In the Cards (Vorcian Imperial Chronicles Book 2) Read online

  She is so smart, able to see buried strategies and the emotions that hide behind people’s masks. No wonder Father is uncomfortable with her, Bert thought to himself.

  Gently brushing her hair back from Corda’s face, he said, “Well, Father has been giving me an understanding of the political landscape. His elevation to the second position of the Healer representation to the Council means that all of us need to do what we can to consolidate our family advantage.”

  “But Bert, I thought you wanted to do healing, not politics. How can you get your Mastery if you don’t do the required field healing?”

  “Don’t worry about me, Midget. I will end up serving a field duty that’s close around here so that I can spend some of my time with people that need to know me on the Council. It’s not what I hoped for, but it’s for the good of the family.”

  Corda was silent, examining her brother’s face as if she could dig inside of his brain. Unable to bear her scrutiny for very long, Bert selected a book and cuddled up with his sister, reading a story of adventure until her weary eyes closed and he knew that she was sound asleep.

  The young man eased himself off the side of the bed and dimmed the lights. He started to leave the room and turned back one more time from the doorway to look at the sleeping form of the little girl.

  As he turned back to leave, the nursemaid waiting at the window bench, saw a naked look of worry and sorrow on his face. So absorbed was the young man by his thoughts that he never saw the motionless caretaker as he left the room, gently closing the door behind him.

  Chapter 5 – Preparations

  The day before Corda’s birthday dawned sunny and warm. Nanny had the children up early and focused on their day’s lessons well before their regular schedule. She had explained it to the children by saying, “Your grandmother is coming today, and I am sure that they’re going to be many things going on. If we get your lessons out of the way, then you will have more time to enjoy the visit.”

  As usual, Jerry was the first one to comment, his hands waving in the air and his voice getting shriller, “Oh no! I don’t want to see her. She’s a Witch!”

  For once disagreeing with her twin, Jen protested, saying, “Grandma is not a Witch, she’s a Seer. And I think she’s nice!”

  “You just think that because you’re a girl. She’s nasty and mean, and Father doesn’t like her.”

  Nanny attempted to derail the burgeoning argument, speaking calmly, “It is not acceptable to call your grandmother a Witch. She is your mother’s mother and is worthy of respect. Jerry, you know better, and I expect you to be very polite to all of the adults that you meet, especially your relatives.”

  “I am going to be sick so that I don’t have to go talk to her. She stares at me, and I don’t like it. Father wants her to leave right away when she comes, and he never wants her to come here to start with. I don’t understand why she is visiting!”

  Jen started to cry, noisily and intensely. Instantly, her twin turned to her and stumbled into speech, “I’m sorry, please don’t cry. She scares me and Father is always so angry when she’s here and even for days after she leaves.”

  Nanny comforted the crying child, pulling her into her lap and talking against her chest. Murmuring words of solace as she rubbed the little girl’s back, the nursemaid said, “Jerry, your grandmother is a Seer Adept and is widely acknowledged to be the strongest on the entire planet. Calling her a Witch is disrespectful and has thoroughly upset your sister.”

  The embarrassed little boy ran over to where his sister was cradled in Nanny’s arms. Patting his sibling’s shoulder, he said plaintively, “Jen, I’m sorry. If it makes you happy, I will be brave and see Grandmother.”

  Sniffing and trying to stop her tears, Jen answered her twin with a shaky smile, saying, “Thank you. I don’t know why you think she’s scary, but she’s our Nona, and we only have one.”

  “Okay, I just don’t understand why if Father doesn’t like her, she still comes around. Doesn’t she know that he doesn’t want her here?”

  Corda and the younger twins had been a silent audience up to this point. When Jen didn’t answer her brother, Corda did. “Nona comes because she wants to see us. Our mother is her daughter, and they love each other.”

  Jerry looked over at his older sister with a look of disbelief on his face, commenting, “Adults don’t love each other! They’re grown-ups! And besides which, Nona should be taken care of by her sons.”

  When Nanny would have answered, Corda overrode the start of the nursemaid sentence, responding hotly to her brother, “Nona doesn’t have any sons. You know that, and you also know that Mother has no sisters.”

  “Well, then who takes care of her?”

  “She takes care of herself. Nona is an adult and lives on her own.”

  The little boy shook his head in disbelief, his confusion evident in his voice as he said, “But who pays for things for her? Father always pays for the things that Mother needs.”

  Nanny decided to take control of the conversation again, stating firmly, “Your grandmother is a highly paid professional. She is quite capable of earning enough money to live on and in fact, is far more wealthy than your parents. I think we have discussed this enough and it’s time for you to finish up your lessons.”

  When Jerry would have continued to argue, Nanny’s reprimand sent him back to his lessons rather than be punished with no sweets on a day when Cook had been filling the house for days with the rich aroma of pies and cakes.

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  The children were done with their lessons and had been chivied into more dress-up clothing than they normally wore. When the family Butler sent one of the footmen to notify Nanny that the children’s grandmother had arrived, there was a flurry of last-minute cleanup of the lesson materials and sticky faces and hands.

  All of the children were warned to be well behaved. Nanny had made sure that they understood how important this was, saying, “I want all of you to greet your grandmother politely and to remember that your father and mother are depending on you to show how well you are learning the lessons of courtesy and deportment. Considering how important the next two days are to your house and to your brother, you all should be very considerate of the guests and the impression that you’re making on them.”

  “Yes, Nanny,” answered the children in chorus. The nursemaid just hoped that they would remember her warning long enough to avoid their father’s censure. Saying a quick prayer mentally, the young woman beseeched whatever deity was listening to keep Corda safe and out of her father’s displeasure.

  After a short while, the children were directed to go down to greet their grandmother. Obediently trailing their nursemaid, the oldest three followed behind Nanny who was holding each of the youngest twins by a hand.

  Corda walked behind her siblings, bringing up the rear and observing everything around her. The young girl noticed that the older twins were holding hands, Jerry obviously clinging to Jen.

  I really don’t understand why he’s so afraid of Nona, she thought to herself. She is very interesting, unlike some of my friends' grandmothers. They never seem to talk about anything but decorating and food, while Nona has discussions about a whole bunch of different things. She also never yells at us.

  Nanny stopped the children just short of the door to the front parlor. The woman checked each of her charges, straightening a collar for one and smoothing hair for another. Taking a deep breath, the nursemaid said in a soft voice, “Remember to behave well.”

  Corda wondered if she was the only one that heard the fear in Nanny’s voice. Checking out her siblings, the little girl saw that they were absorbed in their own concerns, clinging to their twins’hands and looking nervous.

  The footmen standing to the outside of the door looked at the nursemaid and gave her an encouraging smile when she nodded. The man opened the door and Nanny led her charges into the room.

  The atmosphere in the room was uncomfortable. To Corda, the entire room felt col
d and trembling on the edge of anger. As the children made their curtsy or bow to their grandmother, Corda glanced at her parents from the side of her eyes. Oh, Father looks angry. His face is all scrunched up, and his mouth is held in like somebody pinched it. Mother just looks nervous. She keeps glancing between Nona and Father. I think she’s trying to appear calm because she has her hands folded in her lap, but her fingers are so tight that they are white.

  The little girl’s observations were accurate but affected by the lens of her age and experience. That handicap might have blinded her to other significant factors.

  All the siblings were tense, frightened of the atmosphere in the room. The youngest twins were crowded close to Nanny, while Jen and Jerry stared wide-eyed at their parents.

  The children’s parents were close to the fire, while Corda’s maternal grandmother was seated comfortably and calmly on one side of a small couch. The children’s father was standing behind his seated wife, making it impossible for her to see his face.

  Keeping Corda’s grandmother company on the couch with his arm around her shoulders was Corda’s eldest brother, Bertor. The little girl’s eyes open wide, and her mouth hung open for an instant before she quickly closed it. The last thing she wanted right now was a reprimand for looking like an idiot. Please, please, don’t let Father have any reason to reprimand us. Please.

  Standing at the window, with his back to Misha, Pharyl stared out of the window. It was apparent to Corda that her brother was bored and trying to pretend he was not in the room.

  The angry frustration that Ealtert felt was rolling off of him like a noxious cloud of dangerous gas. The children’s instincts were to stay so well behaved that he would not pay attention to them. Cowed and nervous, they stood frozen in position, caught between their furious father and the enigma that was their maternal grandmother, Misha Belle Gerson, Seer Adept.

  Chapter 6 – Grandma

  “My goodness, how much you have all grown!” Misha said. The older woman had a warm smile that coaxed trembling responses from each of her grandchildren. Corda could feel her Nona’s pleasure, but she, like her siblings, was too frightened of her father’s palpable anger to answer.

  Still smiling, Misha resumed the conversation that had been going on before the children came into the room, “… so I returned from the Imperial Court about a week ago and have been resting from my exertions. I am next scheduled to visit the Legislature of Catunni to determine if our Seers can be of assistance in the balancing of their climate.”

  Aret asked her mother, “Why would you come all the way back here when you just have to turn around and go back again?”

  Patting Bertor on his leg, Misha answered, “Of course, I came back to help celebrate Bertor’s graduation. I am very proud of how he has conducted himself at the Academy and looking forward to the amazing things that he will do in his career.”

  Ealtert said in a nasty voice, “Why would you go to that much trouble? He’s not even related to you.”

  The expression on Bert’s face froze for a moment, and a shadow flickered through his eyes, but the young man did not say anything. Misha opened her mouth to respond, but her daughter cut her off.

  Twisting in her chair, the spark of genuine anger was in Aret’s face as she looked at her husband. Without rising from her seat, the incensed woman exclaimed, “How can you say that? Have I not been a good mother to all of your children? Have I differentiated which ones were biologically mine and which ones weren’t?”

  Taken aback, Ealtert stared at his wife as if he had forgotten that she was there. For the first time in her life, Corda saw her father disconcerted. His shock pushed him into speech, “Aret, that is not what I meant. You have been an exemplary mother, and I have no complaints.”

  His wife was not placated shrugging his hand from where it had been resting on her shoulder. Her voice trembling now with hurt, she said, “I have never treated any of the children differently. If I regard all the children like mine, how can you expect my mother to act any differently toward her grandchildren?”

  Throwing his hands up in the air in frustration, the embattled husband closed his mouth. The children could tell that he still remained angry but was holding his peace for the moment.

  Misha continued to speak as if she had never been interrupted, “I am looking forward to the celebration tomorrow for Bert’s graduation. Many of my colleagues and friends will be attending, and I want to make sure that he is introduced to them. I believe this will help the entire family in your political goals, Ealtert. Since you and I move in different circles, this should provide him a slightly wider connection base to start from.”

  Reluctantly, as if each word had to be pried out of his mouth, Ealtert grated, “Thank you, very much.”

  Pleasantly, Corda’s Nona responded, “You are welcome. I also wanted to give Bertor’s graduation gift from me in a more private setting.”

  Corda felt more than saw Pharyl’s attention switch to the older woman. He turned and stared at her back with a look that bothered the little girl. It was as if Nona had suddenly become prey. That is how he looks when he decides to hurt me, the little girl thought to herself, I don’t know how to warn my grandmother about him. He hides it from everybody, except me.

  Bert was saying, “Nona, there’s no need to give me a gift. Just having you here to help me celebrate is all that I want.”

  “It is a good thing that you don’t get to decide then what people give you. I want you to have a good start, just like your parents do. Your father is giving you the benefit of his experience and contacts, and your mother is doing the same. I am just contributing the few local introductions that will benefit you, as well as providing you something that hopefully will give you an advantage as the next stage in your life begins.”

  Pulling out two scrolls from the bag that leaned against the couch leg, Misha handed the first of them to Bert. Everyone watched as the young man broke the seal and unrolled the scroll. Corda watched her brother’s eyes get wide before a broad grin exploded on his face.

  Bursting into speech, the excited young man flung his arms around his grandmother, and mumbled into her hair, “Thank you! This is a princely gift. Something I never would’ve dreamed of receiving.”

  Still holding her, Bert murmured so only she could hear, “Thank you, grandmother of my heart. You may have just saved my soul.”

  Tears in her eyes, Misha handed him the second scroll, saying, “I believe this will come in usefully.”

  His hand shaking, Bert opened the second scroll. His eyes scanned its written contents, freezing his gaze at the bottom line. There was no sound for a moment, and then Bert allowed the scroll to reroll and carefully placed it inside the chest pocket of his jacket.

  Managing a small bow to his grandmother while seated, the overcome young man said, “Once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will keep this confidential as you requested.”

  Taking a couple steps closer to the couch, Pharyl demanded in a somewhat strained tone, “Can you at least tell us what you got for the first gift? Or is that supposed to be a secret too?”

  Flushing hotly, Bertor smiled at his grandmother and announced, “Nona gave me an estate of my own so that I can function as an adult.”

  While Ealtert and Pharyl stood in silence looking like someone had hit them in the forehead with a large stick, Aret burst out happily, “Wonderful, Mother! That is the perfect thing for a graduation gift because that will let him build the household of his own and develop his own reputation. Thank you!”

  Turning her attention to Bertor, his stepmother offered, “Bert, if you need any help with setting things up, please let me know. I would be happy to provide you with any guidance that you need.”

  Gratefully, the young man answered, “I really appreciate that, Mother. I’m sure I will be leaning on you in the days to come.”

  Faced with his wife’s evident pleasure, Ealtert stifled the angry words that Corda could tell wanted to come out. She c
ould feel her father getting even more upset, but she was unclear as to why he was so furious.

  Pharyl had a strange expression on his face staring at his brother as Bert conversed easily with Aret and Misha. If Corda had not been watching him out of the corner of her eye, she would not have seen him turn and quietly leave the room. A chill breeze ruffled the back of her neck, as his unexpected silence seemed like a harbinger of a storm.

  Worrying about what her bullying brother’s behavior meant, the little girl’s attention was pulled back into the conversation when she heard her Nona mention her name.

  “… Corda and the others, to speak separately. Since I get here so very seldom, I wanted to learn a little bit more about each of them. It is hard being so separate from their lives, especially when they grow so quickly.”

  Ealtert interjected, “I see no reason for the children to talk to you individually. It’s not necessary at all since children really aren’t suitable conversationalists until they’ve gotten older. They are supposed to just do what they’re told. Be seen and not heard.”

  Misha laughed gently, which seemed to infuriate Ealtert. His face got redder, and his hands were half clenched in fists. The Seer answered him, saying, “Nonetheless, I will be talking to each of the children. I find their conversation refreshing after all the stuffy speeches that I’ve had to sit through.”

  “Fine. Do what you want to. If you want to waste your time with childish blathering, feel free. You’ll forgive me, however, if I abandon your charming company so that I can get some of my real work done. There are important things that need to be addressed that I have ignored for too long this morning.”

  With that parting shot, the irate man stalked out of the room, leaving the door to be closed by the waiting footman.

  Chapter 7 – Quality Time