Idiot, I thought, He cuts down my pear tree and then asks me who did it? “I’m telling Penny,” I replied sarcastically, as if we were still kids.
He gulped nervously, but went on, “Come on Mort; answer me… who cut the tree down?”
“When Penny asks I’m telling her it was you, but it was my enchantment that made it possible.” I took a sip of water, looking at him over the rim of the cup.
“Who’s hand held the blade?” he replied.
“Yours my good friend, it was definitely yours,” I said, nearly laughing, sometimes I crack myself up.
Dorian threw the sword on the ground, “Can it cut a tree down now? Get up sword! Go cut that tree down for me!” He was yelling at the blade and pointing at another small tree.
I was beginning to wonder at his sanity. “Come on Dorian… calm down. Obviously the blade can’t do anything if you don’t hold it. Well technically, I might be able to make it work without holding it… but I think that’s not your point is it?”
“Damn right it’s not! I held the sword. I cut the tree down… with this hand,” he held his large hand up, making a fist. “And who made the sword, before you enchanted it? Who built this house? Look around you! Everything you see was made by plain old everyday people, your people! You can improve on some things with magic, surely, but you are just one man. True power lies in the people around you. As the Count di’Cameron you have been given their trust, it is up to you to use it wisely. Hide everything from them; treat them as children and you throw away your power, you cheapen their strength. Talk to them, trust them, let them help you and you will learn what true strength is.”
I had never heard Dorian give such an impassioned speech before, and it cut through my arrogance, touching my heart. “Dorian, you’re right.” For a moment he reminded me so strongly of his father that it almost brought a tear to my eye. I got up and hugged him. “As long as I have friends like you things will always work out. If it weren’t for you and Penny I don’t know how I would manage all this.”
“I’m glad you realize that,” he answered gruffly. He always got a bit uncomfortable when I was overly emotional.
“Let’s go see how far Dad is with the pendants, maybe we can help him. When they’re ready I’ll talk to everyone. I won’t tell them till I can at least give them some small measure of protection,” I said.
“At least you have a plan,” Dorian replied. “Any plan is better than none.” Together we went to the smithy, there was much to do.
Chapter 4
The next few days passed by uneventfully. Dorian took to sleeping during the mornings, since he spent the nights patrolling. His speech had made an impact on me, so I let him do it, while I used the days to make enchanted pendants for the townsfolk. After four days I had over sixty of them ready, which I figured would be enough for everyone to have one. I intended to keep at it though; there would be more people as time went on.
The keep was still a work in progress, but Penny told me that the living areas were finished, so we started moving in. Much of the rest of the interior was still open timbers and unfinished stone, but at least we would have a better place to live. Many of the townsfolk pitched in to help us move our things and get settled, so I took the opportunity to speak to them afterward.
“I appreciate everything you have all done to help us, but there’s something I need to talk about. If you could gather your families here this evening, I’d like to tell everyone at once.” I felt a bit odd giving speeches, but I guess it comes with the territory. People nodded and soon they had all left to find the others.
Penny spoke up, “Are you sure about this Mort?”
“I have to do it… it’s not fair to keep them in the dark.”
She had a pensive expression. “If you tell them about Sadie Tanner things could get ugly, assuming they believe you.”
She had a point. I hadn’t thought that part through fully. Sadie Tanner’s friends and family would likely be upset and confused. Scratch that, if I told them I had dismembered and burned their daughter because I ‘thought’ she was a ravening undead monster… they’d go bat-shit crazy. There was no proof, and no one had heard of such creatures before. Even the relatively superstitious common folk would be more prone to believe I had committed a crime as opposed to self-defense.
“I’ll tell them it was a man, but we didn’t recognize him. If this gets worse they’ll be more able to accept the truth later on. If it doesn’t we’ll just have to find another way to break the news to her family later on,” I said.
My father came over while we waited, bringing the newly made pendants. I was glad for his presence and support, the thought of giving a speech had made me nervous. “Don’t worry about it Mordecai, just tell them the truth and it will be alright,” he whispered in my ear as people started filing into the room.
We were standing in the great hall, or rather what would be the great hall. Presently it was more like a courtyard, it had been framed in but the roof was still absent. Sunlight filtered down between the towers and onto the wood floor beneath me. It was a beautiful day, belying the dark news I had to deliver.
Once everyone had arrived I stood on a chair. It was the best I could manage. “I’ve called you all here to talk about the disappearances,” I started simply. “I don’t know if anyone has noticed, but I’ve been spending a lot of nights outside, watching and waiting. I called my friend Dorian here to help with that,” I told them, gesturing to Dorian. He had worn his armor so he made for a formidable sight.
“I’ve seen him walking about in the early morning hours,” the man who spoke was David Tanner, the father of Sadie. I winced inwardly.
“That’s right; I couldn’t keep working on things every day and patrolling at night, so he generously offered to help,” I continued.
“I wouldn’t want to meet him in a dark alley that’s for sure,” another man chimed in. I realized it was Joe McDaniel. Several people laughed at his remark.
I went on, “The fact of the matter is I think I have an idea, or at least some knowledge of what is going on. A few nights ago I was out, with Penelope, and we met something in the dark.” I paused, the next part was difficult.
“What was it? And why were you out there? I thought you were the new Count,” that was from a fellow near the back, I couldn’t see his face.
“I’m sure you have all noticed, but I don’t have much in the way of retainers yet. As your lord I feel responsible for handling this,” I could hear a few people muttering in agreement. “What I found that night… or rather, what found me… was nothing natural. I’ve never seen anything like it. It managed to sneak up on Penelope and me, despite my abilities. That shouldn’t have been possible.”
Joe McDaniel cut in, “You’re not exactly known as a hunter from what I’ve heard, no disrespect yer lordship.”
That took the wind out of my sails. The last thing I could use were doubts at this point, so I decided to put that to rest quickly. “I’m sure you all know by now that I’m a wizard. You’ve seen what I’ve been doing with the workmen’s tools, but I have other abilities you may not have seen. Joe, would you mind helping me for a moment?”
“Sure sir, just tell me what you want,” he grinned. He was an amiable fellow, even if he took more convincing than most.
“I’m going to turn around and when I do, I want you to do something… anything you want. I’ll describe whatever you do,” I turned my back on the crowd. Probably not the best idea when giving speeches, but I didn’t have any better solution.
“Alright, what am I doing now yer lordship?” he called out.
“You’re holding up one arm, your right one,” I answered promptly. That drew a hushed murmur from the crowd.
“How about now?”
“Nothing, except grinning from ear to ear and scratching your nose… now you’re gaping at me,” I replied. I turned back around. “I can see things with my mind, not the same way as with my eyes, but it’s something I do all
