Michael Manning - Mageborn - The Blacksmith’s Son

“Baseless rumors?” James laughed, but it was a dark sound, “Think you I would put this before you with naught more than unfounded gossip? There are at least three direct witnesses to your action. Tremont’s son or not, your word would not carry enough weight to deny all of them.” James Lancaster did not in fact have three witnesses, but he had Dorian’s word that if Mordecai awoke there would be three, should the matter come to light.

“I am not even sure who the young lady is that I am supposed to have made these advances upon,” Devon answered.

The Duke’s face turned red and his jaw clenched, advancing on Devon it seemed he might draw his sword before he stopped, his face inches from the young lord’s, “Do not test me Tremont! Your father’s reach will not protect you here if I lose my temper. If you so much as touch another of my maids it will not be a paltry fine you face, I’ll string your liar’s head up from the gallows and war be damned!” He spat these words as if he were chewing nails.

Devon drew back, uncertain before the Duke’s fury, but he did not surrender the point, “You would do well to remember the tenets of courtesy while I am under your roof! If you seek to accuse me openly then do so, otherwise you cheapen your honor.”

James was livid and he leaned forward, “You dare speak to me of hospitality!? You trespass upon my bondsmen, you abuse those I protect, and then you claim the protection of hospitality! Mark my words, if I have cause to suspect you have harmed another person in these halls again and I’ll have you gelded, as your father should have been before he lay with your mother. Get out of my sight! You have until the week’s end. Once that is done I will have you gone. Save your whoring till you return to Tremont!” The Duke finished and strode away, standing with his back turned until Devon left the room.

Once he had gone, Genevieve entered the room, she had been listening. “Are you sure it is wise to risk this? His father may call you up before the assembly of lords.”

“He’s a fatherless son of a whore!” James was shouting now that Devon had left. It took her a few minutes to calm him down, but inwardly she agreed wholeheartedly. Her husband rarely lost his temper, and never without good cause. It was a point of pride to her that he would risk everything over an abuse to one of his people.

Later in the day, before the lunch hour a knock came on the door to my room. I had eaten a huge breakfast earlier and my strength seemed to be returning, but I still didn’t feel like walking about to answer doors. Luckily Penny was still with me, dressed now. She had been discussing the merits of having a bath brought in to get me truly clean. I wasn’t too keen on it but she seemed very attached to the idea. She rose and answered the door for me.

Father Tonnsdale stood in the hall. “May I come in?”

Penny started to turn him away, but I waved her off, I was beginning to feel like a bit of company. He came in and moved a chair to face the bed, then took a seat, “I spoke with the Duke yesterday, before your accident. And he told me that we had something in common.” He gave me a meaningful look, glancing toward Penny.

“Don’t worry Father, she already knows,” I replied. As a result of our…linking, among other things, Penny now knew an awful lot about me. Mostly regarding recent events, our feelings, and anything we had thought about during that one blissful hour. I couldn’t tell you for example what her mother’s birthday was, or even what she looked like. It hadn’t come up during that time.

“Ah, very good then. The Duke thought you might like to know about the events of that dreadful night,” his face was a mixture of sadness and nostalgia as he said this.

“Yes, whatever you might tell me. I was only an infant, so anything that might help me to understand would be appreciated,” I truly felt grateful to be in the presence, of someone, anyone who had actually been there.

He spent the next hour relating the events of that terrible night, which from his perspective had been pretty boring. He had been fasting in preparation for the special spring dedication to be held the next morning. It was a yearly holiday celebrated by all the adherents of Millicenth the Evening Star. The Evening Star was one of the more popular goddesses in Lothion, and had been venerated by the Cameron family as well as the Lancasters.

Because of his fast he had been in the chapel all that evening, skipping dinner, which ultimately saved his life. When the fire started in the main keep he came out to see what was going on, but once he saw the strangers in black garb he knew he had best stay hidden. Even so they beat down the door to the chapel after he locked himself in, but he had hidden himself in a secret storeroom used to keep the church’s relics safe at night. He was one of only a small handful that survived the night. The rest died of poison, fire, or were butchered when the assassins found them.

After that he described my parents to me, but none of it was really new. The one thing that surprised me was the small silver star he gave me. “I helped with their burials. Another priest came to assist since we had so many, but I dressed the bodies of the Cameron family before they were buried. Your father’s body was never found and your mother’s was lost as well, but this belonged to your grandfather, the Count di’Cameron. I’m sure he would have wanted you to have it.”

I was touched to say the least. Raising the small symbol to my lips I kissed it and put it over my neck. Like his own symbol I could see that it held a faint golden radiance, a sign of its connection with the goddess herself. I thanked him as best I could and he left shortly after.

I sat staring at the silver star for a short while, and Penny sat down beside me. “Does it make you sad to think on it?” she asked.

“A bit,” I answered. “I’ve never met either of my grandparents, and know even less of them than I do my parents. At the same time, as of a few days ago I had no knowledge of any of them. It all feels sort of made up. Inside I’m still Mordecai Eldridge, and I feel guilty that I don’t feel more for these people that are gone.” Penny was a good listener and we talked for a while, till another knock came at the door.

Before Penny could reach it, Dorian opened it from without and announced, “His Grace, James, Duke of Lancaster is here.” That was all the warning we got before he strode into the room. The Duke looked in good health, he moved briskly and his face was slightly flushed, as if he had been exercising. I didn’t know that he had recently confronted Devon Tremont, but I would have been glad if I had known.

As it was, he seemed to be full of energy. “Mordecai!” he said, in a rather loud tone. “I am most relieved to see you awake and moving again.” Rather than pull up the chair he sat on the bed with me.

“The reports of my demise were premature your grace,” I answered smiling.

“I told you, call me James when we are alone,” he replied. “I was planning to have your commendation ceremony and oath of fealty taken tonight, but it seems that will not happen for a few days more at least. You seem to be gaining strength quickly though.”

“Thanks to Penny, she has been an angel of mercy through all of this,” I smiled at her.

“Yes I have some matters to discuss with Penny as well,” and he looked at her grimly.

“I cannot thank you enough for your care of my nephew,” he said, “I understand that you burst in upon my lady wife and insisted Rose help you find him?”

“Yes your grace,” she kept her eyes down.

“You seem to have a touch of the prophet’s gift I hear. No matter. Then yesterday you stood your ground and told me in no uncertain terms that if I tried to usher you from the room I would… let's see… what was it?” He was searching for words.