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| Chapter 68. An Uneasy Homecoming | |
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endaran spent the rest of the afternoon making arrangements for the two rambunctious puppies to be housed within the grounds of the guild. Mabane was still playing with them in a recently cleared out goat pen as Pendaran watched while leaning over the low plank wall amid wandering chickens and ducks. The odor of the barnyard was heavy on the air which only made him more anxious for a bath and a change of clothes. “We’d better get cleaned up before supper,” he suggested. Mabane frowned, clearly not wanting to leave his new friends behind. “Alright,” he said finally, giving each pup a final ruffling before climbing over the wall of the pen. Pendaran walked back with him toward the great hall. “How are your lessons?” Mabane shrugged. It was his answer to roughly eighty percent of the questions Pendaran asked him. They moved up the wide steps that led to the great hall that overlooked the garden. “I’m glad you like the pups. Perhaps we can spend some time with them this evening,” he said lamely, uncertain how to reach the boy, “I’ll see you at supper?” “Yeah,” Mabane mumbled and they parted. Once inside, he climbed another flight of stairs and headed toward Ebony’s chambers. Mai Feng was already there awaiting him outside the door. “Master Bei ordered us to move your things into the old study, Master Kai,” she said, pressing a pair of keys into his hand, “These will open the door.” “Oh. Thanks.” Confused, he went back down the stairs. Pendaran wondered why he had not yet been summoned and yelled at since it seemed Zhou knew he was home. He thrust one of the keys into the lock and looked inside, seeing how the shelves had been removed and the walls resurfaced with plaster and wood paneling. It was now a cozy sitting room with a single shelf of books remaining, a pair of couches and doors leading off into bedrooms on either side. Zhou must have been planning this change for some time. Removing the smell of incontinent puppies and the barnyard was his first order of business. He had a servant draw him a bath and somehow avoided nodding off in the warm water. Afterward he donned the black robes that had been laid out for him on the bed but he tossed the eyeless mask into a drawer just as the bell tower marked the sixth hour after noon. For a moment he hesitated, then decided better of immediately defying Zhou and tucked it within the same pocket that housed his spectacles in their cloisonné case. The bustle and warmth of the dining hall put him at ease and he immediately made his way to the table where the Fengs were settled in with Mabane and Sabina. He rejoiced to see his little daughter again and smiled broadly when she caught sight of him and squealed with delight. “Hello, my little treasure,” he said, immediately sweeping her up into his arms and kissing her unruly mop of auburn hair. “Penny!” cried Sister Lemony, “I’m so glad I found you! Where have you been all day?” He glanced up and saw the little monk rise from the Feng’s table with a broad smile. Xiao Jia, Zhou’s granddaughter, was sitting beside her. The little girl’s serious dark eyes stared up at him for a moment, and then looked away quickly. He made a greeting to everyone at the table and sat down beside Mabane with Sabina still clasping him around the neck as he held the toddler to his side. “I talked to Zhou as soon as I could,” Lemony said, sitting across from him, “Maeve left a letter explaining what she had done. I think Anluan and Armand would like an opportunity to apologize for the way they treated you, too.” “I acted as I did because I was tired and pressured. There is no excuse…” “Stop that,” Lemony sighed, interrupting him, “So you made a mistake, but you are still not accountable for her choices and it doesn’t change that Armand and Anluan were unkind. Anyway, Zhou asked me to tell you that he wants you to see him after supper. He was in the middle of something. And I have a letter for you from Isabeau. She’s such a dear.” “Oh.” Sister Lemony slid the folded square of paper toward him. “Who is Isabeau?” said a clear cold voice in his mind. Pendaran nearly jumped off the bench, then realized Mabane’s pale eyes were focused intently upon him. The boy frowned then looked away as a bowl of dumpling soup was placed before him by a servant. “She is a friend,” he replied, hazarding an attempt to speak into the boy’s mind. He was still taken by surprise, having never shared such a connection with his son until now. Mabane was still very new to his talents. “I have never met her. Was she with you? How come you never told me about her?” Pendaran felt the rawness of the boy’s emotions. By speaking this way, he exposed himself emotionally, silently revealing his fear over losing Pendaran to a strange woman and his anger at being abandoned. He was worried that he was not important enough to merit Pendaran’s attention and care. “You are my son and I love you. That will never change. Understand?” Mabane’s raven hair fell forward, concealing his expression as he nudged a dumpling with his spoon. Outwardly he was a nonchalant adolescent tolerating the embarrassment of sitting beside his father, but inside he was churning with hurt and fear over losing the last important adult in his life. Pendaran wished he could comfort him but knew better than to show any affection in public. It would just embarrass the boy and he was worried that he would lose his trust for good if he messed up now. He felt stupid for thinking a pair of puppies would somehow mend all the hurt he had caused through neglect. “Is there anything you need from me right now, Mabane? I want to help.” “I just miss you,” Mabane said simply and the hand holding the spoon shook a little as emotion colored his pale complexion. “I’ve missed you, too. And I think maybe I might be able to start teaching you again. I can’t promise anything right now, but I want to. Would that help?” Mabane nodded, and then leaned silently against him. Pendaran curled his remaining free arm around his son and held him gently until the boy recovered his adolescent dignity, sat up and started eating as if nothing had happened. “Does my dad have a girlfriend?” Mabane asked Lemony sarcastically. Dear gods, he was testing what Pendaran had told him. He hoped his relationship with Isabeau had looked like a friendship rather than something tawdry and irresponsible. “Yes, they seemed very good friends,” Lemony chuckled, “Your father needs all the friends he can get right now.” “Why, is Zhou that annoyed at me?” Pendaran grumbled good naturedly, relieved when Mabane snorted and grinned. Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the rest of supper. There were pickled carrots and pear which he passed on to Lemony, knowing she would eat enough for two given her predilection for sweets. He gave himself a small portion of rice and ladled a spicy sauce with chunks of chicken and sweet potato onto it. Mai Feng insisted upon taking Sabina away so that he would not end up with half of her meal on his freshly cleaned robes. “When are you going to read your girlfriend’s letter?” Mabane asked, hassling him. Pendaran smirked and set aside his chopsticks to unfold the note. He held it open so that Mabane could see the writing and know he was not trying to hide anything. Dear Pendaran,“That was a nice letter,” Pendaran said. He handed it to Lemony casually. The boy was now attempting to look disinterested. “She is very nice. Do you think you’ll visit?” Lemony said as she scanned the note. “I’ll talk it over with Master Bei.” “And until I know Mabane is alright with it,” he thought. It had never occurred to him that Mabane might not appreciate him spending time with a strange woman. Then again, the poor kid had no one else and he must see anyone who placed demands on Pendaran’s time and affection as a threat. Once more he felt guilty about being such an inadequate father, so lost in his own suffering that he had never looked around to see who else might be hurting. “I am going to ask Master Bei for permission to let you move back in with me so. Is that alright or would you rather stay with the Fengs?” Mabane tried to hide his smile as he responded with his practiced shrug. “Alright then, I’ll see what I can do.” Supper ended without incident and Mabane even suffered a final fatherly half-embrace before they went their separate ways. Pendaran straightened his robes and headed toward the new study which turned out to be housed in the squat tower Zhou had built to conduct magical workings. He crossed the courtyard and let himself in. It was silent as he found the stairs that led up to the study. “I trust you had a good meal?” Zhou asked. He was sitting at the head of a table with books spread open in front of him. He did not look up from his work but gestured toward a chair beside him. “Yes, thank you,” he said, offering a bow before sitting. “I talked to Liang Meng about the journey,” Zhou said after a while. Pendaran sensed that he was being tested, “I have also questioned the assassin who struck in the pass.” “Did you discover anything interesting?” “Yes, although I need some clarification on a few points. Did he injure you in any way?” “No, I moved before he could knock me out. I don’t think he was there to kill, but to steal.” “So you doubt he was a spy, or that he was there to find Lady De Minuit?” “No, I think he was a desperate kid who took a job he came to regret.” “Did you attack him?” Zhou asked evenly, his dark gaze locking on Pendaran. “Yes. I was frightened and I defended myself.” “With magic?” “Yes.” There was a long pause as Zhou steepled his palms and studied Pendaran. “The mask is just a fancy blindfold, isn’t it?” Pendaran asked. “An effective teaching tool, is it not?” “I’m a little annoyed by the charade.” “Yet you have stopped counting things and you are able to use magic again,” Zhou replied. “You could have just told me,” Pendaran grumbled. “Told you what? That you believed you were helpless or that no one cared about you or that you were alone in the world? Do you believe these things now? All I could do was help you learn the truth for yourself.” “Guess you are right. As usual.” Zhou laughed. “Is there anything else you wanted to talk about before we get to work?” “My son needs me. I want to be his teacher again and I would like him to stay with me.” “Mistress Yao will be pleased. I’m afraid Mabane is quite incorrigible.” “Oh?” he asked. “Yes, he will not attend classes unless coerced, and if coerced tends toward mischief and disruptive behavior. He has also been caught kissing girls behind the lecture hall.” “Oh dear gods,” Pendaran sighed. “I do not envy you the task ahead. I understand adolescents can be very challenging.” “But he has always been such a good kid.” “Everyone was at some point. In any event, I have already made arrangements for him to move into your new apartment.” “Thanks.” “Now, let us get down to business. I need you to wear that mask again. You brought it, I hope?” “What?” “Just humor me a final time.” Pendaran sighed and handed it to Zhou. Once more he was cast into velvety blackness and his mind sharpened in response, acutely aware of his master’s golden imprint beside him as he once more took his arm and suffered to be led away. “What is this about? Why have you made yourself unavailable? I could have used your help with Maeve.” “The White Mantle left behind ether beacons. Two of them were planted on Lady Isabeau, so I assume they planned to retrieve her at some point. The others were hidden in the garden. As near as I can divine, they may be used to open a portal whereby something could be sent through to harm us.” Pendaran’s gut clenched at the news. The very idea that Isabeau could be summoned away or that something could be sent to harm them while they slept in their homes horrified him. “Why didn’t you tell me? Or Isabeau?” “And frighten you both to what end? I have destroyed the ones she carried and sent her out of harms way in case whatever comes through that portal was intended for her as well.” “Wait a minute, the portal is still standing?” “Yes, that is why I have been hesitant to leave the island. I am keeping it warded.” “Destroy it? Please?” “Trust me, I would if it were that simple. The beacons that were tied to Lady De Minuit’s possessions were easily contained. The ones that are tied to the earth, however, were not intended to be moved.” “Not intended or are too dangerous to remove?” “I am worried that whatever lies on the other side will be triggered if I attempt to move them.” “What are you going to do?” “Well that depends on what happens next,” Zhou said, coming to a halt, “Tell me, are we alone right now?” The hair of his nape stood on end for he sensed Zhou was hoping for an incorrect answer. He focused, carefully opening his mind and senses to take in all around him. After many tense moments, he gave up. “I can only sense you, Master. If there is another living creature here, I do not sense it.” Zhou made no reply, only released the mask. Pendaran stood blinking in the dimness, his eyes taking in the pale flesh of a small figure crouched near his feet. The young man wore nothing more than a breechclout and an iron collar. A short length of chain attached him to a ring in the wall. “So our assassin friend is either dead or very special,” Zhou chuckled darkly. Gos fidgeted now that Zhou had given him permission to move. His chain clinked pathetically as he withdrew to the corner of the cell. He was much smaller than Pendaran remembered and his frame was skinny, bordering on emaciated. “I don’t understand. How is he able to make himself invisible to us?” Pendaran asked, “What is he wearing? Is there a mark upon him that wards him?” “I looked, trust me. As you can see, he is only clothed in what I provided him. I questioned him of course and arrived at much the same conclusion as you. He is either a stupid desperate boy or a very poor spy. Either way, he has an intriguing talent.” “Just kill me and have done with it,” Gos croaked miserably. “If everyone was sentenced to death for stupidity, no one would be left alive,” Zhou replied, “I wish to offer a chance for redemption.” Pendaran looked askance at his master, wondering what Zhou was up to. Gos did not stir, only stared despondently at the floor of his cell. “You have a wife and a new born child,” Zhou continued, “as well as beloved friends. It was out of concern for them that you took the foolish risks that led to your capture.” “I’m broken, what else do you want?” Gos snapped bitterly. “I need a portal disabled. I believe it is magically warded on the other side and thus you may pass undetected. I cannot guarantee your safety, of course, but I believe you might succeed where my own people would fail.” “And if I die, no big loss?” Gos snorted darkly. “Precisely,” Zhou said, “But if you succeed, since you have rendered a valuable service to my guild, you will not only win your freedom, but a valuable ally for your beleaguered guild.” “My guild doesn’t need an alliance!” “Maybe not,” Zhou replied evenly, “In any event, that is my proposal. You may consider it tonight and give me your decision in the morning.” “And if I refuse?” “Then I have no option but to treat you as I would any spy.” Pendaran’s throat tensed as he sensed the deadliness lurking behind Zhou’s words. He wanted to protest but Zhou resisted his attempt to enter his mind. In silence, the two of them withdrew from the cell and he followed his master back to the study. “You can’t kill him for being stupid, Master. You said so yourself.” “It is not open for discussion, Master Kai,” he said darkly, then slid a heavy tome toward Pendaran, “I need you to help me research ether beacons. Someone’s life might very well depend upon us getting it right.” |
