“We will follow King Stefano’s orders in the matter,” Captain Andreas offered as his only concession.
Idly, I wondered if his wolf nature allowed him to view such actions more dispassionately. I nodded my agreement and we rode the small space back to King Stefano.
“Well done, Lord Pierce-Seahorn. I will deed the de Ponti villa and part of its lands to you for the service you have given us.”
“That is not necessary, Your Majesty. It is far too generous and I do not deserve it.”
“Of course, it isn’t necessary. It is what I command. The majority of the land and holdings will revert to the crown. Let us go survey my and your new holdings.”
“By your leave, Your Majesty, there is one other matter,” Captain Andreas interjected.
“What other matter?”
“The family of the Marchese is in the villa. How would you like them handled?”
“I think it is Lord Pierce-Seahorn’s decision.” He turned with a squeak of saddle to look steadily at me. “I rely on you to handle it as you see fit, but I do not want to be looking over my shoulder once his whelps become men.”
I took a deep breath and met his intense gaze.
“Your Majesty, the youngest is only a baby and his daughter about five. Can we not spare them? The baby can be raised by others and never told of his parentage.”
“How can we guarantee he will not learn of his family and our part in their demise? Are you not the one who told me that I was too lenient in my dealings of my enemies?”
Warmth crept up my neck and face.
“I had no right to question a king,” I acknowledged softly. “I never considered the death of innocents.”
“I doubt his sons are innocents.” He paused and studied my face. “Captain Andreas or his men can do what needs to be done. We will spare the girl and the baby. As I recall, Lucia is of an age where her memories will quickly fade. Queen Marguerite has a lady in waiting who is the wife of one of my guards; she is desperate for children. I feel sure they will take the two youngest in.”
“I will finish what I started,” I said as firmly as I could. I did not relish killing a woman and children and pondered how to eliminate their threat without murder. A plan began formulating. “Do you trust my abilities, Your Majesty?”
A slight frown appeared on King Stefano’s smooth brow and his eyes briefly narrowed.
“I see your wheels turning. What do you have in mind, Lord Pierce-Seahorn?”
I quickly pushed down my concerns and hoped I didn’t exhaust the king’s regard. Carefully schooling my expression, I met King Stefano’s look directly.
“I propose wiping the memories of the Marchese’s family and replacing them with new ones. What can you tell me of his wife’s past?”
“She is of noble birth and gentle upbringing. There have been rumors that the Marchese beat and abused her. I think his death will be a relief.”
“Were the boys treated similarly?”
“I feel sure they were being brought up to follow their father’s path. Do you really believe you can change them?”
“They are young and malleable. I think it wise for them not to remain at the villa as it could cause breaks in what I plan.”
“Where do you propose I move them?” King Stefano asked dryly.
“If I may interject,” Captain Andreas broke in. At a nod from the king, “There is the recently vacated Castle Scalrina. It is small and we can get new retainers unless Lord Pierce-Seahorn can affect everyone’s memories.”
My brief buoyancy popped like a soap bubble. How could I have thought my plan would work?
“It would be easier to sell them into slavery,” King Stefano proposed. “Conran, can you make them believe they lost everything due to their deceased patriarch’s gambling?”
Reluctantly, I nodded. Slaves?! If it were me, I would prefer death. Was my option really kinder?
‘Do no harm.’ Ilena’s voice sounded in my head, briefly startling me.
Her advice didn’t really help as I could see the harm in both options but their lives would be spared. Perhaps her sons could eventually work their way out of slavery.
“I will do it, King Stefano.”
“Very good. Let us ride to the villa. What do you need from us, Lord Pierce-Seahorn?”
“Just act normally. I will cast an illusion as we ride.”
‘Ilena, can you help me to make our party look like tax collectors?’
‘As you wish, Conran. I regret his family will suffer for his misdeeds, but it is the way of the world.’
Lady Ilena’s reassurance eased my guilt but not by much. Mentally shaking my head, I focused on weaving an effective illusion over our party. My powers had grown over the past year but I was thankful for Ilena’s unexpected assistance.
With her help, the spell flowed out and over the men effortlessly. To any eye, we would appear to be tax collectors accompanied by private soldiers. I would go into the villa alone, so I could reshape the memories of the Marchese’s family.
The wide road turned into a tree-lined gravel lane that curved before a low white stone villa encircled by wide, covered patios. Bougainvillea crept up several of the columns; their bright pink and green against the white lush and inviting. Definitely, a beautiful home to raise a family. And I was here to dispose the current household.
With a heavy heart, I signaled the men to wait as I rode ahead. Pulling up before the closed, wide front door, I looked around. No one and nothing stirred. Where was everyone? Breathing deeply, I dismounted and quietly entered the home.
I cleared my mind and focused on the abandoned, trembling family hiding in the bowels of the home. They were faintly illuminated by the light creeping in through a high window. I started with the little girl and carefully wiped her memories, compelling her to sleep. Next were the boys, which took a little longer. Soon they slumped against each other in sleep.
Unaware of what caused her children to relax and doze, I saw the mother smile at their dozing faces. Her hand reached out to stroke her daughter’s hair. I gave her that last touch before probing into her mind.
My body was trembling by the time I’d finished replacing her memories with new ones. I gave her the mercy of having a kind husband who was just overwhelmed with his lands and mismanaged them into ruin. At least, she would not remember the abusive tyrant who’d abused her and stolen her fortune under false pretentions.
Seeing the kind of man Marchese de Ponti was made me wish I’d dragged his death out longer and more painfully. I leaned against the wall until my arms quit quivering. Taking a deep breath, I straightened and went to meet King Stefano and his men.
Chapter 11
Queen Margarite insisted I take the afternoon off, so I’d arranged a private picnic with Jamila. My pulse raced and sweat trickled down my back. I pulled the back of my shirt out and flapped it in the light breeze. There was no time to change again.
I hoped a picnic with Jamila would clear my mind of the Marchese’s family. His wife and sons had been sold into indenture to pay off his imaginary debts. The baby and daughter were safely ensconced with Lady Adelina and her husband, Lorenzo. Neither had been told their true identity.
I regretted my part in the charade but kept telling myself the alternative would have been harder to live with. It was certainly kinder than what happened to the captured members of the Madre Natura. The executions had lasted days. The brutality of it was what I hoped to temper with today’s picnic.
Gravel crunched beneath my feet as I made my way to the kitchen. The path meandered through the flower garden into tidy and staked vegetables before transitioning to paved stones in the neatly tended herbs outside the open plain wood door. The smell of crushed thyme rose in the air, competing with the aromas of roasting meat and simmering stew.
“Here you are, Lord Conran!” a cheery voice rang out as soon as I entered the bright and airy kitchen. A plump and pretty cook pushed a woven basket across the worn kitchen table.
“Thank you, Evelina.”
Her dark hand reached out to lightly rap my hand when I started to lift the brightly covered cloth.
“It is a surprise for both of you, so no peeking!” She beamed at me, displaying crooked teeth in a wide mouth.
I grinned in response. Evelina gently lay a bouquet of brightly colored flowers on top of the cloth covered basket.
“You should always give a lady flowers, Lord Pierce-Seahorn! Mistress Jamila loves roses and orange blossoms. Do they not smell wonderful?”
I struggled to hold back a sneeze as I nodded. ‘Those flowers better please Jamila’, I thought, they would definitely make me miserable. I wondered if I could safely drop them before meeting Jamila.
“Roberto escorted Jamila to the northeast corner of the orange orchard. The cloth on top of the food is for you to spread out on the ground. It is very even there and the trees provide much shade.”
“Thank you, Evelina. I know everything will be perfect.”
A blush stole over her olive cheeks, and her eyes sparkled as she looked at me.
“You should hurry and not keep her waiting.”
Her motherly advice made me smile. I reached for the basket and was momentarily surprised at the weight. I was hungry and couldn’t wait to see what she’d packed. The food at the Court of Florenza was more elegant than I was used to, and delicious.
Once I had the basket properly balanced, I broke into a quick trot. I didn’t want to keep Jamila waiting as she tended to get frightened if she was alone. I knew Roberto was with her but worried she might not feel comfortable with him.
The orchard quickly came into view and I immediately slowed to a respectable walk. Male and female laughter filled the air. I saw Jamila dressed in a flowing green dress that flattered her tawny skin, dark eyes and hair. She was smiling at Roberto who seemed exactly her height.
I slowly approached them. I couldn’t hear what Roberto said but another peal of laughter rang out. I hadn’t seen her so happy in a long time. I felt a sharp pain and my throat tightened. Slowly, I took a deep breath.
I stood there watching them. Jamila was oblivious of my presence. My visions had never shown anyone sharing my life. Ilena had told me that I could change my future but maybe this was an area I couldn’t control.
The colorful flowers seemed to mock me. I started to throw them away but stopped myself. Forcing a smile on my face, I walked to Jamila and Roberto.
“Jamila, Roberto! It is good to see you enjoying yourselves.” I paused. Shadows of the orange trees played across Jamila’s lovely face. I hated lying, but Jamila deserved happiness.
“Roberto, are you free this afternoon?”
“I thought her Majesty gave you a free afternoon?” Jamila interjected.
“She did but I have some things I need to take care of,” I lied as I handed her the bouquet of flowers with a low bow.
“Pretty but that does not absolve you from your promise. You still need to eat,” she persisted. “I know how much you enjoy food,” Jamila mocked before sniffing the flowers.
Her teasing made me feel churlish. I looked at Roberto but his attention was completely focused on Jamila. Perhaps there was another option.
“Roberto, will you join us, so Jamila’s picnic is not cut short when I leave?”
“Is that agreeable with you, Signorina Jamila?”
“Very much so, but I thought we agreed you would address me as Jamila?”
Roberto blushed and nodded before hastily adding “I hope there is plenty as I am very hungry.”
“Judging by the weight, I think there is ample food.”
Watching their smiling faces, I doubted Jamila would really mind when I left. I shook out the red and white checkered cloth and set the laden basket in the center of it.
Before I could, Roberto offered his hand to gently assist Jamila onto the cloth. We took turns pulling food and a bottle of wine out of the heavily laden basket. Jamila placed stoneware plates before each of us.
“We’re fortunate Evelina packed so much.”
“Evelina always packs for contingencies. When you have a picnic anywhere on the King’s grounds, you can expect to be joined by others.”
I smiled but cringed inwardly. I craved and required time alone. I doubted Jamila would welcome unexpected guests either. I looked around but relaxed when I didn’t see anyone in our vicinity. By the time I looked back at my companions, Jamila had most of the basket emptied.
“What a feast!” Roberto exclaimed. “She must really like you.”
“Conran has a way of twisting cooks around his little finger,” Jamila said, smiling.
“They just like how much I appreciate their food and probably recognize I am of humble beginnings.”
“You are? It does not show, Lord Pierce-Seahorn. You present yourself as well as any highborn I know.”
“Thank you. Please call me Conran.”
“That wouldn’t be seemly considering our different stations.”
I started to argue until I saw the determination in his dark brown eyes, so I just nodded.
“I understand,” I replied before taking a bite of spicy salami. “I love how you cure meats here. It is like nothing I have ever had before. Your cheeses are softer, too. All the food has more spices and flavor.”
I tore a piece of bread off, placed a piece of cheese and meat on top before folding it and taking a big bite. Slowly, I chewed, savoring the rich flavor and texture of the bread.
“Don’t forget the wonderful wine,” Jamila suggested. “And, I love the cakes and pastries!”
Roberto laughed as he looked between us. “Do they not have good food where you lived?”
“Of course, it is just very different. More basic and hearty.”
“It is too warm here for heavy food.”
“Did you grow up here, Roberto?”
“I was born and grew up in a small town two leagues from here. My family fished for generations, but I wanted something different.” Roberto paused and sighed. “I broke my mother’s heart when I ran away to find adventure.”
“Did you? Find adventure?” Jamila asked as she daintily wiped her mouth.
“So much adventure,” he responded in a slow, deep voice as if remembering. “It made me a man and brought me here where I have met the most beautiful and kindest woman,” he said with a warm smile.
I felt a sharp pang seeing Jamila’s blush and glowing smile. I wanted a woman to look at me as she looked at Roberto. Taking a shaky breath, I asked Roberto to share some of his adventures. Soon we were each sharing our life stories, even, to my surprise, Jamila.
The time passed quickly and I still hadn’t left to give them time alone. Jamila poured more wine into Roberto’s cup and held the rest of the bottle out to me with a questioning look.
“Just a little to toast the two of you before I leave.”
“You stayed longer than I expected, so I know I should not complain.”
“It is hard to leave such pleasant company,” I responded with a smile as I raised my almost empty cup to them before quickly draining it. “However, I have not ridden Scimitar this week and desperately need to feel the wind against my face.”
“Lady Ilena and Silvesto complained they haven’t seen you in several days.”
“I will have a short ride, so I can see them after. Roberto, can you escort Jamila back to the palazzo?”
“Most certainly, Sir Pierce-Seahorn. I fear it will be hard for me to say good bye to Jamila,” Roberto said, his eyes shining as he gazed at her.
His effortless gallantry set my teeth on edge. Unsure whether I could control the tone of my voice, I stood and bowed abruptly before walking away.
“Conran, wait!”
I stopped and turned to wait for Jamila. Jamila lifted her skirt to walk quickly to me.
“Why are you leaving after we spent so much time planning for this?” she asked softly.
I looked past her to Roberto who was standing by the blanket.
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br /> “I care deeply for you and always shall. However, Roberto can give you what I cannot.”
“I don’t understand. Who are you to decide what I want or need?” Her voice started to rise and I could see her force her tone down before adding, “A true friend does not just cast a friend off onto another when it is convenient.”
“That isn’t what I’m doing. I hope we will always stay friends,” my voice trailed off as I tried to think about how to articulate how I felt.
I saw confusion and what looked like the beginning of anger in her eyes. I chose my words carefully to try to preserve our friendship.
“Jamila, I invited you on a picnic to see if we could become more than friends. When I saw how comfortable you were with Roberto.”
I paused again and reached out for her hands. To my relief, she slipped her hands into mine. Reassured, I continued in a stronger voice.
“I only want happiness for you. I like Roberto. He is a fine man and I think he will make you far happier than I ever can. I have never seen anyone in my future but I’d hoped…,” my voice trailed away yet again. Forcing myself to meet her eyes, I added “Lady Ilena said I could change the future, but there are some things that are meant to be. Or not.”
I squeezed her hands.
“Are we still friends?”
“Always. You saved me and gave me a life I could never have imagined, but you do not determine who I love.”
I flushed and started to speak until she raised her hand to stop me.
“I am no longer a damsel in distress and fully capable of deciding my own path. That includes who I shall select to court me. It is not your decision!”
Her lips pressed together as her dark eyes bored into mine. My eyes dropped before hers. I felt very arrogant and stupid. My face flamed and I only wanted to leave her condemnation.
“I was stupid and I apologize.” Not sure how much more I could handle, I added “I will see you at supper, Jamila,” before turning sharply and leaving swiftly.
“Conran!”
It was my turn to hold my hand up. I felt childish but I needed time.
The Sigil of Sobek: Book 2 The Chronicles of Conran Page 16