Page 9 of By Mistake
Grabbing Andrus's hair again, he yanked him upright."You are going to take me—"
A furious bellow filled the room, and then suddenly Andrus was on the floor again, and Farthing was being beaten within an inch of his life.Not by Oresti, though.By his strange, quiet friend, Greivs.What was Greivs doing here?
Andrus pushed to his feet and moved out of the way as the two men fought.Though 'fought' was putting it generously, because Farthing was no match for a man who could actually fight.By the time he literally threw Farthing out of the house, the bastard was barely able to walk away, and his muttered 'you'll pay for this' was so feeble, Andrus almost laughed.
Slamming the door shut and locking it, Greivs turned back to him, all his rage and ferocity fading like mist beneath the morning sun."Let's get you taken care of, my lord."He slid an arm around Andrus's waist, and helped him through the house back to the kitchen, where he made Andrus sit at one of the stools at the island."You do seem to have a knack for getting hurt," he said, clucking his tongue before vanishing to collect healing supplies.
He returned shortly, and Andrus tried not to be peeved that men he barely knew were helping themselves to his personal spaces without hesitation.On the other hand, without Greivs, who even knew if he'd still be alive right now."Thank you—"
"No talking," Greivs said sternly."Let's get you fixed up first, and then a hot toddy in you."
Andrus huffed but subsided, only jerking a couple of times as Greivs patiently and carefully tended to his nose and the rest of his face.When he was done, Andrus did indeed feel much better, though his face would probably be sore and swollen for a couple of days."Thank you.I'm sorry you came to see me and had to deal with my problems for me.That seems to be all you and Oresti do.I don't know why you bother to keep coming."
"I think you're charming, engaging, and interesting," Greivs replied."I'm always delighted to make new friends.I don't have many of them in my line of work.Oresti is my best friend and my employer, and I love him dearly, but serving him does not leave much time for socializing.That aside, it's clear he's smitten with you, and I've never seen Oresti smitten with anyone."
"Smitten?With me?I don't think I'm the only one to have taken a few knocks to the head," Andrus said with a disbelieving laugh."He just feels sorry for me.Though, speaking of, why isn't he here?You've never come on your own before.Not that I mind, I don't.You're welcome here same as Oresti."He'd wondered before what their relationship was, and wasn't surprised to learn Greivs worked for Oresti, some sort of assistant with duties that didn't usually fall to such positions.Then again, he'd never heard of someone like Oresti, clearly wealthy and powerful outside of his position of Investigator, befriending someone he employed.
Were they also lovers?But if they were, wouldn't Greivs be angry that Oresti was 'smitten' with him?Well, not necessarily, it wasn't like having multiples partners and spouses was unheard of.
"Why did Farthing assault you?"Greivs asked before Andrus could figure out how to politely ask all his nosy questions.He shouldn't be asking them, anyway.
Andrus spread his hands."I've no idea.He kept screaming about the unpaid taxes being taken care of, but that doesn't make any sense.I don't have that kind of money, and he knows that."
Greivs frowned."Did you not get the papers?I was sure I put them in the basket."
"Papers?"Andrus flushed and scrambled to his feet, waving off Greivs as he hastened into the pantry to fetch the basket.As he set it on the island, he finally saw the papers he hadn't noticed before, folded neatly and tucked securely beneath the bottle of wine.
Pulling them out, he unfolded them and skimmed.His taxes had been paid for anonymously.Every last sel.Of which there had been manythousands."I'm going to kill him."
Greivs laughed."He was prepared for that outcome.Unfortunately, he couldn't come himself tonight like he wanted, called away on urgent family business."
"Family business?"Andrus asked before he could stop himself."I hope nobody is hurt or sick."Family like parents and siblings?Or family as in spouse and children?Stupidly, he'd never considered that before, that Oresti would already have a family of his own.If he could pay off enormous sums so easily, he might even have more than one spouse.Legally the limit was three, but special dispensation could be made if the applicants could prove they had the funds and resources necessary for an additional spouse.
"Everyone is fine," Greivs said with a smile that almost seemed approving, unless Andrus was losing his mind.Which was definitely possible."There was a mix-up in scheduling that caused some problems, so he is helping sort the mess and standing in for his sister at a couple of affairs."
Andrus blinked, then slowly nodded."I see."He didn't see at all.That sounded very high society, lords and ladies for almost certain, at the very least wealthy merchants and other 'commoners' that had more wealth than their so-called betters.A younger son of a wealthy or noble family pretentious enough to name him after the prince, low enough in the matter of inheritance to be permitted to take up a 'noble' calling like Investigator, and had a personal assistant who was also his friend.That would certainly explain a great deal about Oresti.Maybe he did see after all.
"I will report this matter to him, so he can deal with Farthing properly," Greivs replied.
"Don't!"Andrus said, crossing the room to stand closer."Please, don't.Farthing isn't his problem.My taxes aren't either, but I can hardly do anything about that now.Farthing is extremely powerful, and he won't hesitate to use that power to hurt Oresti, you, and both your families.Youcan'ttell him.I've been looking after myself all my life, and dealing with Farthing for the past few years."Oresti already felt sorry for him, thought he needed looking after like some damned child.The last thing he wanted was for Oresti to see he was even more right than he knew.
"I can't promise that," Greivs said, though he sounded genuinely remorseful."Leaving aside that he employs me, he's my best friend, and worries deeply about you.He will ask me how you are.Also, I just beat Farthing half to death, so it's going to be found out anyway."
Andrus flinched."Of course, I'm so stupid and selfish, you'll be in danger yourself.I'm sorry.I was so panicked… I'm sorry you've endangered yourself by helping me."
"Farthing can't do a damn thing to me and he knows it.If he tries to run his mouth about me assaulting him, he'll have to admit it was becausehewas assaulting you.No, don't worry about me.You weren't being selfish, my lord.You were scared.But please do not worry about this matter further.I can't promise not to tell Oresti, but I will try to dissuade him from action, if that's truly what you want."He tilted his head."Why is Farthing so obsessed with you?"
"He's obsessed with putting me in my place, as I've never been as respectful or obedient as he wants," Andrus said sourly, turning away and going to slump against the island, staring at the cold fireplace as Greivs started moving around the kitchen."Like I said before, it's the house he really wants, though I couldn't tell you why."
More likewouldn't, but that wasn't anyone else's business.Farthing had started out playing nice, bringing him little gifts that were, in the end, empty show.Then he offered money in exchange for access, because try as he might, the oldest magics in the house still held, and Farthing couldn't go further than the entry hall until Andrus granted him access.Or until he bought it, and control of the magic was transferred.
What Farthing wanted, what nobody could ever know about, was the secret room in the basement where so much of his great grandfather's magic collection still resided.Books, tools, potions that were probably useless by now, and so much more.Andrus would have gladly sold it all off if he'd been able to, but not only were the items bound to the house, it was illegal for him to possess any of it.If he was ever caught out, that was it, he would go to prison if he was lucky and straight to the executioner if he wasn't.
How Farthing knew about it when neither Andrus nor his parents had ever breathed a word of it to anyone, he had no idea.He wasn't stupid enough to ask, either, just continuously protested the room's existence.If he was ever found out, he wanted to be absolutely certain they never had any reason to think he knew.
Farthing was clearly out of patience, though, especially now that the paid taxes meant he wouldn't be able to simply buy the property as he'd planned.There was no telling what lengths he'd go to now.Andrus hadn't cared when he was the only person affected by the mess, but now… now Oresti and Greivs had been stupid enough to help him, which meant Farthing would hurt them, either just for the pleasure or to use them against Andrus.
Just once he wished he had more solutions than problems.
