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Nero Walker, Book 3 Ch.9 (124)
🕑 Added 2024-03-05 23:30:01 +0000 UTCLord Heleema Cosgrave relaxed, enjoying her morning coffee. The solitude was a welcome change of pace, as her two remaining consorts were starting to get on her nerves. Over the past few days, they had done everything in their power to demonstrate their loyalty and, even worse, their love. Francis kept trying to give her a massage, while Dustin had been leaving various chocolates and deserts all over the place. She had even woken up this morning to breakfast in bed, served by the two of them with proud smiles adorning their stupid faces.
Sitting in her office, with her feet up on the desk, she leaned back in her chair and groaned as the scene played itself on repeat in her head. ‘Why in the hells are they being so clingy? It’s like they’re teenagers again, competing for my attention, knowing full well that I have more important things to do than sit around all day, playing house,’ she grouched to herself.
At that thought, she froze, her coffee halfway to her mouth. Why WERE they acting like that? She started to think about it carefully, her finely honed political senses were tingling.
Opening her link, she sent a request for her aide, Jessica Chandler, to come in. It didn’t take long, as Jessica’s office was right next door.
Gliding into the room, Jessica said, “What can I do for you, my lord?”
“Jessica, sit down for a minute and help me work through something,” Lord Cosgrave ordered.
Despite being her aide, Jessica was a wonderful sounding board for her thoughts and plans. They’d been together for years, and their bond was extremely close. Probably a little too close if someone were to ask her consorts.
Taking a seat, Jessica leaned forward and picked up the pot of coffee along with a cup. She held them up, as if asking for permission to pour herself some. Absently, Heleema waved her hand as if she didn’t care. So, Jessica nodded in thanks and poured herself a cup.
While stirring in some milk, Jessica asked, “Alright, what’s the issue of the day?” All traces of the subservient facade were gone, and the woman looked like she was just joining a friend for a chat.
Heleema smiled and replied, “Dustin and Francis… They’re acting odd. It’s making my skin itch, and I can’t figure out why.”
Jessica cocked her head to the side with a frown and said, “Is this about all the attention they’ve been giving you? I would have thought you’d have liked it? It’s only been what, a day or two? They’re probably just trying to get you pregnant with a new heir. You do need at least one you know. Which reminds me, after dealing with Derek, Guard Stephens reported no problems and should back by the 12th. He said they can shorten the time-frame it if you’d like, but I told them not to push it, and to just focus on returning safely.”
Nodding at the information, Heleema replied, “That’s fine. There is no immediate need for them. You made the right call. Although I’m surprised you didn’t let me know the moment you found out?” Her last sentence spoken as though it were a question.
Shrugging, Jessica replied, “I figured you’d be occupied with your consorts. The news was good, so there was no issue with waiting for the morning to report the success. It’s not like Derek would be less dead if you didn’t hear about it immediately.”
Snorting in amusement at the dark joke, Heleema replied with no heat in her voice, “Easy Jessica, he was still my son after all. We should at least show a modicum of respect for the late Cosgrave heir.”
Holding up her cup of coffee as if toasting the deceased young man, Jessica replied with a slight hint of mockery, “Of course, my lord.”
Tapping her finger on her chin, Heleema returned to the subject at hand, “Now, about those two idiots. They have been sticking to me like limpets since former Lord Blackwood’s execution… wait, no it started after I refused to let Deidre escape and flee the city. That’s when they started acting like children rather than the competent men I’ve known for years.”
Jessica played her part as a conversation partner and asked the obvious question. “So why would your decision to execute Deidre, their daughter, cause them to start acting like horny teenagers? Are you sure it’s not just them wanting to fill the heir slot?” She asked with a dirty grin.
After giving Jessica a mock glare, Helleema looked out the windows and sipped her coffee. “No. I’m feeling there is more to it. It’s not just sex they want. It’s like their courting me or something. Do they really think I’ll finally marry them? Why? I would gain very little, their consort agreements already have the provisions in place. Perhaps they read the transcripts from the arbitration meeting in the council hall, and are now worried about their positions. After all, I no longer need their houses behind me. I have plenty of support, and to be honest, they no longer serve the purpose they once did. I’ve spent years spreading my will through Dorchester, and nothing short of a harsh, bloody, noble war will see House Cosgrave fall. At least not now that my idiotic children are no longer an issue.”
Jessica asked innocently, “So maybe they’re afraid you’ll just get rid of them. Being a consort to the city-seat didn’t do much good for former Lord Blackwood.”
Heleema replied quickly, “I couldn’t even if I wanted to, the consort contracts with their houses forbid any dissolution of the relationship for at least 250 years. If I wanted to kill them, I’d have to find a reason that wouldn’t bring the Tower of Law down on my head. As long as they don’t do something idiotic like Terrance did, they shouldn’t be worried about -”
Lord Cosgrave shot forward in her chair, cutting herself off abruptly. Her feet dropped off her desk, and she spilled her coffee all over herself. But even as the steaming liquid made her thighs tingle, she furrowed her brow in thought.
Jessica set down her coffee, a worried look on her face. “What is it? You realized something significant, haven’t you?”
Turning her head to look at her aide, Lord Cosgrave said icily, “Get me a copy of the consort agreements I signed with Houses Mosgrave and Howard. You’ll have to go to the keep’s isolated hub. The records will be under House Cosgrave’s hereditary licenses. Use my over-ride authority. Make sure no one knows what you’re doing.”
Jessica stood up, her face taking on the mask of an aide once again. “Right away, my lord. I’ll return as soon as I have them.” Then turned and quickly glided her way out of the office.
A devious smile graced Lord Cosgrave’s face as she looked out her windows onto the city’s skyline. ‘If I’m right, then House Cosgrave will once again be without anchors. My rule will finally be unencumbered by the past. No more percentage payments to useless allies. Those two idiots were may have their charms, in the bedroom and out, but keeping them around isn’t worth how much I’m paying their relatives. Oh, Heleema, you’re one clever girl aren’t you,’ she congratulated herself.
-----
Putting aside his self-recriminations, he asked, “OK. So, is my essence-shield active now?”
Nick kept staring at Nero, evaluating his face as if he were looking for something. “You pull back your center?”
“Yes,” Nero replied.
“Shield still active?” asked Nick.
“Yup,” replied Nero.
“Realize how dumb that question was?” asked Nick.
Breaking the staring contest they had going on, Nero turned away and shook his limbs a little to release the tension. “Yeah, I just wanted to make sure. How does the shield look? You see any problems?” Nero asked with some curiosity.
Nick turned away, returning to his task of collecting the ward stones. “Nero, it looks the same as it did before. At most, all anyone would be able to tell is that you have a condensed field active around you. And even then, they would have to be relatively skilled mages to notice that. You’re the only one who can tell if your essence-shield is up.”
Nero nodded, doing his best to maintain the shield over his essence layer. “How long will it last without me putting in more center?”
Nick shrugged, “No idea. Everyone is different. How much essence did you use to make it? How well are you maintaining its identity? Has it been saving you from damage? There are too many factors to consider. You’ll just have to practice. The hard part is getting used to casting it. And the even harder part is getting used to maintaining it. You’re going to be bleeding center all day if you try and keep it up. Even with your center being abnormally large for your level, your control needs a lot of improvement. There is a reason Sergeant Howard had you running through the elemental wheel so much. The man knows how to get someone like you to focus on learning control. It’s imperative that you learn how to partition your mind. There are many ways to increase your -”
Nero had no idea what Nick meant by that, and he really didn’t want to know. So, he ignored it. He’d been being a better man for a while now, and he wasn’t capable of keeping it up much longer. For the time being, he’d just focus on trying to maintain his shield and ignoring everything else. Nick’s lecture on mental skills and the dangers of mental stress were not high on his list of priorities.
“Nero? Are you listening?” asked Nick, pausing in his trek along the outskirts of their small camp, to look over his should at Nero.
Looking up, Nero saw Nick’s frowning face, and replied easily, “Yup. Focus. Got it. Carry on, we still have 2 more ward stones to collect.”
“Three Nero. Three more stones.” Nick said.
Smiling, Nero met Nick’s glare and replied, “Yup, that’s what I said. Three stones. Chop Chop, the sergeant’s waiting.”
Nick shook his head in exasperation, and started walking again. Nero smiled as he heard Nick mutter, “Little bastard should thank the gods I showed him how to activate his shield. With a personality like that he’s going to be relying on it often enough.”
Nero felt his shield holding steady in his mind, along with the pride at finally having shored up something that had been bothering him for a while. Looking at his friend’s back, he said, “Hey, Nick?”
Tiredly, Nick replied, “Yes, Nero?”
“Seriously man. Thanks for helping me out. I really appreciate it. If you ever need anything, I’ll be there to repay the favor,” Nero said, his voice devoid of the usual undertone of sarcasm.
Nick smiled and replied, “No favors here Nero. You’ve had my friendship since you introduced me to ‘the grind’.”
Nero stumbled, the reminder of the first time he had met Nick causing him to miss a step. He recalled Nick loving the phrase, ‘respect the grind’, and all that it implied. ‘Translation magic for the win, I guess’ Nero thought to himself.
Not to be outdone, Nero replied, “And you’ve had mine since you agreed to shout ‘science’ in your lab while performing unauthorized medical tests on me. You’re my kind of guy, Nick Salvatore. And ours will be a friendship for the ages.’
Nick snorted and replied, “I’d settle for our friendship leading us back to a good meal and a shower. I blame you for getting Vera interested in the nobility again.”
Nero shrugged, “Friend’s wives and their best friends… a complicated relationship if there ever was one.”
Nick stopped in his tracks, and Nero almost walked into his back. Looking up at his friends frowning face, Nero asked, “What? By relationship, I just meant that husbands always worry about their best friend and their wives talking. It’s common knowledge. That’s all I meant, I swear.”
Nick gave Nero a blank look, and replied, “Nero, I just collected the last of the ward stones. If you want to court Vera, be my guest. But I’ll warn you, if you think she runs your life now, just wait until you sign a consort contract. She’ll have you on a bathroom schedule within a week.”
Nero sputtered, “What? No, that’s not what I meant… Wait? A bathroom schedule? Seriously?”
Nick smiled, then walked off back to the camp and the rest of their companions, leaving Nero to think about what Vera would be like as a partner. He knew the young man only thought of her as a mother figure, but it was fun to screw with his head regardless. ‘Maybe I’ve been spending too much time with Nero,’ he wondered.
Comments
Ocean Breeze
It really might just be the best way to deal with him.
Mackay Buss
Yes! Nero is starting to infect others with his own brand of insanity! I'm a sucker for chaos like this and Nero is an embodiment of a chaos maelstrom.
