Chapter 4
Hargreaves' house was a strange place. He liked to souvenir and every major event in his long life was in some way represented in his dwelling. The house itself was huge, the walls covered in paintings and hangings, the floors with Indian and Persian rugs of the highest quality. Statues stood on tables, in corners, on landings. There were bookcases everywhere, filled with priceless, beautiful books, incunabula, manuscripts and scrolls. Occult objects lay in disarray on tables and shelves along with strange things that Hornblower and Kennedy couldn't even identify. On every door there were protective symbols and runes painted in silver. Plants of all descriptions ran rampant across tables, up walls, along windowsills and tumbled down staircases.
Everything was well maintained, polished, dusted, watered and cared for. Jack led them to the library on the first floor up an elegant staircase. The room was filled with bookcases from floor to ceiling, a large table ran down the middle of the room and there were comfortable winged chairs before the fire. Along the northern wall of the room stood an altar and a desk. Above the desk was a painting, a full length and very beautiful portrait of a much younger Pellew, along with several equally beautiful preliminary sketches. Wine and coffee stood on the table as well as cheeses and fruit.
A young man sat very much at his ease in one of the chairs reading from an ancient, leather bound book. He was dressed in a naval uniform of immaculate cut. His eyes were of a profound grey, his features delicate and his dark hair braided into a neat, silky cue. He wore a signet ring of silver on the third finger of his left hand which had a pentacle design worked in a shining green stone. The lad shot to his feet as they entered the room and it became apparent that the lad was, in fact, a lass. The jacket had been cleverly tailored to conceal her curves but those long and extremely shapely legs were undoubtedly feminine. She grinned mischievously at Hargreaves and then turned to Pellew.
"Pell!" her voice was deep for a woman and very musical. "It's so good to see you again!" She crossed the floor in four swift strides and flung herself into his arms. He laughed and returned her embrace with enthusiasm. She looked up at him. "I wanted to speak to you last night but I supposed that you and Jack had a great deal to talk about so I made myself scarce." She had a slight and very pleasant Russian accent.
"Ah, Lieutenant Markarova! It's been far too long! Yes, Jack and I did, indeed, have a great deal to discuss but that doesn't mean that your company would have been in any way unwelcome!" Hargreaves smiled, such a politic answer. Pell had improved with experience. Tatiana looked gratified by his response.
Pellew smiled, charmed by her, as always. "I really should introduce you to my Lieutenants, Tati. This is Archie Kennedy..." Kennedy grinned, stepped forward and shook her hand. Tatiana returned the grin in kind. "And this is Horatio Hornblower." Horatio looked painfully shy and she took pity on him, smiling sweetly but not sweetly enough to put him out of countenance. "I'm p-pleased to meet you..." he murmured "and I to meet you, Lieutenant Hornblower." she replied. Pellew smiled again noticing her gentleness with the shy Hornblower. Exactly as he would have expected from her. "This is Lieutenant Tatiana Markarova. Jack's Aid de Camp."
Now this was very odd indeed. Kennedy really didn't know how to interpret that little exchange. Who the hell were these people and why had that young boy/girl just greeted his reserved Captain with an embrace that made it clear that they were old and intimate friends? She was an attractive creature, androgynous and powerful with it. He liked the strong, supple line of her neck and the bounce in her step, as if she'd never been tired in her life. He liked the way her cue hung almost to her waist and swung when she moved.
Was she truly Navy or was that some kind of polite fiction to accommodate her into the command structure? He looked across at Horatio who had watched the little spectacle with a disbelieving expression, stammering when they were introduced. She'd smiled gently at him and he'd relaxed a little. She was certainly very smooth.
Tatiana smiled, excused herself, and went and poured wine into the crystal goblets that stood on the table. It glittered as it splashed into the glasses. Hargreaves invited them to sit before the fire as Tatiana handed them their glasses. The wine was good, crisp, sweet and cold. She poked the fire, causing it to leap in the fireplace, and then settled herself at Hargreaves' feet. He tugged at her cue, affectionately, and smiled down at her.
A small cat with long, soft, grey, black and white fur and a very long tail jumped onto Kennedy's knee. He smiled, for it was a pretty, friendly animal and it began to purr softly. Kennedy stroked the creature gently, not wanting to frighten it away. It looked up at him with deep blue eyes that glittered with intelligence.
"So, now we can begin?" Hargreaves asked quietly, glancing at Pell, who nodded. Tatiana looked up at him expectantly.
"First I suppose I'd better let you know who I am. I was Myrddin Emrys. Then I was Merlin. Now I'm known as John James Hargreaves, Jack to my friends. Tatiana is my allied spirit." He rested his hand on her head. " My familiar, if you will. And Hrriss, sitting on your knee, Archie, is my fetch. " Hrriss stood on his hind legs, resting his forepaws against Archie's chest and nibbled the end of his nose. Kennedy smiled and tickled Hrriss behind his ears. He wasn't certain what a fetch was but Hrriss was both very charming and very friendly, so he didn't mind waiting around to find out.
Hargreaves continued, "Captain Pellew and I are friends of long standing. He was my Lieutenant many years ago before I was pulled from my command by Military Intelligence. I've been away for fifteen years and returned home three days ago, my quest completed." He looked at them steadily. This was not a joke and he had to persuade them that he was serious. He went on before they could interrupt.
" When we went to Admiralty House this morning Admiral Hood accepted my offer to take the Merlin out to aid the fleet. I need a crew. Captain Pellew has kindly offered to act as my Co-captain. He has the very highest opinion of both of you and suggested that I offer you the positions of First and Second Lieutenants."
Hornblower looked at him in open disbelief. Hargreaves smiled. " Mr Hornblower, is it my bald statement as to my identity or my offering you the position of First Lieutenant that has you filled with such disbelief?"
" I don't mean to be rude sir but please understand that your identity is rather a large pill to swallow." the smile on his face robbed Hornblower's words of their sting.
"I see I'll need to provide you with some evidence, Mr Hornblower. Hrriss, please change form for us."
Hrriss jumped from Kennedy's knee and as he did so he morphed, grew and changed shape. By the time he landed he was a singularly beautiful snow leopard. He wreathed himself around three times and then went and sat before Horatio. He began to purr deep in his chest and rested one paw on Hornblower's knee.
Suddenly Hornblower was aware of a strange, smoky voice in his head.
*Yes, Horatio. It's me. Believe. All of this is real. Not some trick with smoke and mirrors. * Hrriss looked into Hornblower's eyes and didn't blink. Horatio shook his head as if he was trying to clear it but the voice was still there, the leopard still purred and Horatio sat stunned and unable to think. His entire worldview had just been upended and nothing made sense. Hrriss reached up and gently laid one velvet paw against Horatio's cheek. Dimly, he was aware of Archie's hand covering his wrist.
Archie was well aware that Hrriss was not what he appeared to be. He'd been aware of intelligence in those deep blue eyes and had a strong impression that Hrriss had been flirting with him. He was more than a little startled but he was far more concerned with the shock and disorientation he knew Horatio must be feeling. He stood, moved across to his friend's chair and rested both his hands on his shoulders. The feeling of confusion and disorientation became stronger as he made physical contact with Horatio. He calmed himself and in so doing seemed to calm Horatio, too. He was only aware that Horatio had been trembling when he stopped.
Hrriss, having made his point, shrunk to house cat size again and rubbed against Horatio's ankles.
Neither Hargreaves nor Pellew spoke. They simply waited for Kennedy and Hornblower to assimilate the new evidence.
"I don't understand. How is this possible?" Hornblower asked, his eyes like saucers. He gazed at Pellew asking for reassurance. Kennedy radiated concern but also a sense of wonder, as if he was beginning to accept and understand.
"There's more in our world than we are equipped to see, Horatio. To spirits like Hrriss and Tatiana bodies are mutable. They're nothing more than a means of experiencing the world and can be changed and adjusted at will provided they have the energy to do so." Pellew searched for words, his intuition telling him that the lads would accept the information more easily if it came from him rather than Jack. "Jack is immensely powerful and provides energy to his spirits whenever they ask for it."
'Horatio?" said Pellew, quietly. "Do you need another demonstration?"
Hornblower looked back at him with a strange, shattered look in his eyes. His world- view was crumbling around him and he hadn't accepted the new one yet. Pellew glanced at Hargreaves and nodded. Hargreaves rose from his chair.
"Come over here, gentlemen." Hargreaves walked over to the long table in the middle of the room. On it stood a hoya vine. Its leaves were broad and glossy; it's slender tendrils, delicate and fine. The wizard drew one elegant finger along the edge of the largest leaf and the plant started to grow before their eyes, tendrils reached out to touch his caressing fingers. Then it started to flower, it's sweet fragrance spreading through the room. He smiled affectionately at the vine, as if it was an old and trusted friend. He lifted his eyes to meet Pellew's across the table and the expression remained.
Hornblower still looked like someone had kicked his feet out from under him. Kennedy's arm snaked about his friend again, understanding how difficult this was for Horatio to accept. Jack watched with delight as Archie's light, the visible expression of his compassion engulfed Horatio and the lad started to relax.
"I don't know what to say, what to believe..." Horatio said with considerable anguish in his voice. "My mind tells me such things don't happen and yet the evidence is there, right before my eyes. You accept it, Sir," He looked at Pellew, hoping he'd explain "and, Archie, you look like the last piece of a puzzle that's been bothering you for years has finally fallen into place."
"We're offering you something that is given to very few, Horatio. You know the stories, the myths about Jack. They are true. Most of 'em, anyway." Pellew smiled across the table at his friend. "Still not convinced?" Horatio looked at him in confusion. "Give me your sword, Horatio." The Captain's voice was very quiet. Horatio drew his sword and handed it hilt first to Pellew, who drew the blade across his palm, leaving a deep gash that exposed bones and tendons. He made no sound and didn't even flinch. Then he laid the bloodied blade in the table. Hargreaves had come to his side and took Pellew's injured hand in both of his own, leaving the palm uncovered so that Hornblower and Kennedy could see the wound clearly.
"Come here, both of you, and convince yourselves that this wound is real. Touch it if you must. There must be no doubt in your minds." said Pellew. Gingerly, Hornblower touched the wound. Kennedy simply watched. When Horatio was convinced Hargreaves took Pellew's hand between his own again and slowly the wound began to heal. It started at the bottom of the wound, the bones became covered as the muscles and ligaments were reconstructed. The flesh melded together again and the skin knitted until all that was left of the wound was a quickly vanishing white scar and the blood drying on the skin.
Kennedy watched, amazed at first, but with a strange feeling of deja vous. It was as if he'd dreamt this as a child, or heard it in a story at his mother's knee. His mind reached for details but couldn't find them. Suddenly he became aware of Hrriss rubbing against his legs and without thinking he picked the little animal up. Hrriss clambered from arms to shoulder and sat there, purring in Archie's ear. It really did look like he'd been adopted.
Hargreaves gestured for them to take their seats again.
Jack caught a glimpse of Hrriss and realised that his mischievous fetch was attempting to seduce Archie. He smiled. That damned cat could get away with anything and Hrriss had always liked healers. Now the wretched animal was nibbling the boy's ear. It really was nauseating! Jack watched as Archie moved closer to Horatio, slipping an arm about his friend, supporting him. It was lovely to watch them. Each thought of the other first and they supported one another without even being aware of it. That told any but the most casual observer a great deal about them. He was sure Pellew had seen it because he and Pellew reacted the same way. He gave his friend a sidelong glance, raising one eyebrow slightly.
Horatio still felt dazed but there could be no denying what he'd seen and he was far to honest to prevaricate. "I don't understand how you did that, Jack, but I accept that you did. And that you are who you say you are."
"You don't need to understand, at least, not now. You'll understand soon enough if you choose to join us."
"Do you chose to join us?" Pellew didn't want them to feel forced into this. Jack was a very dominant person and was sometimes a little too eager to believe that people were prepared to fall in with his plans. He knew it wasn't deliberate, just that Jack was used to having his own way and a bag to put it in.
Kennedy and Hornblower looked at one another and Kennedy nodded at his friend.
"Yes, we both want to be involved in this. It's far to great an adventure to pass up. It was never in doubt, really." Hornblower tried to sound offhand and failed miserably.
"Thankyou." Hargreaves smiled "Welcome aboard!" He looked sidelong at Pellew.
"What of the other matter?" Pellew asked, a little sharply. "The things you saw, earlier. Much better to give them the whole story."
Hargreaves looked down at his boots for a moment and then looked back at the expectant Lieutenants.
"Very well, you're right, Pell. Gentlemen, when I first saw you this evening I took the liberty of reading your auras. Not, I would hasten to add, because I didn't trust you, but because it is my policy to do so whenever I meet a person unknown to me. It's a practice that has saved my life on many occasions. What I saw startled me. No, that would be the understatement of the century. I was shocked. Both of you are wizards. Horatio, you have a great facility with luck and probability magic. You've even managed to train yourself in the basics of its use. I'm very impressed. Untrained luck wizards are a danger to those around them but you've brought them good luck and those you love still stand at your side. Pell tells me that you play cards very well. I think that's how you trained yourself."
Hornblower looked sceptical. "Think about it, man." Hargreaves leaned forward, his eyes intense. "How many times have you cheated Death? She doesn't let go of a person easily. What's more you've done it for the Indefatigable and her entire crew. How many times have you played the odds and come out of an impossible situation with your skin and those of your companions, more or less, intact? Think on it, Horatio, such things to not happen without help."
"That debacle at Musillac..." Hornblower looked at his boots, unable to meet the eyes of his comrades.
"From what Pell has told me of that particular incident, it was bungled by your superiors and you were blameless. Pell wasn't expecting any of you to survive and yet you only lost six. That was luck magic teamed with your native intelligence and cunning. Be proud; you have the right to be."
"I think you must be mistaken, Jack, but I'm prepared to accept it as a working hypothesis. I'm not close minded, I'm willing to be convinced."
"Thankyou for that vote of confidence, Mr Hornblower!" Jack was amused. He smiled and turned to Kennedy.
"Archie, I know that you must have had an appallingly difficult childhood and youth. I can see the pain in your aura. I'm not going to ask for details but I believe I can guess. That suffering has given you a deep empathy with others who suffer as you did. That, in turn, has developed into a gift of healing. At the moment it's undeveloped because you've not had the confidence to believe you can help but soon it will begin to manifest. Although you won't believe me yet, you are one of the strongest, bravest people I've ever met. You don't think of yourself that way but the people around you do. Pell told me that you want back to prison in Spain after having spent years in captivity. I can hardly imagine what you'd experienced there already and yet you went back. You went to honour Horatio's word and because you didn't want him to have to go back alone. That, in my book, was an act of great courage, loyalty and mind-boggling self sacrifice. I was very impressed when I heard the story. Few people have the good fortune to encounter such a friend. These are all elements that go into a truly great healing ability. Moreover Hrriss had taken a liking to you and he usually behaves that way around healers."
"Thank God!" Hornblower expostulated, his confusion forgotten for the moment." I've been telling him that for years but he doesn't believe me." he turned to Archie and poked him in the chest for added emphasis. "Believe it. It's true!"
As if to add further emphasis Hrriss began to nibble the healer's ear gently. Archie giggled; Hrriss' whiskers tickled him. Then he looked back at Hargreaves, his eyes wide with wonder. He wasn't used to this, wasn't used to being built up this way and treated with this kind of respect. Jack admired him! It was clear both in his words and his eyes. And Horatio...thinking back he remembered Horatio telling him this but he'd just put it down to Horatio's generosity, unable to take his friend's words at face value.
"So, what happens now?" Archie smiled, his own healing begun.
"Join us. Allow me to teach you."
Hrriss jumped back onto Archie's knee and started, very methodically, to undo the buttons on his waistcoat. Archie ran a gentle hand down Hrriss' back and the cat began to purr.
Hargreaves' house was a strange place. He liked to souvenir and every major event in his long life was in some way represented in his dwelling. The house itself was huge, the walls covered in paintings and hangings, the floors with Indian and Persian rugs of the highest quality. Statues stood on tables, in corners, on landings. There were bookcases everywhere, filled with priceless, beautiful books, incunabula, manuscripts and scrolls. Occult objects lay in disarray on tables and shelves along with strange things that Hornblower and Kennedy couldn't even identify. On every door there were protective symbols and runes painted in silver. Plants of all descriptions ran rampant across tables, up walls, along windowsills and tumbled down staircases.
Everything was well maintained, polished, dusted, watered and cared for. Jack led them to the library on the first floor up an elegant staircase. The room was filled with bookcases from floor to ceiling, a large table ran down the middle of the room and there were comfortable winged chairs before the fire. Along the northern wall of the room stood an altar and a desk. Above the desk was a painting, a full length and very beautiful portrait of a much younger Pellew, along with several equally beautiful preliminary sketches. Wine and coffee stood on the table as well as cheeses and fruit.
A young man sat very much at his ease in one of the chairs reading from an ancient, leather bound book. He was dressed in a naval uniform of immaculate cut. His eyes were of a profound grey, his features delicate and his dark hair braided into a neat, silky cue. He wore a signet ring of silver on the third finger of his left hand which had a pentacle design worked in a shining green stone. The lad shot to his feet as they entered the room and it became apparent that the lad was, in fact, a lass. The jacket had been cleverly tailored to conceal her curves but those long and extremely shapely legs were undoubtedly feminine. She grinned mischievously at Hargreaves and then turned to Pellew.
"Pell!" her voice was deep for a woman and very musical. "It's so good to see you again!" She crossed the floor in four swift strides and flung herself into his arms. He laughed and returned her embrace with enthusiasm. She looked up at him. "I wanted to speak to you last night but I supposed that you and Jack had a great deal to talk about so I made myself scarce." She had a slight and very pleasant Russian accent.
"Ah, Lieutenant Markarova! It's been far too long! Yes, Jack and I did, indeed, have a great deal to discuss but that doesn't mean that your company would have been in any way unwelcome!" Hargreaves smiled, such a politic answer. Pell had improved with experience. Tatiana looked gratified by his response.
Pellew smiled, charmed by her, as always. "I really should introduce you to my Lieutenants, Tati. This is Archie Kennedy..." Kennedy grinned, stepped forward and shook her hand. Tatiana returned the grin in kind. "And this is Horatio Hornblower." Horatio looked painfully shy and she took pity on him, smiling sweetly but not sweetly enough to put him out of countenance. "I'm p-pleased to meet you..." he murmured "and I to meet you, Lieutenant Hornblower." she replied. Pellew smiled again noticing her gentleness with the shy Hornblower. Exactly as he would have expected from her. "This is Lieutenant Tatiana Markarova. Jack's Aid de Camp."
Now this was very odd indeed. Kennedy really didn't know how to interpret that little exchange. Who the hell were these people and why had that young boy/girl just greeted his reserved Captain with an embrace that made it clear that they were old and intimate friends? She was an attractive creature, androgynous and powerful with it. He liked the strong, supple line of her neck and the bounce in her step, as if she'd never been tired in her life. He liked the way her cue hung almost to her waist and swung when she moved.
Was she truly Navy or was that some kind of polite fiction to accommodate her into the command structure? He looked across at Horatio who had watched the little spectacle with a disbelieving expression, stammering when they were introduced. She'd smiled gently at him and he'd relaxed a little. She was certainly very smooth.
Tatiana smiled, excused herself, and went and poured wine into the crystal goblets that stood on the table. It glittered as it splashed into the glasses. Hargreaves invited them to sit before the fire as Tatiana handed them their glasses. The wine was good, crisp, sweet and cold. She poked the fire, causing it to leap in the fireplace, and then settled herself at Hargreaves' feet. He tugged at her cue, affectionately, and smiled down at her.
A small cat with long, soft, grey, black and white fur and a very long tail jumped onto Kennedy's knee. He smiled, for it was a pretty, friendly animal and it began to purr softly. Kennedy stroked the creature gently, not wanting to frighten it away. It looked up at him with deep blue eyes that glittered with intelligence.
"So, now we can begin?" Hargreaves asked quietly, glancing at Pell, who nodded. Tatiana looked up at him expectantly.
"First I suppose I'd better let you know who I am. I was Myrddin Emrys. Then I was Merlin. Now I'm known as John James Hargreaves, Jack to my friends. Tatiana is my allied spirit." He rested his hand on her head. " My familiar, if you will. And Hrriss, sitting on your knee, Archie, is my fetch. " Hrriss stood on his hind legs, resting his forepaws against Archie's chest and nibbled the end of his nose. Kennedy smiled and tickled Hrriss behind his ears. He wasn't certain what a fetch was but Hrriss was both very charming and very friendly, so he didn't mind waiting around to find out.
Hargreaves continued, "Captain Pellew and I are friends of long standing. He was my Lieutenant many years ago before I was pulled from my command by Military Intelligence. I've been away for fifteen years and returned home three days ago, my quest completed." He looked at them steadily. This was not a joke and he had to persuade them that he was serious. He went on before they could interrupt.
" When we went to Admiralty House this morning Admiral Hood accepted my offer to take the Merlin out to aid the fleet. I need a crew. Captain Pellew has kindly offered to act as my Co-captain. He has the very highest opinion of both of you and suggested that I offer you the positions of First and Second Lieutenants."
Hornblower looked at him in open disbelief. Hargreaves smiled. " Mr Hornblower, is it my bald statement as to my identity or my offering you the position of First Lieutenant that has you filled with such disbelief?"
" I don't mean to be rude sir but please understand that your identity is rather a large pill to swallow." the smile on his face robbed Hornblower's words of their sting.
"I see I'll need to provide you with some evidence, Mr Hornblower. Hrriss, please change form for us."
Hrriss jumped from Kennedy's knee and as he did so he morphed, grew and changed shape. By the time he landed he was a singularly beautiful snow leopard. He wreathed himself around three times and then went and sat before Horatio. He began to purr deep in his chest and rested one paw on Hornblower's knee.
Suddenly Hornblower was aware of a strange, smoky voice in his head.
*Yes, Horatio. It's me. Believe. All of this is real. Not some trick with smoke and mirrors. * Hrriss looked into Hornblower's eyes and didn't blink. Horatio shook his head as if he was trying to clear it but the voice was still there, the leopard still purred and Horatio sat stunned and unable to think. His entire worldview had just been upended and nothing made sense. Hrriss reached up and gently laid one velvet paw against Horatio's cheek. Dimly, he was aware of Archie's hand covering his wrist.
Archie was well aware that Hrriss was not what he appeared to be. He'd been aware of intelligence in those deep blue eyes and had a strong impression that Hrriss had been flirting with him. He was more than a little startled but he was far more concerned with the shock and disorientation he knew Horatio must be feeling. He stood, moved across to his friend's chair and rested both his hands on his shoulders. The feeling of confusion and disorientation became stronger as he made physical contact with Horatio. He calmed himself and in so doing seemed to calm Horatio, too. He was only aware that Horatio had been trembling when he stopped.
Hrriss, having made his point, shrunk to house cat size again and rubbed against Horatio's ankles.
Neither Hargreaves nor Pellew spoke. They simply waited for Kennedy and Hornblower to assimilate the new evidence.
"I don't understand. How is this possible?" Hornblower asked, his eyes like saucers. He gazed at Pellew asking for reassurance. Kennedy radiated concern but also a sense of wonder, as if he was beginning to accept and understand.
"There's more in our world than we are equipped to see, Horatio. To spirits like Hrriss and Tatiana bodies are mutable. They're nothing more than a means of experiencing the world and can be changed and adjusted at will provided they have the energy to do so." Pellew searched for words, his intuition telling him that the lads would accept the information more easily if it came from him rather than Jack. "Jack is immensely powerful and provides energy to his spirits whenever they ask for it."
'Horatio?" said Pellew, quietly. "Do you need another demonstration?"
Hornblower looked back at him with a strange, shattered look in his eyes. His world- view was crumbling around him and he hadn't accepted the new one yet. Pellew glanced at Hargreaves and nodded. Hargreaves rose from his chair.
"Come over here, gentlemen." Hargreaves walked over to the long table in the middle of the room. On it stood a hoya vine. Its leaves were broad and glossy; it's slender tendrils, delicate and fine. The wizard drew one elegant finger along the edge of the largest leaf and the plant started to grow before their eyes, tendrils reached out to touch his caressing fingers. Then it started to flower, it's sweet fragrance spreading through the room. He smiled affectionately at the vine, as if it was an old and trusted friend. He lifted his eyes to meet Pellew's across the table and the expression remained.
Hornblower still looked like someone had kicked his feet out from under him. Kennedy's arm snaked about his friend again, understanding how difficult this was for Horatio to accept. Jack watched with delight as Archie's light, the visible expression of his compassion engulfed Horatio and the lad started to relax.
"I don't know what to say, what to believe..." Horatio said with considerable anguish in his voice. "My mind tells me such things don't happen and yet the evidence is there, right before my eyes. You accept it, Sir," He looked at Pellew, hoping he'd explain "and, Archie, you look like the last piece of a puzzle that's been bothering you for years has finally fallen into place."
"We're offering you something that is given to very few, Horatio. You know the stories, the myths about Jack. They are true. Most of 'em, anyway." Pellew smiled across the table at his friend. "Still not convinced?" Horatio looked at him in confusion. "Give me your sword, Horatio." The Captain's voice was very quiet. Horatio drew his sword and handed it hilt first to Pellew, who drew the blade across his palm, leaving a deep gash that exposed bones and tendons. He made no sound and didn't even flinch. Then he laid the bloodied blade in the table. Hargreaves had come to his side and took Pellew's injured hand in both of his own, leaving the palm uncovered so that Hornblower and Kennedy could see the wound clearly.
"Come here, both of you, and convince yourselves that this wound is real. Touch it if you must. There must be no doubt in your minds." said Pellew. Gingerly, Hornblower touched the wound. Kennedy simply watched. When Horatio was convinced Hargreaves took Pellew's hand between his own again and slowly the wound began to heal. It started at the bottom of the wound, the bones became covered as the muscles and ligaments were reconstructed. The flesh melded together again and the skin knitted until all that was left of the wound was a quickly vanishing white scar and the blood drying on the skin.
Kennedy watched, amazed at first, but with a strange feeling of deja vous. It was as if he'd dreamt this as a child, or heard it in a story at his mother's knee. His mind reached for details but couldn't find them. Suddenly he became aware of Hrriss rubbing against his legs and without thinking he picked the little animal up. Hrriss clambered from arms to shoulder and sat there, purring in Archie's ear. It really did look like he'd been adopted.
Hargreaves gestured for them to take their seats again.
Jack caught a glimpse of Hrriss and realised that his mischievous fetch was attempting to seduce Archie. He smiled. That damned cat could get away with anything and Hrriss had always liked healers. Now the wretched animal was nibbling the boy's ear. It really was nauseating! Jack watched as Archie moved closer to Horatio, slipping an arm about his friend, supporting him. It was lovely to watch them. Each thought of the other first and they supported one another without even being aware of it. That told any but the most casual observer a great deal about them. He was sure Pellew had seen it because he and Pellew reacted the same way. He gave his friend a sidelong glance, raising one eyebrow slightly.
Horatio still felt dazed but there could be no denying what he'd seen and he was far to honest to prevaricate. "I don't understand how you did that, Jack, but I accept that you did. And that you are who you say you are."
"You don't need to understand, at least, not now. You'll understand soon enough if you choose to join us."
"Do you chose to join us?" Pellew didn't want them to feel forced into this. Jack was a very dominant person and was sometimes a little too eager to believe that people were prepared to fall in with his plans. He knew it wasn't deliberate, just that Jack was used to having his own way and a bag to put it in.
Kennedy and Hornblower looked at one another and Kennedy nodded at his friend.
"Yes, we both want to be involved in this. It's far to great an adventure to pass up. It was never in doubt, really." Hornblower tried to sound offhand and failed miserably.
"Thankyou." Hargreaves smiled "Welcome aboard!" He looked sidelong at Pellew.
"What of the other matter?" Pellew asked, a little sharply. "The things you saw, earlier. Much better to give them the whole story."
Hargreaves looked down at his boots for a moment and then looked back at the expectant Lieutenants.
"Very well, you're right, Pell. Gentlemen, when I first saw you this evening I took the liberty of reading your auras. Not, I would hasten to add, because I didn't trust you, but because it is my policy to do so whenever I meet a person unknown to me. It's a practice that has saved my life on many occasions. What I saw startled me. No, that would be the understatement of the century. I was shocked. Both of you are wizards. Horatio, you have a great facility with luck and probability magic. You've even managed to train yourself in the basics of its use. I'm very impressed. Untrained luck wizards are a danger to those around them but you've brought them good luck and those you love still stand at your side. Pell tells me that you play cards very well. I think that's how you trained yourself."
Hornblower looked sceptical. "Think about it, man." Hargreaves leaned forward, his eyes intense. "How many times have you cheated Death? She doesn't let go of a person easily. What's more you've done it for the Indefatigable and her entire crew. How many times have you played the odds and come out of an impossible situation with your skin and those of your companions, more or less, intact? Think on it, Horatio, such things to not happen without help."
"That debacle at Musillac..." Hornblower looked at his boots, unable to meet the eyes of his comrades.
"From what Pell has told me of that particular incident, it was bungled by your superiors and you were blameless. Pell wasn't expecting any of you to survive and yet you only lost six. That was luck magic teamed with your native intelligence and cunning. Be proud; you have the right to be."
"I think you must be mistaken, Jack, but I'm prepared to accept it as a working hypothesis. I'm not close minded, I'm willing to be convinced."
"Thankyou for that vote of confidence, Mr Hornblower!" Jack was amused. He smiled and turned to Kennedy.
"Archie, I know that you must have had an appallingly difficult childhood and youth. I can see the pain in your aura. I'm not going to ask for details but I believe I can guess. That suffering has given you a deep empathy with others who suffer as you did. That, in turn, has developed into a gift of healing. At the moment it's undeveloped because you've not had the confidence to believe you can help but soon it will begin to manifest. Although you won't believe me yet, you are one of the strongest, bravest people I've ever met. You don't think of yourself that way but the people around you do. Pell told me that you want back to prison in Spain after having spent years in captivity. I can hardly imagine what you'd experienced there already and yet you went back. You went to honour Horatio's word and because you didn't want him to have to go back alone. That, in my book, was an act of great courage, loyalty and mind-boggling self sacrifice. I was very impressed when I heard the story. Few people have the good fortune to encounter such a friend. These are all elements that go into a truly great healing ability. Moreover Hrriss had taken a liking to you and he usually behaves that way around healers."
"Thank God!" Hornblower expostulated, his confusion forgotten for the moment." I've been telling him that for years but he doesn't believe me." he turned to Archie and poked him in the chest for added emphasis. "Believe it. It's true!"
As if to add further emphasis Hrriss began to nibble the healer's ear gently. Archie giggled; Hrriss' whiskers tickled him. Then he looked back at Hargreaves, his eyes wide with wonder. He wasn't used to this, wasn't used to being built up this way and treated with this kind of respect. Jack admired him! It was clear both in his words and his eyes. And Horatio...thinking back he remembered Horatio telling him this but he'd just put it down to Horatio's generosity, unable to take his friend's words at face value.
"So, what happens now?" Archie smiled, his own healing begun.
"Join us. Allow me to teach you."
Hrriss jumped back onto Archie's knee and started, very methodically, to undo the buttons on his waistcoat. Archie ran a gentle hand down Hrriss' back and the cat began to purr.