Will stifled a laugh. It was almost refreshing to be thought of as a commoner again. Tired, he nodded and waved a hand in acknowledgment as he walked around to enter through the kitchen door. He was almost there when a man who seemed to have been dipped and battered in dirt yelled at him. “Hey, you! Get over here!” Will walked over. “Give me a hand.”
With a sigh, Will helped the man right his wheelbarrow, then he took a shovel and loaded it up again while the other fellow took a breather. The workman seemed to have had a hard day, so he didn’t complain. “What are you folks working on here?” he asked, genuinely curious. He had asked Blake to remodel the root cellar, but it appeared as though the men were involved in a brand-new excavation.
“Oh, pardon,” said the laborer. “I didn’t realize you weren’t part of one of the crews. Guess I should have guessed by the fact you weren’t dirty.”
“No offense taken,” said Will. He finished shoveling the dirt and rocks into the barrow.
“On the other side they’re refitting the cellar to be a dungeon. Over here we’re excavating for a workroom or some place to do magic and things. Who knows with these nobles? I feel sorry for whoever he plans to torture, though. That’s no way to die.”
Will hid a smirk. A workroom? I never told Blake to do that. “Who lives here?”
“Oh, you’ve heard of him!” said the workman emphatically. “It’s that crackpot from Barrowden. The one who married Princess Selene last year after murdering her husband-to-be.”
“Crackpot? Seems like I should have heard of him.”
“Everyone has,” insisted the stranger. “Supposedly he stopped the Darrowans and stopped the war, but the rumor is that he made a pact with a demon to do it. Sound familiar yet?”
Will put on a look of disbelief. “A demon? You’re making this shit up.”
“Cross my heart,” said the worker. “I’d swear it to the Mother. After that he came to Cerria and the king sent him here to become a wizard. Bad idea if you ask me, but then—”
“They never do ask,” said Will with a sympathetic nod.
“Yeah. Rich people are crazy. Why would you send a confirmed demon worshipper to Wurthaven, to make him even more powerful? Anyway, after he came here they say he straight out murdered Lord Spry’s son. That’s the same fellow who was going to marry the princess. Then he murdered the father and took his bride!”
“That can’t be true!” exclaimed Will in mock outrage. “The king wouldn’t stand for it!”
The laborer shrugged. “If you ask me, they’re all nuts—noblemen, royalty, wizards—all of ‘em. And with all these people disappearing, who knows what’s going on? Makes you wonder why this prick’s got us out here digging a new dungeon, doesn’t it?”
Will straightened up, then offered the man a hand to help him get back to his feet. “Well, truth be told, I know the man you’re talking about.”
His new friend gave him a wary eye.
“He’s me. And I promise I’m not planning on torturing any people, though I might make some of the creatures who are actually making folks disappear suffer. If I don’t get myself killed first.” He lifted a hand and tipped an imaginary hat to the man before turning back to the house.
Chapter 35
There were more surprises in store for him when he stepped through the kitchen door. Blake was standing in the room with his back to where Will had quietly entered, while across the room and facing the manservant at an angle was Laina Nerrow, who bore an expression of extreme vexation.
“Do you think she would have approved of this—this—waste? She trusts you, Blake! Is this how you repay her?” sputtered Laina.
Blake’s tone was steady as he replied, “I assure you, Her Highness personally instructed me to give him full access to her accounts. She would have done exactly the same in my place.”
“She’d agree to digging up the property to install a fucking dungeon? Are you mad? What has he done to your brain?”
“It is his money to spend,” said Blake calmly.
“The fucking hell it is!”
“And he didn’t ask for a dungeon. He only wanted me to refit the cellar. The expansion for a laboratory was my idea, as well as something Her Highness would have doubtless done if she were here.”
Laina threw her hands up in the air. “Only because he’s twisted her brain into a limp noodle!”
Blake relaxed slightly, putting one hand on his hip in gesture that would definitely have been too casual for such a servant speaking to most nobles. “You know better than that, Laina. I know you dislike him, but even you don’t believe he’s evil. Quite the reverse, in fact.”
Will’s half-sister pressed her lips together in frustration, unable to deny what the man had said. Then she found her voice. “It’s still a colossal waste of money. Think how many people it could have helped.”
“A moment ago, you were fine with the money being kept safely in Her Highness’ accounts. Now you’re suggesting she’s parsimonious for not giving the money to your charity? Hasn’t she already donated considerably to the cause?”
“That’s not the point.”
“What is the point then, Miss Nerrow?” asked Blake in an innocent tone that would likely have infuriated even a saint.
Laina’s face was turning red when her mother appeared behind her. “Stop haranguing the poor man, Laina. I raised you to comport yourself better.” Blake bowed as the baroness entered the room.
Her eyes were the first to fix on Will standing quietly in the kitchen doorway. Despite her station, Agnes Nerrow curtseyed respectfully. “It appears our gracious host has returned. I am glad to see you again, William, if you will forgive us for bursting into your home unannounced.”
Laina and Agnes both glanced at his trousers, noting the one bare leg with curiosity. Will stepped forward, feeling uncertain, and his cheeks colored as they stared at his ruined clothes. A few seconds passed, then he regained his wits. “Excuse my attire. It’s been an interesting day. If you’ll pardon me, I need to change.” Without another word, he slipped around Blake and out the other door, heading into the hall. All he could think of was getting to his bedroom and locking himself in. Nowhere was safe.
Behind him, he heard Blake’s voice. “Pardon me, milady. I need to attend to my employer. I’ll return shortly.” He followed Will into the hall and up the stairs.
Stopping at the head of the stairs, Will turned around. “What in the hell is going on?”
“Their house burned down. I told them you would put them up for a while.”