Matlock smiled. “This is the kind of reasoning we need on the Council. I have been beating my head against the wall trying to convey this message. I do not know when safety became more important than winning. Left to our own devices, we will continue to stagnate, and the war could drag on like the Hundred Years War. We do have that precedent, after all. Or Napoleon could make a determined push and take over the Kingdom. At this point, it is a toss of the coin which possibility will come to pass.”
His uncle paused and steepled his fingers. “Which brings me to a pointIwant to make. I need you to join the Council.”
Darcy snorted in derision.
“So that is what you are doing; you are predicting such dismal outcomes that I will fall on my knees and beg to work with you on the Council. It will not work. If anything, you are giving me more reasons to stay away.”
“I am no soothsayer. I am talking about the inevitable consequences if we do not change direction. If you are happy for us to go down one of those two paths, then you are no use to the Council.”
“You are asking too much of me, Uncle. You know I have always had issues with the Council, especially after what happened with Lady Alice.”
“That is precisely why you must join. Lady Alice’s position is open. If you do not take it, it will be given to someone else. Who knows who that person will be? If they support Lady Alice, then the Council will skew towards her faction. Is that what you want?”
The Council was a nest of vipers, and he had already overheard suggestions about Lady Alice’s vacant position on the Council. The snide remarks seemed to imply that he had deliberately discredited Lady Alice so he could take her place. He had not bothered with them, because he had no intention of being on the Council.
Now he was not quite so certain. Much as he hated the idea, for Elizabeth’s sake at least, it was better for him to become a member than allowing Lady Alice’s allies to appoint someone in their own mold. There was also the additional advantage of knowing what was happening rather than relying on his uncle to pass on the information. Although he trusted his uncle, there was no doubt that Matlock’s attitude towards Elizabeth had cooled somewhat after the attack on Founder’s Hall. It was probably a forlorn hope, but Darcy also hoped he might find a way to exert some influence.
And, despite his words to Matlock, he was also aware that his uncle needed support if they were to find new ways of countering Napoleon’s attacks. More than ever, the mages were in danger of growing more entrenched in their attitudes, and Darcy had come round fully to his uncle’s conviction that their only hope was to surprise the French with something unexpected.
With his uncanny ability to detect Darcy’s thoughts, his uncle stood up and came to put a hand on Darcy’s shoulder.
“I know you do not like the politics of the Council, but you might be able to do some good. Who knows? You are new blood. You might be able to sway the Council in a way I cannot. At least give it a try.”
His uncle’s words resonated. If he was on the Council, he might also be able to build up support for Elizabeth and her innovative approach to magic. He might convince them that she was important to their success.
It was certainly better than pacing the halls and going mad with frustration, at any rate.
Chapter 8
The lesson had gonewell. It always astonished Darcy how quickly the apprentices picked up the knowledge he gave them.
“I will see you tomorrow at the same time. Practice as much as you can with each other.”
The handful of apprentice mages burst from the room chattering and laughing. They would not practice, of course, despite constant reminders that there was a war going on.
“See you tomorrow, Mr. Darcy.” The cheerful voice, freckled face and big ears of Lord Thetford always made Darcy smile. He was like a little elf, sprite and light and full of mischief. With time, he would become a powerful Warder.
