Shadowed by Death

by Jane Beckstead

  than the outside, by leaps and bounds. Destroyed books lay

  everywhere, a table sat on its side, and a few bookshelves had

  tipped over.

  My eyes flicked past the tilted table—and stopped. A small My eyes flicked past the tilted table—and stopped. A smallBeckstead / Shadowed by Death / 304

  form moved on the floor, struggling to rise.

  “Ivan?” I hurried closer, kneeling by his side to help him

  to a sitting position, leaned against the wall. Blood trailed

  the side of his head, accentuating his chalk-white skin. His

  ankle sat at a funny angle. “What happened?”

  Where Jasper?

  My eyes widened. “Was he in here when your storm happened

  too? I didn’t see him.” I pushed to my feet, hunting between

  aisles of books—at least, until a loud thump and splash sounded,

  and I emerged to see Ivan slapping the slushy floor to get my

  attention.

  That lady who send you letters. She did this.

  “Did what? Do you mean Ingerman? Was she here?” She say. He shook his head and leaned it back against the

  wall, eyes closed, as if he didn’t have the strength to hold it

  up any longer. I did not see her face, but she said she that

  lady.

  I knelt by his side again, my knees surrounded by wet and

  muck, and spelled healing into his ankle and the cut on his

  head. Color returned to his cheeks and, after a moment, he

  lifted his head again.

  She take Jasper. She wanted Jasper. I tried to stop her

  with storm.

  “She took Papa?” I echoed, dismay ribboned through my

  words. “But why?”

  Ivan’s glance moved past me to the window. I turned to

  watch as the sopping curtains swayed with movement caused by no

  physical hand. A message appeared one letter at a time, scrawled

  in magic.

  If you want your father to live, find us. Otherwise he’ll

  be dead by morning.

  Ivan and I exchanged a horrified glance, and the words

  dissipated as though they’d never been there to begin with.

  # CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE “Friar’s bones. She took Papa. Why? Why would she—what is wrong with this woman?” I sank to a sitting position beside Ivan, heedless of the wet I now sat in.

  From the hallway, a familiar exclamation sounded. “Devil’s dawn, what—how—”

  I pushed up and hurried to the door to shove it open. “Where have you been?” I demanded as the master walked into view around the corner.

  He slowed as he took in the sight of me standing there in stocking feet with my wizard robes—which I had fallen asleep in— soaked and dripping. “I went to see my parents. Found the house in an uproar. Now I come back and find this place in even worse in an uproar. Now I come back and find this place in even worseBeckstead / Shadowed by Death / 306

  shape. Did you know Audra is back there sweeping snow out the front door?” I shivered and held the library door open. “We had a… situation. Ivan used his weather spells.”

  “You don’t say,” he said dryly. “Why?”

  I countered the question with one of my own. “The wizard door to your parents’ house is in the library. I can’t help but notice that you did not come from the library.”

  “I never said I went directly there.” He pushed past me. “I went to see them by way of Master Uphammer’s house. Valerie and I needed to see them together.”

  Together? I gazed after him, feeling as though I’d been punched in the gut. Then they really were betrothed. That was the sort of visit one took to discuss future plans.

  “My books,” he said, gazing around the library with a mixture of horror and bewilderment in his tone. “My collection is ruined.” Then his gaze moved past the books to Ivan, and he stepped closer to support Ivan into a chair.

  “You just missed Ingerman’s visit,” I informed him. “Apparently she took Papa, with promises to kill him if I don’t find her by morning.”

  He stopped and stared at me. “What?”

  She bad lady, Ivan gestured, summing up all that had happened very succinctly, I thought. He filled the master in on his side of things with the help of my translating.

  “And here I thought the chaos at my parents’ house was the worst thing that could happen.”

  My sharp gaze moved to the master. “Why? What happened at your parents’ house?”

  He tipped the tilted table back onto its legs. “Took them a few hours, but the Council figured out that the rogue magician at the Conclave today was Ingerman. That left Grandfather with some questions to be answered. Valerie and I arrived just after they’d taken him away.”

  “Oscar too?” Everything seemed to be going wrong at once. “What will they do to him for letting Ingerman go?”

  He shook his head. “It better be nothing, if they know what’s good for them. Terrible timing, too. I needed to talk to him.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “What am I saying? His well-being is much more important than my stupid problems.”

  Stupid problems? What problems?

  “I have to go.” I shivered, and began unbuttoning my wizard robes, which were just making me colder. “Papa’s in danger, and I don’t even know what time it is. How many hours do I have until morning? And will you look after Ivan?”

  “It’s nine,” the master said. “But don’t imagine you’re going. I can take care of this.”

  I go too, Ivan gestured.

  “He’s my father,” I said to the master, then swung my gaze to Ivan. “And don’t be stupid. You can’t come. You’ve just had a to Ivan. “And don’t be stupid. You can’t come. You’ve just had aBeckstead / Shadowed by Death / 308

  broken ankle.” Better since you fixed it. See? He flexed the joint and winced.

  “You’re staying here. Both of you.”

  Master Wendyn stepped to the door and called in two passing, dripping footmen. “Take Ivan up to his room and see that he’s looked after,” he instructed. “He’s had a shock and he’ll need caring for.”

  I am no invalid, Ivan gestured angrily, but the master and I ignored him, and the servants carried him out.

  I followed them down the hall, heading in the direction of the master’s study.

  “Where are you going?” Master Wendyn demanded behind me as I passed the staircase.

  “I’m going to need a scrying stick,” I explained.

  “You won’t need one, since you’re not going.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.” I released the sticking spell on the study door and pushed it open.

  “You’re not going,” Master Wendyn said, his voice flat and unyielding. “Stay here and look after Ivan. I’ll bring Jasper home.”

  I swiveled on him. “This is my father we’re talking about. He’s my problem. I’m not about to let you risk your life for him. Besides.” I lowered my voice and looked around before speaking. “It’s me Ingerman wants.”

  “Exactly why you shouldn’t go anywhere near her. It’s likely to be a trap of some sort.”

  “Seems to me like that’s a good reason for you not to go either.”

  He gave an exasperated sigh. “I’m the more experienced wizard here. It makes sense for me to go. You, less so.”

  My jaw tightened. “I’m going, and the longer we stand here arguing about it, the more likely that Papa wears out his welcome and Ingerman kills him for the sport of it.”

  He frowned at me, his dark eyes stormy. I could practically see him warring within himself. “Fine,” he said at last, his words clipped, anger seething off of him. He pushed past me into the room and pulled the scrying stick down off the wall, the one Oscar had given him. “Fine, then. Come. But first promise me that you won’t do anything heroic or stupid.”

  I snorted. “Do I strike you as the heroic type?”

/>   “Mostly you strike me as the headstrong type, but headstrong and heroic are two sides of the same coin.”

  I shook my head. “We’re using up valuable time arguing about this, when we have a limited amount of it to begin with. If you want to come, come. But let’s just go.”

  “Of course. We can leave.” Master Wendyn stepped around the desk and held the scrying stick out to me. “But you won’t get anywhere without this, and I’m not handing it over until you promise. Should we swear an oath on it?”

  “An oath?” I echoed. “Now you’re just being ridiculous. Almost as ridiculous as Papa. Give me that.” I reached for the scrying stick and he relinquished it. But then his fingers closed around my wrist and spun me around to the wall behind him. My shoulder bumped up against the bookcase and several curiosities knocked over with the movement, but he didn’t pay them any mind. The scrying stick clattered to the floor, and he planted one hand on either side of my head.

  “Promise me you won’t do anything heroic or stupid,” he said, his voice firm. “Or you’re not coming.”

  “That’s hardly fair—” I began.

  “Promise.”

  “Friar’s bones, you can be maddening! Why? Why does it matter?” I looked into his face, very near my own, and filled with as much frustration as mine. Was he afraid that I’d lose to Ingerman? That I’d cause him to be injured?

  He spoke quietly. “She already hurt you once today. I won’t let her to do it again.”

  “She won’t hurt me. It’s Papa I’m worried about.”

  “I have an idea what she’s capable of, and I don’t trust her. Just promise me that you’ll use caution, Avery.”

  Perhaps it was all in my head. But suddenly it seemed almost as though the master was worried about me. That he was trying to keep me from being hurt, more than anything. A great feeling of tenderness came over me. I looked at his dark, feeling of tenderness came over me. I looked at his dark,Beckstead / Shadowed by Death / 311

  serious eyes, too near my own, and had the silly urge to touch his face and smooth out the worried slant of his brows. My eyes fluttered to his lips.

  No. No, no, no. Totally and utterly wrong to even think of such a thing.

  I forced my eyes back to his. “I…I promise,” I said cautiously.

  “Good.” But he didn’t step back. Humor had lightened his gaze, and he tugged on a damp lock of hair that had straggled loose from the tie at the back of my head. “Before we leave, I recommend you at least fix your hair and put some shoes on. You look like a hoyden. I certainly never—”

  Two things happened then. One, I leaned forward and kissed him.

  And two, he didn’t move.

  Three beats of the heart passed, and I realized what I’d done. Horror shot me through, and I pulled away, an apology on the tip of my tongue—but his hand left the wall next to me and slipped to the back of my head, drawing me to him. The space closed between us again and his soft lips found mine, surprisingly gentle.

  Now I was the astonished one. I’d gone crazy. We’d both gone crazy. We must have, because here we stood, locked in an embrace. I breathed him out and breathed him in, and a space in my chest filled up with a feeling that was all Garrick Wendyn, a my chest filled up with a feeling that was all Garrick Wendyn, aBeckstead / Shadowed by Death / 312

  space I hadn’t even known was empty. Until, all at once, he seemed to become aware again. His hands moved to my shoulders and he pushed himself roughly away from me.

  “No. No, no, no. This can’t happen.” Agitation filled his voice, and he swiveled, his back to me.

  “I’m sorry,” I said immediately, my voice contrite. “It was my fault.”

  “No.” He turned back but didn’t meet my gaze. “Don’t. That can’t—we can’t—”

  “But why?” I almost wished I’d held the question in, it sounded so needy.

  His voice came out sounding harsh and angry. “It’s wrong.”

  “Oh.” I spoke dully as the truth hit me. “Valerie. I forgot.”

  “Valerie has nothing to do with this.”

  “Then don’t you—can’t you—do you care for me?”

  His eyes turned to my face as though pulled there, and then he frowned and turned away again. “It’s not a matter of caring for you or not!”

  “Because I care for you,” I rushed on, before I could stop myself. “I knew it when Ingerman attacked you, when you nearly died. I can’t lose you again. Please, don’t make me.”

  “Avery,” he said, his voice rough. “This isn’t the time. Your father…”

  I cleared my throat and turned away. “I know. I know. We have to go. But promise we can talk about this later.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  But he hadn’t said no, and I was satisfied with that answer for now. “Very well.” I bent down to retrieve the scrying stick and tucked my hair behind my ear. “I really am sorry.”

  He avoided my gaze. “You’re going to need some warmer clothes than that. I’ll give you five minutes to change before I leave without you.”

  “I can do it in three,” I said, slipping out the door.

  I’d lied to him, though. I wasn’t sorry I’d done it at all.

  ***

  I came down the staircase, shrugging into a heavy cloak to ward off the chill October air, when Mrs. Pitts turned from the door, admitting a guest. I stumbled to a stop when I recognized Orly.

  “Avery!” she cried, striding forward. She slowed as she looked around the front hall, where a decorative pillar still lay on its side and a slick layer of moisture covered everything. “What happened here?”

  “Long story,” I said, waving a hand. “How did you get here?”

  Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I built a wizard door to your front steps. I know it was rule-breaking, but any magic I do is rule-breaking, right, so what’s the difference?” “You have a point,” I said. “Why did you come?”

  “It’s all over the Conclave what happened today at the trial. First with you, then with Hammond Ecklebert.”

  “Oh. Did you come to check on me? I’m just fine. I’ve had a long rest.”

  “No. I mean, sure, I’m glad you’re all right, but that’s not why I’ve come. The Council figured out who it was.”

  “I heard,” I said. “Keturrah Ingerman.”

  “Oh.” She looked disappointed. “You already know?”

  I shrugged. “Actually, there’s more to it than that.” I cast a quick privacy spell to fill her in on all the details of the notes I’d been receiving.

  She gaped at me. “You’ve been corresponding with her?”

  “Until she got tired of my turning down her invitation to Belanok, and she kidnapped Papa. The master and I are on our way to try and find them.”

  “I suggest you get gone quickly then,” she said. “They’re summoning you to be examined in front of the Council.”

  “Bones,” I muttered. “I never thought of that. It’s too bad they didn’t come here an hour earlier. They might have caught her in the act of kidnapping Papa. If we don’t find them by morning, she says she’ll kill him.”

  “That sounds like a trap.”

  “Of course it is. She wants to take me back to Belanok with her.”

  “But why?”

  “I don’t know. Matthias Kurke tried to do the same thing, and the two must be related somehow.” At Orly’s concerned look I went on, “Don’t worry. I have no plans to go to Belanok. Just to rescue Papa. The master and I are about to leave.”

  Orly straightened. “Then I’m coming too.”

  “Er…no, Orly. That’s a bad idea.”

  “Why? You’ve said it yourself that I’m better at magic than you are in many ways.”

  “I’m not questioning your abilities. I’m questioning your sanity. You could be killed.”

  “No chance of that. I’m too quick.”

  I shook my head doubtfully. “I won’t let you risk it.” Bones, I sounded just like t
he master.

  “It’s not your choice to make. It’s mine.”

  I took in her determined expression, and finally relented. “Very well. If Master Wendyn says it’s all right.”

  “Is he in a good mood?”

  I bit my lip and thought of the interlude Master Wendyn and I had just shared. If only I had time to confide the whole thing to Orly, but it would have to wait until later. “I couldn’t say what his mood is,” I answered honestly.

  ***

  “Have you lost your mind?” Master Wendyn said, when I introduced Orly to him in the hall outside his study and introduced Orly to him in the hall outside his study andBeckstead / Shadowed by Death / 316

  announced she’d be coming with us to rescue Papa. But once Orly explained the goings-on at the Conclave and that guards would likely be at the Hall soon, he seemed a bit more willing.

  “We’re going to want to leave quickly in that case.” He turned toward the door.

  “You’re going to let me come?” Orly asked.

  He glanced back at her. “If you’re anything like Avery, telling you no won’t do me any good anyway. And I hate to say it, but we may need the help.” He rubbed his chin, looking troubled. “If anything happens to you…”

  “I can hold my own.” She lifted her head. “I’ve been practicing spells on my own for three years now.”

  I glanced at her in surprise. I hadn’t know that.

  “Right, but this isn’t rudimentary magic we’re talking about here.”

  Orly lifted her hand and tossed a spell into the air that rose and exploded almost like a firework, shaking the walls and dropping sparks to the floor. I covered my ears.

  Master Wendyn blinked in surprise. “Well, that one will come in handy, whatever it was.”

  “Just a spell I’ve been working on. I call it the falling star.”

  I looked around to see several servants had come to investigate the noise. I whispered to the master, “We might have to oblivion the servants when we get back.”

  “One thing at a time, Avery. One thing at a time.” He held out the scrying stick, uttered the spell, and followed its lead.

  ***

  The stick pulled us out the entry, across the dark meadow, and to the trees. Master Wendyn stopped there at the line of the forest, gazing up at the stars and gaging the pull of the stick.