by M. Gregg Roe
“I’m so happy for you,” she said, gifting him a radiant smile. “You and Kora make a great couple.”
“The cart’s here,” Medea announced, striding in through the open door. “Let’s get a move on. I’ve got a council meeting later this morning.”
Marryn pointed to the bundles of clothing on the bed. “If it wasn’t for all his combat gear, we could just carry it all over.”
It was an exaggeration, but not by much. Had he donned his armor and weapons, there would have been little left to transport. (He had never been one for accumulating unnecessary items.) Instead, he had packed his combat gear away in a sturdy oaken trunk he had recently purchased.
Making use of the convenient handles, Gabriel and his mother had no difficulty carrying the trunk down the flight of stairs and out the building’s rear door. Like him, she exercised regularly to maintain her strength and endurance. Once a warrior, always a warrior.
It was the same carter that had helped move Marryn, and he acknowledged the woman’s greeting with a nod. Two more trips by the three of them sufficed for his remaining possessions. As the carter made her preparations, he went back up to his apartment. After one last look around, he exited and locked the door. On the way out, he slid the key under the door of the landlord’s apartment.
Outside, he found only his mother waiting. Some fifteen yards down the alley, the cart was already moving at a good clip. Marryn spoke and gestured as she walked alongside the carter, and he wondered what the two of them were discussing.
“Tomorrow is the first day of Autumn,” Medea said as the two of them set out. “Then Winter and a new year. It’s true. The years pass more quickly as you get older.”
Gabriel couldn’t disagree. Summer had seemed to fly by.
As they slowly gained ground on the cart, he told his mother about Kora’s plan to employ a surrogate.
“I swear that woman should be running this city,” she remarked, shaking her head. “Kora is the epitome of organization and thorough planning. If a spot opens up on the council, I’ll recommend her to Ermizad.”
The current council membership had been stable for several years, and it was all female. That was a stark contrast to how it had been for much of the city’s history. All-male councils had been the norm, with the High Witch little more than a figurehead. But Ermizad was no figurehead. She treated her councilors as advisors, nothing more.
“And would that be your spot?” he inquired, glancing her way. She was always complaining about how boring most of the meetings were.
“I’m perfectly happy at the moment,” she said, lifting her gaze as clouds eclipsed the sun. “It’s good money, and these days we only meet a few times a month.”
“So you approve of Kora’s plan?” he asked as they turned onto a street busy with pedestrians.
“It sounds reasonable. Knowing the surrogate personally is a huge plus.”
“What if it is the man who is infertile?” he asked, wondering if there were male surrogates.
“It’s simple,” she said, smiling to herself. “The woman secretly takes a lover, gets herself pregnant, then tells her husband that he must not be infertile after all.”
The answer was obvious in retrospect; the lover served as a secret male surrogate. Even if the husband harbored suspicions, he was unlikely to voice them. Better to say nothing and pretend the child was his.
“And we’re here,” Medea said as Kora’s house came into view.
He rushed forward to unlock the door. Kora had offered to take the day off, but he had seen no need. His mother and the carter departed as soon as everything was inside, but Marryn remained. After unpacking the few items from the trunk that he was likely to need, he found her in the master bedroom, carefully storing his clothing in the wardrobe that spanned the room’s width. Most of it held Kora’s large variety of clothing, but what remained was more than enough for his apparel.
“That has a torn seam,” Marryn said, pointing to a beige shirt lying on the large bed. She held up a yellow shirt that was one of his favorites. “And this is ready to move on to an exciting new life as cleaning rags. Look how worn it is. Ask your wealthy wife to buy you some new clothing,” she finished, tossing the yellow shirt atop the other one.
Kora saved money by purchasing quality apparel that lasted. He economized by patronizing thrift shops, often finding items still in excellent condition. (Who cared if it was not the current style?) The yellow shirt was fine for wearing around the house. And he would have the other one mended.
Knowing he would just be in the way, he stood back and watched as his sister finished her self-appointed task. She was doing an excellent job, hanging articles of clothing neatly and using the drawers to organize smaller items.
“Thank you,” he told her when she finally closed the polished wood doors. A pair of trousers and three unmatched socks had joined the other items on the bed. Only then did he recall using some of his socks to wrap up items still in the trunk. He would retrieve them later.
“You’re welcome,” she shot back, smiling with pride. “Enjoy married life. I’m heading to work now.”
After showing his sister out, Gabriel sat down in the sitting room with a huge grin on his face. He was home.
Gabriel was surrounded, and there was no escape.
“What’s in the bag?” Iris asked from his left. “Are you here to see Audrey?” Ilona added from his right. The two girls had ambushed him roughly halfway to his destination, heedlessly cutting through the landscaping in their haste.
“Clothing in need of mending, and yes,” he replied seriously. It seemed to him that they had grown taller since the last time he was over.
“We’re bad at sewing,” Ilona said, sounding proud of their lack of skill. “Because it doesn’t interest us,” Iris explained, grinning.
“And how are your magical studies coming along?” he inquired as he resumed walking.
“Good,” Iris replied. “Really good,” Ilona added, as if to correct her sister. They made faces at each other as they continued to escort him.
He had taken a liking to the twin girls when he first met them in Farmerton, what seemed like an eternity ago. They were smart, sassy, and utterly adorable. When they were older, they would certainly not lack for suitors.
Seeing them also revived less pleasant memories. After the fire, the two had been presumed dead for a time. Believing her entire family to have perished, Audrey had been inconsolable. But then news had come of five survivors, including twin girls of the proper age. After so much loss, the news had filled them all with joy.
“We are so disappointed,” Ilona said, putting a hand to her chest. “You were supposed to stay single long enough for us to fight over you,” Iris explained, pouting.
At least he had been spared that.
“Girls!”
The strident sound of Almera’s voice caused all three of them to halt. Iris and Ilona stared at each other guiltily as he looked on with amusement.
“You two are supposed to be helping with dinner preparations,” Almera huffed as she appeared in front of them from a side path. She nodded at him, and he nodded back. “And then there is the matter of the plants you trampled,” she continued, folding her arms in front of her as she scowled.
“We’re sorry,” the twins said in near perfect unison, but their expressions said otherwise.
Gabriel chuckled as Almera led the two girls away, still lecturing them sternly. As the architect of the magnificent landscaping, the woman was fiercely protective of it. She would see to it that Ilona and Iris paid for their transgression.
The smell of roast chicken told him that Audrey was home before he reached the front door of her quaint cottage. She answered the door with a welcoming smile that faded to embarrassment. “I thought you were Conrad here early,” she explained. “What brings you here, Gabriel?”
He quickly told her of his mending needs and then watched as she examined the items with an expert eye. Unlike her cousins, the woma
n was a skilled seamstress, even having been employed by Desires for a time in that capacity.
“This won’t take long,” she told him. “I’ll drop them by your office in a day or two.”
“Thank you,” he said, knowing there was no point in offering payment. “Is there any update on the castle?”
She frowned as she replaced the items in the bag and put it down. “Blocks continue to appear, but there’s still no sign of windows or a door.”
He shared her disappointment, but wasn’t surprised. It definitely wasn’t a normal structure.
“When do you want to train your ogre squad?” she asked. “I’ve asked Agvak to pick out twenty who are interested.”
Given the creatures’ size and strength, that was a substantial fighting force. “Assuming there is no change to the estimated completion,” he told her, “I will wait until Spring to conduct any training.”
After nodding, she rolled her eyes. “I’ll be thoroughly sick of building the castle by then, but it makes sense to wait.”
Gabriel cleared his throat. “When I do travel to Tritown to work with the ogres, I will need to tell Kora something.” Realizing she might not know, he added, “We are now living together.”
“Congratulations,” she exclaimed, flashing a smile. “Tell Kora whatever you think is necessary. I trust her.”
That could also wait for the moment. And when the time came, he would tell her only the bare minimum. He would mention the Guardian, but not her identity.
Before he could take his leave, Audrey retrieved some drawings for him to peruse. He found the sexy warrior costume amusing, but that was also a positive. Displaying so much skin was a weapon in itself, especially against males. It was a tactic that Ermizad had often employed when meeting with visitors or bargaining.
“Andora?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. It was an interesting choice.
“It just came to me,” she confessed. “You don’t like it?”
“I do,” he assured her. “Have you considered employing makeup?” Kora was an expert in its use.
Audrey scrunched up her face as she considered it. “It’s not a bad idea, but I’m not very good at it. I’ll give it some thought.” She sniffed the air and frowned. “I need to go check on dinner. Thanks for stopping by.”
Gabriel pondered the matter during his walk back home. It may have been an impromptu decision, but he approved of Audrey’s plan. It allowed for a clean separation between her two lives. She would be Audrey, and Andora would be the Guardian of Andoran’s Realm. He was looking forward to meeting her.
Gabriel carefully held out the unsheathed sword for Kora to take. After she took hold of the leather-wrapped hilt with both hands, he slowly pulled his hands away. The blade dipped only slightly as she took the full weight.
“It’s lighter than I expected,” she said, staring wide-eyed at the length of polished metal. “Is this steel?”
“It is an alloy of several metals,” he explained, hoping she wouldn’t ask for more information. His mother had acquired the sword during an adventure long ago, and no one knew its origins, let alone the precise composition of the metal it had been forged from. Close up, the surface had a rippled look.
She swung the blade slowly to her right and away from him. Kora was stronger than most women her age, but the sword was really too heavy for her. Fortunately, she had only asked to see it, not be trained in swordplay.
“It’s magic?” she asked, slowly bringing the blade back.
“It is enchanted for the purpose of slaying giants,” he stated. “Were there one in the vicinity, you would be able to sense it.” The sword would not only vibrate but point the direction. Wielded in combat against its intended prey, the sword would carve through even the thickest bone or toughest ligament.
Keeping her gaze on the blade, she smiled to herself. “We seem to be safe at the moment. I’ve never seen a giant. Do they just look like big humans?”
He could have expounded for hours on the subject. “They are generally stockier, and there are many types.”
After another clumsy swing, she handed the weapon back over. Holding the hilt with one hand, he sheathed the blade and placed it across the arms of one of the upholstered chairs.
“I think it would look nice above the fireplace,” she said, gesturing. “I get bored with the same old decor.”
It would be quite a change from what was currently displayed there, a square hanging made by combining different colors of yarn at random. He had never seen the point to that kind of thing. Art should be comprehensible.
“We could also display some of your drawings,” she continued earnestly. “Everyone at work loves the one you did of me.”
Handsomely framed, that portrait now hung in her office at Desires. It had turned out well, as had the two he had done since, although one still needed some additional finishing work. Soon he would attempt a color portrait of her.
“Some of the courtesans wanted to know if you would draw them,” she said, taking a step closer.
“Clothed or nude?” he asked, straight-faced.
“I did not inquire as to preference,” she replied, equally formal and serious. Slight changes in her stance and posture made her look elegant despite her simple clothing. “By the by, we are now formally wed, Husband.”
Struggling not to smile, he said, “Thank you for informing me, Wife. How shall we celebrate our union?”
“I have already made a reservation for tomorrow evening,” she said proudly, jutting her chin upward. “A private room at Lucien’s.”
“That sounds perfect,” he said, gazing into her eyes.
The weather was far from perfect the following evening, but neither of them even mentioned it. They were back together, and that was all that mattered.
[ 28 ]
Family Ties
The Witch’s City had changed. It wasn’t just the new or changed buildings—the Witch’s Castle was finally undergoing much-needed repairs—it was the atmosphere. The aura of hope and optimism was palpable. The citizens were proud of their city and happy to live there. It was all the more evident because Ferikellan had just arrived by ship from Zardis, a city still mired in its dark and turbulent past.
Rosalind was indirectly responsible for his journey. All her talk of her myriad relatives had finally driven him to ask Audrey to take him to Zardis so that he could visit his parents. He had no siblings, and neither did they. (That kind of thing wasn’t at all unusual for elves.) The visit had been awkward, but that was how it always felt. His parents lacked ambition. They continued to work as candle-makers because they always had. It was all they knew. His pack contained an assortment of scented candles that his mother had insisted he take with him.
Ferikellan spent some time observing a corner of the castle that was a mass of scaffolds and temporary supports. Most of the workers were dwarves or humans, but elves and half-elves were also represented. The workers laughed and joked as they plied their various trades.
“Your pardon,” said a melodious female voice from his left. “You are a visitor here?”
The speaker was a mature elf, a comely one with striking blue-green eyes. She wore the uniform of a city guard, complete with a shortsword slung on her left hip. And judging by the number of silver stripes on the sleeves of her fitted black shirt, she occupied an important position.
“I am,” he replied, turning to face her. “I have not visited here for some time.”
“And I tend to notice unfamiliar faces, particularly among my own kind.” She bowed formally. “I am Ilia av Sanina.”
He returned her bow. “Ferikellan av Markar.” Since she had given her full name, he had no choice but to give his.
“If you do not mind me asking, what brings you to our fair city?”
She really did have the loveliest voice. “I am a spell-caster and magical researcher,” he explained. “I am seeking to consult with Daragrim.” That was true, but he had also come so that Audrey could teleport him back to Trito
wn.
“Do you know the way?” she inquired.
“I have a detailed map,” he told her truthfully. Rosalind had drawn it for him.
She flashed a friendly smile. “Then I will be on my way. Enjoy your visit.”
He felt a sense of relief as she strode away. In anticipation, he had a prepared story should someone inquire about his current home and occupation, but parts of it were fabricated. There was also the necessity of keeping Audrey’s rather enormous secret. He could lie when necessary, but he preferred not to. It wasn’t something that he was skilled at.
After consulting the neatly drawn map, he resumed his journey. But when he reached his destination, he simply stood outside the wrought-iron gate, gaping as he tried to take it all in.
Magic. Rosalind had mentioned that Draymund and Almera’s mansion had some type of warding, but this was something more. A faint magical aura extended yards beyond the high stone wall that surrounded the property. The mixture of white and spirit magic, presumably Daragrim’s creation, was remarkably sophisticated. He closed his eyes as he sought to analyze the enchantment.
“Are you lost?” came a female voice from inside the grounds, startling him. He blinked at the elegantly dressed half-elf, showing an amused expression as she regarded him through the gate’s vertical iron bars.
“I am intrigued,” he replied. He could sense that she was a spell-caster, though not a strong one. “My name is Ferikellan.”
Recognition showed on her face as she stepped forward and unlatched the gate. “Then please come in. I’m Almera.”
He had guessed that. “It is a pleasure to meet you,” he told her, then walked inside and watched as she closed the gate. “Is your father at home?”
Her gaze went briefly distant. “No, and neither is Audrey. I can monitor the location of anyone here.”
That explained how she had noticed his presence. She set off along the paths, and he followed alongside. The landscaping was impressive, as was the building they were gradually approaching. Was that really where she lived? It was immense.