Chapter Fifteen (Part Two)
Ona
“There’s so many trees,” Marie said, looking out the little window as the train pulled into Clement’s depot. They had left Savaria three days ago and watched with interest as the landscape slowly changed as they rode further north and higher into the mountains. At first, all they had seen were the familiar rolling hills of golden grass and low, hardy oak and olive trees that were typical of the low river valleys surrounding Savaria and Marisette. Scattered fields of wheat and horse pastures with the occasional vineyard and winery dotted the hillsides, while small clusters of buildings indicated homesteads and little villages that Ona did not know the names of. For some reason, seeing the vineyards made her realize that she had never even gotten to taste the wine that her family was famous for. That thought filled her with a deep sense of loss that she couldn’t quite understand. Rather than dwelling on those thoughts she tried helping Marie tend to Alba, but she couldn’t help change the dressings or refresh the runes. She couldn’t dab her sister’s forehead with a damp rag or even clean the chamber pot. Rather than improving her mood she soon found herself even more depressed so she escaped to the roof of their car, where she floated along on her back and watched the clouds pass by overhead for the rest of the day, wishing she could hide in the engine’s boiler instead. She didn’t believe things would be any easier for her in Clement, but at least her freedom wouldn’t be restricted by rules borne from ignorance and fear. Captain Renae and the soldiers gave them plenty of privacy, keeping their lookout from either end of the train car, but that also meant that Ona would find it difficult to sneak past them to explore the rest of the train. Besides, she had promised to follow the rules, even if Marie had been the one speaking on her behalf.
They passed through Savaria during their first night of travel, and then their route slowly diverted to the northwest, taking them past the mouth of the Santabelle River a few hours later. Ona flew as high as she could, trying to catch a glimpse of Marisette in the far distance, but was disappointed that even with the fantastic vision shades were granted she was unable to see even a flicker of light from their hometown. Over the course of the next day they passed through cute little hamlets while pine forests and lakes replaced the fields and vineyards of the lowlands. As the day wore on and the river grew smaller, the mountain ranges rose higher around them until, an hour or so after sunset, the train could no longer avoid them and began to slow down as it climbed higher into the foothills. Ona was the first to notice the change as she had to adjust her own speed when she began drifting forward and into the floor a little.
The next day they arrived at the Clement station. Several small houses and stores were clustered around the depot, enough to constitute an entire village in its own right, albeit a small one. In Ona’s mind, she had imagined Clement would be just like Marisette, only in a different location and with different-looking people. It was indeed a small village, and the people did look and dress differently, but that was where her expectations and reality parted ways.
“Where’s the rest of it?” asked Alba as the train slowed to a stop.
“I think it’s up there,” Marie said, looking out the window and up.
Ona slid through the wall of the train and looked around. The depot was nestled in the woods at the base of one of the many snow-capped mountains all around them. Behind the depot, a stone-paved road cut through the woods. She could see it winding its way up the mountain where the cliffside had been shored up with stonework in many places and the road was bordered with low walls, most likely to prevent people or carts from tumbling over the side. Eventually, the road led to a castle nestled in the saddle of a valley, looming over everything below it. A massive waterfall tumbled over the cliff beside the castle, the bottom of which was lost to Ona’s view behind the trees, though she could hear the roar of it in the distance. The top of the mountain was so high that no trees grew there and it was still covered in snow. Back down at the depot, Ona saw several people waiting at the platform, including Lord Matvie, Lady Alyona, and what looked like some of their own guards. She slipped back into their car.
“It’s up the mountain alright,” she said. “And it looks like the road isn’t easy, either. Better have some runes ready, Marie. We’re going to need them.”
Marie nodded, looking grim. Alba sighed. “I hope this will be worth it.”
“You know there’s an easier way, right?”
“Not now, Ona, please.”
“Fine,” she said with a huff. “They're waiting for us out there.”
The station master arrived shortly with two strong men behind him. Captain Renae and his soldiers stopped them and quickly checked for weapons before allowing them to approach Alba. The guards from Clement looked on with scowls on their faces but they knew better than to protest. Ona thought back to the night of the massacre. Borden and his men had been unarmed at first, but that still hadn’t stopped them from their slaughter. How could anybody be truly safe in these times? She shook her head to clear her mind. Thinking about such things wouldn’t do anyone any good.
Unlike the man from Fort Meyer, this station master was well-dressed and despite not quite looking in the right direction, he at least attempted to address Ona, a gesture she was finding that she appreciated more and more these days. Under Marie’s guidance, the station hands lifted Alba and settled her in her chair once more, then covered her with a thick blanket before disembarking.
“You will most likely find it cold outside, Lady Mage,” explained the station master. “Visitors from the south always comment on our cool temperatures and autumn is fast approaching.”
“Seems fine to me,” Ona said to Marie.
Marie rolled her eyes and then wrapped a shawl around her own shoulders before accepting the attendant’s hand as he guided her off the train. The station hands lifted Alba’s chair and carefully carried her down. Ona was surprised at how gentle they were, far more so than the men from Fort Meyer had been. Even so, by the time they set Alba down on the platform she was breathing heavily and looking pale. Marie was also out of breath after doing nothing more than stepping off the train. Even a few of the soldiers seemed to be struggling.
“Are you guys ok?” asked Ona, alarmed. Lord Matvie and Lady Alyona were walking up to them, followed closely by their attendants and guards.
“I – I think so,” breathed Marie. “I have heard about this. The air is much thinner at higher altitudes, so we don’t get as much oxygen with each breath. We should acclimate to it within a few weeks.”
“You should take it easy until then,” said Lord Matvie as they approached, a small retinue of servants and guards trailing a few steps behind him. He bowed respectfully and Lady Alyona curtsied with a friendly smile. Alba smiled back. “Welcome to Clement, Lady Mage Alba,” said Lord Matvie. “The air up here may be thin, but there is no better place to relax and heal from your ordeal.”
“Thank you, Lord Matvie. It is truly beautiful. I can imagine I shall have a hard time leaving when the time comes.”
“Oh, this?” said Lady Alyona with a laugh and a wave of her hand. “This is nothing. You should see Clement itself. They say it's the jewel of the northern territories.”
“You remember Lukas and Jana, of course?” Lord Matvie asked, gesturing at his valet and Lady Alyona’s lady’s maid. Jana curtsied and Lukas bowed. “And this is Commander Yuri,” he said, gesturing to a middle-aged man in a sharp uniform standing next to him. “He is in charge of the local constabulary, who, at your father’s insistence, will be maintaining a constant vigil over you and the estate during your stay.”
Commander Yuri bowed to Alba and then stepped aside to discuss matters with Captain Renae, who would be returning to Fort Meyer on the next train south.
“We do not have the luxury of having any mages on staff, Lady Ona,” continued Lord Matvie, “so please forgive us if we neglect you. It is entirely unintentional.”
“Tell them I’m used to it,” Ona said. “And they're already doing better than that pathetic jerk from Fort Meyer." The edges of Jana’s mouth twitched slightly and Ona watched her closely as Marie relayed her message in much politer terms than Ona had used. When Marie was done Ona leaned over. “I swear she can see me,” she said, still looking hard at Jana. The maid had pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders and was paying close attention to her Lord and Lady. There was no clear indication that she was even aware of Ona’s presence.
“Are you still on about that?” whispered Marie. “Give it a rest already.”
“When most people can’t see you, you start to notice it when they do. And, I don’t know. She just seems a bit different.”
“Because of her looks?” Marie gave Ona an irritated glare. It was true that Jana had the darker skin tone and black hair common in Selise and the surrounding provinces instead of the pale skin and light hair of her Lord and Lady, but Ona had barely even registered that fact. The Academy was full of students of every color from all across the empire, after all. “That’s pretty shallow, don’t you think?” Marie continued. “They hired her because she came from Albaron City and knows all the modern trends. She’s even taught me a few things.”
“Never mind, just forget it,” Ona said with a sigh. She couldn’t explain it any better to herself, so how could she convince anyone else?
Lord Matvie led them all out of the station and across the street, the Matvie’s constables and the Imperial soldiers following at a respectful distance as the two captains continued their discussion. Ona had expected to find a carriage or two waiting for them, but instead, they stopped next to another platform. A large, flat, wooden surface was sitting on a pair of rails that ran beside the road for a bit before heading straight up the mountainside while the road veered off to go up the mountain at a more gentle angle. Ona could see a cable running between the rails and a quick peek beneath the cart confirmed that it was connected to the underside, for pulling it up the mountain, she assumed. Several chairs were placed on the platform, along with plenty of blankets and a serving tray that most likely held hot drinks.
“Please forgive the rustic nature of our transport,” said Lord Matvie. “However, we decided this would be far more comfortable for Lady Alba than a bumpy carriage ride up the mountain, and it will take much less time as well.”
“I think it’s wonderful,” said Alba with a smile. She and Marie were still breathing heavily.
“This trolly is primarily used for transporting goods up and down the mountain. We rarely use it for people,” said Lady Alyona.
“How does it work?” asked Alba.
“The Empire has stationed a mage here to operate it,” said Lord Matvie. “His Skill turns the winch with ease, while some clever gear work keeps the platform level, regardless of the angle of the tracks. Before the mage was sent to us this task required many men working together, and we were considering installing a steam engine, which of course would require a mereologist to maintain the heating runes, as well as a steady water supply and a few mechanics. A single mage is much more efficient.” His eyes sparkled as he spoke and Ona found herself wishing she could hold a proper conversation with him. It seemed he loved mechanical things as much as she did.
“He’s one of only three mages we have here,” said Lady Alyona, patting her husband’s arm as she smiled apologetically at Alba. “The other two being the village’s healer and an Imperial Mereologist who documents and maintains the villages’ runes and performs most of our administrative duties. He’s quite capable. You might find you have some common interests, Mage Marie.”
“I look forward to meeting him, my Lady,” said Marie.
“All right, ladies, that’s enough standing around. We should get going,” said Lord Matvie with a glint in his eyes.
“Please, forgive Nicoli. He’s been eager to ride this contraption ever since it was built.”
“Did you not ride it down earlier?” asked Alba.
“No,” said Lord Matvie, and Ona was certain she detected disappointment in his voice. “As Alyona said, it’s not often used for this purpose. If not for your condition, my Lady, it would not have even been considered.”
“But you are the City Lord, is the decision not yours to make?”
“Clement is mine, yes, but the trolley is the Empire’s. Our mereologist, Mr. Beaty, makes all decisions regarding Imperial property, including the trolly and railroad.”
“Then I must be sure to thank him later,” said Alba.
“I am certain he is looking forward to the meeting, my Lady.”
“This is where I say farewell, Lady Mage Alba,” said Captain Renae, stepping forward with a bow. “I am confident that the constables have your security well in hand.”
“Thank you for your service, Captain,” said Alba with a smile. “Your presence on our journey gave me great peace of mind, and I rested easy knowing you and your men were watching over us. I shall ask my father to send your company a bonus in our next correspondence.”
“Your safe arrival is all the reward we need, Lady Mage.” He stood straight and clenched his fist against his chest in salute. “For the good of the Empire.”
“For the good of the Empire,” Ona and the others all echoed.
Captain Renae and his men turned sharply on their heels and walked back toward the train station while the laborers lifted Alba onto the platform and got her situated into one of the chairs. Marie made sure that her leg was securely propped up and that she was sufficiently covered in blankets while Ona watched from the side, feeling useless once again. Two of the constables took their places - one at each end of the platform - and after all the others were seated Lord Matvie almost gleefully pulled a lever on the side of the cart. A moment later it lurched into motion, pulling away from the platform with the distinctive squeal of metal wheels on iron rails. In less than a minute the tracks left the road and the half dozen or so buildings that were clumped around the station began to fall away as the cart began the journey up the steep mountainside. Ona drifted along with them for a while and even poked her head under the trolly’s chassis to see how the leveling mechanisms operated, but the slow pace grated on her and she eventually flew on ahead, following the rails up the mountain and exploring every little nook and cranny she could find.
Lord Matvie had said it would be a faster journey than the carriage, but it still took over an hour for the cart to make its way up the mountain. Finally, Ona saw the first signs of the village as she passed a few small huts with thatched roofs and children playing outside of them. She stopped and waved, but to her disappointment, none of them saw her. She watched them playing for a few minutes until the cart rattled into view and the children forgot their game. They laughed and ran up to the cart, cheering and running alongside the tracks for as long as they could, while the Matvies chuckled and waved back, tossing the children a few sweets. Ona smiled, trying not to feel left out again, and flew on ahead. Not long after that, the steep hillside began to give way to grassy fields filled with sheep and goats under the watchful eyes of some sheepdogs. One of the dogs raised its hackles and barked at her. She stuck her tongue out at it which only made it bark louder until a shepherd who had been napping nearby woke up and began yelling profanities at the poor creature.
The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
She continued up the hill, pushing against the limits of the Bond until she passed a rock with a glowing blue rune inscribed on it. She stopped to look at it, thinking back on her lessons and trying to remember what it was for, but its purpose escaped her. Twins didn’t get much instruction in runecraft unless they showed a talent for it, but they were still given a basic introduction, and all of the most common runes even single-borns could recognize. Out of curiosity she reached out and touched the strange rune, but all she felt was a slight tingling sensation as her hand passed through the rock. It was nothing like touching a ward.
She gave up on the rune with a shrug, making a note to ask Marie about it later, and continued up the hill as the Bond gave her some slack, which meant Alba was getting closer. Eventually, she saw the loading platform up ahead, which seemed to be little more than a wooden dock perched at the top of a ridgeline, with a small-ish shack off to one side. She called out as she drew closer, and a head popped out of one of the windows.
“Here already?” a young man’s voice called out.
“Not quite,” Alba called back. “It’s only me, I couldn’t wait for the rest, the cart’s too slow.”
“Ah. You must be Lady Ona then,” he said, squinting his eyes. “By the Master, I should have recognized you as a shade from the start. That’s why you didn’t trigger the proximity runes. Not too many of your kind up here." He laughed and scratched his head. “Actually you’re the first I’ve seen since I got posted here. How far back are the rest?”
“About half a mile, maybe less. That’s the limit of my Bond.”
The mage whistled. “Half a mile, eh? Not bad. Lady Mage Alba must be fairly strong then, yeah?”
Ona was close enough now to get a good look at the trolley operator. He was handsome, in a rugged, common sort of way. He had dark brown hair and green eyes. His skin was not quite as dark as Marie and Alba’s, but it wasn’t pale white like the Matvei’s, either. Ona wondered where in the Empire he had originally come from. He wore dirty blue overalls on top of a white, dirt-stained shirt, which she couldn’t help but notice was covering a pretty respectable set of muscles. His mage’s medallion hung from a leather cord and was tucked unceremoniously into the front pocket of his overalls. It looked like it hadn’t been polished in years. Ona shrugged and tried to act casual. “I suppose she is, though I never gave it much thought.”
The mage laughed. “Liar,” he said. “I knew too many shades back at the Academy. You all think about it. Come on in, we've got another five minutes or so before they get here.”
Ona puffed her cheeks out and there was an uncomfortable silence as Ona realized she had no idea what to say next. The young man shrugged.
“Suit yourself,” he said, ducking back into the shack and leaving Ona hanging in the air, alone and frowning. After a moment she shook her head and followed him inside.
“I’m Alec,” said the mage as she passed through the wall and into the surprisingly loud mechanical room. It smelled strongly of grease and old sweat. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Ona." He bowed slightly, then smirked apologetically. “Sorry, guess I should have done that first, huh? We don’t have too many highborn up here, either. Just the Lord and Lady.”
Ona shrugged as she looked around. “It's alright, I’m not a noble anymore. I’m just a shade now. Call me Ona.”
“Alright, Ona,” said Alec, sitting back down on one of the stools that flanked a large, gear-toothed wheel that protruded up through the floor. There was a winch handle on each side of the wheel, attached to it through a series of gears and axles that Ona found instantly fascinating. Both handles were rotating on their own, and Ona wondered if this mage’s Skill was telekinesis, like Vincen’s. “Can I ask you something?” he asked, tipping his stool back and resting against the wall as he glanced across the room at a runelight that had just blinked on. That mysterious rune back on the hillside must have been one of the proximity alerts Alec had mentioned a moment ago.
“Go ahead," she said, slightly hesitant, fairly certain she knew what his question would be. As a mage, he should know better than to ask her how she had died. It didn’t always stop everyone from asking, but all mages knew that it was the one thing a shade wouldn’t talk about. The one thing they couldn’t talk about.
“You said you weren’t a noble anymore, yeah?”
“Yeah?” she answered slowly. Where was he going with this?
“So.., when did that happen?”
Ona hesitated. “About two and a half years ago.”
He nodded. She waited for him to say more, but he just looked down at the floor, through a hole near his feet. Curious, Ona drifted over and followed his gaze. The trolly cable smoothly zipped along about six inches under the floorboards. A series of white lines were painted on it at regular intervals, grouped together in steadily decreasing numbers, most likely marking the distance left before the trolley arrived.
“Aren’t you going to ask me how I died?” she asked when she couldn’t stand the silence any longer.
“Would you tell me?”
“No.”
“Haven’t met a shade yet that would, so what’s the point in asking?” He glanced sideways at her. “I have to say though, you’re the cutest shade I’ve ever met.”
Ona huffed and turned away. Maybe she didn’t want to talk to him after all. He had a lot of nerve, speaking to a noblewoman like that. She turned her gaze back down the mountain, watching for Alba and the others. “So, mage Alec,” she said after a minute, lacing her words with sarcasm so he would know she was still mad at him. “Why’d you get posted here? Seems like a pretty boring job. Did you do something wrong?”
“Yeah, it’s a shitty job alright,” he said, watching her closely. Probably wanting to see how she would react to his crass language. She decided to ignore it. She had told him she wasn’t nobility anymore, after all. After a minute he shrugged and glanced back through the hole at the cable. “If I tell you how I got stuck here, will you tell me how you died?”.
“No.”
“Then I’m not saying either.”
“Fine,” she said, turning her nose up.
“Your sister’s here, better start acting like a proper lady again.”
Ona looked out the window as the trolley crested the ridge, and a brake lever next to the winch pulled itself back with a clack. The trolley slowed and came to a gentle stop next to the loading platform. Ona was certain now that Alec was telekinetic. It was a powerful Skill that seemed wasted here. Alec winked at her and stood, walking through the door of the hut and out onto the platform. Ona followed him and saw a wheelchair that she hadn’t noticed before roll over by itself and stop a few feet behind them. It was a beautifully upholstered armchair with a set of handles behind the backrest and two large wheels on either side of the arms. Two much smaller wheels were set by the front legs and a platform stretched between them where Alba’s feet could rest without dragging on the ground. A padded board had been rigged up to keep her bad leg straight.
Alec bowed. “My Lord, Ladies, I hope your ride was pleasant?”
“It was indeed, Mage Alec,” said Lady Alyona. Alec reached out a hand to help her but Lord Matvei stepped in and helped her down instead.
“Thank you, Alec,” he said rather shortly. Alec’s face fell slightly and Ona frowned. “Do you have Lady Mage Alba’s chair ready?” Lord Matvei asked.
“Yes, my Lord,” he said, bowing to Alba and then gesturing with a grin toward the wheeled armchair. “May I assist you, Lady Mage Alba?”
Alba smiled and nodded, but again Lord Matvei interjected. “Lukas can handle it, Alec. You may begin clearing the trolley. They need it back at the station. There are supplies waiting to be loaded, including the Lady’s luggage. Let’s not delay its arrival any longer than necessary.”
Alec’s face hardened, but he bowed. “As you wish, my Lord.”
“I see you have met my sister, Mage Alec,” said Alba as Lukas delicately lifted her from the trolley.
“Indeed, Lady Mage,” said Alec as he began collecting the blankets. “Lady Ona has been most pleasant company.”
“I am glad to hear it. I do hope she was not too much of a distraction?”
“Hey!” said Ona.
“Not at all, my Lady,” said Alec. He looked at Ona and grinned. “Though it is hard not to be distracted when there are beautiful women about.”
“Watch your tongue, mage,” said Lord Matvei sharply. “You are speaking about the Marquess’ daughter.”
“Forgive me,” said Alec with a bow. “I spoke out of place.”
“Not at all,” said Ona as Lukas set Alba down in the wheelchair. Marie began tucking the blankets around her, watching Alec carefully. “I appreciate a man who can recognize my beauty.”
“As do I,” said Alba, smiling at Ona.
“My Ladies,” Alec said with a nod and a nicely dimpled smile then returned to his work.
“We should be off,” said Lord Matvei with a frown. “Kilian will be eager to meet you, my Ladies.”
“It has been all he’s talked about since we told him you were coming,” said Lady Alyona with a giggle.
“I have been looking forward to meeting him myself,” said Alba. “He sounds like a sweet boy." Lukas began pushing her chair down the cobblestone-paved street. The stones were very tightly layed and it was surprisingly smooth.
“You probably shouldn’t let him hear you say that, Lady Alba,” said Lord Matvei, walking alongside her. “A boy’s ego can be a fragile thing at his age.”
Ona personally thought that most boys never grew out of that stage. She turned and looked back at the trolley hut as their group began walking away. Alec had stopped his work and was standing there, watching them.
“I wonder why Lord Matvei doesn’t like Alec,” she wondered out loud. “He was a bit crude, but decent enough company.”
“Lord Matvei,” Alba said. “I noticed you were rather short with that mage. How come?”
Lord Matvei sighed heavily and paused for a moment, tapping his walking cane on the stone pavers a few times before continuing. “You should not encourage Mage Alec, my Lady. Your sister and your maid would do well to limit their interactions with him as well.”
“He’s not a criminal, is he?”
“No, but one with his reputation should be avoided by women of… upstanding moral character.”
“Are you saying he’s a libertine?” asked Alba with a hand over her mouth.
“Oh yeah, he’s a skirt-chaser,” said Ona. Marie glared at her. “What?” asked Ona. “I had him pegged almost from the start. He doesn’t even try to hide it.”
“Let us leave such unpleasant subjects for now and enjoy the walk,” said Lady Alyona. “Our guests are missing the view.”
Ona looked around and had to admit it was a beautiful sight. The village was nestled in a high valley with mountains rising sharply on either side. Green meadows dotted with pine groves covered the valley floor and the mountainsides, giving way to granite cliffs that towered thousands of feet above them. The occasional waterfall tumbled over the cliffs above before disappearing into the valley floor below. A large lake dominated the far end of the valley, feeding the large waterfall next to the Matvie’s castle. She could see why Lady Alyona had said it was the jewel of the north. She couldn’t wait to see it at sunrise.
The trolley’s loading platform was near the back end of Clement and a little apart from the rest of the town. As they entered the main part of the village, Ona saw that the buildings were all made of wood or stone with white plaster walls and had either thatched roofs or wooden shingles. They had barely passed the first few buildings before Marie was breathing heavily again.
“Oh dear,” said Lady Alyona. “I quite forgot to consider that you are not accustomed to the thin air yet. A walk simply will not do. I shall send for a carriage.”
“I will be fine, my Lady,” said Marie. “I just need a moment.”
“I can stay with her, Milady,” said Jana. “We should not delay. Lord Kilian will be wanting to meet the Ladies.”
“Is that alright with you, Lady Alba?” asked Lord Matvei. “Kilian has been rather impatient and was not pleased that he could not accompany us down the mountain. He is not a strong boy, I’m afraid, and the trip is always hard on him.”
“It is fine with me as long as Marie is ok with it,” said Alba, looking a bit pale and out of breath herself.
“Of course, my Lady,” said Marie, still gasping slightly. “You should get inside as soon as possible. I will be fine with Jana. She can help me get acquainted with the village in the meantime.”
“Well then, it’s settled,” said Lord Matvei. “We will leave the maids to their very capable selves and be on our way.”
Ona was not sure about leaving Marie alone in a strange place, especially with Jana, but her friend urged her forward with a nod. Ona was eager to get Alba inside and out of the cool air quickly, so she reluctantly turned to follow the Matveis as they began walking again, Lukas pushing Alba’s chair.
“She’ll be fine,” Alba whispered to Ona. “She can handle herself.”
“I know,” said Ona, trying to shake off her suspicions of Jana. Marie was most likely right and she was just letting her imagination run wild. No noble family would ever hire an unregistered mage, the penalties were far too steep to risk it. “I’m more worried about you right now. You look pale.”
“You’re one to talk,” said Alba with a giggle.
“That’s just mean, you know,” she replied, not really meaning it. Lady Alyona glanced their way, a slightly curious look on her face. Ona was getting used to the strange looks people gave them whenever someone spoke to her in public. Alba noticed as well and turned her attention back to their hosts, asking about a church they had just passed. Lady Alyona instantly brightened up and regaled them with facts and anecdotes about Clement as they made their way through the village until they eventually reached the other side and got their first good look at the castle.
“Oh my…” said Alba, and Ona agreed.
“It’s not much, but it’s home,” said Lord Matvei, trying to hide a self-satisfied grin and failing. The Matveis’ castle was smaller than the Lequette’s hacienda, there was no denying that. But what it lacked in size it more than made up for in presence and location. It was more like a fortress than a villa and sat nestled up to the huge lake that bordered one side of Clement. Behind the villa, the cliffs came to an abrupt end at the shores of the lake where the largest waterfall Ona had seen yet fell with an incredible roar into the lake’s waters, sending up a massive spray that settled like mist around the villa grounds. The villa itself was made of moss-covered stone and had probably been around for hundreds of years longer than all but the oldest buildings in the rest of Clement.
“It’s amazing,” said Ona.
“This fortress has stood watch over Clement for centuries,” said Lord Matvei. “My ancestors built it to protect the land against invading tribes from the lowlands back in the ancient days. The geography of the area also made invasion difficult, as you can imagine, and the land has some runes of its own that help; though they are not as strong as those of the walled cities of the plains, but still, our ancestors held their own. At least until the Barosian invaders came along…” he trailed off and looked abashed, as if realizing that he may have offended his guests.
“I saw an old rune on my way up the mountain,” said Ona, trying to bring the conversation back to safer ground. She understood his feelings though. Her own people, the Merrisetti, had been swept up in that same crusade. But that had all happened hundreds of years ago.
“My sister says she saw a rune earlier,” said Alba as they crossed a stone bridge spanning a burbling brook that fed into the lake. Sunlight flashed off the silver scales of some fish just below the surface of the crystal-clear water.
“She must have good eyes,” said Lord Matvei, perking back up. “Most of them are so worn down that they are almost impossible to see.”
“Shades can see runes, as long as they are still charged with essence,” explained Alba. “They glow.”
“This one was blue, and I didn’t recognize it,” said Ona.
“Fascinating,” said Lord Matvei. “If any of the villa’s runes cause you or your sister any trouble you must let us know. Mage Beaty has examined them but he admits that some of their functions evade his knowledge.”
“I’m sure Marie would be more than happy to assist him. She graduated top of our class and is an expert in rune lore,” said Alba.
“I remember hearing that. I admit that I was hoping she would agree to help. Your sister might even be able to help us locate some we have not yet found…” He paused as a servant came up the path to meet them, looking worried. “Ivan, is there a problem?”
“My Lord,” said the man. “Lord Kilian fell into one of his fits shortly after you left this morning. We have not been able to wake him yet.”
“Oh dear,” said Lady Alyona. “I was afraid this might happen. Maybe we should have let him come.”
“We couldn’t risk it, you know that dear." Lord Matvei said, then turned to Alba. “It seems you may have to wait to meet our son after all. As I said, he is not a strong child and has fainting fits sometimes. It may be hours before he wakes up. It can be quite upsetting for people who have not seen it before.”
“I do hope he will be alright,” said Alba.
“He will be fine,” said Lord Matvei. “This happens often.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” said Ona. Floating across the lawn from the direction of the villa was a young boy. It was hard to guess his age, but Ona figured he was somewhere between seven and ten years old, dressed in clothes that would have been considered fit for a noble if they hadn’t been silver and translucent, just like the rest of his body.
“What do you mean?” asked Alba.
Ona pointed towards the young shade, who was nearly upon them by then. “I’m pretty sure Lord Kilian is dead.”
The shade stopped and looked at Ona with a shocked expression on his face, and she realized that he had heard her. She felt bad for a moment. She had heard stories of some mages who had continued to go about their business for some time after their death, not realizing at first that they were now shades. Of course, with the initial limitations of the Bond and how difficult it was to go about business of any sort when you couldn’t touch anything, it was hard to believe those stories.
“Wait a minute,” the little shade said with a gasp. “You can see me?”
He stared at Ona and she stared back. Then, in the blink of an eye, he vanished.
END OF CHAPTER FIFTEEN