Cold Magics

Chapter 7

4

Henry stayed silent until they reached the Residence. It was a large, regal-looking building only a block from the palace itself, built to house visiting dignitaries. Two guards flanked the very ornate, very tall double doors at the entry, and bowed when Henry stepped forward. One knocked at the door and a moment later it swung open. On the other side was a man who had a bearing similar to Brian, the butler at Thomas’s house, only a great deal haughtier. Henry walked in, tossing his cloak at the man.

“These two are with me,” Henry said. “Where is the rest of my party?”

“In the Rose Room,” said the man, catching the cloak and handing it to a footman without batting an eyelid or losing the slightest bit of his bearing. “Shall I take your sword, my lord?”

“Most certainly not,” said Henry. “Thomas, Alex, with me.”

The front hall was extravagant. A chandelier of at least fifty candles lit the room. The floor was marble, the stones laid out to perfectly follow the original grain of the rock, and polished bright. Henry strode through it without even wiping his boots, Thomas and Eileen hard on his heels.

Henry led them past a sweeping staircase that split halfway up to reach two balconies above and through a pair of smaller, ornate doors that led to a long, scrupulously neat and well-decorated hallway. Halfway down were yet another set of double doors. He threw them open and went in, drawing his rapier and dagger as he went. There was a shout from within. Thomas and Eileen drew their own blades and charged in behind him.

Henry was already halfway across the room, circling around a long, polished table holding the remains of a substantial dinner and a half-dozen bottles of wine. A dozen men, Sir Martin among them, were stumbling to their feet, staring at Henry.

“My lord,” said a large man dressed in deep red velvet from his spot near the head of the table, “What is it that you—”

Henry only stopped advancing when the point of his rapier was directly under Martin’s chin. “I seek a traitor.”

“I am no traitor,” said Martin, not backing away.

“I didn’t say it was you,” said Henry.

“Since your sword is at my throat I thought it a fair conclusion.” Martin’s tone was as condescending as one could manage under the circumstances. “Forgive my assumption.”

“Where have you been today, Sir Martin?” said Henry. “Before and after you came and spoke to me, where were you?”

“Here, Lord Henry,” said Martin, still not batting an eye.

“And I should believe that?”

“I haven’t left the Residence save to seek you,” said Martin. “And since you had no desire to listen to me about which allies to seek,” he took a moment to sneer at Thomas and Eileen, “I came back and stayed here.”

“I must ask, Lord Henry,” said the fat man near the head of the table, “who are these two, and why do they have drawn swords?”

“They’ve drawn because I have,” said Henry, his blade not wavering. “And they will remain drawn until I am satisfied. Who else did you talk to, Martin, when you came looking for me?”

“Your brother won’t be pleased if you kill me,” said Martin, his tone unchanged.

“I’ll give him a heartfelt apology.”

“He spoke to no one, my lord,” said another man, similar to Martin in build and dress. “I was with him the entire time, save when he went into the private room with you. He couldn’t have spoken to anyone without my seeing it.”

Henry’s eyes narrowed; the rapier remained at Martin’s throat.

Martin took a long, slow glance down at the blade, then back up at Henry. “I believe you owe me an apology.”

Henry didn’t blink. “You are confined to this building for the remainder of our stay. If you leave, I will ask the chancellor to order your execution.”

“On what grounds?” Martin demanded.

“Because I wish it.” Henry pulled the sword away and sheathed it in one motion, then turned to the table. He picked up the first bottle in reach and raised it to the light. It was empty. Henry hurled it into the fireplace, shattering it on the fire-burnt brick. Two other bottles soon followed the first. The fourth had wine in it. He looked to the man who had spoken in Sir Martin’s defence. “Have we three clean glasses, Sir Patrick?” he asked. “We are very much in need of a drink.”

The knight bowed and stepped away to a sideboard. All the others around the table visibly relaxed. Thomas realized his blades were still in his hands, and sheathed them. Eileen did the same a moment later.

Patrick came back with three glasses, and Henry divided the last of the wine among them. Patrick carried two to Eileen and Thomas, who took them warily. All eyes were still on Henry as the young lord raised his glass. “To death.”

“Death, Lord Henry?” the fat man repeated.

Henry drank the wine off in one swallow. “Someone tried to kill us tonight. Six on foot, with lanterns.”

Sir Martin turned pale, then red. “And you think I hired them?”

“Who else?”

“Your brother has no design on your life,” said Martin, his voice cold and hard.

“He would have my elder brother’s place,” said Henry. “Perhaps he thinks I’m in the way.”

“He thinks,” said Martin, “that you are inconsequential. Your brother’s seat doesn’t pass to Lord John if you die.”

“Get out,” said Henry. He turned his back on Martin and bowed slightly to the others. “The rest of you I must also ask to leave, save the barons, and Sir Lawrence. Henry looked over his shoulder at Sir Lawrence. “For some reason I feel the need for a guard.”

Sir Lawrence bowed, then went to the far wall, where a line of swords in their scabbards hung on pegs. He took one down and hung it from his belt, then went to stand behind Henry. The others bowed, collected their weapons and took their leave, brushing past Eileen, who was still standing in the doorway. Sir Martin, his jaw set and his face red, left last, taking the time to put the sword on before stepping out of the room. The fat man and another, shorter and slightly less stout man maintained their places.

“Close the door, Alex,” said Henry. Eileen did. Henry took off his sword-belt and seated himself at the head of the table.

The smaller man looked over Thomas and Eileen. “So, is one of these two…?” He didn’t finish the sentence, but looked at Henry pointedly.

“They both are,” said Henry. “Thomas was one of the two men. Alex there is the girl, Eileen.” He waved Thomas and Eileen towards two of the vacant chairs. “Sit, you two.”

Both the barons and Lawrence stared at Eileen in surprise. The larger of the two men recovered first and bowed to them as Thomas and Eileen took off their own swords and sat at the table. “I am Baron Cavish. My lands are the most southern of the duchy. I chose to escort Lord Henry here to see about securing more supplies for our castle, should it become the last point of retreat.”

“And I am Baron Meekin,” said the other. “My lands lie furthest north, and have been over-run by the invaders.” He looked closer at Thomas. “Is what Lord Henry says true?”

“Occasionally,” said Thomas, making both barons’ eyebrows rise. “What’s he saying?”

“That the bishop used magic against you,” said Baron Cavish. “And that you defeated the bishop’s men and then defeated the bishop.”

“They know all about the bishop’s magic,” said Henry, emphasizing the word enough for Thomas to know whose magic the men did not know about. “All the northern lords do. And of course, my father knows all the details.”

Of course he does, thought Thomas. Otherwise he probably wouldn’t have sent Henry down here in the first place. To the baron he said, “Yes, the bishop used magic, and yes, we defeated him.” He remembered Benjamin, lying on the ground in the midst of the standing stones. “There were five of us, though.”

“Is it true the bishop threw fire?” asked Baron Meekin.

“It is,” said Thomas.

“And you survived?”

“He didn’t throw it very well.”

Meekin chuckled at that. Baron Cavish shook his head. “I can scarce credit it.”

“Baron Cavish has not come under attack yet,” said Meekin. “He has only heard stories of what these attackers do. I lost my town to them.”

“I’m sorry,” said Thomas.

“Have you agreed to come north, then, Master Thomas?” asked Cavish.

“I have,” said Thomas. “Though my father may follow and drag me back to my studies.”

Cavish chuckled, this time. “I would, were you my son.”

“And is Eileen joining us as well?” asked Meekin, sounding rather disapproving.

“No,” said Thomas, before Eileen could answer. “Eileen’s parents don’t even know she’s here. If they find out I’ve taken her north, I’ll never be able to go home again.”

“Your parents don’t know where you are?” said Cavish, looking appalled. “How did you get here?”

“Boat,” said Eileen. “Then walked.”

“But…” The baron was practically stuttering. “Why?”

“To go to the Academy.”

“You?” asked Cavish, laughing.

“Me,” said Eileen, glaring at Thomas. “And I’ll come north, if you let me.”

“It is better you don’t, child,” said Meekin. “The raiders are not gentle with women.”

“Also, I should feel most upset if George was required to pull my head off because his little sister was hurt while under my protection,” said Henry.

Eileen crossed her arms and looked at the table. Her expression spoke volumes. Thomas rose to his feet. “I think Eileen and I should make our way home. It will be a long day tomorrow, and we should get some rest.”

“The girl is staying with you?” Baron Meekin looked positively affronted at the news.

“In her own room,” said Thomas, feeling suddenly defensive. “She has to stay somewhere.”

“She can stay here,” said Henry. “And so can you.”

“Henry—”

“Lord Henry,” corrected Henry. “You’ll have to respect to my rank when you come north.” He smiled. “Better get used to it now.”

“Of course, Lord Henry,” said Thomas. “But I think that we—”

“And that includes obeying my commands,” said Henry, smiling even wider.

You son of a… Thomas managed a smile back, and hoped Henry could read the mayhem in it.

“I don’t have to obey your orders unless you’re taking me with you,” said Eileen, rising to her feet. “And if you’re not, there’s nothing you can say to make me want to stay here.”

Henry didn’t blink an eye. “How about a bath?”

Eileen started to draw breath to refuse.

“A large, private bath,” Henry continued, “with bath salts. And a warm, dry robe to wear in front of the fireplace of your warm, private room with a very large, very comfortable bed.”

Eileen bit her lip. Henry kept going.

“And a set of new, clean clothes. And the ones you are wearing now washed and cleaned for you by morning.”

“I’d take it,” said Meekin. “It’s better than walking home in the cold.”

“I’ll even make Thomas take a bath, too,” said Henry. “As he most certainly needs one.”

“Hey!”

Eileen ignored Thomas’s protest, instead glaring at Henry. He waited, smiling. Finally, she gave in. “All right. I’ll stay.”

“Wonderful!” Henry bounced to his feet, went to the bell and rang it. A servant appeared at once. “Rooms,” said Henry. “One for each of these two, plus baths, fresh clothes and breakfast in the morning, please.” He held out a hand to Eileen. “My lady?”

Eileen ignored it. “I’m still coming with you.”

“No you’re not,” said Henry, still smiling. “Now off with you, and clean off that dirt that’s smudging your pretty face.”

“Oh!” Eileen picked up her sword-belt and started toward the door. Thomas followed, his own sword-belt in hand. He waited until the doors closed behind them. “Leave it to Henry to find your weakness.”

“If he thinks he’s getting rid of me this easily, he’s mistaken.”

Thomas sighed. “You can’t come, Eileen.”

“Why not?” she demanded, her voice getting louder with each word. “What am I supposed to do? Go home?”

“Yes!”

“But I don’t want to!” Eileen stopped in the middle of the hall. The servant moved a discreet distance away and became extremely interested in polishing a candle sconce with his handkerchief as Eileen rounded on Thomas. “You saw me tonight! I can fight!”

“It was your first real fight,” said Thomas. “And you were lucky they weren’t that good or they would have killed you.”

“The only real fights you’ve been in were against the bishop!”

“Aye, but I’ve had four years of training. You’ve had three months!”

“But I need to go!”

“Well, you can’t!” Thomas headed down the hall towards the servant.

“Thomas!”

Thomas forced himself not to turn back. “Please take us to our rooms.”

The servant hesitated only a moment. “This way, if you please.”

Thomas followed him and a few moments later heard Eileen do the same. The servant led them upstairs to a pair of luxurious rooms and, promising their baths would be soon available, bowed and left. Thomas looked back at Eileen, standing in her doorway. She glared at him, then stepped inside and slammed the door shut. Thomas glared at where she had been standing, then went to his own room, closing the door behind himself a little more firmly than necessary.