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Part 17: HOUSE BOUNDER
Caduceus could hear the commotion from his office, but more important matters were at hand. He bent to his study, a treatise on human blood vessels.
Something pounded on the door heavily, just once. Caduceus didn’t look up; likely it was Octavian Defender doing his job, defending. His theory was proven just moments later as Octavian threw open the door, the shouts and yells increasing in volume before he slammed it behind him.
‘Good afternoon, Octavian,’ Caduceus said, not looking up from his work.
‘Cad,’ Octavian replied cordially. He was pale, teeth gritted, his long white hair lank and dark with someone else’s blood. ‘This plan has gone sour.’
‘Well yes,’ Caduceus said. ‘That’s what happens when you move up the timetable without consulting the mastermind.’
‘Some mastermind!’ Octavian scoffed. ‘I need some doctorin’, anyway.’ Caduceus took off his glasses and wheeled around to look – there was a particularly savage dagger lodged into Octavian’s chest. He rose and put an arm around the big man, helping him to a wooden table; Octavian lay down on it, groaning as fresh blood bubbled up through the wound.
‘It’s struck a lung,’ Caduceus said. ‘You’ll live, but you won’t be running any coups for a while.’
‘I doubt I will ever again,’ Octavian managed.
‘Who knifed you?’ Caduceus snarled. ‘That’s a low-down, dirty trick!’ He ripped Octavian’s shirt open, revealing a chest of scars, almost all claw-marks of some kind.
‘That was the Earl. She’s on the warpath, Cad – she’s not going to like you when she finds out this was your idea.’
‘I suspect she already knows,’ Cad mused. He yanked the knife out of Octavian’s chest, who grunted as fresh blood bubbled up. ‘Hold still.’
‘Why… d’you think… she knows?’ Octavian managed, blood dribbling from his lips. Cad took a needle and thread from his pocket and glanced into Octavian’s fierce yellow eyes.
‘This is going to hurt,’ he said. Octavian nodded, then cried out as Cad plunged his hand into the open wound, opening it up still further. He reached his other hand in and began suturing Octavian’s lung.
‘The fact is, Tav,’ Caduceus continued as he worked on his surgery, ‘you overplayed our hand. Earl Jasik knew nothing of the scheme; if she did, I doubt I’d still be treating her family. But now all my work has dried up, and I need to get through the next few days without her taking my head.’
‘Would be a lot easier if you’d fight, Cad,’ Octavian groaned. ‘You’ve certainly got the claws for it- ouch!’
‘I told you to hold still! And I refuse to compromise my principles for some petty power-grab. House Bounder doesn’t do that.’
The door opened again and a smaller, slighter figure entered. He closed the door behind him and leaned against it, a crowd thudding against it.
‘It’s a nightmare, Cad!’ he quavered. ‘They’re gutting House Defender! It won’t be long before the Earl comes for us too.’ Cad shook his head minutely.
‘She won’t come for us, Pepin,’ he said. ‘I won’t let it come to that.’
‘She’s set all her House on the clans involved in this coup!’ Pepin cried. ‘We’re done for, any day now!’
‘You’re not,’ Octavian growled. ‘Run to her now. Give her my surrender; I’ll return to her presently and she can visit her consequences upon me, but only so long as she stands her family down now.’
‘Take this,’ Caduceus said, handing him the dagger. ‘If she has any doubts, the return of her weapon should dispel them.’
Pepin stared at the two of them, but nodded. He flung open the door – twisting sharply to dodge the many claws and fangs aimed his way – and leapt through the mass and was gone. Caduceus sighed and turned to face them, keeping himself between Octavian and the mob.
‘Stand aside, Cad!’ one of them growled. ‘We’re here for the Defender, you don’t have to be party to his treachery!’
‘Actually, I do,’ Caduceus replied. ‘It’s… Nico, isn’t it? House of Supreme Authority?’
‘The Earl is very unhappy with him, Cad,’ Nico said. Cad glanced back at Octavian; his eyes were closed, but he was breathing.
‘She is,’ he agreed. ‘But he’s my patient. So until I release him, he’s under my protection.’
‘You really want to drag your house into this?’ another Cannibal asked. Caduceus recognised him as Vassal Miguel, a prospect to the House of Supreme Authority.
‘Someone already thinks we are,’ Caduceus said. ‘My family have been threatened and my work on the ruling house has vastly reduced; someone is planning to cut off House Bounder at the neck.’ He took a step away from the table, his eyes flashing. ‘Someone wants to make me very angry. Perhaps as an excuse.’ He looked between each of the guards, eventually landing on Miguel.
‘All that power,’ he continued. ‘You were made a vassal, and you betray your erstwhile house? For what, Miguel? A chance to grab at a sliver more influence?’
Miguel had the grace to look chastened. But he grimaced and bared his teeth once more.
‘I am of House Bounder, brother,’ he snarled. ‘I am as you made me!’
He leapt.
Sailors have likened Cannibals fighting to two cats in a sack – a ball of claws and fury. But they had rarely seen House Bounder fight – useful as they were as emissaries, they did not see much combat, and the house was notoriously pacifist in outlook. Caduceus was the archetypal Bounder Cannibal.
And Miguel, while he may have been of House Bounder, had renounced his family for Supreme Authority. That meant strength and savagery.
So when Caduceus deftly dodged his claws and grabbed him by the neck, it was with a swift and graceful, but still distinctly animal, savagery.
‘You were once,’ he said, and Miguel could not even find the breath to groan as Caduceus aimed a savage kick at the side of his leg, dislocating his kneecap. ‘But you never thought like a Bounder.’ He dropped the Vassal to the ground, where he curled up and clutched at his knee. ‘I will not lengthen my claws against you, brother, but do not think I will not kill you,’ he added.
‘You would threaten a member of the Earl’s family?’ Nico hissed, but Caduceus could see the mass of the mob shrinking back. He faced Nico, arms down by his side, palms facing out.
‘Don’t be childish, Nico,’ Caduceus replied. ‘Either leap, and give your sister her excuse; or take your family and go. You will be recalled shortly, in any case.’
As if on cue, the gathering horn sounded throughout the fortress. Nico glanced back at the sound, then scowled at Caduceus.
‘Don’t think it was the horn that saved you,’ he said. ‘Your blood will be my feast one of these days, you cur!’
But he gestured to his family members, and two of them approached, bent low, to haul Miguel to his feet and drag him from the room. Nico and the rest of House Supreme Authority retreated, slamming the door shut behind them. Caduceus waited for a beat, watching the door. Then he turned back to Octavian and finished stitching him up.
In short order the patriarch of House Defender awoke to find the blood had been cleaned off his chest; he sat up and saw Caduceus, sitting back at his desk, nose buried in anatomical studies. Octavian growled, catching Cad’s attention.
‘How long has it been?’ he asked. Caduceus checked his watch.
‘About fifteen minutes,’ he said. Octavian nodded and stood.
‘Then I’d better be off. It does not do to keep the Earl waiting.’ Caduceus made to stand, but Octavian held up a placating hand. ‘No no,’ he added, ‘I am a man of my word: I must surrender to her.’
‘You need time, Octavian!’ Cad hissed, standing as he strode past, hand on the door. ‘Once you are healed there is potential; we can turn this situation to our advantage, make a play for-’
‘No.’ Octavian opened the door. ‘No more ploys, no more plans. It is my duty to do the honourable thing – or have you forgotten that you have not heard from dear Pepin since he took my message to the Earl?’
Earl Jasik lounged on her throne. It was about the only position she could keep on there, being as her leg was pinned to the arm of the chair by a sword. In one hand she held her tall, golden spear; the other was gripping Pepin by the collar. He sat wide-eyed and quivering, but his posture and the set of his mouth spoke of a steely determination beneath the fear.
Caduceus tailed Octavian all the way to the banquet hall, and took up a position in the shadowy corner of the room, close to the door. Octavian, for his part, strode confidently down the central aisle, as though this were any other day for the father of House Defender. He stopped at the foot of the steps up to the dais and bowed deeply.
Earl Jasik tightened her grip on the back of Pepin’s neck, her claws lengthening in anticipation; Caduceus felt his jaw clench at the sight, and he fought to stop his own claws extending.
‘Octavian of House Defender,’ the Earl sighed. ‘I thank you for your message.’
‘Earl Jasik!’ Octavian boomed. ‘You flatter me with your attention, your highness; I do not know what I have done to warrant such notice!’
‘You know exactly what you’ve done!’ Jasik cried. ‘You tried to kill me; your little coup cost me some good family and the use of my leg, not to mention damaging my throne with your sword. Now you give me one good reason not to gut this little appetiser before I kill you!’ Octavian stood tall and chuckled, crossing his arms.
‘For one,’ he said, ‘the messenger is not of my house; he was kindly loaned to the task by House Bounder. The good doctor came with me to monitor my condition, and I’m sure you would not wish to involve him in our… personal matters.’
As one the room turned, all eyes on Caduceus. He nodded minutely, thrusting his hands into his jacket pockets; he felt half the eyes in the room (mostly those from House Supreme Authority, but definitely some from House Defender) glance down at that action and swiftly look away.
Earl Jasik’s eyes were on him; her mouth was turned down in a scowl and the power of her stare was disarming even from this distance. He sighed and he stepped forward.
The banquet hall was a long room and it took most of a minute for him to – calmly, serenely, he reminded himself – pace the length of it. He reached the dais and inclined his head, the merest modicum of respect.
‘Your highness,’ he said. ‘It’s true: Pepin is a nephew of mine, a prospect. He is small but shrewd; I consider him an excellent addition to House Bounder.’
Jasik narrowed her eyes.
‘And why should I not tear his head from his shoulders, Doctor?’ she snarled; and at this distance Caduceus heard the young lad’s breath hitch as those claws lengthened, saw the tears pricking the corners of his eyes, and it took all of his will to present a calm face to the fury.
‘Where there is treachery, House Bounder are not found far from its source!’ Jasik continued. ‘I may as well consider him – and you – a party to this conspiracy!’
Caduceus closed his eyes and let out a long, steady breath. When he opened his eyes again, gazing full into the boring glare of the Earl’s, they were red and full of fire.
‘While it is true we Bounders are known for treachery,’ he said, only the merest strain at the edge of his voice, ‘I can honestly and faithfully say that I had no part in this attempted coup, nor Pepin. House Defender moved on its own.’ He turned his eyes to Octavian, who stood staring at Jasik. A smile played about his lips and he held himself tall, proud and boastful and every bit the true shieldbearer of Vaalhest. He spread his arms wide and grinned.
‘It’s true, your majesty,’ Octavian announced, loud enough for the hall to hear. ‘This undertaking was on my own initiative, and it is my sword that mars your throne and pierces your leg. I take full responsibility – House Defender moved on my order, and the order of no other, and this betrayal is my own cross to bear; you may feel some ill-will towards my clan, but know that their sins lie at their father’s door, and do not tar them with my intentions.’
The hall had fallen to muttering. Caduceus felt his eyes shining and hastily looked away from the grizzled patriarch as he felt his mask slipping. But he noted that even Jasik had paused, uncertain – it was well known that House Defender had been instrumental in the protection of Vaalhest, and now here was Jasik from an upstart house, claiming the Earldom and threatening its head, a man who had put his life on the line for every Cannibal in this room many a time. Admittedly, that was because he had attempted to kill Jasik earlier today, but that was old news compared to the theatrics in the banquet hall.
Caduceus had to pretend to cough and cover his mouth. It was all he could do to hide his admiring smile.
Jasik stared. She looked between Caduceus – carefully concealing all traces of mockery – and Octavian – smiling and laughing in the face of death.
‘So,’ she hissed, her anger rising, ‘you wish to die for the sins of your family?’ Octavian nodded.
‘I must,’ he said. ‘I consider it my duty, as their chosen father.’
‘And what right do you consider yours, to choose who dies by my hand?’ Jasik asked. Her pupils had expanded, focusing wholly on Octavian, and her mouth had turned up in a hysterical smile; she was a cat on the hunt, and Octavian was her prey.
There was an instant of action, then a fresh tableau. Octavian’s arm tensed, his claws lengthening, but Caduceus had turned; he had a strong grip on Octavian’s bicep, preventing it from moving. But his eyes were on Pepin, and the claws which were now dangerously close to his jugular. Pepin had frozen, pale and wide-eyed, even his trembling had paused. Jasik, meanwhile, had leaned forward in anticipation, her spear tip wavering aggressively.
‘Don’t give her the excuse,’ Caduceus muttered. Octavian growled deep in his throat, but he acquiesced, slowly lowering his arm, though his fist never relaxed its grip; indeed, Caduceus could see blood dripping between his fingers and onto the floor.
‘Come,’ Octavian said at last. ‘This posturing does not become us; release the boy, visit your wrath upon me, and let’s be done with this whole sorry affair.’
‘You dare make demands of me?’ Jasik roared. ‘In your place?’ She made to move forwards, but there was a delicate noise as her leg twisted against the sword. Blood flowed fresh down the arm of the throne and Caduceus stepped forward.
‘I apologise for the impropriety, your highness,’ he said, getting very close. ‘But it might be best if I look at that wound now.’ And as he leaned in close, he murmured, ‘that is a Prospect of my house in your claws, highness; now let us be done with this, before I turn my whole House to the task of managing yours.’
Jasik glanced up into his eyes, and found them calm and even, not a twitch of anger on his pallid face. The only hint of his rage came from the very careful way he wrapped his hand around the hilt of Octavian’s sword before pulling it from the throne, and her leg; and the moment that it lingered at her neck, before he turned it and presented it to her, hilt-first, on his knees.
Jasik took the sword and shifted her leg uneasily, her eyes on Caduceus as he bent to the task of splinting and bandaging her; but there was no further sign of treachery.
‘You really are a cad,’ she said darkly. But she sighed, and her hand around the boy’s neck slackened and she patted him on the back. ‘Go,’ she ordered. ‘Run back home; tell them of my mercy.’ Pepin gratefully scrambled away from the throne and ran the length of the room, disappearing into the bowels of the fortress.
‘Thank you, your majesty,’ Caduceus said. He stood and bowed. ‘I live to serve.’
‘So obedient.’ Jasik stood, looking down her nose at the doctor, before turning to Octavian. ‘It’s a pity the same cannot be said of our protectors.’
‘I can only apologise for the lapse in judgement, your highness,’ Octavian said, ‘and beg for your discretion in the matter of punishment.’
Jasik turned the spear and stabbed it into the floor, where it stuck deep. She examined the sword as she descended the steps.
‘House Defender will be demoted from military duties,’ she announced to the hall. ‘They will be replaced by House Shields-Upon-The-Wall for now, with support from House Eyes-To-The-Soul.’ She looked around the hall, at the many expectant faces, before she sighed and added, ‘Let there be no more death between our houses, save this one execution.’
Octavian smiled, the relief evident on his face. He spread his arms wide again, and turned his head to expose his neck.
‘I thank you, my lady,’ he said, as Jasik placed the blade against his bare skin. ‘Yours shall be known for its patience and grace.’
‘Only to a point,’ Jasik said.
She drew her arm back.
The first thing Caduceus did when he returned to House Bounder’s quarters was embrace Pepin and check him for injuries. He sighed, shoulders drooping in relief.
‘A few scratches,’ he noted, ‘but you’re okay. Brave Pepin, proud, Pepin! You have proven yourself a Bounder to the full today!’
The rest of family Bounder crowded around, chattering excitedly as they bustled Pepin away to congratulate him, and an altogether different group of Bounders approached Cad as he stood and backed away gratefully.
‘Rest,’ said one, stout and long-haired – he looked more like a member of House Defender than a Bounder. Cad sighed and sat back on a chaise.
‘Sancho,’ he sighed. ‘My son, your erstwhile house has lost a lion today.’
‘But not the only one,’ Sancho replied. ‘House Defender will rally – they are born to protect.’
‘What are our next steps?’ another asked. Darker-skinned, with vivd green eyes and hair of dark straw.
‘Isabella,’ Caduceus said. ‘We wait, and bury our heads in the sand for now. No more schemes; no more plots. We have scant few days, and we must not test the boundaries for now.’
‘So we leave Supreme Authority to their despotic rule?’ Sancho spat. Caduceus held up a calming hand and reached into his inner jacket pocket; he pulled out an envelope and drew out the letter within.
‘We have had word from Petra,’ he said. ‘Her ship sighted the Fallen Star turning to a northerly heading; the captain is known to me, I shall arrange passage out of this place for us.’
‘And leave House Defender to the Earl’s whims?’ Isabella asked. ‘Brother! Your rash actions led Pepin into danger today, and you did not do enough to soothe Octavian’s fears! And now you talk of leaving?’ Caduceus sat up, shushing his family as they began to talk at once.
‘It is because of these things that I talk of leaving,’ he said. ‘I have of late been too preoccupied with my studies to concentrate on schemes and subtle diplomacy… I fear I am the wrong person to lead this family if we stay here. My feet are itchy and I desire the sight of new lands – what family wishes to stay may do so.’
He leaned forward, taking his glasses from his face and turning them over in his hands.
‘We have scant few days,’ he continued. ‘That’s just a few days to spin things against House Supreme Authority. Octavian has done a masterful job today – a job worthy of House Bounder, I saw in him the shades that bore you, Sancho – and if we play our cards right, we will be leaving Vaalhest in a state that House Defender can take advantage of.’ He looked to his family members – children and siblings, cousins and nephews, from all families, who had come to House Bounder for a taste of something other than violence. But even now he could not hide the tremor of rage that shook his hands, nor the guttural growl that rose in his throat and turned into violent speech.
‘Just a few days – we must work our magic in its fullest! For we have but a few days to twist every house and family member against Jasik. Ply your trades, call in all your favours. We may leave Vaalhest, but we will leave it in chaos!’