Chapter 14
“In a city of walls, only the strong survive and the clever thrive.”
-Key King, Octavius Septimus Stalk
Thecarriage cameto a halt at the gates of Justin’s manor. I slid away from his heat, putting a solid foot between us for respectability and to clear my head. When the guards came to verify the passengers, they eyed me with suspicion. I didn’t recognize the one with the thin scar on his cheek nor the other with bright red hair.
“Everything all right, Your Grace?” The guard didn’t take his eyes from me as if expecting me to attack.
“We’re fine, Daniel. This is my companion, Marbrey Small. Make sure he is allowed through whenever he visits.”
That will set the cat among the pigeons.
The guard’s eyes widened larger than I thought possible. “I’ll make sure the others know, Your Grace.” He patted the side of the carriage, alerting the driver to move on. The drive was long and winding, the view spectacular. I hadn’t paid that much attention on my other visits, but I took in the almost absurd amount of room for one man, no matter how many he employed. Only the privileged could afford to have this much open space. If I had the choice between a fancy title or a beautiful garden, I would take the garden every time. People like Justin didn’t have to pick one over the other. They were able to have the best the city offered while the rest of us wallowed in our squalor.
I might’ve been a little bitter.
“Are you all right, love?” Justin asked.
“Just admiring the view.” No sense in provoking an argument.
Justin’s gaze focused out the window. “It is a bit much. We have the largest stretch of unclaimed land in the city.”
“You should farm it,” I blurted out.
“What?”
“You are always saying you want to do what is best for the city. You could plant acres of food here. If you were anyone else, your land would have already been impounded for the betterment of society.”
Justin didn’t speak as the carriage reached the top of the drive. “That is a good idea. And in case you’re wondering, there is a reason they can’t take my land.”
I quirked an eyebrow at his possessive tone. “And why is that?”
“My blood. Ownership of this property is only permitted by someone of my blood. Rumor has it that if the land is ever forcibly taken from us, it will turn poisonous and kill any who step upon it.”
“What about Thorne?”
“If I were to die, it will go to him, but if he killed me, the same thing would happen.”
“I don’t see Thorne that.”
“I wasn’t worried.”
“I’ve never heard of that sort of magic.” Not that I’d heard of everything, but I was pretty well educated by my library pillaging.
“It’s a family secret. Heritage magic. Thorne told me of your previous conversation. It is also the reason I had to have an heir of my own and couldn’t just adopt one.”
I returned my attention to the view outside the carriage, refusing to start a fight. The facts were against me. I could continue to hold a grudge about the way I learned of his heir, or I could embrace our relationship. “Do you think all magic is in our blood?” I had never considered before that magic could be such an intrinsic part of us that we were born with certain powers. Powers we could only inherit.
“Yes.”
“But I’m not related to Gear Master Torren.” The protest sounded weak even to my ears.
“Do you know that for certain?”
“I guess I don’t.” It wasn’t like they handed out family histories at the orphanage. Anyone who dropped you off there had no intention of being found.
“I would guess that somewhere deep in your family line you are related to Torren. With how society turned against magic, I suspect that more than one of your ancestors hid their talents.”
