And, unlike a shroud, an armor spell was perfectly capable of stopping a punch entirely.
I took a step back, gripping my knuckles. I’d bruised them on the impact.
Magnus simply stared at me for a moment, then reached into the pocket of his coat and withdrew a handkerchief. He wiped the blood away from his lips from when I’d hit him the first time, then raised a hand to his chin. “You’ve chosen an odd time to grow a backbone, Son.”
“You threatened my friend.” I felt my whole body tense as I braced myself for another strike.
Magnus shook his head. “No, Son. I was going to discipline your retainer, as is my right. If you wish for this,” he waved at Patrick, “to be your retainer, he will need to bear the burdens of all that entails. And you,” he turned his eyes back to me, “will need to remember one of the first lessons I taught you.”
Magnus took a breath, staring me down. “Never start a fight you can’t possibly finish.”
He didn’t move to attack.
That was bad. I would have been ready for a swing or a blast of mana.
He sounded calm, collected.
That was more terrifying than if he’d flown into a rage. If I’d simply made him angry, he’d probably stop at just hitting me.
But if he was thinking critically, he could do something more harmful.
I took a step to block his view of Patrick, who still looked too startled to know how to handle the situation.
I began to charge transference mana in my right hand. Transference countered enhancement, which was what Magnus used for his armor spell. If I hit him hard enough—
I’d spent too much time thinking. Something hit my back, knocking me toward Magnus. Then Magnus slammed another fist into me, reinforced with enhancement mana.
I hit the floor hard.
When I was pushing myself to my feet, I noticed my father had drawn a cane from his belt. “You’ll stay down if you know what’s best for you.”
I let the mana in my right hand dissipate. I couldn’t punch him from this distance. I pushed myself into a sitting position.
Magnus pointed toward Patrick with his cane. “Step forward, Patrick.”
Patrick trembled for just a moment, then nodded, more to himself than Magnus. His voice was weak, but he managed a plea. “Please…just don’t hurt Corin any more, sir.”
“What are you to my son?”
Patrick answered immediately. “I’m his retainer, sir.”
“Good. At least you were listening. I trust you’re aware of what being a retainer entails?”
I started to stand up. “Father, this isn’t—”
“Quiet,” Magnus hissed.
“I protect him, sir.” He looked at the cane, then raised his eyes to meet my father’s directly.
Magnus turned his head to me. “I don’t relish doing this, Son. But you need to learn proper respect and to remember your place. And it would seem that disciplining you directly is no longer sufficient.”
Magnus raised his cane.
“That will be quite enough, Father.” Sera’s voice was still rough from the damage to her throat, but easy enough to understand.
I hadn’t noticed when she’d stepped into the room.
From the way his head swung and his expression, I don’t think Magnus had noticed her, either.
“Sera.” Father lowered his cane. “This matter does not concern you.”
Sera stepped closer, glancing down to me, then back to Magnus. “I’d respectfully disagree, Father. I’m certain my dear brother meant no offense, and we are guests here. Perhaps it would be best not to make a poor impression on our hosts?”
Magnus waved a hand dismissively. “Please, Sera. If I told Edrigan Theas that I needed to discipline my child and his retainer, he’d gladly hand me his own cane.”
“Perhaps outside, but not on the carpet.”
There weren’t actually any bloodstains on the carpet that I can see, but Sera had managed something important — she’d gotten him to look.
And after that moment of doubt, Magnus slipped his cane back onto his belt. “Perhaps you have a point. It has been some time since I’ve visited, and I would not wish to make a poor impression.” He glanced down toward me, his eyes full of disdain. “I trust you’ve learned your lesson?”
I nodded slowly. “Of course, Father.”
“Good.” He glanced to Sera, then back to me. “I will be going to speak to Edrigan. I trust that by the time I’m finished, you two will be ready to return home.”
Sera cut in before I could. “We will, of course, return as soon as possible. But both Corin and I have injuries from Mizuchi’s attack that require further treatment. And I’m certain you know that Sheridan Theas is one of the most skilled healers available. We would be unwise to turn aside their hospitality.”
Magnus waved a hand. “Very well, you may remain as long as you need further treatment. But I expect no further delays.”
“Of course, Father.” Sera smiled sweetly.
Magnus turned to Patrick, looking him up and down. “You may continue to serve my son.”
With that, he walked out of the room, heading to another wing of the house.
I breathed a sigh of relief, letting just a bit of the tension out of my shoulders.
Sera and Patrick scrambled to help me to my feet.
“…Thanks,” I managed.
“Come on,” Sera said. “Let’s go get you cleaned up.”
Sera and I found a private room to talk after that. Patrick was graceful enough to give us a few minutes to ourselves.
“Corin, that was…”
“Routine,” I replied.
She drew in a sharp breath. “I saw scars. Every once in a while, when you rolled up your sleeves, or your shirt got pulled down a little—”
I looked away. “Stop. I don’t want to talk about it.”
“How long, Corin?”
I tightened my fists. “…A long time. It got worse when Mother left. Much worse.”
“…Why would anyone do that to their child?”
I shook my head. “He called it training. Sometimes, it was a part of training… or at least that’s what he used to disguise it.” I shook my head. “Other times…he was just so angry. So angry that Mother left. That Tristan was gone.”
She put a hand on my arm. I pulled away.
“I’m so sorry, Corin. I didn’t know.”
I nodded. “I know.” I took a breath. “I wish you never had to find out.”
Sera looked away. “When he first told me that he was my father…” She raised a hand to wipe her eyes. “I was so happy.”
The tears came more clearly after that.
“I was happy.”
We took a little while longer to go back to the room where I had been staying and find me a change of clothes.
Sera got some water to help me wash the blood off my face.
It was nothing new to me.
Routine, as I’d said.
Except that I’d fought back this time.
That was dangerous.
But I had no regrets.
I spent a little while longer just sitting with Sera. Trying to talk about other things, to get my mind off of what had happened.
It didn’t work.
I went and found Patrick.
“Thank you.”
He blinked at me. “For what?”
“For being there. For trying to step in.” I shook my head.
“I should have done more.” He looked away.