Never Let You Down
Chapter Nine: Lacey, Part IV
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As I made my way down the long hallway to where Soren's office was, I couldn't help but wonder what my punishment would be. While it was true that I deserved the worst for my invasion of privacy, something about my actions actually seemed...justified. I know it sounds crazy, after all, I did dig into his wife's past, and I wasn't too secretive about it either. Surely he would find out everything about my so-called investigation, and it was quite possible that he would drop me as a student. Oh, I really don't want that to happen--I love it here oh-so-much!
Aside from my thoughts of righteous punishments for my deeds, the only other sound my ears could detect was the click-clack of my high heels against the stone floor. I moved past all of the dungeon's empty cells, their doors wide open and the cots within neatly made. When I reached the last cell on the right, I stepped in and saw Soren sitting behind a large oak desk, furiously scribbling away in a deep violet manuscript. He didn't look up when I entered and merely pointed a finger to a chair facing him. "Take a seat, please, Lacey," he ordered, turning a page in the book and writing some more.
I glanced around the room as I awaited the lecture that was to come. I had only visited his office once before--for my interview before I was accepted as his student--and I guess it never before struck me as odd that his office would be a spare cell in the dungeon of the castle--weren't there plenty of spare bedrooms in this mansion that could better serve the purpose?
To give a brief description, the room wasn't at all very big. The floor was composed of a set of light grey stones, as were the walls. Stacks of books varying from spell books to strategy books to important records--and even, a book of fairytales?--covered the floor and, most of which, reached almost all the way to the ceiling. All sorts of papers were scattered about, and the only furniture was Soren's desk--along with my chair and his. An unlit candle sat on the corner of his desk, and a barred window sat in the stone of the back wall. That was really all there was to the office.
As I continued to wait, my eyes kept drifting over to the book of fables in the stack near his desk. This wasn't one of the piles that soared to the ceiling but rather one that leveled off nicely with his desk. The book was on top of many important tomes--I could recognize the blood-red side cover of Bolganone, the golden color of Arcthunder, and the deep green of Rexcalibur.
Why a childless sage like Soren would have such a thing...I couldn't quite grasp. Then again, I suppose Aslyn was only eight and could very well still enjoy hearing those fantasies, but something told me that that wasn't it.
I wonder... I thought, remembering the portrait I had previously placed in between the pages of my tome. No, Kiana couldn't have anything to do with this. She had some connection to Anna and Jonathan, not Sor--wait! Hadn't Anna said something about Kiana and Lucia? That couldn't mean...
I was pulled back into reality when my mentor snapped his book shut. I watched intently as he slid the book to the right-hand side of his desk. I caught a glimpse of the title and smiled inwardly. Delbray Family History. As I secretly thought of ways to get my hands on this treasure, Soren began, "I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Lacey, but I needed to finish that before I forgot what I was writing. Now I suppose you'd like to know why I called you in here, correct?"
I nodded. "Yes, Master Soren."
"Well, to start with, you never turned in your assignment from the other night. The Blizzard translation, remember?" he questioned.
I had, in fact, forgotten all about the translation, but I wouldn't dare tell him that. "I'm sorry, Milord. It was just too difficult," I lied.
He gave me a disbelieving look. "If that is the case, then why didn't you ask for help? Karenna or I would have been happy to offer our assistance, and even Aslyn could have shown you where the translation books are in the library."
"I-I know, sir. I just didn't want to be a bother." Another lie.
He sighed, "I'll forgive you this once, but please don't let it happen again."
"Thank you, sir. I won't," I mumbled.
"Good." He continued, "Now our next issue is with some of the workers. Apparently, several of my employees have complained to the butler that you have been disturbing them in the middle of their shifts. Would you care to explain yourself?"
Disturbing them during their shifts...that was all? Had Jonathan not told him about my questioning then? This may not be as bad as I thought...
Putting on a smile, I shrugged. "I was just trying to be friendly...get to know everyone a little better, you know?"
He raised an eyebrow at the comment. "So asking about my wife's past is being 'friendly,' is it?"
My smile instantly disappeared. Of course the butler couldn't keep that to himself. "I-I just wanted to know a little about her, that's all. S-She just always looks so sad; I wanted to h-help her," I stammered.
"If you have questions about Lucia," he started, "you ask me, and I will tell you as much as you need to know."
I turned my gaze to the stone floor beneath my feet. "Of course, Master Soren. I'm sorry, I hadn't meant anything by it."
"I know that, Lacey. Now if you will, please get back to your studies. I expect that translation to be finished by next week. If you need help, let me know," he said, grabbing a sheet of paper from one of the drawers of his desk and beginning to jot something down on it.
I stood up from my wooden chair and quickly brushed the hair back from my eyes. The room was filled with near-silence--with the only noise being from my heels against the stone--as I walked towards the door. I stopped suddenly, my back still facing Soren, and blurted out, "What happened in the Grann Desert?"
"How do you know anything about that?" He sounded both shocked and angry.
"I overheard some of the workers talking about it."
"Which ones?"
"I don't know," I lied, not wanting to get Ashly and Tony in trouble.
He said nothing for a long time, so I was about to leave when he spoke up. "I made a lot of bad decisions in the Grann. Some cost me the lives of those dear to me."
"Like Kiana?" I guessed.
"How...How do you know about her?"
I sighed, "I found her photo in the library. Was she your daughter, Milord?"
"You don't need to know anything about her," he snapped. "And please...never mention her name to Lucia," he pleaded.
"I won't," I muttered as I left his office. I hadn't meant to upset him, but he did tell me to ask him anything I wanted to know. It wasn't like I'd asked how she died, I just wanted to know who she was...
I was just about to walk up the dungeon's steps and emerge onto the first floor when I heard two voices coming from the room I had just departed. The first belonged to Soren himself, but I couldn't identify the second speaker. He spoke low, and his voice sounded as if it was muffled by something.
"Who's she?" I could hear him ask.
Soren replied, "My new student. Now tell me, Fireman, have you gathered the information I've asked of you?"
Fireman...who was he? And why would the count of Delbray need him to gather information--didn't his wife used to run a spy network? Surely she had someone capable of getting the job done, so why was he here?
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A/N: Hm, now you all get to enjoy this chapter while I go to the eye doctor's. That should be fun (not). But anyway, we'll hear from Lacey again in three more chapters...and that may take awhile (but I won't say why).