She didn’t believe in demons, the Guardians who protected them against the demons, or even the Lord God Almighty, but she could set aside her lack of faith to harness the power of religion. For too long, religious belief had terrified her. Now, she planned to use it to the fullest extent of her abilities.
She sat across from Rainier in her carriage. He stretched his long legs across the small space between them, sitting crosswise to give himself the maximum space possible. She, regrettably, was in her best traveling attire and was laced up tighter than a winter roast over the spit.
“Why are you grinning?” Rainier asked her.
“I was thinking about my visit to the Bishop of Orsini this morning.” That pompous fool had the nerve to talk down to her. He came to regret it very quickly.
“Be careful with him. He’s not as toothless as he seems,” Stanton cautioned.
“I know his brother is a cardinal.” Allegra snorted. “You should have heard him, Captain. At one point, he interrupted me and said, ‘Actually, my good lady, that’s not the best way to educate mages. Here’s a fun fact for you.’ And then went off on this patronizing tangent about mage education and why poor women, in particular, shouldn’t have their heads filled with literature and mathematics since it would give them improper views of their futures.”
Rainier snickered. “He is a bit of an ass.”
“Just a bit? He didn’t realize I was a mage! This entire time, and we’ve corresponded back and forth several times over the last year, and he had no idea. Despite the fact that it was in my very first letter to him, but of course men like him know everything. So I laid into him, right there, in front of everyone. I demanded he reinstitute the poor school. So then he says he had to shut the school down because there were no funds.”
“I thought you had offered him one hundred gold sovereigns of your own money?”
“Indeed, I had. So here he was trying to impress this room of bishops and a couple of cardinals, and I destroyed him.” Allegra smiled. “I can see now why they say power is addictive.”
“I’m pleased you’re enjoying your new position.”
“The real work hasn’t even begun. It won’t always be this rewarding, I’m certain.”
Allegra knew it wouldn’t be. She was preparing for a long winter of delegates bringing their petty differences to her. She wanted to concentrate solely on easing the burden on enslaved mages, as well as instating protections for the free mages, but that was a fantasy.
The reality was going to be significantly more boring. The last several arbiters had done little to mediate the rising conflicts. The role of arbiter was to be an impartial representative who could settle disputes on the national level. Arbiters didn’t care about petty magistrates; arbiters cared about the viscounts and princes who pitted their armies against each other and the innocents who were caught in the middle.
She had taken both Francois and Pero’s advice to heart and had decided to first deal with all of the small, petty differences. None of the leaders would travel to spend the winter with her in any case – Borro Abbey was in the mountains and that meant snow and cold. Instead, she could spend the winter writing letters, dealing with smaller issues, and bringing stability by inches.
Then, when the spring came, she could invite the leaders for a summer summit – the mountains would be a pleasant break from the heat of the lowlands – and the real work could begin. It was a solid plan, if dull.
Though, Allegra did have a small amount of excitement scheduled.
“Why are we turning here?”
“We’re going to a coal mine on the Earl’s property, who is the magistrate of Montfort’s uncle I might add, and we’re going to free all of the mages. Oh, and then we’re going to confiscate the Earl’s estate, and then we’re going to drive over to the magistrate’s house and do the same there. And then, we’re going to ensure some of that money is redistributed back to the mages who had their property and lives stolen. And we might keep doing that until we find Mrs. Ansley.” Allegra smiled sweetly.
Rainier’s expression darkened. “You can’t be serious.”
“I accepted this position for one purpose only: the freedom of mages. Since I cannot do it directly, I shall use every single tool within my legal grasp to bring down this fraudsters.”
“It would take us months to deal with an estate confiscation.”
“That’s why Pero is travelling with us.”
“Pero is travelling with us?”
Allegra grinned. “His carriage is an hour or so behind ours.”
“Does Francois know?”
Allegra frowned. “I knew I forgot something.”
Rainier rubbed the back of his neck. “You’re killing me, Allegra.”
Their eyes met as he uttered her given name for the first time. She gave him a pleased smile and said, “Isn’t this fun, Stanton?”
****
Stanton was surprised by how smoothly the entire process had gone. He did manage to convince Allegra to have guards remain with the mages while the remainder of the guards, including Pero’s new arrivals, dealt with the messy business of arresting both the Earl and the magistrate.
The Earl was, to no one’s surprise, enraged that his position meant nothing to Allegra. He’d made the mistake of assuming she was some lowly merchant’s daughter, who’d gained her position by some circumstance of chance and luck. It was only years of training and practice that kept Stanton from bursting into gleeful chortling when Allegra identified her own title and that she was now the outstretched hand of the highest office of the Cathedral.
The magistrate was busy spilling his guts to Pero, placing all of the blame squarely on the Earl, when Allegra was satisfied enough to continue on her journey.
The mine was small, only able to handle about forty workers. Most were dirt-smeared women and girls, though there were a few men in the mix. She announced their freedom, but asked them to wait for a couple of days while Pero and his men issued them papers of pardon, purchased them clothing, and ensured they had both coin and transportation home.
Mrs. Ansley wasn’t there, however. She’d never arrived at the mine. Missing. Disappeared. Gone. There was a tiny coal mine in the neighborhood, but locals said it had collapsed a week ago in the middle of the night. No one made it out alive. Nine mines in as many days had collapsed. Some said mages were involved, but no one knew for certain.
Stanton held on to the hope that Mrs. Ansley was still on the run, or that she was working as a domestic within one of the great houses. Allegra was far more cynical.
“She’s likely dead already,” Allegra said. Her voice was cold and low.
“You can’t be sure,” he’d argued, but Allegra wouldn’t respond further.
They rode in complete silence for three hours. They changed horses at a small inn and took a half hour break for hot food. Allegra purchased hot tea and a biscuit, nothing else. Stanton had taken the standard fare offered: mutton stew, bread, butter, beer. He’d hoped Allegra would sit with him in the common room, but instead she took her mug into the lady’s waiting area and isolated herself there.
“I asked about Mrs. Ansley,” Lex said, sitting down across from him.
“Thanks,” Stanton said. “Pero did, too. He said Sir Bertrand lost her to the Baron of Mansbridge in a game of cards. He’s going to send people to check Mansbridge’s property for Mrs. Ansley, but…”
“I wouldn’t believe that asshole if he said rain was wet,” Dodd mused. “How’s the Contessa taking it?”
“Not well,” Stanton said with a heavy sigh. “I don’t know. I feel responsible somehow.”
“How?” Dodd demanded. “Sir, the way I see it is this. We were sent to get the Contessa. We got her. It was chance and nothing else that brought us across Mrs. Ansley’s path.”
“Do you think the Holy Father would arrange such a kidnapping, to persuade the Contessa?” Lex asked.
It bothered Stanton that
he didn’t deny the accusation outright. Finally, he said, “No, Francois and Allegra are childhood friends. For all of his politics, even he wouldn’t do that to her.”
“Allegra, is it?” Lex asked with no trace of sarcasm.
“Allegra, is it?” Dodd parroted in a bad impression of Allegra’s accent.
His two most trusted lieutenants had a good chuckle before he asked, “Are you two done with your fun yet?”
“I don’t know, sir,” Dodd said. “Lex?”
“I still have a bit more in me yet, Sir,” Lex added. “I am a romantic at heart, of course.”
“Oh, I am, too,” Dodd quickly added. “Late summer is the time for love, after all.”
“Spring, Dodd,” Stanton said. “Spring.”
Dodd shrugged. “I don’t know, sir. I find love every time I go into a whorehouse.”
Lex made a disgusted sound. “I’m surprised your dick hasn’t fallen off yet.”
“He has a point,” Stanton said, motioning to Lex with his crust of bread. “You’re going to end up in mercury, Dodd, if you’re not careful.”
“Lord Almighty be with me. I thought you were both of the world, not celibate monks hiding in the mountains,” Dodd said, clearly disgusted. He shoveled more stew into his mouth by way of his bread. “Sheep intestines. Go down to Miranda’s and she’ll get you all set up, sir. Even puts a nice ribbon on it for you.”
Stanton snorted. “I’ll pass, but thanks for the tip.”
“Just the tip, sir?” Dodd asked. Lex began choking on his bread and Dodd pounded his back helpfully.
Stanton’s reply was cut short by feminine shrieks and Allegra’s terrified voice calling for help.
****
Allegra screamed for help, even as she was dragged across the women’s sitting area of the small inn and coach stop. The brute had her arm gripped tightly and was dragging her across the rough wood floor despite her protests. She didn’t have the strength to pull away, so she tried to tangle herself up by any means possible.
Bystanders did nothing to stop the scene. Once the brute called her an escaped elemental mage, everyone backed away as if she carried the plague. Or, perhaps more accurately, as if she was about to burn the building down around them all.
“Help!” Allegra screamed. “Captain! Lex! Dodd! Help!”
“There’s no one to help you,” the brute sneered. “We’ve been watching for your carriage. Orders, ya see.”
Allegra managed to hook her foot around a table leg and she dumped both table and the food upon it with her. He struck her once in the head and the world faded to a blur.
****
Lex was the first through the door into the lady’s area. They scanned the room, spotted a dazed Allegra bouncing off chair legs. Lex pulled their sword and shouted, “You there! Unhand that woman.”
“Fuck off, you little sprat. This doesn’t concern you.”
“That is the Arbiter of the Cathedral. You are manhandling the very hand of the Holy Father. Get your filthy paws off her now,” Lex commanded. They pointed their sword at him. “Or I will run you through.”
The asshole dropped the Contessa to the floor. She flopped bonelessly; he must have struck her in the head. He spat on the Contessa’s moaning form. “The witch bitch comes with me.”
“I don’t think so,” Lex said.
Rainier stepped into view behind the asshole and then hit him in the back of the head with the pommel of his sword. The blow sent him to the floor as well, joining the sluggish Contessa.
“Where’s Dodd?” Lex asked as they both rushed to the Contessa’s side.
“Getting the others,” Rainier said. He patted the Contessa’s face. “Allegra? Allegra, you with us?”
Lex kept their opinion of that particular thing locked away. Rainier rarely used anyone’s given name outside of the Consorts. And he never used the given name of unmarried women. But the Contessa was around his age. Maybe that made a difference. Yes, because Rainier always paid special attention to unwedded women his own age.
“Stanton?” The Contessa groaned. She reached up to touch her head. “Ow.”
The asshole was moaning, too, so Lex pulled out the length of thin rope on their sword belt. It was cut the perfect length to tie up a man’s hands and feet. Fancy that.
“Want me to take him outside, Sir?” Lex asked.
Rainier nodded and Lex grabbed the tail end of the rope and dragged the asshole out of the inn. He whined and bitched about being dragged across the pebbles, so Lex turned enough to drag him over some broken glass shards. He howled and protested.
“It’s not so great when you’re the one being dragged, huh?” Lex said. “Remember this the next time you drag a defenseless woman.”
“Fuck you.”
“Yeah, whatever, asshole.”
Lex approached Dodd and the carriages. Four more men were kneeling on the ground, their hands tied behind them in a similar fashion to Lex’s new friend. “What do we have here?”
“The Earl’s men. Apparently, they were here to arrest the Contessa, accuse her of being an elemental, and ship her off to some mine while the good Earl got back all of his slaves and a huge apology from the Cathedral.” Dodd kicked one of them in the kidneys. The captive grunted and slumped over. “But it seems we’ve messed up the plan.”
“She’s a fucking mage,” Lex’s asshole captive said.
“Oh, shut up, or I’ll drag you back over the glass.”
“Fuck you.”
Lex rolled their eyes. “You already said that. Dodd, what’s the plan? Local constabulary anywhere?”
“I sent a runner for the local militia. I’ve asked them to send over a comfortable prison box.”
“Good work,” Lex said.
Dodd quirked a smile. “Why thank you, Lieutenant.”
Lex gave him a playful shove. “Shut your trap.”
“How’s the Contessa?”
Lex frowned and looked back toward the door. Rainier wasn’t in the doorway anymore, so they assumed the Contessa had managed to get to her feet and was seated somewhere. “Disoriented. He slugged her hard.”
Dodd snarled.
The first of the militia arrived within the hour. The blue and white uniformed woman jumped from her horse and saluted. “Corporal Antilles of the Ninety-Fifth Swords. We received your message.”
“Lieutenant Lex of the Holy Father’s Own Consorts. Thank you for coming so quickly,” Lex said, offering a hand of greeting. Antilles took it and they slapped grips. “I’ll get Captain Rainier for you.”
Lex headed inside to look for Rainier. He wasn’t in the lady’s waiting room, nor was the Contessa. Lex found both of them in the common room. The Contessa was drinking from a mug and was speaking to Rainier in a low voice. Lex cleared their throat and said, “Captain? The militia are here. I’ll sit with the Contessa.”
Rainier nodded and patted the Contessa’s hand. He gave her a comforting smile, then a stiff nod to Lex, and left the room.
“How are you feeling?” Lex asked, slipping into the chair left still warm.
Contessa held up the mug. “Better.”
Lex leaned forward. “Beer?”
“Gin,” the Contessa said.
“That stuff will kill you,” Lex said.
“Speaking from personal experience?”
“Loads,” Lex said with a laugh. Then, more seriously, they said, “We’ll get you back to Borro safely, I promise.”
“The Captain said the same thing,” the Contessa said with a sad smile. “I can’t believe…I spent my entire life hiding so that I’d never be faced with this. What was I thinking? I will make so many enemies and this is how they will come after me.”
Lex was silent. What was there to say? The Contessa was right. She had already made several powerful enemies, and she’d only been on a job a couple of weeks.
“Why did I do this to myself?” The Contessa took another pull from her mug.
She coughed. “This tastes like it was made in a rusty wheelbarrow.”
“It probably was,” Lex said. “Look, Your Ladyship? I don’t know you very well, but seems to me you took this job because you knew you could do it better than everyone else. As odd as it seems, the fact that you’ve angered so many powerful people in such a short time says to me you probably should do the job.”
“I can’t hold off accusations of being an elemental forever, though,” the Contessa said.
There was something in her voice that Lex couldn’t quite place. Desperation? Fear? “Is being called an elemental the biggest fear a mage has?”
“It’s mine,” the Contessa said simply. “You saw how everyone acted. They didn’t care about a lady in fine clothes being dragged from a public room. I have guards to protect me, and a writ from the holy father himself that only he can repeal.”
Lex frowned. “What would happen to you if the Holy Father was…to die?”
The Contessa’s eyes widened. “I have no idea.”
Lex nodded slowly. “I’ll send Martinez back with Pero. Just in case.”
“Thank you,” the Contessa said. Tears welled in her eyes. “Rupert, I mean, Francois, is my oldest friend.”
Lex offered what they hoped was a supportive smile. “Pero will look after him.”
“Will you stay with me? While…while they deal with outside?”
Lex looked over their shoulder. There was a lot of work to deal with still. They were needed. “I’m needed out there.” At the Contessa’s deflated posture, Lex said, “Come on. Let’s get you into the carriage so that we’ll all be looking after you.”
“I’d like that.”
Lex stood and offered the Contessa their arm. She took it, and seemed grateful for the support. Lex led her Ladyship out to her carriage and then got to work.
Chapter 14
The Demons We See Page 18