Richard Tuttle - Sapphire of the Fairies

“I don’t know how you can beso happy,” she pouted. “The servants act like they own this placeand you think that you are the Lord. How long before the people inthe streets start laughing at us?”

“Niki, I don’t care if thewhole town laughs,” declared Fredrik. “We are rich and they arenot. As soon as Orthan liquidates some of the out-holdings, we willhave more money than we know what to do with. The people in thetown will come around. I have a meeting with Captain Grecho thismorning. Imagine that. The Captain of the Mercenaries coming to paycall on me. You said you wanted a private army, well, this is theman to start with.”

“But everything is moving soslowly,” Niki complained. “The people should already recognize meas their queen and you have me worrying about how I treat theservants. And why is the butler liquidating anything? It is ourproperty and you are letting some old scam artist handle ourfinances.”

“We’ve been through thisbefore,” Fredrik said impatiently. “Orthan knows more about thefinances than I can learn in a year. It is only natural for him tohandle the books.”

“I think you are just beingselfish,” Niki exploded. “You do not really care if I ever becomequeen. You have some plot with the servants to cash in all of theassets and then desert me here with no support. That’s why youspend evenings in the study plotting with Orthan.”

“Okay,” Fredrik conceded, “Ipromised not to tell a soul, but I will explain everything. Themorning after we arrived, Orthan cornered me in the study. Heexplained that the servants have served the old sea captain formany years and they knew for a fact that the man had no brothers orsisters.”

“The nerve of the man speakingthat way to his Lord,” Niki admonished.

“Niki,” Fredrik pleaded,“please pay attention. I was not his Lord and he knew it. If Amoshad no brothers or sisters, he certainly could not have any nephewsor nieces.”

“Then why didn’t he go to theauthorities?” Niki asked.

“Because,” Fredrik explained,“if there was no heir to become Lord of the Manor, there would beno jobs for the servants. Orthan saw a way for all of us to sharein Lord Alrecht’s misfortune. He promised to have me legallyaccepted as Lord Alrecht’s nephew and heir if I would make certainconcessions to the servants. I promised to allow him to handle thefinances and to treat the servants with respect and kindness. Itreally is a good deal for all of us.”

“I can’t believe that you werereally taken in so easily,” she chided. “You allowed the Lord to bedictated to by servants’ demands?”

Exasperated, Fredrik sat down. “TheLord was not dictated to by servants, Niki. A young boy was offereda scheme by some servants that allows him to become rich and assumethe title of Lord which does not belong to him. One word from anyof the servants and we would be running for our lives.”

“But now that you have legaltitle,” Niki schemed, “you can get rid of them and it will be onlyservants’ words against the word of the Lord.”

“I have no intention of goingback on my deal, Niki,” Fredrik insisted. “I have no need to. Fromwhat Orthan says, the estates are plentiful and we will have morewealth than we can spend. If the servants had any idea that I wouldnot honor my pledge, I am positive that they could ruin us. Please,just keep being pleasant to the servants and everything is going tobe better than you could ever hope for. I have to see CaptainGrecho now, but we will talk more of this later.”

Fredrik rose and left and Niki just satthere lost in her own little world of scheming. Hopefully, themeeting would not take long and he could convince Niki to playalong with the servants. Fredrik walked to the study and CaptainGrecho was already there and Orthan was dutifully serving him aglass of brandy. “Ah, the Lord of the Manor, Lord Wason. Sir, thisis Captain Grecho of the Cidal Mercenary Company. If you have nofurther need of me, Lord Wason, I will withdraw and await yourcall.”

“Thank you, Orthan, that willbe fine,” Fredrik said. “Captain Grecho, I am pleased to make youracquaintance.”

“Lord Wason,” the Captaingreeted, “I apologize for not coming sooner, but I had a smallmatter of contract negotiations to take care of. I wish to offer mysincerest condolences on the loss of your uncle. I want you to knowthat your uncle was certainly not considered a sorcerer by thepeople of this town. The townspeople have no stomach for magic andwould never have put up with a Lord who even condoned its use,never mind practiced it. No, I feel sure that the charges weremerely expedient to the Black Devils to have their way. Certainly,if my company had found out what they were up to, we would haveslain the bunch of them.”

Fredrik gulped as he nodded his head.The Captain talked on for an hour and a half, welcoming him to townand explaining as much about Cidal as he could. He offered theservices of his company to the Manor if the need arose and thankedhim for the Manor’s generous help in the past. Fredrik halflistened as he fretted about Niki’s temper and her foolishwillingness to use magic carelessly. At the end of the discussion,Captain Grecho demanded that Lord Wason accompany him to review thefitness of his Company and see the plans he had for enlarging hisgarrison. It was clear to Fredrik that to refuse would be startingthe relationship off on a very bad foot.

Fredrik informed Orthan that he wasgoing out and caught a glimpse of Miranda and Alicia arguing as hepassed through the entrance hall. Fredrik began to wonder again ifhis life wouldn’t be simpler without women in it. Orthan also shookhis head at the two maids and went out to get away from it as muchas he did to check on the horses.

Miranda looked flustered. “Alicia, youhave to curb your temper more. I know the woman is difficult, buteven you have to admit that she has been better these last fewdays.”

“Aye, she’s been better,”pouted Alicia. “She’d be better still if you took care of her. If Igo in there with a smile, she complains that I’m laughing at her.If I don’t smile, she complains that I’m scowling at her. Eitherway, she treats me as if I were a dog. Master Wason and MasterAlrecht never had any problems with me. I do my job all right, Ido.”

“Your work is fine, Alicia,”soothed Miranda. “If I suddenly take your place, the Lady willcomplain about you running the place and that will start anotherrow. I will talk with Orthan about giving you a holiday. Perhaps abit of time away from each other will calm you both down. I am surethat Lord Wason will readily agree.”

“Well, I could use a bit of aholiday,” Alicia cheered. “A couple of extra pence would help abit, too,” she pushed.

Miranda nodded as the bell rang again.“But, first, you will have to finish today at least. Whatever shethrows at you, just bite your tongue and swallow it. We have a goodthing going here and I’ll not have you spoiling it.”

“Yes, Miranda,” Alicia said asshe scurried up stairs to answer Niki’s bell.

Alicia knew she was in trouble when sheentered Niki’s suite and the woman was standing there tapping herarm with a grim determination on her face. “My Lady rang?” Aliciasaid.

“Yes, I rang and you took longenough to get here,” scowled Niki. “Where is my lunch? I asked forlunch an hour ago.”

“Begging My Lady’s pardon,”Alicia trembled, “but you said you didn’t want any lunchtoday.”

“Fool!” shouted Niki. “Youoffered me crab meat or salmon for lunch and I said if I couldn’thave lobster, I wouldn’t eat. Don’t you know a demand for lobsterwhen you hear one? Do you expect me to starve while you and theothers stuff your pockets with my money?”

Alicia lost it and exploded. “How doyou expect me to read your mind?” shouted Alicia. “You said youwouldn’t eat and now you wonder where your lunch is? And as for themoney, you don’t have a pence to your name. You are here at thesufferance of Lord Wason and mercy knows why he puts up withyou.”