An Unexpected Savior
“W hat are you doing here?” Karigan demanded.
Trudy looked her up and down. “A lady has a right to travel, hasn’t she?”
“Well, uh, yes, but I mean...”
“You sent Silva a letter about Garden House, yes?”
Karigan nodded. So disconcerted was she by Trudy’s surprise appearance, that she barely noticed all the people milling about the courtroom in the aftermath of her sentencing.
“Silva,” Trudy continued, “asked if I might look in on Garden House to ensure they had the resources they need. So, I am actually traveling to Corsa with a stop in Sacor City on the way. Inspector Wheatland, incidentally, was pleased to have me in town to answer questions about Croft. What fun it was drawing information out of that little man when he was our guest at the Rudder. And of course I was distressed to hear of the trouble my poor Karigan has found herself in.”
The clink of coins being stacked on the judge’s desk was audible over the murmur of people around them.
“The fine,” Karigan said. “I will reimburse you as soon as—”
“Tut.” Trudy placed a finger across Karigan’s lips. “I will not hear of it.”
Karigan glanced at the high desk. The judge and bailiff had finished counting the coins and were returning them to the purse. The judge nodded to Trudy in satisfaction.
“It’s too much,” Karigan said. “I must—”
“No,” Trudy interrupted. “It is a gift. Some of it is the cur rency we squeezed out of Croft, meaning it was likely from your own clan’s coffers. As for the rest? I believe I once told you how very kind and generous your father was to us at the Golden Rudder.”
Karigan nodded.
“When I expressed interest in investing, he gifted me with a gold coin and taught me what to look for in a good investment. And so, I began to invest my tips. A little here, a little there.” She leaned toward Karigan.
They stood cheek to cheek, almost touching.
Karigan’s face burned as she inhaled a light scented perfume.
She knew Trudy was quite aware of how flirtation impaired her equilibrium and proceeded accordingly.
“I am very wealthy,” Trudy said. “ Very. River shipping has proven lucrative for me. Most investors want to go for the large and glorious sailing ships that ply the oceans to exotic ports, but they are so prone to disaster. So I invested in humble river cogs and earned a fortune.” She eased back and Karigan felt she could finally breathe again.
“Your father,” Trudy said, “made it all possible, and the fine is paltry repayment for his kindness and guidance. I am now teaching the other ladies as he once taught me and will do the same for those unfortunate souls who have sought refuge at Garden House. Meanwhile, I remain connected with Silva and the Rudder because it pleases me.”
“That—that’s amazing,” Karigan said. “I thank you, and my father will certainly be told of your generosity.”
Trudy smiled. “I expect to be doing business with Clan G’ladheon and will speak with him myself when he returns from his voyage. I am opening a lady’s dress shop in Corsa, and I will need the very best materials your clan can provide.”
“I’m afraid to say we’ve no stock at the moment,” Karigan said, “or at least not much, and no way of providing you with what you’ll need. Times have been difficult.”
“And so I’ve become quite aware. I will be having some words with the new sub-chief, and perhaps we can begin to turn things around.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Karigan replied. “I am truly overwhelmed.”
“You need not say a thing.” Trudy cupped Karigan’s chin in her hand and gazed hard at her. “The eyepatch gives you a wild look, I think. If you ever do wish to make a form of repayment, come find me.”
Again, Karigan’s face burned and she cleared her throat.
Trudy laughed and tapped her nose. “Stay out of trouble, my lovely.”
With that, the skirts of Trudy’s dress brushed against Karigan’s legs as she turned to make her way toward Robert. Karigan fanned her face and thought to sit down when Master Chester approached. He watched after Trudy.
“Who is that magnificent lady?” he asked in awe.
“Uh, um, a friend of the family,” Karigan replied, feeling all kinds of discombobulated.
“I should say. Not just anyone would cover a fine like that for even the best of friends. Very generous of her. Very generous, indeed.”
Master Winston joined them just then. “Yes, and the judge has signaled that your fine is paid in full and accepted by the court. The judge will see that the funds are properly distributed.”
Karigan thanked the gentlemen for their assistance.
“Our pleasure,” Master Chester said. “You did most of the hard work yourself, and we see why the king values you so highly. That note the judge received was from him and explained who you are and what you’ve done for the realm.
The judge was able to take these things into consideration when she reached judgment. ”
Of course he sent the note, she thought. A rush of warmth came with the knowledge he had intervened on her behalf, but added to her confusion over their relationship and the risk he took by favoring her in such a way.
The two law speakers moved on to converse with others. The crowd had thinned considerably, and she gazed about in search of her grandfather, but he was nowhere to be seen. She shrugged. It was probably for the better.
“Well, well, so you managed to avoid jail this time. I heard your last time behind bars was a little rough.”
Karigan gritted her teeth before she turned to face Celesta Suttley. “I didn’t die, if that is what you were hoping.”
“A pity. It would have made Stevic very sad. Just imagine him coming home to his business and clan in ruins, and his sister and daughter dead. Not that he has a home to return to.”
Anger flared in Karigan with such intensity that she had to force herself to not do worse this time to Celesta. Only her recent experience of having been jailed and prosecuted, and not wanting to go through that again, cooled her ire. “What do you mean he hasn’t a home?” she demanded.
“You haven’t heard?” Celesta was enjoying herself far too much. She looked a snake ready to snatch a mouse.
“What haven’t I heard?” Karigan asked.
Celesta’s smug expression only deepened. “Why, your aunts sold Stevic’s estate in Corsa. The house, the land, the horses, everything. Said they had debts to settle.”
“You’re lying. They’d never do that.”
“Surprised?” Celesta asked with a laugh.
“They would have told me,” Karigan replied. “Consulted with me.”
“Apparently not.” Celesta’s smile was not just smug, but crimped with evil.
Karigan took a deep breath to steady her reaction for she’d no desire to give Celesta the satisfaction of seeing her rage. She drew on the coolness that was her shadow self, and with uttermost calm said, “I hope they got a decent price for it.”
Celesta’s amusement faltered when she did not receive a stronger reaction. “A fair enough deal, I daresay. Your Aunt Gretta is a surprisingly shrewd negotiator. And I am no monster.”
Now Karigan smiled, a smile made of ice. “Yes, she is. Are we done here, or do you have more gloating to do?”
“Done,” Celesta said, “and so is Clan G’ladheon.”
Karigan watched her flounce her way out of the building.
Once Inspector Wheatland finished building her case against Clan Suttley and came forward with charges, Celesta would be sorry she ever dared malign Clan G’ladheon.
It did little, however, to ameliorate Karigan’s fury over the loss of the home she had grown up in and that contained so many cherished memories.
But a house was, after all, just a house, and her more immediate concern was for her aunts.
She interrupted Trudy and Robert’s conversation and told them what Celesta had said.
“She’s a right bitch.” Trudy’s salty tone belied her refined manner and glamorous appearance. It was more the Trudy Karigan remembered.
She agreed whole-heartedly with Trudy’s assessment of Celesta. “Would you mind terribly looking in on my aunts when you’re in Corsa? They’ve just lost their eldest sister, my Aunt Stace.” Her voice quavered as she spoke the last.
“I will do better than that,” Trudy replied. “I will make sure they are comfortably resituated. I’ll keep an eye on them.”
Karigan was so relieved she hugged Trudy.
“Oh, I like this,” Trudy whispered.
Karigan’s cheeks warmed as they parted.
“I will see what can be done from here,” Robert said. “I can examine the sale papers and ensure your aunts are properly compensated.”
“Thank you, Sub-chief,” she said.
“About that,” he replied, “I don’t really deserve—”
“Oh, yes, you do.” Karigan’s response was perhaps a little too emphatic.
“You have been the backbone of the business far more consistently than I could hope to be. My service to the king will no doubt take me away more often as we approach spring. Do not underestimate yourself, Robert. You know the best course for the clan.”
He bowed his head. “I will do my best, madam.”
“And I look forward to meeting your aunts,” Trudy said, “and hearing all about little Karigan as she grew up.”
Trudy was a mischief maker, but not maliciously so. Karigan said her good-byes and left the court for the icy street. She felt reassured her aunts would come out of this fine, though she wished they would have told her about the sale of the estate, and to whom.
Suttleys, she thought with disgust. They’d defile her family home just by their presence.
The shock of it all would settle eventually, no matter how much it hurt.
As for Celesta? The law would catch up with her, but in the meantime, Karigan decided she was overdue for weapons practice.