Page 28 of The Mage’s Rake (Catkin Trilogy #2)

Alan

C old. Freezing cold. Cold fingers about my lungs and heart that slowly eased back, banished by added layers of cloaks and blankets supplied by Hugh.

As I drifted in and out of sleep, dragged down by exhaustion, I woke now and then to the sight of Hugh hovering over me, a worried expression permanently stamped on his handsome face.

Every now and then the edge of a whiskey flask was pressed to my lips as well as a tincture flask.

At some point, a conveyance arrived. I woke to find myself lying on the wide leather seat of one of the royal carriages.

Aileen hovered over me with a grim look on her lined face.

She was saying something about the chill and my magic aether.

I smiled vaguely at her in reassurance. I am fine.

I feel fine. Hugh loves me, and I love him back, and he knows it.

Everything would sort itself out. Praise be to Nyria and Meryn.

Some part of that must have been said aloud because Aileen chuckled.

“Gods, Hugh, I’m getting drunk off the fumes. What did you give him?”

“Just some whiskey from my stash,” Hugh grumbled defensively. “It warmed him right up.”

“That it did—and I’ll thank you for some, so best pull it out!”

I snuggled deeper into the thick blankets that surrounded me and allowed myself to drift off to the gentle sway of the slowly moving carriage and the gentle chatter of Aileen and Hugh.

In the middle of the afternoon, I woke up feeling exhausted, yet buoyant.

As I stretched under the covers of the quilts and blankets weighing me down, I realized that I was once again back in my bedroom.

The door to my bedchamber had been set open, affording me a view of my sitting room hearth, now filled with a cheerfully crackling fire. Voices rose and fell outside.

Slipping out of my bed, I pulled on my thickest robe, found my spectacles helpfully on the nightstand where I usually placed them, and, now blessed with sight, wandered out.

At the sight of Landis and Corrin standing shoulder to shoulder and glaring at Hugh, I became very aware of the state of my undress.

I patted absently at my unruly silver hair which fell unbraided about my shoulders.

“Your, er… Landis… and Corrin!” I said, my voice sounding rather husky. “To what do we owe the pleasure of a visit?”

“Alan!” gasped Landis, rushing to my side. His blue eyes sparkled with worry and anger mixed in equal parts. “Whatever were you thinking? Going off like that alone! You could have been killed… and where would we be?”

“It wasn’t… that dangerous,” I protested. “I wasn’t noticed. The roads were empty… The ritual was, I admit, the riskiest bit, but I had to do it.”

“Yes. About that.” Corrin’s arms were folded, and the glint of his green eyes raised the hair on my tail. “Why were we not told about what had happened to Hugh? When were you about to tell us? At his funeral rites?”

I glanced at Hugh and blushed.

“I, well, er, that is…” I trailed off and blushed, feeling abashed.

“I told you. It was my choice, Corrin,” Hugh intervened. “I didn’t wish to ruin Landis’s first real Wintermas with the tom he loved.”

“It would have been ruined!” Landis whipped around, seething. He poked Hugh in the shoulder. “Imagine how I would have felt, not knowing and then… finding out…”

Landis’s voice cracked with emotion, and he wrapped his arms around Hugh’s waist and buried his face in Hugh’s chest.

“Wintermas would never be the same ever!” he sniffled and then leaned back to glare at Hugh again with eyes half-filled with unshed tears. “You’ve… you’ve always been there, Hugh! I can’t imagine you gone… What would I do without you? Without either of you?”

I winced, realizing that Landis was including me in the last question.

“It was perhaps not the most sensible decision,” I admitted. “But I can’t regret it, Landis. I had to do it… for Hugh. I knew how important he was to you. I felt as though I had no choice. And, uh… Hugh is, well, he is important to me as well.”

“I suppose that does make sense,” Landis said, blinking away tears. “But next time, do tell me, Hugh!”

“You would do anything for the one you loved,” mused Corrin aloud. “I recall you telling me that one day when I needed to hear it the most. I should have guessed that Alan would be the most reckless when in love.”

“Love?” Landis moved away from Hugh to stare at the two of us with dawning hope and excitement. “So… you two are… in love?”

“I suppose the Goddess Meryn had pity on the two of us and offered us a chance,” I said, moving to Hugh’s side. I hesitantly reached out, only to be pulled heartily into Hugh’s arms.

“Once I got past Alan’s… defenses, I was enamored,” he joked. “Alan is a tom of many layers… and I am not just referring to his robes.”

“Agreed,” Corrin said, clearly amused.

“Alan has a lot of spirit… and courage and kindness… and a sense of humor as well.” Hugh continued.

“You’re much better at all those things,” I blushed and muttered. “You’re practically a knight in shining armor.”

Hugh grinned at me and kissed me on the nose, which instantly raised my tail with a mixture of embarrassment and interest.

“We shall have to get the full tale from the both of you tonight at dinner,” Landis said. “I do hope you are coming to dinner. Everyone will be with their families, so…”

“You are all my family,” Hugh said softly, but his golden-flecked gaze never broke away from mine. “I am happy to be able to spend Wintermas Eve with you.”

“And no more running about doing secret rituals,” Landis frowned. “Really, Alan, you have no idea how close you came! Lying about in the cold like that a moment longer, and you might have lost your toes!”

“Or his head if that scoundrel had not been superstitious enough,” muttered Corrin.

“Scoundrel?” I asked, glancing over at the two of them.

“The redhead that Gareth was hunting down. He was skulking about the woods. Up to no good, no doubt, especially after the failed assassination attempt.” Hugh mused slowly aloud.

“It was odd though. He didn’t seem too keen to go after you or to tamper with the Standing Stones.

I got a sense…” He trailed off and then shook his head.

“I shall leave my conjecture for the report I shall have to write to Gareth, along with a groveling apology for allowing the rogue to flee.”

“If I had to choose between chasing the scoundrel and securing Landis’s safety, I would choose Landis any day,” Corrin said quietly. “Do not blame yourself too harshly, Hugh.”

Landis twined his arms around Corrin’s muscular bicep and kissed his lover on the shoulder tenderly.

“I love it when you say such things so matter-of-factly,” he whispered.

As usual, Landis’s fluffy golden tail betrayed a shiver of desire. Corrin smiled down at Landis, a look shared with Hugh, I realized. I blushed a little, but couldn’t help but let my tail swish back and forth happily.

“So, we shall meet at dinner,” I said brightly. “Warm drinks and pasties and all manner of sweetmeats before a warm hearth and the lighted tree! Nyria and Meryn will bless our Wintermas Eve with cheer. I know it.”

“I’ll be more cheery when I get to the bottom of the mystery,” Corrin said, “but I shall take such victories where I can.”

“I know a couple of reports came in an hour ago,” Landis noted. “The couriers didn’t say much in terms of any verbal messages. More focused on reuniting with family tonight, but I sent the reports to the main guardhouse. Did you take a look at them?”

“I picked them up,” Hugh said, turning about to pick up a thick packet of parchment that had been sealed with various wax seals. “Haven’t read them though.”

“Let us see!” begged Landis.

Hugh sighed and broke the seal, opened the wax covers, and unfolded several sheets of dense writing in Gareth’s neat hand. We stood there, all of us looking expectantly at Hugh. Surprise, shock, and sadness crossed Hugh’s sharp features.

“What is it?” I asked. My voice came out sharper than I intended, causing Hugh to flash a smile of reassurance at me.

“It is what you guessed. A jealous young molly. Your research on the herbs bore fruit, Alan. It was Lady Harriet. You recall? At the Brockhurst dinner party?”

“Hm. Yes.”

I was not about to forget that night in the slightest. It made sense sadly. I understood what it felt like to stand by and watch the one you love chase another’s tail, but for love to curdle into such hate!

“I think she tried multiple times and, failing to secure my attention, resorted to a curse. Perhaps she guessed what budded between us and became enraged?” Hugh sighed.

“We shall have to speak with her to confirm the details, but Gareth guesses that the young lady may have also been encouraged by certain parties.”

“The Morne family.” Corrin’s voice sounded hard and flinty.

“Yes.” Hugh flicked through another page and nodded.

“He says that Alan’s work on the potion and poison has been substantiated.

The poison on the assassin’s blade from that hunting trip used the same herbs as the potion that…

er… affected me. And the herbs matched what was found on the murdered herbalist’s body. ”

“Yes,” I said. “I am glad that Gareth’s contacts were able to verify my tests.”

“But it isn’t enough is it,” Landis guessed. “It’s not enough to bring any case against my cousin.”

“No, but it is a start,” Hugh assured him. “What Gareth wants besides all this evidence is a witness. If we could get one of Morne’s conspirators to turn…”

Deep in thought, we all stood in silence, contemplating the possibilities.

It seemed rather fanciful to imagine that such a thing could happen so easily, but after what I had experienced, I had faith.

Somehow, I knew. Today was filled with uncertainty, but the morrow held all of the promise of the world.

And the world belongs to Gaia and her children, I mused. We are all connected, no matter how near or how far. Agathar will watch over us. Nyria and Meryn and Solas champion our dreams. We will find a way.

“For now, I think it’s best we just enjoy the moment,” I suggested, taking Hugh’s hand in mine and squeezing it gently.

“It is Wintermas Eve, and the gods call us to celebrate a season of giving and cheer during the coldest and harshest days of winter. Even here, in desolation, faced with mysteries and danger, we can find comfort with each other.”

“Agreed,” Hugh said, pulling me in for a quick kiss. “Let tonight be simply for us.”