Actually, I've heard of your necklace with life-like running horses from three different people, and three different accounts I may add. But it is even better seeing it in all its glory.'
This looking at the necklace. 'They really do seem to move, and the copper indeed matches Miss Thorn's hair perfectly.
But Mr Kenwick, I've also heard your name mentioned by a colleague from this very building, council member Telling mentioned it in connection with the exposure of the abuse of ten under-age children in the wool factory on this side of the river, and a nasty case of pollution of the river by the same factory, causing numerous deaths.
He seemed to also count on your help starting a boarding school for children from lower classes with special talents in rare professions, at that very site, I hear.
I think you will be a busy man, Mr Kenwick, and your beautiful partner here with you. I hope that you will listen to her as an equal, for we have found she is often right.'
Leaving Paul stunned with his deductive abilities, he turned to me and said:
'Miss Thorn, may I distract you from your tasks once in a while to do a final inspection of an especially sensitive project, for a very fine salary? Really short jobs, very well-paid, with a lot of responsibility, especially suited to your specific talents? Say once a month? It would provide you with a stable financial base.'
I nodded, speechless with the recognition I was receiving from all my former colleagues, and the prospect of doing the easy work for more money.
'I would be happy to, Mr Millner, just send someone over when you need me.'
After this, we took leave and went to the town hall next door. We did not have to wait, for Paul pulled rank shamelessly, using his name to gain us entrance to the office of the highest clerk in attendance.
Here, Paul could finally sit down for a moment in a comfortable chair, which he did with evident relief. We both signed a few forms, I wrote down the address of my parents, Paul paid a substantial sum, and we were out again with a licence.
He said apologetically: 'If I hadn't used my name there, they would have had us cooling our heels for hours, and I am feeling my back now. Cycling in the sunshine will do me good. This guy is from a family close to mine, so my parents will know I'm getting married within a few days. I wonder if they'll let me know they know.
Let's go home, dearest, I want to lie on that soft sofa with you running your hands through my hair.' He pedalled firmly and we were home quickly. I sent him upstairs to the sofa and put the bicycles away by myself. Then I went into the workshop, but Lukas was not there.
Chapter 40
Once in the house I found him there, waiting on Paul hand and foot. He had tea ready, and a nice lunch was nearly ready.
We ate in the living-room, Paul eating lying down like a Roman emperor.
After half an hour he felt much better, for I had not only caressed his hair, but also massaged the stiffened muscles of his back until they were totally warm and supple again.
Now he was resting whilst Lukas and I cleared up the mess we had made having lunch, brewing a pot of coffee for our guests as well, and some tea for George in case he didn't dare try our coffee.
Before long we heard a carriage, and Lukas went upstairs towards the front door to receive his friend and teacher and our guest, as I brought the tea and coffee and cups into the living-room. Paul sat upright again, assuring me a bit of rest had done wonders.
Pretty soon our guests came in above us, and we could hear their admiring gasps, even though both of them were landed gentry, so they must have been used to having art and wealth around them. Apparently Paul's Gothic palace had that effect on all people, the sheer hours of work that had been put into it just blew the mind, and the total perfection of everything was a rarity even among the wealthy.
George greeted me cordially, shaking hands and hugging me, and when he turned to Paul he was really affected again.
'Paul my boy, why have I never seen this before? This looks like the work of a lifetime, but I'm sure you've only lived here for three years,' he said, kneeling down before Paul to hug him without Paul having to get up.
A shadow of pain flew over my lover's face as he hugged George, just before he looked George in the eye and answered seriously: 'It is because I never invited you, George. And I did the work of a lifetime in three years because I never entertained. But that is all going to change.'
And with that remark he looked straight at me and smiled.
Then he turned his attention to the council member, a tall, broad man, a bit overweight with a full round face and a receding hairline, a very imposing figure that radiated authority and to me, power. He was not handsome, but he dressed fashionably, and he had a friendly appearance despite his aura of power.
I guessed he was a decade or two younger than Sir Nomes, say thirtyish, and he was admiring the house as much as George was, talking to Lukas about it.
Lukas of course presented his usual striking figure, in company of nobility he automatically transformed from the rakish boy into a noble diplomat.
Our guest was obviously impressed by his manners, and treated him with the utmost respect, though as a mage he must have sensed something of Lukas'
alienness with his sight.
Now George got up from Paul's side and introduced his two fellow mages to one another: 'Tristan, may I introduce Paul Kenwick to you, master mage in the guardian tradition, master craftsman in fancy metalwork and anything else he sets his mind to, as you can witness in this little palace, inventor, and dear to me as a son.
Paul, may I introduce Tristan Telling to you, adept in the ancient art of high magick, and member of the city council. He has authority over city planning, and he has a proposition for the factory site. Tristan, you know about Paul's injury, I suppose he's not getting up to greet you.'
They shook hands cordially, Paul remaining seated, and Mr Telling said:
'You have an absolutely beautiful house, Mr Kenwick, did you really craft everything in here by yourself, within three years?'
Paul replied: 'I did indeed, but at that time I had little life, so to speak. May I introduce you to the people who have given that to me lately?'
He started with me: 'Mr Telling, this is my apprentice in the arts, Miss Melissa Thorn, a qualified engineer and my business partner as well as my beautiful intended. Melissa, Mr Telling is an adept in high magick, a form of magic as ancient as the Arthurian legends. It is very powerful, and being an adept he has reached the pinnacle of his arts. Besides being a council member that is.'
Mr Telling laughed at this description of his achievements, and shook my hand, saying: 'Miss Thorn, I've heard of your work as a building inspector, but I never realized you studied the arts as well.
And no-one ever mentioned your surpassing beauty, though they did mention
your copper necklace with moving horses. It is as beautiful as you, a work of great art.'
I curtsied, and dared comment: 'Word sure gets around in the council building! It must be the excellent coffee drawing everyone to Mr Millner's office to share the news.'
This got a laugh from Mr Telling and then Paul introduced Lukas with his real name: 'Mr Telling, you've already met my apprentice in the mundane arts, Lykos Hermeides, who is also George's apprentice in the less mundane arts and a healer of great talent.
He calls himself Lukas here, but his original descent is Greek. Lukas, Mr Telling is our best hope of preventing situations like the wool factory in the future.
Mr Telling, Lukas has been bearing the brunt of the harm done by the black mage operating in the factory, having healed not only my near-fatal wound, but also the mental trauma of children the mage drained of magical energy then dumped in the wasteland neighbouring his factory.
There were ten captive in his building, but there were ten more children roaming that desolate place for two years, with no memory of who they were, where they were and how they got there.
Lukas has treated three so far, but it is hard
on him, being confronted with those horrible memories again and again. And it drains him at a rate that no apprentice can keep up with, so we supply him with power in turns.'
Of course as a mage, Mr Telling knew what that meant, and I saw him eye all of us speculatively, though not in a disapproving way, and he observed: 'Mr Hermeides, you speak English like a native, and your manners are upper class, yet I hear you are from Greece, and though my vision shows me a well-dressed elegant young man, my sight tells me you're not entirely human. May I ask an elaboration?'
With his polished manners, Lukas invited both gentlemen to take a seat and accept a cup of coffee or tea, and then he sat down himself and said: 'You are an astute observer, Mr Telling, and I have no problem explaining.
I'm what your ancient Greeks called a satyr, I used to have a set of beautiful horns, and my shoes are clamped around my hoofs. My origins lie in a world much like ancient Greece, where my people occupy the coastlines of that worthy state.
My father is an important noble there, and I worked as a herald for another
such personage, which is where I acquired my polish. My talent awakened after I was kidnapped and escaped through a portal that led me here by accident.
Melissa and Paul have taken me in and taught me your language and metal working skills, and George is helping me to develop my healing gift. I am probably stuck in this world, but I don't mind, I'm at home now.'
Even for an experienced and high-ranking mage that was a big pill to swallow, I could see Mr Telling struggling with the implications.
That was when George took the lead, saying: 'I'm sure we'll meet often, and we will have plenty of time then to talk of other things than business. But I have fifteen traumatised children in my home, and my wife wants Lukas and someone to feed him magic over there an hour ago.
Besides that, Paul still has a fresh bullet-wound and he may need to rest again soon, so let us get to the point now, and socialise later. If that is all right with all of you?'
All parties nodded. George said formally: 'Tristan, with the introductions behind us I give you the floor.'
And Mr Telling started speaking: 'We have had our suspicions about that wool factory and its owner for half a year now.
The wasteland had been there since the factory was built, and we knew there were some destitute children out there, but to be honest, we see those everywhere in the city. But half a year ago it suddenly vanished from sight, and a black mage started to get active in the city.
Our guess is, that he already stole magic from talented children and dumped the burned out ones in the wasteland, but that he did not accumulate the energy yet. Once he tried to pool the stolen energy he needed to hide his activities with stolen faerie souls, and that is when we got suspicious.
We were just planning to intervene, for news had reached us that talented children were disappearing from all over the country, but it was difficult to infiltrate the building, and we have to operate as secretly as you do, for if we are found out, our heads will roll as easily as yours.
When I felt an overdose of magical energy coming from the factory site I got the watch and went there, expecting to find the black mage active.
Instead he was dead and the children freed, our first task already accomplished by an as yet unknown mage. George here quickly enlightened us to what had happened, and I was surprised to learn you were living in the
area itself.
We had plans ready for when the black mage would be out of action, and we'd like to have your support to implement them.
The wool factory is profitable, even with better working conditions for the labourers, so we plan to sell it, clean up the wasteland and build a school there.
The school is to be a boarding school for children from all over the country who have special abilities but are from lower classes. They would develop these talents, say mathematical genius, healing skills, mundane talents that can be developed by proper schooling.
Among these children would be talented youths in need of training, going to school like the other kids and getting special classes in magic besides the normal program. After basic training they would be ready for an apprenticeship with a mage from a particular discipline. Mr Kenwick, would you be prepared to assist us in realizing this project?'
Paul was clearly puzzled: 'What would you expect me to contribute, Mr Telling? I have no fortune, I'm only a youngest son, I work for a living.'
Mr Telling replied: 'George has told me, and it is not what we hope to gain from you. We know you are a guardian, and this terrain is within your quarter, so we had hoped you would be willing to protect these talented children from being found out, and from parasites attracted to their budding power.
Also, you might teach some classes yourself, and be a person they can talk to and confide in, since they will spend a lot of time doing things they need to keep a secret.
You might also play a role in the rest of our plans for that land: we want housing for factory workers built there, with modern conveniences like efficient heating. We would hire your firm to provide the innovation.'
Now I could see Paul understood much better, and he said: 'Thank you for the explanation, now I see a possible role for me in these plans. I am certainly interested.
Where will you find the funds to realize all this?'
'We already have a possible investor in George, he is interested in buying the factory and exploiting it, and he wants a share in the school.
Other wealthy magic users want to buy an interest in the school as well, and
the city council can spend a bit of money on the project,' was Mr Telling's reply.
'I'm certainly interested in being involved in the project,' Paul said, 'but I have a few questions.'
Mr Telling replied: 'By all means, please let me hear them.'
Paul did: 'What about the children who were saved, will the city take care of the ones who cannot go back to their parents? And how will you clear up the pollution?
And will you take a personal interest in this school, Mr Telling? Will you be teaching some classes yourself, or take an apprentice with lower class origins?'
I was clearly an engaged woman, because a feeling of pride in my intended husband rose in my breast.
He had faced the black mage, had nearly gotten himself killed in a duel, and now he dared ask some really poignant questions of a very powerful person, his superior both in magics and in stature.
This man could make him or break him, but Paul bluntly asked him if he would take his own responsibility as well as delegate to Paul.
His facial expression left no doubt in my mind that the council member was surprised by Paul's questions. But he stood the test and replied sincerely: 'As to the first question: I frankly haven't thought of those poor children as anything but proof that my theories were right, and that your action in the factory was legitimate.
It never occurred to me that they were someone's children, that they were people in their own right. I'm single you know, I must admit children are strange creatures to me.
Will it please you if I promise to visit George's manor to meet them? Then I'll have a clearer image of what their needs will be. I suppose you're spending a lot of money on food and clothing at this very moment, George?'
George suppressed a smile at his fellow noble's sudden realization and said: 'I am, Tristan, and on messengers to warn the parents, travelling fees for those who cannot afford it, extra staff to wash and clean.
Frances and I had the same abstract image of lower class people, until we met those children and decided it was time we did our share.
Which I might say Paul here discovered a lot earlier in life.'
'When I've visited and met them myself I'll see what I can do within the
council,' Mr Telling said, 'as to your second question, I had hoped to share ideas among us to find the best possible way to drain that node.'
'Frances says trees and grass can disperse magical energy quicker than anything, s
o she'd suggest making a nice little park at that very spot,' was George's comment here.
'I'll dive into my books,' Paul said, 'and maybe Melissa can come up with something, being an engineer.'
I nodded, thinking the three of us might think of a solution, and said: 'I'd have to see it from up close, maybe the structure can be unravelled'
Paul explained: 'Melissa can see through nearly everything.'
Now Mr Telling spoke again: 'That is a very useful talent. I'll be interested to hear what you find. And as to your final question, you caught me red-handed again, I did not consider taking any interest myself besides investing money.
Investing time was not on my priorities list. But you are right, it should be, and I will think of a possible practical role for myself in the school.
Not having a family of my own makes it even more important for me to stay in touch with society. I thank you for your observations.
Can we make an arrangement immediately for me to visit your place, George?'
'Why don't you come with us straight away?' George said, 'get it over with so to speak? I think we're all coming, if you feel up to it, Paul?'
Paul nodded, and said: 'I have promised Melissa to meet Jonathan, she thinks we have a lot in common. I think she wants me to take him on as apprentice as well. If my back starts to trouble me I'll lie in the grass, or beg a cup of your fabulous coffee from your charming wife.'
That did it, Mr Telling clearly had a weakness for good coffee, how else had such a big fish heard Mr Millner's gossip, and he couldn't resist the bait Paul had dangled before him.
'I think it is an excellent idea to come straight away, George, that way I can see them before they are healed of their trauma, it might do me good.'
I started to get some sympathy for this powerful man, I guessed he must be a bit lonely sometimes, working politics and magic all the time.
Chapter 41
And so it happened that we all went to the Nomes', Lukas offering to ride with Mr Telling in his carriage, and Paul and me in George's familiar one.
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