Lucky Rabbit

Lian hefted one of his new schoolbooks, admiring the bright crispness of the pages and the smoothness of the cover. So many generations of his family had lived on the Dunning estate that they rarely bought new books, since they could find almost anything they needed among the tomes already lining the shelves of the library. But things changed, and Lian had a question about the difference between Nature and Earth mages that- 

“Do you know anything about carriages?”

He stopped halfway up the tower stairs, listening. That was his father’s voice. Who was he talking to? Nels? The coachman hadn’t been feeling well for a while, so maybe his father was checking to see if he needed to send for Healer Alden?

But the voice that answered didn’t belong to Nels. It was rough and unfamiliar, and it took Lian a moment to place it as that of the head groundskeeper. Not someone he had much cause to interact with.

“Not much, m’lord. They’ve got wheels, and horses pull them, so they’re just like a cart, I suppose.”

“Can you make it so ours doesn’t work? Nothing serious. Just something that would keep a cart from going anywhere for a day or so. That’s all I need.”

“Break a wheel or something? I… suppose so, m’lord.”

“That’s fine. Just make sure no one can leave Dunning estate for a little while.”

“Aye, m’lord. Right after I show you the Imp Briar. It’s the last bush we planted. The red one.”

Shuffling announced that the two men were leaving the studio. Without quite understanding why, Lian turned and ran back down the steps and out through the door, barely managing to turn so it looked like he hadn’t yet entered when his father and the groundskeeper – what was his name? – emerged into the sunshine, then stopped upon seeing Lian.

Eyes going from the open book to Lian’s face, Bryan Conroy managed something that wasn’t quite a smile, and Lian could see that he looked even more worried than he had lately. They’d all been so excited to learn that they’d soon be adding another member to their family, but over the last few months, both of his parents had become quieter and more pinched. Lian had even found Mother crying, her hands clutching her belly as if to hold onto the small life growing inside.

“Do you need something, Lian?” his father asked, and Lian could only shake his head. It was indicative of his agitation that Bryan simply accepted this and continued on, speaking in low tones to… George! That was it. The groundskeeper’s name was George!

The question of determining whether a field was good for growing any given plant was better done with Nature or Earth magic fell away as Lian hurried off, resolving to find his mother. He’d seen her leave the tower, wan and grim as she so often was these days, but he hadn’t thought much of it. Why hadn’t he checked to see if she was all right? How could he be so selfish?

Lady Grace was with her younger son in the playroom, sitting in a rocking chair, her eyes closed as she hummed softly and stroked her bulging belly with tender fingers. When Lian entered, she opened her eyes and managed a smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. Opening her arms, she said, “Hello, my sweet boy. Come give me a hug.”

Lian did so, and Thaniel giggled as he joined in as well. The little boy had struggled to accept that there wasn’t enough room in their mother’s lap for him any longer, but by now he was used to it, and even seemed to understand that he needed to be quiet around her. A book lay open on the low table, along with a few pieces of paper and some colored wax sticks for drawing.

As he straightened, Lian clutched his book to his chest and said, “Are you all right, Mother? I saw Father, and he looked-”

Grace’s mouth flattened and small wrinkles formed between her pale brows. It used to be that whenever Lian mentioned one of his parents to the other, they automatically smiled, and while he’d once found it almost embarrassing, now he missed it.

“I’m fine,” she said shortly, then caught herself and let out a slow breath, her hand returning to absently stroking her stomach. “I really am fine, Lian. You need to focus on your studies. You’ll be going back to school as soon as they get this outbreak under control, and it wouldn’t do to have you fall behind.”

He almost snorted. He was already so far ahead that his only real competition was Edgar, one of his friends from Small Group. But snorting wouldn’t be polite, and while his parents were far less restrictive than those of most of his schoolmates, one thing they didn’t allow was impoliteness. That was part of the reason they’d started writing Wayward Pirate Pete for him and then for Thaniel.

Casting a glance at his younger brother, who was studiously dragging a bright green stick of wax across his paper, Lian lowered his voice and said, “Did you ask your cousin when that might be?” Thaniel was too young to be told that Lian was only home because his school had been closed after a good quarter of the staff and students became ill. If the younger boy overheard, he might well become frightened, and there was no need to risk it.

Anyone who had a house outside of the city had retreated to it, and of Lian’s friends, only Dorian remained in Knightmere. Dorian, being Dorian, had no idea what was going on, but Grace’s distant cousin Augustus, who had visited them a few times, was involved in the government somehow, so she had written him a letter to see if they had managed to contain the contagion yet.

She hesitated, then nodded. “They’ve developed a medication that allows most of those infected to recover without lingering effects, but haven’t yet figured out how to prevent it entirely. He estimates another month or so.”

Lian felt his shoulders sag. The only good thing about this was that he would be home when his baby brother or sister was born. The due date was still a few weeks to a month away, but the shape of his mother’s belly had changed lately, and he’d overheard a few of the staff say that usually happened right before a baby was born.

Grace paused a moment longer, watching Thaniel draw, before she murmured, “Would you like to go back now?”

At first, Lian wasn’t even certain she was talking to him, but then he caught her beautiful eyes watching for his reaction, and drew in a startled breath. “Is it safe?”

She glanced away, then shrugged. “I have friends in the temple. I haven’t spoken to them in… a long time, but if anyplace is safe, it would be there. This illness resists being cured by Light elementals, but no one inside the temple has fallen sick, either.”

Again, her hands smoothed the layers of her dress over her stomach, but this time they paused at the top of the curve. Laughing, she took Lian’s hand and laid it over the spot. He felt the thump against his fingers, but he was watching her. Lian hadn’t seen his mother smile like that in months.

“There, now you’ve been kicked by both of your siblings,” she said, the smile still lingering around her mouth, lightening her green eyes. “Do you remember when Thaniel was in my womb, and he kicked your head when you rested it on my stomach?” Lian shook his head. That was six years ago, and he’s been the same age Thaniel was now. Would Thaniel remember watching their younger sibling grow inside their mother?

Hearing his name, Thaniel got up, bringing his paper with him. Holding it up, he pointed to the misshapen figure surrounded by red blobs that vaguely resembled hearts. “This’s our sister,” he said proudly. “Daddy said it’s not fair we both look like you, so she should look like him. See? She has black hair, ‘steada yellow, an’ your eyes.” He widened his own eyes, the familiar Conroy blue, and blinked them owlishly.

Their mother smiled, reaching out and drawing him in for another hug, then used her other arm to tug Lian down as well. “What if it’s another boy? Don’t you want a little brother?”

Thaniel snuggled in, shaking his head. “Nah. I want a girl. Girls smell better than boys.”

Grace laughed her old laugh, a bright peal of joy, and kissed his head. “I’m not sure my mother would have agreed with that,” she told him, her smile audible, “but I think we’ll all just be happy when this little one is born safe and healthy.” She lowered her voice conspiratorially. “Though I wouldn’t mind a girl, either. Maybe Pirate Pete needs a Second Mate.”

Thaniel grinned. He’d lost his first tooth just a few days ago, and the gap only made his smile even more endearing. Taking his picture back, he said, “I’ll give her a sword and an eyepatch!” before scampering off to do just that.

Their mother watched him with a fond smile, which faded into her now normal look of fatigue as she turned back to Lian. Dropping her voice again, she said, “Lian… Could you pack a bag for yourself? Put in whatever you’ll need for school. Just don’t mention it to your father.” She attempted another smile, but even Lian could see the effort it took. “I think we all need a week or so away, but I’d like to surprise him. And if they start school back up while we’re gone, you can leave directly from there.”

That wasn’t right. Lian’s parents didn’t keep secrets from each other. Not big secrets. Yes, Father had arranged for surprise private dinners with his wife, and Mother sometimes planned a picnic or some other outing which she sprung on her husband at the last moment so his tendency to avoid leaving their estate wouldn’t interfere. But nothing like this. This didn’t sound like she actually intended to invite Father along at all.

“What if he refuses?” Lian asked, knowing Bryan Conroy would do exactly that. Ever since they’d found out Grace was expecting, he’d been protective to the point of being too much so. When his wife started fading, and then Lian was sent home until the epidemic was over, he’d simply announced that no one was allowed to leave or enter the estate other than the healer. Only the servants who were willing to live there were allowed to stay, and everyone else was let go, at least until the baby was born and the illness cured.

Grace’s lips stretched, but this time the expression bore no resemblance to a smile. Her hands were cradling her belly again as she said, “He’ll come, or he’ll follow once he realizes we’re all going without him.”

Reaching up, she stroked Lian’s cheek, then rocked forward so she could get out of the chair. He hurried to help her, and she leaned so heavily on him that Lian struggled to stay upright himself. He should have joined Dorian and Kaden in more of their repetitive exercises. Then he’d be strong enough to help more.

“Don’t worry, my precious, wonderful boy. Everything will be fine,” she said as she reached her feet and began to make her slow, awkward way to the door. Lian walked along behind her, hands extended as if she might fall at any moment. When she made her deliberate way out into the hall, however, he remained behind. Should he tell her about the conversation he’d heard between his father and the groundskeeper? But no, she had enough to worry about, and he was almost a man. He could handle it himself.

As soon as he heard his mother’s voice joined by that of Edna, the housekeeper, Lian too slipped out of the room. He went in the opposite direction, however, leaving the house so quickly he didn’t even pause to put on a coat.

It took a while to find Nels, who turned out to be sitting on a bale of hay inside the nice, warm stable, directing a stablehand who was cleaning the stalls. The current members of the family weren’t much interested in horses, so while there were enough stalls for a dozen steeds, only four of those were filled. Two held sleepy draft horses who would pull plows and carts in the warmer months, and two contained the matched set of mares who pulled the carriage. One of these was new, having been purchased only last summer, after the old mare on which Lian learned to ride had been retired and sent to a nearby farm where she would spend the rest of her days standing in a sun-warmed field while cropping clover.

Nels was never the most cheerful of souls, and he didn’t quite manage to hide his scowl when he saw Lian coming. They hadn’t gotten along since Lian got old enough to realize that just because the man was older, that didn’t mean he got to tell Lian what to do. Nels always seemed to find some special pleasure in ordering around the boy who would someday be his lord.

“Nels, I want you to keep a close eye on the carriage for the next few days,” he told the man, who didn’t even bother to stand in response.

“It’s already locked up for no good reason. Not like someone’s gonna go gallivantin’ off in it without permission,” Nels muttered, swiping at his nose with his sleeve. His eyes looked red and watery, and if Lian didn’t know no one was allowed on or off the estate, he would have guessed Nels had been exposed to some illness. The one good thing that had come from Lord Conroy’s order was that no one had gotten sick in more than a month.

Lian felt his lips tighten, and his shoulders pulled back. There was only one sure way to get the man to give him the proper respect, and he felt a mantle of authority fall around him as he pushed away his emotions, settling into that cold, rational place that allowed him to speak so others couldn’t ignore him. The only people it didn’t work on were his parents and Thaniel, but that was all right, though it would have been nice if Thaniel, at least, listened to him sometimes.

“I asked you to keep an eye on it,” Lian said, enunciating each word with great care. “Are you going to do it, or-?” He never specified exactly what the ‘or’ contained, but people seemed to fill in the blank themselves.

Nels’s bleary eyes slid away, but he actually struggled to his feet. “I’ll do it. Anything else?”

Lian relaxed, shaking his head, then said, “If anyone sends for it, make sure you look it over first. Check for, um, broken wheels and things.”

The older man didn’t quite roll his eyes, saying, “Sure, I always do.”

That didn’t sound terribly convincing, but Lian had done what he could. With a curt nod, he turned and left, hearing Nels start shouting at the hapless stable lad as soon as Lian’s back was turned.