The Assassin's Destiny (Isle of Dreams) Page 9

  Feeling refreshed by a long shower and a change of clothes, Mistral hurried down to The Cloak and Dagger. Unlatching the heavy door she stepped into the familiar tavern and saw the twins sat at a table and instantly looked around for Fabian but couldn’t see her tall dark Mage anywhere. Frowning, Mistral walked towards the bar to order a drink with Prospero following closely at her heels.

  ‘Mistral?’ Phantom’s voice called her from across the bar.

  She turned to look enquiringly at him, ‘What?’

  ‘I’ve bought you a drink. Are you coming over?’

  Mistral nodded vaguely and walked over, still looking around for Fabian. As she approached their table Phantom sprang to his feet and pulled out a chair for her to sit on.

  Mistral gave him an odd look before she sat down and reached gratefully for the tankard of ale on the table in front of her while Prospero sank down at her feet with a low groan.

  ‘I’ve ordered a plate of meats for us to share.’

  Mistral regarded him coolly, ‘Thanks, but I’m meeting Fabian.’

  ‘I know,’ said Phantom quickly. ‘We’ve seen Mage De Winter already. He said to tell you that he’s got to meet with Master Sphinx first and to go ahead and eat without him.’

  ‘Did he really.’ Mistral muttered into her tankard. She had the distinct feeling that she had just been set up.

  ‘Er, Mistral?’

  ‘Yes Phantom?’

  ‘I know that I’ve been a bit hard on you recently –’

  Mistral raised her eyebrows but remained silent. Watching Phantom squirm was the most satisfying thing that had happened to her in months.

  ‘But it’s only been because I care about you –’

  Mistral stared at him in frank disbelief. She could just about accept the emotional drivel from Phantasm … but Phantom?

  ‘And I admit I find it frustrating that you don’t appear to appreciate the true value of your gift.’ Phantom ploughed on determinedly. ‘But, it has been pointed out to me that you are probably finding things quite hard at the moment too –’

  Mistral shot a glance at Phantasm but he was conveniently engrossed in the plate of cold meats that Floris had bought to their table.

  ‘– and I suppose what I am really trying to say, is, er –’

  ‘Yes Phantom?’ Mistral prompted helpfully.

  ‘– that I’m sorry,’ he finished lamely.

  ‘For what?’ Mistral asked bluntly.

  Phantom frowned at her, ‘Well, for going off to visit Master Casterton and letting you go on that wretched hunt for starters –’

  ‘That,’ interrupted Mistral sharply, ‘was the most fun I’ve had in ages so don’t go apologising. In fact, go see Mycroft Casterton everyday if it means I get to do something interesting for a change!’

  Phantom’s face clouded as he struggled not to snap back at her. Mistral heard the distinctive sound of a boot meeting a shin and hid a smile knowing Phantasm had kicked his brother.

  ‘And for not being very understanding about your … situation.’

  Mistral stared at him coldly, not believing a word. This reeked of Fabian. She picked up her tankard and took a long swallow, lowering it to regard Phantom over the pewter rim.

  ‘And how much did Fabian shout at you?’

  Phantom gave her a guilty look, ‘He doesn’t need to shout. He can be very … compelling.’

  ‘Yes, he can,’ she agreed with an indulgent smile and reached out to take a chicken leg from the plate of meat in front of her. Biting into it with relish she gazed around at the bar. There were a number of visiting warriors in that would provide good unsuspecting practise pieces for her aura reading abilities, plus all of the first years were gathered around a table together talking excitedly about their new Training Lieutenant.

  ‘Where are Saul and the others?’ Mistral suddenly asked. ‘Fabian said they hung around when I was bought in to the Infirmary.’

  ‘They did, till they knew you were going to be alright. Then they took the first Contracts available and left the Valley this afternoon.’

  ‘Oh.’ Mistral felt crushed. She had enjoyed their company and had been looking forward to at least a card game or even another hunt before they all left again.

  ‘I think they felt it was best to be out of the way for a while.’ Phantasm murmured.

  Mistral frowned at him, ‘Why?’

  ‘Mage De Winter was not impressed by their behaviour, which is probably putting it mildly.’

  Mistral stared at him … Xerxes, Brutus, Saul, Cain and Grendel afraid of Fabian?

  ‘Just what is so scary about Fabian?’ she asked, genuinely bewildered.

  Phantasm took a drink from his tankard before replying. He regarded her over the brim, much the same as she had his brother only moments before only Mistral had the distinct impression that he was using the tankard as a shield.

  ‘Mage De Winter has a certain reputation. I don’t think there is a warrior in the Valley that would willingly cross him.’

  Mistral threw her hands up in exasperation, ‘Are you all blind? He’s the kindest, most generous, honest and … well, most perfect person I’ve ever met! There was no need for them all to take the first Contracts they could just to avoid him!’

  Phantom sighed and shook his head, muttered something unintelligible under his breath that sounded like ‘deluded’ to Mistral.

  ‘I know he’s changed since he met you Mistral, but to others he is still the man he was. Based purely on the strength of the way he feels about the others felt it was safest to put a bit of distance between them and your Mage for a while.’

  Mistral pouted angrily and threw the chicken bone onto the plate, ‘Where have they gone?’

  ‘Saul and Cain have taken a bodyguarding Contract for a Council official; Grendel has gone south to round up a loose herd of bonacon and Brutus and Xerxes have taken a Contract to clear out a nest of knuckers in the southern farmlands.’

  Mistral shook her head in disbelief at the list of low-grade Contracts Phantasm reeled off. Had her brothers really been that desperate to get away from Fabian?

  ‘I think that you have all seriously misunderstood Fabian,’ she snapped, ignoring Phantom’s incredulous snort which he quickly tried to disguise as a sneeze.

  ‘So, we all have a Contract together – excited?’ Phantasm enquired brightly in an abrupt change of subject.

  ‘Ecstatic.’ Mistral muttered sarcastically. ‘However, that does remind me that I am supposed to be having lunch with Fabian and practising my aura reading skills, so, get your swords ready in case I offend anyone –’

  Randomly focussing on one of the tavern’s other occupants Mistral freed her mind of her irritation at her brothers’ misconception of Fabian and forced her attention to the matter at hand.

  By the time she had read each warrior in the bar in turn, Fabian had arrived and sat down beside her with a murmured apology for his lateness.

  Mistral shot him a reproving look but didn’t say anything.

  ‘Well, no-one has leapt to their feet and challenged you so far,’ said Phantom, looking around optimistically.

  ‘No, I agree, however the delegates may well be expecting something like this, so we need to try on someone more suspicious.’ Phantasm narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. ‘Can you talk and read someone at the same time?’ he asked suddenly.

  Mistral shrugged, ‘Never tried.’

  ‘Well try now.’ Phantasm urged through clenched teeth.

  ‘Fine!’ she snapped, glaring at him. ‘Since we seem to be having an open and frank conversation this lunchtime did I ever tell you that whilst I value your friendship I am becoming heartily sick of you both swanning off to Mycroft’s tower room to warm your toes in front of his fire every five minutes instead of spending time with me – who is, I might remind you – meant to be your friend and, oh my Phantasm! Does that make you feel guilty!’

  Phantasm scowled, ‘You’ve proved your point. There was no visible indication that yo
u were reading my aura.’

  ‘Yes, but Mistral knows you really well … how about someone that she doesn’t?’

  ‘Phantom’s right.’ Mistral agreed with a sigh. ‘The more I know someone the easier it is to read their aura; Fabian’s is almost always visible to me now.’

  Fabian glanced at her and she smiled apologetically back but he merely looked amused. Only he would find the idea of his emotions being constantly on display humorous.

  ‘So, we need to try someone else.’ Phantasm cast his eyes broodingly around the room before finally alighting on the perpetually flushed features of the proprietor. ‘Floris!’ he exclaimed happily and the bartender looked up. ‘Can we have another round of drinks over here please?’

  ‘I’ll fetch them.’ Mistral gave a resigned sigh at being forced into Phantasm’s ridiculous charade.

  The twins and Fabian watched with undisguised interest while she chatted with Floris. He gave his usual monosyllabic responses while he drew the tankards and placed them on the bar. Thanking him brightly, Mistral dropped a handful of bronze coins down and carried the tray back over to the table.

  ‘Is he looking at me suspiciously?’ Mistral asked, keeping her back to the bar.

  Phantom shot a surreptitious glance at the bar where Floris was idly rubbing glasses with a dirty looking cloth, ‘No. Looks like you did it!’

  ‘Yes, I think we can consider the experiment a success.’ Phantasm said with a satisfied nod.

  ‘Well done.’ Fabian smiled at her. ‘And now, would you still care to join me for lunch or have you already eaten?’

  ‘Please!’ Mistral responded quickly. ‘Phantasm ate most of that platter and I’m still starving. I suppose it’s because I haven’t eaten for two days.’

  Mistral felt the twins stir uncomfortably. They shared a look then Phantom turned to address Fabian, his expression contrite.

  ‘Mage De Winter, I must sincerely apologise for failing to keep Mistral from taking that Contract.’

  ‘Oh for crying out loud Phantom, I’m not eight years old! Just let me accept responsibility for my own actions will you?’

  Mistral glared angrily at Phantom who glared stonily back, their truce apparently over.

  ‘Mistral.’ Fabian murmured softly to her. ‘Please could you find a quiet table and order something for us to eat? I just need to have a word with the twins.’

  Shaking her head angrily Mistral rose to her feet and stalked over to the bar. Heaving a deep sigh, Prospero lumbered to his feet and padded obediently after her.

  Mistral ordered bowls of venison stew and stomped over to a small table at the back of the tavern. She threw herself gracelessly onto one of the chairs and glared angrily at the twins, both talking intently with Fabian with identical expressions of sincerest regret etched on their perfect faces.

  Floris bought the two bowls of stew to her table and Fabian ended his conversation with the twins. Nodding tersely to each of them in turn he rose to his feet and walked towards Mistral, a pensive expression on his face. He took the seat opposite her and immediately began to eat his stew, gazing broodingly into the middle distance somewhere over Mistral’s left shoulder. She looked at him expectantly for a few seconds, waiting for him to speak to her, but he appeared to be completely absorbed in his own thoughts. His aura, now a constant addition to her view of him, revealed only a halo of deepest royal blue. He was utterly focussed on something that obviously wasn’t her.

  Raising an eyebrow in irritation Mistral bent over her bowl of stew and started to eat but found her appetite had suddenly vanished. Pushing her bowl of stew away she rested her chin in her hand and began to drum the table with her fingers, staring moodily at her untouched tankard of ale. After a few moments Fabian finally appeared to notice her agitated behaviour.

  ‘If you’re not hungry we can prepare and leave straight away,’ he said distractedly.

  Mistral looked at him and could tell that his attention was still not fully on her, ‘I thought we weren’t leaving until the morning,’ she said, a slightly petulant tone creeping into her voice.

  ‘It would be a better use of our time to travel home today and prepare for the journey – if you are feeling up to travelling, of course.’

  Mistral looked up quickly, her face breaking into a wide grin, ‘Of course I’m up to it!’

  Fabian nodded, ‘Good, because it will make our journey to Holdridge shorter. I’ve asked the twins to be ready to leave with us in an hour.’

  Mistral stared at him in disbelief, the smile freezing on her face, ‘The twins are coming?’

  Fabian frowned and finally looked directly at her but his black eyes seemed flat and distant, ‘Yes. Is that a problem?’

  Mistral didn’t reply. What could she say? Yes it was a problem? The sound of Phantom breathing was enough to make her want to kill him and all she really wanted was some time alone with Fabian.

  Fabian exhaled noisily and a shadow of irritation crossed his face, ‘We have a tight schedule to work to Mistral. It would be churlish to expect them to have to ride out to our house before dawn tomorrow just so that we could leave on time!’

  Mistral stared at him wordlessly, stung by the sharp tone of his voice. Inexplicably, she suddenly felt like crying. To hide the tears pricking at her eyes she grabbed her tankard and took a huge gulp, hiccupping as the ale hit the back of her throat.

  Was this how Fabian was going to be? Planning with the twins behind her back, ignoring her, then thoughtlessly throwing away what precious little time alone together they had?

  Feeling the trickle of hot tears on her cheeks Mistral tried to hide her sudden anguish behind her half-empty tankard.

  ‘Are you trying to drown yourself in ale?’ Fabian finally asked in an exasperated voice.

  Mistral abruptly banged the tankard down onto the table and glared angrily at him, her tears falling freely while she fought hard to control the urge to punch him for being so insensitive.

  Fabian was instantly distraught. Reaching out to grasp her hands in his he raised them to his lips and kissed them gently.

  ‘Please forgive me Mistral. I am too used to working alone. It’s different co-ordinating a group of warriors … and this Contract … the meeting the foreign Mages are here to attend, it’s vital to the future of the Isle.’

  Mistral choked back a sob, ‘I don’t give a stuff about the Isle! Only about you.’

  Fabian suddenly smiled and leaned across the table to gently wipe the tears from her cheeks, ‘I don’t deserve your love.’

  A thousand angry responses rose to Mistral’s lips and died instantly as Fabian suddenly slid his hands around her face and kissed her passionately.

  ‘We will have a lifetime of nights alone together, I promise,’ he whispered as he released her. ‘Please let me make it up to you.’

  Mistral gazed at him for a long moment before the ghost of a smile touched the corners of her mouth, ‘You know the deal when you’ve done something wrong.’

  Fabian sighed heavily.

  ‘I hope you are not always going to respond in that way when I suggest that you spend the night with me,’ she retorted.

  Fabian grinned roguishly and Mistral’s heart faltered.

  ‘I will respond in any way you desire,’ he promised, running his fingers lightly across the palm of her hand.

  ‘I suppose you want me to pack your saddlebags for you and grab your Blackheart Wolverine skin from your room too do you Mistral?’ Phantom called in a peeved voice, cruelly shattering the hazy fantasy Mistral was immersed in.

  Mistral glared at him. His timing was so abysmal it was almost like he had a sixth sense telling him when to interrupt.

  Smiling at her expression Fabian turned and spoke quietly to the twins over his shoulder, ‘Yes please Phantom. That would be most considerate of you. We will meet you at the stables in an hour.’

  ‘I will kill him one day.’ Mistral vowed under her breath, watching the twins leave the bar.

  ‘I think yo
u would miss him if you did.’

  ‘Huh, only because it would mean that I no longer had the heart-warming prospect of planning how to kill him.’

  Fabian laughed and rose from his chair, holding his hand out for her to take, ‘We had better start preparing the horses.’

  Rising from her chair, Mistral slipped one hand into his and trailed the other across the soft fur of Prospero’s head as he walked by her side across the tavern.

  ‘Are you going to tell me what you and the twins were talking about?’ she asked suddenly.

  ‘No.’ Fabian turned to smile at her. ‘Because to repeat their abject apologies for failing so miserably at deterring your inherently wilful, reckless nature would only embarrass them. However, shall we just say that I am satisfied that they are genuinely remorseful and will be keeping a closer eye on you from now on.’

  Mistral heaved a sigh, ‘How will I ever manage to have fun again I wonder?’

  ‘We’ll find a way.’

  Fabian opened the door of the bar and stepping aside to allow her to leave before him. Throwing him a scorching look Mistral walked out into the village square and breathed in a deep breath of sun-warmed air. She paused and looked over at the Ri herd grazing in the paddock where spring was finally making her presence felt. Clusters of pale flowers were blooming among the thickening grass and the horses’ coats were beginning to shine again.

  Mistral felt Fabian’s arms wrap around her and leaned back against him to watch Cirrus and Spirit grazing calmly near to one another. Mistral smiled at the pretty picture they made, knowing how deceiving looks could be.

  ‘Are you going to try and catch them or shall I?’

  Fabian sighed. His mare was as difficult to catch as Cirrus.

  ‘It’s fortunate that we have an hour before we leave.’ Fabian released her and strode over to collect two lead ropes from the paddock fence.

  ‘Yes, because we’re going no need it.’ Mistral muttered and followed him.

  After a few false starts Fabian and Mistral eventually caught their horses by deploying the simple but effective tactic of catching each other’s horse instead of their own. The twins’ more biddable horses simply followed them out of the paddock without needing to be led. Once out of the paddock the geldings walked calmly across the village square to the stableblock, heading obediently for their usual stalls.