Family of Lies: Sebastian (36 page)

“I’m starting to think we gave you too much leeway,” Lady Orwell said as she opened a decanter and filled a glass. “Try not to prove Dalia right before I have a chance to kill her.”

“What is it between you two?” Sebastian asked. “I thought you and Diana went at each other’s throats, but you and Dalia are quite different.”

His mother smiled. “That bitch showed me her claws and I clipped them. Now go back to your brothers and sisters before they do anything drastic,” she ordered.

C
APTAIN
P
EMBROST
watched his prince pace. “He’s broken the same promise before. There’s no need to be upset.”

Prince Turren frowned at him and kept walking.

“Have you thought that maybe Sebastian doesn’t feel the same way about you? Maybe it’s only lust.”

“This time was different,” Turren said as he spun on his heels again. “He meant it.”

“You said that the last time.”

“There is no reason to remind me of what I said. I was there, Pembrost.”

“Aiming your anger at me does not change the hard truth.”

“I will find out why Sebastian hasn’t contacted me, and then I will make conclusions,” Turren said and stopped pacing. “I couldn’t have made myself clearer about how I felt.”

“He’s a strange lad. Maybe he needs time.”

“I gave him that,” Turren said quietly. “This is his answer.”

“An answer to what?” Pembrost inquired.

“I know you are concerned about my welfare, but please may I be alone?”

Pembrost stood and bowed to his prince. “Of course, Your Highness. I’m sorry for disturbing you.” When he was outside the door, Pembrost leaned against it and sighed. “I should never have encouraged those two.”

C
APTAIN
P
EMBROST
waited next to Frederick in the king and queen’s warded bedroom.

“Have you noticed Turren acting strangely?” Queen Anne asked.

“Yes, but it’s the usual.” Captain Pembrost shrugged. “He’s upset about the Orwell boy again.”

“I thought you reported that Sebastian seemed more open to Turren’s advances,” the king said.

“That’s what I thought too, but Sebastian didn’t communicate with him on the night of Solstice like he promised. Turren was hurt by his insensitivity.”

Frederick frowned. “Has Turren tried contacting Sebastian?”

“Sebastian was adamant about doing it, and Turren is trying to respect his wishes,” Pembrost said.

“Persuade Turren to try anyway and report if Sebastian responds,” Frederick said.

Pembrost looked at the wizard. “What is going on?”

King Harris sat forward. “If I tell you a very sensitive piece of information, you cannot reveal it to Turren. Under that circumstance, you will be included.”

It wasn’t easy to keep secrets from his charge, but he could do nothing to protect Turren if he remained ignorant. “This stays between us,” Pembrost said.

“I sometimes communicate with Ophelia, and we had agreed to message each other during Solstice,” Frederick said. “On that night, I received no correspondence and have been unable to open a connection. The fact that Turren can’t reach Sebastian either is troubling.”

“Is it possible the forest is interfering with the connection?” Pembrost asked.

“It’s never been a problem before,” Frederick said. “There is another thing we haven’t told you. That is the reason we’re worried.”

“What other thing?”

“The information about Trenton hiding in Larnlyon,” Queen Anne said. “We received it from Sebastian. He scryed it with the help of Margaret and Harold.”

Pembrost’s chest tightened. “That information came just a few days before Solstice.”

“We don’t think it’s a coincidence, and we’re sending a party to check on the Orwells,” Queen Anne said.

“Gods, if anything happens to Sebastian, Turren will never forgive himself. Why did you let him do it?”

Harris laughed. “Run that sentence through your head again. Sebastian made it known that not even Harold could stop him, and our interference could have tipped off Trenton. It was a solid plan, so Trenton shouldn’t have any idea who the wizards responsible were. Not with a few Orwells carrying the same crystals Margaret used across the country.”

Pembrost closed his eyes. “And I have to carry this knowledge around Turren. He’ll never trust me again if he finds out.”

“We’re only keeping him in the dark until we know for sure that something happened.” Harris glanced at his wife. “We don’t want him being rash.”

Queen Anne frowned. “Why are you looking at me?”

Harris looked away. “No reason.”

“I was not rash,” Anne said.

“I didn’t say anything,” Harris said.

Anne turned to the court wizard. “Frederick, why is your cousin still breathing?”

“Because you saved his ass countless times,” Frederick answered.

“Rash decisions end with the client dying.” Anne patted Harris’s stomach. “And he’s so damn healthy, he’s growing a gut.”

“This is not a gut!”

“So you say, husband, so you say.”

“Y
OU
HAVE
your orders, Lieutenant Adams and Sergeant Hooper,” Captain Pembrost said. “Any questions?”

Adams raised his hand. “I have two.”

Pembrost nodded at him to go on.

“Am I going to get in trouble with the king, and where is Hooper?”

“She’s taking a sabbatical.” Hooper’s face melted into the queen’s. “How did you know it was me?”

“Hooper is right handed, your sword is on the wrong side, and you tap your forefinger on your sword hilt when you’re excited,” Adams said.

Queen Anne grinned. “You’re right, Pembrost. He’s nosier than a sprite and perfect for the job.”

Adams sighed. “It’s just a healthy curiosity I have about people.”

“Well, I need it to sniff out what’s happening at the Orwell household.”

“I get to see the troublesome lad again?”

“If nothing is wrong, yes,” Pembrost said.

“And if we do find him?”

“We’re dragging him back here so we can keep him under protection,” Queen Anne said.

Adams smiled. “I’ll enjoy that a lot, Your Majesty.”

“Does that boy annoy everyone?” Pembrost shook his head.

L
UKE
STARED
out the window with his face pressed against the glass. “Yeah, they’re in the neighboring woods and trying to stay out of sight. No cook fires, and no tents unless they’re warded.”

“I hope they spread out farther and make our job easier,” Sebastian said.

“Why are they clumped together like that?” Emily asked.

“The forest knows Father’s emotions and is responding in kind. He won’t have to utter a word for it to kill Trenton’s people,” Diana said.

“You’re really going through with this?” Kevin asked Sebastian. “What if Trenton has the Heart of Light stored on the other side of our land? What if it’s on him?”

“It’s not on him,” Ophelia said. Everyone turned to look at the woman who was supposed to be barricaded in her room.

“It’s not a good idea for you to be out here,” Sebastian said.

“Sebastian, I love my nieces and nephews, but I need time away from them or I’ll go insane.”

“We don’t know how long Trenton and his lackeys will be gone,” Kevin said. “You’ll have to put up with them a little longer. Where’s Mernon?”

“He disappeared when Trenton left,” Ophelia said.

Kevin frowned. “I wonder what that’s about.”

“Never mind that,” Ophelia said. “What you’re looking for is in that direction.” She pointed to the area where Luke had seen the most soldiers.

“That won’t be a problem at all.” Diana rolled her eyes. “We might as well give up.”

Demetrius walked into the kitchen and looked at everyone gathered together. “Are you guys up to something?”

“No,” Kevin said. “We’re discussing what’s to eat for breakfast.”

“I guess I can’t be included in your plotting, huh? That’s too bad, because I saw Father leading Dalia and Feoras back to the house.”

“Damn that imbecile,” Diana said. “Kevin, take Ophelia back upstairs and be quick about it. Sebastian, grab one of the chairs I brought with me and hold it in front of you.” Diana picked up a chair while she talked and motioned for Sebastian to follow her out of the kitchen. The door opened as Diana stepped in front of it. Dalia walked into Sebastian’s chair, and both of them became entangled. Sebastian pulled at it so they lost their balance and fell. Diana missed Feoras, but he had to jump outside to avoid running into her. “Great timing, Father, as usual,” she said while helping Sebastian up. Dalia glared at Diana and stood on her own.

“What are you doing?” Lord Orwell asked.

“Putting these chairs back on the wagon. We only eat as a family on Solstice, and there’s no reason I should let them be broken while we’re snowed in,” Diana said.

“Your chairs are perfectly fine at the house.”

Diana looked at their father’s companions. “I doubt it. Excuse us, but these chairs are heavy.” She shoved through the intruders and their father and Sebastian followed.

When they reached the back of Diana’s wagon and were out of sight of the others, Diana put her chair down. “Now is a good time to confess that you have more magic than you said.”

Sebastian placed his chair beside hers. “If I do?”

“The forest’s roots reach under the house. I want you to talk to them and ask if there are any poisonous plants nearby. A plant with vines that can tap into the water.”

“How do you know I talk to nature?” Sebastian asked.

Diana rolled her eyes. “One of the most powerful wizards takes you under his wing without Father making a fuss about it? And said wizard works with earth magic? I’m not an idiot, and I’ve seen the forest protect you before. It’s attracted to your magic. Now do as I say before we’re noticed.”

Sebastian frowned and concentrated on the ground. Strands of roots led under the house, and he silently greeted them. They were joyful to hear from him, and their happiness overwhelmed Sebastian. He shook his head to clear it and begged the plants to calm down. Sebastian imagined the book of poisons his mother had made him memorize and asked the plants if anything looked familiar. Pages went by in his head, and then the plants grew louder in his mind again as a farer’s lotus formed in his memory. They were nasty buggers that could trick other plants into producing the same poison that they made.
It will be perfect for poisoning people slowly enough not to notice the effects
, Sebastian thought as he contemplated cold-blooded murder.

Diana touched his shoulder gently. “Whatever we do is survival. They’ve tried to kill you twice, and they’ve forced themselves into our home.”

Sebastian nodded and told the plants to find spores of the farer’s lotus and spread them near water sources. “What about Father?”

Diana snorted. “He’s probably taking twice as many antidote potions since Trenton got here. I’ll also cook his food in case he’s not protected against it. What did you find?”

“Farer’s Lotus,” Sebastian whispered.

Diana whistled. “Mother would be proud.”

“I could live without that,” Sebastian said.

“Living is our first priority.”

S
EBASTIAN
LADLED
out a bowl of chicken stew, and Lord Orwell looked at it suspiciously.

“Why are you cooking without me commanding you to do it?” Lord Orwell asked.

“It’s a cold day, and I felt like it. Eat it or choke on it, I don’t care,” Sebastian said.

“I was going to compliment you for being thoughtful.” Lord Orwell snatched the bowl and took it with him to the table. He sniffed it and almost dipped his nose in it trying to find any faults.

Sebastian shook his head. “There’s an easier way to shove it up your nose, and I know at least half the family would be willing to help.”

Lord Orwell ignored his son and began eating.

Sebastian turned his back on him and smiled.
Diana was right about sautéing the herbs in truffle oil killing the smell
, he thought.

“That smells delicious,” Trenton said over Sebastian’s shoulder.

“I’m not a castle cook. I cook for family only, and if you want stew, you can hunt your own ingredients,” Sebastian said.

“That’s not a kind way to treat people,” Trenton said.

“We don’t know when the roads will clear, so supplies are precious. I also like my personal space.” A surge of magic made his skin crawl, but Sebastian pretended to be ignorant like anyone else without magic.

“Sebastian, just give him a damn bowl,” his father growled.

“Two silvers,” Sebastian said. “That will cover the cost.” Trenton’s power was almost like a physical wall pressing against him because of the wizard’s anger.

“I remembered a thing I have to deal with outside.” Trenton stepped away from Sebastian and walked to Lord Orwell. “You really should speak with your son about manners, or I might.” He left the kitchen and Sebastian leaned against the stove.

Lord Orwell shoved his chair back and stalked to his son, grabbing him by the front of the cloak when they were face to face. “Have you lost your mind? Do you have any idea how close he was to killing you?”

Sebastian smacked his father’s hand away. “Just eat the damn stew. I won’t antagonize him again.”

Lord Orwell looked at the bowl and then at his son. “What did you do?”

“What I had to,” Sebastian said, a tremor betraying the tears falling inside his hood. Trenton might deserve to die, but Sebastian didn’t know if any of Trenton’s soldiers deserved the same fate.

“I will get to the bottom of this,” Lord Orwell promised and left the kitchen.

I
NSTEAD
OF
the kitchen, this time the Orwells watched the activity outside from Pratchett’s window. It had a better view of the stream of men and women dressed in no apparent uniforms.

“Probably mercs,” Alice said. “They look skillful.”