~9~
If he hadto listen to one more wizard brag about their impressive MP scores, core competencies, and overweening ambitions, Gabriel would set his hair on fire.Better than losing control of his water and moon magic, anyway.Though it probably wouldn’t help his headache.
At least he’d finally completed his assignment, having dispensed with the hopefuls for the day.Everyone had either signed or departed, which should satisfy Nic’s sense of order.Putting the House Phel seal to the last petitioner’s contract, he set it with moon magic, deliberately practicing a delicate touch.He had to admit that Asa was a decent teacher.He might even be growing to like the Refoel wizard, as unlikely as that had seemed even a few days ago.
Wondering what Nic was doing—and if he could drum up an excuse to spend some time with her—he pushed to his feet, then halted at the knock on the library doors.With a sigh for missed opportunities, since Nic wouldn’t have knocked, he bade whoever it was to enter.
To his surprise, his father edged through the doors, hat in hand so his balding pate gleamed in the sunlight from the big windows.GF looked around at the great room, considerably improved since the last time he’d been inside, and whistled low and long.“This place is looking downright elegant,” his father noted.“Hard to believe it was sunk hip deep in marsh water not long ago.And look at you, like a fine lord of the Convocation behind your big fancy desk.”
Though his father didn’t speak the words with recrimination, Gabriel nevertheless felt the bite of them.“Dad,” he said by way of greeting as he came around said big fancy desk, unwilling to let the thing stand between them.“I’m glad you’re here.Care for a glass of brandy?”Gabriel gestured to the chairs by the fire, which remained unlit with the balmy weather.
“In the middle of the day?”His father’s bushy brows rose in disdain.“Eesh, no.I still have work yet to do.We’re clearing the east field.”He nodded to himself.“Getting it ready to plant.Did you see the blood poppies are in bloom?”
“I did.”Gabriel tucked his hands in his trouser pockets, leaning back against the desk and crossing his ankles.He didn’t care for how his father still stood there like another petitioner, but he’d already put his foot in it by suggesting brandy, and he couldn’t think of another excuse for them to sit down.“I took Nic there this morning to see them.”
“Good.They’re your mother’s favorites, too.”GF squinched up his face in thought.“Couldn’t budge her out of the cottage to see them, though.”
Ah, thus the reason for this visit.“I’m sorry to hear she’s in distress,” he replied evenly.
“Are you?Then why haven’t you been by to apologize?”
Gabriel felt his mouth fall open but seemed to be unable to do anything about it in his shock.“Me… apologize?”he sputtered.“She’s the one who—”
“Aye, I know, I know.She said some things she shouldn’t have.She was fair upset at the time, you know.”
“I noticed,” Gabriel bit out.
“She didn’t mean it, son.”
“I think she did.”He raked his hands through his hair.Setting it on fire would’ve been better than this conversation.“I am… aware that I am not the son either of you hoped for.”
“Hoped for?”His father squinted in puzzlement.“You’ll be a father before long, so you’ll see how it is.For your children, you just hope for them to be happy.I’ve been sorry for the wizardry, and that it took you so sudden and hard, with no one to guide you, but only because it made you so miserable.It’s good—we’re both glad to see it—that you have Nic now and that she’s making you happy.”
Gabriel nodded, agreeing, but uncertain where to go with this.“Dad… the things Mom said to Nic, they—”
His father held up a hand to stop him.“I know.She told me, and she feels terrible about it.”
Gabriel bit back saying that she should feel terrible.“Then why am I the one who’s supposed to apologize?”
“Because she can’t, and won’t.She’s caught up in feeling guilty.Worried to death about what will become of Selly now.You know, your mother has always blamed herself for Selly turning out off kilter.And she blames herself for your troubles.She knows the magic comes down from her side of the family.”
“Nic thinks it had to be both of you.Recessive traits combining in a happy reemergence of the old powerful magic of the family.”
His father scratched his chin.“Well, could be.I suppose she’d know.That sort of thing isn’t our expertise, unless it’s livestock or orchards.”
“I suspect the principles are the same.”
“Could be, could be,” his father acknowledged.“Come by the house after supper tonight.Apologize so your mother can save face.Let her make it up to you.Don’t let this fester.”
With a sigh, Gabriel nodded agreement.“Nic would like to ask Mom about family gossip regarding the fall of the house and some other things.And maybe by then we’ll have retrieved Selly.”
Another knock came on the library doors.His father stuck his hat on his head.“I’ll get out of your way, as I know you’re a busy man.”He paused as he turned to go.“It’s a fine-looking desk.I didn’t mean anything by it, calling it big and fancy.”
Gabriel smiled.“I know, Dad.”Just as he knew the changes to the house and to his son made the man uncomfortable.But there was no going back.If he’d learned anything from Nic, it was the impracticality of regretting and longing for the past.
His father smiled back, nodding, and opened the library doors, admitting Jadren El-Adrel.“Guess you’re next in seeing his lordship.”GF cackled at his own joke, one Gabriel would find painful if Jadren didn’t look so offended.The pompous High House scion deserved to be unsettled.
Gabriel waited until Jadren closed the doors, then he gestured to the pair of armchairs yet again.“Brandy?”