Lieutenant Deston walked in front, the young women in the middle with the portly other gentleman, who Gaius had not caught the name of, and Malum came last.
Gaius positioned himself to directly intersect with only Malum as they turned toward the shop. If he could but touch him for a moment, he would know if Malum somehow held the relic on his person. Malum shouldn’t be able to access its power, but still Gaius wanted to be certain.
Gaius kept his head down and when Malum came into view he reached up and grasped his bicep. Tytus Malum thrust his own hand up on instinct to push the man away and their eyes met. Gaius stopped for a moment, and Malum froze. Cassia, who stood just in front of them, stopped walking and looked over her shoulder.
Gaius again resisted the urge to land a fist in Malum’s face and tried to focus on what he felt. Gaius waited for the familiar feeling, but the relic wasn’t on Malum. If it had been, he would have felt the presence of it, even if it was concealed in a pocket. His eyes narrowed, studying Malum’s blue ones. It was then Gaius felt someone’s eyes on the back of his neck. Without so much as a nod or a greeting, he continued down the street away from Malum and their party.
So that awful man didn’t have it. He rubbed his fingers against his palm. Then who could have stolen it? How was he ever going to find it?
He turned his head over his shoulder. Everyone had gone into the milliners except Cassia, who peered down the street at him. How much had she noticed of their interaction? At once he wished he was close enough to try his magic on her and see if she’d finally agree with him on something.
He shook his head. Why had he given her a second thought? He had a relic to find and Malum to avoid.
Chapter Four
“It was ever so kindof your family to invite us newcomers to your card night,” said Lieutenant Malum to Cassia on the Tuesday following. He sat now across from her, while Alyria, Lieutenant Deston, the ever-present Master Clovis and even Gynelle remained entranced by a robust game of lotto. The more intimate tête-à-tête with Malum was what she had tried to contrive all evening.
Cassia, who had taken a sip of punch at precisely the moment of his speech, swallowed, thankful for a natural pause to compose an answer.
“Of course. All of us, I daresay, know a good-humored fellow when we meet one. We know when it is worthwhile to increase our circles.”
“Naturally,” said Lieutenant Malum. “And I heard it is not only Lieutenant Deston and myself who have had the honor of making acquaintances with your set. Is it true that your family is well-connected with Mage Blythesome?”
The couch which they both employed had a safe distance between them but Cassia leaned slightly closer. “I cannot saywell-connected, for Mage Blythesome and his party have only just entered the county and taken Netherfield. But I think I am safe in saying that the man has shown some particular interest toward my sister, Gynelle.”
Lieutenant Malum looked askance toward her sister and smiled. Cassia could not help but notice that the straight, sure smile and pleasant eyes gave him a genuine air. “Does your family approve of him?”
“Yes, though I think my mother would like anybody, if he were handsome, rich, possessed some kind of magical ability, and showed interest in her daughters. Not to mention he was very generous to our family when Gynelle was sick a sennight ago.” This was the direction Cassia had wanted the conversation to turn, at least in part. She had to know what had happened between him and High Mage Darkwood. “Are you acquainted with Mage Blythesome, Lieutenant Malum? Surely you approve of him. Everybody here does.”
“I know of him, though not directly. From what I have heard, heisquite generous, perhaps to a fault.”
“Are you saying it is a fault to help out where one sees a need?”
“No...it is just that Blythesome has certain natural...tendencies. They ought to be guarded and used wisely. Just like anyone with magical abilities. Do you not agree?”
Cassia studied his handsome blue eyes. His countenance was altogether easy, and on this point Mistress Retton and all three girls had agreed, which in itself must vouch for its validity. But still, there was something disagreeable between him and High Mage Darkwood’s party. “I have lived in Hertfordshire my entire life, Lieutenant. People with abilities don’t usually come to Meryton and the surrounding areas.”
“They have come now,” said Lieutenant Malum. “Surely you understand Blythesome’s lineage.”
“I have heard rumors, yes. But he seems quite benign.” said Cassia. “To what exactly do you refer?”
Malum lowered his voice a hair. “Blythesome can turn things to gold. I have seen evidence of it.” He smiled, and something about it made her believe him, when so many other accounts of Blythesome’s ability seemed overinflated.
“Can you be really sure? The obsession with this lineage is archaic.” She answered. “A person’s monetary holdings speak much higher in today’s modern world. Don’t you agree?”
He rubbed his palm on his trousers. “Of course one’s holdings are paramount. A man’s land, his per annum. But one’s exceptional abilities should not be overlooked. So much the better if he has both.”
Cassia nodded. If these magical abilities were true, she wanted to be appraised of them. “What...evidence do you speak of?”
“Darkwood has a golden paperweight that he carries with him, to assist him as he writes his letters. Blythesome turned it to gold, so they claim, from a stone from the brook at Pemberley. As a gift for Darkwood’s twenty-first birthday.”
“You have all but won!” came Alyria’s voice from the other table. Cassia had to know more before they were interrupted.
“How do you know High Mage Darkwood? Can you be certain of such things?”
“I assure you there are few men in the country who can verify, with more certainty, details of High Mage Darkwood’s life, for we grew up together. My father was his father’s steward, and one of his closest friends.”
“I see,” said Cassia, as she heard Master Clovis declare they ought to go one more round. It was the first time she had felt thankful for her cousin since his arrival. “But your cold interaction last week leads me to believe the sons are not on quite as good of terms as their fathers were?”
