The Assassin's Destiny (Isle of Dreams) (14 page)

‘Now, let us finalise the
details.’  Fabian reached out and poured wine into the goblets, passing
one to Mistral before taking one for himself.  ‘If you are in agreement, I
will head our party –’

They all immediately murmured
their agreement.

‘We will not mention the gifts
that any of you possess.  If the situation arises where any of the party,
or the Council for that matter, persist in questioning you on why you are
present then lie!  Forgive me if I offend you, but you three are still
young.  The Rochfortes and the Council will be expecting more seasoned
warriors to be present on such an important Contract.  Some may naturally
assume that you are present because you possess a gift.  So, if pushed, we
will say that you two are in attendance to further your studies in politics and
that Mistral is present as my –’ Fabian paused and shot her an apologetic
glance ‘– fiancée.’

Mistral gaped at him and Fabian
laughed.

‘The Rochfortes will not
comprehend our somewhat unorthodox relationship Mistral.  They are Mages.
 I need to be able to offer them a reason they will understand.’

‘How about because I’m good at
what I do?’  Mistral demanded.

‘That would only spurn them on to
try and force you to prove your abilities.  No, it is better that they
believe you are there because I want to show you off – which I do of course,
and the twins are there because of their keen interest in Council affairs.’

‘I’m not sure that the words
“keen” and “Council affairs” go together.’  Mistral muttered into her
goblet of wine.

Smiling slightly, Fabian took a
swallow from his own goblet before continuing, ‘So, our cover is
established.  Now, when we arrive at the Council we will have to remove
all of our weapons before we enter the meeting, however, I strongly advise you
to wear your armour hidden beneath your shirts.  Now, I know Mistral has,
but do you two have gorgon skin armour?’   

The twins nodded.

‘Good, because if the meeting
becomes heated they may cast.  I also suggest that you smuggle a weapon of
some type into the meeting.  I always have a dagger concealed within my
boot.  For some reason, probably the arrogance of sorcerers, they never search
there.  We are to take a low profile position at the back of the Council
chamber.  Mistral?  You need to read all of the delegates constantly
and make me aware of any sudden or untoward emotions that you see in their
auras and Phantom, Phantasm?  You will need to listen carefully to what
Eximius outlines in his response to Antoine’s petition and influence his
decision appropriately.’  Fabian paused and fixed the twins with a hard
look.  ‘Should the meeting deteriorate, we will need to fight our way out. 
Do not try to protect each other but try to leave as quickly as possible. 
Gorgon skin is good armour but should you be cast upon directly I do not think
even it will prevent you from being seriously hurt or maybe killed.’

A heavy silence fell while they
all considered the possibility of fleeing for their lives amidst a storm of
spell casting in a room full of the most powerful Mages on the Isle.

Fabian shrugged, ‘I do not feel
it will come to that, however.  I am simply making you aware of all of the
possible outcomes.  Now, do you have any questions for me?’

‘Yes.’  Mistral sat up to
look at him.  ‘Do you want me to read Putreo too?’

‘Oh yes.’  Fabian replied
softly.  ‘I am sure he will try something to sabotage the meeting, but I
do not yet know what … I wonder … Mistral?  Can you read more than one
aura at once?’

Mistral looked at him in
surprise.  She had never even considered the possibility of reading more
than one person at a time.

‘I don’t know … Phantom,
Phantasm?  Would you mind if I tried?’ 

‘Be my guest.’  Phantasm
promptly replied.

‘Well, it’s nice to be asked for
a change.’  Phantom muttered sulkily.

‘Think away then brothers –
’ 

Mistral focussed on the air
midway between their two blonde heads and forced her mind to empty of all
thoughts.  A strangely detached sensation crept over her as she called
forth their auras, shimmering jointly into view around their heads. 
Disciplining herself not to focus on either in particular, she allowed her
peripheral vision to record the details.

‘Fabian?’  she asked softly.

‘Yes?’

‘Would you go stand by them
please?’

Fabian instantly rose from the
sofa and walked quickly to stand between the twins.  Almost immediately
his aura flooded her vision with a burst of familiar rainbow hues. 
Mistral regarded the three auras before her with clinical interest.  Each
individual aura was clearly defined but less acute, with the colours blending
into the aura of the person next to them to create a shimmering fog in the air
above their heads.

Mistral blinked and the illusion
vanished, ‘Well.  At least I’ve achieved something with my second year.’

‘You could see us all?’ 
Phantasm demanded excitedly.

‘Of course she could.’
 Fabian said quietly, his face glowing with pride.

Mistral grinned up at him, ‘You
were all there, revealed in your true glorious colours!’

Prospero whined and padded over
to the sofa.  Laying his head on Mistral’s lap he gazed up at her, his
tail wagging in anticipation.

‘I know boy.  It’s time to
eat,’

‘Oh good, because that smells
fantastic!  I must say I am pleasantly surprised that you can cook
Mistral.  Was this something you learned in Nevelte?’ 

‘Don’t ruin a good meal Phantom.’
 Mistral warned.

‘Sorry, sorry.’  Phantom
grinned.  ‘I promise not to mention the “N” word again.  Want me to
carry the casserole to the table?’

Replete after a good meal of boar
casserole and a generous amount of red wine, the twins collapsed into their
armchairs by the fire with contented yawns.

‘I think an early night is in
order.’  Phantasm declared sleepily and reached for his cloak. 

‘Definitely, I don’t think I
could move after all the food I’ve eaten anyway.’  Phantom agreed,
dragging his own cloak over himself and swinging his legs over the arm of the
chair.

Fabian walked softly over to where
Mistral was drying plates by the kitchen sink and wrapped his arms around her
waist.

‘Coming to bed?’ he whispered
into her ear.

Immediately dropping the linen
towel down onto the sink, Mistral took his hand to be led quietly past the
already snoring twins and up the wooden stairs to their bedroom only to be
greeted by the sight of Prospero sprawled out across the bed. 

Fabian regarded the dog silently
for a moment before sighing, ‘I think that dog has some status issues.’

Mistral laughed quietly and
nudged Prospero with her foot.  He opened one eye but didn’t move, as
though making sure that she really wanted him to go before jumping reluctantly
onto the floor and collapsing heavily by the side of the bed.

Fabian stretched out on the bed
with a satisfied sigh and watched Mistral sitting down on the edge of the bed
to unlace her boots.  Dropping them to the floor with a dull thud she
quickly slid across the bed and curled up against his side.  His arm
snaked around her, holding her tight.  She lay her head against his chest
and listened to the sound of his steady heartbeat, feeling the gentle rise and
fall of each breath. 

‘Will you promise me
something?’  she murmured softly.

‘I will.’

‘Whatever happens at the meeting
… if things go wrong and it does end up being a fight … you won’t risk your own
life by trying to protect me will you?’

Fabian didn’t reply but she heard
the sound of his heartbeats accelerate.

‘What would you say if I asked
the same of you?’ he finally murmured.

Mistral tilted her head to gaze
up at him, immersing herself in the black velvet of his eyes. 

‘I would do anything to still
have you alive.’

‘Then you understand why I cannot
make you that particular promise.  But, to more important matters, tell me
what you are going to cook for breakfast.  I am becoming quite impressed
by your culinary skills –’

Shortly after dawn the next
morning the horses were saddled and ready to leave.  Casting a final
glance over her shoulder at their honey-coloured house, Mistral breathed in the
cool morning air and cantered out of the yard after Fabian.  They followed
a rough trail leading them west, towards the high cliffs that formed the
coastline to the Isle.  As they rode around the edge of The Velvet
Forests, Prospero repeatedly vanished into the heavy undergrowth to return with
an unsuspecting rabbit between his teeth; some of which Mistral managed to
retrieve before he ate them.

‘That’s dinner sorted
then!’  she said with satisfaction, stringing a pair of rabbits to the
pommel of her saddle. 

‘Not going to be quite as good as
last night’s then.’  Phantom grumbled, giving the scrawny looking rabbits
a disparaging look.

‘Is that a compliment or a
complaint?’ 

‘Both actually.  I don’t
suppose there’s any chance of Prospero bringing down another boar is there?’

‘I don’t know Phantom, why don’t
you ask him?’  Mistral snapped.

‘I knew it was too good to last.’
 Phantasm sighed and kicked Jupiter into a trot to ride ahead of his
brother, leaving him to bicker with Mistral.

They made camp for the night on
the western outskirts of The Velvet Forests close to the sheer-sided cliffs
that fell away down to the western ocean.  The sound of waves crashing
repeatedly against the rocks reminded Mistral strongly of her night on Mage
Grapple’s warship.  Catching her eye as he threw another log on the fire,
Fabian gave her a private smile and she grinned back, knowing that he was also
recalling that night.

Mistral finished skinning the
three rabbits Prospero had caught during their day’s ride and speared each one
carefully before passing them to Phantasm to balance on the spit over the
blazing fire.

The twins talked quietly between
themselves.  Used their perpetual chatter, Mistral listened with half an
ear and leaned against Fabian’s side when he sat down and wrapped an arm around
her.  Giving a sigh of contentment she gazed happily into the
flames.  Nothing pleased her more than to have spent a day riding out with
Fabian and then have him next to her for the whole night. 

The fire crackled and guttered as
fat from the cooking rabbits dripped down.  Prospero whined and stared
fixedly at the roasting meat, a long string of drool hanging from the side of
his mouth. 

‘Don’t worry boy, one of them is
yours.’  Mistral reassured him.

‘A whole one?’  Phantom
exclaimed.  ‘You spoil that dog.  Which reminds me, I’m sure I caught
him eating one of the farm chickens the other day, there were feathers
everywhere and he looked distinctly guilty.’

‘Probably.’  Mistral smiled
indulgently at her dog.  ‘He quite likes to chase them.  I think he
finds it amusing when they squawk.  Anyway,’ she added in a sharper tone,
‘he caught those rabbits so he’s earned the right to eat one!’

Phantom huffed angrily but didn’t
reply and reached into this saddlebag to bring out a set of knucklebones.

‘Game?’ he asked tersely. 

‘Let’s eat first,’ said Phantasm,
turning the rabbits carefully.  ‘If I start a game with you before they’re
ready either the meat will get burned or you’ll cheat every time I have to turn
it.’

‘I would never cheat!’ 
Phantom declared, looking offended.

‘You so would.’ 
 Mistral said scornfully.  ‘Don’t forget I can read your aura. 
It goes bright silver whenever you play.’

‘Oh how many times Mistral? 
Will you please not read my private feelings without asking me first!’

‘You can read mine if you want,’
she offered casually.  ‘Oh sorry, forgot, you can’t can you?’

‘I’ve seen enough of your hidden
parts thank you very much!’  Phantom snapped. 

Fabian stirred slightly and
Mistral glared at Phantom.  He could argue with her all he wanted but to
make Fabian think that he had seen any of her that Fabian couldn’t was both
embarrassing and untrue. 

Before Mistral could frame a
suitably scathing reply a high-pitched giggle echoed out from the treeline
behind them.  They all immediately tensed.  Prospero turned his head
to stare into the darkness and growled and air was suddenly filled with the
scrabbling sounds of tiny clawed feet moving across bark.  Another burst
of irritating giggling rang out and Mistral caught a flash of something furry
scurrying high up in the trees near them.

Fabian uttered an oath under his
breath, ‘Spriggans!’

‘Damn it!  We’ll get no
sleep tonight!’  Phantasm cursed, standing up and looking towards the
treeline just as an acorn flew through the air and struck him squarely on the
forehead.

‘Little gits!’

Squeals of laughter rang out as a
shower of acorns began to hail down on them.  Fabian grabbed his cloak and
pulled it over him and Mistral, protecting them from the onslaught. 
Laughing softly, Fabian bent and kissed her under the cover of his cloak. 

‘Much as I’d like to stay under
here with you all night, you know that we are going to have to do something
about them don’t you,’ he murmured in her ear.

‘Allow me!’ she whispered back, suddenly
excited.  ‘I’ve been dying to try out something Cain told me about!’

‘As you wish, but promise me you
won’t come back with a bear this time,’ kissing her swiftly, Fabian lifted the
cloak from them and flinched as an acorn bounced off the top of his head.

‘Who’s up for a spriggan
hunt?’  Mistral asked, reaching for her knife belt. 

‘I will!’  Phantom shouted
from under his cloak, leaping to his feet eagerly.  ‘I hate those damned
tree rats ever since I had to hunt them in my first year and one of them bit me
on the nose!’