Categories > Original > Fantasy > Lamar's Jay
Eighteenth installations
0 ReviewsNestor gathers Melanie and Lamar and goes after Vin. They find him seriously wounded. While Nestor makes feverish notes and the two young people fight for the Jay's life, the Epine royalty gather t...
lamar
Blauwer and Nestor had retired to one of several drawing rooms for a smoke after breakfast. The inevitable scientific discussion was preluded by a lengthy comfortable silence, where both men sat in their armchairs, gazing past each other through the puffs of smoke from their pipes.
No sooner had Nestor finally opened his mouth to introduce a topic than there was a knock at the door.
The academe sank back in his chair with a frown as Blauwer called the butler in. "What is it, Enider?"
"One of the guards claims to have a message for Professor Nestor, sir. Shall I bring him in, sir?"
Blauwer looked at the academe, Nestor nodded slightly, and Enider retreated to return a moment later with leather-clad man holding his cap in his hands.
"G'morning, sirs," he said. "I 'ope ye rested well last night and weren't deesturbed by the bloody dragon what hopped the fence."
Nestor raised an eyebrow. The guard noticed and bobbed his head once. "Yessir, the dragon dinna say 'is name, but t'was a 'e-jay, and said to me to tell to you, Nestor sir, that 'e was off to Epine Country and shouldn't be back for a month. And then 'e was off again before me or the dog could do anything about it, sir."
By the end of the sentence Nestor had both his bushy eyebrows raised. He accepted the information with a throaty, "Ehm, yes, that'll do, thanks," and the guard was ushered out by Enider the butler.
Blauwer studied his colleague with interest. "How now?" he inquired. "You travel with a Jay - not perchance the one making such a nuisance of himself at the moment?"
"Oh, precisely," Nestor replied, settling back into his chair. "He's very good at that, I see."
There was another moment of laden silence; then Blauwer murmured, "Off to Epine Country. Quite uncharacteristic."
Nestor chewed around on his pipe. "The lad who tried to claim this Jay's alliance – do you remember his name?"
Blauwer considered a moment. "No, though I could find out easily. He's the son of a country baron. No doubt he's still here in Cormisenne, as the legal proceedings regarding his dangerous and rebellious behaviour are far from finished." He eyed Nestor. "Twould be rather… irresponsible to pass up this opportunity to gather knowledge on the Epines, don't you agree?"
"Rather," Nestor agreed, energetically swinging his pipe over to the other corner of his mouth and heaving himself forward. "Would you be so good as to get that boy here?"
At that very moment, several districts removed from Lavish Lane, Lamar was sitting in a tiny chamber overlooking the fish market. With the exception of a daily accompanied walk around town for fresh air – or at least a change of air – he had been staying in the house of a city councilmember, a friend of his father's, since the proceedings against him for his "rebellious attitude, unbefitting the son of a baron" and "lack of control over a dragon." Lamar knew they would let him off with a fine, the height of which would most likely depend on his ability to debase himself before the judge.
But that was all of little concern to the young man. For since yesterday evening, the house of the councilman had a new inhabitant, a lively, pretty girl from the country named Melanie. And in the manner of young men, Lamar's heart had run off with his head to her.
She had arrived yesterday just as he was returning from his walk, which had been a doleful affair as he passed ladies with petted Kitchen Dragons and saw two Jewelled Florentines standing in the shade of the park, reminding him of the ornery animal he'd once called his own steed.
Melanie had arrived by herself on a somnolent hulk of a horse. She had told the porter her name and business, which Lamar had overheard, and while the porter announced the new arrival to his mistress the young man caught her – somewhat nervous – smile and glowing eyes and promptly developed butterflies in his innards.
Now he was looking forward to lunch, when he intended to sit next to the girl and better make her acquaintance.
Blauwer and Nestor had retired to one of several drawing rooms for a smoke after breakfast. The inevitable scientific discussion was preluded by a lengthy comfortable silence, where both men sat in their armchairs, gazing past each other through the puffs of smoke from their pipes.
No sooner had Nestor finally opened his mouth to introduce a topic than there was a knock at the door.
The academe sank back in his chair with a frown as Blauwer called the butler in. "What is it, Enider?"
"One of the guards claims to have a message for Professor Nestor, sir. Shall I bring him in, sir?"
Blauwer looked at the academe, Nestor nodded slightly, and Enider retreated to return a moment later with leather-clad man holding his cap in his hands.
"G'morning, sirs," he said. "I 'ope ye rested well last night and weren't deesturbed by the bloody dragon what hopped the fence."
Nestor raised an eyebrow. The guard noticed and bobbed his head once. "Yessir, the dragon dinna say 'is name, but t'was a 'e-jay, and said to me to tell to you, Nestor sir, that 'e was off to Epine Country and shouldn't be back for a month. And then 'e was off again before me or the dog could do anything about it, sir."
By the end of the sentence Nestor had both his bushy eyebrows raised. He accepted the information with a throaty, "Ehm, yes, that'll do, thanks," and the guard was ushered out by Enider the butler.
Blauwer studied his colleague with interest. "How now?" he inquired. "You travel with a Jay - not perchance the one making such a nuisance of himself at the moment?"
"Oh, precisely," Nestor replied, settling back into his chair. "He's very good at that, I see."
There was another moment of laden silence; then Blauwer murmured, "Off to Epine Country. Quite uncharacteristic."
Nestor chewed around on his pipe. "The lad who tried to claim this Jay's alliance – do you remember his name?"
Blauwer considered a moment. "No, though I could find out easily. He's the son of a country baron. No doubt he's still here in Cormisenne, as the legal proceedings regarding his dangerous and rebellious behaviour are far from finished." He eyed Nestor. "Twould be rather… irresponsible to pass up this opportunity to gather knowledge on the Epines, don't you agree?"
"Rather," Nestor agreed, energetically swinging his pipe over to the other corner of his mouth and heaving himself forward. "Would you be so good as to get that boy here?"
At that very moment, several districts removed from Lavish Lane, Lamar was sitting in a tiny chamber overlooking the fish market. With the exception of a daily accompanied walk around town for fresh air – or at least a change of air – he had been staying in the house of a city councilmember, a friend of his father's, since the proceedings against him for his "rebellious attitude, unbefitting the son of a baron" and "lack of control over a dragon." Lamar knew they would let him off with a fine, the height of which would most likely depend on his ability to debase himself before the judge.
But that was all of little concern to the young man. For since yesterday evening, the house of the councilman had a new inhabitant, a lively, pretty girl from the country named Melanie. And in the manner of young men, Lamar's heart had run off with his head to her.
She had arrived yesterday just as he was returning from his walk, which had been a doleful affair as he passed ladies with petted Kitchen Dragons and saw two Jewelled Florentines standing in the shade of the park, reminding him of the ornery animal he'd once called his own steed.
Melanie had arrived by herself on a somnolent hulk of a horse. She had told the porter her name and business, which Lamar had overheard, and while the porter announced the new arrival to his mistress the young man caught her – somewhat nervous – smile and glowing eyes and promptly developed butterflies in his innards.
Now he was looking forward to lunch, when he intended to sit next to the girl and better make her acquaintance.
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