Chapter Five
In order to keep a male-free zone around the space the unicorn would need to cross between the wagon and the canal boat, Jasper had arranged for the maids who cleaned the females’ end of the canal boat to also clean the relevant section of the wharf.
He had also told the minotaur’s nurse to remain in the carriage with her charge, and likewise with the pegasus and his groom, who had arrived in a cart to which the mare was tied.
He arranged his men in a line on each side of the zone, to keep the curious at bay, and when the wagon arrived with Miss Nettleford’s party, the warrior sisters who had escorted it deployed themselves, without orders or comment, within the two rows of men.
Everything went smoothly. The little unicorn trotted happily along between the prioress and Miss Nettleford. Miss Nettleford carried the lindwurm, and the maid Polly followed with the box in which the egg was traveling.
When they reached the cleated plank that gave access to the canal boat, Miss Nettleford walked up it and then turned back to coax the unicorn, who was regarding the crossing with purple eyes whirling. Those eyes soothed to a bluey mauve as Miss Nettleford spoke gently to the beast.
It put one uncertain hoof on the plank, and then another. Miss Nettleford gently drew the halter rope toward herself, and the unicorn stepped fully up onto the plank, took two quick steps, butted its head into Miss Nettleford’s shoulder, and sighed.
Praising the animal, Miss Nettleford stepped back, drawing the unicorn off the plank and onto the boat. She led it into its new quarters, and the prioress and Polly followed.
Jasper’s sigh of relief was even more heartfelt than the unicorn’s. That was the hardest part of the day done.
Now all he had to do was load the rest of the passengers, and they could be on their way.
Down the Shropshire Union Canal and then up the Middlewich Branch to the Trent and Mersey. Then the Macclesfield Canal would take them to where wagons and carriages would be waiting for the last part of the trip.
Dronsford Castle, one of the Duke of Findlater’s estates, would be their home until the government and the College of Mages decided how to cope with a catalyst of Miss Nettleford’s obvious power.
Could she learn to harness it? Poor lady. She hadn’t asked for her gift, but it had irrevocably changed her life, nonetheless. He should tell her, he decided. If he were a catalyst, he would want to know, and he had no right to keep the information from Miss Nettleford.
His decision to seek a meeting with the lady had nothing to do with his wish to speak with her again.
He fully recognized that his reaction to her was pointless.
Miss Nettleford was the unicorn’s maiden, and there was no room in her life for any man, let alone an inept mage with no idea how to use his power.
Once the voyage along the canals was underway, he would ask for her to come and talk to him.
*
Miss Nettleford, her chaperone, Polly, and their three charges had been given the cabin in the bow of the canal boat, which was called the Jennie Rose.
There was another cabin at the rear of the boat, which the Jennie Rose’s owner shared with his brother, who looked after the horse.
Jasper would bunk down there as well. Between the two cabins, the long cargo bay had been divided into rooms.
Closest to the bow, the warrior sisters had their quarters, which they would use at night and when off duty. During the day, they would take it in turns to patrol the banks of the canal.
A cabin with canvas walls had been carved out of the other end of the hold next to the captain’s cabin for the minotaur and his wet nurse, with a stall for the shire horse, her foal, and the groom next to that.
That still left plenty of room between the unicorn’s male-free zone in the bow and the cabins in the stern for two living areas, since the royal guards, including their captain, would be sleeping in tents on the bank wherever the canal boat stopped for the night, with some of them always awake to keep watch.
During the day, they would ride beside the canal.
For wet weather while they were traveling, those who were off duty would be able to use the sternmost living area.
The other living area represented common ground, where those caring for the unicorn could converse with Jasper or any of the other men without upsetting their charge.
It was to this room that Miss Nettleford and Sister Joan-Louise came after the canal boat left the village just south of Chester where they had joined the canal.
Jasper was waiting for them and stood when they lifted the curtain that did service as a door.
“Ladies, thank you for joining me.” He stayed at the far side of the room, respecting the unicorn’s sensibilities even in that little beast’s absence.
Who knew what the creature’s reaction would be to the smell of a man on his favorite person?
“Mr. Thornton,” said Sister Louise, “good morning. I received your message and have passed it on to Miss Nettleford. We are bound for Dronford Castle, you said.”
There was a question implicit in that, and Jasper was ready to answer it.
“I need to explain to both of you the reason for that change of plan,” he said. “Miss Nettleford, I imagine you have noticed the unusual amount of magical activity in the vicinity of Nettleford Grange.”
“It would be hard to miss,” said Sister Louise, while Miss Nettleford merely nodded.
Jasper ignored the somewhat acerbic remark. “We have concluded that someone at the manor has the magical gift known as catalysism,” he explained.
“I have never heard of it,” said Miss Nettleford.
The nun frowned, thoughtfully. “I have,” she said.
“Delia, catalysism is the power to cause any latent magical gift to become active, strengthen gifts that have already manifested, and make magical births more likely.” She turned to Jasper and inclined her head.
“That explains a great deal, Mr. Thornton.”
“Escorting you, Miss Nettleford, was one of the two tasks for which I was sent to Cheshire. The other was to find out the identity of the catalyst, the person with the gift of catalysism. I believe I have done so.” Jasper paused, wondering how to break the news gently.
“Oh,” said Sister Louise. “So that is why we are going to Dronsford Castle instead of London. Smaller population to be affected.”
Miss Nettleford’s jaw dropped, but she recovered quickly and drew the obvious conclusion. “Mr. Thornton, are you saying I am the catalyst?”
“I believe so, Miss Nettleford,” Jasper told her. “The pattern of incidents means it has to be someone who lives at Nettleford Grange, and who travels around the neighborhood.”
“Me, my father, and the steward,” said Miss Nettleford. “We are the ones who visit the farms and other tenants. Also, I am—or I was—on several parish committees.” She took a deep breath and let it out in an audible sigh. “Oh, dear,” she said.
Oh dear, indeed. Jasper, of all people, could understand the burden of having a gift that gave the holder no benefits and could not be controlled.
Sister Louise had a more optimistic view. “Your gift is very unusual, Delia, but also rather magnificent. I feel privileged to be present at this time. I daresay the king will be sending selected groups to Dronsford Castle for you to meet, and perhaps affect. How interesting this is going to be.”
The good sister’s reaction was that of a scientist. Miss Nettleford, however, displayed more personal concerns.
“How shall I learn to control it?” she asked.
The nun looked at her with compassion, and then asked Jasper, “Do you know of a way, Mr. Thornton? Surely the College of Mages have some information about catalysts in their library.”
“I wasn’t told about the presence of a catalyst until I arrived in Chester,” Jasper told her. “I have checked the mages’ library at the Duke of Pontefract’s palace, and I have asked for London to send me everything they can find.”
Miss Nettleford asked her next question in a slightly defeated tone, as if she expected the answer that he had to give. “Was there nothing helpful?”
“Nothing that seemed helpful to me, but you will have access to everything I can gather, Miss Nettleford. You might see something that I have missed.”
“I shall help you,” Sister Louise told the lady. “My sisters and I can stay at least for a short time.”
“Thank you,” said Miss Nettleford. “Thank you both. Mr. Thornton, I appreciate you being honest with me.”
Jasper bowed. “I shall try to always be honest with you, Miss Nettleford. And I am at your service for as long as I am your escort. I shall do my best to help you in any way that you need.”
“Thank you,” said Miss Nettleford again. She frowned, and opened her mouth, but a deafening and otherworldly shriek from the direction of the bow interrupted anything else she might have intended to say. From somewhere on the boat came the sound of glass shattering.
“Oh dear,” said Sister Louise.
“Mary is awake, and is excited about something,” Miss Nettleford explained. “You must excuse me, Mr. Thornton,” and she hurried away.
What a pity she had been claimed by little Sapphire. She really was a magnificent woman.