The Seer (60 page)

‘Mage Grapple is
having a preliminary meeting with Master Sphinx and Mage De Winter.’
 Phantasm informed her in a low voice while he settled himself onto his
chair.  ‘Mage Grapple will inform us of our remit for the meeting before
it begins.’

‘Can’t wait.’
 Mistral responded in a bored voice.  ‘What’s this one about again?’

‘Since you
couldn’t be bothered to read the brief, I suppose I shall have to tell you.’
 Phantasm sighed wearily.  ‘The Head of Internal Liaisons –’

‘Mage
Castledine.’  Phantom interrupted pedantically.

‘– has
proposed a policy to extend the curriculum taught in the Council School to
include learning the five elven languages –’

‘Elves speak
five different languages?’

‘No, there are
five main tribes, and each has their own language.’

‘Doesn’t that
make communicating a bit awkward?’

‘Well, they
are very similar, so they can understand each other quite easily.  In
fact, they are so similar that it’s more a case of it being one language with
five slight variations on few words.’

‘What a waste
of time!  Why don’t they just speak one version?’

‘Ah, but which
one Mistral?  It becomes a matter of pride you see.’

‘How
ridiculous.’

‘I agree,
however, the point is that at the moment only French is taught as a second
language in the Council School because of the Rochforte connection, but the
elven population on the Isle has grown to such an extent that they now hold two
seats on the Council are starting to have more influence in Council matters –’

‘Which is only
right, since the Isle was created to be haven to Arcanes as well as
Mages.’  Phantom interjected in a righteous voice. 

‘Anyway.’
 Phantasm continued briskly.  ‘Since the debacle of the interpreter
who got bored and propositioned a foreign delegate on behalf of one of the
elves, the need to be able to speak elven without relying on a translator has
become a fairly urgent matter.’

Mistral sighed
while she mulled over the reason for the meeting, ‘So, to summarise, Castledine
wants elven on the curriculum.  Riveting.  But what’re we doing
here?  It’s hardly a matter that requires the services of a Seer and two
mind controllers is it?’

‘Are you
kidding?  Teaching Mage children an Arcane language?  It’s a bold
suggestion, and it’s going to meet a lot of resistance!  I’m sure Mage
Grapple will want to know who feels adversely towards the proposal, and I have
no doubt that’s why we are here –’

‘You are quite
correct.’

The twins
instantly rose to their feet as Mage Grapple swept into the room.  Noting
their response Mistral also stood up to find herself looking straight into the
disturbing mismatched gaze of the Head of the Mage Council.

‘Lady De
Winter, I understand congratulations are in order.’

‘Er, thanks.’
 Mistral managed to mumble, thrown as ever by the intimidating directness
of his stare. 

Fabian and Leo
had entered the room behind Mage Grapple and were now stood on either side of
him.  Looking unusually relaxed, Fabian smiled at her and reached out to
take her hand, drawing her to his side before he turned to speak to Mage
Grapple. 

‘Thank you for
agreeing to hold your meetings here Eximius.  I appreciate the
inconvenience that it will cause you.’

Mage Grapple
shrugged lightly, ‘It does not matter to me where the meetings are held, only
that the right outcome is achieved from each.’  He swung around and began
to pace the floor with his hands clasped behind his back.  ‘Castledine’s
proposal will be met with disapproval by some of the other Council members
present at today’s meeting; however I want the proposal to go through.’ 
He turned to fix Mistral with his cold stare.  ‘There are four eligible to
vote today and I hold the deciding vote.  What I need to know from you
today, Lady De Winter, is which of those four is least disposed towards the
proposal and why.  We will break for a late lunch before the vote is cast
and you can inform me of your findings then.’  He continued to pace the
floor with his head bowed in thought before halting in front of the twins and
giving them their instructions.  ‘I want you to advise Lady De Winter of
the identities of each of the Councillors present today and inform her of any
other details you feel are pertinent.’

Mistral
gritted her teeth, not only was it was the third time that Mage Grapple had
called her by that stupid title, but he’d also just given Phantom leave to fill
her head with inane Council gossip for the duration of the meeting.  She
felt Fabian squeeze her hand slightly and glanced at him to see a smile lifting
one corner of his mouth.

‘Do you wish
us to influence the outcome of the vote?’  Phantasm asked.

Mage Grapple
gave him a cold look, ‘No.  The right outcome will be achieved through
reason, not through deception.  Your role here today is purely to advice
La –’

‘Mage
Grapple!’  Mistral broke in before she could stop herself.  ‘I
really,
really
would rather you called me by my first name.’

‘And would you
like to call me by mine?’  He asked in return.

Mistral
hesitated while she considered being on a first name basis with the austere,
scarred figure of the Head of Mage Council, ‘Thanks, but not really.  It just
wouldn’t feel respectful enough.’

‘Precisely my
answer Lady De Winter.  You are the Ri’s Seer, the only one on the Isle in
fact, and married to sole survivor of one of the most distinguished families in
Mage history.  I hold you in the highest esteem and as such, shall refer
to you by the title bestowed upon you.’

Mistral
sighed.  It looked like she was never going to win that one.

‘Mage
Grapple?’  Phantasm cut in before he could continue.  ‘If the outcome
of the vote goes the way you wish, won’t the other Councillors just assume that
we have used our gift to influence them under your instructions and claim the
decision as null and void?’

‘I agree that
would be the case, should you be present during the vote.  However you
will not be.’

Phantasm
frowned and looked about to speak but a sharp look from his brother stopped
him, ‘Of course,’ he demurred quietly.  ‘We will retire from the meeting
once you have all broken for lunch.’

‘Then unless
you have any questions, there are no further points I wish to cover before the
meeting begins,’ he paused and looked expectantly at the twins who shook their
heads.  ‘Good, then Master Sphinx and I shall go and summon the
Councillors and elven delegates from the delightful surroundings of The Cloak
and Dagger.’

Mistral blinked,
she was certain she had seen the hint of a smile cross the ravaged features of
Mage Grapple’s face. 

‘Nice easy one
then!’  Phantom declared the moment the door closed behind Mage Grapple
and Leo. 

‘Oh, don’t be
so lax brother.  We need to keep Mistral informed of who’s who.  Now,
let’s just go over a few details together before they arrive –’

Leaving the
twins gossiping about the Council officials, Fabian led Mistral to the fire at
the other end of the room.

‘Are you
staying for the meeting?’  She asked, half wanting him to and half
not.  To have him there would undoubtedly be a distraction, but not to
have him there would probably prove even more distracting.

‘Yes, Bryden
Wolfsnare is one of the elven representatives.  He’s requested that I attend
the meeting to act as a mediary between the Mage and Arcane races.’  He
paused by the fire and turned to face her, gazing at her with velvet eyes so
soft she felt her heart skip a beat.  ‘You look beautiful today,’ he
murmured, glancing down at her dress.

‘Oh!’ 
She instantly blushed and tugged self-consciously at the neckline.  ‘It’s
a bit low.  I’m not sure what Eudora was thinking.’

‘I know what
I’m thinking –’

So did she and
her heart proceeded to perform a series of erratic somersaults, ‘So why are you
going to leave me and take this Contract then?’  She blurted and instantly
could have kicked herself for ruining the moment.

He cupped her
face in one hand, pulling her gently towards him to kiss her lips, releasing
her with a smile to murmur softly in her ear, ‘I haven’t taken the Contract
Mistral.  It is not mine to take.’

‘You know
you’ll be one of the winning warriors Fabian.  No-one can ride like you.’

Fabian laughed
quietly, ‘You are perhaps a touch biased when it comes to my abilities
Mistral.  A trait I adore you for, but I assure you that there are other
warriors in the Ri who ride far better than I do, you for one.’

‘Huh, I’m
banned from entering, or had you forgotten?’

He tilted his
head and ran his eyes down her dress, stopping at the burgeoning swell now
apparent at her waist, ‘How could I?’  He asked softly. 

Mistral
sighed, ‘You know the twins have threatened to teach me French if you go.’

‘I am sure you
will be an excellent student.’  Fabian smiled.  ‘And
if
I go,
it will only be because you are willing.  I would not leave if you felt
unsafe and did not wish me to.’

‘Unsafe? 
From what?  Being bored to death?  And of course I don’t want you to
go, but that’s because I’m selfish and anyway, I don’t want you to stay, I want
to go with you!’

‘Well you
can’t, but,’ Fabian was suddenly serious, ‘you know I would not leave unless I
was convinced of your safety, in every way.’ 

‘My
safety?  In every way?  What do you mean?’ 

He gave her a
half-smile, ‘Since we have returned to the Valley several of the matters that
were causing me some concern have been assuaged.’

‘Yes, you do
seem to have relaxed a bit, care to tell me why?’

‘Mainly
because you and our son are both unaffected by the traumas my stupidity led you
to endure in France.  If either of you had been hurt it would have
destroyed me.’ 

She gazed into
his sombre eyes and saw again a shadow of the despair that had haunted him on
the journey back from France, ‘We’re fine, all three of us ...  well,
twelve if you include the unicorn herd.’

Fabian smiled
suddenly and it was like the sun breaking out from behind rain clouds, ‘I
know.  And nothing gave me greater joy than to hear Cain telling me how
strong our son’s heartbeat is.’

Mistral
frowned, ‘Cain never said that.’  She could only recall nearly falling out
with Cain over banning her from doing anything more strenuous than getting
dressed in the morning.

‘He came to
see me the next day.  For some reason he felt that you would probably be
disinclined to discuss the details of your examination.’

‘What is there
to discuss?’  Mistral looked non-plussed.  ‘I’m fine, the baby’s
fine.’

Fabian
laughed, ‘And that is exactly why Cain came to see me.  Anyway, he
alleviated the largest concern I had.  The discovery of Pierre and
Etienne’s joint demise was another.’

‘Why? 
Now all I can do is read
Golden
.’  Mistral pulled a face. 

‘But that is
precisely the point Mistral!  You
can
read Golden, and she has
aligned herself with the new head of the Rochforte tribe, Christophe, who is
blessed with far less cunning than his departed cousin!’

‘So, you’re
glad Etienne is dead?’ 

‘Of course I
am!  My only regret is that it was not by my hand!  He has tried to
abduct you three times now; once with Putreo’s assistance, then using his uncle
and finally he was very nearly successful with his own plan at the
quayside.  I wanted nothing more than to end his life the second he
appeared, but I knew that it would be a pointless waste of my own when I have
so much more to live for now.’  Placing his hands gently around her waist,
Fabian smiled.  ‘All my fears are met Mistral.  You are well, our son
is well.  Etienne is passed, the Rochforte tribe will reassemble under a
new leader, but he is by no means the devious creature his cousin was.  Oh,
I am certain he will orchestrate further attempts to attain a position of power
within the Isle, but we have an unwitting spy in their camp now.’

Mistral’s eyes
widened as the realisation hit her.  Golden had no idea that Mistral had
ever read her.  Fabian was right; they had an unwitting spy in the camp.

‘And I have
the chance to earn us enough money for me not to have to work for the rest of
your pregnancy.  The Contract to herd the unicorns would ensure that, and
I could leave knowing you were completely safe.  Eximius will be here for
the duration and has assured me that he will protect you.’

Ignoring the
frankly disturbing bit about Mage Grapple looking over her shoulder, Mistral
replied tartly, ‘That’s all very well, but I will still miss you.’

‘It will be a
short two weeks, I promise you.  Besides, you will be under the tutelage
of the twins, who I am sure will make you work every moment you are not asleep
or eating roast boar.’

Mistral
suddenly looked more animated, ‘Do you think that’s what’ll be for lunch?’

Fabian laughed
and led her back to her seat at the other side of the room where the twins were
still hotly debating some piece of half-remembered gossip about one of the
Councillors.

‘Shh! 
They’re coming!’  Phantasm cut his brother short and instantly composed
his face into an expression of polite indifference as the door opened and the
four Council officials filed into the room. 

Mistral
instantly recognised Mage Castledine from his luxuriant beard, but not the
corpulent Mage bobbing along behind him.

That’s Mage
Rosenberg... larger than life …

Mistral
listened to Phantom providing a name for the fat Mage sporting a heavy
moustache that gave him an unfortunate appearance of an overweight walrus.

Mage Green
… prone to getting a bit uptight …