by Guy Antibes
“That’s a wonderful idea. But what will you do?”
“I don’t know yet. Probably nothing for awhile. I try to get used to an early retirement.” Hedge plucked a piece of lint off of his trousers.
“You deserve a great deal for putting those guns in my trunk.”
Hedge looked genuinely perplexed. “What guns? I didn’t do any such thing. Was that why I was fired?”
His statement confused Sara. The Duke had jumped to a conclusion, but who could have put the weapons in her trunk? “Then you’ve been falsely accused. However, I might have something interesting to make up for your termination. I think I have a project you can start on.”
“The fire liquid?”
Sara smiled. “You read my mind. There’s about two or three cupfuls left. I took one before I arrived in Parth. The Duke took possession of the weapon before I barely had a chance to put my foot on the ground, but I’m always prepared.”
“Smart girl,” Obed and Hedge said, nearly in tandem.
~
The front door closed and the maid brought a message in to Sara.
She broke the Duke’s seal and read the request to vacate the house by the end of the month. Lester Waterford, the Duke’s Vice Minister, signed the note. He couldn’t even sign her eviction notice himself. Ten days. Perhaps she could see if Grianna Worthy, her former hostess in Parth would know of any suitable places to stay. Sara would definitely be leaving Parth in the spring.
Luckily, Grianna was in town so Sara rushed over to see her. Still a bit stung by General Heathergate’s drivers’ reaction to her story, she only told Grianna that she was away in Belonnia and the arrangement with her old house had ended.
“I’ll only be here to the end of the week, then its back East for me. I’ve grown quite accustomed to country life. If you’ll truly be leaving in the spring you can keep my house warm. All I ask is that I keep my suite upstairs in case I wish to return for a party in the city.”
“You won’t mind if I bring Willa back into the household and house a few friends until the spring?”
“As long as Willa promises to get along with my new housekeeper. You’ll have to make do with my staff, as well. I won’t even charge you for the house.”
Sara gave the woman a hug, at least a hug that served as such between noble women in Parth.
There were only a few days before the move. Sara really didn’t have many possessions other than books and clothes. Everything she had taken to Belonnia had been left behind.
A woman stood at the front door when Sara returned from Lady Worthy’s house.
“Willa!” Sara ran to her friend. “I’m afraid there is bad news.”
“I know you’re on the outs with the Duke. The maid told me. So you’ll be leaving for Lady Worthy’s?”
“And you’ll be coming with me. It’s only until the spring and then we’ll be heading back to Shattuk Downs. I’d like you join me.”
Willa broke into a grin while maintaining her squint. “Glad you asked. I won’t have to follow you surreptitiously.” She opened her arms and the two hugged each other properly.
“What’s the truth between the breakup?”
Sara told her.
“He’s a man you can never trust. That’s plain. I would have never thought he’d stoop so low, though.”
“Doctor Hedge and Banna will be living with us for a little while. It seems they’ve also been ejected from their respective domiciles.”
“More Northcross?”
Sara frowned. “I’m afraid so. Duke Northcross has a long reach and he certainly knows how to break personal ties.”
~
A few days later, the maid called Sara to the door of her new residence. She went to the foyer to see a tall man with a hooded cloak.
“Countess Sara?”
“Your Majesty!” Sara curtseyed, as did the maid and Willa who had poked her head into the hall.
“Come in.” She led him into Grianna’s parlor. Her parlor certainly was a more fit location for an impromptu audience with the King of Parthy than the relatively simple sitting room of her previous abode.
“You may sit, since I desire to.” King Tarrent smiled and sat in a comfortable wing chair. “I have come to apologize for my brother’s actions. I finally extracted the true story out of him. At least what I think is the true story. I’d like to hear what happened from your own lips, Sara.
Sara related all of what happened. She left nothing out, including the use of her magic and the ‘battle fatigue’ incident in the Eastern Mountains.
“You poor girl! I never had never thought that you would be subject to torture. Renall said that you would just visit and things would happen around you. Your version is not quite what I heard. You know that Renall means well. Intensely and to the extreme, he means well, but sometimes he lets his head get far, far ahead of his heart. I am a bit the other way, so we balance, don’t you think? I am also indebted to you for helping to expose Millis Shields. I knew she was a creature of Belonnia. Renall convinced me to play along with the engagement while the Belonnian pot stirred, but be assured, she will not be my bride. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you. Your awful experiences certainly opened my eyes as you well know.”
Sara nodded. What else could she say to her King?
“Obed has sent me a message about your desiring Goldfields.” The king waved his hand as if swatting a fly. “I can’t give you back your old life with Sythy, but I can make your future something much better. Consider it yours. You will be elevated to Duchess.” We can easily change any inheritance complications and according to Obed, he’s already taken care of that. I believe there’s been some neglect to the estate, but the income is in a trust, so you’ll be able to restore it quickly enough and it doesn’t change your Royal Stipend. When will you wish to take possession?”
“I want to leave Parth in the spring. I have some business at Brightlings before I head to Goldfields.”
The King looked perplexed.
“My mother’s manor. Where I grew up.”
The King nodded and looked out the window. “Sythy Goldagle was a beautiful woman. We both loved her in those wonderful days at Obridge. Renall and I physically fought over her, you know. But duty called and we left her to marry your father.” He paused for a moment, likely lost in a memory. “You know my brother and I have a little display in Renall’s house that we put together years ago with her picture. You’d be about her age.” The King looked at her. “But you do look more like a Passcold than a Goldagle.” He smiled.
“I’m flattered, Your Majesty.”
King Terrant waved the honorific away. “Let me see, you will come in to your inheritance in the fall? I think we can move that up as well, if I know Obed. He can work his way through all of those kinds of things, much like Renall, but in his own archival way. I’m also very glad my little gifts were useful.”
“Little gifts?” Sara said.
“Yes, the guns, my dear. It will be our little secret. I know about Doctor Hedge having to take the blame, but I’m sure you can take care of him in my behalf.”
“Of course.” She hoped her consternation didn’t leak out with her words.
Terrant spotted an unlit candle. “Let me show you my power,” he grinned. He pointed above a candle and a tiny flame appeared. Then he lowered his finger and the flame lit the candle before it winked out.
Sara had to laugh. “I can do better, your Majesty.” She thought of Miller and said “Ignite!” A large ball of flame appeared to hover over her hand. It disappeared after a moment. “The magic has saved lives a few times.”
The King brightened. “I’m glad that someone has found a use for the trick. I delayed an important meeting to come visit. It was well worth it.”
The king stood up and Sara followed his rise. “Again, my apologies. I am very, very relieved that you have re-joined us. Your mission was much more successful than you realize, even if it did upset Renall’s designs. I’m glad they did. I t
ruly didn’t know his intentions and if I did, I would have kept you locked up in my palace and not in Emperor Hansfeld’s. I would have gone to war to get you back, Sara.”
He leaned over her. “Permit me.” He kissed Sara on the forehead. “Thank you for coming back.” his voice, barely a whisper.
Terrant rubbed at his eye as he left. A carriage and detachment of guards stood outside and hustled him away as soon as he stepped outside.
Sara had to wait a few moments to collect herself and called Willa, Hedge and Banna into her study.
“That was the King?” Banna said.
“Indeed.” Willa sat down and rubbed her hands. “Did I detect a Royal Apology?”
“You did indeed. I’m quite stunned…by a number of things actually. He gave me something to think about.”
“And?” Hedge said.
“I’d like you three to join me at my estate at Goldfields. The king has given it to me and my possession of the Duchy makes me a Duchess.” Sara pursed her lips. “Funny, I don’t feel like a Duchess any more than I felt like a Countess.”
Hedge got down on one knee. “I am a happy subject, Your Excellency.”
“Get up! I get Brightlings as well and won’t have to wait. That will mean another trip to Obed’s lair to make sure I have all the documentation so I can take possession and arrange for the transferring of Brightlings to Enos and Seb as soon as possible.” Her thoughts drifted to Nona’s letter.
“I don’t know why you’d want to take us to Goldfields,” Banna said.
“Don’t you want to write textbooks? I can’t think of a better place. The good Doctor can find work in Stonebridge, I am sure. It’s awash with new ideas. I also have a few projects that I think Hedge will be interested in. You won’t have to worry about keeping a roof over your head. I have a townhouse in the city, so you can live wherever you wish, you two. At your own whim.” She felt guilty for mentioning the guns to the Duke and forcing Hedge’s retirement and possibly Banna’s termination from the Women’s College, but she now had the means to make it up to them.
Willa pursed her lips. “And me?”
“You’re part of the group. I’d like you to run Goldfields. It’s a large estate that’s been neglected and the King said it likely needs renovating. I can’t think of a better renovator than you.” Sara felt lighthearted. She might not be in the midst of action, but she hadn’t seen twenty yet and a little rest and reflection close to where Klark lived, seemed ideal. Perhaps even she could write a book.
~~~
Chapter Twenty
Back to Brightlings
Sara peered out the back window at Grianna’s garden. Spring flowers had fought their way to the surface and she smiled at the first tentative blooms. A year ago, she had returned from Stonebridge. Willa and Sara decided to visit Belting Hollow first. Banna hadn’t gotten around to starting her textbook and the Crown evidently still demanded Hedge’s expertise despite his retirement as they continued to work with the liquid fire.
Willa and she still trained. Willa’s weapon shop friend referred an older man, named Vister, to put them through their paces.
Their date of departure had been set. Banna and Hedge would use the Stonebridge Townhouse at first.
By the time they reached the upper reaches of the North Pass, the snows would be gone. Sara itched to get started. She heard a commotion at the door and walked into the foyer.
“Lily!” Sara ran to her and gave her a hug. “I thought…”
“So did we, many times.”
Lily’s eyes had circles and she was so thin. A woman stood behind her. She looked familiar, and then it dawned on her. “Linssa, you finally made it back to Parth. Come in and sit in the parlor.” Linssa had lost a great deal of weight and the loss suited her where it didn’t suit Lily at all.
“We drove straight to the old house. It didn’t look lived in. We had to ask around to find out where you went. Duke Northcross didn’t want to tell us so you’ve obviously had a falling out.”
“I would say so. The King came by not long after I returned and apologized for his brother’s behavior. Imagine that. Northcross didn’t mind a spy so intimate with the Emperor. Whatever made him think I would go along with such a thing?”
“The Duke had an agent as the Empress,” Linssa said, “for about a month. I’m now divorced. Your King Terrant arranged a prisoner exchange and here we are. I had become an embarrassment, especially after the Emperor’s men picked us up at an inn. We weren’t treated too kindly in prison. I lost all my weight and Lily nearly didn’t have any weight to lose.”
“Can I get you something to eat?” Willa said, grabbing Lily’s hand.
“A little. The healers told me to gradually increase my diet. We were released a week ago. Three days to the coast, three days on ship and a day of meetings with Yanna Silverthread and the Duke. He said you were responsible for Meldey’s death.” Lily huffed. “You know, I don’t think I would have made it without Meldey’s training. It made me tougher than I imagined.”
Sara colored. “I didn’t kill Meldey and that’s a lie as you well know. She didn’t even make it to the mountains.”
“But you did escape. That’s just incredible,” Linssa said.
“Not without enough stress to take years off of our lives.” Willa brought in a tray with tea, biscuits and a chocolate for each of them. “Sara pushed herself so hard that she fainted right after a skirmish during a blizzard nearly killed me.”
Lily’s mouth went open. “You had adventures on your way out?”
“As few as we could manage,” Sara said. Perhaps she’d tell Lily the whole story at another time. She didn’t quite trust Linssa. “So what are your plans? We’ll soon be leaving for Shattuk Downs. Banna has been relieved of her position at the College and Doctor Hedge has been sort-of retired by Duke Northcross.”
“I’m ready to see my family,” Lily said. “Incarceration changes you and I had much too much time to think. Unfortunately it was all rather like a dream and, like a dream, something to be forgotten.”
“I agree. Don’t forget the Belonnians tortured me as well. You can travel with Banna and her husband.”
“I’d love to travel with your friends. I wouldn’t mind if we could all meet for lunch or dinner before we leave.”
Sara hadn’t thought of that. Lily still had a knack for the polish that Sara still didn’t have.
“Willa and I will travel through the mountains and over the North Pass to Belting Hollow. I want to see how Brightlings’ reconstruction is coming along.”
“Better you than me,” Lily said. “You’ll be staying there?”
“No. I’m the new Duchess of Goldfields. The King formalized the title two weeks ago.”
“Goldfields! You’re the richest woman in Shattuk Downs,” Lily said. Her eyes actually glowed with excitement. “And you’re my best friend.”
Linssa cleared her throat. “After my jailmate, that is,” Lily said.
“And you Linssa?”
“The King has granted me a small stipend. I still have a few friends in Parth. My dearest wish is to remain here. I love this city. I’ll miss Lily, but she will return.”
“We all will return,” Willa said. “Shattuk Downs isn’t that far away and Parthy is still a free land.”
Sara looked at Linssa. “Did you know about the fire weapons?”
“I did but couldn’t say a thing. My husband would instantly know who revealed the secret. But when it escaped along with you, Sara, they didn’t need to keep me cooped up anymore. My former husband is politically more cautious than Hansfeld would ever be. I wouldn’t say we are at peace, Parthy and Belonnia, but there is at least a mutual truce.”
Hedge popped through the door. “Guests?” He stepped into the parlor. “Lily and Linssa. It’s been a long, long time, hasn’t it, Linnie?”
“You know her?” Lily said.
“I do. I didn’t expect you two to make it out alive.”
Linssa rose and gave
Perry a long embrace. “I’m so glad to see you, Perry.”
Hedge pushed the woman away, gently. “I’ll introduce you to my wife when she returns from the College.”
“Banna?” Linssa said. “She’s your wife?” Linssa looked a little crestfallen, “and you’re leaving Parth?”
“While we’re able. Headed for Stonebridge, in Shattuk Downs.”
“I must admit,” Linssa said, blushing and putting her hand to her breast, “I had a number of romantic encounters, here. Perry was one of them.”
Hedge colored and cleared his throat. “I wasn’t always married to Banna and I cut quite a path a long time ago.”
“Where are you staying?” Sara asked, anxious to change the subject.
Lily looked at Sara. “We had planned on staying at your old house.”
“We still have empty rooms. You can stay here. And you, Linssa, can stay here as long as you like. The owner, Lady Grianna Worthy, lives outside of Parth much of the time. Perhaps you can make an arrangement,” Sara said.
“Lord Worthy’s wife?”
Sara nodded.
“Oh, she’ll be my age. I never met the woman, although I knew Lord Worthy rather well.”
“Lord Worthy has passed on,” Willa said with the chill of ice. “I kept his estate until his death, and then I served his new wife. His new young wife.”
“Another of your friends?” Hedge said, with a twinkle in his eye.
Linssa blushed a little. “As I said,” she laughed, “I’ll be making a lot ofnew friends. But I’m so glad to be here away from Okalla’s black buildings.” She smiled and shivered with delight. Linssa’s change of circumstances was evidently the fulfillment of her dreams.
Sara left the room and called to the driver of the coach who still waited outside her door. “Bring their things in.” He entered with two bags. Lily’s trunks from the Duke’s house were already stored upstairs in one of the bedrooms. Sara or Banna had intended to take them to her parents when they arrived in Stonebridge. Now Lily would happily accompany the trunks and that prospect seemed so much better.
