Chapter Sixteen
In the privacy of his chambers, Eliot straightened from where he’d been leaning over his desk, his gaze fixed on the papers spread out before him. He absently rubbed his thumb against the scar on his chin, a reminder of when he’d fallen down the stairs as a child.
Hugo had given him another folder, almost as thick as the first one. Not wanting to miss anything, he was painstakingly reading through each sheet of paper.
He’d just discovered his father’s company had direct links with a family in Aiqos; they were the sole suppliers of Severin’s Soaps in that city and the surrounding region.
As he mulled it over, his fingers came to rest on the small carving of a fox he’d placed on the papers, a gift from his stepfather, one of many.
Furrowing his brow, his gaze kept returning to the name of the family in Aiqos – Risal. “Why does that name seem familiar?”
A loud hammering on the door made him exclaim.
“Eliot! Eliot, are you there?”
He yanked the door open. “What’s wrong?”
From Lina’s slight breathlessness and the tinge of pink colouring her cheeks, he assumed she’d run up to his room.
“He’s returned. Jack.” Grabbing him by the hand, she pulled him along. “He’s a mess. Quick. I want to hear what happened.”
Halfway down the stairs, Eliot glanced out the narrow window and glimpsed three men who he assumed to be Jack’s escort, sat on their horses obviously waiting for him.
Entering the morning room quietly behind Lina, the sight of Jack brought him up short. His clothes were muddy and torn, his breeches stained. Twigs and leaves adorned his rumpled hair.
Marcelin, frowning, stood by the windows that stretched from floor to ceiling, her arms crossed over her chest. Her frown smoothed out as she smiled at her children.
Jack was on a chair in the middle of the room, on one side of Climence, perched on her luxurious burgundy and gold wide chair. Ignoring Eliot and Lina, she waved at Jack to continue.
“They appear to live a simple life. Their home isn’t grand–”
“There’s only the two of them?” asked Climence.
“I saw no evidence of anyone else. The giantess was on her own when I got there. He arrived later.”
“Did you learn anything interesting?”
“I didn’t understand what they said, they spoke their language.”
Scowling, Climence tapped her finger against the side of her mouth. “That’s unfortunate. But did you find anything?”
Getting to his feet, he handed over the dagger.
“Is this all? Is it precious enough, I wonder. Anything else?”
As he resumed his seat, Jack ran his hands along his thighs. “It was difficult to look around the whole house because of the giantess’ presence. But they have a harp.” His eyes lit up as he sat straighter. “Such a harp, a true wonder. The giant plucked a string, spoke and it began to sing.”
Eliot exchanged an incredulous look with his sister as Marcelin raised her brows at Jack.
“A singing harp?” Climence did not sound convinced.
“Yes! It sang. I swear by all that’s holy, madam, it sang. Surely that is what angels in heaven sound like.”
Staring at him, she opened her fan to slowly wave it before her. “You tell me of this… wonder. Yet you bring me a dagger instead.”
“I-I was going to take it, but the giant took it with him when he left the room.”
“Is that all you saw? The harp?” Climence’s impatience was apparent.
“I’m telling you it was difficult–”
“Don’t you take that tone with me,” she said, arching a brow.
“Forgive me. I don’t wish to cause offence.”
“We’ll need more than a dagger for the giant to react.”
Jack’s gaze darted about. “There is, they have a cat.”
Climence pursed her lips. “A cat,” she said, her tone flat.
“It’s bigger than any cat I’ve ever seen.” Jack spoke quickly, seemingly in an attempt to regain her interest. “Its eyes, its eyes look more like a human’s than a cat.”
Lina snorted before quickly covering her mouth with her hand. Eliot couldn’t help shaking his head; how much of this was Jack making up? He suspected the man was desperate to stay on Climence’s good side.
“Are you playing me for a fool?”
“No. madam, no.” By now, he was on his feet.
“Whoever heard of animals with human eyes?” Turning her face, she snapped her fan shut.
“I speak the truth,” said Jack, hands out before him as if imploring Climence to believe him. “Maybe, maybe it’s an oddity with giants’ cats. It’s bigger, it’s colouring is like nothing I’ve seen among the cats in Mariosha.”
Eliot and Lina exchanged glances, inclining their heads as if entertaining that possibility.
“The giant and the cat,” said Jack. “I think they are especially fond of each other.”
“Is that so?” Climence’s eyes gradually widened, and a slow smile curving her mouth. Leaning forward, she tapped Jack on the hand with her fan. “Then, I believe that cat is what I wish you take from the giant. Now, return to your master and report to him.”
Making sure he was out of sight of the windows, Eliot leaned against the low wall that curved away from the outer steps of the house, ignoring the mounted men. He’d left the morning room soon after Climence had made her decision about the cat. Impatience deepened his frown.
Finally, the door opened, and Jack stepped out. Descending the steps, he jerked to a stop, grimacing at the sight of Eliot. “What do you want?”
“For you not to do this.”
“What’s it to you?” Jack started to walk towards his horse then stopped and faced Eliot. “Why so bothered?” A smirk twisted his mouth. “You care more for giants than your own family?”
“I want you to stop because I care for my family. I don’t want them in danger.”
He barked a laugh. “How is one giant going to put your family in danger?”
“You’re stealing from him. You don’t think he’ll want restitution?”
“I’m not planning on telling him who I am neither am I planning on getting caught.”
Eliot had to give him credit for his confidence. “Why are you doing this?”
Jack paused as he turned towards his horse. “A measure of gold is a powerful draw.”
“You’d risk your life for gold?”
He lurched around, shortened the distance between them and jabbed his finger in Eliot’s chest. “You dare judge me when you have no idea what my life is like.”
Caught off-guard by Jack’s vehemence, Eliot stumbled back.
Stepping to the side, Jack spread his arms out, his gaze sweeping over Eliot. “You stand there in your fancy clothes, live in this fancy house with all the food you can eat and more, no care in the world. Once, my life wasn’t so different from yours. Does that surprise you? My father, he lost his business, we lost everything. I lost him.” By now, he was breathing hard, his face contorted.
Slapping his chest, he continued. “I only have one outfit and shoes to my name, not even riding boots. And I had the best money could buy. I know you don’t believe it, but I did have a fine horse. He was mine, but he was sold along with everything else to pay my father’s debts. I didn’t even know he’d been sold until it was too late. That I have clothes now, and these boots, it’s only because of who I work for. When, if I leave, I doubt I’ll be allowed to keep them.
“Before I found this job, all I had to eat was bread, soup, milk. Sometimes, there was cheese. The only meat, if there was any to be had, was bacon. No wine, only water. You have no idea what it’s like to have everything you own taken away through no fault of your own. Is it so wrong to want my old life back where I never had to do work such as this?”
Looking away, Eliot could think of nothing to say. Warmth spread across his tingling cheeks. He’d had no idea of Jack’s circumstances yet had dismissed him as a money-grabbing lout. Like him, Jack, too, had lost his father. Eliot could so easily have suffered the same fate as Jack, reduced to working for someone like Garlon.
Even though he now understood Jack’s reasons, he still didn’t agree with stealing. “I’m sorry,” he finally said. “I cannot begin to imagine. But you can still have the gold. I’ll pay you not to go.”
Jack stared then lowered his gaze, his voice soft. “Tempting. But to stop now may well cost me more than you could ever imagine.”
Dumbfounded by Jack’s words, Eliot blinked rapidly and could only watch silently as Jack left with the other men.