Nicholas Raven and the Wizards' Web - Volume 1 (24 page)

“No. Now I very much believe you, Megan. After listening to your story, I have no doubts.” He pulled his hand away from hers. “You’re definitely a princess from Morrenwood.”

“I’m pleased that you believe me.”

Leo nodded. “
Great
…”

Megan looked at him askance. “And what’s
that
supposed to mean?”

He shrugged dejectedly. “It means that you’re a princess and I’m just…”

“Yes?”

He offered a pleasant smile. “I’m just an apple grower from Minago. Probably not the kind of company you’re used to keeping.”

“I know lots of different people, Leo. What’s your point?”

Leo spoke to the floor. “My point is that I should take you to Boros, say my goodbyes and get on with business.” He looked up, gazing longingly into her eyes. “I’ve been imagining things that just can’t be, now that…”

“Now that what?”

“Now that you’re
you
and I’m
me
.” He shook his head. “I’m very fond of you, Megan, but we hardly know each other. Soon you’ll be living with your great aunt and I’ll be miles away. But
who
we are, well, that’s an even greater distance between us.”

Megan scowled. “Are you saying I’m not good enough for you, Leo?”

“No! I was thinking just the opposite. I may sound confident–or almost boastful–when talking about my passion for the apple business and my future dreams. But after learning who you are, those aspirations have somewhat diminished in my mind.”

“Oh, so I suppose you’re implying that I’m some royal-snob-of-a-princess with her fussy nose stuck in the clouds who wouldn’t dare be caught dead in public next to this apple grower. Is that it?”

Leo squirmed, leaning uncomfortably against the dresser. “Well, yeah, something like that. I mean–NO! Not the royal fussy nose part. I never thought
that
! Just the last part about you not wanting to be spotted–even
dead
–next to me. That’s sort of what I was thinking.”

Megan glared at Leo, nearly making him flinch. Then her features softened like a spread of grass after a warm spring rain. “Well, Leo Marsh, I’ll have you know that I was definitely not thinking any such things.” She kissed him on the cheek. “And don’t you either. In the short time I’ve known you, you have far surpassed many of the people I’ve encountered in the political corridors in Morrenwood in both intelligence and demeanor. Believe me when I say that it’s
who
you are that matters, not
what
you are.”

“I appreciate that,” he softly said, taking a step back and fishing for the door knob.

“I think you have fine dreams, Leo,” she said with admiration. “And a part of me envies you for that as at times I feel like I’m drifting through life with no dreams of my own to anchor me to a purpose.”

Leo nodded, feeling that the Megan he had first met was again standing beside him. “That’s very kind to say. But I’m sure you’ll find your own dream to pursue someday.”

“I truly hope so.”

Leo stared at her, suddenly at a loss for words. “Uh, should I go now? I’d rather end on a positive note and not make any more brilliant remarks tonight.”

Megan smiled. “I think you should.”

“Okay. Just make sure you lock your door.”

“I will. And thanks for caring, Leo. We’ll talk in the morning.”

“Sure then. We’ll talk.” He opened the door and took a few clumsy steps backward into the hallway. “In the morning.”

He slowly closed the door, wearing a slight grin, and watched Megan until she disappeared. He heard the click of her door lock as she turned the key. The hallway was now painted in gray shadows. Leo exhaled deeply as his heart raced, wondering who this young woman really was. A half dozen thoughts ricocheted in his head, about her, about them, and he felt confused and elated at the same time. And terribly worried.

“Did that conversation just really happen?” he asked Nicholas a few moments later as they sat in front of the fire in their room. “Megan
did
say she was a princess, right? I didn’t imagine that.”

“Neither of us did. She said it. And after listening to her story, I believe her. Though seeing that medallion sure helped.”

“I believe her, too. And she’s not stuffy like I imagined a real princess might be,” he remarked. “Not out of touch with the commoners, I’m happy to say.”

“Particularly your average apple farmer?” Nicholas said.

Leo nodded. “I had my doubts for a moment, but she put my mind at ease. It’s too bad the common room is closed. I’d like a mug of ale right now. What a night this has been.”

They talked for over an hour about the latest turn in their fortunes and where tomorrow might find them. Both sensed that exciting and perhaps difficult times were in store, each agreeing that keeping watch over Megan was their top priority. Leo yawned, feeling the rigors of the day finally catching up with him. He peeked out the door into the hallway, now quiet and deserted. No light issued from beneath Megan’s door. She was probably sound asleep.

“I’ll take the floor,” Leo said, grabbing a rolled-up feather mattress and two extra blankets that Elaine had left in the room. “I know Ron and the others will do a fine job watching over the inn, but I prefer to keep my own watch. Wake me at dawn, Nicholas.”

“Sure. But where are you going?”

“Not too far.”

Leo stepped into the hallway and unrolled the feather mattress in front of Megan’s door. He lay down on it and covered himself with the blankets. “I’d like to see anyone try to get past me tonight,” he whispered, pointing a thumb over his shoulder to indicate the door. “And don’t tell her about any of this, okay?”

“Your secret’s safe with me. Goodnight.”

“Night,” Leo said as Nicholas closed the door, leaving him on the floor in silent darkness. He curled up on the thin mattress, sensing Megan’s presence behind the door. In the vagaries and wild thoughts of half-sleep, Leo felt certain he would do anything to protect her, including forfeiting his own life. At this moment, Megan was worth the world to him, though he had only met her a short time ago. He couldn’t wait for the days ahead to unfold, imagining their life together wherever it might lead. Then a deep sleep took hold of him, as rich as sweet wood smoke wafting through the autumn pines.

Nicholas rolled out of bed at first light and slipped into his boots. He yawned, raking a hand through his tangled hair and then opened the door to wake Leo. As he stepped into the hallway, Megan’s door opened. Both immediately glanced at the floor where Leo lay sound asleep at her feet. They looked at each other in silence. Megan smiled in the dim light and raised a finger to her lips, shaking her head. Nicholas understood. She stepped back inside her room and quietly closed the door. Moments later, Nicholas nudged Leo’s shoulder with his foot. He stirred like a bear in mid-winter.

“Wake up, you lazy doormat. Time to head out.”

Leo looked up as if not quite sure where he was, his eyelids refusing to open all the way. “
Uh huh
… I know…
Apples
…” He twisted the knots out of his back as he rose to his feet, scooping up the blankets and mattress roll in his arms. “Got to deliver the apples. But it’s still so dark,” he mumbled.

Suddenly the rattle of Megan’s door lock sounded. Leo, now realizing where he was, charged past Nicholas into the room just as her door opened. He then spun around and looked back out the doorway alongside Nicholas as Megan stepped into the hallway.

“Good morning, boys!” she said in a chipper voice. “I’m glad to see you both awake and ready to go.”

“Looking forward to a hearty breakfast,” Nicholas said.

“Sleep well?” she asked, eyeing Leo who still clutched a bundle of blankets.

“I slept like someone who…” Leo nodded and yawned. “Yeah, I did…”

“Great! I’ll meet you two downstairs for breakfast,” she said, walking by with a playful wave of her fingers.

Nicholas and Leo smiled until she left the hallway, and then Leo leaned against the door frame and slumped to the floor.

“I slept like someone who slept on a pile of rocks!” he muttered, massaging his neck.

“That’s the price of romance,” Nicholas said with a chuckle as he offered his friend a helping hand up off the floor.

The trio ate a quick breakfast in the main dining room before most of the other guests had risen. Ron stopped in briefly and happily reported that there were no other incidents while they had slept. He told them that the Plum Orchard Inn was as quiet as a passing cloud during the night.

Later, Leo retrieved his wagon from the storage barn, still half-filled with apple crates for delivery. He fed and watered his team and then waited for Megan and Nicholas in front of the inn, savoring the crisp morning air. His friends hurried out the front door moments later with Ron and Mabel. Megan, the hood of her cloak draped over her head to fend off the morning chill, carried a bundle of food that Mabel had prepared for the rest of their journey.

“There’s still a long road ahead. I want the three of you well fed,” Mabel insisted.

“And apparently well groomed, too,” Megan said, quickly rubbing the back of her fingers over Leo’s smooth face as he helped her onto the wagon. “You and Nicholas were beginning to look the tiniest bit–
unkempt
–shall I say?”

“Ron was kind enough to provide each of us a shaving blade this morning,” Nicholas said as he hopped up onto the wagon. “We’re traveling with a lady, after all. Must look our best.”

Leo turned his head and smiled knowingly at Megan, then gathered the reins to begin their journey.

“There is one other thing,” Ron said in a low voice. “Something about last night. Mabel just informed me while you were getting ready.”

“What?” Megan asked, her suspicions rising.

“We believe we know who tried to kidnap you,” Mabel said. “A man had paid for a room for the night shortly after you arrived, but there was no sign of him this morning. The fireplace in his room hadn’t been used nor his bed slept in. He was only three doors down the hall from you.” She described the man as best she could remember, but her description provided no help.

“Do you know his name?” Leo asked.

“He signed the register as J. Oaks.”

“I’m not familiar with that name,” Megan said.

“Probably made up,” Ron guessed. “Someone planning such a dishonorable act would most certainly wish to remain anonymous.”

“Most likely,” Megan agreed. “Oh well, I can’t do anything about it now, and I refuse to worry about the matter for another moment. Besides, Leo has deliveries to make. We had best move on.”

“If we stay on schedule, I’ll pass by this way tomorrow afternoon,” Leo said. “I’ll stop in for lunch and let you know how we fared up north.”

“You’d better,” Mabel said. “I’ll have some ale and a plate of peppered beef and biscuits waiting.”

After Ron and Mabel bestowed a few words of caution and many wishes for a safe journey, Leo snapped the reins and the horses clopped away from the Plum Orchard Inn. The trio first planned to head north to White Birch as a dazzle of color and sunshine from a brisk autumn morning stretched across the countryside. The Knotts waved goodbye to their guests and then sat on the front porch steps for a few moments and watched them fade into the distance.

The curtains in a second floor window of the inn were briefly moved aside as another guest also watched the departing wagon with great interest. She watched curiously as Nicholas, Leo and the young woman wrapped warmly in a cloak rolled away, contemplating what next to do about them.

CHAPTER 15

Table Talk

Mune arrived at the Plum Orchard Inn that evening as the sun dipped below the western horizon. Starry twilight cloaked the candle-lit building in subtle shades of indigo. He was exhausted as his horse clomped the last few steps toward the inn, but he knew a warm meal and a bit of ale would thoroughly revive him. If not that, then a conversation with
her
most certainly would.

Mune paid for an overnight room and Elaine escorted him to his door along the back hallway. “I’m meeting a friend for dinner this evening,” he said. “Is there a place where we can dine in private?”

“Most of the guests are eating in the common room tonight,” she replied, “so the main dining room isn’t crowded. But I could set a table in the back if you’d like extra privacy. No one will be in there.”

“If it’s not a bother,” he said with a smile.

“Think nothing of it,” she pleasantly replied. “Your table will be ready in ten minutes.”

Mune took her hand in his and gently patted it. “In that case, my dear, I’ll be down in twenty. My friend will arrive when the mood strikes her.”

Elaine smiled perfunctorily before heading down the hallway. Mune returned a smile and watched her disappear around the corner. With his hand on the doorknob, he thought about the dinner meeting ahead. He sighed and entered his room.

Mune poured himself a cup of tea from the pot Elaine had left on the table and then slathered butter over a steaming biscuit he split in two. He greedily ate this and a second one as he waited for his accomplice. The crackling fire nearby and murmur of guests from the main dining room nearly lulled him to sleep. He had traveled many miles lately, carrying out Caldurian’s orders at the oddest hours. Now one of his biggest tasks lay ahead and the anticipation kept him awake most nights as he imagined the fruits of his success. But the dread of failure lurked behind every enticing vision, thus nights of restful sleep became a rarity of late.

Mune bowed his head as he gently rubbed above his eyebrows. He felt a light headache coming on and the steam rising from his teacup soothed his weary eyes. What he’d give to sleep past dawn for once. Such a luxury was worth more than the silver and copper half-pieces he had used to bribe that drunken local from Kanesbury to enter the Spirit Caves. He chuckled. Oh, the people he’d meet in this business.

He looked up. There she stood, staring down at him like a vulture with an appetite. Mune hadn’t heard her glide into the room and nearly knocked over his teacup in surprise. She hovered for a moment, then pulled out a chair opposite Mune and sat down.

“Your face is as hard as granite. Careful so you don’t crack under pressure.”

“A pleasant evening to you too, Madeline. Have two years gone by that quickly?”

Madeline smiled slyly and poured herself some tea, sitting arrow straight. A single candle burned on the table near the teapot. She gazed at it momentarily and the flame extinguished.

“It’s too bright in here,” she said. “I prefer the hush and solitude of shadows when discussing business.”

Mune smirked. “Caldurian has rubbed off on you, I see. No walks in the cheery sunshine with you folks.” Madeline crinkled her brow ever so slightly. “Sorry. Just trying to lighten matters.”

“Not on my time, please.”

“Of course.” He pointed to the plate of hot biscuits. “Have one? Or shall we order our dinner instead?”

Soon they were dining on roasted chicken, glazed apple rings and herb potatoes. Mune ate heartily amid the small talk while Madeline, as was her habit, tasted little of her food, preferring to drink tea for her main course. Her watery green eyes watched in fascination as Mune consumed his meal with gusto. He shot a glance at the woman studying him–willowy and not much taller than himself, with a shock of flaming red hair wrapped under a black silk kerchief with gold embroidery.

“What?” he asked with a full mouth. “I’m hungry.”

“I can see that.” Madeline gently set her teacup down. “So what news does Caldurian send this way?”

Mune rested his hands on the table, a knife and fork wedged in each, scanning the empty room suspiciously. He leaned forward, swallowing his food, and whispered. “We’re going to take the Citadel.” Madeline raised an eyebrow as he nodded vigorously. “It’s all in his letter,” he said, indicating his coat pocket with the tip of the fork. “We’ll have help from the Northern Isles, of course,” he added, taking another bite of chicken. “We’re to meet with a Commander Uta to hash out the details. It’ll be quite an adventure.”

“So Vellan wants a foothold right on King Justin’s doorstep,” she mused with delight. “How many troops will the Isles provide us for this ambitious endeavor? Taking the capital city will not be accomplished merely because we wish it.”

Mune shook his head and sipped his tea. “You misunderstood me, Madeline. We’re not after the
city
of Morrenwood–at least not yet. We simply want the Blue Citadel itself.” He glanced warily around the room again and lowered his voice further. “Caldurian has something planned for there. Something big. But he provided few details so far.”

“Caldurian never reveals his secrets–or Vellan’s–all at once,” she said with a hint of admiration. “Shrewd, yet exasperating at the same time.” She detected a faint smile growing on Mune’s face. “Why that look, if I may ask?”

“You may,” he gleefully replied. “It just gives me a modicum of pleasure to know that not even you, Madeline, the closest friend Caldurian has–excluding Vellan, of course–are trusted with all of his innermost thoughts.” Mune pursed his lips. “
Hmmm
, then again, I’m not even sure Vellan knows all the machinations that go on inside Caldurian’s head. He is a cagey one.”

Madeline tightened the woolen shawl draped over her shoulders as she subtly glared at her companion. “Caldurian, however, did teach me a spell to shrink toads down to the size of an ant. And I’m very good at it.”

Mune grinned. “Well, enough said on that subject then.” He attacked more of his food as Madeline sipped her tea. “Have you ever met him, by the way?” he added as an afterthought. “Vellan, I mean. I’ve never had the pleasure, if that’s the appropriate word. Caldurian’s mentioned him little, though rumors about Vellan are as legion as the stars.”

“I’ve had the fortune to meet him on a few occasions, though mostly in Caldurian’s presence. Vellan is a rather reclusive sort and values his privacy.”

Mune nodded as he stabbed a potato wedge. “I suppose all that plotting and scheming have something to do with it. One probably needs a lot of alone time to plan so much mischief and destruction.” He popped the potato into his mouth. “Such sustained malevolence demands focus, after all. It must drive one insane after a while. Just glad I’m only implementing the plans.” Another potato quickly followed. “Overworked now as it is. Devising all this strategy would be the death of me!”

Madeline’s gaze was as dry as sand. “Where did Caldurian ever find you?” She poured herself some more tea. “And why?”

“Because, my dear, I do my job, I do it right, and I keep my complaints to a minimum. That is worth a fortune these days.” Mune was steeped in self-satisfaction. “Good help is hard to find, so when you find it…” He looked up. “Where is that girl? I could stand some ale right now.”

Elaine cleared the table after their meal and brought Mune a pitcher of the inn’s finest ale. After leaving another pot of tea for Madeline and a plate of dessert bread, she left them alone again to the quiet shadows of the back room. Mune filled his mug and drained half of it immediately before grabbing a slice of bread.

“Shall I assume, Madeline, that we’re leaving first thing in the morning?”

“Day begins at dawn, Mune, so why shouldn’t we?”

He sighed. “Just once I would like to get out of bed
after
the sun rises.”

“You’re in the wrong line of work if you wish that.”

“I know. But one day I’ll be wealthy enough to rise just in time for my midday meal. I mean, why go through all this work if I can’t enjoy the fruits of my labor?”

“There is still much to do, so I suggest you forgo your self-indulgent daydreams. Caldurian is probably on the border of Montavia as we speak, ready to perform his next task in Vellan’s plan. We must do our part, too.”

“And we will. But you’re just so focused all the time on what’s next at hand. I need a little levity and a bit of ale now and then to keep my interest from waning.” He winked. “Shouldn’t we enjoy implementing this grand scheme of ours?”

“Joke if you like, but we have to be prepared. Events are moving quickly. Things are happening.” She took a slow sip from her cup, keeping an eye on her dinner guest. “
Unexpected
things.”

Mune looked at her askance. “What have you heard?”

“There’s going to be a war council in Morrenwood. King Justin has summoned other leaders in the region and requested that they send emissaries to attend. My contact in the Blue Citadel gave me this information only a few nights ago when I met with him east of the Barhaden Woods.”

“This isn’t a good development.” Mune stroked his goatee. “King Justin has been reluctant to step into the fray in the south, despite raising an army. And he tolerates Kargoth’s grip on the nations in the Northern Mountains because Vellan hasn’t extended his grasp north into Arrondale yet. Would he call a council just to assess the situation? Or does he have other plans in mind?”

“I think he wants to go on the offensive,” she said. “For too long King Justin has been safe within his borders as smaller and weaker realms have felt Vellan’s sting. I believe he’s getting uncomfortable now, realizing it’s only a matter of time until he’s drawn into the mix. That’s why we can’t rest, even for a moment.”

Mune poured himself more ale. “Can he get the support he needs from abroad?”

Madeline offered a grim smile. “Oh, I think King Justin would go it alone if he had no other choice.”

“But where would he strike? Down south seems the only likely option,” he speculated. “If he can’t help Rhiál achieve victory against Maranac, how could he directly challenge Vellan in Kargoth?” He grabbed another piece of bread. “Will your contact be able to worm himself into that council somehow? What a whirl of words that will be!”

“No.”

Mune lifted the bread to his mouth and froze. “
Excuse
me
?”

“I no longer have a contact there. His situation was–compromised.”

He flopped the slice of dessert bread onto his plate. “Well a fine time for that to happen. For twenty years you’ve been able to mine him for information, and now…?”

“Everyone outlives his usefulness eventually,” she said with surprisingly little regret. “But there is a bright spot.”

“Enlighten me.”

“My contact is still in my employ, and at this very moment he is tracking a valuable quarry.” Madeline smiled knowingly as she folded her arms around her small frame. “What we first thought was a loss has turned into a substantial gain. I can now erase a twenty-year-old blot in my service to Caldurian.”

Mune spread his hands and sighed. “Okay, now you’ve lost me, Madeline. You’re apparently delighted by some turn of events, but I haven’t a clue. Will you make me privy to your little secret?”

“Of course,” she said, amused by his befuddled expression. “I just enjoy the fact that I can rib you so easily. I haven’t had the pleasure in two years.”

“Then by all means enjoy it,” he replied, picking up the piece of bread and ripping a bite out of it. “And to think I was under the impression that you were a humorless stick-in-the-mud. Now what’s going on?”

“My dear Mune, fortune smiles upon us today. We have an opportunity to advance our campaign against King Justin with very little work on our part.”

“I’m intrigued. Especially the part about very little work.”

“I knew that would please you,” she replied, leaning forward and lowering her voice. “Guess who left the inn very early this morning?”

“Guessing games? That’s so unlike you, but I’ll indulge your brush with whimsy.
Hmmm
, was it Vellan?”

Madeline poured herself more tea and sampled a slice of bread. “You’re as amusing as a thorn patch.” She briefly dipped a small corner of the bread into her tea before eating it. “Princess Megan herself had spent the night here, believe it or not.”

Mune wrinkled his brow in doubt. “The King’s granddaughter was
here
? She spent the night in this inn?” He indicated Madeline’s cup with an inquisitive glance. “What exactly is in that tea?”

“I’m neither mad nor intoxicated, Mune. Princess Megan of Arrondale was really here, accompanied by two young men in a wagon stacked with apple crates.”

“And that added fact is supposed to make your story more credible?”

“I am so tempted right now to try out that shrinking spell,” she muttered.