Beneath the Ink

by Tannara Young

Table of Contents parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

part 5

Lucas woke abruptly to a racket downstairs. Darkness had fallen, the only light came from the moon, peeping between the clouds outside the window.

Someone pounded on the front door, and Lucas could hear hurried footsteps in the front hall. He stumbled to the dressing table and lit the light-crystal there. His face flared into focus in the mirror, pale skin, hair sticking up, dark smudges from his make-up around his eyes. He grabbed his shirt from the pile of discarded clothes and pulling it on, opened the bedroom door.

Dallan was hurrying up the stairs with a light. “Master Mattias is here for you, sir. He says it’s urgent.”

“I’ll come down,” said Lucas. “Is Adrin home yet?”

“Not yet, sir.”

Mattias paced the hall, no longer unsteady on his feet. When Lucas appeared, he sprang forward. “Lucas, you must come quickly. I found out which lady Adrin was with, but now her husband is swearing he’s going to fight Adrin in a duel, and then this man, I think he might have been an agent of the Padronelle, came to the party to find Adrin. Someone had seen him and a lady on the lake in Tierther Park, and now everything is going to hell. We must find him before anybody else does.”

Lucas stared at him, not at all sure he followed the story.

“Come on!” said Mattias, impatiently. He grabbed Lucas’s arm and bundled him into a waiting carriage.

“I’m not following you,” Lucas said. “Did you see Adrin? Who is this ‘lady’?” He swallowed as his mind buzzed around the more important part. More carefully he asked, “Why would the Padronelle be involved if Adrin is seeing this lady?”

“Because she’s one of the ladies-in-waiting to Princess Iyassa! Lady Yestara,” said Mattias. “Her husband, Lord Balthius, is a cousin to the emperor, and if he wanted to arrest his wife’s lover, he could call on the Imperial Forces.”

That is not why the Padronelle are involved, sang a voice in the back of Lucas’s mind. “Why do you think we can find him before any of them do?” he asked Mattias.

“If they were out on Lake Tierther, and they didn’t want to be seen, they would have gone to the willow dock. Lord Balthius and the Padronelle were going to the main dock. If we go around by way of the Bluemark tunnel, we should be able to get there before them.”

Even as he spoke, they plunged into the darkness of the tunnel. By the dim light of the light-crystals on the outside of the carriage and the pale lights inside the tunnel, Lucas could see that Mattias’ face was alight with excitement. This was the height of drama: a clandestine affair, the Imperial police, two jealous husbands... Lucas shut his eyes and offered up a silent prayer: Please, let it actually be an affair, and not what I think it is.

The carriage rolled to a stop at the curb at the edge of the park. Mattias opened the door and was out before the groom could come around to pull down the step. Lucas wondered what Matthias had taken to counteract his earlier lethargy: some sort of stimulant? Or maybe one of those expensive magi-potions that eradicated the alcohol in your system so you could get drunk twice in a night?

The night air was cold, and Lucas was wearing only a thin shirt between his skin and the sneaky breeze. The far side of the lake was brightly illuminated as late-night revellers enjoyed the lantern-lit boat rides and glittering parties of the pleasure garden.

On this side, there were only a few colored lights, here and there, bobbing beyond the silhouettes of the willow trees. The Willow Dock, named for its surrounding foliage, had softly lit multi-colored lanterns strung along its posts. A boat pulled up there. A dark figure tied it off and leapt to the boards. Another figure in heavy skirts rose from the boat and held out a hand to the first.

Lucas knew that the one on the dock was Adrin even though both figures wore masks beneath deep hoods. He hurried down the slope toward the water.

There was a shout from the darkened path that circled the lake. Figures ran along the edge of the lake and suddenly a brilliant blue and white mage light blossomed some five hundred yards away. Quick as a wink, Adrin shoved his companion back into the boat where she sprawled inelegantly. He whipped out a knife and slashed the thin rope he had just secured and shoved the boat away from the dock. Faster than Lucas would have thought possible, it shot out across the lake; its lantern sputtering and then going out, shrouding it in the shadows of the cloudy night.

For a second, Lucas thought Adrin would jump off the dock and into the lake, but then there was a flash of light from the figure on the bank that knocked him to the ground. His hood fell back and half his mask shattered. He reached up and tore it off.

Lucas hit the first boards of the wide dock, and Adrin’s shocked face swung in his direction. There came a shout behind them.

“That’s the man!” shouted a deep voice. “That must have been my wife in the boat! Libertine! Seducer! I demand his arrest.”

Adrin looked at the approaching men — the lord with his glittering jewels and the robed Padronelle mage behind him — and then his gaze swung back to Lucas. Pure confusion shone through his expression for a moment, and Lucas realized that though he might recognize the Padronelle, he had no idea who the lord was.

Lucas took a breath. “Don’t deny it, Adrin. Mattias told me everything. I know you’ve been having an affair with Lady Yestara. That’s who you were trying to meet at the Masquerade Ball when you snuck off and I had to cover for you. Did you think that I wouldn’t find out?”

The others had reached the dock, and Adrin’s expression had smoothed.

“Jealous?” he said, just loud enough to carry. “I didn’t take you for the jealous type, Lucas.”

“He doesn’t deny it,” roared the other man coming to skidding halt at the edge of the dock. He pointed at Adrin. “I want him arrested!”

“For adultery?” Mattias had come up on the other side. His eyes were wide, and he couldn’t quite contain his enjoyment of the drama. “That’s a bit draconian, don’t you think?”

“Who the hell are you people?” bellowed the lord. They were beginning to attract an audience, though the other boats and late travelers were keeping their distance for the moment.

Mattias pointed at Lucas then Adrin. “He’s his husband,” he said, helpfully. “The other plaintiff in the case.”

“I don’t care if he’s the goddamn priest of Dinaus,” said the lord. He turned to the Padronelle. “What the hell did you follow me here for but to arrest him?”

Lucas looked at him for the first time. The mage did not wear a mask, but for some reason he was certain it was the Eagle-mask from the ball. His heart took a dive toward his boots.

“I would be happy to question Master Adrin and get to the bottom of this,” the mage said, his voice silky and satisfied.

“And what kind of punishment can I expect if I confess?” Adrin’s voice was light. “I believe I owe a fine to the injured parties and a divorce to Lucas if he wants it. I’ll confess now and save us all some trouble.”

The lord leapt up on the dock. “I don’t want your money, you swine-faced coward! I demand satisfaction!”

“What, shall I take you to my bed too?” asked Adrin.

The lord roared and shoved passed Lucas. As he stumbled against one of the posts, Lucas saw a blade flash in the lord’s hand.

“Adrin!”

The lord struck Adrin with the force of a charging bull, and they both went careening off the dock into the lake. Lucas shouted again and ran down the dock, leaping into the water where they struggled. The lord shoved away from Adrin and floundered toward the shore.

Lucas caught Adrin, who was beginning to sink. In the dim light of the lanterns, Lucas could see red pouring into the water and the hilt of the knife in Adrin’s ribs. His foot touched a rock and he scrambled to find footing. He gasped, tasting tears.

Adrin opened his eyes.

“We have to get a doctor.” Lucas slipped and splashed toward the dock where Mattias knelt. “A doctor!” he shouted.

“Luc.” Adrin lifted a hand to palm his cheek and ended up slapping him lightly. “No, Luc. Let me go. They won’t stop, this time, and I must protect her secrets.” His voice was little more than a whisper. Lucas could barely hear him over the shouts of the gathering crowd. “Please make sure they don’t do their foul magic on me. If I go, she’s safe.”

Lucas desperately wanted to ask who “she” was, but the mage was striding up the dock. Instead, he bent and pressed his lips to Adrin’s cold ones. “I don’t know if I can forgive you for this,” he whispered against Adrin’s lips. “You never gave me the chance to change my mind.”

He felt Adrin smile against his mouth, then Adrin’s head lolled back and Lucas staggered, trying to support the change in his weight. He lurched toward the dock, and several pairs of hands helped him out of the water and lifted Adrin’s body to the boards.

The mage knelt beside him and raised his hands, muttering an incantation.

“What are you doing?” said Lucas, shoving him aside to cradle Adrin’s head.

Those nearby gasped at his audacity to interrupt a Padronelle mage.

The mage looked at him with narrowed eyes. “I might be able to save him yet.”

Lucas took a gasping breath, shaking his head. “No, there will be no necromancy or death magic on his body. It’s written in his will.”

“As part of an investigation, I can overrule—”

“What investigation?” shouted Lucas. “He admitted to his affair! Is his death not enough punishment? What about the man who stabbed him? Why aren’t you taking him into custody? My husband has been murdered!” He could hear his own voice rising, could hear the hysteria in it.

Mattias gripped his shoulders, any hint of amusement gone. “Lucas.”

“We might have gotten through this,” cried Lucas. “Now we we’ll never have the chance. Oh gods, Adrin, what have you done?”

He felt the Padronelle mage withdraw. The tiny part of Lucas that wasn’t in the midst of the hysteria was relieved. There must be too many witnesses for the mage. More and more people were gathering around the dock, and the city guard had been alerted.

Lucas clung to Adrin’s body, weeping. That tiny part of him thought: If I can just draw this out for an hour or so more, it will be too late for their magic. Even better if I can have him cremated before they come back. The rest of him gave in to hysterics.

* * *

The Padronelle came to the house the next day. Lucas had finally fallen asleep in the early morning hours and woke disoriented to a knocking on the bedroom door. He turned toward Adrin’s side of the bed and, on finding it empty, everything that had happened the night before came flooding back. He curled up, tears starting in his eyes, but the knocking came again, and then the door opened.

“Sir, I’m so sorry, I tried to send them away, but there’s a pair of Imperial Mages downstairs.” Dallan wrung her hands as she stood in the doorway. “They insist on seeing you.”

Lucas swallowed, but couldn’t speak past the lump in his throat.

Then Dallan turned to look over her shoulder. “You can’t come in here,” she blustered. “I said I’d wake him!”

“Stand aside.”

Eagle-mask entered the room with another robed mage behind him. Lucas sat up in bed. The second man shut the door firmly on Dallan’s face.

“Did you arrest Lord Balthius?” Lucas asked, the lump in his throat vanishing in a wave of fury.

Eagle-mask raised one eyebrow in an eloquent arch. “Haven’t you heard? He was deemed not culpable for his actions due to extreme mental distress; he is in the care of the best physicians now. I am assured he will recover.”

“He will recover!” Lucas started out of bed. “He stabbed my husband in front of a dozen or more witnesses!”

“Calm yourself,” said Eagle-face. “You sound to be in mental distress as well.”

Lucas wanted to punch him. “If you’re not here to bring a murderer to justice, then why are you here?”

“You’re feistier than I remembered,” said Eagle-mask with a half-smile. “Very, well then. In investigating your... unfortunate... loss, some concerning evidence has come to light: allegations that your husband was involved in the rebellion. Surely you understand that such accusations are taken very seriously by the emperor.”

Lucas drew himself up. Grief and anger made him a little light-headed but also pushed aside fear. “That is ridiculous,” he said. “Do you really think that he could sneak around and join some rebellion without my knowing?”

“By all accounts he slept with Lady Yestara without your knowing,” murmured the other mage.

“If you won’t take my word for it, what is the point of talking to me?” demanded Lucas. “You are dragging a good man’s name through the mud, while letting his murderer walk free.”

Eagle-face scowled. “I suggest you drop any complaint against Lord Balthius. Else you will be open to a charge of libel. As to talking to you, it’s not a matter of taking your word, but a matter of ensuring the truth.”

He raised his hand and there was a sudden surge of energy around Lucas. It felt as though a giant had suddenly gripped him by the throat and squeezed. He gasped, the light-headed feeling intensifying.

“Do you know who Adrin’s contact in the city was?” asked the second mage.

The man’s words wrapped around Lucas, intensifying the pressure. He fancied he could feel their touch on his skin like spiders crawling across his skin.

“No,” he gasped, then for good measure. “What contact? What are you talking about?”

“The rebellion, fool,” said the second mage. “From whom did he receive letters?”

Lucas could feel the power constricting, forcing the words out. Babbling, he tried to slide around the truth. “Letters? His friends, his parents, his cousin, his sister, his bankers, the tailor, this old mentor who taught him—”

“Enough.” The second mage was looking very annoyed.

“Who did he meet in the garden at the ball?” asked Eagle-face.

“I don’t know,” gasped Lucas around the grip that choked him. “Mattias said it was Lady Yestara. It could have been for all I know.” That was so close to a lie he thought his eyes must be bugging out.

“You said he had met you there, why did you lie?”

“I should think that was obvious,” said Lucas as the grip eased up. “You people had just arrested a spy and were flinging around all sorts of accusations. If it eases your mind, we had a huge fight about it when we got home, but Adrin never told me who he had met.” All truth. Eagle-mask looked frustrated.

“Did you know he was part of the rebellion?” asked the second mage.

Lucas shuddered. The grip was tight as anything. He focused on one word in the question: “did.” He forced his mind back six months to a lovely morning when Adrin had surprised him with breakfast in bed, a time when he had known nothing of any of this and the world seemed full of bright sunshine.

“I didn’t know anything about that,” he said. The grip tightened. “I didn’t!” He shrieked. “I didn’t know! Why are you doing this! He’s dead! Why are you slandering him?” It was easy to burst into tears.

“Oh, shut up,” said Eagle-face. He waved his hand and the constriction was gone. The bedroom door opened and a third mage came in. “We’ve been over the house top to bottom except for this room,” she said. “We’ve found nothing.”

“Search this room,” said Eagle-face. The second mage was already opening the door to Adrin’s wardrobe. Lucas launched himself out of bed.

“What are you doing?” he shouted. “Don’t touch his things!”

“Sedate him and have the servant look after him,” Eagle-mask said to the third mage. She grabbed his arm. Lucas felt a lash of power through him, and everything went black.

* * *

Proceed to part 6...

Copyright © 2024 by Tannara Young