Delphinium, or A Necromancer's Home (TCoLaD Book 2)

Familiar

~ Qvattorday, 30th of Aprilis, 11831 ~

"Do you still want to become a suitor of death knowing what you do?" Pierre asked. He had called the boy into his quarters knowing Elizabeth would be out with Síofra, Maiolaine, and the stewardess's children this afternoon. His advisors too were busy, away, or as of two days past, deceased.

The duc had given Wolfram some time to come to terms with the murder he had witnessed. To understand what this cræft asked for in its purest form. What Mora would ask of him. Though it was true one could start to learn and then stop at any point, even entirely, to go through with the decision was to make a mark on the soul that would not fade even if the magic did.

"Y-yes." Wolfram looked around the room, eyes lingering on the trunk that held Salome. He took a deep breath and continued on, "I will not say I am not horrified by what you did, Your Grace, because it scares me more than I can say. But I watched you kill Salome too and you were gentle with her. And I spoke with Lady Sabine as well, she told me about the three people you helped come back because they were wrongly killed... I believe I can manage a balance between what you do and what Lord Ophion teaches."

Brave boy. "Perhaps you can, Wolfram. I never have... Now then, do you like fish?"

Unsure about the sudden change in topic Wolfram nodded.

"Excellent. I do not," Pierre replied. He got up from his chair and went over to the servant's bell-ropes, pulling one to summon a butler.

"You don't? But, Your Grace, I have seen you eat it."

"A lie takes dedication. And I cannot let there be a pattern to the few times I do eat it, so there must be random days where it occurs."

When the servant came to see what His Grace wished, Pierre ordered two grilled salmon for lunch with all of his usual extras—vinegar, salt, lemon juice, crushed peppercorn. With most of his retinue busy it would not be usual to have a more private meal with his student.

"And two basins of water, towels as well, so we can wash up, please."

"Right away, Your Grace."

The basins were brought first, one filled with hot water and the other cold, along with an empty tub that could be used for a full bath if desired. Lunch was not far behind, salmon served on a bed of rice with mixed vegetables placed on the table along with all of the additions. Pierre thanked his servants and shut the door before any more offerings of help could be made. He then walked over to the balcony and opened those doors, letting in fresh air and sunshine.

"The best way to get out bloodstains," he began, his voice taking upon itself a certain tone that came with a lecture. "Is with cold water, mixed with vinegar, lemon juice, and scrubbed with salt, then dried in the sun. I have found the excuse that I am eating fish the best way to have all of these without suspicion. Today is also a wonderfully sunny day."

"Blood—we are bringing back Salome?!"

"Yes," Pierre said with a smile. "You wish to try for her to become your Familiar and so we need not waste any more time. And tomorrow is Midspring, so it works very well to say she has returned now after disappearing at Springfinding.

"As I was saying—You will eventually come to the point where you do not need much blood shed to perform cræft, and it will be both simpler to hide and to wash, but not in these first few months. A familiar can of course consume many things that are not natural, bloody clothes among them, but it is impractical to destroy everything you bleed on. The fresh air will also mask the scent of blood in the room."

Pierre motioned to the trunk and Wolfram dashed over to unlock it, meal entirely forgotten. He picked up Salome, moving her corpse to his lord's bed. No stiffness of death had set into her muscles and she was limp and soft as if asleep. Her dark hair splayed out in loose waves.