More Mysterious Magic
Copyright© 2026 by Gina Marie Wylie
Chapter 4: Battle Royale
Glin saw Bridgette, leaning over her brother, who was on his back as usual.
Her tone turned acid. “Am I interrupting something, brother?”
“It’s not what you think, Glinda!” He laughed, “Lady Zenobia is being polite and not paddling me.”
Bridgette stood upright and bowed to the count. “In my culture, about now, your sister would realize that we aren’t all that different, become friends and allies, and live happily ever after.
“Your sister embarrassed you, Count Damisk. And, from my point of view, the person she embarrassed the most was Lady Nicola. You told Lady Nicola to present some candidates for maid to me. Where I come from, senior nobles frequently sent their sisters or daughters to serve as maids to important guests.
“I’m sure Glinda told Lady Nicola that she would serve. Yes, I knew she wasn’t just an ordinary maid. I picked her — I didn’t want to embarrass you or Lady Nicola. Glinda asked me some questions, didn’t like the answers, called me names, and left.
“That isn’t done, Count Damisk. I’ll grant you my society isn’t as rigorous as others, but there’s one I know where your duty would have commanded you to kill yourself at the dishonor and disrespect shown to a guest. Lady Nicola would have had to do the same thing. Your sister has no idea of what constitutes duty, honor, or respect and is free to embarrass others with her poor judgment. With respect, Count Damisk, I wouldn’t accompany your sister to the market, much less any distance to meet people that are perhaps more to her liking than mine.”
Count Damisk turned to his sister, who had shut up, coloring as Bridgette spoke. “Lady Zenobia is right. I can deal with the embarrassment that you’ve caused me. Lady Nicola has been your teacher since you were a child. You’ve dishonored and shamed her. Until you have apologized to her, I’d just as soon not see your face again until you have.”
He turned to Bridgette. “My sister has wronged you, me, and Lady Nicola. I would hear what you think is a suitable punishment, Lady Zenobia.”
“I know it might not sound like punishment, but I believe you shouldn’t punish Glinda. Tell her to fulfill her oath of service as promised to Lady Nicola.
“Count Damisk, I hope no punishment will befall Lady Nicola on account of your sister.”
He laughed. “Glinda is still walking around. If she’d met Lady Nicola since dinner, she’d be in bed, on her stomach, feeling put upon — a hand firmly applied to her bottom by Lady Nicola. Lady Nicola is our aunt and our father left her in charge of the castle.”
“Sometimes at home innocent servants are occasionally punished for the acts of the spoiled brats who are supposed to have been taught better. As long as no harm comes to Lady Nicola.”
“Trust me, Lady Zenobia, it will be Glinda who is harmed ... although you are right. If she agrees to serve you, if she agrees to stand tomorrow at dinner before my guests, and apologizes to Lady Nicola, myself, and to you, perhaps Lady Nicola will decide that’s punishment enough.”
“I don’t suppose the kitchen has any scraps left, Count Damisk? I haven’t eaten in a while.”
“I’m sure we can do better than scraps, Lady Zenobia. Glinda, you run to the kitchen and tell them to get something ready for Lady Zenobia.”
“And if I won’t?”
“Find Lady Nicola. Trust me, Glin, you won’t have to say a thing to her.”
The young woman glowered at them, then said, “I’ll go to the kitchen. I’ll make my apologies, I’ll serve this woman, if that’s what you want.”
“Glinda, please. It was your wish, not mine, to serve Lady Zenobia. I told you it wasn’t a good idea. Lady Nicola was even more rude, but you assured us that you knew what you were doing. It was your choice, Glinda. Don’t blame anyone else but yourself for what has passed. It was your choices that brought you to this point. Now please, Lady Zenobia is hungry. I’d like the kitchen working on something for Lady Zen sooner rather than later.”
In the kitchen, they found a very angry Lady Nicola. “What is this that you’ve said Glinda is not to be punished?”
“Is that what she told you?” Count Damisk asked.
“That’s what she said.”
“I don’t know what foul demons have infected my sister, Lady Nicola, but she is demented. I do not know why she feels the need to lie, but ... she does.”
“You said no such thing?”
“Oh, I said something like that. I said first she had to get up at dinner tomorrow before all my guests and apologize to me, to you, and to Lady Zenobia. Then she had to fulfill her promise of service ... then she wouldn’t be punished.”
Lady Nicola’s face turned black, and she glared at Glinda. “Is there a single reason why I shouldn’t turn my back on you and have the guards throw you out of the castle? What kind of a person lies about her brother’s kindness and the justice offered by a stranger? A justice you’d surely not have found if it were up to me!”
“Ask him! I found them lying together in Zenobia’s bed! My own brother!”
Count Damisk laughed harshly. “You came in after she’d knocked me down three times, sister. When you came in, she’d just show me how she’d done it, and I had overbalanced and pulled us both down on the bed.
“You lost a friend not so long ago, murdered by men who aren’t loyal to the kingdom or the county. Lady Zenobia could have taught her to defend herself. She could teach you to defend yourself.
“Yes, I was so full of myself that I listened to you instead of making my own judgment. For the sake of the kingdom, the county, and your family, Glinda. Please reverse course now. One more wrong move on your part and not only won’t I save you — I’ll not be able to. You tread very close to not only threatening my honor, but the king’s. Have a care, Glinda.”
“And all I have to do is serve her as a maid would?”
“That and apologize,” the count said. “Glinda, you still won’t face up to what you’ve done. You’re out of chances. Yes, you will do what has been asked of you — all of it and with good grace, or if not, you can return to your apartment, pack your bags, and be gone on the morrow. I want to hear one word or the other as the next out of your mouth or leave.”
“Yes.” Glinda’s back was straight, her head held high. Bridgette was pretty sure that Glinda was as angry and upset as ever, but at least she was putting a good face on it.
“I will apologize to your — our — guest tomorrow. Now, privately I apologize to Lady Nicola who has had to put up with too many of my tantrums over the years, you brother, who has had to learn extraordinary patience, and you Lady Zenobia. I do not know you well enough to hate you so.”
The count nodded. “I accept your apology, sister. Do not try my patience again anytime soon. It’s at an end. I’m sorry that your friend was murdered, I am. Wait here for Lady Zenobia to finish dinner and show her back to her rooms. Do whatever is needed, then attend to her tomorrow.
“The plans have not changed. In a day and a half, we go upriver to see the king. You will need to spend time tomorrow getting not only your things ready but Lady Zen’s.”
Bridgette walked back to her rooms later and dismissed Glinda. Tomorrow was looking to be an interesting day.
She woke the next morning to find Glinda in the sitting room, waiting patiently. “Lady Nicola has had two of our very best shoemakers busy since yesterday making you some shoes. There is no formal breakfast and only rarely a formal lunch. Instead, the cooks prepare what you want for breakfast, and there are various forms of stew and breads for lunch.”
“I’ll skip breakfast and wait for lunch. I’ve become fond of good, hearty stews of late. I’d like to speak to the count.”
“He’s at sword practice. He’ll be at least another hour and another half after that until he’s fit for mixed company.”
“Sword practice would be good if you would give me a moment to dress, and then you can take me to him.”
“Lady Zenobia, women aren’t welcome at sword practice. Not ever.”
“There’s a first time for everything. You were asked to serve me, Glinda. If nothing else, take me to the door to the practice area. I do believe I can defend myself against a few unruly men.”
“Lady Zenobia, there will be more than a hundred this morning. Most are the younger men, but some of the older men will be there as well, directing the drills.”
“I’ll dress. Console yourself with the fact I might slip at practice and make your life a whole lot easier.”
Glinda’s face turned to rock, and Bridgette went into her bedroom. At least the girl wasn’t offering to help her dress!
The problem was, she was going to sword practice, and she’d really rather wear her mail. Except she didn’t want to be obvious about it, and then there was the fact that her mail was shimmer-steel, and they weren’t likely to have seen it before. She didn’t think she should wear a robe like she had in Eleni’s home. The local language lacked anything like a word to mean ‘magic,’ and she’d not found anything that hinted at the concept of magic. She didn’t want to run into trouble with the local definition of witchcraft — not that was the word used here.
Unclean was the word. The concept of cleanliness wasn’t that old, but it had taken strong root. Then an idea hit her. She changed the glamour on her mail from pajamas to a Gi.
She put on her mail anyway. First, her camisk, then the Gi. She contemplated her walking stick and then decided that, much as she was comforted by it, going to a weapon’s practice with something that only looked like a weapon, but wasn’t one in the sense these people meant, just wasn’t a good idea. She did make one more allowance for where she was going — she wore her boots instead of the traditional bare feet that usually went with a Gi. It felt very, very odd.
Glinda looked at her and snorted. Bridgette waved at the door, and Glinda led her out. She opened a door down on the main level of the castle and stepped back, reluctant to enter.
“Glinda, you are an odd person. Me, if I disliked someone as much as you dislike me, and I was as sure she was going to get beaten black and blue as you are, you’d need to have people holding me back from trying to watch.”
To read the complete story you need to be logged in:
Log In or
Register for a Free account
(Why register?)
* Allows you 3 stories to read in 24 hours.