The Seer (3 page)

‘Again, I fail
to see how their pathetic power struggle will be helped by me appearing in a
selection of frilly gowns!’

Phantasm gave
her a pained look, ‘Please credit me with some taste.’ 

‘Alright,
maybe not frilly.’  Mistral conceded grudgingly.  ‘But can’t I just
wear some new trousers?  Please?’ 

‘No.’

‘But … you
will be!’

‘Poor argument
Mistral, try again.’

‘But –’

A loud
knocking on the door followed by the sound of Prospero barking joyously put an
end to their bickering.  Before the visitor even spoke Mistral’s face had
broken into a huge grin, she ran from the bedroom and flew down the
stairs. 
‘Fabian!
’  hurtling across the lounge she threw
herself into his arms, inhaling the scent of snow, cold air and his warm body
in a heady rush.

‘I wish I was
greeted like that every time I came home.’  Phantom muttered to his
brother when he appeared beside him to greet their visitor.

‘Not by me you
won’t be.’  Phantasm murmured, smiling politely to Fabian.  ‘Mage De
Winter, please, come in.’

‘Are you
staying for dinner?  I’m cooking!’  Mistral led Fabian by the hand
into the house, gazing at him with shining eyes.

‘If I am not
intruding –’

‘Please join
us Mage De Winter, there is much we need to discuss.’  Phantasm gestured
to the chairs by the fire. 

‘Details,
details.’  Mistral rolled her eyes and went into the kitchen to check on
their dinner.  Lifting the lid of a large pot and stirring the contents
with a wooden spoon she turned to speak to Fabian over her shoulder.  ‘Oh,
and while you’re here, can you please tell Phantasm that it will be perfectly
acceptable for me to attend the Divinus’ funeral in trousers.’ 

Fabian raised
an eyebrow and looked pointedly at her frayed trousers, ‘Those trousers?’ 
he enquired lightly.

Mistral
laughed, ‘No.  He’s got me some new ones.  They’re upstairs in the
wardrobe, hidden somewhere amongst a load of
dresses
!  Can you
believe it?’

‘Believe it
Mistral because you are going to be wearing one of those tomorrow!’ 
Phantasm called sharply.

‘Am
not!’  Mistral shouted back then turned to look at Fabian
beseechingly.  ‘Please tell him Fabian, he just won’t listen to me!’

Fabian gazed
back at her expressionlessly.

‘Oh no!’ 
she cried.  ‘Not you too!’

‘It would be
appropriate for you to be more formally attired tomorrow, especially for the
evening.’

‘I think I
will be a bit overdressed for a wake in The Cloak don’t you?’

‘Actually,’
Fabian murmured, walking over to wrap his arms around her, ‘it’s a banquet in
the Main Hall.’

Mistral froze,
‘A banquet?’

‘Yes,’ he
murmured, kissing her neck softly.

‘Don’t try to
distract me!’  She snapped, and instantly felt a shiver run down her spine
as he gently lifted her hair away to kiss the nape of her neck.  ‘Oh fine,
distract me then,’ she breathed, turning in his arms to kiss him.  ‘But
I’m still not wearing a dress.’

‘Yes, you
are.’  Phantasm said firmly, walking into the kitchen and waiting politely
while Fabian released Mistral.

‘Do I have
to?’  Mistral asked, gazing pleadingly at Fabian.

He smiled and
touched her cheek gently. 

‘You don’t
have to say it, I can hear you loud and clear,’ she sighed.

‘I’m so
pleased that you’re finally accepting the full responsibilities of your new
position.’  Phantom smirked, wandering in to the kitchen and leaning
casually against the sink.  ‘Seer … cook –’

‘Don’t think
I’m going to be making a habit of this.’  Mistral warned waving the wooden
spoon at him. 

‘Wouldn’t
dream of it.’  Phantom grinned and strolled over to stand beside her at
the stove.  He leaned over and sniffed the contents appreciatively. 
‘That smells delicious!’

‘I can cook
you know!  Now if you insist on being in my way you can make yourself
useful –’

Leaving
Mistral bossing Phantom around in the kitchen, Fabian and Phantasm walked back
over to the fire where Prospero was stretched out like a huge fur rug.

‘Who is in the
delegation from the Council?’  Phantasm enquired, trying to hide his
interest behind a bland expression.

‘Eximius,
obviously, his Captain of the Guard, plus four warlocks … Basil Rosenberg,
Edwin Castledine and Vilius –’

Phantasm
looked up sharply at the mention of his mother’s husband, ‘Why is Mage De’ath
here?  He’s just a Foreign Ambassador.’

‘He has been
given a promotion.’  Fabian gazed pensively into the fire.  ‘He’s now
the Councillor for Foreign Travel.’

‘He’s taken
Count Darke’s old position?’ 

Fabian nodded
and frowned, ‘I’m not sure whether he has assumed all of the perks that come
with that role.’

‘Mistral will
find out.’  Phantasm said confidently. 

Fabian didn’t
respond immediately but continued to gaze into the fire, ‘I have to ask this
Phantasm.  If Vilius has carried on Putreo’s trade in illegal potions then
where will your loyalties lie?  The crime is punishable by death and he
is, after all, your mother’s husband.’  He turned his black gaze to look
directly at Phantasm.  ‘Would you make her a widow?’

Phantasm held
his gaze steadily, ‘She would find another husband.  We will not find
another Isle.’

Fabian nodded
briefly, ‘And, as you say, Mistral will find out the truth.’

‘Whatever it
may be.’  Phantasm said softly.  He turned away from Fabian and
walked across the room to sit on the sofa.  ‘Are any of the Arcane
chieftains here?’  he enquired, looking at Fabian intently.

‘Bryden
Wolfsnare is here already with two of his tribe; there’s a group of mountain
elves from the north, a couple of sylvads from The Dawn Forests, and,
interestingly, Bellicose La Monte.’

‘Really?’ 
Phantasm raised his eyebrows sharply.  ‘I wonder if he’s come to support
his son in his bid to become the next Divinus.’

‘I am sure
that all Malachi’s schemes will come to light very soon.’  Fabian said
quietly. 

‘What about
the centaur tribe?’

‘Leo has
received word that Imperato and a small number of his tribe will be arriving
tomorrow for the funeral.  They will be attending the Tribute Banquet, but
not staying overnight in the Valley.’

‘Hmm, it would
be difficult to know whether to offer them a stable or a bed!  But, where
are all the delegates staying?  Surely there aren’t enough rooms at The
Cloak?’  Phantasm frowned.  ‘And I can hardly imagine Mage Grapple
being comfortable in the dorms.’ 

‘Some have
rooms in The Cloak and Dagger, but Leo has guest accommodation on the third
floor that has already been allocated to Eximius and the rest of the Council
officials.  There are also four houses in the village set aside for the
guests.’

‘Of course,
you and Mistral are welcome here Mage De Winter, I hope that goes without
saying –’

‘Especially as
she bought us the house.’  Phantom strolled through from the kitchen,
wiping his hands on a tea towel.  ‘Dinner is served!’

They ate
around the small kitchen table; venison casserole with baked potatoes and a
large pitcher of red wine.  Every mouthful hungrily watched by Prospero,
laid at Mistral’s feet.

‘This is
good!’  Phantom declared after his third helping.

‘I’m glad you
like it.’  Mistral yawned and pushed her own plate away half-finished.

‘Not
hungry?’  Fabian asked with a frown.

Mistral shook her
head, ‘Don’t fancy it – which is strange because I could’ve eaten it all when I
was cooking.’ 

‘Would you
like me to go out and get you something from The Cloak and Dagger?  I’m
sure Floris would make you up something.’

‘No, but
t-thanks –’ Mistral yawned again.  

‘You can’t be
tired!’  Phantom exclaimed.  ‘You must have slept for twelve hours
last night.’

‘I think I
must be catching up after the stress of the last month,’ she shrugged and
glanced over at the full sink to hide a smile as Fabian’s thoughts filled her
mind.  ‘I think I’ll wash up.’

While Mistral
gathered up the plates, the twins and Fabian began discussing the arrangements
for the Divinus’ funeral.

‘Who’s
conducting the ceremony?’  Phantom asked, stretching his legs out under
the table and massaging his full stomach.  ‘It’ll look a bit like Master
Sphinx thinks he’s already the Divinus if he does the honours.’

‘Leo knows he
has to tread carefully until he submits his official application to the
Council, so there will be a short eulogy from each of the Magnate and one from
Eximius.’

‘I do hope
that Master Sphinx will deviate from the same funeral speech he’s been giving
for the last two years.’  Phantom said with feeling.

‘We do seem to
have heard it quite a bit,’ agreed Phantasm, idly turning his goblet of wine in
his hands.

‘Wait until
you’ve heard it as many times as I have.’  Fabian muttered.  ‘Leo
inherited that speech from Gleacher.’

‘Why would
Master Shacklock have made that speech?’  Phantasm asked, looking up
curiously.

‘He was the
Ri’s Training Captain when Leo was a child.’  Fabian replied. 
‘Gleacher was like a father to him.’

‘I never knew
that!’  Phantasm exclaimed softly.  ‘That certainly helps to explain
their close relationship.’

Fabian nodded,
‘Leo was an orphan.  The nursemaid who brought him to the Valley died not
long after arriving here.  Aside from Gleacher, Leo knew very little real
affection when he was growing up.’

‘That also
explains a lot.’  Phantom muttered.

‘I take it
this was before Serenity’s time then.’  Phantasm mused.  ‘Because I’m
sure she would have jumped at the opportunity to vent all those frustrated
maternal instincts she has on a poor unsuspecting orphan.’

‘Long before,’
confirmed Fabian with a smile.

‘Who was the
Ri’s Healer then Fabian?’  Mistral asked idly while she slowly dried the
plates. 

‘Healer would
be a misleading description.  She was an amazon called Bria.  I’ve
seen warriors crawl out of the Infirmary rather than have some of the
treatments she tried to force on them.  If I remember rightly she was fond
of prescribing enemas.’

The twins
shared a grimace. 

‘I don’t think
I’ll complain about being mothered by Serenity again.’  Phantom muttered,
shifting uncomfortably on his chair.

Mistral
laughed and folded up the tea towel.  Walking over to slide onto Fabian’s
lap, she laid her head against his shoulder with a tired sigh.

‘What’s
required of us tomorrow?’  Phantasm asked.

‘The funeral
begins at midday.  Leo has requested that you join the Magnate for the
service – appropriately attired,’ he added, smiling as Mistral sighed
resignedly against his neck.  ‘Then, I am sure there will be the usual
gathering in The Cloak which you will have to forego and join the Magnate and
select delegates in the Main Hall for the banquet.’

‘So what do we
do while everyone is getting suitably merry in The Cloak?’  Mistral asked
sleepily.

‘We prepare
for the Tribute Banquet Mistral.’  Phantasm gave her a reproachful
look.  ‘I’m sure Master Sphinx doesn’t want us there just to eat and make
polite conversation.’  

Fabian nodded,
‘He wants Mistral to read each of the delegates; with particular attention to
Malachi and Bellicose.  It will be interesting to see if you can actually
get a clear reading on Bellicose yet Mistral … Mistral?’

She was fast
asleep against his shoulder.

The bright
sunlight steaming in through the window woke her.  Mistral blinked and
opened her eyes.

‘Good
morning.’

Mistral smiled
sleepily up into Fabian’s dark eyes, ‘What time is it?’  She yawned.

‘About
fourteen hours later than when you fell asleep on me last night.’

‘I
didn’t!’ 

‘Yes. 
You did.’  Fabian smiled.  ‘Phantasm is beside himself with
impatience, but I refused to let him come and wake you up,’ he paused and
lifted an eyebrow.  ‘I wonder, Lady De Winter, just what has brought on
this bout of complete exhaustion?’

‘Why don’t you
come back to bed and I’ll show you.’

‘Mistral! 
Are you awake yet?  We’ve barely got two hours to get ready!’ 
Phantasm’s voice barked through the closed door.

‘I hate him.’
 Mistral groaned and pulled the blanket over her head.

Fabian laughed
softly and stood up.

Mistral peeped
out, ‘You’re already dressed!’  She cried. 

‘We’ve been up
for hours Mistral.’  Fabian said in a bemused voice.  ‘Even Prospero
has been defeated by your ability to sleep.  He’s gone into the village.’

‘You shouldn’t
let him Fabian!’  Mistral sat up quickly and looked out of the window for
her huge half-wolf.  ‘I’m sure that litter of puppies down by the farm
look just like him!

‘Mistral!’
 
Phantasm bellowed through the door.

‘Oh tell him
I’ve died or something.’  Mistral muttered, slumping back down onto the
bed.  ‘I can’t face being bossed by him this early in the morning.’

‘I can hear
you!’  Phantasm shouted. 

‘Well don’t
listen then!’

‘Right that’s
it!  I’m coming in!’

‘I’ll be back
before the funeral begins.’  Fabian said quietly, bending to kiss her.

‘Where are you
going?  Oh, forget I even asked that, force of habit … I already know …
Leo,’ she sighed and gazed longingly into his velvet eyes. 

He smiled,
stroking a finger slowly down her cheek before turning to leave.  Mistral
closed her eyes, listening to the sound of the door closing softly before she
opened them again to meet a pair of green eyes, blazing with anger.

‘Why are you
still in bed?’  Phantasm demanded icily.