A tale of magicians, magick and a lost boy. By saying this is a fantasy I don't really need to stress that it is a work of fiction. Set in a nameless land, maybe even a nameless world, our rules and conventions do not apply here.
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One of Jacob's concerns for the time after they seized power in the city was maintaining public order, and the safety of ordinary people. Once people realised the boot had been taken from their necks all manner of petty arguments, and jealousies from the past, would come bubbling to the surface in men's minds. Many may see the chance of taking revenge against others as a thing that could go unpunished. Jard's force would not be of sufficient size or strength to fully prevent this, they needed both the constable force and the night watch to be on the streets, working side by side with Jard's men as quickly as possible. Outright civil war with wholesale destruction of property, and many deaths, would leave the city in a far worse state than before. One of the ways the constable Major had worked to soothe the anger in the city was to be seen in open view, answering all that asked about the men arrested at the private club, and assuring them that the Grand Duke himself had ordered him to make sure they faced severe punishment if found guilty. Being found naked and in a bed with a young child meant their guilt was a foregone conclusion, more so with those judges having been instructed to rule them guilty. The Grand Duke now being more concerned with having those judges seize the fortunes of the men in the city's name, it was another way for him to recoup the losses of the slave trade. During his visits into the city Jacob now contrived to bump in to the Major on his walks in the streets. He took to making a point to speak to him, and when Jamil accompanied him and Tancred on their trips, made a special point of talking about the boy and his sister. Telling the Major how Jamil had been a child that had been living in the streets, yet spent most of his time caring for his younger sister. Seeing the well turned out youth, and seeing his excellent behaviour, the Major could not help but to start asking himself how many more children like him were being lost in the streets, or to the slave trade. He really had no choice but to start thinking that, being spelled by Jacob as they spoke. The effect was that he instructed constables and night watch to start taking those children found, but not thieving or cutting purses, to one of the four or five shelters that had recently started working, all of them quietly funded by Jacob with Sir Samuel's gold. On one occasion of their meeting the Major looked particularly tired by all the extra work he had been undertaking, and Jacob invited him to the house and take dinner with them all that evening. A good meal, and a few pleasant hours in company was an attractive idea to the Major, far better than to eat in the barracks of the constable house and return to his quarters above them. Jacob, of course, influencing that choice for the Major.
After bidding goodbye to the Major the three continued to walk around the city. Seeing the skies darken alarmingly Jacob and the boys made their way over to one of the covered piazzas to sit and take tea. The storm that had been threatening for the last few days looked imminent now, they would be soaked to the skin trying to hail a hired carriage once rain started falling. The crash of thunder in the distance could already be heard as they sat looking out over the harbour. He saw that two of the Grand Duke's warships had now returned from their unsuccessful searches for the sunken slave ships. Sailors and dock workers scurrying about urgently to make them ready for any other orders they be given. The Grand Duke always ensured his forces were stood in readiness. Hearing the thunder louder and louder he knew they would be sat here for some considerable time until the storm passed over the city and moved further inland. The two boys sat enjoying the noise and the flashes of lightning breaking in the skies. Gently tapping Tancred's foot with his own he got the boy's attention. Flicking his eyes to the sky he spelled for the boy to watch closely. At the next flash he took control of it and directed it down on to one of the Grand Duke's ships. Finding an open hatchway halfway down the side the lightning streaked in, and even from this distance the sound of a great crash could be heard. Men ran to gather buckets as the first smoke started to come from the ruined hatchway. A line formed from the deckrail as buckets had lines quickly tied to them and thrown into the water, then passed man to man to be thrown down on to the dried woodwork inside. Picking out one man in the line he pushed into the man's mind.
Dropping his bucket he screamed to the others "Run! The magazines will blow. The ship is full of gunpowder" And then turned and dashed down the gangplank, putting as much distance between him and ship as he could.
As the realisation sunk in to the other men in the line, and remaining there would see them all blown to pieces, the line broke and men fought men to get off the ship. Some, not waiting a place to use the gangplank, threw themselves over the side to the dockside and scrambled off. The first explosion blew a large hole in the deck of the warship, sending wood and debris high into the sky. Jacob watched the ship start to list to the side, he pushed hard to send the ship on it's side, and in doing so protected as much as possible the danger to the city and people. Even so the second enormous explosion knocked watchers from their feet in the furthest parts of the docks. As the smoke cleared the ship lay on the water in two halves with one part lying aflame against the second of the Grand Duke's warships. A great opening had been blown in the dock, reaching twenty or so paces around. Even from this distance away the great noise had left all without hearing.
Rubbing his ears Tancred turned to look at Jacob, who spoke silently into him "When apples fall from a tree, make cider"
The news of the storm destroying two of the warships was, of course, the talk of the house that evening. And the Major was pressed for more details upon his somewhat late arrival. Quick thinking sailors on the second warship had opened the sea cocks, flooding the magazines and sending it to the harbour floor before they could explode. It was hoped they would be able to raise it, and repair the damage. Once some kind of order had been restored the military leaders had been quick to arrive and take charge, placing the whole docks under their command and sending the constables away. For what purpose was unknown, but Jacob summised they did not want the city's constable force to be weakened by a large number of them involved at the docks. There was still a fear of unrest from the people, and likely they would not want the chance for any to take advantage of the weakness. It had become a common sight recently to see constables walking through the city in twos or threes, rather than singly. During the meal they discussed all the events of the last few months, and Jacob pushed gently in the Major's mind to discover anything contrary to his words. Finding his hidden thoughts of the harsh regime went a lot further than his cautious words. Jacob spoke of lands he had visited over the years, leaving the Major to draw parallels with his own city. Before very long, thought Jacob, I will bring this man fully into the plans. Once wards protected the plans in the Major's mind he would not be of a mind to betray them. It was also the first time little Donae had met the Major, and she charmed him completely, without even the knowledge of her ability to do so. Her natural shyness and quiet behaviour made everyone who met her want to protect and love her.
Jacob found a strong agreement from the Major when he said to him "We lose so much by not making sure these children become all that it is possible for them to be" Unnoticed to the Major, Jacob was now speaking as if he had lived in the city all his life, not just a temporary visitor. "Come through to the library, I'll show you some more of their achievements. They are so clever"
In the library he showed the Major how far advanced they were with the lessons Jacob had been setting them. The boys favourite battle game was set up, and they studied the game in progress, while Jacob related the tale of Jamil caring for his sister, and how she came to join the household. With a little pushing from Jacob, he left the house that night convinced that he had to do something for all the children on the streets, he could help many more out there.
When Jacob met with Simon and Thomas he spelled the two so he could be aware of their movements when he set his mind towards them. He had been keeping track of Simon's journey to the city. The day came when he would arrive, Jacob asked Zachary to travel a little way towards him and meet him with a note of introduction. Given Simon's reaction Jacob thought he may benefit from seeing the way they had now removed all traces of Sir Samuel from the children's home. The first part, the former servant's wing, was now completed and ready for children to bring the sound of laughter to the building, and exercise any evil deed of the past from there. Jacob hoped that it may be the foundation he would use to cast away the torments in Simon.
The brother's return to the city was to be explained they were in discussions to sell their former home. And it also was time for the future of their former home to come of the shadows a little and let it be known that it was to be an orphanage. That also answered any questions as to why Simon, and later Thomas, would be staying in Jacob's city house during their stay. It was to be known that a large part of the cost was given by Jacob, and by the trading house. With Simon's arrival, and the imminent arrival of Thomas, in the city, it was only days until Captain Jard's vessels would be standing a few leagues offshore. Furnishing Simon with sufficient amounts of coin, he bade him spend all his time around the city streets until Thomas arrived. Making conversation with those who remembered him, and giving generously to beggars he passed. A number of the churches recieved large donations, bearing a note asking that the money be used to continue the work providing shelters and food in memory of Thomas and Simon's mother. Carefully crafting a suitable incantation, Jacob spelled the unknowing Simon, so that all who met and spoke to him would be left with a lasting impression that he and his brother should be leaders of the city. Should any person speak that to him, Simon would dismiss the idea out of hand, telling them of his uselessnes. How, but for Thomas, he would be penniless and have no future, for it was his older brother who had the learning and ability to make successes of both their lives, after starting out with nothing. He also made it clear they refused to use his father's name, they had taken the name of their mother's family when they left, and bade everyone to know him as Simon Talcar from now on. Both brother's wanted their father's name to disappear, and hoped in time it be never spoken aloud again.
During all of this the trading house was working just as normal to the eyes of all, beneath it though there was a great deal of work going on by those working in secret service to the King through it. Lists of the men in charge of all the Grand Duke's ministries, who would be put in charge of each of those, locations of their houses and who else was living with them, locations of barracks and armouries to be secured. All had to be available for Jard, so he be able to do all before the city awoke. If not then the people moving around the city would hamper any work left to do. Every time Jacob and the trade master sat back and judged it complete, another question came up after some thought. How much easier it would all have been if Jacob simply spelled the whole city to sleep for days and set the mercenaries to work rounding up magicked men. But tales of a mystery like that would soon spread as Jard's men went about in the world afterwards, in just the same way the people would talk of the missing days in their lives. All needed to be done in a single night, with people rising as they always did the following morning after a good night's sleep. Jacob, of course, ensuring that the sleep was solid and undisturbed for them. Jacob had met often with the man leading the force Jard had sent overland, giving him maps showing locations and tasks as they became fully known. He was responsible for going about the city with his other men, and working out routes to travel between places, which groups would be sent where, and how many men or carriages would be needed for each set of tasks, and most importantly where those carriages would be taken from. By the day Thomas was due to arrive the end of those tasks was finally in sight.
Jacob and Simon were taken by Joshua to meet the vessel bearing Thomas on the day of his arrival. Thomas was shocked to see the warmth with which he was greeted, even the port officials spoke warmly to him. He expected few to know him after so long away, and his previous visit had attracted no attention at all. His shock grew as Jacob and Simon took him around the city that day. Everywhere they went people came to him and greeted him warmly, even those who could not possibly have remembered his dear mother. With Thomas feeling more than a little overwhelmed by it all they made their way to the city house. The good start to the day evaporated when Sarah returned from the marketplace early that afternoon with news of a proclamation issued by the Grand Duke's council. It announced the increase of taxes to be paid on a long list of goods. The seizing from merchants of all supplies of lamp oil. Also all people found taking gold out of the city state were to be imprisoned. This was on top of the extra charges, already announced, for ships using the docks. The sinking of the Grand Duke's ships had been the last straw for the council. No matter how they looked at the amounts needed, they knew that if they wanted to keep their personal fortunes this had to be done now. Upon hearing this Jacob decided to bring forward his plans, and sent word with Joshua for the trade master to contact Jard's man and have him come to the trade house the following day for a meeting to set the day for the coup.
The following morning, when all were sitting breaking their night's fast, Jacob was knew he had to make a final question on one question he had kept to himself. Did he keep silent to the two boys about the events soon to start, or did he involve them on the night. He knew he could keep them protected from harm with an incantation that would surround them, but would they be better sleeping through it all? Finally he took Tancred to the library alone, and told him the takeover would be coming within days. Tancred had already an inkling things were near due to the re-appearance of the brothers, and them now openly staying at the house. He begged Jacob to be with him at the time, that however, would not be possible. Jacob's moves that night would involve a lot of magick and he did not want even Tancred to see some of the things he could do, well not until he sat on the throne himself in later years. Going through all the parts of the plans he thought he saw a way of them being a part, and one with little or no risks to them. He told Tancred to go and get ready to come into the city, and to bring Jamil with him, and called for the plain carriage to be ready for them. It was a heavily laden carriage that took them all to the trade house that morning. Jacob, Tancred and the two brothers bunched up inside, Joshua and Jamil sat up next to him on the front.
At the trade house they were taken around to the rear yard, and the gates closed, before all piling out of the carriage. Joshua then left to go and bring Zachary down into the city. For the first Jacob took Tancred aside, and down to the vault. There were still six full chests of Sir Samuel's gold untouched, with another lying partly emptied. Jacob explained that every single piece of gold that had been spent during their time here was recovered from the gold Sir Samuel had stolen over the years. It would not cost his father's kingdom anything at all. And in the future, if everything worked out, their land would need to spend much less keeping safe from the Grand Duke's aggression. Once Zachary and Joshua returned to the trade house the final meeting started in the office of the trade master. The date was set for the following date, tides being suitable for Jard to bring in his ships. There was only one berth empty, the docks had ceased taking ships until the wreckage of the two warships and the loss of the dockside. It would mean that the ships would have to tie to ships already berthed, and the men coming ashore climb on to them before reaching land. Jard's man didn't see that as a big problem, they were well used to boarding vessels out on the seas, one already berthed would be much easier. It just needed three men, one for each ship, to be diverted to signal the ships where to head for once in the harbour. They went over every part of the operation two or three times until there was no misunderstanding of everyone's role on the night. Only Tancred and Jamil needed to be slid into the plan, and that would be done by Jard's man between now and the start. The signal was to be a large fire to be started up on the headland above the city, that could be seen out to sea by the watching ships. They would come in on the night after the signal fire.
As the meeting was breaking up Jamil surprised everyone with a tremendous idea. "Why don't we hold a party for the children in the shelters, they can be given a big feast to celebrate the announcement of the new orphanage, and the signal will not be looked at as a signal if we have it in the field near the clifftop, the orphanage can be seen from there" The simplicity of the idea astounded Jacob and Jard's man, they had thought long and hard about a way to prevent the signal being seen down in the city, eventually giving up and hoping for the best. Until General Jamil had come in the idea had bested them all the adults. Men were very quickly sent to the shelters to arrange for people to be brought, and others to carry loads of wood for the fire to the hilltop. Invitations were sent to the dignitaries of the city, asking them to attend. Although they expected none to agree to come to an event for orphans celebrating an orphanage they disapproved of.
Still, Jacob told the people in the room "It would be a fitting touch if we could get the Grand Duke himself to ceremonially light the fire that signalled his own fall"