For a moment he just sat there, like a man waiting for the punch line of a joke. Then the full impact of the sentence sank in, and his jaw dropped. "You…made Jward…an island," he repeated slowly, as if by repeating the words he was hoping they'd make better sense.
The matron sitting next to me fumbled her wine glass, head snapping around so she could stare at me in slack jawed surprise.
Aw nuts! This was going to blow my already ridiculous reputation out of proportion. I could just see it now. Still, I tried to scale down the image that was in their heads. "The land was already breaking apart," I explained earnestly. "All I really had to do was hammer it in a few places to make it split entirely."
"Of course while he was 'hammering', he had to scry at the same time so he didn't hit the wrong spot," Chatta added darkly. "It took hours and drained him badly."
I sighed, put upon. I had scared her by collapsing so suddenly, right after I'd made Jward an island. Apparently she wasn't over that yet. "Worry-wart," I told her firmly.
"Insensitive idiot," she muttered back.
I opened my mouth to add another insult, thought about where I was sitting and who was probably listening in, and reconsidered. "Do you really want to get into an insult war right now?"
Chatta's eyes darted around her, made the same considerations that I had, and blushed slightly. "Er…no."
"Wise of you," her father drawled sardonically. "Magus, tell me—why didn't you have help during all of this?"
"On the contrary, Lon, I had a great deal of help," I hastened to assure him. "While I was dealing with the land, three other Wizards and your daughter had to deal with the city and all of its inhabitants. That's no easy task."
"I understand that," he said patiently. "But why didn't someone help you with the earth part of it as well?"
"No one could," Chatta stated in a resigned voice. "Trust me, Da; blending powers with a Mage is not easy. I've worked with Garth many times. I've seen what he's capable of. I would have only gotten in his way if I'd tried to help."
"You did all the things that I couldn't do," I reminded her, uneasy that she was undermining her own abilities.
She waved this away in irritation. "I know that, Garth. That's not what I'm saying. I'm just saying that a Witch's or Wizard's power doesn't lend itself to the kind of magic that you worked. It wouldn't have helped you."
That part was true. Unfortunately.
I was saved from replying to that by the ching of a silver bell, announcing that we could eat. I dug into my food happily—and cautiously. I was still in a formal setting, after all. And I made sure to use Chahiran table manners and not Hainian—I wanted Chatta and her father to see for themselves that there were differences.
Dinner was relaxing after that, filled with easy conversation and excellent food. By the time that I called it quits, I felt so full that I wasn't sure if I could walk to my room. Maybe Chatta would be kind enough to put a lightening spell on me and float me out of the door.
I parted ways with the Delhearts at the door of the dining room, going to my own room. And if anyone interrupted my well deserved sleep tonight, I'd fuse their bodies with the earth, so that there wouldn’t even be a body to find!
Night was already in the room by the time that I got there. I'd had a special mattress made for him, and it was in a corner of my bedchamber. I could hear him snoring from the doorway, and that’s saying something, considering that I was standing in the small sitting room, almost twenty feet away from him. Stifling a yawn, I shucked the aggravating robes that I had been forced to wear tonight, and slipped into loose pants and a cotton shirt to sleep in.
A soft knock came at the door. Frowning, I went to see who was knocking on my door so late at night. I was irritated enough to follow through on my threat, but the more charitable part of me refrained from doing anything until I at least saw who it was. It had better not be Haben with an assignment for me.
Opening the door, I looked at my late night visitor—and tensed.
It wasn't Haben.
It was Sven Delheart.
Actually, Haben isn't so bad. I see that now. It's all a matter of perspective.
I could hardly leave the man on my doorstep, no matter how much I wished I could. If he were here to see me, alone, then it was going to be…a difficult conversation, to put it mildly. I stepped back, giving him room to enter. "Come in, Lon."
He did so with an expression so neutral that I couldn't discern what purpose had sent him here. "Forgive the late intrusion, Magus, but I wanted to speak to you without my daughter's interference."
I briefly wished that I hadn't changed out of my robes. I wanted to be properly dressed when facing this man, just for the psychological edge. I could hardly scramble back into clothing now; that would make me look even more ridiculous than I felt. "Be seated, please."
He took a chair, and I took the one opposite, feeling like we were on either side of a battlefield. I relaxed into the seat, loosely clasping my hands over my stomach and acting as if I were completely comfortable. "What did you wish to discuss?"
Delheart wasn't quite as relaxed, as a fine strain of tension was visible in the line of his shoulders. When he spoke, it was with great care for which words he used. "Chatta has spoken about you many times, as I'm sure you are aware."
I nodded patiently. He'd get to the point, eventually.
"The first trip that she went on with you was…a bit of a concern for me, truthfully. It is not completely acceptable for a young, unmarried woman to be in the company of two other unmarried young men. However, the circumstances were such that I felt it unnecessary to worry. This last trip that she took with you, however, is another matter. The two of you were alone for sometimes days at a time."
I saw what he was getting at. No chaperone. Night was with us the whole time, of course, but no one would really count Night as a neutral third party. As my Nreesce, he was considered to be my familiar—as such, he was assumed to be always on my side. This worked in my favor most of the time (as by law he could not swear against me or be forced to act against me) but in these situations his guaranteed prejudice didn’t help.
I wanted to point out that Chatta would have hexed me without compunction if I had tried something on her—but that wouldn’t address Delheart’s concern. I wasn't personally offended by this. If I were Chatta's father, I'd be acting the same way. So I chose to address the issue in a different way. "You know that nothing happened." I made it a statement of fact.
His lips twitched slightly. "What makes you say that?"
"If I thought that Chatta had been taken advantage of, I wouldn't be calmly discussing it," I pointed out to him dryly.
He smiled ruefully, nodding. "Very true. And she's told me that you've come to her defense before."
I suppose my altercation with Kartal could be taken in that light.
"And that you've warned men off as well," Delheart added with a thoughtful expression on his face.
I froze in my seat, eyes flying up to meet his. "What do you mean?"
"She told me that a captain in Jward's City Guard was trying to pry into your relationship with her, and you warned him off." His eyebrows rose in challenge. "Is this in error?"
If I ever see Landis again, I'll strangle him. That brat! He must have told Chatta what I said. I can't imagine how she'd know otherwise. "No," I admitted reluctantly.
With that word alone, I knew how much I was admitting. Chatta had probably been amused by all of this, and told her father the way anyone would tell a funny experience. I don't think she fully realized just how much that story would tell. I looked at her father, and we both understood exactly what my warning had signified. Men only acted to protect a woman if the woman was important. I would not have said anything to Landis if Chatta was just a friend.
And Delheart knew it.
I blew out a low breath. By all good magic, this was awkward. The only way to deal with this was openly, and with large amounts of candor. "Delheart, it must be
obvious to you that Chatta is very dear to me."
His eyes sharpened, studying, weighing. "You will admit that?"
"It would be an insult to her if I could not," I replied quietly.
"…true." The admission eased some of the worry from his stance, and he relaxed a fraction. "Rhebengarthen, I know that Guin would not trust you as much as he does unless you had done something to prove yourself as an honorable man. I am willing to trust his judgment, and my daughter's. However, I do not want you traveling with my daughter alone again."
I shook my head firmly. "I cannot promise that. I often encounter problems where I require her help. Situations will probably arise in the future when I'll need to work with her again. Even you cannot dictate otherwise."
He wasn't happy, but he opened a hand, conceding the point. "Is there any way that you can at least bring one other person in with you?"
I rubbed both temples, trying to think. "I'm not sure. I don't always have control over such matters. We are always short on magicians, as I'm sure you know." Chahiran culture approached the problem differently. Instead of sending along a third person, we often made the man swear an oath to protect the woman in all ways until she was returned to her family. I wasn't sure if he would take that option, however. "Sir," I ventured, "in my country there is an oath that we use in instances likes this. I would swear to protect Chatta in every way possible if ever we are alone and her honor and safety depends on me. Would you accept such an oath?" So you can stop worrying and I can get some decent sleep?
He sat there for a long moment, thinking that over. Then he nodded once, decisively. "Yes. From you, I would accept such an oath."
Well. That was unexpected. Rather flattering, though. "Very well. On my blood, on my honor, and by the name of my family, I swear to you that my life will be forfeit before I allow any harm to befall her. Sven Delheart, father to L-Chattamoinita Delheart, will you accept this oath for your daughter's protection?" I extended a hand to him.
Delheart's eyes were so wide they almost seemed to consume his face, and he was having trouble getting his jaw back into its socket. "Rhebengarthen, if I understand Chahiran culture right, you just sold me your life if my daughter is ever hurt in your presence," he choked out.
"Yes, I did," I answered softly. "Will you accept the oath?"
His hand was shaking slightly as he accepted my hand, but his grip was firm. "I will."
I gripped back for a moment, smiling, then I let go and relaxed back into my chair. "Are there any other concerns that you want to address?"
He was still a little dazed. "Ah…no. I think that oath covers everything."
It was meant to.
"I should probably let you get to sleep." He stood, turning toward the door. I rose with him, walking forward a bit to see him properly out.
When the door was open, he turned to look back at me. "You don't do anything by halfway measures, do you?"
"Not when it's this important," I agreed equably.
"Hmm." He gave me a once-over, this time with a healthy dose of suspicion. "I have the feeling I was outmaneuvered, Rhebengarthen, but I don't know how."
I smiled serenely. I had just gained tacit permission to travel anywhere I wished with Chatta, and he didn't have room to complain. He'll undoubtedly realize this later. I promised myself then and there that I wouldn't gloat about it.
Much.
His suspicion grew at my innocent expression. I couldn't imagine why. With one last look at me, he took his leave.
I took great care in locking the door behind him, resolving to ignore all other knocks for the rest of the night. Then I tumbled into bed and wriggled around to get completely comfortable.
I don't remember anything after that.
Chapter Twenty-One: Family
It was nice to finally be out of Hain. I hadn't realized just how much I'd missed cool weather until this morning when we'd officially crossed the border into Chahir.
The month before had flown by. I had been busy teaching language and culture to Hainians, spending what free time I could scrounge up with Trev'nor, Hevencoran and Hevenreien; especially the two siblings. Hevencoran was improving rapidly with her abilities, so much so that I didn't expect her to be in the school for more than another two months. Roughly two weeks ago, I granted Hevenreien’s request, and brought him into the clan of the Jaunten. He was coping with the changes quite well, over all. He had been torn between accompanying us, with the royal party, into Chahir, or remaining with his sister. I had convinced him to stay after a little persuasion. Hevencoran didn't have a good grasp of Hainish yet, and she wasn't really comfortable in Del'Hain. She still needed her brother's support, to help smooth her transition.
We had been on the road to Chahir for four days now. A party of over a hundred people moved much slower than a single person, I've discovered. I had crossed this same distance in a little over three days, and I had been on foot most of the time.
I was near the front part of the caravan, since I knew Chahir, and could detect it when people were nearby. Any Chahiran bandit crazy enough to attack a royal caravan (which contained several highly trained Witches and Wizards, not to mention the formidable Jaunten fighters) got what they deserved. I still turned all of my heightened senses outward, constantly sweeping for any sign of trouble. Even with the periodic scans every couple of minutes, I found that left me with plenty of time to think, and reflect, on the course of events since I last passed this way.
And thinking wasn't what I wanted to do at the moment.
When we had started out of Del'Hain, a tempting notion had started teasing at my mind. Tobadorage, my home town, was near the capitol. It would be easy to detour and visit my family. I'd made the mistake of mentioning this idea to Chatta, and she was all for it. She'd even helped me plan on how to sneak in and out of the city. But I wasn't sure it was wise. Any connection to me, even now, might still put them in jeopardy.
I felt equal parts of anticipation and anxiety. I was closer to my family now than I had been in a year. Did I dare to go and see them?
Chatta came up beside me. Without turning I knew that she was studying me closely. Did she realize that I was second-guessing myself?
“Garth, you need to go see them.”
Apparently she did.
“I am King Guin’s Mage, and as such am diplomatically immune to Chahiran law.” Turning slightly in the saddle I met her eyes, not bothering to hide my concern. “But my family has no such protection. I’m not even sure if it's wise to give my true name here.”
For a long moment she just looked at me, the wheels obviously turning in her head. “Come with me,” she ordered firmly.
Confused, I rode back with her to the middle of the caravan. I had no idea what she was planning, but my suspicions mounted when she came around to ride at King Guin’s side.
The King was giving us a questioning look, one eyebrow quirked.
“Majesty,” Chatta said with quiet authority, “there is a situation that needs to be addressed.”
It suddenly hit me what she was planning and I growled in warning, “Chatta.”
She shot me a look that clearly said "shut up!" and continued as if I hadn’t interrupted. “Garth’s family is still in Chahir and he is afraid for their safety. I request your leave to go and collect them.”
“You wish for me to give them sanctuary, I take it,” Guin stated slowly, obviously thinking the idea over.
My stomach instantly tied itself into knots. My family’s safety depended entirely on this man’s generosity and willingness to accept responsibility. I knew him to be a good man, but he was also the King—he could not jeopardize his country for the sake of one family, even mine.
“Garth, why am I only hearing about this now?” he asked quietly.
“I’m not even sure if they are still—“ I swallowed hard, the words lodging in my throat. “Chahir is not tolerant of magic, sire. I am sure my hasty departure cast suspicions on my family.”
“You�
�re afraid they’ve already been imprisoned,” he stated with grim understanding.
Or worse, but I didn’t even want to think that, much less say it. “If they are still free, I risk endangering their safety by attempting to contact them.”
“Or even by using your full name,” Guin said thoughtfully.
I nodded once, too tense with worry to say much.
A slow smile took over Guin’s face, and it was a smile full of mischief. “Garth, you are one of the most loyal retainers that I have. I cannot ignore that service and devotion.”
It took a moment for his full meaning to penetrate, and then another for it to sink in. I’m fairly sure I was gaping at him like a beached fish. “You mean—”
“Go, Garth.” He was laughing now, smile stretched from ear to ear. “Go get your family.”
He didn’t need to tell me twice. With a nod of thanks, I wheeled Night around.
“Garth, wait!”
I paused at Chatta’s request and looked back. Every fiber of my being demanded that I go and go now, but I made myself sit still.
Chatta tossed something to me, which I caught easily. It was a pin with a small oval mirror dangling from it. First glance said it was just a simple piece of jewelry, but I could feel magic in it. I gave her a glance askance.
“If you need help, touch the mirror and say my name. I have its twin,” she explained simply.
Chatta really is an excellent friend. “Thank you,” I whispered.
“I’ll expect you at the Palace by dawn. Call me so I can let you into the gates. Good luck,” she said softly with a warm light in her eyes.
Clutching the pin tightly, I tapped my heels to Night’s flanks. He leapt forward, muscles bunching between my legs.
“Going to your family’s house?” he inquired eagerly.
“Let’s hope they’re still there,” I whispered.
~*~
It was nearly twilight when I finally reached my parent’s home. I felt several different bodies of men—the city guard on their nightly rounds, probably. I evaded them with ease, drawing up the hood of my cloak to cover my hair. Chahir was the birthplace of the Jaunten. I could not guarantee that no one would recognize the significance of white hair on a young man.
Jaunten (Advent Mage Cycle) Page 27