The Seer

by Kirsten Jones

  ‘Where would you like me to begin?’

  ‘I think that Malachi and Bellicose would be an appropriate starting point.’

  Mistral drew in a deep breath and relayed the thoughts she’d heard in the minds of the vampire and his son, leaving nothing out but being careful not to include her own personal opinions either. Mage Grapple was definitely not the type of person to appreciate conjecture or flippancy.

  A long silence fell when Mistral finished speaking. Mage Grapple turned his goblet of wine in his hands, gazing thoughtfully at the ruby liquid. ‘And … Vilius De’ath?’ he finally asked in a cold voice.

  Mistral felt the twins’ surprise ring in her mind. Mage Grapple had obviously been made aware of Putreo’s illicit activities and was now concerned that Vilius would be tempted to do the same.

  ‘Er … well, Mage De’ath is … how can I put this?’ she looked at the twins for help.

  ‘Under the thumb?’ Phantom suggested quietly.

  Mistral stifled a laugh, ‘That would be accurate! I think that Mage De’ath would only take up the slightly shadier aspects of his role if his wife told him to.’

  Mage Grapple nodded; his scarred face impassive, ‘And what of Mycroft Casterton?’

  ‘He intends to present a case for becoming the next Divinus but has no untoward plans ... only an awful lot of self-belief and a strong desire to share it with anyone in earshot,’ she added quickly, worried she might have presented Mycroft in too good a light.

  ‘And that brings us to the final contender.’ Mage Grapple iron gaze held hers. ‘Your Training Captain.’

  Mistral glanced uncomfortably at Leo, sat silently in the armchair by the fire. Fabian squeezed her hand reassuringly, his thoughts willing her to speak freely. ‘Well,’ she began then paused and met Leo’s icy stare, listening to his thoughts. There was no anxiety in them, only a cold confidence and complete disinterest in anything she was about to reveal. Drawing in a deep breath, Mistral took the plunge. ‘Master Sphinx is completely unhindered by what he regards as wasteful emotions; love, charity, generosity … kindness. He is mercilessly ambitious, intelligent and focussed. He believes utterly in his ability to be the next Divinus, but not for personal gain – he believes resolutely in the ideals of the Ri and is convinced that our future existence can only be assured through developing stronger links with the Council.’ Mistral finished and waited for Leo to leap up, loudly denouncing her as a liar but he said nothing and continued to regard her with icy detachment.

  Mage Grapple nodded thoughtfully, ‘Thank you. You have been refreshingly honest. I would have expected you to have been intimidated by the presence of your Training Captain and attempt to lie to me, but once again Lady De Winter, you have surprised me.’

  ‘Er, well … I’m actually a terrible liar.’ Mistral confessed.

  ‘Then I welcome you at my Council. You will be unique.’

  ‘We need to talk about your proposed schedule Eximius.’ Fabian said quietly.

  Mage Grapple raised a scarred eyebrow briefly, ‘Yes, I am sure you consider the Contract requirements I have submitted to be excessive. I am also sure that you are aware that our fragile existence is severely threatened by the Rochfortes’ continuing plans and a Seer’s presence at the meetings I have outlined would be most beneficial. However, if you remain unsatisfied, De Winter, then perhaps we can discuss the exact schedule on another occasion.’

  Fabian met Mage Grapple’s iron stare and nodded curtly.

  ‘Good. Then we turn to the final matter.’

  Mistral drew in a sharp breath and leaned forwards, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. Here it was. The Contract she had heard in his thoughts at the banquet. The one she had traded a year of her life for.

  The Ten Year Cull

  ‘What’s this?’

  Xerxes looked at the rolled up scroll of parchment Phantasm placed on the table in front of him.

  ‘Present from Mistral,’ he replied, dropping onto a chair and leaning back casually.

  Xerxes put his tankard down and unrolled the parchment, giving it a cursory glance he tossed it down with a snort of disgust, ‘A Contract? She needs her head testing! Cain gets a shop and I get a Contract?’

  ‘It’s for all of us actually, and I think you’re going to like it.’ Phantasm said confidently.

  Xerxes frowned and unrolled the Contract, his eyes sliding straight down to the Contract value section, ‘Hells teeth!’

  ‘What?’ Brutus leaned across and peered over the top of the parchment.

  There was a brief silence while the two brothers carefully deciphered the ornate script.

  ‘How much?’ Brutus exclaimed in disbelief, his eyes finally finding the section that had made his brother swear. ‘That’s a fortune! What’s this Contract for? An assassination on Mage Grapple?’

  ‘Don’t even jest about such matters!’ Phantom muttered, glancing warily over his shoulder to see a couple of warriors at the bar watching them interestedly.

  ‘What? He’s left the Valley now hasn’t he?’ Brutus said blithely, his eyes glued to the Contract in his brother’s hand.

  ‘Yes, thankfully. However, he gave this little beauty to Master Sphinx before he went and he saw fit to issue it to Mistral who, for some reason, thought of her brothers.’

  ‘Mistral … thoughtful?’ Xerxes looked dubious.

  ‘Just read the details Xerxes.’ Phantasm said coolly.

  ‘Details!’ Xerxes made a disgusted noise but began to read the Contract carefully. ‘It can’t be!’ he looked up and stared in open mouthed astonishment at the twins’ smug expressions. ‘How … just how did she pull this one off?’

  ‘What’s she done now?’ Cain asked wearily, placing a full tankard of ale on the table and sitting down.

  ‘Only gone and got us the Ten Year Cull!’

  ‘What?’ Cain was suddenly alert. ‘How? It normally goes out to tender with the three Agencies then they have to run a lottery for all of the warriors on their books. I’ve even heard of warriors killing each other to get this Contract!’

  ‘Ah, yes, well. I think we’d better keep it quiet then.’ Phantasm murmured and tilted his head meaningfully towards the bar where the two warriors were still casting them curious looks.

  ‘Come on, how’s she done it?’ Brutus demanded a low voice.

  Phantasm didn’t reply immediately but reached out for his tankard of ale and took a long drink, placing it carefully back down on the table before he looked up, his green eyes strangely disapproving, ‘I believe she struck a deal with Master Sphinx.’

  All three warriors stared at him incredulously.

  ‘And how exactly did she get Captain Uncompromising to agree to a deal?’ Brutus frowned.

  ‘Was she wearing that dress?’ Xerxes leered.

  Phantasm gave him a cool look, ‘As I understand it, she’s agreed to work solely for him for the next year in return for her apprenticeship fees … and this Contract.’

  ‘She’s tied herself to his Lordliness the Leo for an entire year to pay back her fees?’ Cain shuddered. ‘Rather her than me!’

  ‘Ah, but she did it for us too.’ Xerxes grinned. ‘I always knew she’d come good in the end!’

  ‘The Ten Year Cull!’ Brutus echoed, gazing at the Contract with reverence. ‘Read out the details brother.’

  Xerxes cleared his throat dramatically and began to read from the document in his hands, ‘“In accordance with the requirements laid down in the Control of Dangerous Beasts Act, the annual census of the dragon population of the Isle has been concluded and the Councillor responsible for the Control and Maintenance of Dangerous and Endangered Beasts –”’

  ‘Mage Bertram Pickering,’ interjected Phantom knowledgably.

  ‘Pickering … Pickering.’ Cain mused. ‘I know that name.’

  ‘Course you do brother, he’s got that bonkers wife, Maldita … you know, breeds bonacon but doesn’t seem to be able to keep control of them. There can’t be a month goes by whe
re one of us hasn’t had a Contract to round the damned things up again –’

  ‘Er, do you mind?’ Xerxes demanded, waving the Contract impatiently at them.

  ‘Oh, please don’t say you’ve lost your place have you brother?’ Brutus sighed and winked at the twins. ‘It’ll take him ages to find it again.’

  Xerxes shot him a filthy look and ran his finger quickly down the Contract, ‘Ah! Here we go … “has identified a number of dragons in excess of the recommended herd size. A license for a cull has therefore been granted to be collected from the Council by the hunting party who will sign a Declaration of Intent to abide by the rules set out in the Control of Dangerous –” … oh, for crying out loud … blah blah … ha! Now that’s more like it!’ Xerxes paused and raised an eyebrow, reaching for the tattered piece of parchment in his top pocket. ‘Care to wager how many we have to cull?’

  Cain narrowed his eyes thoughtfully at Phantom, ‘Don’t suppose you happen to know what the recommended number of dragons is in this Dangerous Beasts Act do you?’

  ‘Six.’ Phantom responded promptly.

  Cain nodded, ‘I wager a round of drinks we have to cull one then.’

  ‘Two,’ said Brutus confidently.

  ‘All of them.’ Grendel grunted.

  ‘Ah, wishful thinking there brother.’ Xerxes laughed. ‘It’s actually two –’

  ‘Ha!’ Brutus cried triumphantly and banged both his hands on the table. ‘Get the round in Cain!’

  ‘Two what though?’ Cain demanded sulkily. ‘Male or female?’

  ‘Hold on!’ Xerxes scanned the Contract again, running his finger down the parchment until he found the relevant section. ‘Two females of breeding age.’

  ‘How are we meant to identify them as being firstly female and secondly of breeding age? Ask them if they like flowers and how old they are?’ Cain demanded with a frown.

  Phantasm reached down into his saddlebag and pulled out a large, leather-bound book and dropped it onto the table with a heavy thud.

  Brutus read out the title on the front of the dusty manual. ‘“Dragon Lore: The Definitive Guide to Breeds, Identification, Control and Breeding Habits.” Er, please tell me you’ve read it already?’ he asked, looking hopefully at the twins.

  They both nodded smugly.

  ‘That’s a relief! I reckon we’d still be sat here next solstice if we had to read that thing before we took the Contract!’

  ‘We’re going to kill some dragons!’ Xerxes sang under his breath and dropped a kiss onto the document in his hand.

  ‘For an amazingly, beautifully ludicrous amount of gold!’ Cain added with a grin.

  ‘I bet Mistral was unbearable once she knew the Contract was in the bag!’ Brutus laughed. ‘She’s been desperate to have a go at a dragon for ages!’

  ‘Hmm, she was fairly animated.’ Phantasm agreed drily.

  ‘That’s putting it mildly!’ Phantom exclaimed, ‘I thought she was actually going to kiss Mage Grapple when he gave the Contract to Master Sphinx.’

  ‘Where is she anyway?’ Cain asked, looked around with a frown. ‘In Toothe and Nayle buying the entire stock in preparation for the cull?’

  ‘Going home with her Mage to pack as we speak,’ said Phantom. ‘Which is a relief actually, her staying was a bit like having a whirlwind in the house.’

  Cain laughed, ‘I’m glad she didn’t want to stay in my flat! Not that there’s much room since Brutus and Xerxes moved in,’ he added, glancing ruefully at his brothers who were poring over the Contract again.

  ‘I’m surprised her Mage has agreed to her going.’ Brutus said, looking up from the Contract. ‘It’s not exactly going to be safe work and he was slightly over protective before she had the Sight. I can’t imagine what he’s going to be like now she’s the Isle’s only Seer.’

  ‘He didn’t have too much to say on the matter actually.’ Phantom smirked.

  ‘Never says a lot anyway.’ Cain muttered into his tankard.

  ‘Getting fed up with her already is he?’ Xerxes nodded understandingly.

  ‘Hardly. It’s been like a re-enactment of the love scene from The Nymph’s Ballad in our house for the last couple of days!’ Phantom grumbled.

  ‘So how come he’s letting her go then?’ Brutus persisted. ‘Or is there something about this Contract you’re not telling us?’

  Phantasm sighed, ‘No brother, this Contract has been issued by Mage Grapple himself. It’s probably the most legitimate Contract you’ll ever be offered. However, if you really insist upon knowing why Mage De Winter was reluctantly amenable to Mistral taking the work then I shall tell you, although it really has no bearing on the Contact whatsoever – ’

  ‘Just tell us brother.’ Xerxes growled impatiently.

  ‘Well, firstly, he didn’t really have a choice since Master Sphinx issued Mistral with the Contract and she’s agreed to work solely for him for the a year – not that Mistral would have ever turned down this one anyway – but it also appears that Mage De Winter didn’t feel he was in a position to argue, having inadvertently managed to upset her earlier in the day.’ Phantasm finished diplomatically.

  ‘Easily done,’ said Cain sympathetically.

  Brutus laughed, ‘And he’s still breathing?’

  ‘Perfectly healthy.’

  ‘Is she losing her touch?’

  Phantasm frowned thoughtfully and reached for his tankard, ‘No, she was typically irrational. However, I have to admit that it wasn’t quite in her usual way.’

  ‘She didn’t threaten to kill herself again did she?’ Cain sighed.

  ‘No … just sat on our sofa crying and holding a bucket of kittens.’

  ‘A bucket of what?’

  ‘Kittens. Want one?’ Phantom enquired brightly. ‘I woke up with one of the little gits asleep on my face this morning! I can still taste fur –’

  ‘Not hungry thanks.’ Brutus replied with a grin.

  ‘I’ll take one.’ Xerxes said quickly.

  ‘I’m not having a kitten in my flat.’ Cain said sharply.

  ‘Don’t worry! It’s not for me! It’ll make a nice present for the girl from the saddlery … can’t remember her name right now … anyway, girls like kittens don’t they?’

  ‘Apparently Mistral does, but I don’t think she’s a good example for you to use.’ Phantasm mused.

  ‘You can say that again!’ Xerxes agreed and took a long drink from his tankard.

  ‘Time scale?’ Grendel asked, banging both hands down heavily onto the table and bringing their attention sharply back to the Contract.

  ‘Ah, yes. The time scale is a bit tight to say the least.’ Phantasm lowered his tankard and reached out to take the Contract from Xerxes. ‘Unfortunately the census was held late this year due to the Rochfortes’ inconsiderate attempted invasion –’

  ‘I actually thought it was very considerate of them to provide us with a damned good fight after Mistral’s wedding!’

  ‘Yes Xerxes, wasn’t it just. Well, back to the Contract … we need to cull the two females before the breeding season begins in early spring. They’re notoriously aggressive anyway, but once they have eggs to protect they become unbelievably savage. We can forget about being able to get anywhere near the mountain range after the January snows have fallen … which leaves us with the very small time slot of – ’

  ‘Now.’ Cain concluded with a grin.

  ‘Precisely.’ Phantom confirmed. ‘We leave in the morning, meet Mage De Winter and Mistral on the cliffside path heading north and travel straight to the Council to collect the license and our official escort –’

  ‘Our what?’ Xerxes looked up sharply.

  ‘Details Xerxes! It’s all in the details!’ Phantasm drummed his fingers irritably on the Contract. ‘The Isle’s dragon herd are the only ones in existence and Mage Grapple feels that their continued existence is somehow important to our identity as a nation –’

  ‘Yes, the dragon is the emblem of the Isle after all. “
A symbol of strength and majesty”, or so it says in that book.’ Phantom added with a casual flick of his hand towards the dragon lore manual on the table.

  ‘Thank you brother.’ Phantasm said crisply. ‘As I was saying, herd numbers are rigidly controlled, hence the Ten Year Cull; but for some reason Mage Grapple doesn’t quite trust Ri Warriors not to be overly enthusiastic when faced with the opportunity of hunting such a legendary creature, so he insists upon a party of Mage Councillors being in attendance to ensure that some dragons are left alive.’

  ‘Great! So that’s the bait sorted! Now, let’s talk about a method for dispatching these lovely ladies.’ Xerxes said, rubbing his hands together eagerly.

  ‘Well, according to this book, Dragon scales are phenomenally tough –’

  ‘But the usual weak spots apply.’ Phantom interrupted helpfully. ‘You know, eyes, nostrils, the point behind the elbow –’

  ‘Yes, thank you brother.’ Phantasm continued firmly. ‘As I was saying, again, the scales are tough apart from a few vulnerable areas. So unless we can get a clean shot at those we can assume that bolts and arrows are going to be completely ineffective, however, I don’t particularly want to be within sword range either.’

  ‘I bet Mistral does.’ Xerxes laughed.

  ‘Hmm, I’m sure she thinks that anything less than hand to hand combat wouldn’t present enough of a challenge, but you can be sure her Mage will be keeping a close eye on her –’

  ‘Battle axe.’ Grendel interrupted in a low growl.

  ‘Do you mean Mistral?’

  Grendel laughed and shook his head, swinging his heavy double-headed battle axe up over his shoulder by way of explanation.

  ‘Oh I see! Yes, well that may be perfect for you brother, but I don’t think I could lift one.’ Cain grinned. ‘However, I could brew up something particularly potent and we could get some really heavy weight arrows to use. Is there anything in that book about effective poisons?’

  ‘Actually there is! There’s a recipe for one brewed using gorgon blood that’s meant to work pretty well,’ responded Phantom promptly.