The Seer

by Kirsten Jones

  ‘Gorgon blood? Oh great! And just how am I going to get hold of that before tomorrow morning?’

  ‘Master Nox.’ Phantasm replied. ‘I know he has some. I’ve seen a flask of it in his tower room. However we obviously can’t just ask him for it.’

  ‘Why not? It’s a Ri Contract and he is a Magnate member and trying to be the next Divinus – surely he’ll want to appear helpful to gain some favour!’ Cain argued.

  Phantasm glanced over his shoulder to make sure there were no warriors within hearing range before he spoke. ‘I’m afraid it’s quite the opposite. Master Sphinx hasn’t followed correct protocol by giving this Contract straight to Mistral. You yourself said it usually goes out to tender. If Master Nox finds out he’ll have a readymade campaign – just think of how furious the rest of the warriors will be if they find out they’ve missed out on this Contract! It would probably generate enough bad feeling for Master Sphinx to guarantee Master Nox a resounding victory when the votes are held!’

  A short silence fell while Cain gazed broodingly into his empty tankard. The subject of who would be the next Divinus had been hotly debated every night in The Cloak and Dagger for weeks. Up until the funeral most of the Ri warriors had professed a strong distrust of Malachi and remained loyal to their Training Captain, however, since Malachi’s anti-Council eulogy there had been a marked shift in his favour; a view which was not shared by Mistral’s brothers.

  ‘I can see your point.’ Cain finally agreed with a sigh. ‘We’ve got to keep really quiet about this Contract because I certainly don’t want to do anything to further Malachi’s chances of becoming the next Divinus. His Leoship may be a total tyrant but I certainly don’t want that shifty half-vampire in charge of the Ri, he’s more corrupt than a barrel of goblins! Huh! When I think of all those training Contracts with Malachi’s little added extras it makes my blood boil! If I’d known it was because he was selling the stuff to make illegal potions I’d have kept it and brewed the damned things myself! I’d be stupidly rich by now!’

  ‘Nice sense of perspective brother.’ Xerxes laughed. ‘Once a money-grabbing, cheating hob – ’

  ‘– always a money-grabbing, cheating hob.’ Brutus finished with a grin.

  ‘Who’s flat you happen to be living in rent-free.’ Cain reminded them both sharply.

  ‘So! Gorgon blood!’ Xerxes said quickly. ‘How’re we going to get some?’

  ‘My brother and I are going to break into to Master Nox’s tower room and steal some.’

  They all stared at Phantasm speechlessly but Phantom was less restrained, ‘We’re going to do what?’

  ‘I’m sorry brother but needs must. Or would you rather just battle it out with a dragon?’ Phantasm demanded archly.

  Phantom looked taken aback, ‘Er … no! I was thinking more along the lines of luring them into a trap and then killing them!’

  ‘Trap them how precisely? Dig a pit? They can fly! And even if we did somehow manage to trap one with some kind of weighted net, how do we kill it? Beat it to death with a stick? I wouldn’t want to get that close to a trapped dragon and I can’t imagine being able to get a clean shot on one when it’s thrashing around and trying to escape!’

  Phantom blew his cheeks out while he considered the options, ‘No … but breaking into Master Nox’s tower room? Really?’ he frowned at his brother. ‘I think I’m starting to have reservations about this Contract!’

  ‘Yes, this Contract is going to be dangerous.’ Phantasm agreed in a calmer tone. ‘Which is precisely why the Contract value is so astoundingly high.’

  ‘Hmm, this is not the type of work you two normally care to indulge in,’ said Cain, eyeing the twins thoughtfully. ‘Apart from the gold, what’s the attraction?’

  ‘Bored with Council Contracts.’ Phantasm held Cain’s suspicious look evenly.

  ‘I doubt that.’ Cain said softly. ‘I smell something that’s not Grendel for once!’

  Phantasm continued to hold his gaze steadily but Phantom looked decidedly uncomfortable, ‘Oh, just tell them brother, they’ll find out soon enough,’ he muttered.

  Phantasm shrugged indifferently, ‘Fine, we are going because of the gold, obviously, but also because we have another Contract to fulfil on the way.’

  ‘Oh yes?’ Xerxes asked, leaning forward with a sharp gleam in his eye. ‘Does it require some extra assistance?’

  ‘Yes, and you’re already down for it.’ Phantasm said lightly. ‘We’re to accompany Master Sphinx on his journey to the Council to submit his formal intention to stand for Divinus.’

  ‘We have to hold his Leoship’s hand all the way to the Council? Why the hell do we have to do that?’ Brutus cried with a horrified look on his face.

  ‘Do you want Master Nox to be the next Divinus?’ Phantasm asked curtly. ‘Because he’ll suddenly be the only viable candidate for the role if we allow Master Sphinx to ride unprotected to the Council!’

  ‘By viable you mean alive?’ Cain asked.

  Phantasm smiled grimly, ‘I am sure that Bellicose La Monte is hungry to provide any assistance to his son that he can, and removing the main competitor would probably be a pleasure for him!’

  ‘More like eating the main competitor.’ Phantom gave a repulsed shudder.

  Brutus and Xerxes looked at each other unhappily, but Cain just shook his head morosely, ‘A three day ride with Mr Sparkling Personality himself,’ he muttered under his breath. ‘We’d better see Floris and stock up on some of that hideous liquor he brews to make the journey more bearable.’

  Phantasm nodded and rose to his feet, ‘And we have a burglary to plan –’

  ‘Mistral?’

  ‘Hmm?’

  ‘Wake up. I want you to see something.’

  Mistral rolled over and blinked sleepily at Fabian, ‘What is it?’ She mumbled.

  ‘Where would be a more appropriate question … come with me –’

  He placed her shirt and trousers on the pillow beside her. She groaned and reluctantly slid out of the warm bed. Giving a still sleeping Prospero an envious look she pulled on her clothes and took Fabian’s hand, letting him lead her yawning down the stairs. Collecting her Blackheart Wolverine skin from the back of the sofa as he passed, Fabian opened the balcony doors and stepped out into the cold December dawn. ‘Look –’

  Mistral felt his warm arms wrap around her while she looked out at the soft pink light of sunrise spreading across the snow covered valley. It was a perfect winter’s morning, crisp and still with the promise of a clear blue sky overhead. ‘It’s glorious,’ she admitted. ‘But really worth waking me up for?’ she turned in his arms and looked at him reproachfully.

  He smiled and raised an eyebrow mockingly, ‘Ah, maybe there is more.’

  Suddenly she was wide awake, ‘I know that look!’

  Fabian laughed and led her over to the wooden seat that ran the length of the balcony. Sitting down he pulled her onto his lap and wrapped the Wolverine skin around her. She laid her head back against his shoulder and looked up at him expectantly.

  ‘I do have a surprise for you, which is quite an accomplishment, considering that you can now read my thoughts … but apparently not when you’re asleep.’

  ‘Hmm, maybe I’d better start working on that one.’

  ‘Well, until you do, permit me to enjoy giving you this.’ Fabian reached down and produced a roll of canvas from beneath the bench.

  Mistral looked at the package in his hands and gasped, ‘Is that what I think it is?’

  ‘Open it and find out,’ he smiled and casually dropped the canvas roll into her lap.

  She quickly untied the leather string and unrolled the package to reveal a pair of silver inlaid butterfly knives with wrought gold handles. The very same ones she had dreamed of owning since starting her apprenticeship two long years ago. ‘They’re beautiful!’ she cried softly, brushing a finger down the gleaming blades to trace the intricate design engraved into each knife.

  ‘No, they’re ju
st a pair of butterfly knives,’ he amended, brushing the hair away from her neck to kiss her. ‘It is you that has beauty.’

  Mistral closed her eyes as he kissed her, the touch of his lips making her shiver with more than cold. She opened her eyes again and looked down at the gleaming knives laid in her lap. Another present from Fabian … his mother’s wedding ring, Prospero, the house she was now living in ... ‘I love them,’ she sighed regretfully. ‘But I really can’t accept them.’ Giving them one last longing look, Mistral rolled the canvas back up and placed it carefully on the bench beside them.

  She felt Fabian tense slightly, ‘So,’ he said quietly. ‘You can accept expensive dresses from the twins, and a key to their house, but you refuse a gift from your husband?’

  ‘Oh Fabian! Please don’t misunderstand!’ Mistral gazed beseechingly at him and was dismayed to see his face set in a hard expression. ‘It’s just that you’ve already given me so much, and I have absolutely nothing to give to you in return!’

  Fabian’s stony expression instantly melted into a smile, ‘Ah, but you have already given me more than I ever dreamed possible.’

  ‘What? Increased opportunities to die and a penniless wife?’ Mistral gave a bitter laugh and looked down at the white gold band on her finger.

  ‘Hmm, I notice from the huge amount of luggage we brought back yesterday that you have officially moved in to our home now.’ Fabian cast an amused glance through open balcony doors to where Mistral’s bulging saddlebag lay next to the sofa.

  Mistral followed his look and sighed, ‘There it is. Everything I own. It hardly seemed worth hiring a horse and cart for. Mind you, I did leave some stuff we won’t need at the twins’ house.’

  ‘Such as?’

  ‘Well, there was my wedding dress.’

  A brief silence fell. Mistral glanced up at him and bit her lip to halt a grin from spreading across her face.

  ‘Perhaps you should bring that back with you,’ he growled, bending his head to kiss her.

  Mistral laughed and reached up to meet his kiss. Curling back into the warmth of the Wolverine skin when he released her she picked up the canvas roll of knives again and gazed thoughtfully out across the valley, watching the first rays of sun glittering on the unblemished carpet of snow. Sighing deeply, she turned to look at Fabian again. ‘You do realise that saddlebag represents all my worldly possessions don’t you? I have nothing to bring to our life together Fabian. I have no money and no opportunity to earn any for another year either,’ she finished moodily.

  ‘Of course I know,’ he replied quietly. ‘Which is precisely why I have been considering an offer that would allow us to command a more regular income.’

  ‘What? More Contracts?’ Mistral couldn’t hide the dismay in her voice. She had tied herself to Leo and no doubt the Council for the next year to pay back her apprenticeship fees. If Fabian had decided to take on more paid Contract work it would mean being separated, something she desperately wanted to avoid.

  ‘Not quite, although yes, I’ll still take the occasional Contract, should you wish to accompany me –’

  ‘Always.’ Mistral responded instantly.

  Fabian smiled, ‘Well,’ he hesitated and drew in a deep breath. ‘Leo has offered me the role of Training Captain … when … if… he becomes the next Divinus.’

  ‘Oh!’ Mistral instantly thought of Leo’s tower room and the huge four poster bed he’d shared with Golden. She did not want to stay there – ever.

  ‘You disapprove?’

  ‘No! Quite the opposite, I think you’d be an excellent Training Captain. In fact, I almost envy the apprentices. But, um, where would we live?’

  ‘Here.’

  Mistral sighed with relief, ‘Oh good. For a horrible moment I thought you’d want us to move into that hideous boudoir of his!’

  Fabian laughed uproariously, ‘Boudoir?’

  ‘Well, you know what I mean! That bed! It’s obscene!’

  ‘Extravagant maybe.’ Fabian agreed with a smile.

  ‘Obscene.’ Mistral repeated under her breath. ‘Who needs a bed that big anyway? It must’ve cost a fortune!’

  She listened to Fabian’s soft laughter and gazed down at the canvas roll in her hands; an unpleasant thought entered her mind. Money. ‘When did you buy these?’ she kept her tone deliberately light while she undid the knot again and slid her hands experimentally around the hilts of the knives, pulling them out to hold them up to the sunlight and admire them.

  Fabian wrapped his hands around hers so that they were both holding the hilts of the knives, ‘Are you worried that they have been bought with the money you saw yesterday?’

  Mistral shrugged, feeling ungrateful, ‘Maybe.’

  ‘I bought these butterfly knives when we returned from The Festival of the Arcane.’

  ‘Oh!’ Mistral was taken aback. That had been months ago.

  ‘I wanted to have something ready to give the moment you achieved the Sight, to mark the occasion. But when you did achieve the Sight, we were a little preoccupied and I forgot about them.’

  ‘So we were.’ Mistral grinned shamelessly at him.

  He smiled but there was something carefully watchful in his expression, ‘Will you accept my gift now?’ He asked in a quiet voice.

  ‘Yes please.’ Mistral breathed, gazing rapturously at the flawless edges and finely wrought handles.

  Fabian gave a satisfied smile, ‘Good, I know how much you have wanted them.’

  ‘No.’ Mistral disagreed. ‘You are all I’ve ever wanted.’ She twisted suddenly in his arms, turning to look up at him. ‘Yet look at how I take you for granted! All I’ve ever done is cause you trouble and break promises! Not to mention taking forever to master my gift and forcing you stay in the Valley while I did! I’ve been so selfish!’

  ‘You have never made me do anything I have not wished to.’ Fabian replied firmly.

  Mistral scowled, ‘You’re so patient and generous … and far too forgiving of all my stupid mistakes! I have none of your qualities Fabian!’

  ‘Then we complement each other perfectly,’ he teased with a smile. ‘Although I can assure you that you are definitely the only person on the entire Isle to credit me with such a glowing character reference.’

  ‘You’re perfect to me,’ she looked up at him, her expression suddenly sad. ‘What can I ever give to you?’

  ‘But you have already given me so much Mistral, more than you realise.’ Fabian murmured and turned his gaze away to look out at the snow-clad valley. Mistral watched his expression pensively, waiting for him to explain. His thoughts were veiled and unclear, almost as though he were not sure himself of what he was thinking. He finally sighed deeply and looked down at her with eyes of softest velvet. ‘I was lost until I found you Mistral. You have given me reason to live a better life, the chance to be complete,’ he paused and smiled so beautifully that Mistral felt her heart skip a beat. ‘You gave me back my soul, and that is worth infinitely more than gold.’

  Mistral gazed wordlessly back at him, adrift in the liquid depths of his eyes.

  He laughed suddenly, the intensity of his expression melting into a mischievous look that reminded her instantly of Cain, ‘Wait, I have another surprise for you –’

  Mistral stared at the plate of bread and honey in his hands and laughed, ‘Phantom told you?’

  ‘He may have mentioned that you attempted to eat the Valley’s entire stock of honey whilst staying at their house.’

  ‘I’ll kill him,’ she muttered through a mouthful of bread.

  ‘I had no idea that you liked honey so much,’ he said in an amused voice, watching her demolish the plateful.

  ‘Neither did I,’ she admitted, looking at the empty plate regretfully. ‘Well, not until I got the Sight anyway, now I can’t seem to get enough of it. Like sleep too.’

  Fabian’s face abruptly creased into a worried expression, ‘Phantasm believes that you may be exhausting yourself by overexerting your gift so soon a
fter mastering it.’

  ‘Does he really?’ Mistral snorted. ‘That’s a bit rich coming from him! He’s nagged me senseless to achieve the damned thing for the last two years and now he wants me to take it easy?’

  ‘He’s concerned for you Mistral,’ Fabian admonished her, adding softly. ‘As am I. In fact,’ he paused and drew in a deep breath, ‘I would like you to reconsider your offer to work solely for Leo. Please hear me out Mistral,’ he said quickly when Mistral opened her mouth to argue. ‘Eximius is already taking advantage of Leo’s desire to ingratiate himself with the Council to further his bid to be the next Divinus. Your Contract schedule is totally unacceptable, yet Leo has agreed to it without a murmur! What they both fail to realise is that I will not simply stand back and allow them to place your health at risk with their over-ambitious plans!’

  Mistral sighed and placed the empty plate onto the floor. She didn’t want to get into the whole wife versus Seer argument again. ‘I’ve made my decision Fabian,’ she said firmly. ‘One year for Leo in return for my freedom … and the Ten Year Cull –’

  ‘Dragons!’ Fabian exclaimed, shaking his head in exasperation.

  Mistral smiled and tilted her head to kiss the underside of his jaw, ‘Yes, dragons.’

  Fabian sighed deeply, ‘The Ten Year Cull. I know it has a certain lure, but, must you go?’

  ‘Well.’ Mistral murmured, caressing the skin of his throat with her lips. ‘It is a once in a lifetime chance … but I would turn it down for you, on one condition–’

  ‘Oh yes?’ Fabian caught her face between his hands and looked down at her enquiringly.

  ‘Tell me honestly that you’ve never taken it before, and I won’t go, I swear,’ she raised an eyebrow, daring him to lie to her, already knowing the answer in his thoughts.

  He gave a defeated sigh, ‘Twice, actually.’

  ‘There you go then!’ she cried and sat up to look at him, her eyes glistening with excitement. ‘Tell me everything!’

  Fabian laughed at her enthusiasm and opened his arms, inviting her back into them. She sighed blissfully and sank against him, watching the sunlight sparkling on the snow-capped mountains while she listened to his velvet voice describing the Isle’s most feared creatures. Mistral smiled; she was finally complete. ‘How long before we have to leave?’ she asked suddenly.