Chapter 2

Ashley Niven stirred the potion four times counter-clockwise and three times clockwise. The liquid turned a satisfying deep red. He loved to brew, even if he didn’t often get the opportunity these days, as he had plenty of other things that required his attention. He still found the act calming and after his last argument with Finn, he needed an outlet. Finn was lucky he was now merely an ex-dalliance and not a corpse.

He waved his hand across the surface and set the stasis charm, it would need to be left in situ for a few days in the copper cauldron to finish the reaction, and then this batch of healing elixir could be bottled and sent off to restock the field warlock’s kits.

After a final check to make sure everything was in order, Ashley left his laboratory and headed to join his father for something between a late supper or early breakfast in the parlour of the family home. A residence so private barely a handful of people knew of its location.

Niall sat at a dining table that was more often than not used as a desk. He glanced up as Ashley arrived. “Ah, I wasn’t sure if you’d still be awake, but I’m glad you are. There’s some Council business I’d like to discuss with you.”

The Vampire Council wasn’t technically Ashley’s problem, but he’d helped his father from time to time and was willing to listen and advise. He dragged out a chair and joined him at the table. Niall looked tired, older, but nowhere near his age, given he was more than six hundred years old but from his appearance most would guess mid-fifties because he spelled the flecks of grey into his dark hair, as he thought it made him look distinguished.

“You’ve been busier of late. I thought now the Denmouth business was settled it would quieten down.”

“I’m not sure the Vampire Council knows the meaning of downtime.”

Over the last few months, Niall had been involving Ashley more in Council matters, coinciding with his recent appointment to the Warlock Ruling Committee, overseeing Research and Development activities, whereas Niall had vampire babysitting duties to contend with, and Ashley had no interest in taking those over. “It is related to the Invigilators?”

“After a fashion. But not something I have never seen invoked.”

“I’d have thought you’d have seen everything by now.”

Niall laughed. “After four hundred years running after the vamps you’d like to think so, but they still manage to surprise me.”

“Without the Invigilators they’d have torn themselves apart centuries ago. I’ve heard you say it might have been better if they had.”

Niall tapped the file in front of him. “They might do so yet. Last night Charles Redbourn announced he was stepping down as the Dark Earl of Crofton, meaning he intends his nominated successor to take their chair for the House of Hewel.”

Ashley summoned them something to drink. His father no longer drank alcohol, so he produced a pot of perfectly steeped mint tea. “I know the passing of the baton doesn’t happen often but it is enshrined in vampire law, so I can’t see why a new Dark Earl of Crofton would be of concern.”

“It shouldn’t be, that’s the problem. But this morning I received an official request to investigate the worthiness of Benjamin Redbourn to ascend to Council.”

“Bad blood? If you pardon the pun.”

Niall tutted and rolled his eyes. “This is an old rite, not the sort of thing you ask because of a perceived slight. Using a blood oath can’t be sidestepped.”

Blood oaths weren’t something to be messed with, usually they came from a result of extreme malice or holier-than-thou justice, with little in between. “So someone seriously wants to stop Ben Redbourn from becoming the earl.”

“Or delay him. I can’t decide which.” Niall slid the file over the table. “We’ve been collecting information on Ben since he was earmarked by his sire, there’s nothing particularly worrying as far as I’ve seen.”

Ashley leafed through the file. Ben Redbourn had been a student at Cambridge when he’d first come to the attention of his sire. Like most of the House of Hewel, Ben hadn’t been chosen due to a sexual attraction, but based on his intelligence and potential to be earl as the current Dark Earl of Crofton had proclaimed Timothy Thorne, a Napoleonic soldier, as his Eternal some two centuries before.

“Who made the challenge?”

“That’s part of the issue with this sort of thing, it’s anonymous. The point being that an investigation could be triggered without retribution.”

Ashley tutted. “What allowed that piece of statute?”

“The rite itself predates the Council and I’ve never seen it used, but the addition of allowing a claimant anonymity to make a case against any of the legitimate rites came after a skirmish in the late 1800s in the House of Devereaux, one of the few times I’ve seen the four Heads of House step in and knock some sense into their families.”

His father had seen so much in his role as Head of the Invigilators, ensuring that the Vampire Council acted in line with the original premise. “Did you call them in?”

“I didn’t have to because this doesn’t require them to ratify it—it’s that old. But I have a horrible feeling about this Ben Redbourn thing. It doesn’t add up.”

His father had a point. Ben’s record through school and his undergrad at Trinity, Cambridge was impeccable—high marks, tutors praising his natural talent. Originally named Benjamin Howes, he’d been an introverted chemistry scholar with an interest in the occult that had led him down a path that saw him turned by Charles Redbourn in the summer of his final year, and within ten years had been baptised Redbourn, proclaiming him one of the candidates who could be nominated to be earl. The speed of his progression was unprecedented at the time. “I can’t see anything that would make him unfit. He’s got a reputation for being a bit of a player, likes to party and runs with the crowd you’d expect. I suppose he could be seen as a little young.”

“Not by the Hewel standards. The current Dark Duke of Marchent is around the same age. They knew each other before they were turned. If I recall correctly, Marchent was the one to introduce Ben to a little club he was a member of, along with his sire.”

“Then perhaps that’s it. Concern that the choice is too limited, therefore reducing the diversity of the House.”

Niall picked up his tea. “If it were that simple there are other ways to contest it. This challenge feels like it was designed to unsettle. It’s an overhang from before the original set-up of the Council and should have been revoked as an option centuries ago. I don’t even know how anyone found out about it. It’s not common knowledge, not something you’d unearth by accident as it’s mentioned in an arcane bylaw.”

“So what do you want from me?”

Niall took back the file and rooted through the pages. “Depending on how this plays out, there are various ways to conduct the investigation, the oath means I have to enforce this carefully and I thought this was the best option.”

Ashley accepted the sheet of paper and scanned it. “The Vedette? Never heard of it.”

“It enforces constant oversight while the investigation is ongoing. Only actionable when two members of the same family of a certain level of magic have seats on the Warlock Ruling Committee. We’d install you at Crofton Hall to investigate whether his lordship isn’t up to anything he shouldn’t be and that he’s fit to be earl.”

Ashley groaned. “I do not like the sound of that. I’m not a babysitter.”

“I know, and you’d be conducting the inquiry alongside our appointed legal representative.”

At least he wouldn’t be on his own. “Can I have Jack?”

“I thought you would want him. He’d be my choice anyway as we need to be prepared, do some additional research, and he’s one of our best. After last night, the Council will call Ben Redbourn to meet alongside Charles in a day or so and, in theory, the succession would be ratified, but no one else is aware of the challenge.”

“Won’t the House of Hewel be told in advance?”

Niall shook his head. “No. It is a matter of informing them of the situation. If Ben Redbourn refuses to co-operate we can force the issue.”

“I can’t imagine someone earmarked as the next Dark Earl of Crofton would capitulate easily.”

“No, I expect a fight, but he’ll see it will be easier for him to acquiesce and get this over with. This will permeate through the whole House of Hewel and even the other three. It’ll be far worse than the Denmouth situation if you find something that stops Ben being earl, that’s for sure.”

Ashley had not been party to the whole explanation on the change of successor, but he’d heard enough from his various sources to get the drift. “But that was infighting—the original nominated successor tried to force the incumbent to step down and it did not go well. This sounds different.”

“Yes, because Charles is happy for Ben to become the next earl, but that doesn’t mean the protest didn’t come from within the House of Hewel. The way it’s come about is far more officious and by the book, using the confidential petition that could have been raised by any Council member and beyond.”

“Beyond?”

Niall yawned and Ashley thought his father was not long for his bed. “It’s why it’s dangerous, and after this, the option will no doubt be scrapped. Any vampire, regardless of position in society, has the right to set this in motion.”

Ashley groaned. That was not good, it cast suspicion everywhere. “If it’s deemed necessary to find out who raised the challenge that could be nigh on impossible.”

“Not necessarily. Any vampire can invoke it but ninety-nine percent of them wouldn’t know it was an option. Besides, it’s meant to be anonymous…”

“But in reality, this looks to be a piece of political bullshit that the Invigilators will need to mop up.”

“Another thing is the Redbourns and their associates should not seek out who did it to prevent retribution—it’s another thing we’ll need to watch out for.”

Ashley was getting a headache. He’d had limited direct interaction with the Council members but those he had all possessed, unsurprisingly, the attitude they were superior to most and nigh on untouchable. “That’s easier said than done.”

“The investigation needs to be carried out carefully and with no risk of impunity, as it could equally be an attempt to undermine the Invigilators for not keeping a better eye on the vamps. Ben Redbourn will need to be put through the wringer.”

Ashley shrugged. “By the look of his file, it’s about time he faced a bit of a challenge in his existence… it’ll either destroy him or be the making of him.”

“I take it from your reaction you’re more than happy to help whatever the outcome.”

“I’m always interested in keeping the vamps in their place. How long is the time commitment?”

“Three months initially, and could be extended to six if warranted. I know you’re busy, Ashley, but I’d appreciate your help on this.”

“I daresay I’ve done worse things than stay in a fancy manor house at the expense of its owner.”

Niall snorted. “Then I’ll let you know when the meeting is.”

He wouldn’t refuse to help his dad. If this was the idea Niall had come up with to solve the matter, then he would be supportive, as Niall knew the best way to deal with the bullshit the vamps could come up with. Three to six months wasn’t a long time, he’d been alive nearly four centuries so it was a comfortable blink of the eye compared to his field trip to Siberia in 1814. He’d need to juggle a few things for the Warlock Ruling Committee but, unlike the Vampire Council, the warlocks were a lot less demanding and would understand as it was official business. Just as long as Ben Redbourn wasn’t too irritating it should be fine, and if he were, then he had ways of dealing with him.