by M. Gregg Roe
It was the area where they had been attacked by wolves on what Audrey now thought of as her first adventure. Just after dawn, it was so cold that she could see her breath. She wasn’t really dressed for the weather, but she wouldn’t be there for long.
She soon spotted a good target. The oak tree had been stricken by some kind of disease, darkening the bark and warping the few leaves it had left. Destroying it would be beneficial, preventing the disease from spreading.
Audrey positioned herself ten yards from the tree, then held out her right arm with the index finger pointing at the trunk. “Emeraldine Lance!” she yelled.
Even expecting it, Audrey was startled. For just over a second, a line of blazing green had connected the end of her finger to the tree. There was now a sizable hole in the trunk, probably big enough to stick her arm through. But that wasn’t all. Green fire was still burning within the hole and scorching its way down the trunk. And she knew it would keep burning for some time. According to the ring the flame would even burn underwater.
All Eyes of Andoran had been skilled spell-casters, but this was a unique ability that they had been granted, one that drew its power from the Realm as a whole, making it effectively inexhaustible. An unholy union of acid and flame, emeraldine both burned and clung. Medea had said that Josara routinely hurled it at her opponents’ faces. That would have been a terrible way to die. Audrey had no plans to ever use it in that fashion, but she needed to understand what it was capable of.
Audrey squared her shoulders and concentrated. “Emeraldine Globe!”
It was slower this time. A ball of scintillating green appeared well in front of her and then steadily grew until it nearly touched the ground. Then it shot forward and struck the tree. The trunk dissolved almost instantly, and the tree disintegrated into a mass of burning branches. Audrey watched long enough to be certain that the fire wasn’t going to spread.
Back home in her cottage, she picked up Benson and sat down on her bed with him on her lap. He complained briefly but then settled down and began to purr. She stroked his soft fur gently and tried to relax.
“I never wanted this,” she said to the cat. “The crystalloids tricked me. They knew it wasn’t just a ring of teleportation. They used me.”
Audrey sighed and changed to scratching Benson behind the ears. “But I have my mother back. And Karin. And I can visit them whenever I want. I’d take you to see them, but they’re kind of scary-looking now. And they don’t have laps.”
After he made a complaining noise, Audrey removed her hands. Benson climbed off her lap but then laid down next to her, pressing against her right thigh. It might be affection, or it might simply be that she was warm. Either way it was nice.
“I’m not going to be like Josara,” she announced. “I’m only going to use my power for good. I’m the Realm’s guardian, and that’s what I’m going to do. Guard, I mean. What do you think?”
Benson didn’t answer, but she hadn’t expected him to. After all, he was just a cat.
40
‡ Zig ‡
Clarissa’s expression as she handed him the report made it clear that her systematic testing had been successful, but Celebern was surprised at just how unequivocal the results were. He had thought it might require several trials to produce conclusive data. The four subjects who had taken the medication, used AP powder, and received massages with the special lotion had all shown marked improvement, far more than any of the others. Whether or not they had taken the medicated bath appeared to make no difference.
“Congratulations,” he said to his smiling assistant. “We have a cure.”
Her smile began to fade. “You didn’t read far enough. We had everyone stop after the initial phase, and they all started getting worse. The proper term is palliative. It just makes the problem more livable, not cures it. And we still haven’t tested it on males.”
“I see.” He had noticed that Tia no longer seemed to be improving. He tapped the report. “What are your conclusions?”
Clarissa leaned forward. “The massage component requires more testing. Is it the physical manipulation, or is the lotion alone enough? Maybe the lotion’s ingredients can simply be added to the medication. We need to investigate that next, but …”
“Yes?” Her frown had returned.
“Devan buys the lotion from a man who makes it in his home. Omar is old, unfriendly, and incredibly secretive. And he apparently hates Novox. He slammed the door in my face when I mentioned where I worked.”
Subterfuge was clearly called for, but Clarissa would never approve. And Tia probably wouldn’t either. “What do you suggest?”
“Devan explained why we need so much of the lotion and need to know what’s in it. Omar is willing to cooperate, but only if you resign from the city council.”
Celebern shrugged. “Then I will.”
Clarissa sat for quite a while, staring in disbelief. “But why?” she finally exclaimed. “You told me how hard you worked to get on the council.”
“Let us just say that the job failed to meet my expectations.” The meetings were seldom interesting, and he was tired of arguing with the others, especially Ermizad.
She still looked skeptical, so he continued. “Clarissa, my situation has changed. I am wholly in control of Novox for the first time. I have a wife that I am devoted to. And, whether you like it or not, I have a step-daughter that I am proud of.”
Clarissa rose to her feet scowling. “When are you resigning?”
“I will inform Ermizad of my intentions today, but remain on the council until the end of the month in order to allow time to locate a suitable replacement.” Actually, he expected her to simply appoint Piran, someone else that Celebern really didn’t care for.
“I’ll tell Devan.” She half-smiled. “We’re going out to dinner tonight.”
He already knew about that but pretended to be surprised. “Well, then have a good time.”
He would never admit it publicly, but he had actually been dissatisfied for some time. His thirst for power had blinded him to the reality that council members had little of it. They were simply there to advise Ermizad, and she frequently ignored their advice. Ermizad was the one truly in charge of the Witch’s City, and she never let anyone forget it.
No, Novox was all he needed now. The expansion into Zardis was going to require patience, guile, and a certain amount of unlawful activity. He looked forward to overseeing the operation.
It was all her fault. Marryn had assumed that the vines that grew to the south of the Witch’s City were identical to the vines that grew east of Rohoville. They seemed the same. The fibers produced from them looked right. The finished cloth had the same softness and degree of elasticity. But the finished items of clothing—various types of underwear—simply weren’t durable. Stretch them too many times and they shredded. It was a disaster.
Sitting in front of her desk was the person who had discovered the problem after Marryn gave her some of the very first items completed. But Louisa hadn’t been angry, simply concerned. And she looked composed as she leafed through the financial information that Marryn had given her.
Something else had broken after being stretched too many times. This time it really was over between her and Denis. He was already seeing someone else, but Marryn had decided to take a break and focus on running Alluring Apparel. Or maybe she would just be presiding over its demise.
Louisa straightened the papers and then placed them neatly atop the desk. She was dressed elegantly, but that was the norm for her. Even Polly, currently out exploring the building, had shown up in a frilly pink dress. Marryn’s simple clothes were wrinkled, and there was a brown stain on her shirt from eating her lunch too sloppily.
“It is merely a setback,” said Louisa, with a smile identical to her daughter’s. “Do you know how long it took Jozef to establish his construction business? Nearly four years. And he spent another three repaying the loans he had taken from my parents and others. He made some foolish
mistakes, but his investors continued to have faith in him.”
And now Louisa’s ex-husband had the largest construction firm in the city. “Thank you for saying that, but the underwear division was supposed to bring in most of the revenue. Instead, it’s completely eating up our profits.”
Louisa waved a hand casually. “The other three divisions are all delivering in excess of your projections. How many Demon Dresses do we have on order?”
“Ten.” Aliva would be busy for months. “You’re right, the other divisions are going well. That’s why we hired two more people to help Hazel. But what are we going to do about this?”
“Several things.” Louisa broke into a wide smile. “First, we must learn how to distinguish between the two types of vine.”
Marryn shook her head. “That’s done already. I showed them to my mother, and she instantly pointed out several small differences between them.” Medea had been trained in plant identification in her youth.
“Then the next step is to conduct surveys. We know that it grows near Rohoville, but it may grow in other areas. Maybe the proper type can be deliberately seeded near here. Perhaps we should hire your mother to help us.”
“I know someone even better to ask.” Jethro had been trained as a druid, and he was living back home in Rohoville at the moment. “I’ll look into it.”
Louisa nodded. “In the mean time, I believe that we should simply adapt the underwear designs so that we may employ softened cotton instead. Selling them will be a way to test the market.”
Marryn thought it over. Most of the designs could still be used, and they were unusual. The bright colors they were planning also needed to be tested.
“I’ll talk to Hazel about starting that. It’s a good suggestion.”
“You are doing just fine, Marryn. And you may come to me anytime for additional funding. Or just to talk. I believe in you.”
“Thank you.” The unexpected compliment gave her a warm feeling inside. “And congratulations on your new job, Louisa.” Her mother had only told her about it that morning.
“It was an unexpected honor. I shall endeavor to serve this city well. And Polly will be able to play with Ermiana while we are meeting. Fare well, Marryn.”
“Thank you, Louisa.”
After seeing the woman out of the office, Marryn sat back down behind her desk. She had been planning to just give up on the special fabric, but now she felt revitalized. It might take years, but her business would succeed. She was certain of it.
Cinda was in a daze as she stared out the large window that provided a lovely view of the landscaping in front of the building. The flowers were mostly gone, but the ground was strewn with orange and yellow leaves. She watched as a squirrel raced up the trunk of a large elm and then disappeared among the branches.
At first, she had thought it must be a jest on her mother’s part, but it was true. Louisa was going to be a member of the Witch’s City Council. And perhaps it wasn’t an unreasonable choice. Louisa had managed their estate competently, including overseeing the servants and dealing with financial matters. It was the role for which the woman had been trained from childhood as had Cinda herself. In a way, the city was not unlike a giant estate.
There were parallels. Increasingly, Cinda found herself in meetings with Lilina and Kora (with Brigitt quietly taking notes). In was a reflection of the fact that no one person could replace Aurelia. The woman had basically run the business she had created alone, rarely consulting anyone else. Kora was nominally in charge now, but she both sought out and listened to advice. So in a way, Cinda was now a member of the Desires Council.
Cinda looked over as Kora strode into the common area, nimbly weaving her way through the current arrangement of furniture. Initially hesitant, she now clearly relished her new job. Part of that was probably due to the opportunity to play Sparrow, a game that nearly all courtesans played to pass the time. There was actually a game going on at present near the fireplace.
“Here,” said Kora, thrusting out several sheets of paper that were in Brigitt’s handwriting.
Cinda took them and began to read. Meanwhile, Kora headed over to observe the game. She had expected another report, but this was something quite different. It was written expressly for her, and it was an offer. Cinda quickly scanned all three pages, then focused on the pertinent parts. She was still reading when Kora returned and seated herself nearby.
“Is this a form of retribution?” asked Cinda, holding up the papers.
Kora laughed. “Of course not. I’m grateful that you suggested I consider running this place. I really enjoy it.”
“You wish for me to remain here for two additional years past what I originally contracted for? That is not in my plans,” she added, then realized it was just what Kora had once said. And from her expression, Kora realized that as well.
“Just consider it,” Kora said. “I knew there was no point in offering you more money, so I came up with other incentives.”
Cinda returned to perusing the offer. There were several incentives, and they would start at the beginning of her final year, now only about a month away. She would have more say in selecting clients and more time off. But those were minor compared to the prospect of better lodgings. There was an apartment of sorts in the upper northeast corner of the building. Aurelia had lived there during the early years when the cost of the new building had nearly bankrupted the business. Afterward, it had occasionally been used for guest housing, but now it was in a sad state of neglect. They were offering to refurbish it, buy all new furniture, and decorate it to her specifications. It would give Cinda her own bathroom and even a small kitchen.
“I must think on this,” said Cinda finally.
Kora sprang to her feet. “Take your time, but we’re not hiring any workmen unless you accept.” She walked away smiling.
After dropping off the papers in her room, Cinda went out for a walk. Even though the West Lake was closer, she elected to visit the North Lake. It tended to attract numerous ducks and geese, which she enjoyed observing.
Niels was still insistent that she take possession of his house when her contract expired, but she wanted for the man to stay there as long as possible. Accepting the offer would delay the issue by two years. That was definitely appealing.
Two more years as a prostitute was less appealing, but what did it really matter at this point? She had already engaged in more copulation than many people did in a lifetime. Truth be told, providing pleasure to others gave her a sense of accomplishment. Their enjoyment often became her own.
The final point to ponder was that she really did need additional time to map out her future career path. She needed to refine her vocal and musical skills. Ultimately, she would need to locate others with similar inclinations. A traveling troupe of entertainers was more appealing than trying to go out on her own.
When Cinda informed her mother of her decision, Louisa simply laughed and then hugged her.
After one last look around the rooms that had been her family’s home for so long, Medea placed her key on the dining table and then departed, leaving the door ajar. It would soon be someone else’s home, maybe even whoever was going to replace Daragrim when he left the council at the end of the year. And tomorrow would be the first meeting with Louisa replacing Celebern. That was going to be strange.
Medea quickly made her way to the front entrance of the Witch’s Castle, a journey she had made countless times and could have made blindfolded. After smiling at the two guards, she walked out into the plaza where the daily market was winding down. A gust of cold air caused her to fasten her cloak and pull up the hood. Winter was only a month away.
She had known the three of them would eventually move out, but not like this. After Gabriel moved in with Kora, she had finally given in to Tobias’s offer to move in with him. Tobias had told Marryn she was welcome to stay in his spare bedroom, but the girl had other ideas. She was now living in smaller living quarters in the castle and paying not
hing because Medea remained on the council. It gave her daughter independence without sacrificing security. She and her ex-husband both approved of Marryn’s choice.
“Medea!”
She stopped and waited for Carlinda to catch up. The woman had a distinctive voice, especially we she raised it.
“I’ve just come from a meeting with Ermizad,” said Carlinda as she came alongside. “Where are you heading?”
“To my new home.”
“Then I’ll walk with you. I need to stop at Witch’s City Clothing, and I want to ask you about your old home.”
“Why?” She couldn’t imagine why the woman would be interested.
Carlinda laughed. Her blond hair was in a thick braid, so it wasn’t being blown around by the wind. “I have just agreed to replace Daragrim on the council. That entitles me and my family to free housing in the castle.”
The news made Medea laugh. “I still think of myself as the new one, but soon I’ll be the senior councilor.”
“Before Ermizad came to power, there hadn’t even been a female councilor. Now it will be all women.”
“There still hasn’t been a female guard captain,” pointed out Medea, then glanced at Carlinda to see how she would react.
“Only because Eomera won’t take the position.”
That was true. Eomera liked to work behind the scenes, and she probably found it easier to manipulate a male captain. In many respects, Eomera was the one in charge.
After they had joined the throngs on South Street, Carlinda said, “Tell me about your former home. I’ve been there, of course, but that’s not the same as living there for years.”
Medea gave it some thought before replying. “It’s almost always damp and musty, but you get used to it. Because of all the stone, it never gets all that hot or cold. If you don’t feel like eating, you can always get something from the castle kitchen.” She was going to miss that.