Chapter 11: To scold a noble

I was tickling my daughter as she laughed and her grandmother kept shaking her head, “She should not have magic as strong as it is.”

I grinned and lifted Melody and held her on my hip, “Why?”

Gloria sighed, “Because you are ... are not a mage.”

I accepted the nipple toy Dragon brought and gave it to my daughter, “Have you considered that I can see magic or at least the signs it leaves?”

She blinked and then smiled, “No. I will have to study that.”

I nodded to the other door, “My library might have something.”

Gloria looked and stood, “I will look.”

I waited until she was gone before shaking my head and leaving with my companions flying out ahead of me. The Grinning Cat was busy when I walked in but Teresa waved to a lone table by the kitchen door. I crossed the room and sat as Griffin and the drakes landed on the table with the set of miniatures.

Dragon was on my shoulder ... well hanging down to pat and play with my daughter. I turned to sit her on the edge of the table as she sucked and grabbed at my hands. I felt the tingling of her magic but Jasmine’s wards shifted and dispelled the magic. Silver sat across from me as Teresa slipped a mug of cider onto the table with a large bowl of stew.

I smiled as Griffin and the drakes crowded around the bowl and looked at Silver, “Gloria is still staying with us.”

He nodded and gestured to bring his granddaughter floating to him, “I thought she would be. Jasmine still visiting the mage hall?”

I nodded and watched as he played with Melody and finally shook my head, “So...”

He glanced at me, “I need you to bring me the Sword of Fate.”

I looked at my daughter, “I do not know. They say that anyone that holds it is destined to kill a king.”

He snorted, “Nonsense.”

I shrugged, “Maybe but I happen to like the man.”

He looked at the table before looking at me again, “Okay, what about the Siren’s Harp?”

I shook my head, “What are you planning?”

He smiled, “Trying to determine how the greater spells of magic were created.”

I looked at Melody before nodding, “I will not steal it but I will get you into the room.”

Silver smiled and turned back to play with my daughter. When I walked into the house Gloria turned from the counter, “Where did you go?”

I crossed to put my sleeping daughter in the small crib before looking at her grandmother, “I see where Jasmine gets her habit of sticking her nose in other peoples business.”

She started to gesture and I shook my head, “I would not do that.”

She tilted her head, “Why?”

I smiled as I crossed to the stove and poured hot water for tea, “The god statues around the house do no like it when magic is used on me.”

Gloria blinked before grumbling and I made a second cup of tea before pushing it towards her, “My business is mine.”

I sipped my tea and glanced at all the drakes draped over my daughter with Dragon and Griffin watching from the sides. I shook my head before heading down into the basement. I checked my pack and added a few things before carrying it upstairs. I smiled at Jasmine sitting at the table with her mother, “All done plotting?”

She grinned, “Actually I was consulting.”

She glanced at the crib and then at me, “Several mages wish to examine you.”

I laughed as I bent to kiss her and look at her mother, “You are the only one that gets to examine me.”

She sighed and then shivered before grinning, “Going out?”

I nodded, “Helping a friend.”

Gloria snorted as Jasmine grinned, “Do not get caught.”

I smiled as I headed towards the door, “That is always my thought.”

I met Silver in front of his shop and turned to start walking, “Duke Mesker is very serious about people sneaking in.”

I glanced at him and smiled, “Except like all nobles he has a lot of servants.”

He nodded and glanced around, “Where are your companions?”

I grinned, “Occupied with my daughter.”

He smiled, “Yes they like the thoughts of young children.”

It was awhile before I stopped him as I looked out of an alley at a small side gate. I waited for several minutes before leading him across. I pushed the gate open as I reached up to silence the bell and held it until Silver was in. I closed the gate and turned to lead him to the servants door.

After that it was through a side door and up the narrow stairs before going down a hall. I looked at him as I stopped to examine the magic traces on the study door, “Do not do anything.”

He nodded as I looked at the signs of magic before pulling two small thin silver pin knives. One went to the upped right doorframe where I touched the point to the spell strand and pulled it left. I pushed the point into the door and knelt to pull the bottom right strand over too. Once I had both pinned to the door I used lock picks and opened the door.

I checked the room carefully before nodding for Silver to cross to a glass dome in one corner. I listened at the door as he whispered a spell before removing the glass. After that he looked for a long time before doing anything else. I tried to ignore the drifting strands of magic from the harp as Silver constantly pulled them back.