“Yes,” Aiden said glumly, kicking a rock at a small spider as it skittered by. “But it can’t last. Even he says so. As clever as Count Viridian is, he’s quite happy we’ll be leaving in a few days for Reid. Also, he says I should be doing more things, like making arms and armor for the Duke but every time I mention anything to the Professor, he just storms off.”
The two friends walked quietly alongside each other in silence, both lost in thought. Aiden could tell his frustration had triggered Gavin’s desire to fix problems, making him retreat into that thoughtful space while he tried to find an answer that would satisfy everyone. Finally, the blond boy blew out a breath, a sure sign he’d thought of something.
“You know, as old as they are, they really aren’t much different than other people, are they?”
“What do you mean?” Aiden asked warily, not entirely sure he was ready to give up his own anger just yet.
“I mean, maybe it's about confidence? When Ashrak first arrived he was blustering and insulting pretty much everyone no matter what they did. Chari was ready to take a knife to him and so was I. But now,” Gavin said, grinning, “it's just every other day, rather than every hour we want to kill him.”
Aiden laughed along with the Duke's son, nodding. “Well, yes, but I’m still not sure what that has to do with the Professor? How could he have a lack of confidence?”
“Easy,” Gavin said, shrugging,” they don’t have a lack of confidence, it's been stolen from them. Remember what they said, that their memories were taken? They’ve got to be wondering if they’re missing something. On top of that, whatever it is you're able to do they have never seen before. So imagine being thousands of years old and confronted by something new? Scary.”
Aiden didn’t answer right away. He could see how it could be that way as much as he didn’t want to admit it. They were the ultimate adults, and by admitting they might have weaknesses was frightening for Aiden to even consider. How much more frightening would it be for the Professor? “Okay, but that still leaves me with making butter knives. I can understand it as much as I want, but I don’t think it's helping me. Gavin, I don’t know what the Mourning Lords are going to do, but I’m sure they aren’t just going to throw food at us that our cutlery can handle.”
“Oh, that’s the easy part, Aiden,” Gavin grinned, motioning him through the door. The same one that led down into the depths below the castle where the Duke’s secret meeting room was located. “We’re teenagers, we’re not supposed to always do as we’re told.”
Aiden’s answering grin was bright even as they descended into darkness.
Chapter 2
The two boys made their way down the long staircase until they reached the bottom, passing through the non-descript doorway into the stark corridor beyond. Once again, Aiden let his fingers trail against the wall briefly, letting that strange tingle of ancient glimmer steel give him its customary greeting as he passed. The faint traces and hints of long-past information intruded briefly on his mind before he let his hands drop. He didn’t have the time to delve into its mysteries. Again. For the umpteenth time, he scolded himself that he really needed to find a quiet place so he could concentrate on it, but it always slipped his mind.
Unfortunately, his trips to this semi-hidden area under the castle were necessarily limited and always filled with purpose. Today they were meeting Count Viridian to discuss his upcoming plan. One which Aiden was almost entirely uncomfortable with, but according to the Count was necessary to their continued success.
“Lies, Aiden,” Count Viridian had said on more than one occasion, “must be crafted with meticulous care and have a solid basis in reality. The closer to real you can make them, the more believable they are. Lies that are meant to draw one into a trap must be more believable still. For most, simplicity is essential, yet simplicity is relative and for one such as I? Simplicity is rather complex.”
Aiden mulled over his words and while he said he understood, he knew he really didn’t. So many things could go wrong with tonight that his mind spun at the possibilities. What happened if the guards couldn’t make it? Or someone else stumbled onto the kidnappers and got killed?
“Aiden, I can totally see that tick above your eye when you’re thinking about things,” Gavin said, interrupting his thoughts. “Are you worried about tonight?”
Exhaling through his teeth, Aiden nodded before exchanging glances with his friend. “Well, yes. Yes, I am. I just can’t understand why his plans have to be so involved. Why not just go arrest Lord Dolgren and have done with it?” Aiden stopped, biting his lip. “You’re still going to be there with me, right?”
Gavin nodded slowly, his slight frown betraying his own feelings. “Yes, I’ll be right there with you. I don’t blame you for being nervous, but honestly, I almost have faith in Count Viridian. Do you have any idea how much I hated that man for all the trouble he caused father? Year after year, Count Viridian would do things or create issues that just tore Father apart. I can’t tell you how often I fantasized about doing horrible things to him in return. I’m still wrestling with the fact he was doing all of that to help. It's just not real to me yet.”
Shaking his head, he stopped at the now familiar door and put his hand on the small panel against the wall. The door quickly slid back, revealing a small meeting room with the Count, Duke Terek, and Captain Stelios huddling over a floating screen. Glowby immediately flitted over and circled the three seated men, his colors flickering in a curious manner.
As they entered, Duke Valeran looked up and smiled. “Ah, Gavin and Aiden! Good timing. I was just about to come looking for you both. It's only a few hours until the,” Valeran held up his hands, making quotation marks and grinning, “operation proceeds as planned. Wouldn’t want to miss our debriefing!”
Count Viridian was still intently studying the viewscreen, but the boys both noticed a slight rolling of his eyes before he intoned. “The debriefing happens after a plan has been implemented, Your Grace. This is the briefing.”
Gavin and Aiden exchanged grins with Stelios at the Duke’s exuberance. Ever since learning two of his closest advisors were, in fact, Glimmer Men, he had been delving into their past and learning as much as he could. As the boys made their way around the table, peeking over the shoulders of the others, Aiden found he admired that trait in the large man.
“What’s going on?” Gavin asked, peering at the odd pictures on the screen.
“We’re not sure,” Stelios said. “Something triggered the sensors in the hallway but nothing is coming up. Probably just bugs.”
Count Viridian chose that moment to lean back, frowning slightly. “Actually, the information I am garnering shows it to be exactly that. Bugs, as you say. All in all, I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. Normally they stay away from the underground complex due to ultrasonics, but occasionally it happens. They don’t get far.”
Valeran turned, shrugging at all of the new words but for once not grilling the Count as to their meaning. Instead, he gestured for everyone to take a seat. “Okay, well since it’s only bugs, we should get to the item at hand. Corenthus,” he said, turning to the Count, “can you fill us in again?”
Count Viridian pushed himself back and away from the screen in one smooth motion before standing to face them. He was an imposing figure, tall and gaunt with straight black hair swept backward over his head. His eyes were deeply sunk into his stark features, glinting intelligently out at them all. If he hadn’t known the Count, Aiden would have thought he could play the perfect villain for any story, though Glowby ruined it by floating to, and then resting upon, the very tip of the Count’s nose.
“Very well,” he began. “As you know, I have passed on information that Aiden and Gavin will attend an economics class down by the fishing wharves with Professor Scorenton later this afternoon. While we cannot be one hundred percent certain Lord Dolgren will send men after them, I can assure you the gleam in his eye when I provided the information was quite difficul
t to ignore. There is no doubt in my mind he will try something.”
The Count shifted, gesturing toward Captain Stelios before he resumed. “Captain Stelios was equally kind enough to leave his security plans in a drawer. A security measure known to a certain one of his men who has contacts down on the docks where Lord Dolgren holds sway. After we detected tampering with that drawer, we also noted the man as being quite vocal about his new tunic and dagger belt to his fellow guards. The plans will show a well-covered land approach, but not good sea coverage which should easily lead our kidnappers to the conclusion that taking them by boat will be the proper course of action.”
“That’s all well and good Corenthus, but that still leaves a lot of unknowns,” Valeran said, shifting in his seat. “I’m not exactly excited about putting the boys in danger over what-if’s or could-have-been’s. All it takes is one idiot to mess things up and not do what we expect.”
“Quite right, Your Grace,” Corenthus said, “that is why we’ll not be giving them any time to do anything. The whole purpose of this charade is to have made them waste time planning. Unfortunately for Professor Scorenton, someone will have broken into his loft and stolen several items of value. Just before the class gets to the docks, a detachment of city guardsmen will intercept the group, and the Professor will be forced to call off his trip. If all goes as planned, they won’t even be near the ambush site.”
“What if it doesn’t go as planned?” Aiden asked, worry clear in his voice while Glowby bounced in agreement with his concern.
“I’ll be with you along with two other guards, Aiden, but I’ll also have a detachment of twelve hidden in a warehouse nearby,” Stelios said, patting him on the shoulder. “I’ve had my men sneaking in there for a few days in ones and twos. One yell and they’ll be all over everything.”
“It may tip my hand, but I won’t put your son or Aiden in unnecessary danger. I have other resources that will also be… present, just in case.” Count Viridian added, giving Valeran a nod.
After the meeting broke up, the boys accompanied Gavin’s father and Stelios up and out of the underground complex before parting ways with the two older men and making their way over to the school. For everything that made Count Viridian’s plan dangerous, he was happy about one thing. Professor Scorenton’s economics class was one of the most dismal aspects of his new status as a lord and anything that could cut it short was to be appreciated.
Dame Tenadine, his newly adopted mother, had insisted he learn economics along with a great many other subjects he’d never thought of taking as an orphan. She’d told him that despite not being in line to inherit, he would still be expected to undertake a great deal of responsibility for his new family of Wilthorn. As small in number as they were, there were many duties that would fall to Aiden and his nephew as they both grew into themselves and took over the family empire.
Aiden told himself, and indeed he was more than willing, to help his new family in any capacity they would have him, but he hoped dealing with numbers would be the least, if not completely avoided, duty. So it was with such conflicted emotions that Aiden accompanied Gavin into Professor Scorenton’s classroom. The middle-aged, out-of-shape man spent about ten minutes discussing where they were going, gushing over all of the boring details before asking them all to stand and file out of the classroom. Captain Stelios was waiting with a few guards and gave Gavin and Aiden a wink.
“Ready for us, Professor?” Stelios asked as the dumpy, thick man led the group of students up to him.
Professor Scorenton was already huffing and red-faced, pausing for a moment to collect himself before nodding. “Oh yes. Yes, I’m ready, as are my students. Thank you for going with us, Captain, though I trust you won’t interfere with my instruction? I can’t say as I’m used to having my class escorted by armed warriors but I do understand the need. We have to sacrifice so we can keep our Lords safe.”
“Yes, sir, and not to worry, Professor,” Stelios smiled confidently, his white teeth stark against his darker skin. The handsome Captain turned and gestured for the two other guards to fall into step with him as the class passed. “We’ll be behind you and keep out of your way.”
Scorenton nodded and then led them from his classroom, through the school grounds, and onto the city streets. The journey wasn’t overly long, but travel through the broad, clean streets of the city did not lend themselves well to the overweight Professor. It was not uncommon for them to stop beneath a café’s overhang, or other such waystation, which allowed the good Professor to discuss the economic impact such a site might have on the city. However, it was not lost on the students that it usually took a good minute for the Professor to catch his breath before speaking.
As they approached the docks, Aiden could feel his eyes being drawn to the alleys and side-streets they passed. Though kept reasonably cleaned by the ever-vigilant Chivnel, a small insectoid race that delighted in keeping things neat and orderly, there were still numerous crates, barrels, and even fully laden wagons that it would be easy to hide behind.
“Aiden, quit looking around like that,” Gavin hissed, elbowing him in the side. “I’m in on the plan and you’re making me nervous. Keep it up and Stelios is likely to come up here and smack you.”
Both boys looked back and Aiden winced at the glare Stelios leveled at him. He didn’t keep eye contact long, but it was clear he wasn’t happy. “He doesn’t look very amused does he?”
“No,” Gavin agreed, “so keep your eyes ahead. Listen to the Professor and I guarantee your eyes will glaze over like they always do in class. Stelios should be more happy about that.” Gavin paused for a moment before giving Aiden a disapproving frown. “Professor Scorenton is talking about supply and demand right now, and how shipping serves the city. It's not bad, you know. Especially with your family, you should be paying attention.”
Aiden listened for a few moments, and true to his friend's word he could feel his eyes solidifying. Finally, he blew a breath out, giving Gavin a mock-furious look. “Seriously, Gavin. How can you listen to this muck? If I didn’t know better, I’d think you enjoy this.”
“Haha, that’s because I do enjoy it,” he grinned. “I think I inherited it from Mother because Father would be right alongside of you griping about it all. He hates doing the books. That’s why he leaves it all to mother and thank goodness he does. She’s a wizard at it. She’s from Riften and they’re all traders there, even the leaders. You have to be if your city is an island.”
“Do you think she’d help me out when I get older?” Aiden asked plaintively.
“I think,” Gavin said slowly, contemplating his answer, “she would help you out for fifteen percent of the profits. And because I know it's you who’s listening, yes that is a lot of money that you probably don’t want to lose. There’s a saying about Riften traders; when making a trade in Riften, hire ten pairs of eyes to watch your back because eight of them will already be working for the Riften. Also, I wouldn’t even mention that question around Dame Tenadine. She’d probably half-skin you before she realized what she was doing. No, Aiden, I think your best bet is hoping that Crean is good with numbers. He’s a solid lad and looks to be very intelligent. Don’t let being mute fool you, his eyes are always watching. You’ll know in a few years after he’s grown up some, but I suspect he’ll do just fine in that department.”
Aiden nodded, frowning deep in thought. Baron Crean was only seven, but since Aiden was adopted by his grandmother, the small boy was like the little brother he’d never had and he’d grown to love him. However, Gavin was right about one thing. He was intelligent and his grandmother was raising him to be a leader. It was a rare meeting that Dame Wilthorn didn’t have young Crean in tow.
“I think you’re right,” Aiden said glumly. “I hope so because no matter how hard I try, I just can’t seem to get very far in this class.”
“Well, don’t worry too much about it, Aiden. You just started a few months ago. You should give yourself a chance to catch u
p. Besides,” Gavin said, clapping him on the shoulder, “you’ve got Chari and me to help you out.”
“And Ashrak.”
“Yes, and Ashrak, I suppose,” Gavin said, rolling his eyes though Aiden wasn’t looking to see. “He’s starting to grow on me, at least, and he’s good in the sparring arena. Oya Dihya wouldn’t have anything to do with him before, but now she’s fine with him.” Gavin sighed, frowning. “I suppose that’s another good lesson for me, that people can change. Maybe he was just lost?”
“From the stories he's told us about his father, I can believe it.” Aiden agreed, his eyes alighting on a large gate that they were approaching. “Say, Gavin, isn’t that the warehouse we were supposed to be stopped from reaching?”
Gavin raised his eyes and both of them frowned at the gateway they were approaching. It was a well-made multi-sectional gate was designed to allow several udines or wagons to pass each other on their way in or out of the warehouse compound. The marine smell of the heavy shelled animals was strong in the air, and they could hear the gentle beak clapping or stuttered moans of the creatures kept in their pens when not in use.
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