing to see if there is anything they know that confirms our suspicions. It might even be better to get our hands on their servants and other lesser folks who know what they see and hear.”
“Alec, “Rander interrupted, “do you have the resources to hire some ‘followers’ from the city? There are a few former guardsmen who are for hire to do certain activities. Maybe they could persuade some of these servants to come in blindfolded for questions. I think Chester’s idea has some value.”
“You’d be the one to know the followers to select, and you’re the one of us best situated to determine the servants to try first,” Alec said to Rander. “Once we pick one up, we probably should count on the servants telling the masters, and the plotters will know someone is onto them. If we do it we need to do several as quickly as possible before the word gets out.”
“I’ll give you some resources, and you get some names of a dozen or so you think we might learn something from. Appel, do you know enough people from the spirit house you trust to do this in secrecy, if we decide to do it?” Alec turned.
“I would only pick one other person beside myself who I’d vouch for,” Appel replied. “If you’re going to try to question a dozen or so over a day or two period that will be possible for us two, but that’s all you could question.”
“Well, let’s not do anything active yet, but try to get names, and Appel you talk to your friend,” Alec suggested. “Let’s get ready to be able to do something in five days time. Is that possible?”
“I’ll have names of servants who seem closest to these conspirators, or something similar,” Rander said. “I think one of them has a mistress who speaks pretty poorly of him, but not of his money, and we may be able to ask some folks like that questions without fear of being exposed.”
“Alec, I’ll sweet talk my way around the apprentices from fire and metal and warrior to see if I can hear any big, strong ingenairii wanting to impress me with the important things they know,” Bethany said. “It will be a terrible sacrifice of mine, but I’ll do it for you.”
“You are the one I owe the most to, obviously,” Alec told her with a smile.
“Without question,” she agreed.
“All right everyone, thank you all for your help in this. I’m glad I have friends I can count on. Remember, if anything starts to seem dangerous or you think people are becoming suspicious of you, just back off and stop. We don’t need to put anyone in any danger,” Alec told them.
“Alec, for you I’d be willing to do a lot. You’re doing great stuff, bringing back the healer house, helping Cassie,” Appel said.
Everyone agreed, and the party broke up amiably.
As everyone left, Cassie said to Alec, “I feel a lot better about your safety now, knowing that something is working.”
Just then Bethany interrupted them, “Alec, Rander said he’d walk me back to the water house instead of making you go out again. He’s such a sweetie, isn’t he?” she said as she winked at Alec and put her hand on Rander’s arm.
“I am heartbroken, but the better man won,” Alec said mournfully, and they all laughed.
When all the guests were gone and the doors locked, Alec went to bed that night and slept soundly, relieved to have allies at work on his problems.
Chapter 21 – A Night at the Beach
The next morning, after training with Rubicon was finished, Alec returned to healer house and had lunch with Cassie and Hinges. “Cassie, let’s head down to New Port and talk to them about getting a supply of goods we need to have for healing. Are you ready?”
“Yes, I’m ready. I don’t look forward to it this time, but I’m ready,” she replied.
They walked down the hill and through the gate to the village. Although Plad wasn’t there, Alec recognized another fisherman. He and Cassie talked to the fisherman about several items they wanted to buy, and asked if they could be collected and available in three days time, which was agreed to. Alec paid for them in advance.
“Since that was so quick would you like to go visit the woods and see some of the plants I have in mind?” Alec asked Cassie.
“Sure, if you think we have time,” Cassie compliantly agreed.
“We’ll go borrow a horse from the ingenairii’ livery and take a quick ride out into the country,” Alec said, which elicited a squeal of delight from Cassie.
“Alec, could we really ride a horse?” she asked with delight.
“You’ve never ridden one, have you?” Alec suddenly realized.
“No, but they look so strong and beautiful, I’ve imagined how it must feel,” the girl gushed with excitement.
“What are we waiting for then? Let’s go,” Alec said, leading the way towards the livery. They arrived in a few minutes, and Alec arranged for the use of a large roan gelding for the afternoon . Alec had worked with horses as a handler for the circus for many long months, and felt comfortable with all manner of horse activities.
He helped Cassie mount, and then mounted behind her, keeping his hands on the reins with hers, and letting her watch and feel the pleasure of traveling through the world from on top of a moving platform.
They worked their way out of the city, and along country lanes until Alec saw a range of wooded hills that he hoped offered the combinations of sun and shade, moist ravine bottoms and dry ridge tops, and southern and northern exposures he was looking for. Walking the horse into the woods, he tied the roan to a tree with grass nearby to browse on and began walking towards a ravine to follow up to the top of the hill.
As they walked along, Alec began to spot many species he wanted to collect. Stopping by each one he described its characteristics to Cassie, and talked about its medicinal value.
He occasionally found stone or soil outcrops he wanted to note as well. By the time they had gotten most of the way to the top, Alec realized that they had used all the time he planned for that afternoon.
“Let’s get back and open up the house for healing this afternoon, then ride back out here tomorrow morning and collect samples. We’ll bring some sacks and bags and jars to place the samples in so that we can build up and expand what we have back home,” He told Cassie. She was just ahead of him, and slightly above him on a stone, looking down at him as he spoke.
“I’ve never ridden a horse, and never been in a forest before, Alec,” she said softly. “This is a beautiful place. There is such peace and contentment here. What do you think of when you come to a forest?” she asked.
“I remember walking with Noranda, when we were fleeing the destruction of Riverside,” Alec said quietly. “Aristotle was ill, and Natalie and I were with him. Then afterwards, when he was healed, she and I walked and talked with one another. It was a scary time because there were lacertii nearby -- I had to kill one -- but I will always think of forests for that journey, and for finding the sacred cave.” Cassie made no comment as Alec finished his recollection.
“Let’s go back now, and come again tomorrow,” he said, and they walked down the hillside without further talk.
“This is a very good horse,” Alec told Cassie as they remounted. “We’ll have to stop and get some treat for him on our way back. Let me know if you see an orchard or a farm stand.�
��
They did stop and buy some apples, which Alec cut and Cassie fed to their horse in sections, laughing at the feel of the horse’s lips on her hand. “They’re wonderful animals,” Alec told her as they dismounted. “They work hard, they’re intelligent, and they make such great partners.”
After they arrived back at the Ingenaire Hill stables, the two healers walked back to the healers’ house. “Thank you Alec for such a fun afternoon outing,” Cassie said.
“I need to remember just how much you haven’t done yet. We’ll have to make more time for you to experience these types of things,” he told her. “But for now,” he said as the house came into view, “let’s go help make some folks feel better.”
That afternoon they had a moderate but steady flow of patients coming into the house, and the next day, after their visit to the woods in the morning, and Alec’s sword work in the afternoon, they had the same general pattern of visitors as well.
At the end of that day, Alec looked at the funds they had collected. “Hinges, what do you suppose I should do with this money? It seems we probably have to give some back to the Ingenairii Council to help pay our share of the costs here. How much do you suppose that should be?”
“I would guess at least half goes to them,” the housekeeper ventured.
“Alright, I’ll take half of this down to Willis and see if it is enough,” Alec decided, scooping up the coins into a leather bag.
He walked downhill to Aristotle’s house and spoke with Willis. “We’ve been collecting fees at healers’ house for three days now, and wanted to give you the council’s share of the money we’ve made. Is half enough, or do you want more?”
Willis looked at Alec for a moment as though trying to decide if he was being serious or not. “Every house is supposed to give half their earnings to the council, but most of them deduct various expenses and costs and commissions and so on, so that we probably only get a quarter of their earnings, if we send them a reminder every six months or so. Have you made any deductions or other changes in this?” he asked.
“No, we just split our takings in half, and this is your half,” Alec said. “I’ll try to come every month or so if that’s alright and bring our share.”
Willis continued to look at Alec cautiously. “That will be fine,” he said finally.
“On a different note,” he brightened up, “I’ve secured title to the shop you wanted, and it will be yours in two more days. The cost was less than anticipated, and I’ll charge the healers’ house account. When would you like to go look at it?”
“Why don’t we go tomorrow afternoon?” Alec suggested. “Will you go with Cassie and I?”
“The pleasure would be mine,” Willis said sincerely.
Alec returned to the healers’ house and had another of the simple, delicious meals that Hinges took pride in fixing. “My own mother could make a cake out of nothing but water and eggs, it seemed to me,” she recalled. “She taught me everything I know about cooking.”
After dinner Alec began writing a list of the plants he and Cassie had collected, as she sat with him and they went over the descriptions of the plants, where they liked to grow, and the medicinal value they had, as well as how to prepare them.
“Wait,” Alec said with a slap to his forehead. “I started a book of notes about cures and ailments and maladies and treatments. It’s someplace back at the warriors house I think. If I can find it we can add a lot of this to it.” He looked over at her, pleased with the convergence of projects.
A knock came at the door. “Who would be out so late after dark coming here?” Cassie wondered, as Alec went to the door, worried about some terrible injury someone might have suffered.
Several steps away from the door stood Bethany, barely visible in the darkness. “Come on out Alec and Cassie,” she called loudly.
“What are you doing?” Alec asked, dumbfounded.
“About a dozen of us apprentices from different houses are going night swimming at the sand quarry pit on the north foot of the hill,” Bethany explained.
“Neither of us have anything to really wear for swimming,” Alec said.
“Nobody has anything to wear for this! The moon is dark, and we’ve all brought blankets to warm up in after the swim. There’ll be a fire going,” the impetuous girl said, moving closer to the door so that Alec saw her bare legs beneath the blanket she had wrapped around her.
Alec started to say ‘no’ but suddenly remembered the comment he had made to Cassie about letting her try more things she’d never done before. “Cassie, do we have two blankets?” he asked as he turned and looked at her. Unseen by Bethany, he mouthed the words, “Do you want to go?”
“I’m sure we have two blankets,” the girl said with a mischievous smile. Alec was startled, but couldn’t turn back now after Cassie’s unexpected answer.
“Bethany, come inside and wait a minute, while Cassie and I prepare ourselves,” Alec said, holding the door open for the water apprentice to come in.
Minutes later the three of them were walking single file around to a side of the hill Alec had rarely visited before.
“I hear them,” Bethany said softly, as the sound of splashes and whoops became audible.
They rounded a bend in the hillside and they saw a bonfire burning brightly, with its flames reflected off a small pond. “There’s the pit!” Bethany said. “Last one in’s a rotten egg!” She started to fly down the path. “Don’t forget where you leave your blanket!” she advised over her shoulder as they saw her pale form cast her blanket aside a moment before she jumped into the water and yelled at the cold shock.
Alec and Cassie proceeded more cautiously. “Here’re high stones above the water, and there’s a sand beach right over there,” Alec said as he surveyed the shoreline. “Let’s step back and see what folks do.”
They stepped back and saw two others climb up onto the stones and then jump far into the water. A moment later the divers swam over to the beach, ran around to the stones and repeated it.
“Are you game to try?” Alec asked Cassie. “You can let me go in first, then you can jump in; since you don’t know how to swim I’ll help you around.”
“Okay, you lead the way,” she replied.
Alec dropped his blanket, ran to the stones, and propelled himself far out into the air. The drop seemed to be further than he expected, because he felt he was falling for a long time before he suddenly hit the water, and gasped with shock at the numbing coldness. He returned to the surface, sputtering up the water he had accidentally swallowed in his shock, and treaded water waiting for Cassie. He thanked his lucky stars that Leah had taught him to swim during their long journey down the river after Walnut Creek.
Suddenly there was the sound of a splash thirty feet away. He struck out in that direction, and heard the jumper surface, gasping wildly for air. With a couple of quick strokes he was there and placed his arm underneath Cassie, holding her up so she could catch her breath.
She began trying to clutch at him, and he spoke urgently in her ear, “Turn over and lie on your back and let me float you to shore. Just lie flat on your back,” he emphasized again and again.
The panic left her as she felt Alec hold her and she obeyed, allowing Alec to slowly tread them over to the sandy beach to where he was standing in water up to his chest. “Alright, you can stand here now,” he told her.
Cassie flipped over and stood on the sandy bottom. “That was great! Can we go do it again?!”
“Sure, let’s go,” Alec said, making a great effort to not stare at her even though he knew her physique so well after his long treatment of her, and they waded out of the water and back to the stones, picking their way through the darkness.
They jumped two more times, and then paddled around in the shallow water, Alec staying always within arm’s length of Cassie. “Let’s go get our blankets and see who’s up by the fire,” he suggested as he noticed that Cassie seemed to be growing cold.
At the bonfire they f
ound Bethany, Chester, and Appel, who they knew, and others they didn’t know. Bethany made introductions, and everyone talked amicably, including a young stone ingenaire named Tritos, who watched Bethany with eyes that never left her face. A very petite spiritual ingenaire named Kinsey studied Alec silently, making him nervous until he edged away from her with Cassie. Appel came over and stood with Alec and Cassie after a few minutes. “Are you ready to go jumping off the stones again?” Appel asked Cassie.
“I don’t know how to swim on my own,” Cassie said. “Alec waited for me and brought me back to the beach every time. I just float on my back and he tows me ashore,” she laughed, nervously pushing her hair behind her ear.
“I can do that for you,” Appel assured her. “My family grew up on the river and we started swimming when we could crawl.”
“Alright, I’m game,” Cassie said, and the two of them walked off in the dark, their blankets fading away. Alec stood alone by the fire, watchful until two minutes later he spotted two light blurs come up from the beach and run back over to the stones again.
He jumped when a hand touched his shoulder from behind. “Let her go and grow up and she’ll have a good time, Alec,” he heard Bethany say as he turned. “You aren’t going to be her lover, and you can’t be her dad forever. Just trust her to learn about life a little.”
He looked into her green eyes. “Is that how I am with her?”
“Alec, I’ve watched you and I’ve watched her. She wants more from you, but she knows she won’t get it, and you’ve never given her any inappropriate hints to give her false hope that I’ve seen. You do a great job taking care of her and trying to teach her years worth of experience like a father, but everyone has to learn some things on their own,” Bethany said. “And you’re still too young to have to be a father.”
At the Seat of Power: Goldenfields and the Dominion Page 24
