Chapter 13: Insight
Amy looked at it, holding it close to her face, “An Octavian badge? Sure, I’ll give you a read on this. But Manfred hands out all the badges so it’ll end with Manfred and then the jeweler who made it.”
“But the points in the middle might tell us something,” Fiona said. “The person who had it before the gentleman we took it from will likely be the most important person.”
“Alright. Lady Ren, may I sit? Using my gift is taxing. I can lose my balance when I receive the impressions of the other people who’ve held the item.”
I patted the spot on the loveseat next to myself. Amy sat next to me. She took a moment to nuzzle me. I noticed she was staring at Fiona. They had their eyes locked. After a moment longer than I liked, Amy looked away. She clasped her hands around the badge and then closed her eyes.
She sat still and silent.
Nothing happened. Amy sat motionless. Her expression remained blank.
“She is bold,” Fiona said, “I like her.”
“So do I,” I said.
“She does not wish to upset you. But she made sure I understood that she would not back off to placate me.”
“She did? How did you know?”
“I do not read faces well. I am not good at nuance or subtext. But she made eye contact and held. And then she pressed herself against you, while maintaining eye contact. That is a message I understand. She has my respect for that. And she is gorgeous. You have good taste.”
“You’re not upset?”
“I am worried. The class difference would cause a scandal if somebody exposed your secret. That could complicate our relationship. And new though it is, I wish to retain that relationship.”
“I do too.”
“But, to answer your question. No, I am not upset. I am intrigued.”
“That’s something,” I said.
“She has it.” Fiona said, “Her aura has changed.”
I looked and noticed Amy’s expression had tightened into a grimace.
“A lot is happening in her head right now. It is impressive to watch.” Fiona said.
“Is she okay?” I asked, “It looks like she’s in pain.”
“She is not comfortable, but I do not think I would call it pain yet. But she is not enjoying whatever she is seeing. You’re worried about her.”
“Of course I am! You know what we are to each other. Of course I’d worry about her.”
“Indeed. I am glad to see your concern. How long have you been together?”
I sighed, “Days. But she’s been my personal maid for three years.”
“So you have been pining for her? Did I pick an inopportune time to begin courting you?”
“Of course not. You’re an amazing woman,” I answered. “And you’re a very good match as you say. I wouldn’t be able to marry a commoner at this point anyway.”
“Indeed you would not. That would take great sacrifice or greater authority than you have.”
Amy’s nose had started bleeding. I put my hands on her shoulders.
“Is she alright?” I asked.
“She is in pain now. Beyond that, you and I know the same amount. We have different gifts than she has. I have not practiced my gift as a professional. And I do not have any friends or connections within the professional mystic community. I assume that you do not either?”
“No.” I didn’t want to tell Fiona that I didn’t have friends. Not as Lady Karen or Lady Ren. I paused and dabbed at the blood on Amy’s face. I wiped the trickle away so it wouldn’t stain her uniform. I didn’t want her getting in trouble for that on my account. “Fiona, I didn’t know that my ladybird had a mystic gift. I’m clearly not aware of these things.”
“True.” Fiona said. “Ah. Miss, have you finished?”
I stopped with my handkerchief still brushing her face.
“I am,” Amy said, then she coughed into her left hand and closed her hand into a fist. “Did I get a nosebleed? Thank you dear.”
She took my hand with her free right hand.
“I was worrying,” I said.
“I’m sorry Ren, I should have warned you that counter measures can make my gift strain my body.”
“Counter measures? What do you mean?”
“May I borrow your handkerchief?”
I nodded and handed it to her. She wiped her left hand on the handkerchief and more blood stained it. I realized that she had coughed up blood.
“Defenses against scrying, like my object reading or clairvoyance.” Amy said, “There are alchemical powders that ward a person or a place. They can be against object reading or other gifts. A mystic can sometimes force through the wards. That’s what I did here. But a few blood vessels in my nose burst.”
“You’re not hurt?” I asked.
“I hurt,” Amy said, “I’m not injured though.”
She leaned in and kissed me on the cheek.
“Have we expressed enough concern now?” Fiona asked, “May we ask what you learned?”
I shuddered. I thought I was socially inept. But that was impressive.
Amy giggled. I sighed with relief.
“Of course Your Excellency. I appreciate your concern.”
Fiona shook her head, “When we are alone, you may call me Fiona as you call your mistress Ren.”
“Of course Your Excellency. I’m sorry. Fiona. The man who had the badge last used to come and go from our estate with some sort of deliveries. He didn’t know what was in the deliveries. And I am confident he is dead now.”
I coughed.
“That may have been me,” Fiona said. ‘Correction, that was definitely me.”
“Oh,” Amy whispered, “Was it necessary?”
Fiona nodded, “Yes. He was a werewolf working for the crown prince. And he attacked Ren.”
Amy nodded, “Then it was very necessary. Before the nasty werewolf, the badge was in the possession of a very boring man. If you want my guess, he was a bureaucrat. He transported the badge to the nasty werewolf, but didn’t do much else.”
“We can leave him out then,” I said.
“It’s the next one who is interesting.” Amy said, “He was the one using a ward. You’re lucky I’m good at this. I couldn’t get all the way through the alchemical defenses. But I could tell that they were an actual member of House Octavian. And I’m confident that they are a lord, and not a servant.”
“So this isn’t a conspiracy against my house,” I said, “It’s a conspiracy within my house.”
This was creepy. I had watched Lynn play through the game along five different story paths. And I had listened to Lynn talk about the game non-stop. She had never mentioned a conspiracy involving House Octavian. And she had never mentioned a smuggling sub plot. And I couldn’t remember any myself.
I wanted to ask Lynn about it. But I had no idea where I stood with her.
“Somebody in House Octavian is conspiring with Hyperborea. This is not good.” Fiona said, “At the mildest, this is criminal. At its most severe, this is treason. If we keep digging, this could bring down your whole house. Are you sure that you wish to continue?”
I was quiet for a moment. Fiona was right. It depended upon who had given out that badge, and how high their status. But what we discovered could shatter House Octavian. This could ruin everyone within the house.
“It doesn't matter. We have to go forward,” I said.
Would Lynn let me bring down House Octavian if it would save Ys?
Check me out on AO3 https://archiveofourown.org/users/ddwardiswriting
Check me out on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ddwardiswriting
.png)
Comments
Post a Comment