Deathstalker 04 - Deathstalker Honor

keep telling me about this instant nonsense, as though I cared. Some things just have to be done the right way, and that’s all there is to it.” “Have you been here very long, lady Shreck?” said Flynn. “You seem very comfortable here.”
    “Oh, I’ve been here since I was a young girl, for more years than I care to remember, young man. My brother Christian and his family joined me here for a while, and we had such a jolly time together. Till he disappeared.” Grace frowned. “I was always sure Gregor had something to do with it, but I could never prove anything. And there was the Family name to consider. A scandal could have ruined us.”
    “You never allowed anyone to even raise the subject before,” said Toby sharply. “I was concerned that anyone showing too much interest in Christian’s fate might disappear too,” said Grace just as sharply.
    “Christian and Gregor never got along. That’s no secret. They had a furious argument one day, right here in this room. Christian stormed out and was never seen again. Don’t press me for any further details, Tobias, because I don’t have any. I wasn’t even in the house at the time. Your mother, Helga, went out looking for Christian, and also never came back. No trace was ever found of either of them. Sometimes I like to think they found each other and decided to stay hidden and safe. I like to think of them living happily together somewhere, safe in secret.” “Then why did they never send for me?” said Toby.
    “Gregor had you watched all the time,” Grace said gently. “You were bait. I kept you close to me, protected you as best I could, till I could find you a safe place at a boarding school.”
    “Maybe I should ask Gregor what happened,” said Toby. “Get him alone and ask him very forcefully.”
    “I wouldn’t advise it, dear. He’d very likely just have you shot, in his present state of mind. Anyway, it’s a bit late to be showing such emotion over your lost parents, isn’t it? You’re an investigative journalist; you could have started a search years ago if you’d really been interested.” “They went off and left me,”
    said Toby, looking at the floor. “They never came back for me. And like you, I never wanted proof they were dead. As long as they were still officially listed as missing, there was still the chance they might turn up again someday.” For a moment he looked rather lost and vulnerable. But the moment passed, and he was quickly his old self again. He looked up and fixed Grace with a steady gaze. “Why was I never sent to Blue Block, like so many of my contemporaries?”
    “Your father never approved of them, and Gregor still had a use for you. Not that he ever trusted them either. Gregor always suspected the worst of everyone, and in Blue Block’s case it would appear he was right. The servant has become the master. Just another reason why I was forced into the political arena.
    The Family must be protected from all outside influences and pressures, whatever the source. Ah, tea!”
    The door had opened silently, and Toby and Flynn looked up to see a servant bearing down on them, carrying a silver teapot and Fine china milk jug and cups on a silver tray. Right behind the servant came a young woman in a pretty dress, with a widely smiling face under shoulder-length golden curls. Toby rose quickly to his feet and went to meet her, also smiling widely, while the servant set out the tea things on a handy little table at Grace’s side. Grace gave Toby and the young woman a knowing look, and busied herself with the tea things, nodding to the servant to withdraw. He did so, backing out all the way. Flynn watched Toby interestedly as he took the young woman’s hand in his. “Clarissa! You’re looking very well. Very well!” “And feeling much better, thanks to you, dear Toby. The surgeons are removing the implants Lionstone had put in me as fast as they can, but it’s a long job. At least I have human eyes to see you with now.”
    “And very pretty eyes they are too. The hair’s new, isn’t it?”
    “It’s just a wig while my own hair grows back. You’ve done so much for me, Toby.
    I don’t know how to thank you.”
    “Oh, I’m sure he’ll think of something,” said Grace tartly. “Now, that’s enough mawkishness for the moment, dears. Any more and you’ll oversweeten the tea. Come and sit down while I pour.”
    Clarissa pulled up a chair right next to Toby’s, and they sat down, still