NOVEL NEXT 33. Chanced
We didn't actually see Maeve much over the next several days. Kelly and I assumed she was busy managing her estate or running her county or whatever.
Instead, we busied ourselves with learning as much as we could. We'd spent a few hours a day wandering around the huge castle, exploring the various rooms and halls, or walking about the outer walls, or getting fresh air in the courtyard or atop the towers. There were only a few places we weren't allowed to go, which included the dungeon and the section where Maeve's private chambers were located.
Most of our time was actually spent reading. We'd spend hours every day either in our room or in the study. I mostly focused on books about magic, as I was eager to learn as many spells as I could, and also to understand the basic fundamentals or whatever, like how magic worked and what made it go.
Kelly meanwhile read up on geography first, to get a feel for the landscape. Mainly she wanted to know the layout of the realm, where Maeve's castle was in relation to Eileen's home, that sort of thing.
We'd also had a couple encounters with a seamstress, which I kind of thought might happen. It took some explaining, but me and Kelly eventually managed to describe what sort of clothes we'd be comfortable in.
And so, eight days after Kelly and I first woke up here, we found ourselves once again in Maeve's study, sitting by the fire as we continued reading.
Kelly was dressed in a pair of tight black trews instead of skinny jeans, and a loose short-sleeved green blouse rather than a t-shirt. I wore soft purple hose in lieu of leggings, and a small pink cotton dress took the place of an oversized top. We both had soft leather shoes which were nearly as comfortable as sneakers.
I had a sip of juice and commented, "I think I'm going to have to tell Maeve the truth, about how I'm learning magic."
Kelly sighed, "I was hoping we could avoid that. It feels like it's the one ace up our sleeve in this whole situation, you know?"
"I know," I frowned. "But she's been dragging her feet the past three days about letting us talk with the prisoner. I think that's because she thinks he'll attack us or something. Like, she thinks we can't handle him? I have a feeling this is the only way she's going to let us interview him."
I added, "It might also be the only way I can convince her it's safe to let me go back home to Earth. And I'm positive it's the only way we'll convince her we can deal with Eileen."
Kelly nodded slowly. After a few moments she asked, "What if even that doesn't convince her? What if she just keeps stalling, to keep you here indefinitely? She might not want you to leave at all, Tegan."
I sighed, and leaned closer and brought my lips to her ear. I whispered, "If it comes to that, then we'll just go. I'm pretty sure I can get us to the edge of the south forest. If we went at night, straight from our room, we could disappear into the woods and try to find that meadow. Then come dawn, we slip back home. They won't even know we've gone till morning when they realize our room's empty."
I could see the concern on her face. I couldn't blame her, I knew it was risky. I wasn't going to stay here as a prisoner though. My mind was made up on that point. Either we followed our plan then went home, or we abandoned the plan and went home early. But either way, me and Kelly would be going back to Earth.
She finally nodded, "Ok Tegan. How do you want to break the news to her?"
"I'll ask her to come join us here, then we'll talk in private. I'll show her some of what I've learned, and see what she says."
Kelly nodded again, and I went to the bell-cord and gave it a tug.
A minute or so later one of the young butler-guys showed up, and I told him "Please ask Lady Maeve if she could join Kelly and I in the study some time today?"
He bowed, "Yes m'lady." Then he went off to deliver the message.
Kelly and I returned to our reading again for now.
About an hour or so later, Maeve turned up at the study and joined us. A servant followed shortly after carrying a tray of refreshments. There was wine for Maeve and Kelly, juice for me, and a small platter of meats and cheeses, a bowl of fruit, some vegetables, and some bread.
After the refreshments were set out, I asked the guy to leave so the three of us could talk in private.
Maeve was surprised, and after the butler had left she commented "All of my staff are trustworthy, Tegan. There is nothing to be feared, speaking openly before them."
I shrugged, "I don't mean to be disrespectful, but Liam was one of your staff until he betrayed you."
Her expression darkened slightly but she accepted my observation. "What is it that you wished to discuss, that is so delicate?"
Kelly still looked a little apprehensive, and to be fair I was feeling a little anxious as well. I honestly had no idea how Maeve would take it when I told her the truth. I was hoping she'd be pleased or impressed, but I worried she might find some way to turn it against me. Like instead of accepting that I could look after myself, maybe she'd think I was some precious jewel that needed to be protected at all costs.
Maeve kept her eyes on me, and raised an eyebrow as I stood up and moved to the door. I swung it closed, then returned to my seat next to Kelly.
I asked, "So you know Kelly and I have been doing a lot of reading over the past week?"
She nodded, "Of course. I understand you have quite the interest in spells and magic. I wish you'd allow me to arrange a tutor and begin some actual training, rather than wasting time just reading books of spells. I'm sure it's fascinating for you, but without the proper training those books are of little use."
I glanced at Kelly again, then looked back at Maeve. "The thing is, I don't need the training, or the tutor. I've learned a bunch of new spells over the past week."
Maeve gave me another one of those patient condescending smiles, "Tegan just memorizing words does not mean you know how to cast a spell. You've been here but a week, if you'd focused on a single spell you might have learned it by now. But you've been wasting your time just reading book after book."
I smiled, and gestured to her wine glass on the table before her as I worked the spell. Frost formed on the glass as the wine inside froze solid. I turned and gestured at the study door, and worked another spell. There was a sound like stone scraping against stone, as the walls and floor seemed to flow like cement, spawning new blocks of stone which quickly covered over the doorway, sealing the three of us inside the study.
And finally I pointed at the fireplace, and worked that combat spell I'd demonstrated for Kelly. I pushed it a little harder this time. Not only were the logs and coals shredded into splinters and sparks, but the metal grate beneath was mangled and broken, and even some of the bricks in the firebox were cracked and shattered.
I'd picked those three spells as I figured they demonstrated a good cross-section of skills. The trick with the wine was actually a really simple water-manipulation spell. The one with the stone was probably the most difficult of the three, and I thought that would show Maeve I was capable of doing more than just parlour tricks. And the combat spell was to prove I could dish out some violence if necessary.
There were some even-more advanced spells I'd learned but I didn't want to show Maeve everything. Kelly made a good point about keeping some tricks up our sleeves, and I figured all this might be enough to show my fae-mother that I had some talent beyond her expectations.
Maeve sat completely silent, her eyes wide and mouth hanging open. Finally she shook her head slightly and whispered, "This is impossible!"
She looked at me, her eyes still wide with shock. "How have you done all this?"
I relaxed in my chair and replied, "I don't really know, but my guess is my great-grandmother's gift skipped a couple generations. You said she could learn a spell just by reading it? And she could cast advanced spells without tiring?" I gestured around the room, "I've done nothing but read spell books for a week, Maeve. And I did these spells without tiring."
Maeve slumped back in her seat. She looked stunned, as she glanced around the room again. Finally she leaned forward and reached for her drink, then grimaced as she realized it was still frozen solid.
"Sorry," I apologized, then dispelled the magic on it. The glass and its contents immediately thawed.
My fae-mother drank it in one gulp, then set the glass back down. She shook her head slowly and in a quiet voice asked, "You can truly learn a spell by reading it once?"
"Nah," I shook my head. "It takes me a few goes, I have to read it a couple times to get my head around it. Maybe fifteen or twenty minutes? It's not instant. I'm sure I'm not really as powerful as Taralynn, but maybe I've got a bit of that gift."
Maeve frowned, "Tegan you are three months shy of your twenty-third birthday, and you've just demonstrated magical prowess that most fae mages wouldn't achieve after two centuries. Even Taralynn herself didn't truly come into her talents until well into her second century."
We were all quiet for a few moments after that.
Finally she looked at me and asked, "What are your intentions? What do you want of me?"
"Kelly and I want to meet the prisoner," I replied. "We want to have a conversation with Liam, and see what information we can get out of him."
Maeve frowned, "You still hope to confront Eileen and somehow resolve things with her? Or do you mean to destroy her?"
I glanced at my girlfriend. I wasn't actually sure about that part.
Kelly answered, "We won't know how we'll deal with her, until after we've got as much as we can from Liam. There must be more to her plan. She had Tegan hidden on Earth for a reason, maybe Liam knows what that reason is."
Maeve poured herself another drink. She had a deep sip, then sighed "Obviously you knew I was reluctant to let you confront the prisoner, I was worried for your safety. I assume this demonstration was to prove to me that you believe you're able to look after yourself?"
I nodded, "That's what I was hoping, yes."
Maeve looked thoughtful as she sipped her drink. She stayed quiet for a few minutes, then finally drained her glass again. She looked at Kelly and me and said, "Very well. I will speak with captain Siobhan and make arrangements. You will have your time with Liam tomorrow morning, with the captain present." She added, "You were wise to ensure we had this discussion in private. Keep your gift secret for now, Tegan. I trust Siobhan with this, but no-one else."
"I understand. Thank you." I turned to where the entrance was and dispelled the magic there. The stones shifted and retracted into the wall and floor, revealing the doorway and the door again.
With both the demonstration and the conversation over, Maeve stood and exited. I think she was still a bit stunned after all of that.
After she was gone, I looked to Kelly and asked "So, that went ok I guess?"
"Yeah," she sounded a little uneasy. "I hope so. She was definitely impressed. I just hope she doesn't decide you're a threat or something."
I sighed, "Me too. I'm pretty sure we can trust her though."
