Weaving Man: Book One of The Prophecy Series

by Tove Foss Ford

My darling,

  Our mystery man approached me, turned up while I was between classes at school. Ifor was right there, but behind a pillar, because we had seen Mister Mystery lurking. Ifor pretended to go for some food, backtracked and was within arm’s reach. I was much relieved to have my pistol in my pocket.

  He’s despicable, a great perfumed fop with the greasiest hair you can imagine. Tries to speak Mordanian as a Surelian would, but does so very badly. Introduced himself as Lord Therbalt of Surelia, so I tried some Surelian on him. He can barely speak it and has a hideous accent, so he’s certainly not from Surelia.

  He didn’t say a great deal, but did a lot of leering and insinuating. Asked me if I was looking for a lover, for the gods’ sakes! Truly stylish. He did not specifically mention you or Katrin, just made allusions to the fact that he’s an important man at Court, etc. Ifor transcribed the conversation from his vantage point behind the pillar1 and is sending it along with this letter.

  The school is having a short recess of four days in two weeks. I would dearly love to come home. I know it will be a matter of turning around and coming right back, but I’m desperate to see you. I don’t mind telling you that this has all been frightening. I just want to let you hold me and tell me that it will all work out.

  There, that’s my lack of courage for the day. I must stop now, Kaymar is waiting to carry our letters to you. I love you.

  Your Eiren

  Menders rose and took his copy of Kumpfler’s Nobility from the bookshelf. A few moments’ searching let him know that there was no such person as Lord Therbalt of Surelia, or of any other nation for that matter. He hadn’t expected there to be.

  Kaymar stalked in and put Ifor’s transcript of the conversation between Eiren and Lord Therbalt on Menders’ desk. It contained nothing more than Eiren’s brief letter indicated, so he scanned it again to see if anything had been said that was veiled or had a double meaning. Except for a couple of clankingly blatant sexual innuendoes, he could find nothing.

  “Either the man is an idiot or he has something in place we don’t know about,” Menders said. “Showing himself like this is either a bold move or a stupid one… and so far he has done nothing stupid.”

  “He’s contacted Hemmett as well,” Kaymar answered. “He went by the Academy when Hemmett was in the yard, went to the fence and called him over with some tale of knowing Hemmett’s father, wanted to pay his respects and the like. Hemmett made short work of him, showed him that cannon he carries around. Haakel made his presence very known. Therbalt fled precipitately.”

  Menders scowled angrily.

  “Don’t tear your hair out, Cuz. Bartan’s on him at Court. He’s been strutting and preening there quite a bit, and has drawn some attention he might not care to have. It could be that he’s one of those types who can’t maintain a façade indefinitely and ends up giving himself away,” Kaymar drawled, stretching full length on the sofa.

  “If I could just get over there!” Menders growled in frustration. He hated being stuck at such a remove, having to guess at what was going on, coping with long delays in receiving information.

  “Menders,” Kaymar said quietly, “stop thinking with your heart.”

  That startled Menders and he realized that Kaymar was right. He was becoming emotional because he loved Eiren and Hemmett, not because they were in immediate danger.

  “I think he’s trying to draw you over there,” Kaymar continued. “Somehow, he’s made the association between you and Eiren. He might have people in place to go after Katrin if you’re away. They know if you’re here along with all the rest of the Men that they will never get near her.”

  “I believe you might be right,” Menders replied, “And if he wants me there so that he can strike here, he would need to have assets in place in the area. Take notes.”

  Kaymar sat up and produced a notebook.

  “Effective immediately, we double all standing and mounted patrols. I also want the mounted patrols going further afield. I want every farm on the estate checked at regular intervals. I want every outbuilding, corn crib, hayloft and henhouse searched. All the coal cellars and root cellars too. All unused buildings will be sealed under lock and key and the keys returned here.”

  Kaymar nodded, scribbling away.

  “Mounted guards at the halt and patrolling the roads. No one gets on or off a train or comes by road that we don’t know about. I want men in the village at all times, rotated there, watching for strangers. Seen any Revenants lately?”

  Kaymar looked up, surprised, and shook his head. “Not in years.”

  The mysterious traveling people who called themselves Revenants had always given Menders pause, yet he could not say why. Their caravans turned up all over Mordania, often unexpectedly and then vanished just as unexpectedly. They traveled in other nations as well, but claimed to owe allegiance to none. There were rumors that they stole children to add to their numbers. It had been years since he’d seen them near The Shadows, and had put the word out through various channels that they had best stay away. Still, he wanted to leave no possibility unconsidered.

  Menders went on. “Then, we sweep the woods. Every knothole, felschat den and manquar nest. If there’s anyone within fifty miles of here who shouldn’t be, we’ll soon know about it.

  “You know, I’ve been working on some new black powder rockets over the summer,” Kaymar said suggestively.

  “Yes, your eyebrows have grown in nicely, I see.” Menders couldn’t help a grim smile. Kaymar’s pyrotechnical experiments often took their toll on the younger man’s lashes, brows and mane of golden hair.

  “Innovation is not without its mishaps,” Kaymar said primly. Then he smiled broadly. “I’ve come up with an idea - trip wires attached to a flint wheel that would light a rocket, if tripped. The rocket would be in a metal tube, nailed to a tree. We have a lot of unused pathways in the woods. If we set trip wires, too high for most animals to set off but high enough for a man, it would alert us to anyone sneaking around out there.”

  Menders nodded. “That’s brilliant. Do whatever it takes.” He felt his mood lighten with the formation of a definite plan.

  “Let’s have a drink,” he said. “I desperately need one.”

  Kaymar poured out two measures of brandy and settled on the sofa again.

  “I’d be interested to see what change our heightened vigilance produces in our greasy mystery man,” Kaymar said. “If he reacts, it will mean he has an agent somewhere here on the estate.”

  Menders went cold at the thought. An agent in the area, yes – but on the estate? He trusted those who worked for him. Considering this present threat, however, perhaps it was possible to trust too much.

  “I want another background check on anyone new to the estate in the past six months,” he responded quietly.

  “Done,” Kaymar nodded.

  “What do you think of Eiren coming home for her recess in two weeks?” Menders asked.

  “Since we’re certain he knows of your association with her, it won’t be as if we’re leading him here by bringing her home. She misses you desperately and it has been horribly difficult for her to pretend to be involved with Ifor and me. It cuts across her grain. We can get her out unseen at night. With Hemmett staying on in Erdahn, it will ease our logistical situation.”

  “Then bring her home,” Menders ordered without hesitation.

  ***

  Menders laughed joyfully as Eiren ran down the gangplank of the boat, a little bag dangling from her hand. She flung herself at him and he spun her around.

  “There’s my love,” he whispered, grinning over her shoulder at Ifor and Kaymar, who were following at a distance. “I’m so glad to see you!”

  She clung to him for a few moments longer, kissing him with a vengeance.

  “Am I still the best kisser?” he laughed when she finally let him go.

  “By far. Let’s not talk about it now,” she said. Her color was not as glowing as usual. She looked thinner and the
re were definite lines of tension around her eyes.

  At The Shadows, Menders escorted her up to their suite.

  “You don’t have to finish the year,” he whispered to her as he cradled her head on his shoulder. “You can go back when things are settled. Sooner or later Bartan or Kaymar will get this Therbalt and then you’ll be safe enough.”

  “I’m not letting him drive me away,” she replied fiercely. “I set out to do something, and I’ll do it. Kaymar and Ifor don’t think I’m in danger, they think this character is just out to get information from me.”

  “It seems so.”

  She held him close, and he knew she didn’t want to talk about it any longer – and to be honest, neither did he.

  ***

  On Eiren’s last night at the Shadows, Menders, Kaymar and Ifor sat down with her to formulate a plan for her continuing stay in Erdahn. Menders would feel less like a grundar with a sore leg if there was some organization about the entire matter, though the sticking point was that they still had no idea who Therbalt was or what he wanted.

  “I’m willing to continue to act as decoy,” Eiren said. “I have a feeling he thinks that I will give him information, if I let him get close. There’s some reason why he’s approached Hemmett and me. It must be that he wants to get information about Katrin’s whereabouts or habits.”

  “Katrin’s location is not entirely secret at court. It’s quite certain he knows she’s here,” Menders said.

  “If he’s what Bartan thinks he is, the leader of this faction around Aidelia, there is no reason why he would want to kill Eiren,” Kaymar added. “More likely he wants to cultivate her, perhaps recruit her, because she would have information no-one else would have. But we have to remember, he could also use threatening or kidnapping her in an attempt to flush you out, Menders. If his goal is to eliminate Katrin, he will have to eliminate you first.”

  “The two of you will continue to stay with Eiren night and day,” Menders ordered. “Eiren, one or the other will sleep in your room. Do not stir a step without one of them with you. If Therbalt approaches you, they must be near enough to help you. No heroics, my love.”

  Ifor spoke. “We need a plan for Hemmett as well. He likes to go around Erdahn on his rest days. I would prefer it if you sent him specific orders not to go out into Erdahn until further notice. It could be this scum’s intention to flush you out by holding him hostage as well.”

  “Consider it done,” Menders replied. “Hemmett is very keen to do his part, whatever it may be.”

  “If you gentlemen don’t mind, I want to go and finish my packing,” Eiren said, rising. Menders waited until she was out of earshot.

  “If this Therbalt gets within striking distance, kill him,” he said abruptly. “Do it as quietly as you can. I know he’s slippery and I don’t want attention drawn to us by a public display, but I want him eliminated.”

  “He’s cagey,” Kaymar replied. “Only approaches us in public, is always where he can be seen. We can’t just kill a member of the Court outright – that would be the end of us all. We’ll see what can be done.”

  Menders nodded. “I know this. Please watch over her. I know I don’t need to tell you this, either of you, but it eases my mind to know that I said it, since I can’t be there to protect her myself and have to depend on you to do so. So bear with me, if you would.”

  ***

  Menders reined Demon in and squinted, trying to identify the person approaching on horseback on the road from Erdstrom. He took out the small pair of binoculars he always carried in his hip pocket and peered through them.

  The approaching horseman wore a yellow armband, which meant he had been cleared by one of Menders’ patrols on the road. Yellow was the color for today. Recognizing the figure, Menders spoke to Demon and cantered ahead to intercept Thoren Bartan, the Court Assassin.

  “Hello, Menders!” Bartan grinned, his hired horse prancing in dismay at the approach of Demon, who rolled his eyes and champed his teeth in a display of complete idiocy until Menders spoke to him.

  “I’m glad to see you,” Menders grinned back, relieved that his friend was cheerful.

  “Not something I hear often in my line of work,” Bartan joked, and pointed at Demon. “Call that thing a riding mount? Looks like a bastard sheep.”

  Demon bared his teeth at him, wiggling his upper lip in the way of farlins.

  “He’s known as a bag full of piss and fire, but he’s won every race in the area,” Menders answered. “What brings you?”

  “Are we alone?” Bartan asked.

  Menders looked around and smiled at the open empty fields that flanked the road. “Apparently,” he replied.

  “Regarding our friend Therbalt,” Bartan said, reining his horse to ride beside Menders. Demon tried lashing out and received a swat that convinced him that harassing the horse was not a good idea. “He heads the faction around Aidelia that wants Katrin eliminated.”

  Menders said nothing, clenching his teeth.

  “Every time Aidelia acts up, the Queen reminds her that there is another Heiress to the Throne,” Bartan went on, shifting in his saddle a little. “Aidelia controls herself better these days. She’s not so likely to drool and speaks more reasonably, though she’s clearly mad as a spoon. She drinks to excess, enjoys some very depraved pastimes that I would prefer not to go into. She desperately wants to be Queen. When she gets into a temper or does something destructive, the Queen mentions Katrin and the fact that she’s not entirely dependent on Aidelia to be her Heiress. So Aidelia begins ranting and raving to that crowd of freaks she has around her about how she wants little sister removed. Since this Therbalt has turned up, there is direction to what she says, not just a lot of mad hot air as it was before.”

  “I’m glad to know this for certain. It’s what I feared.”

  “From observation, it seems that this Therbalt is skilled at manipulating people,” Bartan continued. “He’s good at it. He’s very much in Aidelia’s good graces. In fact, he’s one of the men she gives her favors to.”

  Menders said nothing, feeling sickened. Just the memory of Aidelia’s stench – what sort of man could be intimate with someone that vile?

  “He’s very interested in seeing to it that Aidelia gets to be Queen,” Bartan continued.

  “Then his interest in Eiren and Hemmett is what we thought, an attempt to get information,” Menders replied.

  “It would seem so. Is that The Shadows? Gods, Menders!” They had ridden within sight of the big house while they were talking.

  “It’s quite a sight,” Menders smiled. “Of course, it took quite a bit of work to get it to look like this. When we arrived here fifteen years ago it was completely neglected and full of dust and spiders. How long can you stay with us?”

  “Only overnight, my friend. I’m on a mission. I’ve finally moved my wife away from Court and I’m going to contrive to spend a few days with her before going on. She’s near Rondstein, at her parents’ estate. She couldn’t bear Court any longer, not that I can blame her.”

  ***

  Later, after settling in, Bartan handed Menders some letters.

  “I called on Eiren and Hemmett this morning, in case they had any news for you, and I have a note for you from Kaymar as well,” he explained. “They aren’t urgent, no sign of our man this week. He hasn’t been around Court either.”

  My darling,

  It already seems like a year since I left you, though it hasn’t been a week. I’m writing in haste, as Bartan has appeared all unexpectedly and says he will be seeing you tomorrow

  All has been quiet, with no sign of our oily friend. It has been a relief to me, though I can tell that Ifor and Kaymar are on edge.

  I have banned Ifor from sleeping in my room. He snores like a boar. Kaymar sleeps silently, so he snuggles up each night in the trundle bed with several evil looking knives and two revolvers. He prowls quite a bit, not being a deep sleeper, but as you know, I can sleep through anything - except for
Ifor snoring, which would drown out the mightiest symphony. Thank the Gods that you do not snore like that. Not having seen our obnoxious problem man, I have slept well enough, which is welcome.

  There is little more to say except that I miss you and I love you and I can’t keep Bartan waiting any longer. Write to me soon.

  Your loving Eiren

  Dear Menders,

  I’m going to be quite the man around here, being called on by the Court Assassin! As it is, the fellows are very impressed by my having a bodyguard, even if he does try to be invisible most of the time.

  I haven’t seen Therbalt again, even at a distance and both Haakel and I have been vigilant. But I have the feeling we haven’t seen the back of him, not by a long shot.

  Otherwise, things have been dull except for one of the fellows’ pillow exploding the other night. Feathers everywhere and a great rumpus.

  Bartan has to go. I will write more this week. Love to Katrin and Borsen. Can’t wait to come home for Winterfest.

  Your friend,

  Hemmett

  N.B. The pillow didn’t explode while the fellow’s head was on it, but before he went to bed. I didn’t do it, but I know who did.

  H.G.

  Menders,

  Therbalt seems to have gone to ground – no sign of him at all.

  Eiren seems more relaxed, though she cast Ifor out of her room the first night he got on his back and started to snore resoundingly. Said he was vibrating the floor, which is entirely possible.

  Enquiries as to Therbalt’s whereabouts have come to nothing. I doubt anyone at Court knows where he is. Watch your back, just in case he’s come your way, but my gut feeling is that he has some pies to put his fingers into elsewhere.