Michael Manning - Mageborn - The Blacksmith’s Son

By then the first coach had drawn up and the occupants were getting out. Naturally the first was Devon Tremont, the son of Duke Tremont. The Duke of Tremont was the only peer of the realm who had equal standing with the Duke of Lancaster; accordingly his son and heir had equivalent standing to Marcus. I took that to mean I should be exceedingly polite. The Duke and his wife greeted him warmly and Marc stepped forward to escort him upstairs.

Knowing Marc as well as I did I could tell he didn’t like Devon immediately. “Devon,” Marc tipped his head slightly in greeting, “It is good to see you again.” Something told me that was exactly the opposite of how he felt, but he hid it so well I doubt anyone could have discerned it.

“Marcus, well met. I see you are in good health…still.” Devon replied. The slight pause before the word ‘still’ made it abundantly clear he wished it were otherwise. I watched him intently as they mounted the steps. He was of middling height with a lean athletic build and light brown hair. The moment I laid eyes upon the young lord I nearly gasped. He carried about him a strange radiance, almost a purplish aura and something about it made me feel mildly ill. I had never encountered anything like it before. For a moment his eyes met mine and they narrowed, I wondered what he might be seeing, as there was certainly nothing remarkable about me.

The moment passed and he continued up the stairs. My reverie was interrupted by the next guest, Stephen Airedale, the son of Count Airedale. He was an impressive young man with light blond hair and steel grey eyes. He was also the first person to emerge that was my equal in height, possibly he was taller. Marc’s sister Ariadne offered him her arm and the two of them proceeded up the stairs chatting amiably. Her mother had trained her well and I could see she would someday be a formidable socialite.

The next to get out was Master Gregory Pern, the son of the famous Admiral Pern. As the son of a military commander his standing within the aristocratic circles was minor, his father had been a commoner originally after all. Regardless, his father’s powerful shadow had a long reach and there were rumors that Gregory might be granted a minor title in the future. Before we go on I have to confess, if I sound knowledgeable about the aristocracy it is not through any great knowledge of my own. Marcus had tutored me on our guests that afternoon with some help from his sister.

Master Pern was being led away by Lady Thornbear who seemed quite comfortable on the arm of a handsome young man. She winked at me as they went by. Meanwhile her husband, Lord Thornbear had stepped up to escort Lady Elizabeth Balistair, daughter of Earl Balistair. She was lovely in her own right, although I would have said her nose was a bit too long and her green eyes were unsettling. She was also excessively tall for a woman, probably near five foot eleven inches. Not that that was a bad thing, but being as tall or taller than most men would make finding a husband difficult, and finding a husband would be important to Lady Elizabeth. The Balistair family was rumored to be having financial difficulties.

I had little time to think on that though, my turn had come. Lady Rose stepped out of her carriage and greeted the ducal couple warmly, and then she turned to me. I offered my arm as I had seen done, and she slipped her gloved hand across it. Truthfully she was one of the most beautiful women I could recall, with long dark tresses and warm blue eyes. Well, she might not be quite as pretty as Penny, certainly her figure was a bit slighter, but she had a definite presence. Her father, Lord Hightower was the nominal head of the royal guard and commander of the garrison in Albamarl. Reputedly their family name came from the tall bailey their family occupied in the capitol.

We walked up the steps carefully. I felt awkward walking next to such a graceful lady, but I did my best to cover it. “Lady Rose I understand this is not your first trip to Lancaster?” I said. You would never guess I had a note card hidden in my pocket with a list of similar conversational phrases, thanks to Ariadne. Marc’s sister was very thoughtful.

“Oh! Yes, yes I have visited twice before, when my father came to discuss matters with the Duke.” She seemed distracted, her eyes scanning the crowd when I asked my question. I wondered briefly who she might be looking for.

“I hope your previous stays were pleasant. Did you make any friends of note while you were here?” That question wasn’t on my list of approved topics, but I figured I could improvise.

She looked at me carefully and I could see a sharp intelligence behind her blue eyes, “Why yes I did. I was just a girl at the time but I was quite charmed with young Ariadne.” Her eyes slipped away from me, and it seemed as if they lit upon Dorian for a moment as he stood duty by the front doors. It might have been my imagination though, for she returned her glance to me but a second later. “How long have you lived in Lancaster, Master Eldridge?” she asked.

‘All my life’ I nearly said, but I caught myself, “Not long, but I’ve visited many times before.” She was no longer looking directly at me but it felt as if she was staring at me intently regardless. As we passed through the doorway I gave Dorian a quick wink to let him know things were going well, but he didn’t notice. His attention seemed fixed on my companion. My curiosity was definitely piqued.

“Her grace introduced you to me as a scholar Master Eldridge… might I inquire what it is that you study?” she queried. I thought I could detect a subtle undercurrent of humor in her question. Worse I had let too much time lapse and she had turned the questioning back upon me. I was definitely getting into murky waters here.

“Mathematics, Lady Rose, although I fear the term ‘scholar’ does me too much credit. I still feel myself a novice compared to the great mathematicians of old.” See I can be quite erudite when I try.

“You do not seem old enough to be so learned,” she remarked.

“In faith I am young my lady. It is a fact which has done me no good service. I shall be glad when at last can display grey hair as proof of wisdom.” I was rather proud of that one, I might be a natural.

“You do not think we should revere the wisdom of the aged?” Ouch, she had neatly turned that one back against me.

“That was not my intention at all. I merely imply that in matters of mathematics advanced years are no guarantee of wisdom, nor does youth necessitate its lack.” We had reached the sun room and I felt relieved that I might escape. I was beginning to doubt my ability to keep up with Lady Rose in the dueling dance of our conversation.

I started to excuse myself, but she held onto my arm for a moment, “Master Eldridge, relax. We’ve only just met. Let me give you some advice.” I looked down and her blue eyes caught me again. “You did well for a novice. In future don’t let your opponent have so much time to turn the questions to topics you would prefer to avoid.”

“Opponent?” I sputtered.

“Shush” she said quietly, then she smiled, a flash of white teeth under rose petal lips. “Don’t act so surprised, you’ll worry your friends.” She waved at Marcus for a moment. “Next time don’t let your eyes give away your thoughts so readily.”

Lord Thornbear came over suddenly so she let me have an easy out, “It was nice meeting you Master Eldridge, I hope we have a chance to talk more later.” She turned and began speaking with Lord Thornbear, seeming for all the world as if she had completely forgotten me already.

I took my chance and began making my way across the room, looking for Marc. I found him talking with Stephen Airedale. He saw me coming and excused himself for a moment to pull me aside, “Do me a favor would you? Devon has Ariadne cornered over there and I’m sure she could use a break, would you mind distracting him for a moment?” Me? It seemed that my friend was unaware of my status as a novice in the art of conversation, at least in these circles. But I couldn’t leave Ariadne without support, she was his sister after all, although she’d been a pain when we were younger.