Mordecai Roberts (septman) wrote in revoltic, @ 2020-07-27 20:28:00 |
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But Edmund had been on edge well before Lucy's revelation, and learning that his family's (provisional) trust had been abused in such a way as to threaten his younger sister and bring their greatest enemy down on their heads had not left him in any mood to pretend politeness. "Do you appreciate what that means?"
Of all the challenges Mordecai had expected from Lucy's older brother, however, that had not been at the top of the list. He'd discussed the mission to Narnia with Lucy and with Peter before his disappearance, and he was aware that the siblings shared some such information (although he rather doubted Lucy had shared every detail of that particular conversation). Edmund had included him in his invitation last March, at least.
Mordecai shifted his feet for a firmer balance and then shifted the load in his arms. "It's an honor," he said. "I can't say I understand it entirely. My visit was a short one." That was less forthcoming than he'd been with either of Edmund's siblings about his experience, but neither Peter nor Lucy had been bearing (visible) weapons at the time.
"I ought to set these down." He shrugged to indicate the load in his arms.
"It's a calling," he corrected, as they walked. "One you can refuse." As Susan had, although he would never say so to anyone outside of the family. "A charge, if you accept: to defend Narnia, her citizens, and Aslan's chosen kings and queens." He laid an unmistakable emphasis on the last word.
Then again, there had been an obvious change in circumstances as attested to by the need to build up the fire in July. If Edmund was asking about Mordecai's commitment to defending Lucy from the Witch, he could answer readily. "I'll do everything I can to protect Miss Lucy." Including putting a tracking spell on her brother at her request, although Edmund didn't need to know about that.
Perhaps turning his back to an irate older brother with a sword had not been the wisest choice.
There was no need for the rest of the room to hear the question, but he didn't plan on letting it go without a satisfactory answer.
He had been fairly certain that the older Pevensie siblings were unaware of the Wraith's threat to Lucy. He hadn't asked her to keep the information from her family, but he'd gotten the impression that she didn't want it spread about. For his part, Mordecai hadn't been overeager to experience the wrath of her brothers for making her a target by association (there was something to be said for the fact that Peter was no longer here to make an issue of it - although, come to think of it, he was probably less likely to skewer an unarmed man).
Having reached the fireplace, he turned. Better to see death coming. “The Wraith is dead,” be said. It wasn’t an excuse. If he’d kept any of his resolutions over the past year and a half about discouraging or at least concealing his preference for Lucy, then Argent would not have gone through her in making his point.
He certainly didn't expect it to convince Edmund. “I could kick myself that he saw her as a way at-” There was no missing the movement of Edmund’s hand. “-at SadTech.”
"If this had been a threat to the company I would be addressing it as the head of Legal." Any man clever enough to reach Mordecai's position ought to be able to recognize an implied threat. Edmund had his set limits, but he also knew the usefulness in occasionally blurring those lines - or at least appearing to do so. “It’s you she spends her time with," he said, still keeping his voice low. "Everyone from the secretaries to the gossip columnists know that. You’re the one he attacked on Titan. He may be dead, but his vendetta didn’t die with him. So who else should I expect to come after my sister?"
It was the latter sentences that made him look up. "Who else has come?" He knew of Jadis, of course, and had been trying in whatever poor ways to be available for Lucy - which did not necessarily do less of making her a target, but Lucy's peace of mind had been a greater priority for the time being. Mordecai knew of no one but her wolves accompanying the witch, however.
His thoughts raced. Effie might have sought revenge for Argent's death should she be here, and the Felperins would resent the fall of the Wraith's empire, if not the man himself. Any number of agents of the organization might bear a grudge on that score.
"Intended or not," continued Edmund. "You brought her here." He inhaled sharply. "We both did." Intended or not, Jadis would always be his responsibility; there was no disowning that. He unsheathed his sword and then planted the tip between cracks in the brick fireplace. "Are you prepared to do something about it?"
He considered the other man. Perhaps they weren't so different in that aspect. More quietly, he added. "I wouldn't do less for her."