‘Star Eclipse.’
Mistral hid a smile. Perfect. ‘What’s his temperament like?’
Gemma shrugged, her blue eyes suddenly veiled, ‘He’s got character.’
Mistral instantly grinned, ‘I’ll take him.’
They haggled briefly over the price to settle on a sum that would leave Mistral’s purse sadly depleted.
‘Good choice.’ Gemma smiled and held out her hand to shake Mistral’s.
‘I think so too.’ Mistral murmured, returning the strong grip of Gemma’s work-calloused hand.
Mistral counted out the silver coins from her purse and dropped them into Gemma’s open palm, pulling one extra out she held it up and gave Gemma a questioning look.
‘Could you deliver him? Only I’ve got a bit of a handful of a horse to ride back and I don’t think he’ll take too well to me leading a pony too.’
‘Of course.’ Gemma quickly took the extra coin. ‘Which village do you live in?’
‘Well, it’s not a village actually. It’s the Ri Valley.’
Gemma’s face instantly fell. Her blue eyes ran over Mistral, taking in the hilts of her daggers protruding from the tops of her boots and the tell-tale black clothing. ‘You’re a Ri warrior?’
Mistral smiled. Of all the unwanted labels that had ever been applied to her; apprentice, wife, Seer, Lady … that was one she was more than proud to have. ‘Yes I am.’
Gemma’s blue eyes clouded, ‘I’m sorry, but I can’t deliver him to the Valley ... you’ll have to take him today.’
‘Oh that’s a shame.’ Mistral sighed regretfully. ‘I’ll have to leave him then, only my firebrand really will kick him to pieces on the way back … and he’s such a nice pony –’
‘Firebrand?’ Gemma’s fingers closed over the silver coins in her palm, her other hand resting protectively against the pony’s neck. ‘Oh no, that would never do – ’
Mistral kept a poker face while she held her hand out pointedly for the money, ‘Like I said, it’s a shame.’
Gemma’s brow creased, the weight of the coins in her hand battling against her desire to never set foot back in the Valley, ‘Oh, alright then,’ she sighed in defeat as the need for the silver coins in her hand won. ‘Tomorrow?’
Mistral’s face suddenly went vague then she smiled, ‘Can you make it late afternoon?’
Gemma eyed her strangely and nodded.
‘See you tomorrow then!’ Mistral said brightly and gave her son’s new pony a pat before turning and walking back to find Clovis.
Clovis was waiting for her at the enclosure wearing a scowl and hanging on to the leadropes of six fidgeting mares.
‘Why d’you look so happy?’ he demanded grumpily.
‘Just bought a pony,’ she replied nonchalantly.
Clovis looked behind her expectantly, ‘Well either it’s damned small, or you’ve been ripped off, because I don’t see any pony!’
‘Don’t worry Clovis!’ Mistral laughed. ‘He’s being delivered tomorrow.’
Clovis raised both eyebrows at her, ‘Delivered now is it, Lady De Winter?’
Mistral shot him a black look, ‘Want a hand with those horses, or what?’
The Helping Hand of Fate
Monday morning was never a favourite time for the apprentices. They were usually suffering after a long Sunday spent in The Cloak and Dagger, but that particular Monday was even worse than usual for them. The gargillian hunt had been, in Fabian’s words “challenging” which meant nearly impossible to anyone with less skill and experience than him. He hadn’t said a lot more about it to Mistral, and his thoughts had revealed nothing, which was usual when Fabian wanted to avoid a matter, but the first years were looking considerably worse for wear, which made Mistral think it must have been a tougher hunt than he was letting on.
‘What is up with them today?’ Mistral demanded when one of the apprentices missed the target for the third time in a row, his arrow going wide and neatly striking one of the fence posts.
‘I think their confidence has been knocked by their performance yesterday.’ Fabian admitted with a sigh.
‘Was it that bad?’
‘Four are in the Infirmary.’
‘Sounds like it was a pretty good hunt then!’
Fabian gave her a dark look then strode over to correct the aim of the apprentice intent on decorating the Arena fence with more of his arrows.
By lunchtime even Fabian was growing exasperated by their continued failure to hit anything other than the fence and, in a fluke shot that secretly impressed Mistral, a sparrow that had made the mistake of flying over one of the targets.
‘Couldn’t hit a barn door at five paces!’ Mistral exclaimed to the twins over lunch in The Cloak. ‘We’re going to send them to the stables this afternoon to work for Clovis, I think even Fabian’s run out of patience today.’
‘Afternoon off then?’ Phantom asked.
Mistral shook her head, ‘There’s about twenty arrows scattered around the paddock that need retrieving, it’s a wonder they didn’t hit some of the damned horses!’
‘Too small.’ Phantom said. ‘And too challenging, horses tend to move.’
Mistral gave him a scathing look, ‘There was a time when you weren’t so hot with the bow, brother.’
‘Ah, but I am now.’ Phantom replied smugly. ‘And that gives me the right to be condescending.’
‘You were born with that right.’ Phantasm muttered under his breath, adding in a louder voice. ‘Are you and Mage De Winter still coming to eat at ours tonight?’
Mistral sighed, ‘By which you mean am I going to allow you to bribe me with food so that I’ll read Malachi again?’
Phantasm gave her his angel’s smile, ‘It’s roast beef.’
‘You know that I won’t always be so easily won over by food don’t you?’ Mistral scowled. ‘He will be born one day, and I won’t be ruled by my cravings anymore!’
‘Ah but then I can offer to babysit –’
Mistral swore under her breath, realising that for the foreseeable future the twins’ were going to be able to bend her to their will far too easily.
‘Please don’t swear Mistral, I’m sure my godson doesn’t want to hear that kind of language from his mother.’
Mistral gave Phantasm a disbelieving look and offered him a few choice words, finishing with a snapped, ‘And you can forget dinner! If you’re just going to nag me the whole time then I’m not coming!’
‘Of course we will be there, Phantasm, thank you for the offer.’ Fabian said smoothly and sat down to join them.
‘Where’ve you been?’ Mistral looked at him irritably. ‘Oh, don’t tell me I already know.’
‘I don’t.’ Phantom said quickly and looked at Fabian. ‘So please feel free to continue.’
‘Leo wants to replace Malachi in the Magnate. He’s drawn up a list of suitable names, and we were just going through them.’
‘Are you going to take it or not?’ Mistral demanded, still grumpy at being bossed by the twins.
Fabian smiled and held her gaze for a moment, his face thoughtful.
‘Good,’ she said.
‘I hate it when you two do this!’ Phantom muttered.
‘No, I am not.’ Fabian said, looking at Phantom calmly. ‘Although I was undecided until just now.’
‘Why ever not?’ Phantasm exclaimed. ‘You could completely reform the Ri! Bringing the Agents into line and tightening up on Council Contracts would make an excellent start, plus Magnate members extremely well-paid!’
‘I am not driven by ambition or money Phantasm.’ Fabian said quietly. ‘I feel my skills are more effectively employed helping those who seek the sanctuary of the Ri into becoming competent warriors.’
‘You are without question an excellent Training Captain, Mage De Winter, but surely you can see that with your connections at the Council – ’
‘My connections are not who I am.’ Fabian’s voice had dropped so low that it was barely above a whi
sper. In direct contrast to the softness of his voice, his face was granite hard.
‘Leave it brother.’ Mistral said quickly, noticing the warning signs Phantasm had apparently missed. ‘Fabian’s not the type to sit in endless meetings discussing budgets and other such riveting matters.’
‘No, I know Mage De Winter is no Master Casterton, which is just why he should seriously consider taking the role! Think of how much would be achieved with a real warrior sat at the table, and not some windbag with big ideas and a belly to match!’
‘Leo’s a real warrior too brother.’ Mistral pointed out sharply.
‘Oh no! Master Sphinx!’ Phantom abruptly leapt to his feet. ‘We’re meant to be with him this afternoon, five minutes ago to be precise! See you later –’
Mistral watched the twins run from the tavern then turned to Fabian, ‘I’m glad you didn’t take the role, I’m quite enjoying working with you. I don’t think I would take so easily to another Training Captain.’
‘Oh you would have become the Training Captain.’ Fabian replied evenly, then frowned. ‘But finding a Lieutenant to cope with you would be another matter entirely.’
‘I’d ask Grendel.’ Mistral said promptly. ‘He never says a lot and he’s scary as hell to look at. Perfect.’
Fabian smiled and rose to his feet, ‘Let’s give the first years the good news that they’re on mucking out detail this afternoon.’
‘You go.’ Mistral said, looking distractedly out of the window at the empty village square. ‘I’ll make a start on finding the arrows they scattered halfway across the Valley. In fact, I think I’ll fetch Prospero, he might be quicker at finding them than me.’
By the time Mistral had collected Prospero to begin hunting for the arrows Fabian had issued his instructions to the first years and joined her. They strolled hand-in-hand thought the long grass of the paddock, making no real effort to look for the arrows since Prospero was only too happy to play fetch, dropping a continual stream of half-chewed arrows at Mistral’s feet with a pleased expression on his face.
‘Good boy.’ Mistral patted him affectionately. ‘How many’s that now?’ she asked, handing Fabian another arrow.
‘Fourteen.’
Mistral shook her head, ‘Unbelievable,’ she muttered and glanced down the slope of the paddock towards the village square; it was nearly time.
‘Where are you?’ he murmured, tilting his head to regard her quizzically.
‘Oh, sorry, just thinking –’
Fabian frowned, ‘No Mistral, you were elsewhere.’
She turned to him, her expression guarded, ‘I would never lie to you Fabian, but can I ask you not to question me on this? It is just something and nothing, and it may well be exactly that, nothing, but I had to try –’
Fabian cut across her rambling in a hard voice, ‘What have you done Mistral?’
‘Bought our son a pony, and here he is!’ Mistral cried excitedly as a blonde haired figure rode into the village square leading a small black pony. ‘I’ll just go stable him, then I’ll be back, shouldn’t take long!’ She called over her shoulder, already walking quickly down towards the square, leaving Fabian watching her through narrowed eyes.
Mistral reached the village square to find Gemma stood holding her horse and the pony, looking around with a strange expression on her face. Studying the conflicting emotions in her aura while she strode towards her, Mistral could see sadness, regret, loss, and a surprising amount of yellow; happiness. Gemma had good memories of the Valley despite the way her relationship with Samson had ended.
‘Thank you for bringing him.’ Mistral said, slightly breathless from her hurried walk.
Gemma looked around curiously, ‘Doesn’t change, does it?’
‘What? The Valley?’ Mistral asked, looking around as though seeing the surrounding honey-coloured stone houses for the first time. ‘No I suppose it doesn’t, but then, that’s part of the appeal isn’t it? Everything changes, warriors come and go; lives pass, and pyres burn but this place is constant. It’s home to most of the warriors, a lot of them don’t have anywhere else to go, or anyone to go to.’
Gemma nodded, her blue eyes raking the houses again before finally coming to rest on Mistral. Taking in the swell of her body, a shadow crossed her face, reflecting an emotion too fleeting to register to the casual observer but Mistral saw clearly the flare of pale green in her aura.
‘Here’s your pony.’ Gemma said bluntly and held out the leadrope attached to Star Eclipse’s headcollar.
‘Er, no tack?’ Mistral asked quickly when Gemma turned to leave.
‘We didn’t agree tack in the price.’ Gemma turned back with a sharp look on her face.
‘Didn’t we?’ Mistral looked taken aback. ‘I could have sworn we did!’
‘No.’ Gemma said shortly. ‘However if you wish to return to market next weekend, I’m sure I can sell you something.’
‘Sell me something? I think you should give me something considering the exorbitant price I paid for this pony!’
‘The price was fair!’
‘No, it was over the odds and you know it!’ Mistral argued, but her eyes kept darting to look over Gemma’s shoulder.
‘I’m sorry you feel hard done to!’ Gemma replied stiffly. ‘Perhaps I should refund your money and take Star Eclipse back with me?’
‘Not necessary.’ Mistral smiled as several riders cantered into the square in a rattle of iron-shod hooves on cobbles. ‘Come and meet your godson’s new pony!’ she shouted to one of the dusty riders dismounting outside The Cloak and Dagger.
Mistral watched the dishevelled warrior striding towards her, looking as ever in need of a bath and a good meal but wearing a familiar roguish grin.
‘A pony? Damn it Mistral! I was going to buy him one! Why are you always so impatient –’ he broke off suddenly to stare with disbelieving eyes at the woman next to Mistral. ‘Gemma?’
Gemma smiled blandly at the warrior in front of her, believing him to have been a customer at some time, then her eyes widened, finally recognising the man behind the scarred, unshaven face, ‘Samson?’ Her smile faltered as her eyes travelled over the deep scars. ‘Is that really you?’
Samson looked into her shocked eyes and nodded, ‘I’m afraid so.’
‘What happened to you?’ She gasped, gazing in horror at his ravaged face.
He shrugged and offered her a lopsided smile, ‘A lifetime spent being a feckless wastrel.’
She stared at him for a moment longer then jerked round, quickly reaching up to pull herself into the saddle.
‘Wait!’ Samson sprang forward and rested a hand over hers, ‘Stay and have a drink with me!’
She turned to look at him with one foot in the stirrup, her expression doubtful, ‘I – I don’t think that’s a good idea.’
‘Just one drink.’ Samson offered her his gold-toothed grin. ‘I’ve just been paid –’
A smile touched the corners of her mouth; it was obviously an old joke between them.
‘Please?’ he added softly.
Gemma frowned at him for a long moment before she shook her head, ‘Oh, I must be insane,’ she muttered, taking her foot out of the stirrup.
‘No. I was insane, not you.’ Samson took the reins from her hands, passing them to Mistral without taking his eyes from Gemma’s.
Mistral watched them walking side by side across the square to The Cloak, their hands not quite touching.
‘Well, well, well.’ Phantom murmured, gliding softly to her side. ‘All your own work I take it?’
‘Oh, don’t start. I know that you all believe in letting destiny run its course –’
‘But you felt that in this case fate needed a helping hand did you?’ Phantasm asked, appearing on her other side to give her a reproving look.
‘Or a damned great kick up the backside in this case,’ said Phantom, watching Samson hold the tavern door open for Gemma. ‘Well, if she gets him to take a bath more often she’s got my vote.’
‘How did you do it Mistral?’ Phantasm asked. ‘You’ve never even met Gemma! How could you See her without having read her aura?’
‘That is something I would be interested to know too.’ Fabian said walking up with a bundle of chewed arrows under one arm and a half-impressed, half-exasperated look on his face.
Mistral looked down at her boots to avoid his searching look, uncomfortable at being forced to confess on spying on Samson’s private thoughts, ‘Um, well … I Saw so much of her in Samson’s mind that I felt like I knew her, and then I just let my mind sort of wander over the Isle listening for her thoughts, until I eventually heard her.’
‘Just like that?’
‘It wasn’t easy Phantom! It took me nearly two months to find her, and then I wasn’t sure what to do once I had!’
‘But you did find her Mistral.’ Fabian broke in quietly. ‘Without ever having met her, or read her aura. That’s quite an achievement in itself, but more than that, it clearly shows that your gift is growing in power.’
‘Oh!’ Mistral looked surprised. ‘I suppose it does! I didn’t think of it like that, I was just pleased to have finally found her!’
‘Was that why you were leaping up and down in your chair shouting “yes!” during the Isle’s most boring meeting?’ Phantom asked.
Mistral gave him a disparaging look, ‘I didn’t leap up and down brother, and I only said “yes” once! Stop making out that I’m some kind of freak!’
‘No need for that.’ Phantom replied promptly and took Gemma’s reins from her hands. ‘You do that all by yourself.’
‘Yes, just by hanging around with you two!’
Fabian watched them bicker all the way to the stableblock with Phantom leading Gemma’s horse and Mistral leading the pony.
‘She’s nearly as powerful as the Divinus was … already.’ Phantasm said quietly.
Fabian nodded, ‘And she has absolutely no idea of the depth of her ability.’
‘Let’s hope that others don’t either.’ Phantasm murmured.
Dinner at the twins’ house turned into a crowded affair with Xerxes, Brutus and Cain all turning up, full of stories of the Contract they’d just returned from and the news that Samson had been seen holding hands in The Cloak with a mysterious elven woman.
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