by E G Manetti
“You are well come, Mistress Tabitha, but truly I did little. Your success came from your own hard work and determination.” Lilian hastily denies she has done anything unusual. Trevelyan would not have collected Tabitha without milord’s knowledge and consent. It matters not; even milord’s shadow might prove insufficient protection if Sebastian Mehta were to turn his considerable power against her.
At Lilian’s words, Tabitha looks sharply at the Raven and ventures, “You brought me to Seigneur Trevelyan’s attention.”
“In that I did naught but my duty to Monsignor Lucius’ will,” Lilian insists. “Seigneur Trevelyan is to have access to the best the Cartel can offer. I performed a similar service in calling Mistress Rebecca to the seigneur’s attention.”
“Then I am grateful you perform your duty to Monsignor Lucius so diligently. My offer will not be withdrawn.” Tabitha’s eyes are filled with understanding. After a brief pause, the careful expression turns to a smile, and Tabitha lightly questions, “Heard you the events from yesterday?”
“Rumor only. What are you free to confide?” Lilian returns, glad at the change in topic and eager to know what transpired.
“I can voice all of it. It occurred during the Cartel contract procedures in the Associates’ Hall.”
The discharge of a bond is a publicly witnessed event to ensure that both bond proof and bond discharge cannot be contradicted at a later date. In addition to Monsignor Sebastian and Tabitha, four other seigneurs and their apprentices were present, along with two Cartel apprentices being released by Master Straus. Another dozen witnesses were scattered in the amphitheater, among them Seigneur Trevelyan.
By right of rank, Monsignor Sebastian began the proceedings. The stocky warrior’s, muddy eyes and roughly hewn features were marred by his habitual scowl. Scowl notwithstanding, as expected, Sebastian Mehta accepted the bond proof validated by Associate Master Straus. Tabitha’s bond discharge payment, along with the proffered Grey Spear associate contract, were paltry by Cartel standards. The dark glance Sebastian Mehta sent Tabitha’s understated attire did not bode well for her first day as a free Grey Spear associate.
Gripping her slate with white fingers, Tabitha very politely refused. “I thank Monsignor Sebastian for the honor. I respectfully decline.”
The hall’s stunned silence was broken by Monsignor Sebastian’s fury as he leaned over the judgement panel to berate his former apprentice. “Decline! You decline, you stupid doxy? Think again, accept, or you will have naught!”
Swallowing against reflexive terror at her former master’s wrath, Tabitha’s voice shook slightly as she insisted, “M-Monsignor’s offer is remarkable. Nonetheless, I must decline.”
Dropping back into his chair, Grey Spear snarled, “So be it. Straus, have her removed and thrown into the street.”
“A moment if you please, Monsignor,” the Associate Master responded, unruffled by the governor’s ire. “Mistress Tabitha, Seigneur Trevelyan has an interest in your services. Seigneur Trevelyan, if you please?”
Prepared to accept the same terms from Blooded Dagger as offered by Grey Spear, Tabitha barely glanced at her slate before setting her seal.
At which point, Monsignor Sebastian, purple with rage, attempted to deny the already recorded bond proof. Before the situation could degenerate further, Seigneur Ayesha, a lovely Grey Spear warrior in her fifties and a favorite of Sebastian Mehta, interceded. “Monsignor, truly this is not worthy of your attention. Let Blooded Dagger have your cast-off doxy. You only offered a contract out of pity for her incompetence. Her ingratitude and lack of honor should not shock you so.”
At these placating words, Sebastian Mehta stormed from the hall to be followed a few minutes later by a tight-lipped Trevelyan and a glowing Tabitha. It would be midday before Tabitha reviewed Trevelyan’s terms and verified the significant improvement in her compensation and contract terms.
Lilian is well and truly shocked. When all is said and done, apprentices and junior associates are among the least of the Cartel. Such drama over a low-level retainer is unfathomable. Lilian briefly wonders if the preeminence of the Grey Spear Cartouche may be disordered in his wits. Before she can marshal a diplomatic question for Tabitha, Lilian’s slate pings a summons to the Associates’ Hall.
Frowning at the request, Lilian takes her leave of Tabitha and hastens to answer the summons. At the unusual privacy of an empty riser carriage, Lilian exploits the opportunity to stow her thorn in her satchel.
»◊«
This is ill. I am the sum of my ancestors.
Milord, Monsignors Sebastian and Elenora, and Seigneurs Trevelyan and Damocles are all seated at the judgement panel. Associate Master Straus is at the podium, and Archive Master Liger is seated at the techno console.
I am the foundation of my family. Milord and Seigneur Trevelyan are angry, although it is well controlled. Monsignor Sebastian is as dyspeptic as ever, and Seigneur Damocles, still bearing the marks of his failed challenge to Trevelyan, appears… hungry? Monsignor Elenora is annoyed.
Honor is my blade and shield. It is a formal Cartel judgement, and Lilian is the accused. Tabitha? Lilian knew when she began her conspiracy to free Tabitha that it could be deemed ‘effrontery,’ a transgression against Grey Spear sovereignty. For such effrontery, Monsignor Sebastian could demand to see her belted or even caned. This day. Do not volunteer.
At a gesture from milord, Lilian addresses the author of her summons. “Associate Master, what is your wish of me?”
Straus’ stern expression is all the warning Lilian receives. “Monsignor Sebastian indicts you for interference in the bond of Mistress Tabitha.”
Adelaide defend me! Bond interference? This is completely unanticipated. Honor knows not fear. This is a far greater charge than effrontery. If Lilian is found guilty, the lightest penalty will be caning. The severest will be time added to Lilian’s bond to be served with Monsignor Sebastian.
“How do you respond to this indictment, Mistress Lilian?” Master Straus presses.
Honor endures. This day. Carefully feeling her way, uncertain of the protocol, Lilian relies on formality. “If you please, Associate Master, I most vehemently deny having behaved in such an egregious manner.”
Acknowledge it is a terrible crime, and deny having committed it.
“Very well, you will answer to the evidence against you.” Straus’ almost imperceptible nod of approval reduces Lilian’s fear and increases her confidence. She has done well.
Referring to his slate, the Associate Master continues, “It is charged that you willfully and knowingly assisted Mistress Tabitha in flouting her lord’s will and serving her own ambitions in defiance of Monsignor Sebastian’s requirements. In evidence, we have this record from the Archives’ monitors.”
With the summation of the charge, the reviewer presents a visual of Lilian explaining to Tabitha how to access and interpret a series of commerce analytics.
Five Warriors take it! There was naught in those interactions to trigger a monitor review. Someone went searching. Seigneur Damocles! The Security-Privilege Seigneur’s smug smile is all the confirmation Lilian needs.
“There are several other recordings of a similar nature,” concludes Straus.
Honor acts as duty commands. Seigneur Trevelyan assured her their actions were within stricture. Openly confused, Lilian confirms, “Yes, Associate Master, I deny it not.”
At Lilian’s response, Damocles and Sebastian radiate excitement.
Mitigation. Lilian was careful to make certain that were her actions discovered, there would be sufficient mitigation that milord could extract a minimal penalty. I will not fall. I will not fail. Without prompting, Lilian continues her confession, “Should Master Straus review any sevenday in the past year, there will be similar recordings. Apprentice requests are the lowest priority for Archive Master Liger and his associates. The apprentice staff often seek my assistance when I am present and at liberty to respond.”
The Archive M
aster is nodding. “I have witnessed it more than once. The questions are basic, and her assistance leaves my associates free to address more complex and higher-priority requirements.”
Sebastian scowls. “You would have me believe that this doxy has sufficient knowledge to act as an archivist?”
Ignoring the governor’s rising choler, Liger calmly responds, “Indeed, Monsignor, more than sufficient knowledge. Mistress Lilian has refined two of our standard analytical models, and I am reviewing another.”
The Shades be praised. At Master Liger’s testimony, Lilian’s fear dissolves. She may yet be belted for effrontery, but they cannot prove bond interference.
“Lilian, I knew naught of this.” Milord’s harsh tones snap Lilian from her relief.
Milord is angered. By her Archives efforts? Minor revisions to what she considers routine algorithms barely registered in her workload. Lackwit. Milord has been surprised by his apprentice in front of Grey Spear. Lilian has erred. “I beg pardon, milord. I did not consider the effort worthy of milord’s notice.”
“Effrontery!” Monsignor Sebastian is almost purple with outrage as he glares at Lucius. “Your doxy has no business making such suggestions, and Master Liger should be chastising her, not encouraging such behavior. I will see her caned for that alone.”
Face hardening, Lucius retorts, “Master Liger is well within his authority to use any readily offered resource to improve the Serengeti Archives. You have no legitimate charge. Monsignor Elenora, do you concur?”
“I do,” Elenora responds with asperity. Turning to Grey Spear, Elenora continues, “Monsignor Sebastian, have you naught else, we can dismiss this indictment against Mistress Lilian as routine behavior and not a collaboration against your will.”
Face yet reddened with rage, Sebastian Mehta settles back in his chair and waves toward Master Straus.
I am the sum of my ancestors. There is more. Lilian braces for Straus’ next words.
“Monsignor Sebastian also contends that you colluded with Tabitha to have her tested by Seigneur Trevelyan to the detriment of her assigned tasks. What say you?”
I am the foundation of my family. Seigneur Trevelyan was adamant. Taking a deep breath, Lilian begins, “Associate Master, I beg pardon, I am uncertain of my response. I acknowledge I called Mistress Tabitha to Seigneur Trevelyan’s attention, as I did with Mistress Rebecca.”
Displaying open bewilderment blended with sincerity, Lilian continues, “As for Mistress Tabitha’s assignments, I have no knowledge of what was or was not required. Truly, it is a Grey Spear matter and outside of my area of privilege.”
“I confirm Mistress Lilian’s account.” Trevelyan’s voice is pleasant, his demeanor is not. “Mistress Tabitha is not the first associate she has called to my attention.”
Honor is my blade and shield. It is as Seigneur Trevelyan claimed.
Impatience entering his tone, Trevelyan adds, “It is my right to determine the suitability of the candidate. Have Monsignor Sebastian or Associate Master Straus any evidence that Mistress Tabitha failed to discharge her assignments while undergoing the tests I rightfully assigned?”
“I have no record of such,” admits the Associate Master. “Monsignor Sebastian, have you other evidence to offer?”
At Damocles’ motion of negation, Sebastian trembles with thwarted ire. There is no other evidence.
“Then we are done here,” Elenora interjects, having reached the end of her patience with the rivalry between Blooded Dagger and Grey Spear. Shooting an annoyed glance at Sebastian, Elenora adds, “If you please, Master Straus, validate these indictments somewhat better in the future. I own no periods I wish to waste by sifting through unfounded allegations. Monsignor Lucius, will you second me?”
“I second Monsignor Elenora,” Lucius agrees as he rises. Lips thinned with annoyance, Lucius turns to Lilian and snaps, “Attend me.”
Before they can exit, Sebastian thunders to his feet. “Your doxy is guilty. I know it. We all know it. I will see her caned, mark me I will. This is not over.”
With this last, the fuming monsignor slams from the chamber, followed by Damocles.
Honor knows not fear. The trip from the Associates’ Hall to milord’s office passes in silence. Sebastian Mehta’s threat echoes dully in Lilian’s head. She is well and truly on the wrong side of the Grey Spear Preeminence’s will. There is no comfort to be found in the rigid set of milord’s shoulders, which match the harsh expression from the Associates’ Hall. Milord has sufficient difficulty with Grey Spear without Lilian adding to the strife.
Honor endures.
Crossing the scarlet threshold behind milord’s stiff back, Lilian watches with rising concern as milord removes his jacket and tosses it on the nearest chair.
Milord turns, pulls Lilian’s into his arms, and then spins her about. “You were perfect. I could not have asked for better. A thorn in Sebastian’s side, indeed.”
The spinning stops and milord’s mouth is on Lilian’s. Milord’s hands mold her to him. Senses swimming, Lilian tries to unscramble her thoughts even as she melts into milord’s embrace.
»◊«
Something hard is digging into the base of Lilian’s spine, pulling her out of the pleasant fog brought on by her release. It is the clasp lock on the warbelt, twisted beneath her during their passion. Shifting to reorient the belt and dislodge the clasp lock from its trap against her spine, Lilian also dislodges milord, who growls lightly at the disturbance.
“I beg pardon, milord, it is the clasp lock.” With a small gasp of relief, Lilian pulls the offending piece of gold free of her back.
Easing Lilian to a seated position, milord flicks the little lock with a finger before reaching to set his trousers to rights. Milord’s tunic, along with Lilian’s blouse and bra, is somewhere in the vicinity of the desk. Lilian has barely reordered her skirt when milord tugs her across his lap, settling her with her back against the couch arm, her legs across milord’s lap. One of milord’s hands drops to her collarbone, drawing little patterns with his thumb, while the other toys with the clasp of the lock. Not quite certain what to do with her hands, Lilian settles for clasping them in her lap rather than yield to the wayward desire to draw her own patterns on milord’s bared ribcage.
“That was an elegant intrigue,” milord comments. “Seigneur Trevelyan is impressed that such results could be achieved without a single violation of protocol or stricture.”
Milord is pleased. Happily, Lilian replies, “My thanks, milord. May I be permitted to know—”
“Why, given that the indictment had no foundation, I permitted that little charade?” Milord’s smile is indulgent.
“Yes, milord.” Lilian wills her gaze to remain on milord’s face and not drift to the appealing torso.
“I wished to test Monsignor Sebastian’s reactions to you. He has always been one to indulge his temper. It seems particularly extreme when you are present, as it was this morning. Know you the source of his ire?” The gently tracing hand has expanded its territory to include Lilian’s neck and shoulder.
Moving a little against the caressing hand, Lilian shakes her head slightly. “The standard reason only, milord. I live. Monsignor Sebastian holds conservative views on protocol, stricture, and custom. That Monsignor Sebastian acknowledged a tenuous family connection prior to the scandal does not ease matters.”
Annoyance flares as Lucius recalls Sebastian’s use of a distant kinship tie to steal Lilian’s protégé contract from Lucius before she was ruined. Although Lucius could have thwarted Sebastian, he would have revealed his need for Lilian’s exceptional gifts. Instead, Lucius chose to bide his time, certain he would find a means to attach Lilian once she entered the Cartel. After Gariten’s disgrace, Grey Spear quickly severed the connection with Gariten’s tainted offspring. With the kinship tie severed, Lucius moved quickly to take Lilian as apprentice.
At the time, Lucius’ only concern was to gather Lilian and her gifts firmly within his control. When S
ebastian discovered that Lilian was to enter Serengeti, he was beyond enraged. The despotic Grey Spear Preeminence was convinced that Lucius’ intent was to insult Grey Spear with Lilian’s presence. A constant reminder that Grey Spear once claimed kinship with the tainted woman and an ongoing taunt that Lucius could so use one with a distant genetic tie to Grey Spear, no matter that legal kinship was severed. It is possible that episode continues to rankle. Soberly regarding his apprentice, Lucius acknowledges, “Perhaps that is enough.”
“Yes, milord,” Lilian concurs. Do not lick milord’s nipples. “Particularly considering that Monsignor Sebastian only acknowledged the family connection to annoy milord.”
“How so, Lilian?” Milord’s pleasant stroking ceases in concert with his suddenly sharp interest.
Releasing her fascination with milord’s torso, Lilian forces her attention to milord’s question. Prior to the ruin, Lilian was on a path to becoming protégé to Monsignor Lucius Mercio. Dean Joseph had nearly finalized the contract when, to Lilian’s rage and horror, Monsignor Sebastian claimed the right of kinship after more than two decades of denying the relationship. “Prior to my protégé application, Monsignor Sebastian denied the relationship for more than two decades. The monsignor was offended by Remus Gariten’s choice of Grey Gyre as a cartouche emblem and applied to have it invalidated. The monsignor’s only motive in claiming kinship must have been to thwart milord.”
“What cause did Grey Spear have for denying the designation?” Lucius is stunned at the revelation that Sebastian once denied the family connection he was so insistent gave him claim to Lilian’s protégé contract. “The genetic claim would have been confirmed before the Governing Council approved the cartouche.”
“Monsignor Sebastian contended that Maman’s genetics are more closely descended from other, less prominent cartouches. It was true enough.” Lilian shrugs.
“Not justification for denial, though,” Lucius muses. “It is always the most prominent of the possible cartouches that are chosen.”