Tilly buried her head in her hands and fled the room.  The peals of laughter from Elenora’s gaggle followed her and drowned out her own muffled laughter.  The whole situation had just been too much.  Out of habit she gently closed the polished wooden door behind her and leaned up against the wall beside it with her head back and eyes closed.  She had not planned on leaving Elenora’s service so soon.  Having unrestricted access to the house for the past four years had been essential to the Band’s cause.  Not only could did she hear the gossip from other highlinker households, but she also was able to access Elenora’s father study on occasion.  Tiberius Marmadel held the Snap position in the Foundation’s government and some of his correspondence was fascinating to read.  While the cover up of the affair between Ophelia Fealton and Petarion Taych, both prominent highlinkers gave Tilly a chuckle, the bribes that the Foundation sent to the Brothers of Fynn were of particular interest to the Band. 

The Band had been meeting in secret for over three years.  Tilly had been a member since their third meeting, when her friend Meg’s boyfriend Jonny had mentioned it in passing.  At the time, the Band was just a group of discontents who were jealous that highlinkers claimed so much power just for the number of links they had, not for their actual usefulness.  They were certain more would get done and everyone could have plenty if people’s links were used appropriately.  Instead of clearing land for farms and using linkers to supplement what could be grown naturally, they had all people earth-linked and water-linked to seeds growing one seed at a time.  Any highlinkers or trinks linked to seeds did not have to participate in this menial task, their days were filled with activities for their own enjoyment. 

The Band needed more than a desire for communism to unite the low linkers.  There were enough highlinkers to force society to continue with the status quo – having three or four links was not a particularly rare trait.  To win highlinkers over to the idea that society was flawed, they began to incorporate the Canons of Fynn into their message.  Tilly had found many references to the Brothers of Fynn in Lord Marmadel’s letters, and neither the Foundation or the church were particularly devout in their interpretation of the Canons.  There were still many highlinkers than clung to the religion as part of their pseudo-traditional lifestyles.  Their ancestors worshiped Fynn, so they should as well.  The Band told them that they were not worshiping as their ancestors had and that they had corrupted the religion.  Many highlinkers used wealth as a substitute for religion, but the Band’s rhetoric made enough of them worry for Fynn’s acceptance that they began to sympathize with the Band. 

Tim still had a position as a chauffeur in the household, but his access to the house was limited.  Tilly still wanted to be in a position to be of use when the Band was ready to act.  As she was pondering her next move, she heard a distinct whistle from around the corner followed by footsteps approaching.  She quickly discarded her white cap and shook her hair free so it fell halfway down her back.  She then clamped her teeth down on the inside of her lip, which brought tears to her eyes.  As Tiberius Marmadel rounded the corner he would see a distraught young woman.  If the gossip Tilly had heard was true, then her vulnerability would be of particular interest to him.  It was a much more involved and risky role than being housemaid to a spoiled girl.  The Foundation may be frivolous and used the linkage without regard or respect for it, but they were not afraid to use the power that the linkage granted them.  Tiberius Marmadel was a tall man with a neatly trimmed dark gray beard.  His most distinct feature were his vibrant green eyes, over which one of his eyebrows was arched with equal parts concern and interest toward Tilly’s pathetic figure.

“My daughter can be a cruel girl.  I’m afraid I was never able to say no to my little girl, and I do believe I have spoiled her.”

Tilly’s mouth almost dropped open at Lord Marmadel’s casual words.  She quickly glanced up at his eyes to properly judge his intent.  The faint glint was so reminiscent of one of Elenora’s tests, that she bowed her head and began vigorously shaking it side to side.

“No my Lord, your daughter is a wonderful angel.  I’m far too clumsy to be a lady’s maid.  I’m surprised she kept me around for so long.  I don’t know what I’ll do now.  No other household will take me once word gets out.” 

Although Tilly purposely allowed her voice to rise to a panicked note, it really was a concerned that she would be banished from highlinker society.  Her position as a spy gave her some moderate authority within that Band.  After being a low ranking blinker for her whole life, it was refreshing to have people look up to her. 

Lord Marmadel’s eyes warmed at this response.  A silly maid was just what he had not known he needed today.  Especially one that would be indebted to him, “What are your links, my dear?  What other use could we have for you in this household.  It’s a large house, Elenora need not know you were still here.”  

Tilly looked up at Lord Maramdel with wide, innocent eyes.  “I’m a powk. Fire-linked to iron and earth-linked to silk, my Lord.  But I’m a disaster in the kitchen and my link to silk is so weak it’s barely useful.”

  “How long did you say you’ve been with us?” Lord Marmadel looked even more thoughtful. 

“Four years, my lord,” mentally Tilly narrowed her eyes at him. 

“And you can read and write, of course?”

“Of course, my lord.”  Tilly clamped her jaw shut to keep it from dropping open again as she realized where his questions were leading as his eye looked her up and down.  There was a slight hunger to them, but Tilly was not concerned.

“You are now my private secretary.  I’m sure after four years you know enough of our secrets.   A few more couldn’t possibly hurt.  You will call yourself Matilda.  Dress nicely tomorrow.”

It was too easy.  Too perfect.  Never in the wildest plans that the Band had dreamed up would they have never placed Tilly..Matilda in such close proximity to Lord Marmadel.  It changed everything and it just might be the catalyst that would change the world.

Next Chapter: Falling - 2191