Shadow of the Unicorn

Chapter 4

Baye found 'Adan' at breakfast the next morning, a knowing and highly amused light in his eyes, but he said casually, "how goes it lad?"

The pseudo Adan smiled broadly, returned the man's greetings, and resumed his attentions to his porridge while Baye continued on his way, nearly tripping over a servant sent to fetch him for the Lady. He smiled sheepishly at the man, who seemed rather aghast at this grievous breach of protocol, but soon recovered enough of his dignity to lead the man to his mistress. Baye made the proper courtesies and soon stood before the Lady in her formal audience chamber, said she after an interminable silence, "where is your apprentice?"

Baye tried to smile easily, but it was obvious the expression was forced, said he with a sigh, "he is well Lady, have no fear in that regard."

She raised her eyebrows at this intentional avoidance of her question as she continued, "I sent Adan out to find you both yesterday when I feared you had kept Jace out beyond his endurance. You returned with Adan but Jace remains unaccounted for since the incident in that disreputable fortress alongside the river. Did something happen when he returned to his old home or in confronting his father? I would like his input before passing sentence on the two prisoners taken in the debacle, they are half convinced we are all of us possessed."

Baye looked remarkably uncomfortable but said at last, "I will send the lad to you immediately my Lady, but I intended to have him practice some of the skills we have been working on of late."

She looked at him in astonishment, "of late? He has been in your keeping barely a day! Whatever you intend for him, do not push him too hard, remember what it is he has endured."

Baye said wryly, "I do not mean to interfere, my Lady, but I know far more of this matter than you. Fear not, I shall not push him beyond his endurance." He smiled proudly, "he is far stronger than most give him credit for."

She sighed, but said, "very well, but send him to me as soon as may be." She shook her head in exasperation, "oh, that someone would tell me what is going on!" He bowed and made a hasty retreat, wondering how best to continue their charade with none the wiser. He knocked on the boy's door, but no one answered; he must be in class. Racking his mind, he tried to remember where Adan was scheduled to be at that particular hour. Smiling at his own ineptness, he hied himself down to visit the man who kept the Student and Apprentice schedules. After a brief inquiry, it was a small matter to track down the supposed Adan between his first and second class. They slipped into a small sitting room, talked briefly of Baye's predicament, and emerged as entirely different people: Jace as himself and Baye the new Adan impersonator. Jace ran off to see the Lady while 'Adan' continued on his way, hoping no one paid him any heed in the hours to come.

The Lady was rather surprised to see Jace so soon, having assumed Baye had him secreted in some distant location or had perhaps lost him altogether, as he had not been seen entering either the city or the castle. After the servant announced him and he stood before her, offering the proper courtesies, she asked rather curiously, "how do you fare with all that has happened? Your trial in the dungeon, the death of your father, whatever it is your mentor has you doing?" She smiled wryly, "you have had a very busy week it seems."

Jace returned her smile, still rather awkward in her presence, but after having met the Master Himself, dying several times already, and the myriad other things that had jammed themselves remarkably into so short a period of time, the Lady of Astoria was no longer so frightening a legend, especially when she occasionally let slip little signs of humor, frustration, and curiosity, showing that she was truly human. Said he at last, "I am doing very well Lady, have no fear that my mentor is pushing me too hard or beyond my endurance. I am eager to experience and learn all I can under his competent tutelage."