Victor Deus (Heritage of the Blood Book 1) (25 page)

It took a moment for the last of Nim's comments to settle into Victor's mind while he was still considering how the fountain had been made, and the deeper meaning behind it's construction. Victor quickly centered his mind into the cool and collected thought process that Shaylyn had taught him years before that Nim had honed to a razor's edge. He silently assumed the role which Nim had lain out for him. A noble born child, whose parents had died, that was now being raised by Nim as his adopted son. He was to ignore the fact that the servants even existed, which was the worst part of the whole affair in Victor's opinion, and he was to effect a pompousness and superiority akin to that which Nim was infamous for. Stepping out of the coach with his head held high, it was difficult for Victor to constrain himself in full view of the awe inspiring beauty of the fountain, but one did not learn to Shape without an impressive amount of control.

Looking upon the statues with outwardly feigned indifference Victor knew two things. One was that the statues had obviously been made by skilled Shapers with a craftsmanship that would be hard to duplicate today. Secondly that the statues had been made not only to capture the images of their respective persons, but to also draw on everything that had made that person who they were. Victor knew from looking at those statues that each of these people had been powerful, and inspirational leaders. Looking at the faces of the people milling about he quickly realized that not many of them would leave the confines of their own personal issues long enough to achieve that level of understanding. When he looked into Nim's eyes however he knew that at least one other person there understood what he did.

“Let us move into the interior of the castle without too many interruptions Victor, these people do so bore me.” Nim said this while raising to a level of pompousness that Victor had yet to see him achieve. His statement had been said loud enough so that all of those around the fountain heard it, which brought more than a few glares their direction. Those that had a bit more practice in such things chose to ignore the comment, though Victor could see them standing straighter than they had been moments before.

Affecting the same mannerisms that Nim had used Victor looked around and through the people positioned around the fountain, acting as if they weren't even there. “Aren't there any important people here father?” Even those more schooled at keeping their emotions in check visibly shook at this comment from this young unknown boy in front of them. The glided through a flurry of conversations which contained a surprising amount of quiet curses, untouched by the storm.

They assumed an arrogant stance that said they couldn't be bothered to notice that these people even existed. Victor knew that soon most of the minor nobles, as well as the well-to-do merchants, would hear about the comments that were not usually voiced in public, which would spread to more people, and the rumor mill would inflate what was actually said and it would take on epic proportions. Nim told Victor that when the rumors had increased to where they had killed a noble by the fountain or some such nonsense it would probably continue onto the higher ranked nobles, and probably even the Royal Family.

The Royalty of course were used to these inflated rumors, and were adept at finding out what had really occurred. Of course, they couldn't go too deep where as they would seem interested, petty things like that were below members of the Royal Court. There were a few members of the Royal line that were a bit more verbal about such things however, so if the right people heard about it, it would quickly spread to the entire line.

Those people present who represented the Merchants guilds in Safeharbor had dealt with Nim before, so his comments wouldn't elicit much conversation amongst that faction. Yes, some had seen the young boy by his side at a few business meetings in which Victor would occasionally clarify a point of fact in which either party involved had not stated fully or left out entirely. The fact that the boy had called Nim father would elicit much more conversation and speculation by this faction. Their conversations would of course compound upon the other rumors going about through the nobles.

Nim had explained the effect in grueling detail to Victor earlier this evening. Victor thought the plan depended on the fact that people would gossip about such a thing, but he agreed that it made sense in theory, like a pebble rolling down hill would gather others and soon you could have a rock-slide. Nim gave Victor his wait-and-see smile when he told him he thought they would have more important things to talk about.

As they approached the massive golden gates of the castle the outfits were becoming more grand, and the jewelry more expensive and extravagant. Victor hated to admit it, but the outfits had also become more frilly just like Nim had said they would, though Victor had noticed that these people's amount of frills were much more akin to the outfit in which Nim had dressed. It took all of Victor's willpower to stop from frowning as he realized this fact. They slowly walked up the granite stairs which lead to the entrance hall of the castle. Entering the castle Victor thought that the Building exemplified the luxuriance in which the Royal family was supposed to live. The floors were a beautiful gray marble, and the pillars that ran the length of the hall on either side were crafted from blue marble. Looking up at the ceiling Victor was amazed to see what appeared to be a battle in the clouds. It, like the Symbol of Safeharbor in Nim's Mansion was an illusion created by a Shaper that gave it depth that no artist could hope to duplicate on a flat surface. Victor thought that the mage that had created this image had to have been an artist in his own right however, maybe even the one that had done the symbol for Nim.

There were doors spaced at equal intervals along the sides of the hall's considerable length. The hall itself ended in a grand staircase of white marble with a golden balustrade running along both sides. Victor knew that anyone standing at the head of the stairs would be able to see the entire hall, and from the dull roar that could be heard he knew that whoever stood there would also be able to project their voice throughout the hallway.

Nim had given Victor a detailed layout of the castle a few months earlier along with several other important structures in the city. None of the side doors were open so that left everyone to mill about in the hallway conversing as servants walked around with drinks and appetizers. Victor knew from the diagrams that if he were to open any of the doors on the right side of the hall he would find a dining area four times the size of the one in Nim's mansion. If he were to open the doors on the left side he would find the grand and immense ballroom in which Nim had noted that a large portion of his residence would fit inside of comfortably. After seeing the immensity of the entrance hall Victor no longer thought that note was an exaggeration. Having been informed of the artwork that covered the walls Victor was prepared enough not to gape at everything even though he felt the descriptions had been highly inadequate.

Nim leaned down to Victor and whispered in his ear. “Recognize any of these people?”

Victor's first though was
How am I supposed to recognize anyone?
However as he started looking around he found the descriptions he had been memorizing for the last few months seemed to be coming alive before him. He looked at Nim and nodded.

“Good,” Nim said in a slightly louder voice as he straightened and headed towards the nearest set of people.

“Duke Wellington, So good to see you, and Elizabeth how are you?

“Why Nim Mithriannil, it has been awhile, I was sorry to hear about your uncle.” The gray haired man intoned as his wife held out her hand for Nim to kiss. Nim's description of the man had been incredibly accurate right down the way he stuck his left hand into his waistband, and the small scar under his right eye. The Duke would say that the scar was from a hunting accident, but Nim's notes said that it actually came from something that his mistress had thrown at him years before.

“Well he died more than a year ago, and he lived a long and full life. One can't ask for more than that.” Nim said with more of a mournful inflection in his voice than Victor thought he actually felt.

Duke Wellington said “here, here” and took a drink from his glass as he looked down at Victor.

“Why Nim, who is this darling young man?” Elizabeth Wellington said in a tone that made Victor feel a kid. Which after a moment of thought he had to grudgingly agree with, no matter what his experiences had brought him he was still only eight and a half. He still hadn't learned a drop in the bucket of what he would someday know.

Nim affected the look of snapping out of a deep thought rather well, Victor noted. He looked around like he was wondering what she had been talking about before his eyes settled on Victor. “Oh yes,” he intoned and stated simply. “This is Victor Deus, My son.”

It was very simply stated, but it couldn't have been phrased any other way for better effect. The Wellingtons looked at Nim as if he had gone mad and then at each other at the thought that maybe they were the ones that had gone mad instead.

“We hadn't heard that the Mithriannil line had a new benefactor!” The Duke stated in a flustered tone that his wife seemed to agree with.

“Ah well yes, That is because there has yet to be a new Mithriannil born.” Nim said this in a somber tone that Victor knew wasn't false, before resuming in a normal voice. “Victor is my adopted son, and I couldn't wish for better from my own offspring.” At the end of the statement Nim had affected a cheery tone and put his hand on Victor's shoulder which Victor knew was his cue to take up the conversation.

“Victor Deus, at your service Sire.” Victor made a stately bow before turning to the Lady Wellington. “And my Lady, my father has told me that your beauty was renowned, yet he failed to mention your stately grace.” Victor lied as he took her hand and kissed it. Nim had detailed her beauty, her grace, and some of the other habits she seemed to share with her husband. Though she had grown older the vibrancy of her youth still shone through.

“How are your children fairing? I had heard that Peter Wellington the second was now training with the army and will soon attain the rank of captain. Quite an accomplishment for one so young.” Victor stated this in the most serious tone he could affect. By all of Nim's accounts of Wellington Jr. he was a simple minded man who was good with a sword and would rise to captain mainly because of who his father was. However, nothing his father could do or say would ever get him a promotion beyond that. On the opposite side of the coin there was Katlyn Wellington who was by all accounts as lovely as her mother had been twenty years before, and Nim said twice as intelligent as either of the Wellingtons. Nim had left a side note in his papers saying that he believed that she was actually the daughter of the High Magus who lead the Mages guild. “I also hear that Katlyn has been accepted into the ranks of the Mages, and after only fifteen years of study since the age of ten I believe.”

Nim's hand on Victor's shoulder became a little firmer in what Victor knew as the equivalent to a 'good job' from his mentor. While the Wellingtons could only stand their gaping at Victor.

The next forty-five minutes continued on in much the same manner. Nim would take him to a group of nobles, merchants, or dignitaries and nobility from other cities and wait until they mentioned Victor and then allowed the conversation to go into his students capable hands. Victor knew that it all was a test, and he was determined to pass with flying colors.

Everyone who was going to arrive at the ball would have by now, and they had been given time to mingle. It was no surprise to Victor when the trumpets blared the royal call to arms. He and Nim quietly turned towards the staircase which they had discreetly positioned themselves in front of only minutes before.

Chapter 10

Royal Engagement

Year 3043 AGD

Month of Preparation

Night of the Third Day

Continent of Terroval

City of Safeharbor

Royal Quarter

Royal Palace

The people that funneled out of the great gilded doors at the top of the staircase were, what Victor assumed would be, the most intimidating and powerful procession that he would ever see exit one room. Even in a space the size of the Grand Hall their presence's commanded attention.

As the doors opened Victor could almost hear the sound of hundreds of heads turning as the murmured conversations died out completely. The weaselly looking man who at the top right of the stairs would announce each person as they walked onto the landing above. He motioned to the trumpeters as they were ending their second round of the Royal call to arms, and they stopped playing immediately.

“His Royal Majesty, Theodrik Theromvore the second, and Her Royal Majesty, Sophiana Theromvore.” The weasel like man intoned with a resonance that Victor would never expect to be able to come out of a man so small.

Theodrik Theromvore looked every bit a King, he was dressed in golden robes that were lined in the black and dark purple of the Protectorate. At age forty two, he was just starting to show the signs of time catching up to him, the most noticeable sign being the crow's feet which framed his hazel eyes. His robes hid the well muscled and fit frame that Victor knew the man possessed. The Royal family had a long tradition of training with the knights until they assumed the throne, and it was expected that they keep in battle ready shape until the day they die, or acceded the throne to their heir. His dark brown hair, which had several strands of gray now, was concealed by the golden crown he wore upon his brow. The crown was simple as Victor thought a crown could get. It was a band of gold with several points, it had writing around it that Victor wouldn't be able to make out from where he was, but knew from Nim's notes that the crown simply stated “Watch, Listen, Act” in Draconic. A warning from Dalton Theromvore to his predecessors to never become too comfortable, and never dally, or all would be lost.