The Wizard Heir (26 page)

He pressed it against the knot on his forehead.
“So?”

Ellen licked her finger and rubbed at a splatter of
blood on her arm. “It was my day to watch you, okay?”

“What?”

“We trade off. Jack and Nick and Linda and me.
Today, Jack was playing soccer, Linda was out buying a house, Nick had just
been on duty two days in a row and …” her voice trailed off.

“You're saying you've been following me around
all summer?”

Ellen cleared her throat. “Linda was afraid
something like this would happen, or they'd find a way to scare you enough to
make you bolt. So …” She shrugged her shoulders.

“I don't believe this.”

“Believe me, it hasn't been the most exciting
duty, up until today. Seph goes to church. Seph goes to the symphony. Seph
gets hit on by girls at the beach!' Ellen nibbled at a broken nail.
”This afternoon, I felt like some kind of chaperone, following you and
your girlfriend around. So I dropped way back. Guess I shouldn't have."

“Maybe they could've seen you if you'd been
closer.”

“Maybe. Look, I'm sorry about your … ah …
date.”

“You saved my life. Thank you.” Seph was
glad that it was Ellen and not Jack. “You've always treated me like I'm
not, you know, the enemy.”

Ellen finished tweezing bits of gravel from her
skinned knees, and picked up the washcloth. “We have a lot in common, you
know,” she said, bending her head over her work. “I never knew my
parents, either. I was raised for the tournaments by wizards of the Red
Rose.”

“Did they have some kind of warrior school?”
he asked.

She snorted. “There aren't enough of us left to
fill a school. I had a warriormaster—a wizard who specializes in training
warriors. What you might call the coach from hell. We were constantly on the
move, being hunted by the White Rose. So I've always been the stranger. New kid
at school. Kind of like you.” She shook back her shining helmet of hair,
as likely to seek sympathy as any leopard.

“So how'd you meet Jack?”

“The Red Rose wizards learned that the White Rose
had a warrior hidden away in Trinity. So I came here to kill him.” She
said this matter-of-factly. “Only, I didn't know who to kill, and he
didn't know who I was. He sat behind me in homeroom, of all things. He was …
you know … I saw him and I went, whoa! I guess I had this major crush.
I'd never gone out with anyone, really. He'd just broken up with that … that
Alicia Middleton.” Her inflection gave the name another meaning. “I'm
not—you know—good with people. And he was, like, Mr. Popular. But we kind of
clicked, and one thing led to another….” The color had come up into
Ellen's cheeks.

“When did you figure it out?”

“Jack gave himself away in a street fight before
we left Trinity. He didn't figure out who I was until we met on the field at
Raven's Ghyll.” She grinned. “I'll never forget the look on his
face.” She carried the basin of soapy water to the sink and dumped it out.

“Well, I don't think he likes me much.”

“Oh, I wouldn't say that. Jack's just less open
than he used to be, before Raven's Ghyll. It takes longer to win him
over.” She sat down across from Seph again.

“I mean, here he was, living this storybook life
in Trinity. And then, in the space of a few months, he finds out that everyone
he knows is someone else entirely. His surgeon is a wizard who turned him into
a magical freak. His aunt is an enchanter with a past. The old caretaker who
lives over the garage is his four-hundred-year-old wizard bodyguard. His former
girlfriend is a treacherous, bottom-feeding, double-crossing trader who's had
him under a spell.”

Seph bit the insides of his cheeks to keep from
laughing.

“Even his warriormaster, Hastings, has a secret
plan— to play him in the Game and win dominion over the Wizard Houses. Jack
goes to the tournament and finds out his opponent is the girl he's been going
out with, who, by the way, came to Trinity to assassinate him.”

Seph shook his head, rendered speechless.

“Yet despite all that, I've never met anyone who
was so … so pure. I don't mean he's a saint or anything,” she added
quickly, rolling her eyes. “He just… knows who he is and what he believes
in. He doesn't change his story day to day and week to week. He's the one you
want to have next to you when the bad thing goes down.”

Seph wished he had the same certainty, the same sense
of trajectory. He'd lost something important at the river. Something he hadn't
realized was his to lose: a growing sense of security.

He'd left the Havens with the intention of taking
revenge on Gregory Leicester, but he'd allowed himself to be seduced by the
magic of a Midwestern college town. Leicester had warned him not to talk, and,
for the most part, he hadn't.

Leicester wouldn't give up. It was only a matter of
time before he tried again.

Unless Seph got to him first.

“So what did those guys want?” Ellen asked.
“You never said.”

“They said they came to take me back to
school.”

“I don't get it,” Ellen admitted. “Do
you think they've been stalking you all this time? Why?”

“I don't think even the alumni know,” Seph
said.

“The what?”

“The alumni. The ones who attacked us today. They
used to go to school at the Havens; now they work for Dr. Leicester. I don't
think they have a clue why he wants me.” He took a breath. “But Aunt
Linda does.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I think Aunt Linda knows why they're after me.
That's why she has you all watching me every day.” He tossed the ice pack
from hand to hand. “I don't suppose what happened today could be kept just
between us?”

“No way. Are you crazy?” Ellen stretched out
her long legs. “Come on, Seph. You're in danger, and you need help. Don't
you think Linda deserves to know her instincts -were right?” She looked
sheepish. “For weeks, we've been trying to convince her that she was being
paranoid and tailing you wasn't necessary.”

“I already feel like a prisoner,” Seph said.
“It'll only get worse if she finds out what happened. Follow me around all
you want. I promise I won't leave Trinity. I won't put you in danger again. You
could've been killed today, too.” He reached over and closed his hand over
hers, looked her in the eyes. “Ellen. Please don't tell.”

Her eyes widened and she tried to withdraw her hand.
“Hey!”

He increased the gentle pressure, the flow of
persuasion, feeling guilty as he did so. Finally she nodded. “Okay. Our
secret.” And Seph smiled, satisfied.

The
Wizard Council

Linda Downey was in town only intermittently over the
following two weeks. She seemed distracted, a bundle of nerves. Maybe it's the
idea of being tied down, Seph thought. She'd closed on a house on Washington
Street, one block north of Jefferson, overlooking the lake. It was a small Victorian,
a former summer cottage that needed considerable work. She stayed in town long
enough to hire a squadron of contractors, then put Seph in charge of
supervising them. “You're good at this kind of thing,” she said.
“Pick out some paint and wallpaper, and keep them honest.”

So he spent a lot of time at the new house and also
working with Fitch and Harold. He avoided the beach in the early morning, and
when Madison left messages on Seph's cell phone, he didn't call her back. When
it came to keeping secrets, he had the experience of a lifetime to draw upon.
He was determined not to allow her or anyone else to become entangled in his
personal vendetta. He remembered Leicester's warnings.

But the girls at the pavilion were no longer
appealing. The image of Madison always intruded: her floppy hat with the long
ribbon, the long vintage skirts and lace blouses, her sprinkling of freckles
and sun-painted hair. Even the way she looked down her nose at him when she
thought he was being arrogant.

Leander Hastings returned to town the second week of
August. The meeting of the Council of Wizards had finally been scheduled. It
was to be held in Trinity.

He had spent an afternoon at the meadow with Jack and
Ellen, coaching them through their routines. It was a hot day, and it had been
a tough workout. Now the warriors were collapsed into the Adirondack chairs on
the front porch, having put away about a gallon of iced tea. Hastings sat on
the cool concrete of the porch steps with Seph next to him.

They were talking about the upcoming meeting. Jack
disapproved of the location. “Create a sanctuary for the rest of us, then
throw open the doors to wizards. That makes sense.”

“It's actually a good thing,” Hastings
replied. “It must be, because Gregory Leicester and Claude D'Orsay are
opposed.” His glance rested on Seph a moment.

“Why is it a good thing?” Seph asked. Tiny,
late-summer gnats rose up around him. He released a bit of power to keep them
at bay.

“There's considerable pressure on the council
right now. Some members want to throw away the Rules of Engagement and put down
the rebellion.” He smiled at Jack and Ellen. “Go to war against the
Anaweir. Put these warriors and enchanters in their places.” He paused.
“Others want to convene an Interguild Conference as the new rules direct,
and come to a workable agreement. Here in Trinity, all voices are likely to be
heard, with no trickery, sorcery, or black magic going on. Well, trickery
perhaps.” He smiled again.

“Where's it being held?” Ellen asked. She
pushed her sweaty hair behind her ears.

“They'll have it at the Legends Inn.”

“How many wizards are coming?” Seph asked.

“There will be twenty altogether. That's a lot of
power and spark for a small town.”

“Will the Dragon be there?” Seph couldn't
help asking the question. He saw the Wizard Council meeting as the classic
example of the mountain coming to Mohammad.

Hastings turned and faced Seph, resting his hands on
his knees. “I don't know, Seph,” he said. “Why do you ask?”

Seph shifted uncomfortably under the wizard's scrutiny.
“Like I said. I'd like to meet him.”

“I see.” Hastings continued to gaze at Seph
until he shifted his eyes away. “As I told you before, the Dragon is not
on the Wizard Council. He prefers to work behind the scenes.” He still had
not answered Seph's question, and obviously didn't intend to.

Seph was determined to meet the Dragon if he came to
Trinity. Surely, he would come. But then, he wouldn't know him if he saw him on
the street. “I was hoping you could introduce me.”

“If I see him, perhaps I'll tell him you're
looking for him.”

“Will Gregory Leicester be there?” Seph
persisted.

“Dr. Leicester is on the council, yes. Despite
his disapproval of the location, I'm sure he wouldn't miss it.”

Maybe there would be an opportunity to take Leicester
by surprise.

Hastings was watching him, green eyes intent under the
dark brows. It was almost as if he could read Seph's mind. “I think you
should all stay away from the inn during the meeting.”

He spoke to all three of them, but the message was
intended for Seph. Ellen and Jack nodded, but Seph merely leaned back against
the steps, closing his eyes. He'd had a revelation. Leander Hastings doesn't
trust me, Seph thought. That's what this is all about.

On the first day of the council meeting, Seph set his
alarm and woke up early in his aerie of a bedroom. Since the ill-fated picnic,
he'd seen Linda's bodyguards following him around and pretended not to notice.
Today, he hoped to shake off his shadow by leaving the house before anyone was
up.

He pulled on his shorts and T-shirt, then rooted in
the back corner of his underwear drawer, retrieving a small ceramic bottle with
a crystal stopper. He slid it into his pocket and padded downstairs. When he
reached the second floor, he saw that Jack's door was open and his bed was
made. Seph glanced up and down the hallway, stepped inside Jack's room, and
closed the door. He crouched down next to the bed.

Jack's sword, Shadowslayer, was underneath, in its
case. Seph knew better than to touch that. Will and Fitch had helped Jack dig
it out of a warrior's grave. Fitch said he'd nearly been torched when he tried
to open the case.

Seph slid his hand between the mattress and box spring
and pulled out a short knife in a sheath. It was not Jack's weapon of choice,
but he'd used it the day Seph arrived in Trinity. Seph shoved it under his
T-shirt, into the waist of his jeans. He liked having it there. It made him
feel as if he were finally going to take action, instead of sitting and waiting
for another attack.

He'd been over to the Legends Inn the week before,
familiarizing himself with the layout of the place. Today he planned to find
out where the wizards were meeting, and in particular, where they were
sleeping.

Seph crept down the back staircase, hoping to leave
the house by the back door, but he ran right into Becka, who was on her way
out, dressed for court.

“Good morning, Seph. You're up early,” she
said, smiling. “Linda's home. She and Jack are in the kitchen.” She
said it loudly, too, so Seph knew Linda would be waiting for him to come around
the corner. Shaking his head, he went on into the kitchen.

Linda and Jack were just finishing breakfast. They
abruptly stopped talking when Seph came into the room. Linda looked pale and
tired. She wore the same black business suit she'd worn the day she'd rescued
Seph at the Havens. “I think you've grown,” she said. “Every
time I go away, you grow an inch!”

“Welcome home, Aunt Linda.” Seph poured
himself some coffee and brought it over to the table.

“How are my contractors doing, Seph? I'm meeting
with them in a little while.”

The contractors were absolutely dazzled by Linda
Downey. Dave Martin, the general contractor, was always thinking of some
enhancement that he wanted to run by Seph, to see if he thought Linda would
approve. They never questioned the fact that they were working for a
sixteen-year-old boy. It was another one of those strange Weir-Anaweir
relationships.

“They seem to be on schedule,” he said.
“Dave has some changes he wants to go over with you. The revised drawings
are on the dining room table.” Seph was afraid she would suggest that he
go along with her to the meeting, but she didn't. He thought it might be her
day to watch him after her absence, but it wasn't, because she retrieved the
plans from the dining room and picked up her briefcase.

“Have fun today, guys. Be good, Seph.” And
then she was gone.

Jack studied Seph as if he were a problem he might
have to solve. Seph was very aware of the “borrowed” knife poking him
in the thigh. I guess it's Jack's day to watch me, he thought.

“We're going sailing today,” Jack said
abruptly.

Seph's heart sank. The Swift-Downey family had a
sailboat, a day sailer they kept in the water all season. Jack had been
promising to take Seph out on the lake. But it had never worked out. Until
today.

“Today?” Seph cast about for an excuse.
“You know, today really isn't a very … I mean, I don't really …”

“We won't go very far out,” Jack said,
giving him that dead-on look. “We'll just run up and down the shoreline.
Will and Fitch are coming. My mom packed a lunch. It's all set.”

Seph was caught, and he knew it. Whose idea was this?
he wondered. The plan was clearly designed to keep him away from the inn.

“Okay,” Seph said, forcing enthusiasm.
“Great!”

Will and Fitch were waiting on the pier, chatting with
Harold Fry, when they arrived at the harbor.

Harold nodded to Jack and Seph. “Morning,
boys.” The old man watched as Jack leaped nimbly into the dinghy and
stowed the gear. “When're you going to get yourself a real boat,
Jack?”

“That’s okay, Harold, this is all I can handle
for now.” Jack braced the dinghy while Seph, Will, and Fitch climbed
aboard.

“I'm. psyched,” Fitch said as they rowed out
to where Windego was anchored in the harbor. “I've been dropping
hints about going sailing all summer.” It seemed everyone was happy about
the excursion but Seph.

It was a beautiful day. The lake was a
translucent bottle-green color, and only a few high clouds interrupted the
endless blue of the sky as Jack fired up the motor to push the boat out of the
harbor. Dozens of white sails pricked the horizon.

Once they were in open water, Seph resigned himself to
the situation, working hard to crew under Jack's direction. He remembered a
little about managing the sails from the times he'd been out with Warren
Barber. Jack was a smart and aggressive skipper, if Seph was any judge.
Eventually Jack turned the mainsail sheet over to Seph while he managed the
jib. The wind was brisk out of the west, and when they got it right, the boat
flew over the water, smashing through the great, lazy fair-weather swells. He
and Jack traded off, but Will and Fitch seemed inclined to sit in the spray at
the bow of the boat and do as little work as possible.

They anchored off one of the less-crowded beaches east
of Trinity, and went swimming. Seph left Jack's knife carefully hidden in his
clothes. The water was still cool, even in August, but it was a hot day, and
after only a brief period on deck they were ready to go back in.

After a leisurely lunch and another swim, they dozed
for a time on deck, the boat gently rocking in the swells, before heading back
toward town. They were moving against the wind this time, and had to do some elaborate
tacking. It took them much longer to return than it had to sail out.

“You're hired, Seph,” Jack said, grinning as
Seph nailed a complicated come-about. “Better than these two losers.”
He nodded at Will and Fitch.

Fitch lifted his can of pop in a toast. “To the
crew.”

It was late afternoon when Jack started up the motor
and they threaded their way back into the harbor. A perfect day, but Seph
couldn't help wondering if the meetings at the Legends might still be going on.
He'd already wasted one day out of two.

The other three had remained in their swimming gear,
but he had changed back into his clothes, sticking the knife back under his
waistband.

When the dinghy had drifted close enough, Jack leaped
out onto the pier and secured the line. He and Seph muscled the cooler out of
the boat and carried their gear up the steps to the marina parking lot.

Jack turned back toward the marina office. “I'm
going to go see what kind of bait Jerry's got,” he explained. “Maybe
we can go fishing tomorrow.” He headed back down the steps.

And that will take care of tomorrow, Seph thought. Now
might be his only chance to break away. As soon as Jack was out of sight, Seph
said, as if he'd only just thought of it, “I just remembered, I was
supposed to meet Aunt Linda over at the new house at four thirty. I'm already
late. Tell Jack I had to go.” Without waiting for a response, he sprinted
through the parking lot and around the corner.

The Legends Inn was about a quarter mile west of the
marina, on a point of land that formed one side of the harbor. Seph wondered if
Jack would guess where he had gone and come after him. He would just have to
move quickly enough to stay ahead of him.

The front door of the inn opened into the parlor,
where he'd made his date with Madison Moss. From his previous visit, Seph knew
that the meeting rooms and dining rooms lay immediately beyond. He stopped at
the reception desk and smiled at the girl in the high-necked Victorian blouse.

“Can you tell me if the meeting is still going
on?” he asked politely.

She looked Seph up and down skeptically, disapproving
of his sailing clothes. “The meetings are over for the day. They just
adjourned about a half hour ago.”

“I have a message for one of the participants,
name of Gregory Leicester. Can you tell me which room is his?”

“And you are?”

“Aaron Hanlon.”

She extended her hand. “I'll give him the
message.”

“I need to deliver it in person.”

“Shall I ring him for you?” She put her hand
on the phone on the desk.

“That's okay,” Seph said hastily. “If
he's not there, I'll just slip it under his door.”

She hesitated. There was obviously a policy. Seph was
beginning to think he was going to have to use more overt persuasion. But it
seemed she saw little threat in Seph. “He's in Room 210. Second floor. The
elevator is over there.” She pointed.