Secrets and Spellcraft

by Michael G. Manning

  “That’s an awfully specific outcome.”

  “It’s what I would do,” Aislinn said sweetly. “Angering a demon lord might achieve your short-term goal but result in greater death and suffering in the long term as they seek vengeance against you.”

  Will chewed his lip. None of his options sounded particularly appealing. “Could I direct the demons to kill enemies of Terabinia, like the Patriarch?”

  “One man would hardly be enough to satisfy them, but the short answer is no. Darrow is too far from where the ritual is located. Otherwise the Shimerans would have already taken over the world using similar tactics. Demons can’t survive here for long periods, so the targets need to be in Cerria or close by.”

  He was a little relieved to hear that. The idea of sending a demon army off to slaughter innocents in another nation wasn’t very appealing to him, though it was obviously better than letting them kill his countrymen.

  Will had his answers. He knew what he would need to do. Now he only needed to learn the specifics. “Can you teach me how to control the ritual?”

  Aislinn’s smile was laced with venom. “I thought you’d never ask. It will take some time to educate you in the specifics.”

  “How long will Janice sleep?” asked Will.

  “As long as we need, an hour or two.”

  “Let’s get started then.”

  Chapter 53

  Janice woke with a yawn and stretched. After a second, she sat up with a start when she realized she was still in Will’s room. Her eyes locked onto him. “How did I fall asleep?”

  “It probably had something to do with my brilliant conversational skills,” said Will.

  His friend got to her feet and surreptitiously checked her clothing. Will presumed it was for signs of tampering. “Really?” he asked. “You know me better than that.”

  “Think about what I’ve been through,” she reminded him. “I’m always a little suspicious, even if I know you wouldn’t do anything like that. I can’t help it.” Satisfied that nothing had happened to her, she resumed a casual tone. “So, where were we?”

  “You corrected a lot of my ignorance regarding the nobility and we sorted out the motivations of the Arenatas. I have to thank you,” said Will. “I never would have understood things so clearly without your help.”

  She squinted at him. “You sound as if we’re done.”

  Will nodded. “I know what I need to do now, or at least I have a better idea.”

  Janice motioned for him to continue. “And that would be…?”

  He adopted an apologetic countenance. “I’m afraid that my forthrightness ends here. The past I have shared, but the future remains my own.”

  “You sound like a poet,” observed Janice. “I’m not sure it suits you. Are you telling me that you’ve made a plan, but you aren’t going to share?”

  “Calling it a plan would be giving me too much credit,” said Will with a smirk. “But I’ve got a rough idea of what I’ll do.”

  “Then why won’t you explain?”

  To keep you from trying to stop me, he thought. “There’s not much you can do to help and knowing would only put you at risk.”

  “I’d rather judge that for myself.”

  “Too bad,” he responded cheerfully. Taking her hand, he led her to the door. “You’ve already been a huge help to me.”

  She glared at him. “And now you’re tossing me out?”

  “Yep.”

  She left after a few minutes of growling and complaints, and Will settled in for more practice at his spellcraft. As usual he focused on the point-defense spell, though he didn’t expect to improve enough for him to be able to reflex cast in within a week. Still, if I survive this week, I’ll need it in the future.

  And he definitely intended to survive, at least until the wedding. Beyond that nothing was certain.

  The rest of the weekend was boring in the extreme, as he did nothing but practice. Occasionally he ran through his other spells, but he spent most of his time on the defense spell as Arrogan had advised him.

  He’d considered going to the king with what he had learned, but after hearing Aislinn’s explanation he felt it was a bad idea. King Lognion was corrupt and power hungry. The man would likely choose to try and manipulate the ritual to his own ends if it couldn’t be stopped. Will couldn’t allow that any more than what he anticipated the duchess would do with it.

  Selene was one of the few he trusted to do the right thing, but she was still firmly under her father’s control, so he was limited in how much he could share with her. He would try to contact her after his meeting with the duchess. Only then would he be sure of all his options.

  Monday finally came and he went through the motions of attending his morning classes, but once it was time for lunch, he made his way to the school gate and walked into the city. Will didn’t bother sneaking out or otherwise trying to hide his exit. The one who had been trying to kill him was waiting for his visit. She wasn’t likely to attempt to kill him again until she had heard his answer.

  When he was just a block from the Arenata residence, he noticed a stray cat had begun following in his wake. He stopped and looked back at the grey tom. “I didn’t expect to see you.”

  The goddamn cat didn’t answer, as usual. With a shrug, Will went on, ignoring his presence. The cat followed him all the way to the front gate and sat patiently while he rang the bell. A guard appeared and inquired, “And you would be?”

  “William Cartwright. I’m here to see Duchess Arenata if she isn’t otherwise engaged,” he responded.

  “One moment,” said the man. He left and went into the house but returned a few minutes later. “If you will follow me.” The gate swung open.

  Will followed the guard to the front door, where he was greeted by a manservant who ushered him inside. From there he was led to the front parlor and asked to wait. As he sat down, he noticed the cat was lounging on the floor across from him. “She’s going to see you,” he warned, keeping his voice to a whisper.

  The cat ignored him, seemingly only interested in bathing himself.

  After a few minutes, Duchess Arenata appeared, followed by a maidservant carrying a tray set with a silver teapot and two cups. She gestured to the table and waited until the tray was deposited. “See that we’re not disturbed, Miriam,” ordered the duchess. Duchess Arenata studied Will with a pleased look, and it was only after a second that he realized he had committed his first faux pas.

  Will jumped up and gave a short bow. “It’s a pleasure to see you, Your Grace. I’m honored you would let me call on you in your home.”

  Arlen Arenata’s lips stretched into a thin smile. “I am glad you chose to come. Please, do sit.” She gestured to the chair he had just been sitting on a moment before. She followed suit, sitting across from him.

  Will’s eyes darted to the cat, but he was no longer where he had been. He started to relax, then noticed the goddamn cat was now sitting directly beneath the duchess’ chair. When did he move to there?

  “Are you all right, Mister Cartwright? You seem somewhat distracted,” observed the duchess.

  “Yes, Your Grace. To be honest, I’m nervous. This is the first time I’ve been invited to the home of someone so austere.”

  “Hopefully you find my home pleasant.”

  He nodded. “I do, though I’m curious as to what you wish to speak with me about.”

  “Shall I be blunt?” she asked.

  “If you wish. I’m not well experienced with courtly graces,” admitted Will.

  “When you first came to Cerria, there were rumors that you engaged in certain illegal practices, warlockry to be specific.”

  Will showed surprise. “The king knows I’m innocent of those charges. It’s why he had me released.”

  She smiled knowingly. “Let’s be honest with one another. We’re both initiates in forbidden arts. I heard you were quite gallant in your defense of the princess when demons came to take her.”

  Why
would she bring that up? She was the one that sent the demons. “I’m not sure what you’re driving at, Your Grace.”

  “You slew a fairly powerful demon, Mister Cartwright, without the use of an elemental. You don’t expect me to believe you’re simply a wizard, do you?”

  “Her Highness had two elementals with her,” stated Will.

  “Neither of them were fire elementals. Earth and water are ill suited to dealing with demons,” countered Arlen. “The fact that the two of you survived, not to mention your other interesting exploits, leads me to believe you are receiving help from other powers. Am I wrong?”

  She thinks I’m a warlock, he realized. “It wouldn’t be wrong to suggest that,” he dissembled.

  “Then I’m also sure you are probably familiar with the art of bargaining.”

  He nodded. “I am.” It was then that he noticed the duchess had no elemental with her. He had gotten so used to seeing them with nobles that he had simply assumed she had one. He knew her husband had several. Did she take up demonology to fill a perceived lack? “What are you proposing?”

  “I’m offering you quite a substantial reward, in exchange for almost nothing on your part. I simply want your promise not to interfere in my affairs. A pledge of neutrality if you prefer to think of it that way.”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever interfered in your affairs, Your Grace.”

  Her eyes flashed. “Don’t play dumb, Mister Cartwright. You know far more about current circumstances than you let on. How else do you explain your presence the day the princess and Count Spry nearly died?”

  Dumb luck? he thought, but then he corrected himself. No, it was the goddamn cat. The same cat that was currently washing itself beneath her chair. She thinks I figured out her plans a long time ago, at least before the assassination attempt. He wanted to laugh. He wished he had known so much back then. He decided to take a risk. “Very well, I won’t insult your intelligence. I presume you want to make sure nothing goes wrong on Friday. Am I correct?” A faint look of alarm crossed over the duchess’ features, then vanished. She didn’t think I knew that much, he noted.

  Covering her surprise, she responded, “I see I wasn’t wrong about you. That’s why I’m willing to offer you something you seem to greatly desire.”

  “What would that be?” he asked blandly, affecting disinterest.

  “Princess Selene, not to mention the possible gratitude of a king.”

  “And by king you are of course referring to the new one to take Lognion’s place,” he added.

  The duchess nodded.

  “Demons aren’t known for their discretion,” Will observed. “How can you promise her safety in the event that something terrible happens to the inhabitants of the palace?”

  “And your safety,” corrected the duchess.

  He laughed. “I’ve dealt with demons on several occasions now. If what you’re planning is as big as I think, I’d make certain I wasn’t anywhere in the vicinity.”

  It was obvious that the duchess didn’t like his tone, but she kept herself in check. “If not for yourself, at least safety for her and a few others.”

  “How many?”

  “Ten,” she answered immediately.

  “Make it twenty,” Will demanded. “I have quite a few friends.”

  She sighed. “Twenty then. I will provide you with a vial of special ink, as well as the symbol you must inscribe. The only stipulation is that you must not provide Count Spry or the king with this mark, otherwise my plan will be for naught.”

  “It will seem rather strange if I ask Selene to let me draw upon her.”

  “Give her a gift, almost anything will do, small or large. So long as you inscribe my mark upon it and do so with a portion of the ink, it will protect her. Just make sure it’s something she will keep with her.”

  “And all you want in exchange is my pledge?”

  The duchess smiled.

  “Very well,” said Will. “I pledge on my soul that I will not stop your ritual.”

  She rose and left the room, returning a moment later with a vial and a slip of paper with the symbol marked on it. After that, she bade him goodbye and stepped out. The servant, Miriam, escorted him to the door. Will watched the cat follow the maid with some amusement—no one had noticed the creature the entire time.

  Shortly thereafter he was on the street, walking back to the college. Away from the house he felt his stress subside, and fatigue washed over him. He hadn’t realized until then just how nervous he had been.

  Something bumped up against his legs and he looked down to see the goddamn cat. The cat circled him once and then began walking with something approaching purpose. Will followed. This is my life now, following a stray cat demigod.

  He led Will to the college but kept going until he had reached the lane that led between the college and the palace. He turned onto that road and Will followed him north. Is he telling me to see Selene now?

  As expected, the goddamn cat moved off the road in the direction of the palace at approximately the same place he had before, the area that he had told Will was best for crossing the wall. He stopped in the tall grass and stared up at him. “You have done well,” came its voice, emanating as usual from some place that didn’t quite match up with the cat in front of him.

  “Today?”

  “The demon that attacked the palace last time,” responded the cat. “I had doubts about whether you would survive.”

  “Thanks for your confidence in me,” said Will wryly.

  “You have decided on your course of action this Friday,” stated the cat. It wasn’t a question.

  Will grimaced. “I’m not sure it’s the right thing to do. According to Aislinn it might be the worst option.”

  The goddamn cat licked one paw. “It is, but I approve. A cat never worries about the future, that will take care of itself.”

  “So you agree with her?”

  The cat hissed. “Never accuse me of agreeing with one of the fae. Her assessment was correct, but it lacked an important element.”

  “Which is?”

  “Me.”

  Will felt hope rise in his chest. “Will you help me?”

  “No. I want only revenge. You belong to the fae bitch until your debt is resolved.”

  “And yet you led me here,” Will pointed out.

  “Don’t mistake self-service for assistance. She is alone and your next conversation serves my interests.”

  “What should I tell her?”

  “Enough that she trusts you, not enough for her to stop you.” There was a brief pause, then the voice added, “She will kill you.”

  That surprised him. “You mean if she finds out what I intend to do? That doesn’t make sense. I’m trying to help—”

  “Verb tense is important, human. If I can make the effort to utilize your frustrating language, you should at least master it well enough to understand the difference between will and would.”

  “You’re saying she will kill me if I say too much?”

  “There is no ‘if.’ She will kill you.”

  Will was confused, as always seemed to be the case when he spoke with the Cath Bawlg. “I don’t understand.”

  The cat got to his feet and began to walk away, but the voice continued, “Remember this if you need comfort. The dead do not fear revenge, nor can they seek it. Don’t forget to say your goodbyes.”

  Will stared after him long after the cat had disappeared. “What the fuck does that mean?” he said finally, struggling not to shout.

  Chapter 54

  Will was worried about what sort of reception he would receive, but when he said his name and deactivated the ward protecting the window, Selene appeared just seconds later and helped him through. The held each other for a long minute afterward, knowing that words would only spoil their reunion, for there was nothing good in the facts that lay between them.

  “You shouldn’t have come,” she said at last, when they broke apart. “You can’t stay either.�
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  “I didn’t intend to,” Will snapped, regretting the tone of his voice immediately. “I came to warn you.”

  “Why did you vanish from the ball?” she asked, ignoring his statement.

  “Did you think I might do something stupid?” Her face answered his question. I guess I deserved that look, he told himself. “I was looking for evidence about the warning I’m here to give you.” As she continued to stare, he felt the need to add, “And yes, it was dangerous.”

  “You need to show some concern for yourself, Will,” she warned. “I can’t look after you. Not anymore.”

  “I didn’t ask you to,” he said grumpily.

  “No, I’m asking you to take care of yourself. How do you think I’ll feel if something happens in the future? Just because I’ll be married doesn’t mean it won’t torture me if I find out you’ve gotten yourself killed. I’m asking you to be careful for my sake, if you won’t do it for yourself.”

  He understood her feeling, but his frustration at the situation made him angry anyway. “Too damned bad,” he spat. “If you want to protect me, you’ll have to do it yourself. If you’re not in it, I’ll spend my life however I choose. Don’t put the responsibility for your guilty feelings on my shoulders.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “How did I fall in love with someone so selfish?”

  “Selfish is taking it upon yourself to get married without consulting the person you’re supposedly saving,” Will shot back. “I don’t think I’ve got a monopoly on selfishness here.”

  Selene’s nostrils flared as his words registered and he could see she was breathing heavily. Will supposed he must look the same. He fought the urge to seize her in his arms, though whether he wanted to kiss her or strangle her was unclear to him. “Do you want to hear my warning or not?” he asked.

  “Not really,” she said sullenly.

  “The Duchess, Arlen Arenata, is planning to kill Count Spry and your father,” said Will without preamble.