SORCERER (The Elemental Magic Series Book 1) (21 page)

Allen told her he would do what he could and that she should probably write their parents to explain in detail all that was going on.

Alec felt relieved in a way. It was odd but he knew that the bad mood that had plagued him through the morning was finally starting to lift. In a way he felt free.

He’d been walking at a decent pace and was just starting to feel the burn in his legs from walking when he was hailed from behind. He turned and held the stave in guard position in front of him seeing six people coming fast. He set the stave back on the ground when he recognized Allen and Bill with others from Tom’s classes.

"Good to know you’re not going to forget your lessons while on vacation," Allen said leaping from his horse.

"I'll practice every chance I can," he said taking Allan’s hand in greeting then waving to the others.

"Since you’re going to Kingston, Bill and I were wondering if you'd deliver our letters to our mother while you're there." He held out two sealed envelopes.

"Sure. How do I find their house?" he asked taking the letters and sliding them into his pack.

"Just ask any of the guards at the gates for directions to Duchess Morton's house and they'll point you in the right direction."

"You’re not walking all the way there, are you Alec?" Erik asked from his horse.

“No choice, I don't own a horse, but I'll get there." Alec smiled slightly embarrassed.

Erik slid off his horse and handed the reins to Alec. "You can borrow mine. The school has horses we're allowed to use."

Alec tried to decline but Erik wouldn't have it.

"Hey boys divvy up. Stabling a horse is expensive," Allen announced to the rest of them. He knew Alec didn't have much from talking to Peter, who'd slipped him ten gold pieces.

The guys all handed over a hand full of coins to Allen who added them to his pouch before handing the pouch to Alec.

"Take the money but stable the horse at my parent’s house. Don't make a fuss over it. You've worked with all these guys and they don't mind a bit. Treat yourself. You deserve it," he whispered in Alec's ear. 

Master Stolle had suggested they give him a pouch to work with, handing his own over to Allen and leaving it up to him to get Alec to take it. He'd said it was little like a mission and they take care of their own. Alec walked around and thanked the guys individually.

"You better go if you're going to make it today," Erik said holding the horse for Alec. He mounted and told them he wouldn't forget it.

Chapter 22

Alec finally felt good. Knowing he’d managed to make friends with the guys in Tom’s class put a smile back on his face. He held the horse at a fair pace till he reached the city. The rose colored towers of the palace could be seen against the evening sky.

He dismounted at the gates and asked the guard, who questioned his reason for entering, for directions to the Duchess Morton's residence. He followed them only missing one turn and back tracking as he looked at the people and rich manor style houses that lined the streets leading to the Morton's. He tied the horse to the hitching post in front of the large house and after pushing the large pouch of money Allen had given him to one side he pulled out the two letters and started up the walk leading to the house. The place was huge, even larger than Mr. Phillips’s manor.

Pulling the cord leading up to a bell above the door he waited patiently. A well-dressed man answered the door.

"How may I help you sir?" he asked looking down his long nose at Alec.

"I've letters for the Duchess Morton from her sons Allen and Bill, sir," Allen responded holding out both letters.

The man motioned Alec into the room and to sit on a very plush couch as he went to get the Lady Morton, as he put it. Alec made a mental note to remember to address her as Lady Morton.

He didn't have to wait long till an elegant yet commanding woman glided into the room. She looked like Christi but taller and with faint creases around her eyes and mouth. Alec stood as she came in.

"Lady Morton I presume?" he asked.

"Indeed, young man." She held out her hand palm down. Alec remembered how this was done from the etiquette book he was reading, and took her hand and barely brushed his lips over it. All the while thinking there was an alarming amount of resemblance between Christi and her mother.

Alec straitened and held out the letters to her. "Letters from your sons, Allen and Bill, mam."

"Thank you sir, please have a seat. Steven should arrive shortly with refreshments." She indicated for him to sit on the couch as she sat in the single chair.

She opened the letter from Allen and looked up at him after reading for a minute then continued. She smiled at him as she opened the other one from Bill.

Steven brought some cool sweet tea and poured for them. She whispered in his ear when he was done pouring drinks and took a drink before starting to read Bill’s letter. Alec sat in silence drinking his tea a little quicker than proper manners probably stated. He stood getting her attention as she read Bill's letter.

"I should be getting along, my lady, and thank you for your fine hospitality," he told her ready to make his exit.

"Please, one moment if you would."

She quickly finished reading the letter from Bill then set both on the table between them.

She turned to him and watched him a moment as if deciding something then asked.

"Do you know of the contents of those letters?" She pointed to the letters on the table.

"No mam, I wouldn't think to read someone else's correspondence."

"Amazing! What do you know of my boys, Alec?"

"I get on well with both of them. They both strike me as fine men, mam. I understand they each rub the other on occasion if you don't mind my saying." He regretted saying it as soon as it left his mouth.

She laughed putting him at ease.

"That's putting it mildly, as young boys they were constantly at odds. What amazes me is that the both of them stated the same things in their letters and getting them to agree on anything is an act of the gods. Normally if one of them were to say one thing the other would say the opposite just to disagree.”

Alec smiled. He could easily see them fighting as young boys.

Lady Morton continued, “Allen has asked me to put you up for the next two weeks, given some trouble at the school, saying I shouldn't give you the option.” She raised a single eyebrow as if it were a question she expected to be answered later.

“Bill has asked that you be given his room in the family wing for the next two weeks, saying you are being wronged by the school and that Head Master is unable to change the will of key council members. Both agree on this, which is amazing in of itself.”

Alec fidgeted with his cup not knowing what to say.

“After reading the letters I get from Christi, I'm certain that you are the same Alec she has told me she's taken a fancy to, and has asked if a future between the two of you is even possible. Which, I must say, I am very happy she has taken with someone who isn't a stuffed up noble. But what really astounds me is that both my boys give you their full endorsement to court my daughter."

"Christi is an amazing woman, mam. I had hoped we felt the same for one another, but was unsure if she had been playing at me for an amusement. I have recently learned that we come from two very different worlds and that there are certain obligations as well as rules she can't break."

She raised her eyebrow at this. "The obligations and rules as you say are up to my husband and me to enforce or relax. Christi has made her intention known to me and I will act on them until I hear different from her. So far as lodging goes for the next couple of weeks, it is not unheard of." She held up a hand stopping him when he started to object.

"If you think I'll let the young man who has the interest of my daughter and has the approval of both my sons stay at an inn for the next two weeks, you are mistaken. I would be ashamed of myself!" She told Alec in a voice much like his Aunt Karen’s, that which said it was final and not to be questioned.

"Yes mam. Though I feel a bit out of place seeing as Christi and I had quite the argument before I left."

"It's Jessica, Alec. I won't have that mam and lady stuff from a guest in my house. Now as to this disagreement, every relationship has them. When you see each other again make sure to take the time and calmly talk it out. That is how these things work. And make sure you don't put it off or it will get worse. I've given you about as much advice as I can for tonight, so let me show you to your room."

"Thank you Jessica." Alec was rather embarrassed to have the same advice given to him a second time, the first being from Ralph and now Christi's mother, a perfect stranger to him.

She showed him the room that was his to use in the guest quarters. The room had its own privy and shower attached to it. She left him saying he should make his way to the dining room when he heard a bell ringing and left, saying his things would be delivered shortly. The horse was being stabled and he would have time to freshen up from his ride.

Chapter 23

Alec took the opportunity to look around the room. It was very tastefully done with the dresser and bed table matching the wood frame of the bed and framed scenic paintings on the walls. 

His pack was delivered to him by Steven who acted much less formal and he thanked the man for bringing it. Alec unpacked his things and took a shower, which felt great after riding the horse. He pulled on clean clothes thinking again that they were a bit small.

He'd have to go and purchase new with some of the coins he had. He pulled out the two coin pouches and sorted through the coins. He found a note in with Peter's. It said there was extra in the pouch and to make sure he enjoyed himself. He smiled at the thought that Peter would have such good will toward him.

The bell rang and he put the money in separate pouches. He had twelve gold, thirty two silver and fifty six coppers all told
. Much more than he’d ever had before. He put the most of the golds and half the silver in one pouch and the rest in the other he then put both in the dresser. 

When he found the dining room it was just him and Jessica. She had him seated beside her, saying her husband George wouldn't be back for a couple more nights.

Alec asked if something was bothering her as she kept looking at him oddly.

"I don't want to offend you but do you mind if I ask you some questions?"

He gave her his best smile and told her in all honesty. "It takes quite a bit to offend me, please."

"Do you have plans for tomorrow? Because I think it might be a good idea to go clothes shopping, if you don't have the funds I would love buying something nice for such a handsome young man." She gave a polite little laugh.

"Actually, I came to the same conclusion when putting these on, though they had fit just fine several weeks ago, they're a bit small now. I do have some funds if you could point me to a decent tailor."

"Nonsense, I'll not pass up the opportunity to be seen around town on the arm of a handsome young man, we'll go together. And I can show you off to some of Christi's old friends. I think it will do you good as well to see that the people she calls friend are not a bunch of snobs too.”

“Besides it will drive George wild when he hears of it, so we'll have to stop in at the docks to make sure he does." She gave the same mischievous smile he'd seen on Christi's face numerous times. It was almost unnerving.

"I'll be writing the children at the school this evening, so if you want to send anything if you could have it ready for me at breakfast I'll send them together. There should be sealing wax and other supplies in your room,” she said.

The food was brought to the table shortly, it was more food than either of them could possibly eat. Alec begged off dessert and went back to his room to write letters to Christi and her brothers.

He thanked each of the brothers wholeheartedly telling them their plan had worked and he was staying at their house and how welcomed he felt. He told Christi he was sorry and that he should have given her a chance to tell him the whole story without blowing his top. He went on tell her that her brothers had arranged for him to stay with her mother and he was enjoying his time conversing with her. He also told her that he missed her and hoped to learn more about her and her family from her mother.

Alec decided to write Peter too. Thanking him and tell him where he was staying. Also that he would repay him just as soon as he was allowed to return to the school. He folded each of the letters putting their names on the backs. He laid down and fell promptly asleep in the comfortable bed exhausted from the long day.

The next morning Alec shaved and showered before breakfast. He tucked the coin pouches into his pants pocket tying the strings to his belt on one side then headed down to breakfast with his letters. Thankfully they ate a nice light meal of oats and cream topped with a dark sugar and sliced fruit.

Jessica told him the plan for the day. She'd had Steven run out last night and let Mary Tailor know they were coming today. As Jessica got ready it gave him time to look around a bit.

Whereas the dining room was very formal with its high backed chairs and stark walls the sitting room was very cozy. Couches and several comfortable chairs circled a low table leaving a spot open for the mantled fireplace with a classic painting of the family above it.