Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2016 00:25:00 +0000 (GMT)
From: ovote@unseen.is
Subject: The Magician and the Prince - 5

A tale of magicians, magick and a lost boy. This started off just as a one
off story, but as I was writing ideas kept popping up and by the end of
this first part I could see quite a long saga ahead. It is my very first
time venturing into a realm of fantasy, a much loved genre, and I fear not
doing justice to some of the wonderful writers who's works grace my
bookcases. By saying this is a fantasy I don't really need to stress that
it is a work of fiction. Set in a nameless land, maybe even a nameless
world, our rules and conventions do not apply here.

As always this free resource needs your donations to keep it alive, so
donate as much or little as you can afford.
http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html

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The news of Sir Samuel Alver's apparent suicide spread like wildfire
through the city, Jacob seeing chance to do a little mischief making went
into the city with Tancred and walked the streets until he saw a group of
urchins in an alleyway. Standing at the head of the alley he spelled his
voice so it would carry to them, but not those passing him by. He spoke of
Sir Samuel being on the point of arrest by the authorities for sodomising
children, and he also being suspected of involvement, with others, in the
murder of children that had disappeared over the last years. Threatening
Tancred with a severe beating if he let this terrible news pass to any
other the apprentice, working off the same script, fearfully promised his
absolute silence in the terrible matter. To one ragged child hearing the
tale Jacob was seen as a tall dark haired lord, to another a stout bald
headed shopkeeper, others saw a fair skinned man yet another as a dusky
visitor from a strange land. Not a one of those children crouched in the
alley that day saw the elderly stooped merchant that stood in the
street. This sordid story was around the city before the truth ever knew it
had a race to run. Jacob again hearing the news whispered to him by Sarah
on the second day following her return from the visit to her daughter. She
having been told it by a stallholder in the market.






The sons of Sir Samuel resided in a land that was a ten day voyage from the
city, it would take three weeks at best for them to arrive, so the city
authorities took responsibility for the interment of the remains. Upon
hearing of the flying rumours it was decided to forgo the large public
funeral commonly held for a knight of the city, few of the great men wished
to be seen walking solemnly behind the open carriage carrying him on his
final journey. He was quietly put to rest one evening with little fanfare,
few mourners stood at the graveside. The great and the good failed to
anticipate that those actions would be further fuel for the rumours and be
seen as supporting evidence of his alleged evil. Within a few days mothers
would be heard threatening a naughty child with sending it to Samuel if it
did not behave. Every time those words were spoken a little mortar trickled
from the wall of fear that held the citizens captive.






As the winter approached, and the weather turned, driving rain or strong
gales kept them inside the house more often. Jacob, having decided to keep
a lower profile over the next months, took Jamil and his sister Donae away
from the household tasks for a time each day and set to teaching them their
letters and numbers. Most people of the city could neither read nor write,
a poorly educated people being easier to keep under control. A touch of
magick during those lessons saw them leaping forward at a terrific
pace. And Jamil could often be spotted with a book from the house library
clutched in his hand as he headed for his little room at the top of the
house. He provided Sarah with extra coin to go out in the city and procure
heavy winter clothing for the young pair, and also insisted she buy for her
and her husband. Zachary was busy during these weeks purchasing a smaller
and plainer carriage they could move around in without the adornment of the
house insignia on it's doors. Jacob wished it to appear much like the many
carriages available for hire on the streets for a single trip.






Every opportunity was taken by Tancred and Jamil to sneak away to the
privacy of Tancred's bedchamber, a touch of Jacob's magick being used to
ensure they were not searched for or disturbed as the boys shared their
secret love. Jamil would sometimes sneak down the stairs from his little
room when everyone had retired to the bedchambers, and together the young
lovers spent many wonderful hours under Tancred's bedcovers before parting
with the warmth of kisses still on their lips, and the smell of their love
to lull each to sleep. On one inclement morning Tancred came into the
library where Jacob was sat quietly reading. Having been schooled by Jacob
from his early years to address whatever question was in his mind, he
raised the subject of the fears for his own future.

"How can I still be king when the thought of taking a queen and bearing an
heir still plagues me" He asked Jacob

Putting down the book Jacob turned to look out onto the grounds of the
house, pointing towards a tree said "See that young sapling out there, it's
being blown by the wind one way, then another. Which way will it face when
it has grown mature?"

Of course Tancred had no answer to give his tutor. Continuing Jacob asked
"And if you stood at this window many years in the future and looked out on
that tree standing sturdy and mature could you command it to turn from the
way it has set and face the way you desire?"

Not waiting for an answer to his question Jacob went on "We can no more
change what is inside us than that tree can make a choice about it's
destiny. Neither can any man that walks in this world command another to be
different from the way he or she is born. You being a boy that finds love
for another of his own sex is not wrong, nor is it rare. There are many
like you in the world, some also princes like yourself, but not all have
the good fortune to have stood at the side one them one with power such as
I. When the time comes for you to take a wife know that it will be a person
you will like as a friend or as a sister, and she will know your true
nature and be at ease with it. You will have a happy and content life with
her, and still have the love of the man you have found filling your heart
with joy. As to the matter of an heir, that will resolve with my help
should it be necessary. For now put your worries away and think of nothing
but the love you share with Jamil"

A stunned and red faced boy looked back at Jacob, mouth agape "Who did you
think extinguished your lamp that first night you spent together? Who
covered you so you would not wake chilled? My happiness at seeing you
finding love for each other fills me with joy, Jamil is a wonderful young
man, he is honest and true, if I had searched lands far and wide I could
not have found better than he. You have no need for my blessing or my
approval, but if you did it would be without limits. Now off with you, for
I think you have a little news to break to him about your not quite secret
secret"






Thomas Alver looked out from the deck of the schooner that had carried him
from his home. His thoughts, as he studied the sprawling city before him,
full of the black memories of things done to him and his brother Simon by
his father had been brought back after lying buried for years. Feeling the
touch of a hand on his shoulder he turned and saw a fellow traveller, they
had made acquaintance during the voyage, playing games of chance to while
away the hours. The man, a courier for one of the great trading houses
spent his life travelling from one city to another carrying letters and
contracts to be exchanged. He had made his dislike of the city clear to
Thomas, and had voiced his relief at only needing to stay here for two days
until the ship was re-provisioned and returned to it's home.

"So Thomas, have you made arrangements for a place to stay here" asked his
new friend.

"I will follow your example and stay at the hostelry you recommended to
me. I haven't announced my coming, and I have no plans to stay at my
father's house" he replied.

"It is a fine place, the innkeeper is honest, the food and ale are
good. The beds are clean, and so are the serving girls should you take one
to your clean bed, They are more than ready to tumble with a generous
patron" came the reply.

"There will be a carriage waiting for me, as soon as our bags are brought
come ride along with me to the inn. But I warn you when you see Loretta you
will see my favourite, it would please me if you bedded another lass"

And so Thomas Alver's whereabouts in the city were made known to Jacob and
to the trading house, for the inn was quietly owned by the trading house,
and thus by Tancred's father, the king. Once settled in his room at the inn
he was disturbed by a knock from a serving girl announcing the arrival of a
visitor downstairs. Awaiting him was the head of the trading house, upon
introducing himself he motioned Thomas to a side room where they could
speak in privacy. After offering Thomas his condolences for the death of
his father he made comment that he had never met Sir Samuel, but that he
knew him better than he would have wanted himself known widely. This
statement left Thomas intrigued, but unsure whether it meant that his
visitor was a kindred spirit with the same appetites as his father. Not
wishing to have his own shame known he made no comment on hearing this.

Hearing neither encouragement nor discouragement for his words the Trading
master went on "I would not have you think I share the same inclinations as
he. I realise you may find this conversation distasteful, I venture into it
knowing you have been estranged from your father for many years. We have
mutual friends in the land where you now live, who I have known and trusted
for many years. They assure me that you would prefer to never step foot
into this city where he lived if that were at all possible. I have not the
knowledge why you two brothers made that choice to break with your father,
but I believe that your decision is tied to his vile practices and with the
circumstances of the loss of your mother"

Upon hearing the compassion in the other's voice he could not help but be
moved to tears as his thoughts turned to the beautiful and sweet woman he
remembered from his childhood. Weaving truth with the story he and Jacob
had spent considerable time creating the trading master continued.

"You have made it widely known that your return here will be to dispose of
all assets inherited by you, and once done you will be gone from this
wicked place. My house has been instructed to act for a lady who wishes to
remain anonymous at this time. She is prepared to meet your price for the
purchase of your former home. We have advised that a fair price would be in
the region of that which you will see on this document"

Thomas opened the folder that had been pushed across the table towards him,
his eyes widened as he read through the statement of intent and reached the
figure written at the foot of the page.

"That figure would be for the building and grounds alone, she has no desire
for the furniture or any other items within the house. Should agreement be
reached between us we would be more than pleased to act on your behalf to
empty the property, and either ship it to your home or, as I think you
would prefer, have it all sold by auction. Clearly you will want to have a
valuation carried out as you have not seen the house for many years, should
that valuation show a value in excess of the figure shown here you can be
assured our figure can be amended to please you"

Leaving the business which had brought him to the inn, for he could not
expect Thomas to make a decision that day the trading head then turned the
conversation to Thomas's homeland. He surprised the younger man by his
knowledge of the land, and the influential people there, who it turned they
both knew well. Before leaving he arranged for a carriage to be made
available for Thomas during his time in the city, starting with a visit to
Sir Samuel's mansion the following morning.






Following his inspection of his former home the next day Thomas requested
the carriage to carry him to the trading house, where he again sat with the
house head.

"I am of a mind to make agreement with you over the house" He said

"However I do have some concerns as to the eventual use of the house, I
would see it pulled to the ground rather than have it used in the way I
knew it to be through my childhood"

Jacob and the trading head had expected this concern and so put Thomas's
mind to rest "Our client is a lady of substantial fortune. She was taken as
an young orphan from this city and sold into prostitution many years before
you were born. Eventually she managed to escape the life she was forced
into and fled to another far away place. She made a new life for herself
and with hard work she managed to start a business. In due course she
married an older gentleman and they lived many happy years together,
nursing him through severe illness during his last years, He died at a very
old age a year or so back, leaving her his great fortune. It is her desire
to set the course of her life towards founding a place for orphans here in
the city of her birth. Children will be homed and educated, taught a trade
and given every chance to make their way in the world away from here, where
the most common fate of those unfortunates would be the slave block. She
would take great delight at the discomfort of the lords of this city having
the lowest of society living so close to them in a mansion, instead of a
cage in the city goal. Her great friend and representative is currently
living here with his nephew, do you wish to visit him, which we can do
now?"






Knocking at the door of Jacob's house they were greeted by Jacob himself,
who had been passing through the hallway on his way to the library at the
time. The noise of two boisterous youths could be heard from the upper
floor as Jacob called for them to come and meet the visitors. Tancred soon
appeared thundering down the staircase, followed a few seconds later by the
sight of Jamil's backside sliding down the polished banister. Tancred,
arriving first, and then immediately bowled over by Jamil with both boys
tumbling across the hallway in fits of laughter.

Jacob shrugged his shoulders and turned to his visitors "You see how high
my hopes are of these becoming young gentlemen" From the kitchen Sarah
could be heard singing loudly, but very much out of tune. Taking them all
through to the kitchen he introduced Thomas and suggested she show him
around the house and answer any questions he may have. On this tour Donae
was, as always, never more than a few paces away from Sarah, who now loved
hearing the girl call her mother. Upon reaching the top floors Donae
proudly showed Thomas her sanctuary, and pointing towards Jamil's door told
him "You don't want to go in there, it smells of boy!" The signs of a house
full of love and laughter could never have been clearer to anyone seeing
that group of people together. Upon returning to the ground floor of the
house Sarah and Donae went off to make tea for the men as they went into
the library, where the final negotiations took place. The final piece of
the puzzle was Jacob suggesting that the mansion sale be carried out in
Thomas's home city. They would after all need the signatures of both
brothers together, and doing it away from this city would save Thomas
having to turn over a large amount of tax that would be levied here. As far
as it would appear the house would become owned by a concern in another
land and not by either Jacob or the trading house. Contracts were exchanged
giving permission for the goods and furniture to be removed and sold, and
for workmen to start work converting the house straight away rather than
waiting the completion of the legalities. All of this allowed Thomas to be
gone from the city he despised on the final schooner to leave the docks
before they closed for the winter. It was late in the day before Thomas and
Jacob stood and shook hands to seal the deal.

.............................................................................

In no particular order some of the events of the parts ahead;

The Mountain returns.

The conversion of the mansion and the underlying reasons for buying it.

More shennanigans by Jacob and Tancred around the city.

Jamil's life takes an unexpected turn.

Zachary takes on a new role.