Davie the Mage (Generations of Eredwynn Book 2) (16 page)

              “I wouldn’t use her name. Any time I do, she appears and eavesdrops on me. Would you join me for lunch?”

              She smiled. “We have plenty of food at home now but I haven’t had lunch yet. Yes, I’ll join you.”

              We went to the kitchen to eat, were served quickly, and I got a few winks. Mira said, “Isn’t it a bit odd for the Lord of the castle to eat in the kitchen? I thought they had the great hall and all the fancy things for meals.”

              “My father is the King and he still takes meals with the kitchen staff. They haven’t kicked me out yet and it just makes it easier on everyone this way.” After we ate, we walked outside. “So what would you like to do for our ‘getting to know each other’ day?”

              “I don’t know. We could go walk down by the docks and talk.”

              “We could go and see where the fishermen are working and check on how the day is progressing. I could take you if you’ll trust me.”

              She nodded nervously. “I’ll trust you, if you say it’s safe.”

              “You’ll be completely safe with me, Mira, I promise.” I felt a twinge in the pit of my stomach as if I were hearing an echo of myself, but let it go. We walked to the courtyard and I cast
levitate
on her. I offered her my hand as she started rising from the ground. She tittered and grabbed my hand. I smiled. “See how much trouble I’ll go through just to get you to hold my hand?”

              I rose slowly over the castle walls and flew west over the docks, listening to Mira’s almost nonstop giggling. We climbed to a thousand feet and scanned around for the fishing boats. They were fairly close together and I flew directly above them. Looking down from that altitude, it was easy to see the schools of fish that were below their boats. One school was drifting to the south but the boats seemed to be pointed north. I flew down, startling the crews, which Mira thought was very funny. I told them that I could see the school and if they would swing south, they’d have better luck. They didn’t even argue with the flying man and his companion. Within minutes, they had turned south and dropped their nets right in the middle of the school. As they retrieved their nets, they smiled and waved. We flew back up, and then higher. She could see the panorama of the province as she’d never dreamed she would. I could see the enraptured look on her face and I was happy. I started us drifting down, angling for the castle courtyard.

              When our feet hit the ground, she just looked at me for a moment. She smiled shyly, “Thank you so very much for that. I do have to be getting home now and I can find my way. I’ll try to come see you whenever I can.” She hugged me and kissed me twice on the cheek.

              I smiled happily, remembering our conversation from the night before. “Be safe, Mira, and come whenever you can. Should I apply the meaning I want to those two kisses?”

              She smiled, blushed and shrugged then hurried toward the gate. I sighed and watched her go. I returned to the court room and I’m sure that other things happened. I was daydreaming in the clouds a mile above.

Chapter Thirteen

            
 
A
couple months went by and I was blissfully happy. The fishing industry was booming and we’d built a new road to the north of the castle for the fish wagons. Having them rattling in front of the gate was annoying and dangerous. We were selling fish and getting good prices from all the cities on my half of the kingdom. I made sure we stayed out of the cities James delivered to. Mira came nearly every day. The days that she didn’t were long, boring and unbearable. Perhaps that’s too dramatic, but I liked the days she came much better.

              One day, as Mira was waiting for my docket to end, the herald announced, “His Highness James Stephenson, to abuse his little brother”.  James walked in, grinning from ear to ear. Mira curtsied.

              James said, “This must be the young lady I’ve heard so much about. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you!”

              She wouldn’t raise her head. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

              James looked at me. “Does this girl know how you feel about her? If she did, she’d know that she’s one step away from being family. All this ’Your Highness’ stuff has got to go. My name is James to you, Miss.”

              She smiled and looked up shyly. “Thank you, James. My names Mira and I’m not family yet. Davie’s mother has adopted me but I’m not sure that counts.

              James grinned. “Well, if Aunt Alba thinks it counts, then we won’t argue. It’s always safer to let her have her way. What I came for was a tour of the fishing industry of Seamore. I’ve heard that it’s booming and had to see if you knew anything I didn’t.”

              I smiled. “Why don’t we walk down there and see, if Mira has time before she needs to be home.”

              Mira smiled and took my hand. “I’d be happy to walk with you gentlemen and then you can see me to my street. I should be the safest young lady in the kingdom, with you two as escorts!”

              We walked and talked and I realized that James couldn’t care less about the fishing business. He was just here as an excuse to meet Mira and to visit with me. When we completed the tour, we continued past the gate and into town. At the usual spot Mira wished us both a good night, kissed me gently and continued around the block.

              James said, “I’d also heard about this odd behavior. Haven’t you followed her to see where she’s off to? She might have a husband and six kids you don’t know about!”

              “She asked me not to, and I trust her. I really love her, James and I’m thinking of asking her to marry me.”

              “I’m very happy for you little brother. I’ve never been through this growing town of yours. Mind if we walk around for a while?”

              I chuckled, “I don’t mind walking, but don’t go looking for Mira.”

              He laughed. “The thought had crossed my mind, but I won’t do that if you don’t want me to. I actually would like to see the town. It’s built differently than mine, with the town surrounding the castle like it does.”

              We wandered down the street for a while and I saw a business that I didn’t recognize. I was sure it had been there, but I hadn’t come this way during my short tour. I usually flew over to see how things were going and couldn’t read shop signs from the air. I pointed it out to James and asked him if he knew what it was.

              “An Apothecary? Sure, I know what that is, but they usually only have them in big cities. The proprietor mixes up medicines and poisons, that kind of thing.”

              His mention of poison slammed me in the gut. “Do you think we could describe symptoms of poisoning and he could give us an idea of the toxin?”

              “Perhaps, and asking is the only way to find out, but will you be okay, little brother? I haven’t seen that look in ages.”

              “I’ll be fine, and if things go wrong, I’ll head for open water. Let’s go see if we can learn anything.”

              We went in the shop and the owner greeted us. I asked if he’d be able to tell what kind of toxin someone was affected by if I told him the symptoms.

              He said, “I’ve dealt with most known poisons at one time or another. I might be able to help you.”             

              “Is there a poison that if someone were scratched with it, they would feel weak and short of breath, and then die, all in less than an hour?”

              The man nodded quickly. “There is a poison that comes from an odd fish off the coast of Sabia. I actually carry that in very small amounts. Some farmers and ranchers have problems with bears. I put the toxin on arrowheads and cover them with wax. It can drop a full grown male bear in less than a minute, if he’s shot where it will get to his blood stream quickly.”

              James was in my mind, “
Calm yourself, brother. We don’t know anything yet. Let’s learn what we can and follow the leads. Just stay calm and breathe!”

              I said, as conversationally as I could, “Do you have any record of to whom and when you may have sold that toxin last?”

              He nodded. “Yes, My Lord. I keep very detailed records, especially when that toxin is involved. I hate the stuff, but it does serve its purpose. Yes, the last sale was six months ago and the sale was to a man by the name of Cenric. Actually, I believe you might know him. He worked at the castle for a time, as Regent.”

              James said, “Thank you for your time, sir.” and pushed me out of the shop. “Davie, with that charge you’re building, you’ll kill half the people in this town. Pull it together, my brother. Perhaps we need to go locate Baissel or Aunt Gwen?”

              I focused every ounce of my will into calming myself and putting the magic to rest. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. “We have to finish this now, James. I think we should ask around for his residence, because if I cast for him, I might
port
only his head and we wouldn’t get any answers.”

              James started going shop to shop, asking for Cenric’s home. Finally, at the third shop, he got directions. He led the way down one of the poorer streets in town and almost to the end. He knocked on the door and when Cenric answered, he was pushed back inside, with James and me following.

              The man was ghost white and said, “I should have known better, since you’re all wizards. But I had to try.”

              A female voice came from the back. “Father, did I hear someone at the door?” Mira rounded the corner, tying a robe around her.

              James muttered, “Oh, Shit!” and ported us all to the court room. He yelled toward the back of the room, “Baissel! GET FATHER!”

              I stood there, completely numb from head to toe. I wasn’t even sure I had substance. I just stared from Cenric to Mira and back again.

              Mira finally spoke. “Davie, you promised not to follow me. Father told me that you hate him and wouldn’t speak to me if you knew who I was. I love you, Davie, and know you love me, too. I don’t know what your differences are with my father, but I hope you don’t hold it against me.”

              James said, “Cenric, perhaps you’d like to explain why Davie is about to level this castle and perhaps the town, too. I’d really like to hear it before we die.”

              Cenric took a breath. “Let my daughter leave and I’ll explain. I know that you wizards have ways of making people tell the truth but that won’t be necessary. As soon as Mira is…”

              “No,” I said flatly, “I want her to hear, so James can read her and know what she knew.”

              James nodded as Father, followed by a group of wizards, flooded the courtroom. Father looked at me and went pale. I was starting to glow and it was visible to everyone in the room, not just those able to see magic. I knew he didn’t fear for himself but for everyone else.

              Cenric said, “I’d heard that you were going to get this castle. I knew that if you met my daughter you’d love her, because of her beautiful nature. She gets that from her mother, but I suppose you guessed that. I had visions of you two falling in love and marrying. Then I would know she would always be taken care of. I was right, too! When you met her and spent time with her, you fell for her. But you showed up here married and shattered my dream. I knew that the only way to get the dream back was to remove your wife from the picture. I bought the fish toxin and scratched her with the arrowhead.”

              James looked at me and said, “Davie, GO!”

              I sprinted for the front door, into the courtyard, shielded and was in the air headed west. I broke the sound barrier less than a mile off shore, fifty feet above the water. For five minutes I concentrated on getting away from people. I knew I was going to detonate. I pulled into a straight up climb for two miles and hovered. The man had a dream of his daughter marrying a prince and ripped out my heart and destroyed my dreams. She didn’t know, that much was clear even without having James’ ability. He had no right to take my Amber from me! The magic exploded from me, straight up. One incredibly powerful burst.

              I was being flown like a preflight Novice. I saw James flying ahead of me, with Father beside him. I shielded and slipped out of the bubble. I flew up beside them, just as we made landfall. They were both shocked.

              James shook his head, “You can’t be conscious and surely can’t be doing magic. That blast you put out drained you, so you should be unconscious for days! It’s pretty, by the way.”

              I looked back to the west and the sky was glowing with greens, reds and blues. I knew it could be seen for hundreds of miles. I stated calmly, “We have some business to finish.” Then I walked to the courtyard.

              When I’d run out, everyone had followed me, even Mira and Cenric. Everyone was staring at my magic burst and didn’t even notice when Father, James and I walked in. I took a deep breath and announced, “Father, I defer to the family. I can’t trust my judgment on this. I would like to speak with Mira, if she’ll allow it.” She heard me and nodded. I walked away from the group with her following.