Nicholas Raven and the Wizards' Web (The Complete Epic Fantasy)

by Thomas J. Prestopnik

  “I heard news of a murder in the village early this autumn,” Emmett said, “but never learned if the case was solved. Later, the borders of Kanesbury were closed for a while due to redlin fever.”

  Katherine smirked. “We’ve had quite a time of it lately.” She asked her hosts if they wouldn’t mind housing Maynard and Adelaide for an unspecified number of days, or perhaps even weeks depending on Maynard’s condition, until they could bring Constable Brindle to their home. Emmett and Lorna were more than willing to offer what space and food they could spare since Adelaide had been such a close friend of Emmett’s mother.

  “Gilbert, my oldest, will be delighted to give up his room to Maynard and sleep downstairs,” Lorna said. “He’s eager to build a cabin with his father in back of the property and live on his own.”

  “Except for meals,” Emmett added with a laugh.

  “He’ll probably insist that this is the first step.” Lorna got up to put on a second pot of tea and rounded up a plate of herb biscuits to serve to her guests.

  “We’re very grateful,” Katherine said, “and will compensate you for the additional cost.”

  Emmett shook his head and held up a hand to signal his polite refusal. “Adelaide was a dear friend to my mother and to my family. We’re more than happy to help. We won’t accept even a copper quarter piece from either of you.”

  “But Katherine and I won’t be compensating you,” Lewis said, explaining about Farnsworth’s payment that was supposed to have gone to Dell Hawks. “We insist that you take a few silver half pieces for all your trouble compliments of our fraudulent acting mayor. It’s the least he can do after all the havoc he’s caused.”

  Emmett grunted with laughter, flashing a smile beneath a full head of long, stringy hair. “Well, that puts an entirely different spin on the story. After what you’ve told me about this appalling man, I’ll be more than happy to deprive him of a little bit of his wealth to help care for Adelaide and her friend.”

  “And though Lewis and I will ride the horse back to the village,” Katherine added, “you can have the cart for the farm. I don’t want to risk Farnsworth spotting that on the streets of Kanesbury. He will most likely assume that it was either left at the swamp or taken as a bonus payment by his hired assassin.”

  “Excellent point,” Emmett said, impressed with the young woman’s foresight as he turned to his wife. “It seems we’ll have an extra piece of equipment on the farm and some spare change to boot thanks to that conniving man. Are you okay with that?”

  Lorna nodded, wanting to voice her comments regarding Zachary Farnsworth’s disgraceful character. Instead, she pointed to Adelaide sitting in the chair closest to the blazing fire. Sometime during the conversation, Adelaide bowed her head to her chest and had fallen fast asleep, her breathing steady and deep as the heat of the crackling flames washed over her. Katherine smiled.

  “That’s probably the first decent night’s sleep she’s had in quite a while,” she said, imagining the mental torment that Adelaide had endured while all alone at the swamp. “I think she deserves a good many hours more.”

  “She shall have it right here,” Emmett assured her. “And no one in Kanesbury, especially Zachary Farnsworth, will be the wiser.”

  Katherine and Lewis departed an hour later after Adelaide had awakened from her nap. She was sad to see them leave, yet knew they had to return to Kanesbury so as not to arouse Farnsworth’s suspicions. As they left through the front door, she promised to keep a constant eye upon Maynard, hoping for a miracle recovery.

  “We’ll return when we can to visit and keep you updated,” Katherine said as she hugged Adelaide goodbye.

  “Lorna or I can always ride into Kanesbury if we ever need to see you,” Emmett promised. “We’ll figure things out.”

  In the meantime, Lewis unhitched the horse from the cart and then he and Katherine thanked Emmett and Lorna once again for their help and wished them good night. Lewis climbed onto the steed and extended a hand to help Katherine up. She sat behind him, her arms gently wrapped around him as they quietly rode off in the gloomy night and returned home to the deserted village streets. Kanesbury lay silent and dark when Lewis finally said goodbye to Katherine in front of her house. The windows were dark, though her mother had left an oil lamp burning on the front porch railing to welcome her back.

  “Your mother is getting used to your late nights out,” Lewis said as they stood below the front steps holding one another close.

  “One day I hope to explain to her why,” Katherine replied, her affectionate gaze fixed upon Lewis’ eyes. “I’m just glad that you were with me to share in all the fun.”

  Lewis grinned. “More fun like this and we might not get to enjoy spending more time with each other.” His expression turned serious. “Things could have gone badly tonight, Katherine. And the danger still isn’t over. We have to be careful even after you talk to Clay Brindle. Until Zachary Farnsworth is in the village lockup–or better yet, in King Justin’s custody–he’s still a threat to both you and the village.”

  “And to think I shared a meal with him at the Stewarts’ house this evening,” she said. “Well, the sooner I talk to the constable and let him know what’s going on, the better. I’ll arrange a day when we can return to the swamp and Emmett’s farm with Clay and show him our proof.”

  “I look forward to it,” he said, kissing her softly on the lips. “In the meantime, stay out of trouble, Miss Durant. I’m beginning to think that you enjoy these daring adventures.”

  “As long as you’re by my side,” she said, returning an affectionate kiss and wishing that the night was still young. “But now you must go home. If I don’t get any sleep, I’ll be useless tomorrow when I talk to the constable.”

  “You’ll do a wonderful job,” Lewis assured her as he climbed on the horse.

  He smiled and waved goodbye to Katherine and sauntered down the street, his heart both light and melancholy. He watched as she slowly climbed the porch stairs and disappeared into the house with the flickering oil lamp, closing the door behind her and adding another layer of dreary darkness to the night.

  CHAPTER 84

  Growing Suspicions

  Zachary Farnsworth lifted his coat collar as he stepped out of the house early the next morning. The first day of winter had arrived, bringing with it leaden skies and feathery light snow. He trudged to the banking house, eager to face another day of ink-stained ledgers and manipulating numbers if only to keep his mind off the events of yesterday. Dinner with Oscar and Amanda Stewart and their guests proved to be a lovely evening despite Katherine Durant’s abrupt exit. But when he imagined Dooley Kramer’s final excursion to the swamp, he grew pale and took a deep breath. He couldn’t bear to glance at Dooley’s ramshackle home as he hurriedly walked by, knowing he had sent his neighbor to his death.

  Farnsworth repeatedly told himself that his actions had been necessary if he were to move up in Kanesbury society. He had grand plans to acquire wealth and position and needed to clear his life of all extraneous distractions. Dooley had been a distraction, one of several loose threads that needed to be snipped. He silently congratulated himself for having the courage to make the tough decision.

  In a day or two, someone in the village would make an inquiry into Dooley’s absence and the questions would begin, followed with an investigation by Constable Brindle and the usual search party. Farnsworth planned to play along and participate in a search since Dooley was his neighbor, but in time the investigation would come to a dead end. As there would be no signs of a struggle or a robbery in Dooley’s house, some might think that he had gotten lost and injured in the woods or had fallen into the river after a night of drinking. Despite taking on more responsibility by helping Ned Adams plan the rebuilding of the gristmill, Dooley would still be seen as remaining true to his self, and that meant indulging in too much ale after working hours, often times late into the night.

  Farnsworth sighed, mentally preparing himself for th
at next bump in the road. But given a little time, he hoped to pass over it and enjoy the fruits of his labor. And with his newly acquired power, he convinced himself that maybe he actually could do some genuinely good works for the village in addition to those benefits he envisioned for himself. If such were the case, he believed his fellow villagers, even if they ever discovered the truth, would probably thank him for seizing power and making their lives better. He convinced himself more and more of this with each step he took.

  As the snow danced in the air, Farnsworth straightened his shoulders and picked up his pace, feeling better about himself again. He turned off his road and continued into the center of the village, convinced that his questionable actions were really just what the village of Kanesbury needed–a necessary remedy to cure a stagnant community that didn’t even know it needed his help. He smiled, realizing how lucky his fellow villagers were to have him selflessly guiding their way through the rigors of life. He hoped in the end that they would appreciate all of his hard work and sacrifice.

  After unlocking the banking house a short time later and offering his employees a hearty good morning when they arrived, Farnsworth slipped on his coat again and excused himself for a few minutes as he headed back out into the cold streets.

  “Village business,” he pleasantly remarked to a young woman seated at a worktable near the front door. She was carefully preparing a duplicate of a contract to be signed later in the week. “I’ll be back shortly,” he added as the woman neatly copied each word with a quill pen dipped in black ink.

  “We’ll keep an eye on business, Mr. Farnsworth,” she replied, returning to her task as he stepped outside and closed the door.

  Farnsworth smiled as he walked down the street to the village lockup, certain his workers were delighted that their manager was also the mayor of Kanesbury. He sensed their overwhelming pride and thrived on their unspoken recognition every time he walked by. Just another benefit of the job he told himself as he passed the village hall and approached the lockup next door. A large, bare maple tree stood between the buildings, a tall and silent sentinel watching over the handful of passersby going about their morning errands among the gentle swirl of snowflakes.

  Since Amanda Stewart had graciously invited him to dinner last night, albeit at Katherine Durant’s request to secure an early trial for her uncle, Farnsworth wanted to officially let Otto know as soon as possible that he was granting the favor. Such an action on his part, he believed, would curry favor with the Stewarts and prove to them that he could be a reliable public servant as well as an influential friend. He wanted to make sure his first impression as mayor with Oscar and Amanda was a memorable one. A quick trip to the lockup to speak with Otto was well worth the tiny effort.

  As he neared the building, the door opened. Sophia Durant stepped outside, dressed warmly in a maroon cloak and fur-lined gloves. She was draping a hood over her head when Farnsworth called out to her. Sophia looked up with a smile as the acting mayor of Kanesbury walked over.

  “Good morning, Zachary,” she said as he hurried up the few steps and met Katherine’s mother underneath a narrow overhang extending the length of the small building. “Or would you prefer Mayor Farnsworth?” she added with a friendly laugh.

  “Don’t build me up too much,” he replied with equal humor. “After all, I’m only the acting mayor until Maynard returns, or, as I sincerely hope, your brother Otto is found innocent of his charges. In the meantime, Zachary is just fine, Mrs. Durant.”

  “Very well, Zachary.” Sophia stepped back to allow him some room on the floorboards beneath the overhang to keep out of the snow. Though his large body towered over her small frame, she was not intimidated by the imposing figure. “And speaking of my brother, I just talked with Otto and told him the good news about his trial. I thank you again for helping to hurry matters along.”

  “I’ll do my best, Mrs. Durant,” he replied, though inside he was eager to put Otto’s situation behind him one way or another so he could go about his business. “I just left the banking house so I could officially tell Otto the wonderful news. Shall I assume he was happy to hear it from you first?”

  “And how!” she answered, beaming with a grateful smile. “He looks forward to speaking with you about the particulars.”

  “Good.” Farnsworth wrapped his arms around his chest as the bitter cold cut through him. “I’m glad to help out in any way I can,” he said. “By the way, Mrs. Durant, how is your daughter feeling this morning? I was sorry to see Katherine leave dinner so early last night. We were having such a delightful time.”

  “Katherine is fine, so no need to worry. She accompanied me here to visit Otto this morning and is still speaking with him,” she said. “I have some chores to finish, so I slipped out early.”

  “Wonderful. I’m glad to hear she’s feeling better.”

  Sophia laughed. “Katherine recovered quickly as she was already out of the house when I arrived home last night. No doubt out on one of her long evening strolls of late, probably with Lewis Ames, her latest gentleman admirer. I’d tell Katherine you inquired and said hello, but you’re sure to see her inside.”

  “I look forward to it,” he replied, offering Sophia his arm and assisting her down the stairs to the snow-dusted dirt road. There he smiled and wished her a good day before they parted. Farnsworth hurried back up the steps into the lockup. He was eager to get Otto’s visit over with so he could return to the banking house and lose himself in his ledgers and in the joyful musings of warmer and more prosperous days to come.

  After he entered the building and hung up his coat on a wall peg in the entryway, he noted Katherine’s cloak hanging nearby. He stepped into the main room where several logs crackled in a fireplace across the room from where Constable Brindle kept a desk to oversee his duties. A narrow hallway led out from an opening in back of the sparsely furnished office to an area where two small holding cells were located, each comprised of stone walls and a thick wooden door with a small barred opening. A single individual occupied one of the cells today. Farnsworth immediately noted Katherine Durant standing near a far window and quietly talking to Tyler Harkin, one of Constable Brindle’s deputies, the only other person in the room. Tyler nodded from across the room to acknowledge the mayor’s presence while listening to Katherine.

  “Thank you so much for your time,” she said a moment later to the young deputy constable as he escorted her toward the door where Farnsworth waited. “And good morning to you,” Katherine added, smiling at the mayor. “I had stopped by to see my uncle.”

  “Of course you have, telling him the good news from last night, no doubt.” He discreetly eyed the deputy and silently shooed him away before giving his full attention to Katherine.

  “I wish to thank you again, Mr. Farnsworth, for agreeing to hurry along his trial,” she said as they walked into the entryway.

  “My pleasure,” he replied as Katherine was about to reach for her cloak. “Allow me.” Farnsworth removed the cloak from its peg and placed it upon her shoulders from behind whereupon she securely fastened it with a metal clasp, her face tightening with dismay as she reluctantly accepted his kind gesture. “Oh, wait,” he added, bending down and removing a few dried, prickly burrs that were stuck to the hem of her garment. “You must have brushed past a burdock bush. Pesky little things, aren’t they?” He stood up. “Done.”

  “Thank you,” Katherine said as she turned around to face him, now pleasantly smiling again. “By the way, I’m guessing that you’re here to see Uncle Otto, too.”

  “For a brief visit. He and I will surely talk extensively about the trial later,” he said. “In the meantime, how are you feeling? You missed a wonderful time last night. Your mother was particularly charming company.”

  “I’m glad to hear it,” Katherine said with a genial air while images of the terrible events at the swamp swept through her mind. But she managed to keep up a pose of charm and grace as she looked into Farnsworth’s dark, piercing eyes, w
ondering what other ill deeds he had committed. “My mother said she enjoyed herself immensely. I’m sorry to have missed it due to my sudden illness.”

  “Another time perhaps.” Farnsworth smiled as he prepared to open the door for her. “Still, I’m glad you made a swift recovery. That’s the most important thing.”

  “I went directly home and slept the whole night through,” Katherine replied as she gathered up the folds of her cloak, ready to depart. “Now I feel like my old self again.”

  Farnsworth glanced at her with a confused smile, wondering if he had heard her correctly. “Your mother said that–” But he quickly held back the words he had intended to say, keeping his smile intact. “–that she really regretted you were unable to stay. Oscar and Amanda said as much at the dinner table, too.”

  “How kind of them,” Katherine said as he opened the door for her, allowing a cold draft to slip into the room.

  “Good day now and please watch your step,” he added, gazing at Katherine as she stepped out the door and into the veil of light snow.

  “Good day to you, Mr. Farnsworth,” she replied before fading into the grayness of the wintry street.

  Zachary Farnsworth paused before closing the door, bothered by the contradiction in Katherine and Sophia’s stories but not quite sure why. Nor was he even sure why he had caught himself before mentioning it to Katherine, yet was glad he did. He shook his head and brushed off the incident as he walked back into the main room where Deputy Harkin sat on a high stool at a table that served as his desk, eager to speak with him.