Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2016 04:03:45 +0000 (GMT)
From: ovote@unseen.is
Subject: The Magician and the Prince - 11

A tale of magicians, magick and a lost boy. By saying this is a fantasy I
don't really need to stress that it is a work of fiction. Set in a nameless
land, maybe even a nameless world, our rules and conventions do not apply
here.

As always this free resource needs your donations to keep it alive, so
donate as much or little as you can
afford. http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html


ovote@unseen.is

.............................................................................

One of Jacob's concerns for the time after they seized power in the city
was maintaining public order, and the safety of ordinary people. Once
people realised the boot had been taken from their necks all manner of
petty arguments, and jealousies from the past, would come bubbling to the
surface in men's minds. Many may see the chance of taking revenge against
others as a thing that could go unpunished. Jard's force would not be of
sufficient size or strength to fully prevent this, they needed both the
constable force and the night watch to be on the streets, working side by
side with Jard's men as quickly as possible. Outright civil war with
wholesale destruction of property, and many deaths, would leave the city in
a far worse state than before. One of the ways the constable Major had
worked to soothe the anger in the city was to be seen in open view,
answering all that asked about the men arrested at the private club, and
assuring them that the Grand Duke himself had ordered him to make sure they
faced severe punishment if found guilty. Being found naked and in a bed
with a young child meant their guilt was a foregone conclusion, more so
with those judges having been instructed to rule them guilty. The Grand
Duke now being more concerned with having those judges seize the fortunes
of the men in the city's name, it was another way for him to recoup the
losses of the slave trade. During his visits into the city Jacob now
contrived to bump in to the Major on his walks in the streets. He took to
making a point to speak to him, and when Jamil accompanied him and Tancred
on their trips, made a special point of talking about the boy and his
sister. Telling the Major how Jamil had been a child that had been living
in the streets, yet spent most of his time caring for his younger sister.
Seeing the well turned out youth, and seeing his excellent behaviour, the
Major could not help but to start asking himself how many more children
like him were being lost in the streets, or to the slave trade. He really
had no choice but to start thinking that, being spelled by Jacob as they
spoke. The effect was that he instructed constables and night watch to
start taking those children found, but not thieving or cutting purses, to
one of the four or five shelters that had recently started working, all of
them quietly funded by Jacob with Sir Samuel's gold. On one occasion of
their meeting the Major looked particularly tired by all the extra work he
had been undertaking, and Jacob invited him to the house and take dinner
with them all that evening. A good meal, and a few pleasant hours in
company was an attractive idea to the Major, far better than to eat in the
barracks of the constable house and return to his quarters above them.
Jacob, of course, influencing that choice for the Major.

After bidding goodbye to the Major the three continued to walk around the
city. Seeing the skies darken alarmingly Jacob and the boys made their way
over to one of the covered piazzas to sit and take tea. The storm that had
been threatening for the last few days looked imminent now, they would be
soaked to the skin trying to hail a hired carriage once rain started
falling. The crash of thunder in the distance could already be heard as
they sat looking out over the harbour. He saw that two of the Grand Duke's
warships had now returned from their unsuccessful searches for the sunken
slave ships. Sailors and dock workers scurrying about urgently to make them
ready for any other orders they be given. The Grand Duke always ensured his
forces were stood in readiness. Hearing the thunder louder and louder he
knew they would be sat here for some considerable time until the storm
passed over the city and moved further inland. The two boys sat enjoying
the noise and the flashes of lightning breaking in the skies. Gently
tapping Tancred's foot with his own he got the boy's attention. Flicking
his eyes to the sky he spelled for the boy to watch closely. At the next
flash he took control of it and directed it down on to one of the Grand
Duke's ships. Finding an open hatchway halfway down the side the lightning
streaked in, and even from this distance the sound of a great crash could
be heard. Men ran to gather buckets as the first smoke started to come from
the ruined hatchway. A line formed from the deckrail as buckets had lines
quickly tied to them and thrown into the water, then passed man to man to
be thrown down on to the dried woodwork inside. Picking out one man in the
line he pushed into the man's mind.

Dropping his bucket he screamed to the others "Run! The magazines will
blow. The ship is full of gunpowder" And then turned and dashed down the
gangplank, putting as much distance between him and ship as he could.

As the realisation sunk in to the other men in the line, and remaining
there would see them all blown to pieces, the line broke and men fought men
to get off the ship. Some, not waiting a place to use the gangplank, threw
themselves over the side to the dockside and scrambled off. The first
explosion blew a large hole in the deck of the warship, sending wood and
debris high into the sky. Jacob watched the ship start to list to the side,
he pushed hard to send the ship on it's side, and in doing so protected as
much as possible the danger to the city and people. Even so the second
enormous explosion knocked watchers from their feet in the furthest parts
of the docks. As the smoke cleared the ship lay on the water in two halves
with one part lying aflame against the second of the Grand Duke's
warships. A great opening had been blown in the dock, reaching twenty or so
paces around. Even from this distance away the great noise had left all
without hearing.

Rubbing his ears Tancred turned to look at Jacob, who spoke silently into
him "When apples fall from a tree, make cider"

The news of the storm destroying two of the warships was, of course, the
talk of the house that evening. And the Major was pressed for more details
upon his somewhat late arrival. Quick thinking sailors on the second
warship had opened the sea cocks, flooding the magazines and sending it to
the harbour floor before they could explode. It was hoped they would be
able to raise it, and repair the damage. Once some kind of order had been
restored the military leaders had been quick to arrive and take charge,
placing the whole docks under their command and sending the constables
away. For what purpose was unknown, but Jacob summised they did not want
the city's constable force to be weakened by a large number of them
involved at the docks. There was still a fear of unrest from the people,
and likely they would not want the chance for any to take advantage of the
weakness. It had become a common sight recently to see constables walking
through the city in twos or threes, rather than singly. During the meal
they discussed all the events of the last few months, and Jacob pushed
gently in the Major's mind to discover anything contrary to his words.
Finding his hidden thoughts of the harsh regime went a lot further than his
cautious words. Jacob spoke of lands he had visited over the years, leaving
the Major to draw parallels with his own city. Before very long, thought
Jacob, I will bring this man fully into the plans. Once wards protected the
plans in the Major's mind he would not be of a mind to betray them. It was
also the first time little Donae had met the Major, and she charmed him
completely, without even the knowledge of her ability to do so. Her natural
shyness and quiet behaviour made everyone who met her want to protect and
love her.

Jacob found a strong agreement from the Major when he said to him "We lose
so much by not making sure these children become all that it is possible
for them to be" Unnoticed to the Major, Jacob was now speaking as if he had
lived in the city all his life, not just a temporary visitor. "Come through
to the library, I'll show you some more of their achievements. They are so
clever"

In the library he showed the Major how far advanced they were with the
lessons Jacob had been setting them. The boys favourite battle game was set
up, and they studied the game in progress, while Jacob related the tale of
Jamil caring for his sister, and how she came to join the household. With a
little pushing from Jacob, he left the house that night convinced that he
had to do something for all the children on the streets, he could help many
more out there.

When Jacob met with Simon and Thomas he spelled the two so he could be
aware of their movements when he set his mind towards them. He had been
keeping track of Simon's journey to the city. The day came when he would
arrive, Jacob asked Zachary to travel a little way towards him and meet him
with a note of introduction. Given Simon's reaction Jacob thought he may
benefit from seeing the way they had now removed all traces of Sir Samuel
from the children's home. The first part, the former servant's wing, was
now completed and ready for children to bring the sound of laughter to the
building, and exercise any evil deed of the past from there. Jacob hoped
that it may be the foundation he would use to cast away the torments in
Simon.

The brother's return to the city was to be explained they were in
discussions to sell their former home. And it also was time for the future
of their former home to come of the shadows a little and let it be known
that it was to be an orphanage. That also answered any questions as to why
Simon, and later Thomas, would be staying in Jacob's city house during
their stay. It was to be known that a large part of the cost was given by
Jacob, and by the trading house. With Simon's arrival, and the imminent
arrival of Thomas, in the city, it was only days until Captain Jard's
vessels would be standing a few leagues offshore. Furnishing Simon with
sufficient amounts of coin, he bade him spend all his time around the city
streets until Thomas arrived. Making conversation with those who remembered
him, and giving generously to beggars he passed. A number of the churches
recieved large donations, bearing a note asking that the money be used to
continue the work providing shelters and food in memory of Thomas and
Simon's mother. Carefully crafting a suitable incantation, Jacob spelled
the unknowing Simon, so that all who met and spoke to him would be left
with a lasting impression that he and his brother should be leaders of the
city. Should any person speak that to him, Simon would dismiss the idea out
of hand, telling them of his uselessnes. How, but for Thomas, he would be
penniless and have no future, for it was his older brother who had the
learning and ability to make successes of both their lives, after starting
out with nothing. He also made it clear they refused to use his father's
name, they had taken the name of their mother's family when they left, and
bade everyone to know him as Simon Talcar from now on. Both brother's
wanted their father's name to disappear, and hoped in time it be never
spoken aloud again.

During all of this the trading house was working just as normal to the eyes
of all, beneath it though there was a great deal of work going on by those
working in secret service to the King through it. Lists of the men in
charge of all the Grand Duke's ministries, who would be put in charge of
each of those, locations of their houses and who else was living with them,
locations of barracks and armouries to be secured. All had to be available
for Jard, so he be able to do all before the city awoke. If not then the
people moving around the city would hamper any work left to do. Every time
Jacob and the trade master sat back and judged it complete, another
question came up after some thought. How much easier it would all have been
if Jacob simply spelled the whole city to sleep for days and set the
mercenaries to work rounding up magicked men. But tales of a mystery like
that would soon spread as Jard's men went about in the world afterwards, in
just the same way the people would talk of the missing days in their
lives. All needed to be done in a single night, with people rising as they
always did the following morning after a good night's sleep. Jacob, of
course, ensuring that the sleep was solid and undisturbed for them. Jacob
had met often with the man leading the force Jard had sent overland, giving
him maps showing locations and tasks as they became fully known. He was
responsible for going about the city with his other men, and working out
routes to travel between places, which groups would be sent where, and how
many men or carriages would be needed for each set of tasks, and most
importantly where those carriages would be taken from. By the day Thomas
was due to arrive the end of those tasks was finally in sight.

Jacob and Simon were taken by Joshua to meet the vessel bearing Thomas on
the day of his arrival. Thomas was shocked to see the warmth with which he
was greeted, even the port officials spoke warmly to him. He expected few
to know him after so long away, and his previous visit had attracted no
attention at all. His shock grew as Jacob and Simon took him around the
city that day. Everywhere they went people came to him and greeted him
warmly, even those who could not possibly have remembered his dear mother.
With Thomas feeling more than a little overwhelmed by it all they made
their way to the city house. The good start to the day evaporated when
Sarah returned from the marketplace early that afternoon with news of a
proclamation issued by the Grand Duke's council. It announced the increase
of taxes to be paid on a long list of goods. The seizing from merchants of
all supplies of lamp oil. Also all people found taking gold out of the city
state were to be imprisoned. This was on top of the extra charges, already
announced, for ships using the docks. The sinking of the Grand Duke's ships
had been the last straw for the council. No matter how they looked at the
amounts needed, they knew that if they wanted to keep their personal
fortunes this had to be done now. Upon hearing this Jacob decided to bring
forward his plans, and sent word with Joshua for the trade master to
contact Jard's man and have him come to the trade house the following day
for a meeting to set the day for the coup.

The following morning, when all were sitting breaking their night's fast,
Jacob was knew he had to make a final question on one question he had kept
to himself. Did he keep silent to the two boys about the events soon to
start, or did he involve them on the night. He knew he could keep them
protected from harm with an incantation that would surround them, but would
they be better sleeping through it all? Finally he took Tancred to the
library alone, and told him the takeover would be coming within days.
Tancred had already an inkling things were near due to the re-appearance of
the brothers, and them now openly staying at the house. He begged Jacob to
be with him at the time, that however, would not be possible. Jacob's moves
that night would involve a lot of magick and he did not want even Tancred
to see some of the things he could do, well not until he sat on the throne
himself in later years. Going through all the parts of the plans he thought
he saw a way of them being a part, and one with little or no risks to
them. He told Tancred to go and get ready to come into the city, and to
bring Jamil with him, and called for the plain carriage to be ready for
them. It was a heavily laden carriage that took them all to the trade house
that morning. Jacob, Tancred and the two brothers bunched up inside, Joshua
and Jamil sat up next to him on the front.

At the trade house they were taken around to the rear yard, and the gates
closed, before all piling out of the carriage. Joshua then left to go and
bring Zachary down into the city. For the first Jacob took Tancred aside,
and down to the vault. There were still six full chests of Sir Samuel's
gold untouched, with another lying partly emptied. Jacob explained that
every single piece of gold that had been spent during their time here was
recovered from the gold Sir Samuel had stolen over the years. It would not
cost his father's kingdom anything at all. And in the future, if everything
worked out, their land would need to spend much less keeping safe from the
Grand Duke's aggression. Once Zachary and Joshua returned to the trade
house the final meeting started in the office of the trade master. The date
was set for the following date, tides being suitable for Jard to bring in
his ships. There was only one berth empty, the docks had ceased taking
ships until the wreckage of the two warships and the loss of the
dockside. It would mean that the ships would have to tie to ships already
berthed, and the men coming ashore climb on to them before reaching
land. Jard's man didn't see that as a big problem, they were well used to
boarding vessels out on the seas, one already berthed would be much
easier. It just needed three men, one for each ship, to be diverted to
signal the ships where to head for once in the harbour. They went over
every part of the operation two or three times until there was no
misunderstanding of everyone's role on the night. Only Tancred and Jamil
needed to be slid into the plan, and that would be done by Jard's man
between now and the start. The signal was to be a large fire to be started
up on the headland above the city, that could be seen out to sea by the
watching ships. They would come in on the night after the signal fire.

As the meeting was breaking up Jamil surprised everyone with a tremendous
idea. "Why don't we hold a party for the children in the shelters, they can
be given a big feast to celebrate the announcement of the new orphanage,
and the signal will not be looked at as a signal if we have it in the field
near the clifftop, the orphanage can be seen from there" The simplicity of
the idea astounded Jacob and Jard's man, they had thought long and hard
about a way to prevent the signal being seen down in the city, eventually
giving up and hoping for the best. Until General Jamil had come in the idea
had bested them all the adults. Men were very quickly sent to the shelters
to arrange for people to be brought, and others to carry loads of wood for
the fire to the hilltop. Invitations were sent to the dignitaries of the
city, asking them to attend. Although they expected none to agree to come
to an event for orphans celebrating an orphanage they disapproved of.

Still, Jacob told the people in the room "It would be a fitting touch if we
could get the Grand Duke himself to ceremonially light the fire that
signalled his own fall"