3. Questions #2
He’d also done more to the fire than simply alter the color of the flames.
From the way they writhed and danced, something magical worked through them. Whatever Blackstone’s exact spell, or motive, he’d involved me in his magic without telling me what he’d done, and I didn’t like that at all.
I immediately threw up shields.
Given the nature of the spell, I used more complex combinations than I normally would, things Bones taught me to keep out reality-distortion spells and malicious chimaeras. I anchored them to the sun primal that floated over my head.
I felt Blackstone’s magic butt into that layer, trying to find a way in. Then I felt it slowly move around me, as if looking for weaknesses.
“Insufferable child,” Blackstone muttered.
“Ask, next time,” I retorted.
I watched as he moved away from the fireplace and returned to his chair.
“It only would have helped you to keep the drink down,” the black-haired mage intoned flatly. “And to remain reasonable. And calm.”
“Ask, next time,” I repeated, annoyed.
When he didn’t speak, I felt my jaw harden.
“And I’ve no idea why you think I’d believe you, anyway,” I added. “If it was so harmless, you wouldn’t have tried so hard to hide it. And if you want to subdue the hysterical hybrid, you might trying to asking me a single bloody question first.”
It struck me that I was a little hurt. I guess it surprised me that Forsooth would resort to that, and so quickly.
“I apologize,” Forsooth said.
When I looked at him, he was staring into the fire. He made a few graceful mudras with his hands, and murmured a casting in Sanskrit.
The blue, green, and purple color bled out of the flames.
Immediately, the air inside the room felt less heavy.
I exhaled, in spite of myself, and felt my chest loosen. I hadn’t realized how tightly I’d been holding onto those shields until the pressure around them lifted.
I glanced at Forsooth, my hands still clenched in the chair cushions.
“What is it you want to know?” I asked.
Forsooth cleared his throat.
“Well, it is about your… well, Mr. Bones, actually,” he said, now sounding decidedly awkward.
“I refer to Caelum, of course, not his father. There are a few things we should discuss, but I first wished to determine how much you’re aware of yourself.
It will be far easier to decide on next steps if we all share the same understanding. ”
My chest relaxed a touch.
“Fine,” I said. “Ask away.”
He coughed, and looked even more uncomfortable. “I gather from your conversation with the King that you’re aware of your… err, status change? In regards to Mr. Bones?”
“That we’re married, you mean?” I asked.
I really didn’t see any point in being coy.
The King called me Mrs. Bones. Forsooth told the Praecuri I had partial ownership over the buildings and grounds of Malcroix Bones Academy.
Even before that, Malefic said it out in the garden, and the night before, while exceedingly high on painkillers, Bones called me his “wife” several times. That was a few too many coincidences.
Forsooth nodded, looking faintly relieved. “Yes. Exactly that.”
I pulled my hands off the chair arms to clasp them in my lap.
Part of me struggled to suppress my impatience that we were still wasting time, talking about things that could easily be discussed later. Why did any of this matter now? If Bones was imprisoned by his psychotic father, what difference did it make?
My eyes darted to Blackstone, who watched me with a curled lip.
I already knew he didn’t approve of me and Bones.
I wondered what he’d say if he knew what Varya Bones confessed to us about Bones’s part-human lineage.
Would he sing a different tune, if he knew Bones was a hybrid, too, even if the amount of human blood he carried was significantly less?
More likely, he’d just see it as additional proof I was helping destroy the Bones legacy.
My mind flashed to Bones’s drugged and slurred speech from the night before. I remembered him calling me “wife” and “wifey,” and my face warmed.
“Bones might’ve mentioned something about it,” I muttered.
I avoided Blackstone’s near-physical stare.
Remembering that morning, and trying to be honest, I pursed my lips.
“It felt true, when he said it,” I admitted. “Maybe that’s why the King’s words didn’t surprise me. If it is true, which you seem to be implying, I can’t say I fully understand what it means.”
Forsooth nodded, but I saw something in his eyes clear. “Is there a particular area you would you wish me to clarify?”
I might’ve laughed under different circumstances, but I didn’t.
“Is it a legal marriage?” I asked.
“Yes,” Forsooth replied without hesitation.
“Even without a ceremony?” I pressed. “Or vows?”
He exhaled, combing his fingers through his wild, bushy hair.
“Yes,” he said apologetically. “Such things are more magic-based here, compared to what you are likely accustomed to from human Earth. The legal aspect is more of a formality. The actual marriage takes place on the level of magic. Although you’re correct that, even here, a wedding ritual is normally how that bonding takes place.
” His eyes measured mine. “Regardless, your magic is fully bonded to his in a way we recognize legally.”
I nodded, fighting to make this feel real.
On one level, it did feel real, like I told him. On another, I had absolutely no idea how to feel about that information, or even what I was supposed to feel.
Forsooth went on a bit more brightly.
“As to what that means, the legal aspect, there are several implications.” Forsooth folded his arms over his chest and tilted his gaze towards the ceiling.
“For one, a citation now exists in the Magical Records Repository at the Central Magical Authority complex in London, registering you formally as husband and wife. That changed your legal and familial status in a number of ways, particularly given the two Magical families involved.”
He gestured vaguely with a hand, without changing the focus of his eyes.
“…Those status changes were communicated to all legally-interested parties, including this school. Once Vaevarya Anastasia Bones transferred the bulk of the Bones Estate to your husband’s control, record of your marriage was also copied into all linked financial records, including official family trees for both the La Fey and the Bones families, as those are both royal succession lineages and must be notified. ”
So Valor knew.
Aunt Ankha’s son likely knew.
Would my brother, Archie, have been notified, too?
“The King’s succession records have also been updated,” Forsooth added. “Which is likely how the King learned of it.”
Forsooth ran another hand through his wild hair, which now practically stood on end.
“Your own personal wealth,” he continued.
“As well as any expected inheritances, will now be counted as part of the vast Bones’ holdings, as will theirs be counted as part of yours, and by extension, to the La Fey lineage, even if only you have access to it.
Unless, at some point, children become involved. ”
He coughed lightly into his hand.
I stared at him numbly.
“When?” I asked.
Forsooth flinched, but he answered at once.
“We got the first letter exactly two weeks ago,” he said. “We were notified of the property changing hands three days ago.”
“Two weeks ago,” I repeated numbly. “We’ve been legally married for two weeks?”
“Yes.”
Forsooth paused, perhaps waiting for that much to sink in.
Or perhaps he simply waited for me to ask him something else.
When I didn’t, he nodded, as if to himself.
I couldn’t help noticing Blackstone hadn’t said a word through any of this, nor even changed position on his chair. When I glanced at his shadowy form, he was simply watching us, sphinx-like, his pale eyes unmoving.
“Perhaps we could focus now on what this means for you magically?” Forsooth suggested, clearing his throat as he smoothed down the brown cardigan he wore. “I’m not really the right person to help you with all the legal and financial implications.”
His dark eyes locked on mine.
“How much do you know about your husband, Ms. Shadow-La Fey?”
Somehow, I knew exactly what he was asking.
Maybe for the same reason, I made my expression blank.
Forsooth studied my eyes, then gave me a knowing smile.
“I see you do know,” he said, not unkindly. “So he told you, then, about his condition?”
When I didn’t say anything that time, either, a sympathetic but sad smile ghosted Forsooth’s expression.
“Believe me, I understand,” he said. “There has not been a recorded incidence of caelum ignis since before I was born.” When I flinched, Forsooth glanced at Blackstone.
“I had meant to talk to the two of you about this before things grew so dire. As it is, we will have to have that discussion rather more urgently.”
I didn’t answer.
Internally, I cursed myself.
Had he read it off me? I should have been more prepared for the question.
Thinking about it, though, I doubted it would have made any difference. It certainly wouldn’t have helped Bones. Forsooth had clearly already known about this.
Why did it matter if he knew that I knew?
Forsooth folded one leg over the other, settling deeper into the blue velvet cushions. He lifted a glass mug from a round table and took several long swallows. I didn’t notice when the table appeared, or the mug, but steam now rose from a translucent, reddish liquid.
Forsooth drank a few more swallows, without taking his eyes off mine.
When he lowered the glass, he smiled reassuringly.
“I assume he cautioned you not to share that information?” Forsooth guessed. “It’s logical he would warn you of the dire consequences to both of you, should this information become known. Did he tell you the normal way these… gifts… have been dealt with in the past? Officially, I mean?”
“He said you’d all murder him,” I stated flatly.
Seeing the two mages exchange looks, I took a breath, and subdued my voice.