Natalya: Wizards of White Haven

by Frances Howitt

  ‘This way, my Lord,’ Mrs White said and took his heavy coat with them to hang where it could dry.

  Jim watched them leave then turned to eye Tobias sipping his tea. He too looked cold, but with a biscuit, hot tea and a fire, he was quickly recovering.

  ‘Thank you, he does forget to look after himself sometimes,’ Tobias remarked once his lord had left the room and he was left alone with Jim. He wondered why Jim seemed to be disapproving; he was not Lord Aubrey’s maid.

  ‘So, how is the guild viewing my independence?’ Jim asked, deciding to find out while they were alone. He had already noticed that Tobias hesitated before speaking about guild matters in front of Lord Aubrey. Perhaps now he would get some straight answers.

  ‘They’re not happy about it,’ Tobias admitted. ‘In fact I’d go as far as to say they’re furious.’

  ‘We could have used their support over the last few years. The school would have welcomed it. But having denied us aid they did leave us no option but to learn to survive alone.’

  ‘I don’t think they ever thought the school could survive alone, let alone prosper.’

  ‘They’re whinging that we didn’t go quietly into the night? Idiots. They only have themselves to blame,’ Jim responded.

  ‘Of course, but you alone are the one who has actually turned the school’s prospects around. It was limping along on its last legs before your arrival. You are the name to blame or credit, depending on your point of view, for its newfound success.’

  ‘Ok, so why is anyone interested now? The school might have been weak but it did continue to function and was ignored for years. What’s really changed for the guild?’

  ‘You are a wizard outside of their control and have declared the school as officially independent from the guilds. Your students, when they graduate, will therefore also have an independent status. Whilst most will remain in the county and work, the customary year of free labour that the guild is accustomed to receiving from each graduate as part of the tuition fees, will be diminished. Some hard questions have been asked as to why we’ve allowed this to happen.’

  ‘I see. Not much I can do about that. The parents know of this ramification and appear to approve. They believe their children are better off being able to choose where they will work. Of course, they are financially better off too, able to be paid for their work from the outset. A full year’s worth of pay is not insignificant.’

  ‘Yes,’ Tobias said heavily. ‘Money is a big motivator and now wizard students have the option of your system, it’s little wonder you are receiving so many application requests.’

  ‘So, is that the only thing your guild has a problem with?’

  ‘It’s the major issue.’

  ‘Ok, so what else should I know?’

  ‘We received a complaint that you had warned off some official investigators a few weeks ago,’ Tobias mentioned eyeing Jim closely.

  ‘Investigators? I don’t recall ever meeting any,’ Jim said in puzzlement.

  ‘In Briarton. We know you were there that day.’

  ‘I visit Briarton to order school supplies,’ Jim conceded. ‘I don’t recall ever meeting any strange wizards there.’ Whilst he knew precisely what Tobias was talking about, he didn’t feel inclined to volunteer the story. Natalya had been hunted like a criminal and how she had been treated was what was truly criminal. He had no intention of revealing the identity of whom the “investigators” had been after if they hadn’t already done so. Nor that she was actually a warrior wizard and his fiancée’s sister. He silently eyed Tobias and knew he had been fishing for information; tough. The fact Tobias believed they truly were simple investigators, meant the information had been tailored high up. It would be problematic to correct that misconception without providing proof or admitting he had interceded on her behalf. Tobias also seemed unaware that what they had actually been doing was illegally hunting people on Lord Aubrey’s territory.

  ‘Well, on the basis they reported “someone had sent out a powerful blast of energy as a warning”, it does seem likely that they didn’t seek you out to be introduced.’ He paused, hoping for some kind of explanation, but Jim remained stonily silent. ‘Of course, we were aware you were there that day and thus it was clear to us who it had been. The reason you did so is less clear. Certainly they were most put out that you could not be brought in for questioning or indeed disciplined for interfering in their investigation.’

  ‘I imagine they were. So, how long has your guild been keeping watch on me and why are they doing so?’

  ‘Someone has been keeping an eye on you ever since you arrived on this continent. You can be sure that every time you leave school grounds you are being watched.’

  ‘For what purpose?’

  ‘That depends on what it is you are doing,’ Tobias admitted.

  ‘So, your purpose in accompanying Lord Aubrey here today is what, exactly? You told me when we first met that I was being watched. This isn’t news.’

  ‘I was asked to remind you that the guild is watching and will take action if necessary. No wizard is above the law or should think the guild will stand by and allow any breaches to go unpunished. You may have beaten one team, but we know what you can do now. You cannot hide.’ Jim appeared unimpressed, merely raising a brow. ‘You might have found a way to shield your presence temporarily, but we knew you didn’t leave the school. We know you did not pass through either of the gates or cross the wall, nor did you return through them.’

  Jim puzzled over what he meant for a moment before he realised. Ha! So, they couldn’t tell he’d travelled through the portal! It was good to know they couldn’t detect that magic. He supposed that with the students performing all manner of spells daily in class, there was far too much interference for anyone to detect anything other than a mass of magic use originating within school grounds. They thought he’d hidden his presence with a spell? Ha; they knew nothing! He truly had left, but if they had any kind of hint of the portal, that it was operational, and furthermore where it came out, then they’d know to scan for him there too. That could be awkward for Darius’s team over there trying to work in secret. As it was, it was a timely reminder that he needed to take more care where he went. He had no wish to put the whole rebuild in jeopardy.

  ‘You think this is amusing?’ Tobias asked sharply.

  ‘No,’ Jim contradicted with a sudden glower. ‘Nothing about being spied on and my every move being reported and scrutinised is amusing. Of course, now I am my own boss as it were, you can be sure I will be completing my training shortly to attain full wizard status. Now we have Derek on board, who is of course a wizard experienced in battle training, I’m sure my offensive skills will improve too. The other factor, that you might want to remind your guild of, is that I fought alone before. If I am unjustly attacked, I have any number of wizards here who would willingly aid me.’ He noticed Tobias’ eyes widen and knew he’d made his point. If the guild came at him, it had better be for a damn good reason. He watched Tobias almost scuttle out the door, with some small satisfaction. He called Derek to take over guesting and supervising Tobias; he really wasn’t in the mood.

  ***

  Jim knocked on the guest suite door. Aubrey’s bodyguard opened the door, announced him before allowing him into the reception area of the suite. Lord Aubrey came out of the bedroom area clad only in a towel; it was clear he’d bathed.

  ‘I just came to say lunch will be in ten minutes,’ Jim said just as a bell began ringing down the corridor.

  ‘That’s the dinner bell?’ Aubrey asked and laughed. ‘That could wake the dead!’

  ‘I know, but it’s what they’ve always used. I think because it works to roust the lazy from their beds in the morning.’

  ‘Ah. Yes, that would do it.’

  ‘What’s your name?’ Jim asked the bodyguard when Aubrey had disappeared back into the bedroom to dress. He was glad to note the man had changed into dry clothes too.

  ‘Curtis, sir.’

>   ‘Do you have everything you need Curtis? I apologise that isn’t a proper bed,’ he added gesturing at the couch and noticing Curtis was particularly tall and broad. He wondered if his feet would be hanging off the end.

  ‘Everything is satisfactory, thank you sir,’ Curtis responded with sincere politeness. In truth he was relieved by their accommodation. It was simple but had all the basics. His lord had a private bedroom and had already relaxed in a rejuvenating hot bath. The rooms were easy to secure being in an upper storey and with only one external door, against which he could place his bed. He gaped then as the young headmaster rested a hand on the small couch and it moved before his eyes. ‘Ah, what just happened?’

  ‘Your feet were going to be hanging over the end, Curtis, so I made it longer and wider,’ Jim said with a small shrug. The adjustment had taken mere moments but would make the world of difference to a man’s comfort. A bodyguard needed to be alert and for that he needed rest, particularly when he had no-one to alternate shifts with.

  ‘Thank you sir,’ Curtis murmured so that his lord wouldn’t hear. He realised the wizard thought such fundamental alterations were no big deal! If only he could do such things, then his feet need never be cold again!

  Shortly, Lord Aubrey had dressed and they headed down the stairs to the dining hall. Aubrey gazed about the hall curiously as he followed Jim down to the front. The room was remarkably full of teenagers and young adults already sitting at the long oak tables or milling around chatting to friends. He was aware of the curious stares as he passed, but there seemed far more acceptance of strangers amongst them than he would have expected, given the uncertain times they lived in. Perhaps they simply felt safe with Jim around to protect them, or maybe they were used to visitors. Then he noticed a striking dark haired young woman watching them, already seated at the table they were approaching. She seemed vaguely familiar but he couldn’t place where he might have seen her before. Then they had arrived at the table.

  ‘Lord Aubrey, I’d like to present my fiancée Amelie and our daughter Daisy.’

  ‘Pleased to meet you,’ Aubrey said taking her hand in greeting. Jim’s fiancée was rumoured to be a wizard of exceptional strength. He noticed the highly unusual dragon ring on her engagement finger and knew it meant something, although he wasn’t sure he wanted to know exactly what. Tobias’ guild had come to kidnap this woman and he knew now where he’d seen her before, in Jim’s animus guardsman’s memory of that attack. He released her hand remembering that as a wizard, she would be able to read his thoughts easily through that kind of contact if she wished. She looked back at him with serenity however, so she couldn’t have seen anything bad and he was certainly trying not to recall that she had initially been naked in the battle.

  ‘I’m happy to meet you at last sir,’ she said with a genuine smile. ‘Jim has said so much about his meetings with you. Do sit down,’ she added gesturing for him to choose a seat.

  ‘Thank you my lady,’ Aubrey responded and sat down beside her where he could see the students in the hall. Many were still hurrying inside and grabbing a seat. Tobias entered with wizard Derek and both nodded politely to him before finding seats further down the table.

  ‘There’s a place set for you here, Curtis,’ Jim said quietly, gesturing to a small desk that had been brought in so that the bodyguard could sit with his back against the wall at the end of the aisle. The position allowed an unobstructed view of the hall whilst being near enough to Lord Aubrey, on the head table, to keep watch over him. This way, Curtis could also eat, without separately being catered for or leaving his post.

  ‘Thank you sir,’ Curtis responded. He wondered about Jim’s background. How did he understand just what a bodyguard needed in order to efficiently do his job? Or was he simply reading his mind? This wizard might look young but he’d already gathered quite a reputation for being powerfully gifted and a warrior. He could not imagine that wizard Jim would allow any threat to enter the hall where his fiancée and daughter were. So, he gladly accepted the serving bowls passed to him, that had already been sampled by others at the head table. He knew it would be safe to eat when the same food had been shared amongst so many others.

  ‘Good, the rain’s finally stopped,’ Jim remarked to Lord Aubrey as they finished dessert.

  ‘Typical! We ride all morning in a downpour and then as soon as we’re undercover it stops! Are you sure that’s not your doing?’

  ‘You’ve got to be kidding!’ Jim laughed. ‘I can’t affect the weather. If I could I’d be out making a fortune with the farmers.’

  ‘That’s true. Just checking,’ Aubrey added.

  ‘So, what would you like to do this afternoon? Did you want to have a look around?’

  ‘Yes. I’d particularly like to see your training ground that I’ve heard so much about.’

  ‘Certainly. There won’t be any students up there until next lesson in another hour, if you’d prefer to see it unoccupied?’

  ‘Why the gap? Everyone’s already finished lunch.’

  ‘This extra long lunch-break was something that one of my predecessors instigated. Actually I think it does the students good to have a little free time now in daylight. It’s also better for students not to undertake strenuous physical exercise directly after a large meal and lunch is our main meal of the day. Anyone with magic is refreshed by eating, so meals and tea breaks, at regular intervals, aid concentration and learning.’ He noticed Aubrey kept glancing outside through the big windows to the restful green vista of lawn and beyond to the wide expanse of meadow dotted with mature trees. Many students had gone outside, chatting in little groups and enjoying the sunshine now that it had made its first real showing for the day.

  ‘Where is your training ground?’ Aubrey asked. ‘I don’t remember seeing anything like that on the way in.’

  ‘You may have noticed that the drive carries on beyond the school buildings. Our training ground is about half a mile behind us. We have ample time to walk up there, or if you prefer, we have fresh horses you’re welcome to use?’

  ‘I’ve been in the saddle too many hours already today,’ Aubrey remarked. ‘I think a walk would be good to stretch out the old legs.’

  They followed as Jim rose from the table and led their party deeper into the building and then stepped out into a huge airy glasshouse. Beds of a whole variety of plants were growing here. Aubrey breathed deeply of the rich scent of earth and thriving greenery. This was an unexpected oasis of nature, and from a practical standpoint, he now had an explanation for some of their self-sufficiency.

  ‘This looks an odd mix of order and wilderness,’ Aubrey observed as they passed through.

  ‘You would be right,’ Jim responded and glanced around him with approval. ‘When we first arrived here, this glasshouse was broken. Nearly every pane of glass had been shattered. They’re still working to put everything right. Without this building, it is difficult to grow sufficient food to sustain us. It was the first repair job we were asked to undertake. It took considerable effort, but as you can see, it was worth it.’ He opened the door and headed outside. Glancing back he noticed just how curiously everyone was looking at the glasshouse, probably for different reasons, but all seemed impressed.

  He frowned slightly as he looked at the path, noticing that there was now a fork with the beginnings of a path leading to the portal. Anyone could see that others had walked that way. He really didn’t need curious students to follow suit and venture there. He’d have to mention it to Darius. He knew Darius was busy assembling building materials and transporting them to the portal. It was inevitable that such traffic would be making a clearer path. He would have to think of a way of deterring students from wandering and finding themselves at a portal they knew nothing about. They would be too excited about the find not to talk and such gossip would spread. It was only a matter of time. He headed briskly for the well-marked right hand path that led directly to the main driveway. Once on that track he slowed up and felt he could relax
. Darius’s people didn’t use the main drive to bring their supplies up, but instead came on a more direct route across the grass. Travelling at dinner time when the students were likely to be inside, or under cover of darkness, was still the safest way for his people to remain unnoticed in their work to rebuild Féarmathuin Castle. Limiting their time wasn’t exactly ideal though.

  ‘Is that a herd of deer?’ Aubrey asked, gesturing to several shapes far across the meadow.

  ‘It would be, yes. We’ve decided to farm deer. They’re cheaper and rather easier to have around than sheep or cattle and we do have the perfect place for them,’ Jim added gesturing at the wide expanse of grass than any herbivore would thrive on.

  ‘That does seem a good idea,’ Aubrey responded. ‘I like venison. So, what are all these buildings for?’ he asked now were close enough to distinguish the fact that there was a row of small sheds near a big circular building with a domed roof.

  ‘We have a few small workshops here. They don’t get much use to be honest, except for staff repairing things. The two main ones are the carpentry shop and smithy.’

  ‘And these other sheds? They seem more secure,’ Aubrey observed.

  ‘Armoury stores,’ Jim explained shortly. ‘This one has the student’s practice weapons,’ he explained, opening it up and letting them see the shelves of protective gear and stacked targets. Then there were racks containing wooden swords in different type order, javelins, quarter-staves and even a few battered steel swords with their edges blunted. In another section were cavalry shields and weaponry.

  ‘You seem to have a good range of weapons for students to practice with,’ Aubrey observed with approval, picking up and examining several items curiously. ‘Everything’s rather patched though.’ The protective gear in particular showed many signs of hard use, with stuffing coming out or seams torn. A good many items were overdue for replacement. This was however, the first real sign he’d noticed as a direct result of the school’s lack of funding. Good quality equipment was expensive and this was one of the areas where students would be suffering.