Hunting (31 page)

"I'm so angry with him," Ash said.
"Which is a stupid thing to say about someone who just tried to
kill you, but I never imagined him to be the sort of person who
would sacrifice people's
souls
for his ambitions."

Thornaster touched the long line of
scar tissue down her arm. "I've met the whole of the Vicardie
family – none of them bore the corruption I've been sensing. The
capture of the Vicardies is unlikely to end this."

"So you'll keep up your walking tour of
the city?"

"Possibly. I first need to do what I
can about this second Well of the Heart." A slow smile lightened
his expression. "If, that is, I can bring myself to get out of bed.
Arun suggested that if I was going to try to marry you out of hand,
we should start by telling each other our real names. I'm most
curious as to why he knows yours."

"Kiri. I guess she talked about me,
back when they were engaged."

Thornaster's eyebrows lifted, but then
he frowned. "Was Arun engaged when he came to Aremal?"

"He – well, Kiri thinks he broke it off
with her for the way she kissed him goodbye. Which is...I presume
Aremal improved our Rhoi
enormously
, but I'm still inclined
to black his eye for the line of reasoning which must have led to
that."

"Sun." Reverent disbelief.

"Exactly." Ash let out her breath, then
settled herself on the comfortable cushion of his shoulder and slid
her hand across his stomach, contrasting her pink and tan skin
against his brown and bronze. "My name was Daere Ridenalt," she
said, very cool and clear. "My father was Visel of Sirule, but he
died a few years ago, and my mother's since remarried. She stays
away from the Landsmeet, having never quite recovered her social
credit after selling her twelve year-old daughter to the former
Decsel Carlyon."

The muscles she rested against turned
to stone, but all Thornaster did was cover her hand with his and
say: "Tell me."

She did, unsparingly, including the
fact that she thought Genevieve had killed Eward Carlyon in order
to protect Ash, which was something she was unlikely to ever admit
to anyone else.

"It's not that I can't return to being
Daere Ridenalt," she said, coming to the end of it. "But, putting
aside how it will impact other people, I don't want that. I think
because people will start treating me first and foremost as the
girl forced to marry Eward Carlyon, a little like Lauren can't
escape being the Black Carlyon's son. Sometimes I wonder if that's
running away from myself, but–"

"No, it makes sense. Though I have to
say 'Daere' suits you immensely. And 'Ash' becomes a very macabre
choice for a replacement." The calm of the words didn't match the
reactions his body had transmitted, and he sat up so he could
squeeze her tightly. "I hate that there's nothing I can do to help
the girl you once were, but I can at least offer the simple
solution of giving you my family's name. Ah, my name being–"

"Morrion Estarrel," Ash said.

A morrion was a thorn bush. Aster and
Estarrel both meant star. And he'd said his first name was Rion.
Combined with a sister called Aria, an older brother, and the
Estarrel bloodline, it had seemed inescapable. Still, Ash hadn't
been absolutely sure until he squeezed her tighter.

"Yes – I've been entertaining myself
thoroughly not being treated first and foremost as the Aremish
Rhoi's younger son."

"And making such a big deal about not
being called a liar."

"Oh, I expect I could make an argument
for having done no more than shaded the truth," he said easily. "I
am most certainly the Visel of Pembury – it was my mother's
property. And mother is my father's second cousin. Even the name is
almost true."

"What rot."

They laughed, and pushed away thoughts
of the past, hurrying to dress in time to meet the Rhoi in a
spacious, sunny receiving room, which seemed to Ash to be full of
different places to sit, and a suspiciously large number of
flowers.

Rhoi Arun took one look at them and
said: "So I'm to congratulate you?"

"I'd say shout it from the rooftops, if
not for the multiple complications of identity," Thornaster said.
"As it is, we'll remain our current selves in Montmoth, and Ash
will become Daere on the journey home. Perhaps we'll officially
meet in Nyreem, since Hawk at least knows most of the story. He can
usefully serve as our witness as well."

Ash hesitated, then added: "I'd like
Kiri to be here, if that's possible."

Rhoi Arun nodded without any change of
expression, and left the room to make arrangements. Ash took the
opportunity to give Thornaster a dismayed glance because the Rhoi
looked worn to a nub: the bones of his skull standing out, and his
skin papery. Thornaster grimaced in response, then made a delaying
gesture, so when the Rhoi returned Ash was occupied teasing
Thornaster about her unfortunate lack of tabards in which to get
married. Hawkmarten and Kiri arrived in short order, both not quite
able to hide the same momentary shock when they saw the Rhoi,
though they just as quickly suppressed it.

"You could at least have the decency to
look nervous, Thorn," Hawkmarten complained. "If not at the
prospect of an eventful married life, then at the thought of Aria's
reaction to being left out of your wedding."

"Aria will get over it," Thornaster
said cheerfully, then held out a hand. "Ready?"

Ash gave Kiri a quick squeeze, then
pushed several hateful memories aside and firmly returned his
clasp. It took more effort than she would care to admit, but
Thornaster's surface good humour was accompanied by a quiet
comprehension. Seeing that, Ash was able to smile when the Rhoi
produced a silver marriage cord and bound their hands together.
Keeping her gaze on Thornaster-who-was-Morrion allowed
Ash-who-was-Daere to say her name and simply be glad.

Then Thornaster's smile faded, eyes
widening, and Ash looked down to discover that the silver cord
knotted around their joined hands had begun to glow with a pale,
white light.

"What–?"

The light increased in intensity, until
Ash had to shield her eyes with her free hand, but there was no
pain. Instead she felt only a pleasant warmth as the glare faded,
along with the cord, disappearing as if it had never been there,
though a ghost of sensation remained. She lifted her eyes to
Thornaster's and found an expression of such intense, incredulous
joy that she smiled at him in wonder.

"Astenar has joined our souls," he
explained, voice wobbling. "It happens very rarely, even among the
Estarrels. We were meant, Daere."

Someone made an incoherent noise and
she turned to find Heran and Lauren both standing in the furthest
doorway, their faces mirrors of horrified disbelief.

And then, beside her, the Rhoi quietly
collapsed.

Chapter Thirty

"Dramatic, but actually a positive
development," Thornaster said. "The power of the binding pushed
back some of the imbalance Arun's been suffering. He's resting
comfortably for the first time in days."

"But he's still ill, yes?" Heran looked
from Thornaster to Guardsman Farpatten for confirmation. "He kept
saying it was just a cold, nothing serious, but he's not getting
better is he?"

"He won't, no, not until this is
over."

Thornaster surveyed the informal
Council of War that had assembled in the receiving room following
the Rhoi's collapse – Ash, Kiri and Hawkmarten, Lauren and Heran,
Farpatten and Investigator Verel. The sumptuous arrangement of
spring flowers that filled the centre of the main table made an
incongruous focal point for the discussion.

"If Montmoth's Balance remains as it
currently stands, Arun faces a continual decline, probably over
several years. It's very unlikely, however, that those involved in
Karaelsur's rise will give up simply because the Vicardies have
been exposed.

"I think the initial plan must have
been to replace the Rhoi with Setsel Vicardie, who would be bound
to Karaelsur instead of Astenar. Karaelsur then could use the bond
as a conduit to Luin's own strength. After that Karaelsur would
most likely try to move against Astenar. I–" Thornaster grimaced.
"I have no idea what the attitude of the further gods would be to
such an event. But even if they returned to again cast Karaelsur
out, the effect on Luin – and us – would not likely be minor."

"So what's their next move?" Hawkmarten
asked. "Direct attack?"

"It's likely there will be more
disappearances, a sudden increase." Thornaster glanced at Captain
Farpatten and Investigator Verel. "A human life is a candle
compared to the strength they would have gained from Luin, but I
don't believe they're simply...feeding lives to Karaelsur. That
would not explain the level of imbalance Arun is experiencing. They
have some secondary plan, based upon that imbalance, and will work
to increase it. The two obvious ways to do that are to take more
lives for whatever purpose they are being used, and to kill Arun.
Even if they can no longer replace him with their own tool, it may
be sufficient for their purposes to ensure Montmoth does not have
the protections of a Rhoi."

"Heran will also be in immediate
danger."

It was the first time Lauren had spoken
since he'd walked in on a wedding. Although he'd managed to
resurrect his first seruilis' mask, giving his complete focus to
the danger Montmoth faced, his eyes were unreadably dark and the
livid bruise on his temple seemed to Ash to be a proclamation of
damage she'd inadvertently inflicted. He was doing a better job
than Heran at pretending Ash didn't exist.

"A quick transition to a new Rhoi would
not be in their interests," Thornaster agreed. "And on that point,
Ash, I heard you say yesterday that you didn't see Vicardie. Yet
there's only one way in and out of that well room, and no
obstructions beside the well."

"I still don't see how he managed it –
I kept my back to the wall until I was sure the room was
empty."

"This relates to the still-unanswered
question of how those thar-spiders were brought into Arun's
heavily-guarded quarters," Thornaster said. "Something that has
sewn a great deal of distrust and concern among his household."

"You're suggesting a mage at work?"
Farpatten said.

"If they imported one foreign mage, why
not two? Or simply some invested enchantment? Those don't last
long, but would be more than useful for specific tasks. Montmoth
has so few mages that the usual negatives to using magic would
hardly apply."

"Mages can 'hear' magic," Verel
explained. "And secure rooms can be warded to sound an alarm if
magic is used within them. Something that is beyond my abilities,
unfortunately, though there are a few exising wards in the
palace."

Thornaster nodded. "It would be best if
you were detailed to the Rhoi's immediate Guard for the moment,
Investigator," he said. "And for Veirhoi Heran to be kept elsewhere
in the city – close enough to produce at short notice, but
somewhere not easily found by our opponents."

"I'll arrange that," Farpatten said,
carefully not noticing the Veirhoi in question's expression.

Thornaster then suggested Lauren go
with Heran, and Hawkmarten stay watching over the Rhoi, which Ash
thought a neat demonstration that Montmoth's deep-held fears had
been realised, and an Aremish Visel had taken control of the
Rhoimarch. But none of those present seemed inclined to object, and
Thornaster moved on to Kiri, asking for her assistance in reviewing
the maps of the city and the locations of the disappearances in
hopes that she might make some connection that they had not.

"Will every death in this city feed
Karaelsur?" Kiri asked. "Or do they need to perform some form of
ritual?"

"If we reach the point where every
death is going to Karaelsur, Montmoth will have been lost."

On that note, Lauren and Heran were
sent to collect their belongings, and the Guards' conversation
turned to a discussion of precautions. Kiri extracted Ash to the
far end of the room, sitting them at a smaller table frothing with
cornflowers and laceweed.

Kiri touched a delicate white floret.
"There's a remarkable dissonance between the discussion and the
occasion... I haven't even congratulated you yet, Daere."

"Ash," Ash said. "I'll never be Daere
again in Montmoth. Besides, after so long I tend to think of myself
as Ash. I'm trying not to let myself call Thornaster 'Morrion',
either – or even 'Rion'. At least not 'til it doesn't matter if I'm
overheard. I'm glad you could be here, Kiri. I hope it wasn't too
awkward."

"Old insults aren't a high concern just
now." Kiri glanced in the direction Rhoi Arun had been taken, then
said: "May I?" and examined Ash's hand.

"I can sort of see it," Ash said. "When
I'm not looking directly at it."

"And you're not happy about it."

Kiri had always been able to read
her.

"No. Well, yes, on one level. Who
doesn't like the idea of their marriage being affirmed in such a
way? But I've read the stories. Jacian and Halide were bound this
way – and when Halide died, so did Jacian. The next time I get
tipped down a well, it's Thornaster I'll be killing."

"You weren't planning to avoid that
anyway?"

"I
always
plan to avoid being
tipped down wells. But I – you know what I'm like, Kiri. I climb
and I ride straight at fences and I hardly ever stay back and keep
out of things. How do I be me if every time I do that, it's not
just my life I'm risking?"

"You were always too devoted to Rommy
to set him at fences beyond what he could jump. Has that
changed?"

"Of course not. Have you seen my grey?
I'm not going to...stop laughing, Kiri."

Kiri, eyes brimming with amusement,
said: "Somehow I don't think you'll treat your husband much worse
than your horse, Daere – Ash." She smiled at Thornaster as he came
to join them. "My congratulations to you both."