The Seer (45 page)

Mistral scowled
but had to admit he had a point.

‘And more
importantly, the Rochforte you read has to remain alive in order for you to be
able to See into his mind again.  I think Prospero would have other ideas
about that, he seems to have become even more protective of you since you fell
pregnant.’

Mistral pulled
a face, ‘I hate to say it, but I agree with you.  He even growled at
Serenity when she was talking to me in the village square today.  I think
he picks up on my reactions to people and knew that I was irritated by
her.’ 

‘I’m sure he
does, which is exactly why he must stay.  He would sense any harmful
intentions towards you and attack with hesitation.  No Rochforte would
stand a chance.’

Mistral
glanced fondly at her loyal dog, ‘He’s missed out on a dragon hunt and now the
chance to chase some unicorns and maybe even chew on a Rochforte.  He’s
really not going to be very happy about this Fabian.’

‘Maybe not,
but he’ll be safer in the Valley.’

‘I’ll ask the
twins to have him while we’re away,’ she conceded reluctantly.  ‘But he
might eat their kitten in a fit of revenge.’

Fabian
laughed; the sound never failing to make her smile in response.  She
looked into the velvet of his eyes and felt again the irresistible falling
sensation, like her world was tumbling off its axis into the dark abyss of his
gaze.  ‘So, just to clarify; on this honeymoon it’ll finally be just you
and me?’ 

‘And a herd of
unicorns.’  Fabian corrected with a smile.

‘Perfect,’ she
sighed happily.  ‘When do we leave?’

‘Once Gleacher
has prepared the ship, but,’ he paused and ran his gaze over her, ‘not before
Eudora has made some new clothes up for you.  I’m not sure I like seeing
you wearing another man’s shirts.’

‘I could wear
one of yours if you’d prefer.’

Fabian smiled
slowly, ‘I’d prefer it if you weren’t wearing any.’

‘That can be
arranged.’

‘Here you
are!’  Phantasm dropped the parcel onto the kitchen table with a
theatrical flourish and sat down opposite her.  ‘Aren’t you going to undo
it?’  He asked, looking disappointed by her lack of response. 

Mistral eyed
the package disinterestedly, already knowing what was inside, ‘No.’

‘Spoilsport.’ 
Phantom chided.

‘You undo it
then!’  Mistral snapped and returned her attention to stroking the twins’
kitten, Eloise, curled up on her lap.

Phantom tutted
and untied the string, pulling open the linen wrappings to reveal a neatly
folded bundle of clothes, ‘Aha!  One new wardrobe, designed to fit the
more round you!’  he announced with a grin.

Mistral gave
him a dark look and reached over to pull a shirt out of the pile.  Holding
it up she was pleasantly surprised to see that it wasn’t the hideous tent-shape
she’d been expecting but looked exactly like one of her own shirts, only with
ties at the side to let out as she gradually grew.  Encouraged, she
rummaged deeper and drew out some soft black moleskin trousers, made with a
similar tie design at the waist.

‘Oh, bless
her!  She’s even made you a couple of dresses.’  Phantom pulled some
other items from the pile and held them up. 

Mistral didn’t
bother looking at them and continued to dig through for more shirts and
trousers, rolling them up and stuffing them into her open saddlebag.  She was
leaving with Fabian for France that evening and was meant to be packing whilst
he was meeting with Leo.

‘So you and
Mage De Winter are leaving on the Unicorn Contract today then?’  Phantasm
asked conversationally while he retrieved the rolled up clothes from Mistral’s
saddlebag and began to fold them neatly before repacking them.  ‘We were
in on the negotiation meetings for the purchase of the herd.  Mage Grapple
had us influence the poor old Mage to agree to a pathetically low price.’

‘I bet he
did.  Mage Grapple’s not known for being generous.’  Mistral lost
interest in the pile of clothes and turned her attention to Phantasm.  ‘I
can’t wait to get there brother! 
Unicorns!
  Can you believe
it?  I hope I get to ride one!’

‘Not
advisable, as I’m sure Cain has already told you.  Unicorns aren’t horses
with a horn rammed in the middle of their foreheads Mistral, no more than
centaurs are horses with half a man grafted on to them!’

‘I’ve ridden a
centaur!’ 

‘Yes, well,
that you might have.  But I’m sure it was at their invitation. 
Unicorns are different.  And despite your practise with that bad-tempered
brute you call a horse, suffering a fall would be very unwise in your
condition.’

Mistral rolled
her eyes and avoided Phantasm’s reproving look by turning her attention to
Eloise, now suffering being enthusiastically washed by Prospero, ‘Did you know
that Eudora’s called her kitten “Gemini”?’  She said in an attempt to
change the subject.

‘Very
touching.  Now how are we going to keep in contact whilst you’re off
gallivanting in the Alps?’

‘I’ll read you
every day so that you can keep me and Fabian informed.’  Mistral responded
promptly.

‘Er, can we
agree a specific time?’  Phantom asked quickly.  ‘Only I’d like some
time to my private thoughts without you poking your nose in them.’

Mistral
coughed something that sounded like “Eloise Lacey”.

‘How does
sunset sound?  Or will that interfere with your schedule?’  Phantasm
asked politely.

‘No schedule.’
 Mistral shrugged.  ‘Apart from a herd of unicorns to shift, there’s
not a lot to do.  In fact, it’s more of a honeymoon than a Contract.’

‘Another
one?’  Phantom exclaimed.  ‘What’ll that be?  The third?’

‘And what if
it is?’  Mistral gave him an arch look.  ‘After all, you two did
rudely interrupt the first one!’

‘I think
you’ll find that the Divinus dying was more of an interruption than our
visit!’  Phantom retorted.

Mistral
ignored him and continued in an aggrieved tone, ‘And the second one came with
the addition of all six of you –’

‘That’s not
fair!  We were all very considerate!  And my brother and I always let
you know in advance when we were going to call around!’

‘Always?’ 
Mistral raised an eyebrow.

‘Well, there
was that one time we surprised you –’

‘Surprised
me!’  Mistral exclaimed.  ‘How about nearly gave me a heart
attack!  Can you imagine how damaging to my mental health it was to come
out of a trance and find you two sat on the end of the bed staring at me?’

‘Calm down
Mistral, it’s not good for the baby when you get worked up.’  Phantasm
reproached her gently while he buckled the flap of her saddlebag.  ‘There,
all packed.’

Mistral
glanced at her neatly packed saddlebag and smiled in affectionate
exasperation.  She was a fully Qualified warrior, yet Phantasm still
insisted on packing her saddlebag for her.  ‘Thanks brother; that would’ve
taken me ages.’

Phantasm
raised an eyebrow at her lie, knowing full well she would’ve just shoved
everything in then sat on it to force the buckles to do up, ‘Well at least now
Mage De Winter won’t have to suffer you wearing crumpled clothes all the time.’

‘My crumpled
clothes you mean.’  Phantom grumbled.  ‘What did you do to that last
shirt I lent you?  It’s more rips than shirt now!’

‘Do you want
one of my new ones?’  Mistral offered.

‘Not really, I
don’t think I’ve quite got the figure to carry off maternity clothing.’

‘Oh I don’t
know –’

‘Please don’t
start bickering!’  Phantasm interrupted sharply.  ‘We really don’t
have the time.’  He turned to look at Mistral.  ‘I assume you’re intending
to sail on the Ri’s ship tonight?’

Mistral
glanced at the clock on the wall and nodded, ‘Yes, we’re going to ride straight
to the port to catch the evening tide as soon as Fabian gets back from his
meeting with Leo.’

‘Is Master
Shacklock accompanying you?’ 

Mistral
nodded.  It was standard Ri practise for Gleacher to travel with warriors
on any foreign work.  ‘I thought Fabian would tell him not to come with
us, but he didn’t say anything about it.’

‘No, I’m sure
he didn’t.’  Phantasm murmured, folding the rest of Mistral’s new clothes
up and placing them in a tidy pile on the table.

Mistral
frowned at him, ‘Know something I don’t brother?’

‘No, but
Master Shacklock does.  I’m sure it hasn’t escaped Mage De Winter’s notice
that the journey to France will provide the perfect opportunity to discover
what hold Master Nox has Master Shacklock.’

‘You think
he’ll want me to read Gleacher on the sea crossing?’  Mistral instantly
felt uncomfortable.  As their Contracts Officer, Gleacher Shacklock was
trusted and respected by all Ri warriors.  Reading him without his consent
would feel like a betrayal of that trust.

Phantasm shook
his head, ‘I doubt it.  Mage De Winter is a man of principle.  He’ll
need to hear Master Shacklock speak the truth, not just think it.  Master
Shacklock being away from the Valley and his ties to both Master Sphinx and
Master Nox will give him the chance him to speak openly.’

‘Oh,
right.’  Mistral hadn’t thought of that, but was fairly certain that
Fabian had.  She sighed resignedly.  Their honeymoon was rapidly
becoming more business than pleasure.   

‘What’s the
latest on Master Nox?’  Phantom asked, interrupting her irritation at
Fabian.

‘Malachi?’ 
Mistral laughed.  ‘Well, he’s fuming that his plan to break the news of
the Cull Contract being fixed by Leo has failed.’

Phantom
grinned, ‘Yes, that was a rather fine double-cross, and so simple!  All we
had to do was pop a little suggestion into Xerxes’ mind that he wanted to brag
about how we got the cull the night we got back from the Council, and before
I’d had my first drink the whole of The Cloak knew that between us, we three
had manipulated Leo into giving us the Contract!’

‘Yes, and
thank you for making us all so very well-liked.’  Mistral muttered sourly.

‘It’s not a
popularity contest for us Mistral!  Just Master Nox and Master Sphinx!’

Mistral
suddenly smirked, ‘You’re going to love this!  Malachi was doubly-fuming
this morning when he got the bill for the dragon blood he requested ... and the
best of it is that he doesn’t even need any!’

‘How big was
the bill?’  Phantom asked with a grin.

‘Half what you
earned on the Contract.’

‘Ouch!  I
bet that hurt!’

They all
laughed, startling the sleeping kitten and causing Prospero to growl
protectively.

‘Oh leave it
out Prosp!’  Mistral berated her dog.  ‘It’s a cat!  You’re
meant to chase them, not lick them to death!  Although, I suppose it’s
good you two get on, considering that you’re going to be staying here for a
while –’

‘I’m
sorry.  Have I missed something?’  Phantasm enquired sharply.

‘Oh,
sorry.  I forget to ask.  Can Prospero stay here while we go to
France?  Only Fabian doesn’t think he’ll like being on the ship.’

Phantasm
regarded her with a frown, ‘Mage De Winter bought Prospero to protect
you.  It doesn’t make sense that he’d want to leave him behind. 
What’s the real reason Mistral?’

Mistral sighed
heavily, ‘There is a bit more to it than just Prospero being unable to climb
ladders.  You know how Fabian has this obsession with knowing about the
Rochfortes’ plans?  Well, it turns out that the unicorn herd is in the
same region of the mountains as the Rochforte stronghold.’

‘Ah, a most
opportune coincidence.’

‘Isn’t it
just?’  Mistral agreed with a slightly sour look.  ‘And as you’ve no
doubt guessed, he wants me to read a Rochforte while we’re out there, and leave
him still alive so that I can read him again when I get back.  Anyway, he
seemed to think that Prospero will object, well, about the leaving him alive
part anyway.’

‘Yes, he has
gone overboard on protective hasn’t he?’  Phantom spoke up.  ‘Did you
see him try to bite Brutus in The Cloak when he offered to help you up from
your chair?’

‘Huh.’ 
Mistral snorted disdainfully.  ‘That’ll teach Brutus to take the –’

‘So you want
us to dog sit Prospero?’  Phantasm cut in briskly.

Mistral nodded
and stroked Prospero’s anvil-sized head tenderly, ‘Just for a while, we
shouldn’t be away too long.’

Phantasm
watched her lavish love on a creature capable of hunting down a full grown
bear, ‘I promise Prospero will be just fine Mistral,’ he sighed.  ‘Now,
can we please talk about Master Nox’s plans?’

Mistral
dragged her gaze away from her dog to meet Phantasm’s impatient green eyes,
‘Which bit of them?’

‘Everything
Mistral.  Right down to the last detail.  We’re going to be working
without Sight while you’re away, but forewarned is forearmed ... so what’s he
planning?’

Mistral’s eyes
slid to the left, seeing into her memory, ‘Well, as of my last visit in his
lovely head, Malachi’s immediate plans are to cause dissent amongst the
warriors with talk of Leo making the Ri into a Council puppet.  I know he
meant well, but I’m worried that the offer Fabian forced Leo to make to Mage
Grapple of using the Valley as some sort of meeting venue is only going to help
Malachi’s cause.  Malachi doesn’t know about it yet, but put it like this,
when he does find out I think I’ll need a bucket close by – he’s going to be
sickeningly smug.’

‘Hmm, talking
of sick how’re you going to cope with a sea crossing?  You’ve hardly been
blessed with a cast iron constitution recently, and let’s not forget how ill
you were on the return journey from The Desert Lands.’

‘I’ll be fine
so long as there’s no honey in sight.’  Mistral gave a shudder. 
‘Anyway it’s only a short crossing so even if I am ill, it won’t be for long.’

Phantasm
looked unconvinced, ‘Perhaps we should go see Cain –’

‘She’ll be
fine.’  Phantom dismissed his brother’s concerns with a flick of his
wrist.  ‘But back to Master Nox – what’re we going to do while you’re
away?  You’ve told us his plans so far, but what if he thinks of some new
devious plan?  How’re we going to know what he’s up to?  You can hear
him, but we can’t hear you!  Even if you find out that he’s planning
something new, you won’t be able to tell us and we can’t use our gift to
prevent it!’

‘I don’t think
it will be an issue actually.’  Phantasm said thoughtfully.

Phantom and
Mistral both turned to look at him.

‘Master
Shacklock is the key to this campaign.  He holds sway over the
warriors.  They trust him.  Most of them served their apprenticeships
under him in one way or another, either as Training Captain or as their
Contracts Officer.  At some point in their careers every warrior in the
Valley has placed their life in his hands.  I don’t think Master Nox will
try to advance his campaign much without the influential presence of Master
Shacklock.  This could well be our only chance to find out just what
Master Nox has been using as leverage over Master Shacklock for all these
years.’