Family of Lies: Sebastian (35 page)

“I can’t put anything into your sorry heads, but you remember a comment from two years ago?” Lord Orwell asked. He faced Trenton. “I’m sorry, I could never instill gratitude in this lot.”

“Gratitude for what?” Demetrius asked. “Giving up our beds for frauds who probably have no magic or scammed with you back in the day? If they’re ducking the law, I suggest they sleep elsewhere. Twenty seconds, Father.”

Lord Orwell glared at his children. “You take your tasks a little too seriously.”

Sebastian smiled over his cards. Bitching about their father’s unexpected visitors was definitely normal behavior for them.

“I assure you, we are no criminals,” Trenton said. “We are historians, but none of us are powerful mages—a trait we have in common with your father.”

Sebastian’s eyebrow rose under his hood.
A half-truth by the skin of his teeth and a veiled insult at Father. I wonder what terms they left on
, he thought.

“May I please watch?” Dalia asked. “It’s been too long since I’ve seen you in action, Cynthia.”

“You’re not missing much,” Lady Orwell said.

“I can see that. What a strapping young man. Big and clever,” Dalia said as she walked behind James and squeezed his arm. “He might take the whole pot.”

James moved her hand away. “Deal out, Father.”

“Excuse me for a moment.” Lord Orwell stomped to the stack of cards and drew out three of them. He made a noncommittal “hm” and slapped two cards down.

“It’s a shame to see a boy I’ve heard to be so clever losing,” Trenton said near Sebastian’s ear.

“Gossiping isn’t the best way to learn things,” Sebastian said. Lord Orwell cleared his throat, and Sebastian rolled his eyes. He was already holding his tongue, and being nice would make Trenton suspicious. Trenton and his companions put their bags down and returned to watching the Orwells play.

“You don’t have a lot of stones left,” Trenton said.

“Keep your mind on your own stones,” Sebastian said. His father cleared his throat again. Sebastian dug through his cloak pocket and pulled out a coughing remedy. He tossed it to his father, who barely caught it in time. “Drink that and pipe down. I’m not winning, but I’m not in as bad a straits as you.”

“My throat is fine,” Lord Orwell said and pitched the potion at Sebastian’s head.

Sebastian caught it and put it back in his pocket.

“Gloves too?” Trenton asked.

“He even has boots,” Pratchett piped in. He threw his cards in the side pile. “I’m out.”

“And socks.” Kraven giggled.

“I should have taken the bottle away from you sooner,” Pratchett said.

Kraven sighed. “I’ll never marry.”

“What nonsense are you going on about?” Pratchett asked.

“Sebastian, take Kraven to his room,” James said. “I’ll make up my room and Cecilia’s for our guests after the game.”

Sebastian looked across the table at his family. He nodded to Kevin for his attention. “An hour of free work if you watch my cards.”

“I accept,” Kevin said.

“Since I’m intruding, please let me help you,” Trenton suggested when Sebastian stood.

“No thanks. The only time I need more hands is if Kevin is passed out.” Sebastian grabbed Kraven by the elbow and hoisted his brother up.

“No one will want me,” Kraven muttered.

“You didn’t lose your money, so you’re still marriageable,” Sebastian said, ignoring that Kraven probably meant when word got out Trenton was staying with them. “Everything always works out, and you’ll be better in the morning.”

“Not after people find out—” Kraven started but slumped to the floor when Sebastian loosened his hold.

“I guess I do need help,” Sebastian said. At least falling to the floor made Kraven shut up.

“I’ll help,” James said at the same time as Trenton.

James scooted his chair out from Dalia leaning over his shoulder and joined Sebastian. “You can pay us back by keeping your celebration with Father at a reasonable noise level and not passing out like this drunkard. I’m not small by any means, but you’re too tall to lug around.” James bent with Sebastian, and they carried their brother upstairs. When they reached the upper floor, Sebastian wanted to check on Ophelia, but it was smarter for her door to remain shut. The room itself was fortified with dwarven stones and wood from the forest.

“She’s gonna leave me,” Kraven sobbed out, and Sebastian looked at James for help.

“They will leave before anyone finds out,” James whispered. “Even if we have to make them.”

Sebastian said nothing and held Kraven’s door open while James maneuvered their brother into the room. Safely past the threshold, Sebastian took Kraven’s arm again and gently deposited him on the bed. Kraven tucked into himself like a child and James sighed.

“We tell Father nothing,” James said. “He got us into this mess, and he’s not dependable enough to get us out of it.”

“How do we convince them to leave?” Sebastian asked.

“Everyone has a free pass to be on their worst behavior. Wind up Alice as much as you want, and my mouth is shut when it comes to Pratchett or Demetrius.”

“What if they hate us so much they try to kill us?”

“Then we use Mother’s first suggestion,” James said. “I’m not on board with her yet because I have no idea what Trenton did with his army.”

“They’re probably nearby or he wouldn’t have needed to ward the house,” Sebastian said.

“I hold the same opinion,” James said. “Either way, we should go downstairs before we’re missed.” James closed Kraven’s door, and the brothers went downstairs.

“Why weren’t they timed?” Lord Orwell asked when his sons grabbed their seats.

“Because they’re not you,” Rebecca said. “Hurry and move, James. My wife wants Luke’s pretty sword.”

James picked up two cards and placed a different pair in the pile. Smiling, he slid two gold coins in the middle. “You’ll have to buy it with your own money.”

Kevin and Luke threw their cards in the pile. “I surrender for now,” Kevin said.

Sebastian dropped two gold coins next to James’s, and Emily added in two coins too.

Demetrius joined in, and so did Rebecca.

“Cards is the only time you bastards are honest about how much money you have,” Pratchett said.

“Time to see who’s bluffing,” Demetrius said, and everyone revealed their cards.

Kevin laughed. “I knew it felt like a sucker’s bet.”

“Shut up,” James said as Sebastian swept up the winnings.

“The rumors are true. You are a clever boy,” Trenton said.

“I’m not a boy, but I can see why I appear so young to someone as old as Father,” Sebastian said.

“Clever but not well-mannered,” Feoras said quietly.

“That is a claim you can utter after I stomp in your home uninvited in the dead of night.”

“Sebastian,” Lord Orwell said.

“Lay off the boy. He’s just like his father,” Dalia said.

Sebastian froze. “Excuse me?”

“Whip-smart with a witty mouth. That’s just like our Caspian,” Dalia said. “What are you going to spend that coin on?”

Sebastian frowned. “That’s none of your business.”

“Probably books,” Pratchett said as he sadly eyed Sebastian stacking the money.

Trenton laughed. “She’s right. That sounds exactly like Caspian.”

“I feel tired,” Sebastian said. “I’m going to bed.”

“Coward.” Demetrius crossed his arms. “You’re afraid of losing that stash.”

Sebastian shrugged. “I’m happy with my haul and have no plans of endangering it. Good night and enjoy the rest of Solstice,” he said while leaving.

“Hey you, quiet fellow,” Demetrius said to Feoras. “Take his place and deal yourself in. You look like a man I can win a lot of money off of.”

D
ALIA
CLOSED
the door of the Orwell study. “I don’t know how you pushed out so many of those shits, Cynthia. Do any of them know how to watch their fucking mouths?”

“They act on instinct,” Cynthia said. “They know rubbish when they see it.”

“I’m disappointed you never told your children about me,” Trenton said as he lounged on the blue couch. “I thought we were close.”

“With the path you took, I didn’t see a way for it to end well,” Caspian said.

“Tucking your tail between your legs always works out for you, doesn’t it?” Feoras asked.

“We’re not the ones banished from Anerith and hiding in Larnlyon,” Cynthia said. “Lack of foresight is your greatest weakness, Keyes.”

“I think I’m mistaken,” Trenton said. “Sebastian’s mouth is all you, Cynthia.”

“That boy needs a beating,” Dalia said.

Cynthia laughed. “Gods, Dalia, you probably sold your parents for money, and you think I’d take motherly advice from you?”

“I am not here so you two can relive your rivalry,” Trenton said. “I have soldiers who need to be kept out of sight, and your forest is perfect. Talk it into letting them stay, and I’ll pay you generously.” Trenton grimaced at the faded wood. “You two obviously need the money.”

“I have a fondness for my neck and head staying attached, so I have to decline,” Caspian said.

“Caspian, this house is filled with hostages. Take the money while I’m still asking.”

“I wondered when you’d start threatening my family,” Cynthia said. “You’re still the same.”

“You’re wrong. I’m not as patient as I used to be, and you two don’t have enough goodwill to bargain with.”

“I’m sorry,” Caspian said. “Please tell me when I came out of my home to denounce you as evil and told the Anerithian authorities where the evidence was to convict you. If I had betrayed you, you would be dead. I have plenty of goodwill left, and I’m using it to ask you to leave. This is my home, and I’ve worked hard to make it so.”

Trenton sprang to his feet and shoved Caspian against a wall. “I wouldn’t have been in Anerith in the first place if you hadn’t convinced the others to leave me.”

“That is not what happened,” Caspian hissed. “I saw a bad situation and wanted out. If more followed my example, it wasn’t because I told them to go but because you gave them no reason to stay.”

“Despite not being powerful enough to deserve the position, you were Uvel’s first student, and it meant something to them.”

Caspian rolled his eyes. “That’s why you’re angry at me. Uvel told me everything I wanted to know and kept secrets from you. That wasn’t my fault, either. All you had to do was give the old man attention and say what a smart wizard he was. I didn’t tell you to let pride burn through that bridge.”

“I wonder if you don’t know more than you’ve said.” Trenton leaned in closer. “What if you truly did as I asked and begged Uvel when he was weak to tell you about the Heart of Light?”

“He was dying and I gave him comfort. That’s all I did,” Caspian said.

“It amazes me how the most selfish of us is the softest,” Dalia said.

“Any emotion that doesn’t come at the cost of a coin amazes you, Dalia,” Cynthia said. “We didn’t want to be dragged into your schemes in the past, and we still don’t. Why can’t you leave us alone?”

“This location and your forest’s ability to hide magic are convenient to me,” Trenton said. “That’s all you need to know.”

“The risk to my family is too great,” Caspian said.

“Fine,” Trenton said and released Caspian. “I’m done asking.” He reached under his robe and pulled out an amulet. It glowed briefly, and Trenton smiled. “I’ve ordered my men into the forest, and if anything looks suspicious, they’re to burn it.”

“That would probably catch attention,” Caspian pointed out.

“Not with my wards in place.” Trenton stretched his arms out. “You can show me to my room now.”

D
IANA
SHOOK
her mirror again and glared at Dalia. “Funny how you three arrive and all the mirrors stop working.”

“That is a funny coincidence,” Dalia said. “You should keep shaking it just in case.”

“Have you eaten yet?” Diana asked sweetly.

“I’ll fix breakfast,” James said. “I have nothing else to do.” He stared out the kitchen window at the snow. “The roads will be blocked for days.”

“At least we had warning, so there’s plenty of food,” Kraven said.

“Yes but we weren’t expecting this much,” Kevin said. “This is a loss of two weeks.”

Demetrius smirked. “You’re starting to look forward to spring as much as Luke.”

“I thought that gray skin was because of incubus blood,” Dalia said. She shrugged. “Just sell a pint of his blood at market, and you should be good.”

For the first time, Sebastian saw Luke’s eyes turn black.

“I’ll be upstairs if you want me,” Luke growled out and left the kitchen.

“He sure is a sensitive one,” Dalia said and continued reading her book.

“I’m going to join him,” Kevin said. “Call me when breakfast is ready.”

Sebastian sighed and went in search of his father. Maybe Diana would poison Dalia in his absence. Upstairs, his parents’ door was shut, and Sebastian knocked.

“Come in,” his mother called out.

Sebastian entered and found his parents kneeling on the floor with a map of the forest spread out. “What are you doing?”

“Nothing that concerns you,” Lord Orwell said as he rolled up the map. “What do you want?”

“Is Dalia in the organ business?”

“Why do you ask?” Lady Orwell stood and went through her drawers.

“Because she brought up selling Luke’s blood.”

Lady Orwell sighed. “If it has a price, she will sell it.”

Sebastian nodded. “Luke took her seriously and Kevin is calming him down.”

“This snow is hampering our plans, but we are trying to get them out of our house,” Lady Orwell said earnestly.

“It’s becoming harder to watch Diana when more than half of us want her to succeed,” Sebastian said.

“Truth be told, I wish we could kill all of them too, but Trenton is vengeful and he’ll take his anger out on one of you,” Lord Orwell said.

“Figure out a way to get rid of him before our annoyance outweighs the danger, Father. We don’t tolerate a heavy hand for long,” Sebastian said.