Jake's Women (Wizards) (17 page)

30.
      
Truths

I waited impatiently while the nobles arrived at the table. Esmeralda insisted that I wait to tell what I had learnt until the King arrived and not tell her first. The King arrived last and we all sat down after he had taken his seat.

“Esmeralda tells me you have news of Urda and Anna. I assume this means you have been to Barren despite your own eloquent arguments as to why you should not.” The King sounded almost annoyed.

“Circumstances have changed. My parents were kidnapped and taken to a cave on another world. They were close to death when I found them.”

The King leaned over the table towards me. “You believe the Cult of Bronwyn was behind this?”

“No, this was a group versed in magic theory, far beyond the books that Bronwyn stole.”

Esmeralda tapped her fingers on the table in annoyance.

“The Royal collection is second to none and has books written by the Valhallans amongst others.”

“This magic showed sophistication in advance of the Valhallans. The multiverse is probably full of such places.”

The King sat back. “If it wasn’t an attack by the Cult, what urgency was there in going to Barren?”

“If Urda wasn’t in Barren, then she and Anna might have been kidnapped by the other group. I needed to know.”

“And you risked the security of Salice because of your need to know?” Esmeralda asked, only it wasn’t really a question.

“The deed is done,” Captain Treva said. “What point is there in going over the reasons?”

Esmeralda glowered at the Captain for a few moments. When he looked suitably cowed she turned back to me.

“Tell us what you found,”

So I set out the whole thing as best I remembered it.

“You are sure they weren’t acting against their will?” Esmeralda asked.

“Nothing obvious suggested they were. Urda is capable of blocking any attempt at mind control, though Anna doesn’t have the skills to resist.”

“It is difficult to believe they would betray us,” the King added.

“Perhaps they have not,” Esmeralda said quietly.

Her thinking wasn’t clear to me. “It sure looked like betrayal to me.”

Esmeralda gave a wan smile. “Oh yes. It would appear they have betrayed you, but not necessarily Salice.”

I gave her my
you’ve lost me there
look.

Instead of answering, Esmeralda asked me another question.

“Are the people of Tydan content with their lot?”

I shrugged. “Their whole world was dying for lack of water. Now they have a fresh water sea covering half the planet. They have enough food and water for the first time in who knows how many years. The Cult has set up a police force that seems to be fair and everyone is prospering. They seemed happy to me. But I remember the madmen who ruled them not so long ago, not to mention the Evil Bronwyn era.”

“Madmen that Bronwyn killed,” Esmeralda reminded me.

For a moment I was lost in a memory of crucified people screaming in agony. Of blackened corpses where she had men and women burnt at the stake; of people staring numbly at their own bowels, cut from them while they still lived.

“None of them died quickly or painlessly.”

“But die they did. In many ways Bronwyn has proved a good ruler; perhaps even an ideal goddess. She has brought peace, prosperity, and harmony to her people. It is no wonder they love her.”

“No one could love Evil Bronwyn,” I said. “She was consumed by hatred and fear.”

“But she is not that person now,” Esmeralda continued. “At least, we do not think she is.”

“I don’t see what you are getting at?” I rarely understood Esmeralda when she was in full on statesman mode.

“There was no threat to attack Salice or other worlds in her words. All their hatred is directed at you.”

“I think our riflemen efforts should be focused on the Lord Wizard when he is in Salice,” Treva suggested to murmurs of approval.

“Just what I need,” I replied.

When the meeting was over, Esmeralda and I returned to out apartments. Morgana was crying and Esmeralda rushed to pick her up and cuddle her. Despite her best efforts Morgana stayed upset.

“She misses Merlin,” Esmeralda informed me. “They do not like to be apart for long.”

This seemed highly unlikely to me and I said so. Though, with Urda and Anna gone, they couldn’t have been seeing each other much.

“Hold her and see for yourself. She has ways of making her desires known.”

I took Morgana in my arms and she waved her arms about, catching me on the nose. There was no doubt she wanted something. At the magical level, the tendril connected to Merlin was pulsing energetically.

Without any warning the crying stopped and she started gurgling happily.

“See, she just wanted to be held by her Daddy.”

“Look to the window, My Lord Wizard.”

I looked out of the window and Esmeralda joined me. From that vantage point we could see the large square of grass the cloisters surrounded. Since it had snowed recently the quadrangle was a perfect square of white; a square with a dragon at its center. I saw Jenny get down from Fluffy, carrying Merlin. Fluffy vanished leaving them standing alone.

“They usually arrive there,” Esmeralda said smugly. “Morgana gives me warning.”

Jenny looked up at us and waved. Though from that distance it was unlikely she could recognize us. Morgana waved back.

“Is she old enough to do that?”

“Our daughter is very advanced for her age.”

There was no doubt my children were synchronized in their playing. Put them down on a mat together and they would wave their arms in unison. Prop them up close enough to touch each other and their hands would reach out for each other.

“Do either of you find that a bit disturbing?” I asked my wives.

“They love each other,” Jenny said with a smile on her face. “And I think they are learning twice as fast as normal babies. The health visitor said as much on Monday.”

“They are royal babies,” Esmeralda said with pride.

“Okay, just me then.” Still, they were my kids and I loved them. I just hoped the weirdness faded as they grew, otherwise getting babysitters back in Wales was going to be a problem.

Getting away from both wives was more difficult than with one of them, as I could usually blame whichever one I wasn’t with for having to leave. It was early evening, both were eyeing me up to sleep with them and that gave me a lever. They would rather I slept alone than with the other woman.

“I need to do something about that letter the Inspector gave me. Maybe show it Fluffy and get his opinion. I’ll probably sleep at the Bat Cave or my parents.”

“Retnor is picking me up tomorrow morning. Don’t you dare make him late,” Jenny protested. But it was only half a protest as she eyed up Esmeralda. My wives got on best together when I wasn’t present and they could moan about me.

“You will not return to either of us this night?”

That was typical of Esmeralda, making sure I wouldn’t sneak back to Jenny’s bed.

“Absolutely not.”

“Then you may depart once you have kissed your wives and children goodbye.”

I gave Esmeralda a quick peck on the cheek, which prevented any rivalry as I did the same to Jenny. I tickled my children’s tummy and they gurgled in appreciation. Then I hopped to Betty’s.

I ended up knocking at the front door. Mr. Hardy answered.

“Jake, what are you doing here at this time of night?”

“I was er… just passing.” As far as I knew Mr. Hardy was not aware of Betty’s many liaisons, let alone that she was having a relationship with me and was a part time seer.

Betty walked down the stairs to save me from further questioning.

“Jake’s just here on a flying visit. He told me he was hoping to see me, but I forgot to tell you.”

“Come about the probate on the treasure trove, I reckon.”

“Yes, Dad. He could use the money.”

Her father nodded sagely.

“We all could. Money’s dropped right out of the dairy market. Reckon we’ll have to create our own cheese and sell it to toffs that know no better.”

“Yes Dad,” Betty said a little wearily. “Come up to my room, Jake, and leave Dad to his grumbles.”

She ran up the stairs, leaving me to shrug at her father and run after her. As soon as I entered the room, she slammed the door shut and jumped on me. We ended up sprawled on the bed with her hand firmly wrapped around my manhood.

“I thought you were mad at me?” I asked as she started to squeeze.

“I am, but sex first, anger can wait for afters.”

 
“It’s lucky you’re good at one thing. Makes up for all the others.” Betty sat up and pulled her underwear up.

I zipped up my jeans. Betty had not wanted to wait for such niceties as getting undressed.

“Did you look at the letter I left?”

“Such a sweet note from a lover.”

“Can you read it?”

Betty shook her head. “It’s not any kind of ancient language from Earth despite its similarity to runic. But I don’t expect the contents to be revealing. This is hate mail combined with arrogant smugness. It was written to get you blamed, not to identify the writer.”

Betty was impressive. I had no doubts at all that what she was telling me was the truth.

“Anything else?”

Betty pondered. “It’s not connected with the other people who attacked you. There’s no higher motive. This man or woman wants you dead and it’s strictly personal. I think you’re connected to him or her in some way.”

“Someone I know?”

“I don’t know.”

I sat back down on her bed. “I think your Dad is getting suspicious.”

Her laughter was unexpected. “Dad knows that you’re a wizard, well a magic user, and he knows you teleported here. He’s not a fool, my Dad.”

“And the sex?”

Betty frowned before answering. “He probably knows. I take after Mum.”

I knew nothing about Betty’s mother. For some reason I thought she was dead though I didn’t remember Betty saying anything about her.

“I thought your mum was…?”

“Not unless living in Rotherham is dead. She’s been in touch after all the publicity about the hoard. Wanting a slice. Dad told her to get stuffed.”

“Is she…?”

“Sex mad? Dad caught her screwing the farm hands. All three of them, two lined up and waiting their turn.”

“I meant a Norn.” Talking to Betty was always difficult. She had an irreverence that made me look sober by comparison.

Betty considered. “She might be. It’s difficult to tell.”

“What about her aura? I can see the line of gold in yours.”

“Not had the chance to look at her since I got the sight. She left us when I was three.”

“And never came back to see you?” I was shocked.

“Not a word until the gold turned up.” Betty turned to the dressing table and started searching it. She finally found a sheet of note paper.

“I’ve got some things to tell you. I wrote a list.”

She started mumbling as she ran her finger down it.

“Have sex, done. Knife, knife…”

“I have it back,” I pointed out.

“Knew that, no that wasn’t it. Oh yes. Don’t forget the knife reveals many truths, not just possessed elves.” Her eyes scanned further down the page. “Your children? Nope, not going to say a word.”

“What about my children?”

“They’ll be fine. Oh yes, this one is important. The government is willing to let us have some of the money from the treasure trove early, though we will have to pay it back with interest if anything goes wrong. A quarter of a million pounds each. I’ve sent your wife in Wales the letter.”