Bewitched & Betrayed (18 page)

Kalta graciously inclined his head. “Thank you. Your trust honors me and my house.”

“This isn’t over,” Carnades hissed.

“Of course it’s not,” Kalta said mildly. “Sarad Nukpana is still at large.”

“That does nothing to disprove that Tamnais Nathrach kid
napped General Aratus,” Carnades said. “If Sarad Nukpana is regenerating as you say, he would need an accomplice; and who better than a goblin dark mage and an elven traitor? Mistress Benares has been inside the Saghred on two occasions and has spoken with Sarad Nukpana.” He looked to me and his eyes narrowed in cold, reptilian fury. “Don’t think I have forgotten that he referred to you as a partner.”

“Yeah, it still gives me the creeps, too.”

Mychael turned away from Carnades, dismissing him entirely. “Sedge, I want to see the statements of all witnesses who said they saw Tamnais Nathrach abduct the general.”

“You won’t have to go far for two of them; they’re right over there,” I said, indicating a pair of elves who clearly wished that they were elsewhere right now.

“They just finished giving their statements,” Sedge told us. “There were four others who have come over the course of the afternoon.”

Six lying witnesses. Carnades had been busy. He wasn’t taking any chances that Tam was going to get away.

“I want copies of their statements, and their addresses sent to my office within the hour,” Mychael said. “I’ll be conducting my own investigation—beginning with interviewing the witnesses.”

Carnades sneered. “So you think our chief watcher is incapable of properly—”

“Chief Watcher Rinker is more than capable in every capacity of his job.” Mychael’s voice was level and professional—and cold enough to give Carnades frostbite. “The continued safety of the Conclave’s mages is
my
responsibility. And I will do everything in my power to bring those responsible to justice.” He paused meaningfully. “And that includes any false witnesses. If Tamnais Nathach has been falsely accused with malicious intent, I will see those responsible prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Valuable hours have been lost here tonight, hours that may have cost the life of another citizen of this island—a life I was sworn to protect.”

Carnades was livid with outrage. “You will not roust our good citizens out of their beds in the middle of the night.”

“Watch me. And speaking of the middle of the night, Sarad Nukpana is out there. I can’t allow you out in the streets alone.”

“I have two bodyguards who—”

“Insufficient,” Mychael told him. “You are the senior mage on the Seat of Twelve and it is my duty to see you safely home.”

Taltek Balmorlan stepped forward. “It is not Magus Silvanus’s intention to go home yet, nor is it mine.”

“Then my men will escort the two of you wherever you need to go, and then see you both safely home.”

If Carnades or Balmorlan wanted to report back to Markus, Mychael had just thrown a big crimp in their plans. His Guardians would report every stop they made to their commander. Another flash of brilliance on Mychael’s part. Best of all, he was just doing his job.

I had a sudden feeling of cold dread. I hadn’t heard Talon come up behind me—the kid was too light on his feet for that—but he was there. And Carnades and Balmorlan were still there.

Taltek Balmorlan looked like he’d just been handed a present with his name on it. Carnades looked like he’d just seen one of those ghosts that he didn’t believe in.

I sighed. “Talon, you were supposed to stay put.”

“You know I only do as told if there’s something in it for me.” His voice slipped smoothly into a lower register and his magic flowed around us all, warm and silvery. I don’t think he was aware that he was doing it.

Balmorlan was aware and delighted.

Damn.

“Young Master Nathrach.” The elven inquisitor’s lips curved into a jackal’s smile. “I have seen you perform at Sirens on more than one occasion. You have a most impressive talent.”

“Let me guess,” Talon shot back smoothly. “You’re the type who enjoyed my dancing
much
more than my singing.”

A few watchers did a fine job covering their snorts or guffaws with spontaneous coughing fits. Vegard sounded like he’d swallowed a bug.

Taltek Balmorlan’s look was murder.

Talon flashed him a dazzling smile, but his aquamarine eyes were pale fire. He knew exactly who and what he was playing with, and he was doing it anyway, cheerfully even. These were the bastards who had put his father in a cell, and the kid was out here to show them that Nathrach men didn’t intimidate and they sure as hell didn’t hide in conference rooms.

Vidor Kalta leaned toward the elven inquisitor. “The boy has your number, Taltek,” he murmured, laughter running under his words. “I’ve always said you need to find another hobby.”

Carnades hadn’t found any words. His stare was fixed on Talon’s pale eyes; eyes only a shade darker than Carnades’s own. “Abomination,” he whispered hoarsely, whether to himself or Talon, I didn’t know.

“Your mother was a pure-blooded high elf,” Vidor Kalta said gently to Talon. “And was no doubt very beautiful.” His black eyes were daggers on Carnades. “And his father is a good, noble, and
innocent
man.” He looked back at Talon. “You should be proud of them both.”

“Yes, sir. I am.” The kid’s voice was steady as a rock.

Vidor Kalta might be creepy, but I liked him.

Mychael moved smoothly between Talon and Carnades, forcing the elf to break eye contact with the young goblin. “My men are ready to escort you to your next destination.” Mychael’s words were polite; his voice said that both Carnades and Balmorlan were leaving. Now.

They left with Carnades’s two bodyguards in tow, and through the windows, I saw a whole bunch of mounted Guardians who looked only too glad to escort all of them around town. Carnades’s mage cronies dispersed. I guess it was no fun being on the losing side. They’d go home and lick their wounds; Carnades and Balmorlan were no doubt hatching another plan before they were in their coach.

I wanted to run directly to Tam’s cell, but knew that wouldn’t look good for either of us.

I draped an arm over Talon’s shoulders. I knew I’d probably get groped for my trouble, but a show of guts like that shouldn’t go unrewarded.

“Phaelan has a saying for what you just did,” I told him.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. He’d tell you not to trip over those things.”

“What things?”

“Your balls that are dragging on the ground.”

Talon’s grin was slow and lascivious. “Not literally, but they are impressive. Would you like to see?”

“I’ll pass, kid. It’s a thrill I’ll have to live without.”

“Anytime you want the thrill, just let me know.”

Mychael appeared at my side. “Talon, why don’t you go see your father.” He glanced over my shoulder. “Sedge?”

“I’ll lower the sound barrier on the ward so they can talk.”

“Thank you,” I told him.

The chief watcher sighed. “I really didn’t want to do this, Raine.”

“I know. We all have our jobs to do.”

“And sometimes they suck.”

“That they do.”

While Talon was reunited with Tam, I stepped up to Vidor Kalta.

“Well played,” I murmured. “You didn’t hear Nukpana say one word in that examination room.”

Kalta’s response was a brief upward twitch of his thin lips.

“And you knew exactly what he was going to do,”
I said to Mychael in mindspeak.

“The paladin and I—how do you say—got our story straight before we came in.” Kalta spoke while barely moving his lips, and his words didn’t carry past my ears. Nifty trick. “It simplifies so much. My conscience is quite clear. I merely countered one fabrication with another. Carnades cannot prove his claim; and he knows that I cannot prove mine.” His eyes were the flat black of a shark’s. “I know what is at stake if Sarad Nukpana succeeds. I will do whatever is necessary to prevent that from happening. And to prevent more innocent people from being infested by those who escaped with him.”

I glanced over my shoulder. It looked like Tam was giving his son a serious talking-to, and for once it looked like Talon might actually be listening. I wasn’t about to interrupt that. Besides, there was a question I wanted an answer to. That answer was probably going to creep me the hell out, but I wanted to know.

“Uh, Nachtmagus Kalta—”

“Vidor, please.”

“Okay.” I drew that word out. “Vidor. May I ask you a probably tasteless and possibly offensive question?”

His lips curled in a knowing smile. “About my calling?”

“That would be the topic.”

“Miss Benares, I have never been offended by sharing knowledge with those who sincerely want to know.” He paused meaningfully. “Nor by having the opportunity to dispel an unfortunate misconception.”

Just ask it, Raine. “Do you resurrect the dead?”

“No, I do not,” he replied simply. “However, there have been instances when I have prevented a soul from leaving its body.”

“But they were dead.”

“Their bodies, yes. But as long as the soul remains, true death is a technicality.” He gave me a quizzical glance. “You seem surprised that I do not resurrect the dead.”

“I thought that was what a nachtmagus did.”

“Once the soul leaves the body, it may linger for as long as a day, but usually it is only for a few minutes. After that the soul moves on. Attempting to summon a soul back to its original body is dangerous for precisely the same reasons you have experienced during the past few weeks.”

I had an unwanted image of Banan Ryce and Alastair Kratos. “Bad souls looking for any body they can get.”

“Precisely. There is no guarantee that the soul you summon will be the soul you want. And once that spirit takes possession of the body, what you have is no more than an animated corpse, a tool and nothing more for the spirit infesting it. And make no mistake, it
is
an infestation—and to any moral nachtmagus, it is abhorrent.” His black eyes sparkled. “Does that answer your question?”

“And then some.” I glanced down at my boots and then up at Vidor. “Thank you for what you did for us.”

“I was more than glad to be of assistance, Miss Benares.”

“Call me Raine.”

He looked genuinely pleased, almost happy at that. “Raine.”

I let out a wry chuckle and shook my head. “You made Carnades admit in front of a roomful of people that not only did you not lie, but that he was wrong. He’s not going to let either one of those go.”

“I would be stunned into insensibility if he did. Unlike Carnades, I trust the word of others. If you and the paladin say you heard it, you did. If Carnades doesn’t hear, see, or feel it himself, he believes it simply does not exist. The man has no intellectual curiosity whatsoever. Most unfortunate. I know Tamnais Nathrach from the goblin court, Raine. He was not responsible for this, and I will not stand by and watch while Carnades’s pigheadedness imprisons the innocent while the guilty go free and continue to kill. And as to the possibility of you and Paladin Eiliesor sharing some sort of bond, I believe that what is between two consenting adults should stay there.”

I said nothing, but inclined my head in gratitude.

His lips twitched again. “And I would never pass up an opportunity to antagonize Carnades, as I have since we were boys.”

“You two knew each other as kids?” I whistled. “I hope your parents hid the knives. He hates your guts.”

“Then that would make our relationship unchanged since childhood.”

Mychael glanced over at the cells. “Vidor, will you stay here overnight with Tam?”

“Of course.”

I looked from one of them to the other. “You expect Sarad Nukpana to come after him?”

Mychael shook his head. “That would be too risky. There are Sedge’s watchers and wards to contend with, and I will be posting a few Guardians here as well. They’re trained to recognize and counteract spirit activity of any kind.”

“Won’t someone tell Carnades that you have Guardians protecting Tam?”

Mychael held up a finger. “
Guarding
Tam. And if they want to tell Carnades, they are more than welcome to. Carnades claims that Tam is the most dangerous man on the island. My men routinely supplement Sedge’s watchers whenever we have a high-risk prisoner.”

“Your boys are just doing their job,” I said.
“And protecting Tam.”
I hesitated.
“Is it safe for me to speak to him?”

Mychael knew what I meant. Would having lowered the sound barriers on the ward covering Tam’s cell reveal our bond if we got too close? There were still plenty of watchers in the squad room. On an island full of mages, watchers who could sling spells of their own went a long way toward keeping the peace. Some of them probably had enough on the ball to recognize the umi’atsu bond between me, Mychael, and Tam.

“It won’t be a problem,”
Mychael assured me.
“Tam will be able to hear us, and we can hear him—just sound, no magic spillover.”

I took a breath and blew it out. More than enough had gone wrong tonight; a change would be nice.

With the sound barrier down, the wards on Tam’s cell glowed orange instead of red. It wasn’t a warm, welcoming glow; it was an angry “one step closer and I’ll toss you across the room” kind of glow. Mychael and I stopped about two feet from the cell.

“Entertaining exchange,” Tam drawled. “That’s one thing I can always depend on from Carnades—he’s never boring.”

I blinked. “How did you—”

“Lipreading. A useful trick I picked up at court. I got most of what was said. By the way, thank Vidor Kalta for me.”

“You can thank him yourself,” Mychael said. “He’ll be staying with you for the rest of the night. If all goes as planned, you’ll be out of here by tomorrow morning.”