Court of Conspiracy (12 page)

“Was it that man back again?”

“You know that it was.”

“Aye, but I couldn’t hear what he said.”

“Never mind—you go back to the kitchen. I will come through in a moment.”

Luke automatically began to tidy up the shards of broken glass and clean down his counter, his mind ranging over the problems he faced. Perhaps it would be better if Pippa went to work for Dufay. He could then bring Robin into the house and the boy could run errands, although he would need regular perception spells cast on him.

Luke knew he would have to keep his own head down for a few days at least. If he was still being watched, as Gwenette averred, then it would be a sound idea to keep to his usual pattern of gathering herbs and working. He thought about the events of the afternoon. That he had somehow antagonized Sir Nigel Kerr was obvious; the reason for the man’s hostility toward him, less so.

One sentence of Norfolk’s came back to him. As far as anybody was concerned, Goodwife Pitt had died and was buried. Buried with some haste and secrecy, in Luke’s view. She had not been anybody of note, and the meanest, most lowly of persons would count the mother of a traitor as inferior to them. So, it begged a few questions. Why was it of concern to someone of Norfolk’s standing that a mere woman, mother to a traitor to boot, had died? Why was it unwelcome that Luke had been asking about her? And perhaps the most interesting question of all, why had Norfolk informed Luke that the woman had died of a seizure? Why had he taken the trouble to emphasize that as her cause of death? Unless, of course, it was not a seizure at all.

Luke remembered his trance. Once more he saw the great black hound towering over the praying woman. It had to be powerful magic that could deflect the pure atmosphere of heartfelt prayers said in consecrated surroundings. There was only one answer for that. Black magic. They were up against sunderers, that was certain, but was the Duke of Norfolk one of them, or an innocent soul being used for black purposes? And if the latter, by whom?

Chapter Fourteen

Despite his initial fear, Luke could not help feeling a thrill of excitement. He had encountered sunderers only a few times in the years since his first master had recognized the elemancer in him. Luke remembered those days when his life changed so completely. It had been deep winter; even the Thames had frozen over. His master, Silas Parsloe, had been trying to light the fire and failing because the wood was green and damp. The resulting smoke caught their throats and eyes, making them cough and causing tears to stream down their cheeks. Luke had taken hold of the twigs and within a few minutes, flames were licking along the twigs. The wood spat and crackled, sending sparks shooting up the chimney. He had thought nothing of the long, assessing stare Silas had given him.

Two weeks later, an urchin had limped into the shop, shivering under his thin tunic, his bare feet, hands and face blue with cold. He was on the verge of collapsing, but Luke caught him, his heart giving a great wrench as he saw the boy was little more than skin and bone. He had poured ale into a beaker, adding honey, cloves and nutmeg. The poor mite’s hands were so cold, he could not hold it, so Luke sat the child on his knee, holding the cup to the boy’s pinched lips. His own contracted in anger that innocents like this one could be so neglected. Within seconds, steam had begun to rise from the ale as the boy sipped, bringing color to his cheeks and making him splutter. Luke found some old clothes, too big but warmer than the rags the lad had been wearing.

Silas had given the boy a bowl of pottage and sent him on his way. Then the old man had pulled the shutter down and taken Luke to his elemancer sister. Two weeks later, the young apothecary’s initiation had taken place before the previous Elemagus, Kolby Verrall, and Luke had become a member of the Guild of Elemancers.

The Guild did not recognize women elemancers. They were initiated, but never permitted to attend meetings or be publicly acknowledged. Pippa would be unrecognized just as Silas’s sister had been. In Luke’s opinion, this was very shortsighted. The Grocers’ Company accepted women apothecaries, both as assistants and in their own right, even if the latter were usually widows.

Be that as it may, he needed to prepare Pippa’s initiation and then consider the matter of her move to Dufay’s house. Dufay’s reasoning was sound. It would be safer for her, so Luke had to move quickly. Now, in fact.

He put his head around the kitchen door. “I am going out. I shall not be long.”

He snatched up his scrip and was out of the shop, slamming the door behind him, before she had a chance to reply. At least the walk would give him time to think. If the Gethin Pitt affair and his known unease about it had brought official attention upon him, he must ensure that nothing threatened the safety of the Guild. He would explain to Pippa, make her understand. In any case she would be farther away from the palace at Dufay’s house and therefore farther from Cecily. That thought might make her more amenable. He decided to broach the subject over their evening meal.

* * *

Pippa was dimly aware of Luke saying something and the next thing she heard was the bang of the shop door. She walked through, but all was dark and quiet. The meal was almost ready and her lord and master had decided to go out without any explanation. She knew it was not her place to complain, simply to accept, but that did not stop her stamping her foot in frustration. She went back to the fire, sighing a little.

Cecily had looked very fine in her court clothes. God only knew what mischief she would instigate if she caught sight of Pippa, although Luke was probably right when he said Cecily would not recognize her cousin in servant’s garb. Pippa sighed again. Then a smile curved into her cheek as she remembered Geoffrey Peveril and the secret glances they had enjoyed. Glances beyond those that Bertila and the others had witnessed.

Her heart had skipped a beat and then raced with surprise and joy when Geoffrey slipped into the shop a few minutes after Luke had been taken for questioning. His pretense of coming to see Luke had been just that and they both knew it. He followed her into the kitchen and sat at the bench. They had talked, but of what, Pippa could not now remember. All she recalled was the warm admiration in his eyes. Her skin still burned from where he had taken her hand in his, caressing it with his thumb. Indeed, Pippa was sure Geoffrey had been on the point of kissing her when they heard the shop door. Faster than she would have thought possible, he slipped out to the yard just as Luke had come into the kitchen.

Pippa began to dream about being Geoffrey’s wife, but first she would enjoy being his sweetheart. Unheeded, the mutton roasting in the pot began to char. Her nose finally alerted her to the disaster in progress. She gazed in astonishment at the black smoke seeping from under the lid. Where had that come from? Seizing a pothook, she whisked the pan from the flames, wincing at the heat of the handle before cutting off the burned edges and preparing broad beans.

* * *

“You must begin your formal training, Pippa,” Luke said during the meal. “We will perform your initiation ceremony and discuss your future.”

He could see from her face that she was trying hard to control the excitement that must be flooding through her and permitted himself a smile. It would deflect her mind from thoughts of that knave, Geoffrey Peveril. Since Luke’s return from questioning, she had been unnaturally quiet and he wondered if his unexpected proximity to danger had given her cause for reflection. If so, she was learning. Good.

“What must I do?” she asked.

“First, sweep the floor and spread fresh rushes. Then clean all surfaces. Next, you must wash and put on the clean clothes I will give you. One of the first tenets of good magic is that all should be clean and fresh. Dirt attracts the
malus nocte.
”

“All part of the balance?”

“Aye,” he replied, pleased that she understood. “Few people believe that there can be no light without dark. By the same token, they are amazed when stung by nettles to find the leaves of the dock growing nearby. As the sun goes down, the moon rises. Most of my work as an apothecary is balancing my patients’ humors. Balance is all. If you understand that and remember it, you will have the makings of a fine elemancer.”

She blushed at his praise, lowering her eyes. Luke went upstairs and came down with a bundle of clothes wrapped in a sheet.

“I collected your ceremonial attire this afternoon. You must keep it clean and out of harm’s way, once you are initiated. I shall warm water for us both and wash in the shop. Call me when you are finished. Here is the tunic you must wear for the ceremony. You may dress in the kitchen.”

Luke stripped off his clothes and washed before donning a floor-length white tunic. Joss he wiped down with a warmed wet cloth, scented with lavender. He took a fine red-and-gold embroidered leather collar from the sheet wrapping and fastened it around her neck. A matching red tabard, also embroidered with gold, he slipped over his head. Then he took down the oils, herbs and powders he had prepared earlier, put them on a tray and stood with his hands clasped waiting for Pippa. He offered up humble prayers asking for help in his task to initiate a new force for good into the world. When Pippa opened the door, he had to suppress a smile at the look of apprehension on her face.

“Do not be afraid. All will be well.” Luke carried in the tray and put it on the dresser. “Come and stand in front of me.”

He took a clean cloth from the sheet and laid it on the table, then placed a small glass sphere on the cloth. From the tray he took powders in the prescribed order, mixed them in a wooden bowl and, saying a few words over them, poured them on the orb. It at once began to glow with a clear white light. The fragrance of rosemary, citrus and juniper filled the air.

Luke pressed his palms together. “Pick up the orb. No, not like that—cradle it so that it sits in both hands. Answer my questions truthfully and without fear. What is your name?”

“Philippa Gar...Garrod.”

“What is your natal day?”

“25th July 1533.”

Luke stood still for a moment. She shared the King’s date of birth. Then he chided himself. Now was no time to ponder the significance of such things. “Do you come to offer yourself as an acolyte elemancer with all your heart?”

“I do.”

“Do you come hoping for God’s grace and help in the work you must undertake?”

“I do.”

“Philippa Garrod, I will say the five tenets of the Creed of Initiation. If you are willing to serve God as an elemancer, you must say ‘As God wills, Amen,’ after each. Do you understand?”

“Aye.”

“Will you swear to work only for the good of the universe, using your powers and the elements?”

“As God wills, Amen.”

“Will you swear to apply yourself to your learning and progression as an elemancer with a diligent and obedient heart?”

“As God wills, Amen.”

“Will you swear to keep to the path of light, being aware of the
malus nocte
, but never surrendering to it?”

“As God wills, Amen.”

“Will you swear to work for the good of all, by the grace of God?”

“As God wills, Amen.”

“Will you swear never to reveal the existence of the Guild to an outsider?”

“As God wills, Amen.”

As each tenet progressed, Luke saw that Pippa’s face grew paler, as if it was only now that she comprehended the gravity of her vows. He waited until she looked up at him before continuing.

“Repeat after me.” Luke split the oath into phrases, pausing after each one to allow the girl to repeat what he had said. “I swear in the hope of God’s grace...that I, Philippa Garrod...promise by oath and pact...sealed with blood...to uphold the balance of the universe...invoke the elements to my aid...be sister and pupil...giver and receiver. I will listen when you speak to me in visions...I will support and protect all true men...with wisdom and honesty...and this is my solemn covenant with God.”

Luke held out his hand for the orb and laid it back on the cloth. Then he mixed more powders and oils. These he poured over the short blade of a knife and, taking Pippa’s left wrist, he made two swift cuts in her forearm, one across the other. He held tightly on to her hand as the blood flowed and then staunched it by pouring on the wound some of the mixture he had used on the blade. The cuts immediately sealed into two red lines with no sign of blood. She looked even more terrified.

Part of him wanted to reassure the frightened child he saw, but he knew he must not interrupt the ceremony, so he contented himself with a smile of encouragement. The perfume from the initiation oils had brought back the memory of his own initiation, when he had been just as nervous as Pippa, but trying to hide it.

He took from the sheet a blue tabard embroidered in silver and slipped it over her head, kneeling to fasten it at the side. Then he poured the remaining oils over her hair, touching her mouth, nose and ears.

“With the anointing oil of Empedocles, I initiate you into the Guild of Elemancers.”

He picked up a thin silver bangle from the tray, held it between both hands and muttered an incantation. He placed the bangle in Pippa’s hands and enclosed them in his own.

“I pronounce you acolyte elemancer. You will wear this bangle until your dying day as a symbol of your promise to work through God and the elements for the good of all.”

He slipped the bangle on her wrist and squeezed the clasp shut. She winced as the metal bit into her skin. “The ceremony is now over. Welcome to the Guild, Mistress Garrod.”

Pippa examined her forearm. The lines from the two crossed cuts looked like veins under the skin, and already the silver bangle had molded to the contours of her wrist in one unbroken circle.

“You can’t remove it,” Luke said. “It’s there forever, but only another elemancer will see it for what it is. To everyone else, it will look like a scar.”

She looked at his wrists. “Where’s yours?”

Luke held out both wrists so that she could see the thin lines round each wrist.

“Why do you have two and I only one?” she asked.

“Because you are an acolyte. You may choose to remain at that stage, but although the Guild will not publicly acknowledge you, you are permitted to study to reach the level of journeyman. If that happens, you will have another bangle added. You can recognize the level of the elemancer by their wrists, but as most are covered by clothes, this is not always easy.”

“What levels are there?”

“Three before the highest. Acolyte and journeyman are sufficient for most elemancer’s needs. Dominus is the next and then Elemagus, the highest. And there can only be one Elemagus in each shire.”

She nodded and looked down at the rich blue and silver of her tabard. “Do I keep this?”

“Aye. But you only wear it on certain feast days and then only behind closed doors. As you know only too well, rich embroidery is not permitted for the likes of us. You may wear it on the day of Our Lord’s nativity, on the day of His resurrection and the day He rose to heaven.”

“I had better take it off, then.”

“Not yet.” He handed her a cloth bag. “In here are the items you will need to perform those spells permitted to an acolyte. Coins, a wax candle, charcoal and different colored ribbons. Keep them all safe.”

Pippa tipped the contents of the bag into her hand.

“Do you use these?”

“Not now, but I did. When you become a journeyman, you will add a ceremonial knife. It is blunt, its only purpose to cut energy. Sunderers have a sharp one to cut flesh. I also have a few crystals for specific spells and concoctions. There is one more thing.” He held up a collar of soft blue leather, the same color as her tabard and with the same design embroidered upon it in silver. “Hold this and wait here.”

Opening the kitchen door, Luke slipped out into the yard. He came back a minute or so later, carrying the bundle he had collected earlier. He held it out to Pippa.

“This, also, is yours.”

She put the bundle on the table and undid it, jumping back and exclaiming with horror at what looked like a gray-skinned stone rabbit. It did not move and Luke read her thoughts as clearly as if she had spoken.