a word shall cross my lips, on my honour as a gentleman.”
Most of whom had about as much honour as chickens, in Vocho’s experience, at least when it came to getting what they wanted. But Vocho had caught glimpses here and there that Dom was a closet royalist – plenty still about, most of them dreaming about the romance of nobles and ladies and balls and a gentleman’s or woman’s honour and all that tripe. Mostly these were the new nobility-without-titles. The self-made clockers’ sons and daughters, who didn’t remember what the gentry had really been like, read the old – and frankly made up – stories romanticising them, only saw the grand houses their parents had bought, saw the paintings and fine things that had come with them and thought the people surely must have matched. Gentlemen and -women they hadn’t been, his guild education had made that abundantly clear, though to Vocho’s mind the clockers were little better. When he’d been in the guild it hadn’t mattered – its members were something apart from clockers or nobles alike. It was starting to matter now though.
“I’m glad to hear it,” he said. “Such a trial for my sister, living like this, you know. But worth it. And of course we’d never have met you otherwise, and I know my sister thinks of you often.” Vocho mentally added in extremely uncomplimentary terms. “I do wonder, now that you’ve guessed our secret, whether you might do me a small favour. It would certainly help Kass look upon you even more favourably.”
Dom’s eyes lit up and positively glowed at the request. He gave a stiff, formal bow that had his hat skimming the mud. “Certainly, if I can.”
God’s cogs, he was almost too easy. Vocho looked around as though afraid someone might overhear them. “Our father is an odd man. Rather old-fashioned – you know what fathers are like.”
Dom nodded eagerly. His own father was nothing short of a tyrant, and a bit of sympathy would only help Vocho here.
“Extremely old-fashioned, and so was the intended groom as well as just being plain old. So when Kass got betrothed, they tricked her into having a magician put wards on them both, tattoos like you said.”
Dom took an aghast step back, handkerchief to his mouth. “May the Clockwork God preserve our gears, how barbaric!”
“You see why we had to get away? Why we wanted to know about magicians? The chest – sort of a ruse. Kass knew you’d know, because you’re so educated and worldly wise.” Vocho wondered if he might be laying it on a bit thick, but Dom looked tickled pink. “To tell you the real reason seemed imprudent. And of course, if you want me to help press your suit with Kass…”
Really, when it came down to it, Dom was quite decisive. Perhaps the thought of those tattoos – the only magic Vocho was sure about and that because of him – had sharpened his mind.
Dom waved his hand, as though the thought of Vocho’s favour in the matter of Kass had never crossed his mind. “Even if I didn’t, I thought those wards hadn’t been used in years! Not since the prelate killed all the mages, at least. I’m surprised your father could find a magician to do it. Turning up all over, all of a sudden. What do you need me to do?”
“Outlawed, yes, but there are still people prepared to use them, and magicians prepared to draw them, if you know where to find them. It’s not far to Ikaras, and a few people might slip past the guards, might go to your old university to find a magician. What I need is a magician to undraw them. Someone we can trust, and someone within the borders if I can, because my father’ll have them watched, you can be sure.” Vocho wanted to know who this magician was. There wouldn’t be two in Reyes, couldn’t be, but if there was one… Dom would perhaps know or could find out without suspicion falling on Vocho. Dom might be a ninny but he was a well connected ninny.
“I quite understand,” Dom said. “And rest assured, I’ll breathe not a word! Poor Kassinda would be ruined if anyone were to find out. Especially around here. The capital is much more tolerant of such things, so I’ve heard. A magician, yes, perhaps I might be able to help. Perhaps. I’ve heard a rumour about a magician just lately. Didn’t think to