The Seer

by Kirsten Jones

  Mage Grapple stared at him emotionlessly before turning his unsettling grey stare to Mistral, ‘Lady De Winter, I apologise unreservedly for inadvertently placing you in danger. My oversight was inexcusable. I can only hope that you find it within your generous nature to forgive me.’

  Mistral clenched her teeth to prevent her jaw from dropping and stared at Mage Grapple. Was he mocking her? His cold grey eyes were devoid of any humour, or any emotion. She was left to assume that he was being sincere. ‘Er, it’s fine, really. He didn’t do me any harm in the end. In fact, he was the one that came off the worst … well, both of them actually. Sorry you’ve lost half a department.’

  Mage Grapple abruptly let out a harsh bark of laughter.

  Mistral gave Fabian an uncertain look. Mage Grapple seemed to laugh at her quite a lot.

  Fabian appeared to share her thoughts because he narrowed his eyes and demanded in a glacial voice, ‘Do you find my wife amusing Eximius?’

  ‘Charmingly so, De Winter, and that is in addition to the already considerable esteem with which I hold her.’ Mage Grapple turned to look at Mistral again, fixing her with his mismatched eyes. ‘Truly, you are unique, Lady De Winter. I am honoured to have existed within your lifetime. Please forgive my oversight with Powers and Silver; I assure you I would not have intentionally placed a life as valuable as yours in danger. I shall endeavour to redeem myself in your eyes with all due haste.’

  Mistral blinked at him and could think of nothing to say, other than – ‘Bellicose La Monte’s tribe are growing restless. They’ve just eaten an entire village of elves and Bellicose covets your position as Head of the Council.’ Mistral’s words tumbled out in a hectic rush. She drew in a breath and waited for Mage Grapple to demand that she repeat herself more slowly.

  Mage Grapple regarded her thoughtfully for a long moment then nodded, ‘I thank you for the information. It is not totally unexpected, however now I have confirmation of my suspicions I can prepare accordingly. It appears that I am twice-placed in your debt today, Lady De Winter, and have only one small act of hospitality to offer you as recompense for the inconvenience you have endured.’

  Mistral gave him a guarded look and fervently hoped he wasn’t about to offer her money.

  ‘Permit me to shorten your journey home. It is cold, a winter such as this has not been seen on the Isle for many years and my mind would be considerably eased to know that the Isle’s only Seer were safely returned to her destination and not camping out overnight in freezing conditions.’

  Mistral stared at him, ‘You mean, use the Craft to speed up our journey home?’

  He nodded and waited impassively for her response.

  ‘Er, thanks, but n –’

  ‘Yes, that will be perfectly acceptable. We will be ready to leave within the hour. I shall see myself out Eximius.’ Fabian abruptly turned on his heel and strode out of the room, dragging Mistral with him.

  ‘What did you accept his offer for?’ She demanded in a low voice the moment they were out of the secretary’s office. ‘You hate the Craft!’

  ‘But I love you!’ Fabian spun around, his dark eyes meeting hers with a breathtaking intensity. ‘And the sooner you are in the Infirmary and we find out what is ailing you then the happier I shall be.’

  Mistral paused while she decided whether or not to lie, but her face had already betrayed her guilt.

  ‘Oh I know,’ he murmured softly. ‘Every time you dashed away from the table at Diannah’s! Did you think I wouldn’t realise you were being ill again?’

  Mistral dropped her gaze from his, ‘I didn’t want to worry you,’ she mumbled. ‘I feel fine … most of the time.’

  ‘But that is not good enough for me Mistral; I want you to feel fine all of the time.’

  She looked up to meet his deep gaze and nodded resignedly, ‘Fine, travel by magic carpet it is then.’

  He gave her a tight smile, ‘Nothing quite so romantic I assure you, but we will be back in the Valley by nightfall. I am sure your brothers will appreciate their own beds tonight and not a night spent shivering in the snow on the High Moors.’

  ‘I don’t think they’re going to feel anything by the time we drag them out of the tavern,’ she sighed.

  ‘I hope for their sakes they haven’t drunk too much, travelling under and Expediency can be disorientating at the best of times.’

  Mistral frowned, struck by a sudden memory, ‘Will it be the same spell I saw being used on St Martine’s army back in The Desert Lands?’

  Fabian nodded, ‘Yes. Speed is determined depending on the power of the Mage casting the spell. The more powerful the Mage, the faster the recipient of the spell can travel.’

  ‘Mage Grapple cast that one?’ Mistral asked, remembering how effortlessly the foot soldiers had kept pace with the galloping horses.

  Fabian nodded again and pulled her on towards the doors leading out of the Council atrium, his face set in hard expression. Mistral glanced at his expression but was unable to resist voicing her curiosity. They rarely discussed the Craft, yet Fabian a powerful Mage by blood and must have been taught all about the power that lived within him when he was growing up.

  ‘How does it work?’

  Fabian did not break stride or look at her while he replied, ‘A single person is the recipient of the spell. They set the pace. It will be me for the purpose of this journey. Whatever speed I travel at the spell will match my pace multiplied by the power of Mage who cast. Mage Grapple is capable is casting an Expediency spell to the power of three.’

  ‘So we’ll get home three times as fast?’ Mistral frowned. It was a three day ride back from the Council but Fabian had said they’d be back in the Valley by nightfall. She wasn’t brilliant with numbers, but even Mistral could see that didn’t add up.

  ‘Not quite. With Expediency our three day ride will reduce to three hours.’

  Mistral was impressed but the disdainful look on Fabian’s face prevented her from saying as much. They strode through the wrought iron gates held open by two hooded warlocks then Fabian abruptly pulled her to the right, down a narrow alleyway she had never noticed.

  ‘Where are we going?’

  ‘To fetch your brothers from the tavern.’ Fabian replied shortly. ‘If they can still walk.’

  Mistral sighed. Whenever Fabian referred to her brothers in that tone she knew he was displeased with them. Yes, they drank a bit, and liked to gamble, and maybe they were a touch loud and sometimes given to being impulsive … and those were just their good points; but they were her brothers and she wouldn’t hear a word said against them. She risked a glance out of the corner of her eye at Fabian’s stony expression. For two weeks he’d been literally unable to do anything but relax. Even though she’d spent time each afternoon relaying the thoughts of either Malachi or Bellicose to him, there had been nothing new in them. She, Fabian, and her brothers hadn’t been the only ones unable to travel; the whole Isle had come to a standstill due to the heavy snow falls. And now, in the space of just one short hour, he had compromised his lifelong abhorrence of the Craft and argued with Mage Grapple – all because of her. She sighed, reflecting that he was typically refusing to blame her and deflecting his bad mood onto to her brothers.

  ‘Fabian?’ Pulling back sharply Mistral resisted his grip and stood still, making him turn to look at her. ‘Please don’t take your bad mood out on my brothers. I know they’re hardly angels, but who is? They all mean a lot to me … until I met you they were my only family.’

  Fabian frowned at her for a moment longer then sighed and reached out for her. She slipped into his arms unhesitatingly, laying her head against his chest to listen to his voice murmuring to her.

  ‘These last two weeks have been the happiest of my life Mistral. I never imagined I could feel so much love, and be loved in return. It literally astounds me every time I wake up and see you lying next to me.’

  His voice was filled with a poignancy that puzzled her. If he was happy, why did he sound
sad? She tilted her head to meet his soulful gaze, listening to his softly spoken words.

  ‘I have never known such completeness,’ he continued quietly. ‘And there lies the irony of my fate. Perhaps it is recompense for the life I have lived to have found you just as we may lose everything –’

  ‘Lose everything? How?’

  ‘Troubled times lie ahead Mistral. The Isle has been held firm by Eximius for decades, but his time will wane. There is no other like him. Struggles like the one we are facing with Malachi and Bellicose; the Rochfortes … they will come again and again until one of them is successful.’

  ‘But that’s how life here is Fabian,’ she said simply. ‘For my part I intend to enjoy my time with you and when it’s done, all that can be someone else’s problem.’

  Fabian gazed at her for a moment then laughed, his face abruptly losing all of its stress, making him look younger and so handsome it made her heart ache with acute longing. Had she really just spent two weeks alone with him? It felt like she hadn’t seen him for two months. She reached up to kiss his laughing lips, losing herself in the warmth of his love until an impatient cough made them break apart. They turned to see Leo standing in the alleyway with the rest of her brothers grouped sheepishly behind him.

  ‘If you are quite ready Fabian, I think we should begin our journey.’ Leo snapped curtly and strode on ahead, naturally assuming the lead.

  Fabian watched him go then turned to offer Mistral his arm, ‘Lady De Winter? I believe The Cloak beckons this evening.’

  Mistral grinned up at him and accepted his arm for the walk back to the stables, listening in amusement to the deluge of silent questions from her brothers, ‘The twins want to know what you meant by that,’ she laughed quietly.

  ‘I’m sure they do,’ he smiled then turned to look at her again, his eyes suddenly serious. ‘You are right in what you said. The Isle is not a natural collection of like-minded beings, such as the human nations we spend our lives hiding from. We live in enforced captivity for our own safety. Such an unnatural environment will always create problems. I am guilty of sometimes failing to see that inevitability.’

  ‘Then it’s lucky you have me to show you the lighter side of life isn’t it?’

  ‘You know I don’t believe in luck,’ he gave her a wry smile. ‘Only destiny.’

  Mistral!! Please stop making doe eyes at your Mage and answer my questions! I know you can hear me and I’m not going to shut up until you answer me!

  ‘Oh alright Phantom.’ Mistral gave in with a sigh. ‘Mage Grapple’s going to cast an Expediency spell on us. We’ll be back in the Valley by nightfall.’

  Leo turned sharply to look at Fabian, ‘Is this fact?’

  Fabian nodded, ‘Needs must. The heavy snow would make our journey longer than normal and Mistral has not been well. It would have been a matter of foolish pride to refuse Eximius’ offer.’

  Leo raised an eyebrow coldly, ‘I would prefer to travel without the assistance of Mage Grapple.’

  ‘You are welcome to.’

  Leo’s eyes narrowed slightly but he said nothing and Mistral listened to the muffled sniggers from behind her, the laughter ringing in her mind was far less reserved. She listened in on each of her brothers’ thoughts with a smile.

  Ah, The Cloak tonight …

  My flat …

  Marietta …

  I wonder if the kittens are still alive …

  Mistral immediately stopped smiling, ‘Tell me you got someone to feed those kittens brother!’ She turned to glare accusingly at Phantom.

  ‘Oh, you heard that did you?’ Phantom said, trying to look innocent. ‘Well, er, Xerxes took one … what did you do with it brother?’

  ‘Gave it to thingybob from the saddlery.’ Xerxes replied shamelessly. ‘She really liked it,’ he added with a smirk.

  ‘Fine, and the other two?’ Mistral demanded.

  Phantom looked shifty, ‘I think Phantasm gave one to someone –’

  Mistral gave Phantasm a sharp look, ‘Who?’

  ‘Eudora.’ Phantasm replied flatly.

  Mistral gave him a repulsed look then glared at Phantom again, ‘And the last one?’

  ‘Well, hopefully Floris remembered to feed it, or there’s going to be a terrible smell when we open the door tonight –’

  ‘It?’ Mistral spluttered. ‘You mean that not only haven’t you named the poor thing, but you couldn’t even be bothered to find out whether it’s a boy or a girl?’

  ‘Didn’t seem important.’ Phantom shrugged, looking supremely unrepentant.

  ‘Oh Mistral, when will you learn?’ Phantasm cut in before Mistral exploded. ‘He’s winding you up! She is with Serenity and has been named Eloise.’

  Mistral looked slightly mollified, ‘Oh ... well I suppose that’s alright then – hang on!’ She looked at Phantom again. ‘You called her Eloise? As in Eloise Lacey?’

  ‘No.’ Phantom replied promptly.

  Catching sight of his reddening cheeks, Mistral started laughing and didn’t stop until they reached the stables.

  ‘We will ride out of the city under our own volition.’ Fabian began to explain in a low voice. ‘The spell that Eximius has cast will take effect once we leave the protection of the warlocks at the city gates. Travelling by Expediency can be an unsettling experience, it is perfectly normal to feel nauseous –’

  ‘Especially for you sister.’ Brutus murmured.

  ‘Do one brother.’ Mistral hissed back. ‘If you don’t shut up about that I’ll tell everyone what I found in the wardrobe in your old bedroom.’

  Brutus gave her a wide-eyed look and promptly moved away.

  ‘What was in the wardrobe?’ Phantom promptly whispered.

  ‘No idea.’ Mistral shrugged. ‘But you’ve got to admit it was a pretty good guess!’ She turned her attention back to Fabian, listening to him finish explaining how the spell would work.

  ‘We should reach the Valley by nightfall. We will be unable to stop until the spell has run its course, so please don’t fall or you will have to run the rest of the way back to the Valley. Your horses will be unaware of the spell, as will Prospero.’ Fabian paused to glance down at the half-wolf sat beside Mistral. ‘If there are no questions we should leave immediately.’

  The warriors turned away and began to mount their horses. Before long they were riding out of the stableyard with slightly apprehensive expressions. Leo and Fabian began to talk quietly together once they entered the wide avenue of houses, giving Mistral the opportunity to hold a whispered conversation with Cain.

  ‘Where did you find Leo?’

  ‘He was already in the tavern.’ Cain whispered back with a grimace. ‘Courtesy of the twins.’

  Mistral gave him a sympathetic look, ‘Did you manage to get a drink in?’

  ‘No,’ he muttered sourly. ‘Lord Leo promptly demanded a full account of the dragon hunt. We were spitting feathers by the time we’d answered all his questions! We thought he’d let us get a round in then but he insisted we left immediately ... that’s when we bumped into you and Mage De Winter kissing in the alleyway like love-sick teenagers.’

  ‘No we weren’t!’ Mistral snapped, trying to hide the blush she could feel creeping over her face.

  Cain gave her a sidelong look, ‘Weren’t what? Kissing? Because you definitely were! Or the love-sick teenagers bit? Honestly Mistral, you wouldn’t think you’d just spent two weeks stuck in each other’s company! Xerxes would’ve been secretly seeing at least six other girls just to break the monotony!’

  ‘Well that’s Xerxes all over isn’t it?’ Mistral replied. ‘Monogamy is monotony to him.’

  Cain laughed, ‘Fair point. It’s just a shame –’ he stopped and instantly looked contrite. An expression Mistral had never seen on his face before.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Sorry sister. I guess you heard that in my thoughts. It was completely unfair,’ he gave her an apologetic look.

  ‘I heard nothing Cain. I’ve b
een blocking all of your thoughts since Xerxes started imagining Marietta wearing nothing but a smile – so you can explain yourself the boring way by using that gaping cavern in your face you call a mouth.’

  Cain laughed ruefully, ‘I suppose I deserved that. Oh, listen; it was just a stupid, random thought. My mother was a midwife, as you know, and I’ve seen more unwanted half-breeds brought into this world to unwilling mothers and absent fathers than I care to remember. I suppose I’m old fashioned,’ he shrugged, ‘but it would make a welcome change to see two people who share so much love to be able to have a family. Sorry.’

  Mistral gave short laugh, ‘Come on Cain! What kind of mother would I be? I’m hardly bursting with maternal instincts am I? It’s a blessing I’m a half-breed! Anyway, we’ve got Prospero,’ she added flippantly, tried to laugh off his words. ‘He’s like a son.’

  Cain shook his head, ‘Don’t belittle the love you have Mistral. Most of us live an entire lifetime and never know half of what you have. Some would kill for it. I only meant that any child born to parents who love each other so much would be truly blessed.’

  Mistral was about to snort with laughter again but the wistful look on Cain’s usually impish face made her stop. Cain had been raised by his mother and Mistral had never asked about his father. Parentage was a taboo subject in the Ri. Bitter tales of abandonment, the shame of mixed-blood, and occasionally even worse, as in Grendel’s case, were often the reason for seeking out the Valley.

  ‘I’m the one to be blessed Cain,’ she said quietly. ‘I would be the greediest person in the universe to ask for more than what I already have.’

  Cain looked down at the reins bunched in his hand and smiled, ‘You’ve got a good way of looking at things sometimes Mistral; which is a relief because the rest of the time you’re a complete nightmare. Take that dragon-diving incident as a case in point –’

  ‘Oh please! Not that again!’

  ‘Yes, that again! Just what were you thinking?’

  They bickered all of the way along the busy market street with Xerxes joining in to deliver lively impersonations of Mistral’s leap into nothingness, pretending to fall from his saddle each time until Mistral shoved him and he really fell, swearing loudly when he landed heavily onto the cobbles. By the time Xerxes was back in the saddle and had recovered some of his considerable pride they had left the city and were halted outside the gates, waiting tensely for Mage Grapple’s spell to take effect.