Shadow of the Unicorn

Chapter 9

The Lady sat grimly in her accustomed chair, the swordmaster stood respectfully off to one side, his face schooled to dour indifference, while the boy and his escort made their courtesies. After checking that Jace's hands were securely bound, the Warrior gave the Lady a resigned look and bowed his head; she dismissed him by saying, "you leave me in capable hands Kent, the swordmaster can certainly deal with any dreadful situation that might arise forthwith." He did not look convinced but dared not disobey the Lady, so bowed himself out and shut the door firmly behind him.

She turned grave eyes upon the unknown student before her, the swordmaster's grim expression turned to one of amusement, as the Lady began, "you stand accused of murdering a fellow student, of refusing to cooperate with the investigation, and of making obscene demands upon my time and safety."

Jace grinned, which was not at all the reaction she had expected, and said, "all perfectly true my Lady, but a situation I could not help as I am forbidden from speaking of this to anyone but my colleagues and yourself."

She turned suspicious eyes upon the swordmaster, "more mysteries to which I cannot be privy?" He bowed his head in acknowledgement, a very bland expression on his face.

She looked again upon the accused and gaped, for now an entirely different individual stood before her. Remembering that this was not the first such demonstration she had seen, she quickly regained her composer and said to Jace, in guise as himself, "what really happened to your friend?"

Jace bowed deeply and began the tale, "he sold himself bodily into evil my Lady, but sorely regretted it and finally decided it was a mistake. He sought the Master at the last, but in doing so doomed himself, for he had promised his very life blood in exchange for powers dark and terrible, thus when he fled the darkness, he no longer had a living physical body to call his own. It was in this unfortunate position that your servant found me."

She was both vastly horrified and rather amused at the unseemliness of the situation and the boy's predicament therewith. At last she nodded, "at least it was not murder, though it was horrific enough in its own right it has a happy ending. Now what to do with you? I thought I had sent you with your mentor in pursuit of a certain evil artifact?"

Jace grinned, "my orders changed at the last moment Lady, but I know where the object is, in fact it has not left Astoria. Jay had it in his keeping and foolishly gave it to Ella in hopes of gaining her attention."

She frowned, "we cannot just take it from her, nor do I think she would willingly hand it over if we asked for it." She smiled in grim amusement, "in fact, she was in here within an hour of your alter ego's incarceration demanding the release of her fiancé! She intends to leave on the morrow to return home, with or without you."

Jace sighed heavily, "then I must accompany her I suppose, though she is well aware that I have in no way attached myself to her in any official capacity, most especially in a romantic sense. She is just so desperate for a 'proper' husband that she will take just about anyone at this point. Perhaps on the journey I can convince her to part with the orb, at least I can protect her from those that will undoubtedly be drawn to it."

The Lady raised her eyebrows, "the fell man Scamp is currently hunting?"

Jace nodded, "the same, and perhaps others. Jay said his master's minions were desperate to retrieve the item."

She smiled slightly, "you are quite bold for a mere Apprentice, even telling me what your next assignment shall be."

Jace met her gaze unflinching, "I know what I must do Lady, I apologize if you feel I am undermining your authority but that is not my intent."