‘I’d been injured and was treated at White Haven.’
‘Hah, a likely story,’ Kyle sneered. ‘If you’d actually been incapacitated we’d have found you. We all know you ran off like a bloody coward.’
‘What?’ Derek spluttered in shocked outrage. ‘I did not run.’
‘You’re a liar as well as a coward? No wonder you didn’t dare show your face at Half Circle.’
‘How dare you!’ Derek snarled, but before he could say anything else Kyle threw a spell at him which stung painfully. He quickly put up a shield and retaliated in fury. He was aware the other four wizards of his previous class were initially shocked immobile but then Kyle snapped at them, obviously realising he couldn’t take on Derek alone and win.
Dustin watched the scene in appalled fascination. Tobias stood before Lord Aubrey to shield him from any fallout and he knew better than to get closer and risk them attacking him too. Jim sat motionless watching everything with a predator’s focus. A frown passed over Jim’s face as the other wizards joined the fight and Derek became hard pressed to maintain his shield. Derek staggered against the wall and Jim abruptly stood and moved in front of Derek.
‘Enough!’ Jim snapped as three spells landed on him and he felt power suffuse his body. He breathed deeply controlling his urge to shift. No one needed to try to deal with his lion right now. He felt the small surge in energies as someone conjured a further spell. He threw the culprit, Kyle, backwards, slamming him into the far wall where he writhed, invisibly pinned well off the floor. ‘I said, enough!’ Jim told him. ‘Rupert, go reassure the guardsmen, they’re becoming frantic,’ Jim added in a calm tone and released the seal on the garden doors so he would be able to open them.
‘Are you alright, My Lord?’ the Captain asked anxiously as they piled into the room. He looked about the room as his Lord casually righted and then resumed his armchair. Ornaments, books and papers lay scattered and small tables had been overturned. Some items had smashed. It was certainly a mess, but most interesting was the fact the obnoxious young wizard, who had barged in earlier, was suspended off the floor, pinned against the wall like a stuck bug.
‘Yes, I’m fine,’ Lord Aubrey remarked easily. ‘Jim has ably spanked these young wizards yet again. I had a ringside seat this time,’ he added in satisfaction. There could be no wizard cover-up this time. He watched Jim eye the chaos then wave a hand slowly around the room and furniture righted itself. A smashed lamp fused back together and settled back onto a side table whose splintered leg straightened and repaired itself in time to support it. Books and ornaments repaired themselves and resumed their original places, and the pile of scattered papers flew up, shuffled itself and settled neatly. It wouldn’t surprise him if the papers weren’t in their original order too. Aubrey couldn’t resist going over and picking up the lamp and examining it. He’d seen it lying on the floor, broken into about a dozen pieces. Now there was no sign of even a scratch. ‘Thank you,’ he said to Jim. Whilst Tobias could probably do this kind of thing too, he never did. He doubted it would even occur to him.
‘Right,’ Jim said, having finished restoring the room. ‘You sorry lot of wizards owe Derek an apology. Firstly, you didn’t bother looking for him last week, but left him behind unconscious and hurt. If you don’t believe me you only need scan him to see both legs were broken. Secondly, accusing someone of cowardice is exceedingly rude, especially without checking your facts first. Derek is your superior and was your teacher; he deserves more respect than you have yet shown. Apologise.’
‘He is not my superior, for I now have his job and he has nothing,’ Kyle said.
‘You? You think you’re in the same league?’ Jim snorted. ‘Derek was thrashing you easily one to one. You had to get these others to help even the score.’ Jim eyed the obstinate young man and began rotating him, still against the wall until he was fixed head down, but that was too easy, so he set Kyle spinning slowly like the hands on a clock. Jim returned to his armchair and noticed Lord Aubrey’s amusement and Derek’s satisfaction before he turned his gaze on the remaining four wizards who blanched. Each of them was quick to mumble apologies to Derek under Jim’s expectant glare. There was a sudden retching sound as Kyle threw up. Jim halted the spinning and was satisfied that the green faced lad had vomited over himself as he spun, rather than on Lord Aubrey’s floor or soft furnishings.
‘Are you ready to apologise now?’ Jim asked him and when the lad didn’t immediately answer added, ‘now, what can we have you doing next? Dancing for us? That’d be entertaining,’ Jim said with mock cheerfulness. He put the wizard down and made him put his arms out ballroom style as though to hold a partner and saw his eyes widen in horror.
‘I apologise!’ Kyle exclaimed miserably fully aware he had no control over his body at all. He was Jim’s puppet and he had a large audience to this humiliation.
‘Good. Now that wasn’t so difficult, was it?’ Jim said. ‘Now off you go, you’re stinking up the room.’
Kyle flushed and fled, his team hastily following.
‘Now, where were we?’ Jim asked brightly.
25. Making Contact
Jim sat in his office wondering how his family was faring. Had they been told he was dead? He thought of his mother and how upset she’d be at receiving such news. He hated deceiving her so callously. He had so much news to impart. He also missed her and simply needed to hear her voice. She was the sensitive one of the family; she would hear his call if anyone could. He had no idea whether his new strength would enable him to speak to her from here. But then there was no way to answer that question without trying. He rose and went to the large mirror over the cosy hearth. He closed his eyes and concentrated on his mother; her mental signature was so well known to him.
‘Mother, can you hear me?’ he called quietly hoping not to startle her.
‘I’m sure I just heard Jim,’ he heard his mother say to someone else.
‘You did hear me. I’m calling from a long way away,’ he explained quickly.
‘Jim, is that really you? You feel different somehow, but I knew you weren’t dead,’ she said, relief colouring her mental tone. ‘Where are you? Come and see me and we can talk. You can’t be far away to be speaking to me like this,’ she added, eager to set eyes on her son after such an extended absence.
Jim opened his eyes and checked they were still blue before sending his mother the image in the mirror. ‘Mother, I’m across the sea in Edmoston. I can’t pop in to see you.’
‘Whatever are you doing all the way over there?’
‘You know I was arrested? Well there was a portal at the prison. I escaped through it when there was a riot. It came out in South Rosh. It took me months to walk back to some civilisation.’
‘So, when are you coming home?’
‘I don’t have any plans to at the moment actually. I’ve found a good place for myself here in Edmoston, running a school for magic.’ He let her see through his eyes the view of his office with its grand aged oak panelling, book lined walls and huge polished desk.
‘You’re running a school? Why? You’re young for that kind of responsibility surely and you haven’t even finished your academy training,’ his mother commented in obvious concern.
‘They’re short of teachers and wizards in general after several wars and asked me to take the headmaster role. Besides, you know I’m good with children and I’ve been able to continue my studies. Father might like to know we’ve got quite a nice library here.’
‘Did you just call someone whilst linked to us?’ his mother asked in shock.
‘Yes, I want you to meet my fiancée. Amelie is an animus warrior wizard.’
There was a knock at the door and Amelie entered. She assessed him closely noticing his spell was still in progress, yet he’d called her.
‘Hello dear. Whatever are you up to now? You know they’re all taking bets on what spell you could possibly be doing that’s shaking this end of the house.’
‘I’m ta
lking to mother.’
‘You don’t think that’s a bit of a reach even for you, without a merge or me?’ she chided.
‘You’re not merged?’ his mother exclaimed. ‘Jim, how can you take such a foolish risk and how can you be so strong alone?’
Amelie took his hand and suddenly the connection was far clearer and less of a strain. He was now aware his father was also linked and listening, aiding his mother’s strength.
‘I’ve changed mother. I’m told I’m not a Sensitive; I’m actually a Leach. I have some of Amelie’s power now.’ He could feel his parents shock at his announcement, but then happiness on his behalf; he would become strong enough to take care of himself and for others not to wish to mess with. Having a Leach for a son would also give the family great kudos; although they wouldn’t be able to do any announcing just yet for his safety. Then they were assessing Amelie through his eyes. He gave them in moments, some background information on her family, the dreadful injustice of her imprisonment and how she had aided his escape. He also added that they’d been together a long time now. ‘You are now grandparents. We have a daughter called Daisy,’ he added cheerfully and gladly felt their surprise, eager anticipation and congratulations. Now they urgently wished to meet them and see him in person.
‘Perhaps you could visit us in the summer? I’d love you to be at the wedding,’ Jim suggested. ‘But only if you think it’s safe to travel. I will contact you again soon,’ he promised. ‘But in the meantime I’d rather you said nothing to anyone about hearing from me. I was imprisoned, and from the things I’ve heard there and since, I’m quite happy to be considered dead.’
‘That seems harsh, but you may not be wrong to be cautious. We will try and contact Amelie’s family, let her sister know she is alive and well,’ his mother offered suddenly and she felt Jim’s gratitude for that. But she knew just how distraught she’d been having been told her son was missing, presumed captured by felons or dead. Amelie and Jim had been imprisoned in their local prison. Amelie’s sister had also lived in the same city, she shouldn’t be too difficult to trace. Trudy would certainly be delighted to see the image she’d seen of Amelie through Jim’s eyes. Her health, freedom and happiness had been obvious. Trudy might also be living under the stigma of having animus in the family. Now she could hear that Amelie was not simply an animus, she was a powerful wizard. All of her family ought to be able to hold their heads up, despite the fact they wouldn’t be able to publicly refute the crown’s slanderous claims. But they would know the truth. They would also be comforted to know Amelie and indeed her other sister Natalya were together; alive and well and properly out of the crown’s reach.
***
‘Sir, our security team has just monitored a powerful mental contact entering the country from across the sea.’
‘Do you know its destination and who it was from?’
‘Yes sir. They passed it through the surveillance division and they believe the missing student Jim has just contacted his family. We could not eavesdrop on the actual conversation, he had blocked it somehow, but his mother was the recipient of the call.’
‘Good work. Bring her in for questioning. You say the signature feels like it originates from abroad, yet still managed to make contact? That would be quite a feat. He could of course just be offshore aboard a ship and on his way home. In any case, she will be able to tell us more and where he is.’
‘Shall I advise his Guild? They asked to be kept informed of any contact.’
‘Indeed. It appears this missing student has rather more potential and power than we were led to believe. It is little wonder they were so keen to trace him. I find I am now curious to hear his Guild’s explanation for losing such an asset.’
26. Lord Aubrey’s Visit
‘Jim? Can you hear me?’
‘Tobias? Is that you?’
‘Yes. I’m glad I was able to reach you. My Lord Aubrey would like to visit the school tomorrow, if that will be convenient?’
‘He’s planning to travel here? Has something happened? Has something gone wrong?’
‘Not that I know of,’ Tobias reassured. ‘Simply speaking, he now has a reason to be more closely involved in the school. He wishes to see its facilities for himself.’
‘Of course. He is welcome to visit whenever he wishes. My only limitation is suitable accommodation. I believe we only have one guest suite. How many will be coming?’
‘In that case I will restrict our party to my Lord, his bodyguard and myself. We will have a small contingent of soldiers, but they can lay their pallets out anywhere.’
‘I look forward to seeing you both tomorrow,’ Jim said and they disengaged. He hoped Tobias was correct in his reassurances that his Lord was coming simply to satisfy his curiosity as to how Jim was running things now. He searched out Mrs White’s location and then left his office.
‘Lord Aubrey is visiting personally?’ Mrs White asked a little wide-eyed.
‘Yes. He’ll have a bodyguard and wizard Tobias with him. I’ve never seen the guest suite,’ Jim remarked and Mrs White led him there.
‘The bodyguard can stay here with him,’ Mrs White said and gestured to a long upholstered couch clearly designed to double as an occasional bed in the suite’s small reception room. The main bedroom held a wide double sized bed, a linen chest, vanity with mirror and small wardrobe. The only other feature was the suite’s small bathroom. She shrugged a little apologetically, since the décor and furnishings were a little primitive and showed the years of use they’d suffered.
‘Can you have a look for somewhere we could turn into a single bedroom? I imagine the soldiers could sleep in an empty classroom overnight if necessary. While you do that, I’ll refresh things as much as I can in here,’ he offered.
‘That would ease my mind greatly,’ Mrs White admitted. Having a lord stay in a shabby room might be construed as a slight. And as housekeeper, these considerations were foremost in her mind, as they reflected on her competence. ‘There are a couple of rooms just off the courtyard that we often use for merchants and the like. I can add a few beds so his escort will be comfortable enough there.’
‘Ah, excellent. That’s one less thing to have to think about. One of these days I’ll have to explore this place fully. There are so many nooks and crannies, but all seem to belong to someone. I never know if I’m ok to look or trespassing in someone’s personal space.’
‘You are the headmaster; you can go where you wish. If you have a question though, you only need ask.’
‘Thank you Mrs White. I’m not sure what I’d do without you.’
‘My husband says the same thing!’ she joked. She glanced at the dismal guest room and for the first time had hope that it might be renovated. He was the first headmaster who had ever cared or looked into these details personally. With the school subsisting almost hand to mouth, she certainly couldn’t justify spending good coin on paint and curtains; items that everyone else would consider fripperies.
Later that evening, when she had a few spare minutes, she revisited the guest suite. The yellowed emulsion now looked a deliberate and uniform shade by virtue of refreshing the previously equally yellowed gloss paint in the room to its original colour. The coving, badly chipped skirting boards and doors were now a crisp white. Stains, watermarks and all the chips had vanished. The stained carpet had gone, exposing old but clean timber floorboards whose rich pine colour seemed to warm the room and tone with the walls. A soft mat lay beside the bed to step out onto, which in truth was sufficient. The suite was still only minimally furnished, but without moth holes in the curtains, chips in all the paintwork and stains on the floor, it felt far more inviting. She nodded happily; now she would not be embarrassed to show any guest to this room.
‘Lord Aubrey, a warm welcome to you,’ Jim said trotting down the steps to meet the party just dismounting. ‘Won’t you come inside?’ he added.
‘A good day to you, too, although it’s been a chilly one so far,’ Aubrey respo
nded. He walked up the steps quickly to the shelter of the porch, glad to get out of the dismal heavy rain. He noticed the prompt arrival of grooms to take the horses away and that a matronly woman, introduced as the housekeeper, took charge of his escort. Everything in order, he followed Jim down a long broad corridor and into a warm office.
‘Please sit down,’ Jim invited with a gesture to the comfortable chairs set before a roaring fire. ‘Tea, or something stronger?’
‘Tea will be fine,’ Aubrey said, removing his sodden coat and noticing a pot and cups already set out on the small table before them. ‘I could use some warmth inside me.’
‘I know how that feels,’ Jim admitted easily and poured each of them drinks. ‘You look soaked through,’ Jim remarked, aware Lord Aubrey had his hands clasped around the hot cup for warmth and that his clothes showed damp patches beneath his coat. Tobias on the other hand looked completely dry; undoubtedly he’d shielded himself sufficiently to ward off the rain.
‘I am. Nothing stays dry after so many hours of incessant rain,’ Aubrey said with a shrug and eyed Tobias’ slight form anew, since Jim had frowned when doing so. Now he could see that Tobias was completely dry, including his hair. Yes, typically Tobias had looked after himself alone. Well, nothing new there.
‘Perhaps you’d like to freshen up before we begin?’ Jim suggested having summoned Mrs White again. ‘The students will be sitting down to lunch in about an hour. Would you like to join them in the hall, or do you prefer us to sit down more privately?’
‘I take it that’s where you usually eat? In that case I’ve no problem joining the masses. It’ll give me a chance to see just how many students you’ve got here now. In the meantime changing into something dry is certainly a welcome idea.’
‘Perhaps his lordship would appreciate a hot bath before he catches a chill,’ Jim remarked quietly to Mrs White who had entered and been listening to the dinner arrangement discussion.
Natalya: Wizards of White Haven Page 27