Victorian Days & Nights Magic & Mayhem in Victorian England by Elsbeth

Chapter 13

Normally not overly impressed with professional diplomats, Lord Kinsley admitted that the meetings between the three governments had gone fairly well. Of course, ignoring the rhetoric that filled the European newspapers, no one wished for another war, at least not yet.

With the memory of the last one fresh in everyone’s mind, it took little effort to get the French and German governments talking to one another. Although personally he had not been involved in all of the meetings, it had been time well spent.

On the other hand, spending an entire evening listening to the platitudes of several members of various magical societies had most definitely been a waste of his time.

“So, Colonel, how was Herr Hauptman tonight?”

Knowing that the propensity for drink of the current head of the Society on the Continent was somewhat of a legend, Sargent Osgar refrained from smirking, as not befitting someone of his station.

“Surprisingly sober.” Lord Kinsley motioned to the tall man towards one of the side sitting rooms. Making sure they were alone, he quickly cast a ward that would cause any non-magicals to find another room.

“And?”

“According to the French Sorciá¨res of the Silencieux Ordre, they were unable to determine what if any powers were involved; coming to the conclusion that it had been an entirely non-magical event.”

“Are they daft?”

The Sergeant stopped himself from further speaking ill about their French magical allies but then frowned, remembering a conversation Lady Kinsley had with a Coven leader a few days ago.

“You never thought the French were actually serious in investigating the destruction of that library? Even with, according to Black Jack, the stone walls of the monastery catching on fire.”

The English mage shrugged. Very few believed that the conflagration that destroyed the lesser-known magical library had been anything but magically ignited. Nothing else would have destroyed it. For the Silencieux Ordre to claim otherwise made little sense; but then again, if rumors proved to be correct they might have had a hand in destroying it.

“I believe the French have their own agenda that doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with the other issues that we are all facing. And, as usual, they are willing more than willing to offer us assistance but not without promises, or shall we say Oaths on their behalf.”

“Bloody hell.” The older man grumbled, then realized what he said.

Waving his hand Lord Kinsley agreed, the Silencieux Ordre were trying at times. “I actually had some misgivings beforehand, so I reached out to an old friend.”

“Who?”

“Madam Ordonez”

“No wonder Herr Hauptman stayed sober.” The tall Sergeant thought to himself. “Do you think that was terribly wise?”

The Silencieux Ordre, after the fall of Napoleon, purged its ranks of the disloyal. For a time, actual open conflict broke out between the so-called magical royalists and those who followed the Emperor. Madam Ordonez, once mistresses to the Emperor, took the whole matter rather personally.

“I believe so; she is well experienced and brings a certain opposing viewpoint to the table.”

“Ahh, she’s in this hotel, isn’t she?” The Sergeant nervously looked about.

Lord Kinsley couldn’t help but smile at his friend’s antics. The sorceress simply adored the man sitting across from him, kidnaping him once so they could spend a week together on some unknown island in the Mediterranean.

“Well I am sure you’re not aware but she has just been named Prima Hechicera of the Spanish covens, so how could she not but attend. Although I was the one who made the initial contact, the Assistenten Gilde actually added her as part of their delegation.”

“The Germans, really? Does the Silencieux Ordre know?”

“They were in the same room when she was introduced.” The Colonel grinned remembering the looks at the French leader’s faces when she calmly entered the meeting room.

“That must have been, interesting.”

“Indeed, now she didn’t accuse the Ordre of lying, at least not directly but you could see the obvious disgust on her face. However, she did make sure everyone understood her beliefs.”

Although her dislike of the Silencieux Ordre was well known, most practitioners were also aware that the two hundred year old half-Fae Sorceress’ guesses were usually better than other people’s facts.

“She also brought up concerns about other worldly powers that might be involved.”

The Sergeant grimaced, the hair on the back of his neck standing on edge. “Did any of them offer an opinion about what we have been encountering back home?”

“I brought it up, but as expected most believe it to be an English issue.”

He had already garnered assistance from their magical allies within the Society, so no one really cared about what others thought one way or another.

“And Madam Ordonez?”

“She insisted on meeting with 'my sister' at a luncheon tomorrow. I wasn’t invited; you on the other hand are expected to attend.”

They had much to discuss, the fire at the French monastery had much in common that destroyed the Vampire Menenius ancient library. Including the types of books in each collection.

“Yes sir” He said reluctantly. Not that he disliked the sorceress, quite the contrary; he just had no desire to become husband number eight.

“Actually, she might get a chance to meet with ‘my sister’ sooner than expected.”

Madam Ordonez of course knew of the two Kinsley sibling’s connections; however, for the past month their daily transformation had started to occur well before dawn. Since then, his nights as Lord Kinsley had grown uncomfortably shorter.

“Yes, sir.”

Sargent Osgar pursed his lips. As much as he enjoyed being in the company of Lady Kinsley, her other-self had been a comrade in arms for many years. The thought of actually losing the Colonel forever didn’t sit well with the Sergeant.

Smiling at the morose man, Lord Kinsley said. “By the god’s, man, it’s not like I have a fatal disease. Anyway, I probably should have listened to you.”

“What do you mean, sir?”

“Entering that accursed factory, I believe has affected my magic somehow.”

The Sergeant couldn’t say he wasn’t surprised at the revelation. The first members on scene had gotten too close to the factory and now suffered the consequences, most of them fatal.

“You think so, sir? Perhaps there’s a way for you to reverse it.”

“Perhaps, but I believe that’s right now, that’s the least of my concerns.” Lord Kinsley chuckled.

“Yes, sir.”

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Authors Notes: A special thanks to djkauf for a little elvish editing. If you like the story please leave a Kudos, if you have the time I would love to hear from you. Thanks to all for reading! - Elsbeth