Thornbear (Book 1) (31 page)

“It’s
supposed
to be a self-heating teapot,” explained Mordecai, “but mostly it’s a steam-bomb.”

She gave him an odd look.

“It has some problems still.”

“Steam-bomb?”

Mordecai shrugged, “I’m making it for Penny, so she can make tea without having to fire up the stove. It seemed like a good idea for a present, but it keeps heating too quickly, with violent results.”

“It’s still in one piece,” she observed.

“This is the third one.”

Rose chuckled, “Well, if you get it perfected I would love one too, so long as it won’t kill me.”

“Sure,” said Mordecai. “So, what was in this letter?”

“It seems that our guest, Alyssa, was an imposter. Marie Conradt assures me that her daughter is still with them and has yet to be fostered out.”

“Have you told Gram yet?” he asked.

“Not yet. I wanted to notify you first. We need to figure out what her goal was,” she stated. “I dread telling Gram. He’s just beginning to get over this.”

“I don’t envy you that,” said Mordecai. “I’m just grateful that mine haven’t shown any interest in the opposite sex yet.”

“They’re almost seventeen; you need to think about fostering them out. The Queen would take them, and they would have many opportunities to meet the right sorts of potential marriage partners in the capital.”

The Count growled softly, “They aren’t ready yet.” Walking over to one wall, he removed the apron that protected his clothes, hanging it on a wall peg.

“
They
aren’t, or
you
aren’t?” asked Rose, pointedly. Then her eyes focused on his chest, “Is that blood on your shirt?”

Mordecai looked down, “Hmmm.” He wiped at the red stain with one finger, and then brought it to his mouth, tasting it. “Nope, jam.”

Rose shuddered involuntarily as she watched him. “How did it get there?” she asked, but then she saw him use the hem of his tunic to wipe his hands. “Never mind, I think I’ve figured it out. How Penny puts up with you, I’ll never understand.”

“We grew up in similar circumstances,” he reminded her.

“She has adapted to society far better than you have.”

Mordecai grinned, “I’m a slow learner. Back to our mysterious visitor, though. I don’t see what anyone would have had to gain by sending a spy here.”

“There are multiple possibilities,” said Rose. “Assassination or information gathering for a foreign state are the first two that come to mind.”

“No one is dead.”

“Yet,” corrected Rose. “Or it could be that she was forced to leave before completing her assignment. Her entanglement with my son became a liability for her when I returned. She knew of my letter to Marie Conradt.”

“I haven’t been politically involved in years,” noted the Count.

“A foreign state might not know that, or care,” said Rose. “As far as I have been able to discover, she didn’t spend much time asking questions, though. Did she ever visit your family here?”

Mordecai shook his head, “No. Penny kept the socializing to the castle.”

“Then we know very little.”

“Welcome to my world,” he replied.

“I’ll send inquiries out, but I don’t expect to learn anything,” said Rose, studying his features. Mordecai was still an attractive man, despite the years. Then her eyes lit on a spot on his cheek. “Oh for heaven’s sake,” she exclaimed, exasperated. Drawing out her handkerchief, she put the corner in her mouth before leaning forward to clean the jam from the Count’s face.

“Thank you, Rose.” His blue eyes seemed to sparkle and Rose stepped back, keeping her face neutral; only age and experience saved her from a telling blush.

“You’re welcome,” she told him.
I’ve been alone too long.
She left then, going in search of Penny.

Chapter 29

Autumn slowly gave way to winter, and while Gram knew he would never forget Alyssa, she came to dominate his thoughts less frequently. He devoted himself to his training, and just as Cyhan had predicted, he found helping his fellow soldiers improve was a rewarding challenge.

With time his reputation amongst the men improved, and now most looked forward to a chance to spar with him. His private sessions with Cyhan grew less frequent, but he filled the extra time by haunting the woodlands around Cameron and Washbrook with Chad Grayson.

Spring eventually returned and as the first green buds began to appear on the trees, Rose called him aside one morning after breakfast.

“Gram, I need to talk to you.”

“Yes, mother?” he said, looking down at her. Rose was tall for a woman, but Gram stood several inches over six feet now.

“You’ll turn seventeen later this year, and though it pains me to say it, I think you should consider going abroad.”

Her words both excited him, and filled him with trepidation. Leaving Cameron would mean leaving his teacher, but that wasn’t what bothered him. Cyhan had already taught him what he could; his development relied on practice and self-discipline now. Deep down, it was his secret hope that Alyssa might return somehow. He was anchored by the fact that subconsciously, he was still waiting for her.

“Why?”

Rose reached up, putting one hand on his cheek before letting it fall to rest on his solid shoulder.
He’s so big,
she thought, remembering the small boy who had once followed her endlessly. “Sir Harold, in Albamarl, sent a missive to me. He’s looking for a new squire, and Sir Cyhan recommended you to him.”

Gram looked away, feeling uncertain. It was a marvelous opportunity, but still he was reluctant, “I don’t think I’m ready.”

“Ready?” she said incredulously. “You are already the best man on the field here. You have little to gain by staying. If you truly wish to be a knight you must look to your future. Sir Cyhan already has two squires. In the capital you could advance, and there are other matters to think of as well.”

“I’m not interested in matchmaking, Mother,” he told her stubbornly.

Rose Thornbear had learned a hard lesson in pushing her friend to seek a new husband years ago. She wouldn’t repeat it again. “That wasn’t my intention. You need to meet your peers, develop friendships with other young noblemen. Someday my father’s mantle will fall on your shoulders, as well as the title of Thornbear. You must be acquainted with your fellow lords. Friendships are hard to come by in your later years, now is the time to make them.”

Gram pressed his lips together in a firm line, uncertain what to say. He knew she was right, but his feelings dictated a different course of action.

She patted him once more before folding her hands demurely before her. “You don’t need to give me an answer immediately. The Count has been invited to visit King Darogen of Dunbar. He’s asked me to come with him, to offer advice. You can give me your decision when I return.”

He frowned, “How long will you be gone?”

“It would be a journey of many weeks, but Mordecai will take us in that abominable flying contraption of his. We should make Surencia within a day, but we will stop to visit King Nicholas there for a week before proceeding on to Dunbar. That visit will take another week in all likelihood, possibly longer. We may not be back for three to four weeks.”

“Us?”

“The Count, Penelope, myself, and the twins,” she replied.

“What of guards? You cannot go without an escort.”

She smiled, “I’ll be traveling with no less than three wizards. I doubt anything could endanger us, but you are correct, it would be unseemly to go without at least a token guard. Sir Cyhan will also come, along with a detachment of three guardsmen.”

“Can he fit so many in his flying machine?”

“It will be tight, but the inconvenience is far less than spending weeks on horseback.”

Gram nodded, “It sounds as if you have everything planned out.”

“Of course, though I’ll need you to take care of Carissa while I’m away.”

He laughed, “More likely she’ll take care of me.”

***

Gram was in the courtyard three days later. The morning air was chilly, a remembrance of a cold winter. Carissa stood beside him as they said their farewells, watching the adult portion of the Illeniel family, along with their mother and the guards squeeze into the mostly invisible flying machine. Mordecai was the last to board.

“Peter Tucker will be in charge of the day to day affairs while I am gone, and Captain Draper will handle the defense of the castle, but I will feel better knowing you’re here to keep an eye on Conall and Irene.”

Gram gave a modest bow, “I will see that they are safe, milord.”

Mordecai chuckled, “Don’t give me that ‘milord’ crap; you’re practically one of my own children.” He embraced Gram quickly. “Gods, boy! You’ve gotten as big as an ox.”

“It’s the food Cook prepares. It’s a wonder I’m not fat,” joked Gram.

The Count patted his own incipient belly, “If I’m not careful, I will be. Elaine will be checking on things every so often and she’ll be able to contact me if something turns up.”

“Everything will be fine, sir.”

Matthew gestured at him through the transparent wall of the flying machine, patting his own forearm and giving Gram a negative shake of his head. It was a reminder that he shouldn’t try to summon Thorn. Despite the long winter, Matthew was still making improvements. He nodded to let Matt know he understood.

A moment later they rose slowly from the ground and then began to speed away, heading north for the capital of Gododdin.

***

Life was quieter with the Count and the twins gone.

Gram continued his routine with Captain Draper and the men each morning, but he spent his afternoons with Carissa and the two younger Illeniel children, Conall and Irene. He and Carissa stayed at the Illeniel home in the mountains at night, along with Lilly Tucker, who was normally in charge of Irene and Conall. They were old enough now that neither of them needed much looking after but they were too young to leave alone.

A week after the Count’s departure, Gram sat outside the Illeniel cottage, playing chess with Irene while Carissa watched. It was all his sister could do to restrain herself from helping him. She was a far better player than he was and Irene was methodically destroying his defense.

“Nooo,” moaned his sister slowly as his fingers left the knight. Clearly he had made another mistake, though he couldn’t see it.

Irene smiled and moved her bishop to pin it. She would have him in checkmate in a few more moves. “Muahahaha,” she said, affecting an evil laugh.

“Ahhh,” he said, gradually beginning to realize his mistake.

Irene clapped with joy as she saw understanding on his face. Gracefully admitting defeat, Gram tilted his king and resigned. “You’ll have to play Carissa now. I can’t offer you a good challenge anymore.”

They switched seats, and he watched them play, but his mind was elsewhere, wandering. A cold wind was sneaking down the neck of his doublet, but it was balanced by the warmth of the spring sun. Despite the pleasant weather, he felt uneasy.

“Try not to look so sour about losing,” advised his sister.

“No, it isn’t that,” he replied. “Something feels odd.”

“Perhaps you’re starting to develop your magesight,” suggested Irene.

“Neither of us have a wizard for a parent, Rennie,” reminded Carissa. “There’s little chance of that happening.”

“Oh, yeah,” said the younger girl.

They continued to play but his feeling remained. When they finished he looked at the sun, “It’s almost time to eat. We should go back to the castle.”

The girls nodded and began packing up the board and pieces. They found Lilly and Conall in the house, and the five of them returned to Castle Cameron. As they walked, Gram finally figured out what had been bothering him.

The birdsong disappeared.
Their chirping was normally omnipresent during the daylight hours in the mountains.
There must have been a predator close by.
He resolved to have his bow close at hand the next time they went out.

***

They were in the middle of dinner when the messenger arrived, along with one of the guards that had been stationed at the gatehouse.

“Arundel is under attack!” he shouted as he entered the hall.

The hall exploded with surprised shouting as everyone stood and began talking at once, but Captain Draper quickly quelled the chaos, “Sit down and shut up!”

Peter Tucker and the captain took the messenger aside and spoke briefly, before returning to speak to the gathered people.

“It appears that a small band of raiders has attacked some farms near Arundel, looting and burning,” said Peter, addressing them. “Finish your food quickly. Captain Draper will double the guard tonight, and patrols will be sent out to search and scout. We will make sure that the bandits are not taking refuge in these lands.”

The captain was already striding purposefully from the hall and Peter moved to Gram’s side, “I’d like you to take Irene and Conall back to their home and stay with them.”

“Lilly will be there,” said Gram. “I could do more good in the patrols. I know more woodcraft than most of the men here.”

“Absolutely not,” said the chamberlain. “Until I know the extent of the threat I have to take every precaution, and that means making certain that the Count’s children are safe, not to mention your sister and yourself.”

Gram leaned close, speaking softly, “You know damn well the Count’s home is a hundred miles from here. They will be perfectly safe without me.”

Lilly Tucker already had Irene and Carissa in tow, and Conall followed behind them with a look of disappointment.

Peter looked at him sternly, “I know nothing of the sort, but in any case my instructions are clear.”

Conall came back, “Gram, are you coming with us?” The look on his face made it clear he didn’t relish the thought of being penned up with nothing but girls for company.

Gram looked from him to the chamberlain and back again, “Yeah, go ahead. I’ll be there shortly.”

Conall rewarded him with a grateful expression and ran to catch up with the others. Gram pursed his lips and headed for the Thornbear apartments. If he was going to be stuck ‘guarding’ the children, he might as well claim the mail and sword his mother had given him recently. The sword was new, but the chain was an inheritance from his father. Dorian had stopped wearing it after Mordecai had given him enchanted plate, but it was far better than normal mail. It wouldn’t stop a crushing blow but it was enchanted to prevent anything from piercing it.