Michael Manning - The Archmage unbound

Her words stung a bit but I shrugged the feeling aside. “These clothes are mostly black,” I noted.

“It looks better than all grey.” Looking at me she frowned. “Stop pouting. I told you once before, you’re the right man for this task. There are some things that require shades of grey.”

I opened my mouth to speak but she put her finger on my lips. “Close your eyes and be silent for a moment Mordecai,” she said gently. Something in her tone struck a note within me, and I did as she bade. Stepping forward she planted a quick kiss on my cheek, which surprised me, and then she wrapped her arms around me.

“You’re a decent man Mordecai, not a perfect one, but better than most. I love you almost as much as I do Dorian, and I love Penelope just as much. You have to promise me one thing today.” She stepped back and I opened my eyes.

“What?” I asked suspiciously.

She sighed, “So cynical at such a young age. I want you to promise me, for Penelope’s sake, that whatever happens, you will try to survive… no foolish sacrifices.”

I was tempted to remind her that she was only a year older but it seemed a crass thing to say. “I cannot do that,” I said instead. “As you told me just last night, I have learned that we each have a right to make our own sacrifices. I cannot make any promises when there is so much that is uncertain…” I paused without finishing. From the corner of my eye I could see a red glow had appeared on the small box near the bed.

Forgetting everything else I strode quickly to the side table and opened the lid. Inside was a small slip of paper. Carefully unfolding it I found it carried a message written in James’ neat hand:

We have safely recovered Walter’s wife and young son. Of Penny, Dorian, and his older daughter we could find no sign. There were no survivors among the priests. No witnesses to our attack either. We have searched the area to no avail and are now returning to Albamarl.

I am truly sorry, Mordecai.

James

A cold calm washed over me and I let Rose take the note from numb fingers. Walking over to my writing desk I quickly penned a response:

Wait for me at the carriage house tonight. If I do not appear by morning ride for Lancaster and prepare for war.

Mordecai

I could have embellished the note in any number of ways, but I didn’t. My heart was too cold to care anymore. Closing the box I handed it to Rose. If any further messages were to be sent she would have to be the one to manage it. Walking to the corner I belted on my enchanted pouch and lifted my staff. Then I headed for the door… the time for waiting was over.

The palace gates rose up before me in the afternoon sun and the guards standing beside them were blissfully unaware that today was the day their world would change. My walk from my house in the city to this point had been mundane. Rose and I had garnered quite a few looks given our extravagant clothing. In most cases people wearing such clothes would be inside a carriage, or be riding at the very least. We simply strolled.

I didn’t care if we drew attention anyway. I’m dressed for the funeral, I thought to myself. Considering it in that light it was everyone else who was underdressed. I suppressed a chuckle at that thought.

Rose glanced over at me, “Everything alright?” Her features displayed nothing of her nervousness, but my senses could pick up her racing heartbeat.

“No,” I told her truthfully. “I doubt things will ever be alright again. Not for us, in any case, or anyone close to us.” I was referring of course, to Dorian and Penny.

The guards watched us approach with curious eyes. They had already recognized us but I doubt they had expected me to appear dressed for a high society function in the middle of the afternoon. One of them addressed me as we drew close, “Pardon me your lordship, may I ask you your name and reason for seeking entry to the palace today?” The man’s tone was formal and very deferential.

“You already know my name,” I replied. “And very likely you know to expect me.”

He bowed his head respectfully, “Yes your Excellency, the questions are mandatory. Please pardon me if they seem strange.”

For a moment I felt sorry for him. Neither of these men had done anything to deserve the chaos my presence would visit upon their lives today. “What’s your name?” I asked him suddenly.

“Nathaniel, your Lordship.”

“Nathaniel, do you have family in the city?”

“Yes sir,” he answered, giving me an odd look.

I met his eyes and tried to convey my seriousness. “You should take the day off and stay with them. No one will miss you here. You might consider telling the other servants and guardsmen within the same thing.”

His face took on a look of disbelief so I left him and walked onward. He and his fellow guardsman rushed to open the door before I reached it. Rose and I resumed our leisurely walk after they had it open, but one of them called out behind us, “Let me call an escort for you your Lordship.”

I ignored him and we kept going. I remembered the way perfectly well. As we went I warned everyone we met as I had the first guard. I hoped they would listen and pass the word along. Despite my reputation I had a feeling most of them would stay at their jobs but there wasn’t much I could do about it. Hopefully things won’t get that out of hand, I thought. In truth I didn’t care anymore. My warning was a habit of kindness rather than a genuine desire to help them.

As we progressed toward the audience chamber I could feel a heavy foreboding in the air. My senses were alert and focused but I could find no cause for the feeling. Surprisingly many of the people in the near vicinity were already making their way out of the palace proper but I could find no reason for my sense of dread.

When we reached the final doors leading into the throne room I was surprised to find Adam, the servant who had greeted me on my first stay at the palace. He was waiting by the doors. Adam bowed perfunctorily and moved to open them for us but I motioned to him to stand away.

“Don’t you wish to enter Lord Cameron?” he asked.

I could sense two figures within and it was easy enough to identify them. The first was Edward, and the second was his ever loyal servant Cyhan. “Thank you Adam, but no, I prefer to open these doors myself.”

Something about my expression must have warned him because he backed rapidly away from the heavy double doors. “You should probably give yourself the day off Adam,” I told him and then I faced the doors.

The moment had arrived and I felt Rose’s hand tighten on my arm. Lifting my staff straight up I brought it down to strike the iron shod heel hard against the stone floor. “Borok Ingak!” The words rolled out from me like a breaking wave and shattered the massive double doors. The room within was showered with flying splinters and bits of wood. When the dust settled the only thing left of the doors within the frame were the iron hinges that had held them there.

Stepping forward Rose and I entered the room. I was mildly disappointed to see Edward sitting calmly on his throne rather than cowering. I suppose some things are too much to hope for, I reminded myself.

The room itself was impressive for its size. It was much larger than the small informal meeting room that James and I had met the King in a few times previously. This was a room used for state functions and as such it had a high vaulted ceiling, rising up some forty feet above our heads. It stretched thirty yards or more from side to side and the distance from the doors I had just destroyed to the throne at the opposite end of the room was at least thirty yards as well. Long rows of benches were arranged between here and there, to allow the nobility and clergy ample seating during major court events. There were two exits, aside from the way we had entered, in the form of two normal size doors leading from each of the two corners of the room behind the throne.