The Rambling Spy

by Mackenzie Morgan

  “Sort of a bleak outlook.”

  “You know Rolan as well as I do, and you know what he’s capable of. Unless your guards and Landis find a way to work together, none of you have much chance. I’ll do what I can to make sure she realizes that, but it’ll be up to you and your men to build that trust.”

  Cpt. Garen shook his head. “We’ll try, but we’ve done everything we can to get to know her. She’s just not interested. She’s asked questions about her mother, Tsareth, and the castle, but that’s it. When she’s not with Warren, she’s with Ariel, Taelor, or off by herself. When she eats with us, she comes in, eats, and then leaves. She never joins us in the evenings, says she needs to get her rest so she can work the next day.”

  “There’s a certain amount of truth to that. I was somewhat the same way when I was training. I worked all day, ate dinner with the others, and went to bed. I could probably count on my fingers the number of times I spent time with them in the evening unless we were meeting about something. And those folks were my closest friends. She does need to get to know you, but at the same time I can understand what she’s doing. The only one I spent any time with was Chris, and that’s because he was my assistant while I was training. But Alek’s going to want each of you to spend a lot of time with her while she’s working so you can get used to magic and she can get used to having you around. That might help you get to know each other.”

  Cpt. Garen frowned. “Are you sure she’ll go along with that? With having us around while she’s working? Won’t we be a distraction?”

  “That’s one reason you need to do it. After you leave here, she’ll need bodyguards with her all the time. If she’s not used to them, they will distract her, and magic’s dangerous if you’re not focused on what you’re doing. Better to have the distractions here, where Warren can keep everyone safe. As to her being willing to go along with it? She won’t have a choice. I’ll see to that.”

  “Guess we’ll see how it goes.” Cpt. Garen sighed. “When’s Alek coming?”

  “I’m planning to pick Darwyn up at the end of the month. I’ll bring Alek then. He can stay in Darwyn’s cave.”

  “When do you want me to tell my men?”

  “I need to talk to Landis first. She doesn’t know Darwyn’s leaving yet, much less that Alek’s coming. I’ll try to do that this weekend.”

  Cpt. Garen nodded. “I’ll tell my men sometime next week. Or do you want to?”

  Kevin shook his head. “No, that one’s yours.” Then he stood up. “I imagine you’ll have some questions after you have time to think about this. Let me know if you do. As for now, I’m going to find Chris and Nikki and head home.”

  ~~~~

  Saturday evening, Kevin ate an early dinner and then he and Nikki left for the island. After handing Nikki off to the children playing out front, he went in the dining room in search of Landis. She was sitting with Warren and Torrey. Kevin pulled out a chair and joined them.

  He’d barely sat down when Callie walked out of the kitchen with a cup of coffee and a cinnamon bun. “If I remember correctly, you’re partial to these,” she said as she set the coffee and plate down. Kevin’s grin as he picked up the bun was all the confirmation she needed.

  After Callie went back to the kitchen, Kevin looked at Warren. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to borrow Landis for a few minutes this morning.”

  Warren nodded. “Where do you want me to meet her afterwards?”

  Kevin shrugged. “I thought we’d talk at her place. Want her to meet you at yours?”

  “That’s fine.”

  The four of them chatted a bit while Kevin ate his cinnamon bun and drank his coffee. Then once he was done, all four headed up the mountain.

  As soon as Kevin and Landis were alone, Landis asked, “What’s wrong? Is everyone all right?”

  “As far as I know everyone’s fine,” Kevin said. “What I want to talk to you about has to do with your training.”

  “And you didn’t want to talk in front of Warren?” Landis asked.

  “He and I talked about it the other day.”

  “I wonder why he didn’t mention it.”

  “Because you’re my apprentice, not his,” Kevin said as they reached her cave.

  After they sat down, Landis asked, “Are you going to start teaching me to duel?”

  Kevin shook his head. “You’re not ready for that yet.”

  “Why not?”

  “For one thing, you can’t protect yourself yet, and there’s no way we’re even going to talk about dueling until I’m sure you can. This is something totally different.” Kevin took a deep breath. “You remember Marcus?”

  Landis nodded. “I think you called him your associate or something. He helps you when you need another sorcerer.”

  “That about sums it up. Anyway, he got married to Sister Hayley and left Milhaven to join her in Bridgeport where she has a chapel.”

  “I’m sorry you lost him, but what’s that got to do with me?”

  “Darwyn’s going to be my associate now. I’m moving him back to Milhaven.”

  “Then who’s going to be our new sorcerer?”

  “You.”

  “Me?! There’s no way I can do that! I need to spend my time studying, learning new stuff, getting ready to challenge Rolan. I don’t have time to do their stuff. You need to find someone else or take them back to Camden.”

  “They’re not going back until you do.”

  “Then find someone to take care of them.”

  “They’re your people. The only reason they’re here is to keep you safe. And that makes them your responsibility. The only reason I brought Darwyn out here to start with was you didn’t know enough to be able to do it. You do now, and it’s your job to take care of them. No one else’s.”

  “But I don’t have time,” Landis insisted.

  “Then make time. And don’t make them feel guilty about it either. You have their allegiance simply because you’re Tsareth’s daughter and his choice for his heir. But if you want their respect and trust, you’ll need to earn it.”

  “But I’m perfectly safe here,” Landis argued. “Take them back to Camden and then, after I fight Rolan, they can come to Trendon and work for me.”

  Kevin shook his head. “That won’t work.”

  “Why not?”

  “You want to learn to duel, right?”

  “You know I do.”

  “Well, it’s not going to happen here. Warren can teach you basic self-defense here on the island, but to go beyond that, to learn how to defend against a serious attack, you’ll have to come back to Camden where I can work with you. But the moment you step off this island, you’re going to be a target. Rolan is determined to have you killed before you can challenge him. He’s made that clear. And those guards are all that will be standing between you and a knife, an arrow, or a bolt.” Kevin paused to let that sink in. “Before I’ll take you back, you have to prove to me that you can protect those men and their families, and they’ll have to show me that they know how to protect you. Otherwise, you can stay on this island forever.”

  Landis started to argue, but Kevin held his hand up for her to stop. “I’m going to bring one of my bodyguards out here to teach Cpt. Garen and his men how to be bodyguards. He’ll want them to watch you work, to learn what you can do, what you can’t, and what it’s like when you’re focusing.”

  Landis shook her head vigorously. “I’m not used to working in front of people. It’ll mess me up.”

  “I’m sure it will, but better for it to happen here where all of you are safe rather than later when your lives are in the balance.”

  “I realize Rolan may send someone after me, but the only way their lives would be danger is if they’re around me.”

  Kevin shook his head. “Cpt. Garen and his men worked for Rolan after Tsareth died. When he finds out they’re with you, he’ll send assassins after them, their wives, and their children.”

  Landis frowned. “Why would he do
that?”

  “Because that’s the way he is. They knew the risks before they came. So did their wives. They consider protecting you worth that risk. That’s quite a gift they’re giving you. They could just as easily have wished you luck, waited to see if you could beat Rolan, and then gone to the castle to be your guards if you did, but they didn’t. They came here, to watch over you and keep you safe.”

  “So what do you want me to do?”

  “Cooperate, on all levels. Get to know these people who are willing to step in front of you if something’s headed your way. Let them do their jobs. Learn how to tune them out while you’re working, how to block out everything except what you’re doing, and then, because you do have to block everything else out, let them learn how to watch your back. They’ll need to learn to tune you and your magic out too, so they can keep their eyes on everything else that’s happening. Alek will want them to be with you when you’re working with Warren, when you’re practicing, and when you do stuff around the island.”

  Landis sighed. “Are you sure this is necessary?”

  “It is if you ever want to leave this island.”

  Chapter 63

  One More Moving Day

  Over the next two weeks, Kevin limited his visits to the island to twice a week and he went late enough that he wouldn’t run into Landis. He wanted to give her time to adjust to the changes.

  The last day of March that year fell on a Thursday. He told Darwyn he’d pick him up after lunch, which meant around eleven at night in Milhaven. Chris had Marcus’s room cleared out since Darwyn had his own furniture. And since Alek would need furniture while he was on the island, Chris had the furniture from Marcus’s room cleaned up and ready to move to the island.

  After dinner, Chris joined Kevin in the office. “How are you going to do this?”

  “Thought I’d pick Darwyn up first. After I get him and all of his stuff back here, I’ll take Alek out there and introduce him around.”

  “Any idea when you’ll be ready for Alek?”

  Kevin thought for a moment. “I’d like to get his furniture out there before I take him, so not before midnight at the earliest.”

  “What do you want me to tell him?”

  “One?”

  Chris nodded.

  “And tell him to get some sleep this evening. He’ll need it.”

  ~~~~

  When Kevin got to the island that night, he went straight to Darwyn’s cave. “Ready to go?”

  “I think so,” the sorcerer said. “I left my clothes in the drawers.”

  Kevin nodded. “I’ve got a bed, chest of drawers and easy chair for Alek back at the castle. Did you want to take the table and chairs?”

  Darwyn shook his head. “He can use those, and the lamps.”

  “So all of your stuff’s ready?”

  Darwyn nodded. “By the way, I was afraid Cpt. Garen’s people wouldn’t ask Landis to do anything, so I left about a dozen jobs they’d asked me to do for Landis to handle. Warren has the list.”

  Kevin grinned. “Good idea. Glad you thought of that.” Then he said, “Keep in mind that you can’t mention one word about this place, the people here, or anything that’s happened since the day you left Lormere.”

  Darwyn nodded. “I know, but people are going to ask questions. Where do you want me to say I came from?”

  Kevin thought for a moment. “Pretend you just came from Lormere. If anyone you run into happens to know that Calhoun’s their sorcerer, tell them you’ve spent the last couple of years doing something for me and you can’t talk about it. And then let me know who asked. I’ll need to check them out and make sure they don’t lead back to Rolan in some way. I’m sure he’s got someone watching everything that goes on around Milhaven and reporting back to him on anything out of the ordinary or any new people.”

  “You really think he has someone watching?”

  Kevin nodded. “I caught a few of them a couple of years ago, and I have reason to believe he has more.” Then he glanced around. “Chris had Marcus’s old room at the castle cleared out for you. First I’ll take your stuff and then I’ll take you.” Kevin used his outstretched hand to pick up Darwyn’s bags, stacked them on the bed, picked up the bed, and turned the key.

  After Kevin had taken Darwyn’s stuff to the castle, he asked, “Is there anything else you need to do? Anyone you need to see?”

  Darwyn shook his head. “I told everyone goodbye at lunch.” Then he shrugged. “It’s not like they didn’t already know.”

  Kevin nodded. “Then let’s go.”

  When they got to the castle, Chris was waiting in Darwyn’s room with a pitcher of scog and some hard bread and cheese. After Darwyn recovered from the energy field, Kevin said, “Chris will take care of you while I get Alek settled.”

  Darwyn nodded. “See you tomorrow.”

  It didn’t take Kevin long to get the furniture for Alek moved to the island and arranged. While he was there, Cpt. Garen’s wife, Gilean, came in with a tray of honey buns. “Callie sent these. She said if she remembers correctly, these are Alek’s favorites.” As she set the tray on the kitchen table, she asked, “Does Alek know Callie’s here?”

  Kevin grinned. “He has no idea who’s here, that it’s an island, or that he’s going to arrive mid-afternoon. It’s the wee hours of the morning in Milhaven. I told him to get some sleep this evening, but I doubt he was able to. He’ll be ready to crash before long.”

  Gilean smiled. “We’ll take good care of him, and I want you to know how much we appreciate this. My husband has been worried sick about how they were going to protect her when we go back. He’s felt a lot better since you told him Alek will help them get ready to do that.”

  “I’ve been concerned about it, too. None of your husband’s men have ever been trained as bodyguards. Hopefully after they work with Alek for a while, they’ll all feel better about it.”

  “Well, I’ll get out of here so you can go get him. You are going to bring him down and introduce him before you leave, aren’t you?”

  Kevin nodded. “We’ll be down as soon as he looks around up here.”

  ~~~~

  As soon as Kevin got back to the castle, he got some coffee and sat down in his office to wait for Alek. A little before one, Chris walked in. “Did you find everything you needed for Alek?”

  Kevin nodded. “It’s ready. Get Darwyn settled all right?”

  “I showed him around a little tonight so he could get the basic layout of the castle, and I introduced him to the guards we met. I told him I’d come get him around ten tomorrow morning and introduce him to the rest of the staff. I thought I’d take him down to Milhaven too, introduce him to Tolliver and Fenway. By the way, he’s been working on the island for almost two years, but he hasn’t been paid since he left Lormere. He didn’t need any money on the island, but here…” Chris shrugged. “What do you want me to tell him?”

  Kevin frowned. “I’ll need to talk to Cryslyn. In the meantime, tell Tolliver and Fenway to send his bills up here for now.”

  “Okay. When do you want me to get you up tomorrow?”

  Kevin hesitated a moment. “Around lunchtime I guess. I don’t want to sleep all day and then be up all night. I don’t need to go to another council meeting looking like death warmed over.”

  “You were fine last month.”

  “But February wasn’t all that long ago and I’m sure every one of them remembers the shape I was in that day. I’d hate to look sick again and make Rolan’s day.”

  “And worry Damien.”

  Before either of them could say anything else, Alek walked in. “Are you ready for me? Or do you want me to wait out here?”

  “Come on in. We’re done,” Chris said. “I hope you have a good time while you’re gone. I know you’ll like the people.”

  “You know them?”

  Chris nodded, then turned to Kevin. “I’m heading up now. See you tomorrow.”

  ~~~~

  Chris and Darwyn wer
e in Milhaven when Kevin got up. By the time they got back, it was dinnertime, so the three of them headed for the dining hall where Laryn and Steve joined them, followed by Darrell and Serra, and a few minutes later, by Joan and Karl. After the introductions, the others asked Darwyn about his family, where he was from, and his experiences. Kevin sat back and listened.

  When Darrell asked Darwyn how he’d gotten the job, Kevin felt a moment of panic. He wanted to kick himself for not having anticipated the question and prepared an answer, but Darwyn handled it fine on his own. He told Darrell he’d asked Myron to transfer him to somewhere warmer, that he’d had enough ice and snow to last a lifetime. When the position in Milhaven became available, they’d asked him if he’d be interested. “It took a while to get it worked out since they had to find someone to take my place.”

  Darwyn answered a few more questions and then said, “I’m sorry, but I’m really tired. Would you mind if I left to go get some sleep? It’s been a hectic few days.”

  Chris stood up as Darwyn did. “I’ll walk you down.”

  Darwyn shook his head. “That’s all right. I know the way, but thank you.” Then he thanked everyone for making him feel welcome and wished them a good night.

  After Darwyn left, the others finished eating and drifted away. When Kevin and Chris were the only ones left, Chris asked, “Ready to go?”

  Kevin nodded. “I want to take Nikki for a walk. Meet you in the office later? Or are you going to town?”

  Chris shook his head. “Not tonight. I’ve got a stack of stuff on my desk I need to go through. I’ll be in the office.”

  After Kevin and Nikki finished their walk, they went back to the office. Chris was at his desk but no one else was around. “Where are the pages?”

  “I told them they could go,” Chris said. “I put a couple of messages on your desk for you to take care of.”

  “Tonight?”

  “No, they’re not urgent.”

  “I’ll get them tomorrow. Are you about done?”

  Chris stood up and stretched. “With everything I’m going to do tonight. I’m ready to head upstairs. Want some scog?”