Secrets and Spellcraft

by Michael G. Manning

  “I’m not even sure if we should open this here,” admitted Dennis. “I’m not an expert, but I believe this is a valuable vintage.”

  Will smiled. “Well, it’s a gift, so you’re welcome to do whatever you please with it.” His eyes roamed across the front room, examining the faces. Some of them were familiar, but he couldn’t put names to them. Then he spotted Janice Edelman standing on the opposite side of the room, chatting with another boy. She met his gaze briefly, then looked away.

  Dennis leaned in and whispered in a conspiratorial tone, “You’ve got a thing for her, don’t you?”

  He shook his head. “I wouldn’t say that. She’s in a few of my classes, but I haven’t had much luck getting her to talk to me.”

  “Play your cards right and she might do more than talk to you tonight,” said Dennis, giving him a wink.

  Will wasn’t sure what to make of that statement, so he kept his face neutral. “I should meet some of the other guests,” he said, to deflect from the topic.

  “Feel free. The drinks are in the kitchen.” Dennis pointed toward an open door that led off to the right. “You should arm yourself with a glass before you start carousing.”

  He took the advice and met another fellow in the kitchen who introduced himself, “Mark Townsend. I’m a third-year so we haven’t met before. Want some wine?”

  “Will Cartwright.”

  The other boy grinned as he poured a glass of wine. “Oh, I know.”

  “You do?”

  Mark nodded, handing him the glass. “Everyone has heard of Wurthaven’s war hero, not to mention you’re sponsored by the king. You’re big news lately.” He leaned closer. “They even say you’ve met Princess Selene. Is that true?”

  Will had no idea what to say. “Well, I was at the palace for a week.” He hadn’t seen Selene there, but it seemed a more reasonable response than to break open the topic of his time in the army.

  “Even that is remarkable,” observed Mark. “She doesn’t appear in public very often. I met her a few times, though.”

  “You did?”

  Mark sipped his own glass. “Mmm-hmm. She was finishing her last year when I started. She was rather famous on campus, and not just because of her father. If she hadn’t been a royal, she would have had a bright future as an academic.”

  “I had no idea,” said Will diplomatically.

  “Most of us just enjoy ourselves while we’re here,” Mark told him. “We get by, doing the bare minimum just to finish our time, but she was a role model of academic success.”

  “She probably had a lot of pressure on her,” suggested Will. “Being the daughter of a king, she wouldn’t want to make a poor showing.”

  “Perhaps,” said Mark noncommittally. “You should go mingle.”

  “How about you?”

  Mark smiled. “Don’t worry about me. I like pouring drinks. It makes me feel important. Plus, this way I get to see everyone at the party.” He swung his arms out in a dramatic fashion. “Everyone comes here eventually.”

  Will returned to the common area and began to circulate, introducing himself and promptly forgetting the names of most of the people he met. The conversations were short and superficial, and almost everyone asked him about his time in the army, which only served to give him the impetus to move on.

  At some point someone began playing on a harpsichord that sat in an adjoining room, giving the party a strange yet whimsical air. Will nursed his first glass of wine for nearly an hour and he still had a few sips left when he eventually found himself standing beside Janice.

  “Are you enjoying the party?” he asked her, feeling more confident after an hour of socializing.

  There was a certain wariness in her eyes when she answered, “As much as I can, I suppose.” She sipped at her drink, which appeared to be simple water.

  “You don’t like wine?” asked Will.

  Her expression hardened. “It wouldn’t be wise for me to drink here.”

  Will laughed, trying to lighten the mood. “That’s why I’ve been stretching this one glass out for an hour.”

  “I don’t think our reasons are quite the same,” said Janice sourly, then she spotted Dennis heading toward them and her face changed. She smiled brightly and pointed at Will’s coat. “You outdid yourself. That fabric must have cost a fortune.”

  “Not as much as you might think,” said Will, giving her a wink. Then he studied her dress. Unlike some of the noble ladies in attendance, her dress was a simple affair of dark green with a minimal amount of lace at the cuffs. “Personally, I think you’re the belle of the ball tonight.”

  Janice raised a brow and nodded in the direction of a girl wearing a brilliant yellow gown with matching earrings of gold and topaz. “Surely you jest.”

  “You can dress a pig in ribbons and bows, but it’s still just a pig,” said Will softly.

  She put a hand up to cover her mouth as she laughed, and then Dennis arrived, carrying two full glasses of red wine. He offered one to Janice. “No, thank you,” she demurred.

  “I insist,” said Dennis. “You must have at least one tonight.”

  Will didn’t like the young nobleman’s forceful manner, but he kept his opinion to himself. As he had learned from Rob, Janice’s situation was complicated, and he wouldn’t be doing her any favors by interjecting himself into it.

  The young woman accepted the glass, but she held it without taking a sip. Dennis casually draped his arm over her shoulder and Will saw him run a finger along the edge of her ear. “Have you been enjoying the party?” the young lord asked her.

  “Yes,” said Janice, but her tone said the opposite. Watching Dennis’ overly familiar actions had the hair on the back of Will’s neck standing up.

  Dennis turned to Will, forcing Janice to turn with him. “Did you know that Janice has an incredible talent?”

  Will’s throat felt dry and his shoulders were beginning to ache from the tension in his shoulders. “No, I didn’t.”

  There was an evil gleam in the young lord’s eye. “You should guess what it is. I’ll give you a hint.” With his free hand he touched the young woman’s lips, then ran a finger down her throat. “It involves this, and this.”

  Janice had gone scarlet, while Will’s mind was blank. The world around him seemed to beat in time with the loud drumming of his heart. He was too angry to even speak.

  “Don’t look so serious! She can sing!” Dennis exclaimed with laughter, then his eyes narrowed. “What did you think I meant?”

  Janice’s eyes held desperation as she looked at Will, but he wasn’t sure whether she was pleading with him to keep the peace or start a war. He looked down and saw that his fists were clenched, so he made a conscious effort to relax.

  “You should sing a song, Janice. This is a party after all,” said the young lord.

  “I’d rather not,” she replied quietly.

  Dennis smiled. “But you should! Otherwise my new friend here will think that I was just being crude. You need to prove otherwise. Besides, I’m sure your father would be proud to hear that you shared your gift with such an esteemed crowd.”

  The way the young man emphasized the word ‘father’ seemed to unsettle Janice. She lifted the forgotten glass in her hand and took a long swallow. “I don’t think I know anything suited to a party.”

  “Doesn’t matter. Sing that aria you sang last year in the Great Hall. Father loved it. He wouldn’t stop talking about it for days. I’m sure it was a large part of the reason he sponsored you,” said Dennis. Then he turned and cast his eyes about, searching the crowd. “Chris!” He pointed. “You can play Lord Mallow’s Ballad, right?”

  Chris nodded and went to the harpsichord while the others cleared the center of the common area to make room for Janice’s performance. The young woman drank the rest of her glass and set it aside before smoothing her skirts.

  Will found himself nervously standing on one side of the room. His anxiety was on her behalf, but when Janice raised
her head and gazed at the crowd her shy demeanor was gone, replaced by calm confidence. The harpsichord began playing a gentle melody, and when her lips parted the sounds that issued from them silenced the room as every student turned their attention to her performance.

  Will had little experience with music, but it would take a fool not to realize that what he was hearing was something beyond the ken of ordinary men and women. Janice’s voice rose, soaring to the heavens before trickling downward like rain to grace the grateful earth. He stood in awe, and while there were certainly words to her song, he was too stunned to comprehend them. Reality fell away, replaced by an aural experience of celestial glory.

  When she finished, the crowd remained silent for several long seconds before breaking into a tumultuous round of applause and cheers. Dennis walked over to Will. “See what I mean?”

  Stunned, Will nodded.

  “You probably thought I was bullying her but trust me, she loves to shine. She just needs a bit of coaxing to get her out of her shell.”

  Will still didn’t trust the young lord, but he wondered if perhaps he had misinterpreted things. Was his own prejudice coloring his vision of Dennis in much the same way that it had his perception of Selene? Certainly, the young man was privileged, self-important, and overly assertive, but perhaps he wasn’t as malicious as Will had thought.

  Janice was surrounded by admirers, but after a few minutes she made her way back to him. “Did you like it?” she asked, her eyelids drooping slightly.

  “I’ve never heard anything like it,” said Will honestly. “With a voice like that you could perform anywhere.”

  “That’s what my mother always said, but it landed me here,” replied Janice, who emphasized her response with a quick twirl.

  Something was off. Being enthusiastic after a performance was one thing, but it was too big a change from her usual personality. Janice’s eyes were impossibly blue as she stared back at him, but it seemed as though they weren’t focusing properly. Would one glass of wine do that? wondered Will. Is that why she didn’t drink, she can’t handle alcohol?

  She lost interest in him almost immediately and wandered away, a mild sway in her steps. He watched her go, wondering if he should worry, but another woman approached and distracted him.

  “I don’t believe we’ve met,” said the young woman, extending her hand. “Stephanie Beresford.”

  “William Cartwright,” he responded, bowing over her knuckles for a second without quite touching his lips to them. “It’s a pleasure.”

  “I’ve heard a lot about you,” she responded. “Do you like my dress?”

  It’s horrible, thought Will, studying the pink and lavender concoction that draped her figure. “It suits you,” he replied. He entertained her questions for several minutes, but quickly tired of describing how sweaty and muscular the men in the army were, which seemed to be the only thing she was interested in. As soon as he got the opportunity, he excused himself.

  Will made a slow circuit of the room, but Janice was nowhere to be seen, and after a minute he realized that Dennis and a few others were also notably absent. Finally, he stopped by the kitchen.

  “Another glass?” asked Mark.

  “No, I’m looking for Dennis.”

  “I think he went upstairs,” said the other man without inflection. After a moment’s hesitation he added, “You should go up too, if you’re interested in that sort of thing.”

  Confused, Will headed for the staircase and started up. At the landing for the second floor he saw nothing but empty hallways, but he could hear voices coming from the third floor above. “Five crowns if you want a turn, Chris.” It was Dennis’ voice.

  Something clicked in Will’s mind then and he remembered Janice’s eyes. They hadn’t been simply blue, her pupils had been tiny, almost pinpoints. Tincture of opium, he realized. He’d seen the effects in his mother’s patients many times. That bastard put it in her wine!

  “Five is too much,” countered Chris. “Maybe if I was first, but not for third.”

  “Too bad,” said someone else. “I paid seven for second.”

  Will felt paralyzed. There were at least three people on the third floor, and it wouldn’t do him any good to start a fight with any of them. They were obviously wealthy, noblemen, and utterly lacking in any sort of morality he was familiar with. His heart was pounding as fear and anger fought a short, vicious battle within him.

  The moment passed, and a calm settled over him as he began climbing the steps to the third floor. When he reached the top he spotted Dennis, along with Chris Burnham and another student he had met only a short while ago, Brett Conn.

  Dennis called out when he saw him appear. “There he is, our number one!”

  “Why is he first?” complained Brett.

  Dennis ignored the question. “Will! Mark told me that wine you brought is worth at least fifty crowns. Did you know that?”

  Will walked toward them slowly. “No. I didn’t.”

  “That’s why I decided to give you a special gift in return,” said Dennis, nodding toward the bedroom door behind him. “Would you like to have a little time alone with Janice? I promise, she’s in an excellent mood.”

  Chapter 11

  The leering grin on the other man’s face filled Will with fury, but he kept his features blank. He wanted to be close before he started swinging. If he could put one down quickly, he might have a chance with the other two. There was always magic, of course, but all three of the other men were sorcerers and even if he succeeded, he knew there were rules against using magic against other students.

  As it was, he would likely be expelled anyway, simply for angering three of the wealthiest and most important students. Another thought occurred to him as he came abreast of them. Without thinking, he began to talk. “You’ll really let me go first?”

  Chris and Brett gave him frustrated looks, but Dennis positively glowed. “Of course! Anything for my new friend.”

  “How long can I have?” asked Will, hoping his acting wasn’t as poor as Selene had so often said.

  “Half an hour,” returned Dennis, “though I doubt it will take you that long.”

  The bile was rising in his throat, but Will managed to continue. “Is she tied down or anything?”

  “Not necessary,” said Dennis, flashing a small glass vial from the inside of his coat. “She’s as docile as a lamb.” He opened the door and gestured for Will to enter. “Be gentle, my friend. You’re her first.”

  Will stood still as the door closed behind him, trying to collect his thoughts. Janice was still dressed, lying on a small but elegant bed that sat on the right side of the room. He thought she was asleep, but after a moment he saw the light reflecting from her eyes as she stared at him glassily. He approached slowly. I’ve got half an hour, he reminded himself. “Are you all right?” he asked softly.

  Her gaze followed his movements, but the only sound that emerged from her throat was unintelligible. Will saw a small line of drool trailing from the side of Janice’s mouth. The sight made him furious all over again. He put a palm against her cheek, noting the cool, clammy feel of her skin. He gave her too much, Will noted worriedly, moving his hand to hover beneath Janice’s nose. She was still breathing, but slowly.

  Surveying the room, he could see only one way out other than the door, which was obviously not an option. A small window, barely wider than his shoulders, faced the back of the house. Will opened it and looked out, making note of the long drop to the ground below. It was much too far to jump, not that Janice was in any condition for such a feat. Glancing from side to side, he saw no pipes or other features that would enable a climb.

  I’m screwed, he thought. A sudden inspiration came to him, and he called up the limnthal so he could talk to his ring. After a quick description of his situation, it gave him a short answer. “Make a rope with the bedsheets and climb down,” suggested the testy ring. “Then get the fuck out of here.”

  “How am I going to climb an
d carry her with me?”

  “Forget the girl. Just run,” said the ring. “None of this is your fault, so unless you want to cement your relationship with young lord needle-dick out there by taking advantage of the girl, your only option is to run.”

  “You’re suggesting I find someone in authority and report it,” said Will hopefully.

  “Grow up. The only way that would work would be if the girl on the bed was one of the ladies from the Primrose House you mentioned. Why do you think they chose a peasant? The daddies of these rich little bastards own the place and everyone out there knows it. No one is going to stick their nose into this shit show. Just get out,” advised the ring.

  “Shut up,” ordered Will. He wasn’t about to leave Janice alone, but the ring had given him an idea. There was rope stored inside the limnthal, and the bedsheets could be put to a different use.

  He summoned the rope, then went to the bed and carefully lifted Janice and laid her down on the floor to one side. Removing the heavy, quilted coverlet, he spread it out on the floor at the foot of the bed, then moved Janice, putting her on one edge of it. That done, he rolled her up in the quilt so that only her head was visible, sticking out at one end.

  Using a filet knife from the limnthal, he cut several lengths from the rope and tied the bundle in four places, at her feet, knees, waist, and below her shoulders. Then he tied short sections from each of the four places together and used an ugly knot to put the whole thing together at the end of the rest of the rope. Sergeant Nash would have been disappointed at his display of poor ropework, but when he tested the joins they held.

  Picking up the feminine bundle, Will returned to the window and discovered that pushing a human-sized object out of it was easier said than done. He fumbled for several minutes, grunting and wheezing, before getting Janice outside, whereupon he promptly lost his grip. She fell several feet before he caught hold of the rope and managed to bring her to a stop by slamming his head and shoulders into the window frame.