Davie the Mage (Generations of Eredwynn Book 2) (13 page)

              I interrupted, “Mother, look at it like this. Most of these girls were all smiles and flirty with me when they got here. If I’d taken them as consorts and loved them, they would have abandoned me in my hour of need. It’s good to know this before they are put in a position to hurt me. Father?”

              “Thank you, Son, and you made a very good point. As a Father, my first reaction to your rejection of my son when he needs caring and understanding is to think of all the empty cells in Starford Stronghold. They are empty because of my son, the one you’ve chosen to abandon. He alerted me to the fact that most of you were locked up there. The rooms in Starford were to be emptied after the previous Lord was exiled, so we will see how many of you can be placed there. It will be a much shorter placement than I’m sure you would have enjoyed with my tenderhearted son, so I would be looking for other accommodations, if I were you. I was going to have Alba go with me for this transport, but judging by her mood, I don’t think any of you would want her as a traveling companion. Gwen, do you mind?”

              Aunt Gwen walked to my father and took his hand. They stepped close to the group of girls and I was almost happy to see not a dry eye among them. I saw the focus and flash of magic that only some could see, brought forth by the
transport
spell, and they were gone.

              Mother came over and hugged my three girls. “I’m so glad that you stayed with him. A mother worries and I’m Alba, so I worry in the crazy, Alba style. Who told you about taking on courtesan’s, Davie? I know that wasn’t a word used around you with all the consorts.”

              I smiled. “Some know-it-all little gnome told me.”

              Baissel laughed, “I’m an elf; you know nothing, male! But at least we love each other.”

              Mother grabbed Baissel’s hand and put it in mine. “Your father wants to have the funeral tomorrow morning. Are you going to be up to it?”

              Magical calming was flooding me before she could finish her first sentence. “No, I won’t be, but I’ll manage. If I could have a bit of help, as in my sis on one side and her mom on the other, we should make it with Wizard’s Castle intact. I’ll tell you this and you can pass it on for Aunt Alice for me. I want the stone casket sealed from the moment she is placed in it until she is put in the mountain above the vault. I want to remember a living, breathing, loving person and not a body in a box.”  No one could answer or even try to talk. Mother nodded and the six of us hugged. I took a deep breath. “You five ladies could wait in my room, if you’d like. I have to tell the staff not to cook for an extra twenty-one people or we’ll be eating leftovers for a month.” They laughed and we went our separate ways.

              On my way to the kitchen, I told Ewayn that twenty-one girls had left and the rooms could be cleaned and lights put out. She nodded and made a note. I continued to the kitchen and gave them the news. There was a collective sigh of relief from the staff and I started toward the stairs.

              Ewayn said, “Davie, there is the matter of the money your father sent for the care of the girls. Two hundred fifty thousand gold coins. How do you want me to record that or will it be returned soon?”

              “I really don’t know, Ewayn, but I’ll find out and get back with you. Since you managed to count my personal money, am I broke yet?”

              “You said you started with two million? So far, and I’m counting the construction that you financed, you’re down five thousand. You’re not quite broke yet.”

              I smiled. “Thank you and I’ll get that information as soon as I can. The funeral is tomorrow morning. I’ll
port
you and Lambin, if you want to go. I hate funerals and get out of them when I can, so I won’t blame you for not going. Just let me know.”

              She smiled and nodded, her eyes starting to tear up. I couldn’t take seeing anyone cry, so I hustled upstairs and to my room.

              An hour later, Father and Gwen returned. They had settled the girls in a temporary position at Starford. For most, it was a short round trip. Their stay was to be contingent on them helping with anything that needed to be done. I personally hoped the vipers would be out of the nest before Father placed one of my brothers over the castle.

              I remembered to ask, “Father, while I’m thinking about it, and I have a short attention span lately, the money that you sent for the care of the vipers… I mean rescued consorts, is in my vault. Would you like me to
port
it back to Wizard’s vault for you?”

              Father was still chuckling when he answered, “Just put it toward your construction or whatever you feel like doing with it. I’ve already sent money to the Regent in Starford. Believe it or not, I actually like this guy, so that must mean there’s something wrong with him!”

              “You were exactly right about the regent you had in this place. I haven’t been treated so rudely since I was born and I was born in a town named ‘Gore’! My finance people are still grumbling about the condition that he left files in.” Everyone laughed. “Father, before you jump up and run off this evening, I’d like for you to do something with me. It may sound strange but just consider the source. I’d like for you to go invisible and hold my hand on a walk. I don’t want your presence influencing my test.”

              He chuckled, “All right, Son, I’ll humor you out of curiosity.”

              He cast
invisibility
on himself and took my hand. I told everyone we’d be back shortly and led the way out of the keep. As we crossed the courtyard, men and women avoided eye contact and moved away. The guards gave us a wide berth as we strolled through the gate and turned toward the sea. I took a normal, leisurely stride and we walked near where the lumberjacks were working. Men stopped what they were doing and on occasion hid behind trees as I came by. I stopped to look at the three ships that were being constructed and all work on the side I stopped on, needed to be done on the other side, desperately. I almost felt sorry for the men who were building the dock, because they were in the open with nowhere to hide. I glanced at the patch that wasn’t visible to normal eyes and continued to the south side of the castle.  I mumbled that we could fly to the balcony and felt Father fly up, and I let him lead. We opened the balcony door and he dropped
invis
. We walked into my bedroom and I signaled my girls onto the bed and out of the way. I could tell by his breathing that he was one unhappy King. Gwen stood up and started to go to him, but he waved her away.

              He finally blew. “Who the hell do those men think they are? The Lord of the Castle and a Prince should be respected! The shrinking around and hiding like little girls is nonsense. Every one of them, including the shopkeepers and the guard, could easily be replaced. I think I’ll go grab some of the family to relocate the lot of them in the Elvin Forest so they’ll have something to be afraid of!”

              He finally had to stop for a breath and I could jump in. “I talked to the gnome; I mean Baissel, about the problem last night but didn’t show her what it was like. I had suggested that I take Starford, but I don’t want it now that it’s infested. She said that people would get over it, with time. I just wanted to show you the situation, in case I ran into difficulties. I know that if I told any of those workmen to fly, they’d jump off the castle but I’d have to catch up with them to tell them anything. James has been here as often as home lately and is supervising the work. What do you suggest, other than No Man’s Land?”

              He sighed. “Since I’m angry, I’ll bite my tongue and not say what I’m thinking. I’ll suggest this: make that walk we just took a routine. Do it close to the same time every day and avoid magic while you do. With a little luck, you’ll become boring and since you’re not in the bedroom, boring is good.”

              I grinned and nodded while looking at the five blushing female faces. I told him that I’d take his advice and asked if he wanted me to have lunch brought up. He replied that the kingdom might fall apart if he was away from the capital for too long. We stood and with hugs all around, Gwen and Father ported home.

              “You called me a gnome in front of Father and my mother!” yelled Baissel as she punched me in the arm. I started laughing and all the girls started giggling. My cute wizard Amee went out the door to have lunch for five sent up and we all settled down at the tables. After we ate, I lay on the bed, thinking about nothing while Baissel and the girls chatted about how to solve the world’s problems or something. They were speaking ‘girl,’ so I couldn’t make it out. Just before dusk and quitting time, I told the girls I was walking and made my rounds. I made it back without getting angry and said I was calling it a night. Baissel hugged the girls and went to her room. I undressed and crawled into bed. The girls quickly changed into their gowns and snuggled with me. They had some kind of rotation going, because they were in a different place last night. I figured that I’d catch on sooner or later but with tomorrow looming, I’d better rest.

Chapter Ten

            
 
I
woke with the sun and a hollow, empty feeling inside. I felt that I’d misplaced something but couldn’t remember what it could be. And then I did. It was like being slammed by a boulder in my unshielded chest. I shook poor Amee awake and said, “Get Baissel.” I lay on my back looking at the canopy and the ceiling and reminding myself how much I liked having them. I squeezed my eyes closed, hoping to dampen the emotions, and felt a cool hand on my forehead. My sister’s calming effect took hold just before my control failed, and she could tell.

              “Wow, big brother. I’ve heard of waking up on the wrong side of the bed, but you’re in the middle! I hope you’re regaining control, because I’m giving it all I’ve got and we’re still barely avoiding an accident. Before we leave this morning, I’m going to get my mom to port with us. If this is any indication of the day, then we’ll both be needed.”

              I nodded. “That might be a good plan. I’m getting a grip on it now, but I think I owe Amee for saving my roof. Thank you, Amee, for reacting so quickly to such a rude awakening.”

              Amee leaned over and kissed me. “I love you, Davie! You needed me and I could help. That’s why I stayed.”

              My sister smiled. “With Amee and the other two, who look as though they’d do anything if you needed them to, I can tell that you’re taken care of. Now if I could only teach a human wizard to do this mood-altering thing, I could go home!”

              I chuckled, “Do you really miss Wizard’s that much? The only things there that we don’t have here are cute trainees in tight clothes, and I could get mom to bring some for you. Or does my lil’ sis have a boyfriend she’s missing?”

              “No, I don’t have a boyfriend. Most of the men near my age think of me as a ten year old because I’m so small. I could tell them that I’m sixteen, but they’d never believe it. Father might have to have a tournament to get rid of me! I was only kidding about going back and it’s kind of nice to not be under my mother’s watchful eye all the time. If you’re not careful, I might just move all my stuff in here and keep your guest room for myself!”

              I laughed, “Darling sister of mine, I want you to know that if you wanted to stay here, I would be more than happy to have you. Honestly, you might think about it. But for now, I suggest you turn your head or go get dressed. Otherwise, you might see more of your brother than you’d like to.”

              The girls all started laughing and Baissel moved quickly out the door. I suggested that Amee wear something other than her uniform for a change and the other girls could dress to match. That way everyone would know that they were together and with me. They hurried off and so did I. After I dressed, which seems to happen much more quickly for men, I let the girls know I was going down to check with Ewayn and see if she was going. I went downstairs and tapped on her open door.

              She looked up and said, “Davie, it isn’t that I…”

              I stopped her. “If I didn’t have to be there, I wouldn’t go either. I understand and respect your decision. Oh, by the way, that money from Father for the care of the girls can be added into my personal fund.”             

              “I’ll mark that down for you, then, and keep track in case you ever want to know how much is in there. If I may say so, for being so well off, you sure don’t spend much on luxury items.”

              “I guess I’m like my father. I have a roof over my head and hot running water. Those are the basics and they keep me happy. You have a good day and don’t work too hard.”

              “Remember to breathe, Davie.”

              I ran back upstairs and the girls all looked lovely. Baissel gave us all a quick once-over and declared that we were perfect. She scanned the area around Wizard’s Castle and ported us to a quiet spot beside the trees and the river. We walked toward the area that had been set up and I felt Baissel’s hand tighten on mine. My mother and father saw us walking and motioned us to the front of the rows of chairs that had been set up. There were chairs to seat hundreds and I hoped that the attendees would be people who knew the family and not just a crowd of morbid sightseers. As we sat, my three girls shuffled to allow my mother the seat next to me, with Baissel on my right. Aunt Gwen conveniently took a seat directly behind me. It was at that moment, when I saw all the precautions that had been taken to keep my emotions in check, that I realized the impact my display had had on my family. Perhaps when this was all over, I’d find some isolated place to see just how powerful my magic was, or if it was a fluke caused by overwrought emotions.