The Colonel chewed on his lip. “Yes. I am sure it will be.” He looked uncomfortable as if he did not want to add more.
“Do you know why he left?”
The Colonel fidgeted with his hands. “I believe he felt he needed to find Blythesome in London.”
Oh dear. If he had mentioned anyone butthatman she might have been able to stop prying. Surely she was showing no restraint or manners, but she had to know the whole of it. “What is wrong with Blythesome?”
Or maybe nothingwaswrong. She found a new buoyancy in her voice. “Does he, by chance, wish to come back to Netherfield?”
The Colonel scratched at his hair. “Oh no, nothing like that. High Mage Darkwood has boasted to me that he kept Blythe from an imprudent match…forgive my saying so...”
So she had a witness that Darkwood was to blame for ruining her sister’s happiness. Lieutenant Malum was right about Darkwood, putting pressure on Blythesome until he agreed to go to London. Now he was checking on him again, no doubt. Cassia’s anger bubbled within her until she almost missed the point.
She stopped abruptly. “So why did he leave so suddenly?”
A stern look covered the Colonel’s face. She stared at him. She had suspected, at least yesterday, that perhaps the man had the beginnings of feelings for her. Why had she even pressed him about Darkwood? It was obvious Caliazo did not wish to speak of his cousin anymore. And she ought to focus on her handsome and interested walking partner.
She swallowed and then tried for an easy laugh. “Well, at least you haven’t left us.” Cassia smiled at him while placing her free arm on his elbow. It wouldn’t do to worry about Darkwood or Blythesome. She had already made out one of those gentleman’s characters, and the other would never come back to her sister without Darkwood’s blessing. Determined, she pressed forward in their walk and sought to know Caliazo better. “Can you tell me your history with the military? Have you given it up?”
He drew up like a sturdy marble statue and proceeded with a fifteen-minute backstory to the Napoleonic wars and his involvement, cut short by injury, as they took another short turn around the house. By the time that finished, Gynelle stepped out of the returning carriage and joined them.
“Oh Mage Colonel Caliazo,” she said, “What a pleasure it is to have you call on us here.”
He smiled at her comment, but his eyes directed themselves mostly to Cassia. “Yes, I hope to make it a more frequent occurrence whilst you are visiting.”
Cassia curtsied at such a comment and cast her long-lashed eyes downward. She felt her own temperature rise with his attention. She was not used to a man favoring her, especially if Gynelle was close. The three of them conversed for another few minutes before the Colonel took his leave.
“Good-bye, until my aunt’s party tonight,” His eyes twinkled. Gynelle nodded. Cassia gave a slow curtsy and a large smile.
“I think he is fond of you,” said Gynelle as they turned inside. Cassia felt herself color. As Gynelle walked on ahead Cassia wondered if she ought to tell her sister why Darkwood left. It could cause more heartache, so she decided it best left unsaid.
Cassia wondered what tonight would hold with the Magess. Gynelle and the Clovises seemed enamored by it all, but something pulled at her, telling her to distrust the Magess and her enchanted dresses and showy displays.
* * *
“Come with me, Blythesome.” Gaius couldn’t keep his hands still or the tremble out of his voice as he paced across the parlor floor of Mage Blythesome’s London residence. Gaius was supposed to be calling on Cassia today, not chasing after his relic, but if he had to leave Rosings, at least it felt close. Like it had just been used. His blood coursed through his veins at a heightened rate. “We need to go now. Ember has hinted of a gambling parlor for people playing high.”
“I bet I can guess the place,” said Blythesome, shifting his eyes to the side. “You see, an unfortunate acquaintance of mine once convinced me...never mind. I’ll take you there at once.”
Night began to fall as Gaius and Blythesome made their way through the seediest streets of London, dressed down like middle class men trying to fit in. Ember circled above them just high enough to blend in with the clouds to the undiscerning eye. Ember understood that London had no mercy when it came to dragons. One sighting and it’d be a full-on hunt.
“In here,” Blythesome pointed down a grimy staircase. Gaius winced, hoping his friend would at least try to sully his accent a little. Murky water dripped through several cracks in the ceiling and the stench of perspiration assaulted Gaius’ nose before his eyes adjusted to the dim firelight and smokey haze.
“I’ll make my way to the dealer,” Gaius told Blythesome.
“Hey, you,” attempted Gaius with an accent he knew was more believable than his friend’s. “Word on the street says you had a real king in here yesterday. Has he been back today? I came with enough quid to best him. Tell me his name,” He tapped his vest and rubbed his thumb against his finger imperceptibly, employing his persuasion.
The dealer’s shrewd expression melted and he opened his mouth.
Before that man could capitulate, Blythesome pointed and yelled, “Run!” His auburn hair whipped to the side. Gaius shot his gaze to the corner of the room.
“He warned me you might come snooping,” said the biggest man he had ever seen. He held a club in one hand, his face smeared with dirt and his massive biceps splitting the seams on his sweat-stained shirt.
Suddenly, Gaius felt a vice grip his arms, lifting him from the ground. His head shot to the side, as Blythe endured the same fate from another man, nearly as large, just behind the first. Within seconds Gaius heard his own boots drag across the floor and winced as various limbs smacked into walls, the sound ricocheting up the slimy staircase. Once outside on the street, the large cronies pinned him and Blythe to the ground. Gaius watched as the first took two fast swings at Blythesome.
“This’ll teach you to come snooping,” snarled the giant man who pinned him down, as the man cocked his right arm back, and balled his hand into a fist.
Gaius felt his rage swell within him. He struggled to free his torso but his own size and strength was nothing compared to the towering ogre of a man who held him. The sound of Blythe being pummeled into the pavement met his ears. If he didn’t act now, Blythe would end up beat to a pulp. He drew his fingers together to summon his power, but there wasn’t time. His magic took moments that he didn’t have. Then, out of nowhere the ground around him seemed to rise. The cobblestones beneath him sunk down as the street curled toward his assailants. The air felt tangibly thick and Gaius could feel it press against his chest. The large man at once released him, clasping his hands against his own face in pain. Unsure of what was happening, but knowing this was his moment, Gaius snaked out of his pinned position, and grabbed the now free Blythesome, and pulled him into a run.
