Jake's War, Book Two of Wizards (7 page)

The answer
'used to it by now'
flitted through my mind, but thankfully took a route that avoided my mouth.

“And Retnor was beside himself with worry. You, barely able to stand, came rushing over here to save
her
from Bronwyn. The girl has had four months to invade Salice. Couldn't you assume she'd hold off for a few more days?”

“It's only ten days to the wedding,” I said in explanation.

“Nine now, well eight and half, strictly speaking. The wedding preparations start at dawn and though the ceremony isn't until noon, you'll be far too busy that day to worry about Bronwyn.”

“She's going to attack during the wedding.”

Jenny smiled. “She's had all this time. Why should she wait…?”

Jenny's smile faded because she's a bright girl and had worked it out. “I never thought… She won't be able to resist, will she? Everybody gathered together in full regalia, foreign rulers present and Esmeralda and me in our wedding dresses. Nobody her age could.”

I told you Jenny was bright.

“Which is why I have to be ready for her before then. Know what she knows. Preferably find her and take her out before she comes after us.”

“You won't have time for any of that. You'll be far too busy ferrying wedding guests.”

“Can't you and Fluffy do it?”

Jenny sighed. “You left me to do all the planning and then you complain about the schedule. Mother's right. You're a pig-headed swine.”

I felt like putting my hands on my hips and shouting
'I was in hospital, remember?'
but thought better of it. Jenny knows all that.

“You think it'll be wise to let Bronwyn come at us?”

Jenny smiled sweetly.

“At least that way I know you'll still be alive for the wedding.”

“And a magical duel during the wedding is good?”

“You'll have Retnor, Urda, Esmeralda and me at your side. And Esmeralda has driven Bronwyn away all on her own. Not to mention that her parents will be at the wedding as well, I invited them as two of your guests.”

Jenny pouted, which looks very cute on her, “Besides, you're always at your best when your loved ones are threatened. She doesn't stand a chance.”

I smiled for a second and then frowned. “I need to know what she knows or she'll defeat me.”

Jenny put her book on the table with a thud and gave me her most serious expression. “You need to face her as you, Jake. Not as her clone. You don't need those books.”

I grinned at the coincidence of her words. “Esmeralda said almost the exact same thing last night.”

Jenny looked smug. “Some of me is finally rubbing off on that girl. She might make something of herself one day if she works at it.”

I'll never know if I could have found a suitable answer because at that moment Grimaldi entered the room and strode to the wardrobe, flinging open its doors.

“Don't you ever knock bef— Grimaldi?”

“The King wants you dressed in your finest wizard clothes, Jake. Chop-chop, we don't have any time for nonsense.” He waved his arms about flamboyantly to emphasize the point.

“You're dead.” I pointed at him, lest there be any confusion as to whom I was referring.

Jenny pulled my arm down. “It's the other one, his brother.”

I must have looked incredulous, because this was Grimaldi down to the hair and everything. And he knew me.

“Honest, Jake. It's his brother.”

“Then how come he knows where my Wizard clothes are?”

Grimaldi took out my suit, the one Jenny likened to Zorro when she wasn't using the gay waiter comparison and laid it out on the bed. He gave me a severe look and I checked to see if he was carrying his hairbrush. The man did not suffer fools gladly.

“Jake, my brother is dead. He thanked you just before he died for releasing him from pain. But a Grimaldi has served the royal families of Salice for over a thousand years and I am both the latest in that line and the same one. Do you understand? Now you must get dressed quickly for the King.”

I gave up on understanding and subjected him to the same stare I gave Urda and Esmeralda. There was a magic about him like nothing I knew. He wasn't a wizard, but then I wasn't sure exactly what he was. While I was at it, I gave Jenny the once over as well. Two wizard children. How was I going to survive?

Grimaldi harried me into my costume. It always felt like a costume. And then he placed the Zorro style hat on my head at a jaunty angle. I look good in black and the cape was cool. Jenny's snigger stopped me from striking any poses in the mirror.

“You must both go. Court is in attendance and the country has unexpected visitors.”

“Bronwyn?”

Grimaldi shook his head impatiently. “Much more dangerous than that. You must hurry.”

“I'm a bit underdressed.” Jenny wore elasticized jeans and one of those shapeless top things pregnant women wear. It looked good on her. Almost anything does.

“It does not matter. You are the Wizard's consort and from another world. It will help convey a sense of power, as if you flout Salice's convention whenever you choose.”

I grabbed the new Grimaldi by the shoulders and made him look me in the eye.

“Who is waiting down there?”

“Old enemies arrived in the guise of diplomats. Follow the Princess' lead, Jake. She knows how to handle this situation, as does her father. Now go to them quickly, before it is too late.”

Chapter Eleven: Diplomacy

Court was already in session with the massive doors closed when we arrived. Two courtiers pulled the doors wide and the trumpeters started a fanfare as we stepped onto the long red carpet that led to the stage where the King held court.

To my considerable embarrassment the trumpeters at the door were echoed by another pair halfway to the stage. A further pair stood at the wings of the stage and it came as no surprise when they started up as well. Resigned to the situation I tried to keep my head up and my face from turning red as we walked to where the King sat on his throne.

Court in Salice is usually pretty informal. Once a week the citizens are allowed to petition the royal family on any matter bothering them. Three thrones were an almost permanent feature of the stage, for the King, his Queen and Esmeralda as his Heir. During a typical session only one of the royal family would turn up. This time all three were present and there were other seats arranged in line on either side of the thrones.

Esmeralda sat on the King's right and two ornate chairs had been placed to the right of her. The Queen sat on his left and to her left sat a very embarrassed looking Urda in an outfit almost identical to mine. The brim of her hat wasn't so large and she wore a full length black skirt, but other than that we could have been twins.

Standing next to her, also wearing black, was young Wenna. She was the other girl who had showed magical talent among the children I rescued. She was a couple of years younger than Urda and I don't think I've said more than three words to her in my life. She looked as though she would rather be somewhere else, which struck me as a highly sensible point of view.

There were chairs for supplicants to the left of the red carpet and three people stood up from them as I approached. They were dressed in bright red and yellow versions of the clothes I wore. I felt I should recognize the colors but I couldn't put my finger on it. Wherever I had seen those colors before it hadn't been a good association, that was for sure.

Esmeralda stood, as did Urda on the Queen's side.

“May I present the Lord Wizard Jake Morrissey, Guardian of Salice and my betrothed. Besides him is his consort, Lady Jennifer Owens, from the far off lands of Wales.” Esmeralda paused and tried to frown and smile simultaneously at us, which came across more like she was pulling faces.

The three people in the bright clothes turned and I got the chance to get a proper look at them. Seen from the front I recognized the clothes instantly. Talder Plath, the wizard I fought and killed, wore identical clothes to theirs the first time I'd seen him.

“May I present three diplomats from Valhalla,” Esmeralda continued, confirming my suspicions. Jenny's fingers squeezed mine so hard they hurt. Talder's brother Haldane had hurt her and she'd seen Talder kidnap Esmeralda.

I wanted to raise a magic shield, but they weren't using magic and it was pretty obvious such an act would be seen as aggression. So I smiled at them through gritted teeth.

“Lord Card Brindel, Chairmen of the Wizards Association of Valhalla.”

All three of them were thin, but Card was the thinnest. His attempt at a smile came out more like a snarl. He was in his fifties, at least. He bowed to me and I bowed back.

“Lady Meldar Lind, Holder of the Sacred Flame of Truth.”

Meldar looked about two hundred years old and I could see at once that she hated me. Her fingers twitched as though she was going to conjure something wicked, or perhaps she simply wanted to whip me. She didn't attempt a smile as she bowed, so I gave her one of my famous grins. That didn't improve her temper in the slightest and I suspected if her thin lips pulled any tighter they'd tear in two.

“Lord Delft Lagan, Appointed by the Senate of Valhalla to lead this mission of peace.” Esmeralda managed to lace her words with barely hidden skepticism. Her father frowned at her, but made no attempt to intervene. It seemed that all the royal statements would come through Esmeralda.

Delft was the youngest of the three and looked to be in his early thirties. Thin as all the others, he was almost handsome with curly blond hair framing chiseled features. He looked impatient, an impression immediately confirmed by his quick bow and the words that followed it.

“We have travelled vast distances to be here and have been kept waiting all morning and much of the afternoon. Perhaps we may begin, now that your court wizard has condescended to grace us with his presence?”

Esmeralda smiled and I gathered his outburst counted as a point to her. She waved at the empty seats beside her own.

“If Lord Morrissey and Lady Owens would care to take their seats I'm sure we can begin. Lord Morrissey was doing something very important this morning and could not be disturbed.”

I'd never heard sleeping described so elegantly and tried not to laugh out loud.

As we walked onto the stage I felt a buzzing in my vision. The King and Queen were carrying the magic stones. Esmeralda was taking no chances.

“Perhaps Lord Lagan would care to recap his earlier speech?” Esmeralda asked sweetly.

Lord Lagan looked as though he would like to strangle her, but instead addressed the King.

“If it pleases your Majesty. The Wizards of Valhalla are charged with disseminating friendship and peace to the less developed worlds.”

I may have snorted in derision, because Lagan stopped to glare at me.

“Wizard Talder Plath established a good relationship with the previous ruler of Salice and on his return sought an explanation as to the Master's whereabouts, whereupon he was attacked and severely injured by Wizard Morrissey.”

“That isn't how we remember events, my Lord. And I should point out we were present at the time. The Master was a usurper and had no legitimate right to rule this kingdom.”

Though it was said in a pleasant tone, it was clear to everyone that Esmeralda had just called Lagan a liar.

Lagan flushed and I saw buzzing near the fingers of his right hand. I prepared to throw up a shield, but the buzzing died.

“Whatever, it is clear there are deep misunderstandings between our peoples. After Wizard Morrissey visited Valhalla and spread word that our wizards have been abusing their powers the Senate set up an investigating committee of which I am the head. We have visited the kingdoms around you and been told much nonsense. It was claimed Wizard Morrissey restored your Majesty after Talder Plath changed him to stone.” Lagan smiled broadly, as if he had made a joke and his companions barked with laughter.

Esmeralda spoke, cutting off the words I'd been preparing. Her look suggested I should refrain from saying anything if I could possibly manage it.

“Of course, such magic is impossible. But Wizard Plath threatened the King and others. He later kidnapped me from this very room.”

Lady Meldar got to her feet. “Can you tell us what happened to him? He is my nephew and there has been much concern in his family since his disappearance.”

I figured I'd got the hang of this diplomacy. Use half-truths to say the exact opposite of what really happened while saving everybody's face. It was my turn.

“If I may, Princess?”

Esmeralda was getting almost telepathic with her looks. The one she gave me said '
blow this one and I shall use your testicals for maracas'
as clearly as if she'd said the words.

“I caught up with Esmeralda and Taldar on the cliff of another world. He said he kidnapped her so we could talk in private. He was in a lot of pain from his burnt face and he wasn't in the most rational state of mind.”

“No one can heal burns from
Wizard's Fire
. Even the most advanced bio-technology is ineffective,” Lady Meldar said quietly. It seemed that I too had scored a point.

“He staggered to the edge of the cliff and I went to help him. He must have thought I was attacking him because he lurched back and fell over the cliff. I ran to see what happened but there was no sign of him on the rocks below. I assumed he had hopped to safety. Esmeralda was in a state of shock so I took her home.”

In my mind's eye I relived the moment when Talder threw Esmeralda off the cliff and I snapped his worthless evil neck. I smiled warmly at the wizards.

“He has not returned,” Lady Meldar said sharply.

“I can take you to the place where he fell if you want.”

Lord Lagan shrugged. “That will not be necessary. We understand there is to be a royal wedding. We can strengthen the relationship between our respective worlds by attending that event, if you so allow?”

Esmeralda appeared to consider while I attempted to beam the word '
no'
across the gap between us.