Chapter 7
1689 Words
7
The supper was consumed, though the meat was so rare I kept expecting it to make animal noises. After dinner the baron excused himself from our company and we went upstairs.
In the hall I clapped my hand over Sage’s shoulder before he entered the boys’ room. He turned and I gave him a strained smile. “Could we talk for a moment?”
He nodded. “Of course. Let’s all come in here.” We walked into the room and Sage shut the door behind us.
I turned to him and crossed my arms over my chest as I frowned at my grandfather. “I know giving an alias isn’t a bad idea because of the position we’re in, but what’s the big deal making one up on the spot? Is the baron that greedy that he’s going to turn us over to the Library for an eld?”
“He’d never do that!” Marcus insisted.
Caius plopped his hand atop the young lad’s head. “How well do you really know the guy?”
Marcus moved his head and waved away Caius’ hand. “Just as well as you do!”
“Then not very well at all, but Father Ferrero’s had trouble with him paying the calling for years.”
“The calling?” I asked him.
Marcus studied me with a curious expression. “You really don’t know what a calling is?”
“I’ve led a sheltered life.” That sorry excuse was getting old.
Sage cleared his throat. “It’s rather like a tithe for the church, though the Church of Gad has more ability to enforce the tax than even some of the regional authorities.”
“In Mecht it’s just a matter of the church not paying the baron’s taxes,” Caius revealed. “The baron’s collectors come around every year and try to bully and guilt the father into paying them, but he’s never given in.”
“Sounds like some nice guys,” I commented.
Marcus crossed his arms and frowned at us. “I’ve never seen them do that.”
“Have you seen the taxes collected?” Caius questioned him.
Marcus turned his face away and puckered his lips in a pout. “No. . .”
I looked to my grandfather. “I’m guessing it’s not because of that tax men that you don’t trust the baron.”
Sage nodded. “Indeed. I find it strange that the gentleman has hardly asked us any questions.”
“Maybe he’s being polite?” Bee suggested.
Sage shook his head. “I do not believe he is that interested in manners. Rather, as a hunter he skirts around his prey in order to learn about them, and when the time comes he may strike.”
Caius arched an eyebrow. “That’s a little paranoid, even for you.”
Sage smiled and shrugged. “I believe our recent experiences with older gentlemen who profess to be our friends should have taught all of us to be wary of their intentions.”
I nodded at the book in his hand. “What about that book? What’s he intend to do with that?”
Sage raised the book and studied the cover. “I cannot fathom, but I myself intend to translate what I can this evening and see what might be found in these ancient pages.”
“How’d something even last that long?” I asked my companions. “I mean, weren’t these Miamorans around a couple of centuries ago?”
“More than fifteen hundred years according to the stories,” Caius told me. “Even with everyone living two centuries that’s a long time away from the here and now.”
Sage looked to Caius. “You seem to be familiar with the Miamorans, or at least this particular one.” He set his hand on the cover. “Your reaction told us as much.”
Caius held up his bone arm. “The name you read out is the same name of the sage that cursed my family twelve hundred years ago.”
Sage’s eyebrows shot up. “Truly? How very interesting. Did you not know that the sage was a Miamoran?”
Caius shook his head. “Nothing like that came up. Everyone thought they were gone a couple of generations before that.”
Sage studied the cover and furrowed his brow. “I wonder how the baron came to have such a rare book in his possession.”
I snorted. “He doesn’t seem like the type to have books around, does he?”
“I still say you guys are wrong about the baron!” Marcus insisted.
“If we’re wrong then I’ll let you tell us that,” Caius promised.
Marcus’ eyebrows shot up. “You mean it?”
Caius smiled and nodded. “Sure.”
Marcus turned his face away and bit his lip. “Could I. . .I mean, if I’m right, could I have something else?”
His older brother arched an eyebrow. “Like what?”
Marcus shrank into himself and his voice was so soft I could barely hear his words. “Could I. . .could you stay with me?” He lifted his eyes to Caius and searched his face. “Would you stay with me if I’m right?”
“Stay with you for a week?” Caius suggested.
Marcus faced his brother and shook his head. “No. I want you to stay with me. To not leave me here ever again.”
Caius pursed his lips. “You don’t know what you’re asking.”
“And you don’t know what you do to me every time you leave me alone!” Marcus countered as tears filled his eyes.
“You have Father Ferrero,” Caius pointed out.
“That’s not the same!” Marcus insisted. His voice choked up and he shut his eyes. “I. . .I want you to stay here with me or take me with you.” He opened his eyes and met Caius’ gaze. “If I’m right, then that’s what I want.”
Caius frowned. “I don’t think we should be betting on a thing like that over something as stupid as whether the baron is lying or not.”
“It’s important to me!” Marcus countered.
Caius studied his young brother for a moment before he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “All right, you win. I’ll stay if I’m wrong.”
A smile brightened Marcus’ face. “You mean it?”
Caius dropped his arm to his side and nodded. “Yeah. If I can’t tell if somebody’s lying than I haven’t learned anything out there, anyway.”
Marcus stepped closer to him. “You really, really promise?”
“If I have to promise one more time than the deal’s off,” Caius warned him.
Marcus stepped back and nodded his head like a bobble doll. “It’s still on!”
“Well then, if that is settled then might I get a chance to read this book?” Sage wondered as he held up the journal.
Midge twittered and Bee nodded. “I’m sleepy, too.”
“Ditto on that,” I agreed as he turned Bee toward the door. We walked toward the entrance and I glanced over my shoulder. “You boys behave now, and don’t forget to share the bed.” Caius frowned while Marcus smiled and nodded at me.
“Jane,” my grandfather called out. “If I might have a word with you.” Bee hesitated in front of our door. “Alone.”
Bee turned to face him. “Is something the matter?”
He gave her a smile. “Nothing of the sort. I just wish to speak with her for a moment.”
I nodded. “Sure thing.”
Bee pursed her lips as did Caius, but they slipped into their rooms. My grandfather looped his arm around my waist and led me down the hall away from their doors.
“How are you feeling, Jane?” he wondered.
I blinked at him. “I’m feeling fine. Why?”
He stopped and turned to face me. “No aches or pains?”
I crossed my arms and frowned at him. “What’s going on?”
He cupped his chin in his hand as he studied my person. “I thought perhaps there would have been side effects from our last adventure. If you recall you assisted a tag in dealing with several gods.”
I shrugged. “I don’t feel any different.” I turned my face away and sighed. “But I sure wish I knew how I could do that, or anything else I’ve done.”
Sage set his hand on my shoulder and smiled at me. “The Shifting World grants you a great deal of time to find yourself, and your grandmother and I will be at your side to help you.”
I slyly grinned at him. “And Caius?”
He wrinkled his nose and dropped his hand. “Yes, I suppose him, too. Now we should get back before he conspires with his brother to keep all of the bedding from me.”
We walked back and entered our own rooms. The fire still crackled brightly in the hearth of the room assigned to Be and me, but the corners of the room were blanketed in shadows.
“Did you have a nice chat?” Bee asked me from her seat on the edge of the large bed.
“Short and sweet,” I teased as I stepped up to the window and peered out into the night. The backyard of the estate house was dotted with dark piles indicating Marcus’ hard, dirty work. There must have been dozens of them and they had been dug in an eager, haphazard manner.
Bee joined me at the window and smiled at the destruction. “Caius reminds me a great deal of his brother.”
I looked to her and arched an eyebrow. “You think so?”
She nodded. “Oh yes. They are both very stubborn, and they both sacrifice everything they have to care for the ones they love.”
My mind flashed back to when we first met Marcus and the state of his hands. I closed my eyes and smiled. “I suppose you’re right.”
A soft creak made me freeze. I spun around and swept my eyes over the room. There was nothing there but the flickering dance of the fire on the walls.
“What is it?” Bee asked me.
I shook my head. “I don’t know. I just-” I paused and looked to her. “Have you been having creepy vibes since we got here?”
She shook her head. “No.” Midge twittered and shook his head. “And Midge says no.” She set a hand on my arm and met my eyes. “What do you feel?”
I wrapped my arms around myself and studied the deep shadows in the corners. Though the fire warmed the room, a strange chill settled on my bones. I shivered and looked to my grandmother. “You don’t think this place is haunted, do you?”
Her face paled a little. “Perhaps?”
We stared at each other for a moment before we dashed to our bags. Bee and I scrambled into our pajamas and dove beneath the thick sheets of the bed. Midge flew in after us and together we shivered our way into sleep.
However, slumber was not to be my friend that night, but not because of any spooks.
- Writer
