Ruby Guardian (28 page)

I told you not to believe Talricci’s lies, Hetta said, warmth beaming from the presence inside Emriana. Your brother can take care of himself I didn’t raise foolish grandchildren, or children either, for that’ matter.

I know, Emriana thought back. And I thank you for that gift. But it seems sometimes like the entire city is against us.

Yes, Hetta said. Your news of the Grand Syndar is troubling, to say the least. Big things are afoot, that is certain. Now, we must hurry. We still have resources we can draw on, ourselves, but there is no time to waste.

First things first, Grandmother, Emriana responded. I’m not beyond Grozier’s reach, yet, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let him fool me again.

Hearing her own words, Emriana felt as though she had aged several years in the course of a single night. She had a debt to pay, to Grozier Talricci and everyone working with him. Still, the girl was homeless at the moment, with nothing more than what she carried on her person. She needed to get to the Darowdryn estate, but she couldn’t show up on their doorstep looking and smelling as she did. She had to find a place to clean herself up.

Emriana stepped back out of the alley where she had retreated in order to employ the pendant. She peered in both directions along the street, searching for any signs that Grozier had had her followed. She had no doubt that the man intended to remove her from his life once and for all, whether she had chosen to stay at the estate and obey his wishes or not.

No one walking the avenue seemed the least bit interested in the bedraggled girl, but she waited a moment longer, watching the doorways and rooftops. Memories of the previous evening were still fresh in her mind. She half hoped that she would run into Lak and the other man again.

They won’t catch me off guard a second time, she vowed.

She didn’t see anything untoward after a few careful minutes of watching, so she turned and headed away from the only home she’d ever known, cutting across the wide street and heading downtown, in the direction of the harbor. She knew the Darowdryn estate was several lanes to the north, but she wanted to find an inn first, a place where she could procure a bath.

Explain to me again how you managed to survive your own demise, Emriana requested of her grandmother as she walked. What is this ring?

I had it made shortly after your grandfather died, Hetta began. Though I was able to carry on the family

enterprises ably after his passing, I wasn’t so sure that any of my children were yet prepared to take over, should I also die. It wasn’t that I was worried that, without my guidance, they would let things fall to ruin. But I did fear that none of them knew every nuance of the business—where to find things, which business partners were truly trustworthy, that sort of thing. I wasn’t trying to stay around past my allotted time on this world, but I didn’t want to leave unexpectedly without making sure someone knew how to pick up the pieces.

Emriana was impressed with her grandmother’s thoroughness. But then the girl realized that the matriarch’s presence in the ring seemed to be a permanent thing. The thought saddened her all over again, even though Hetta’s spirit was right there with her. She said as much.

There are ways to return to my body, Hetta said, though there is a limit to how much time can pass and what condition it was in when I left it. I doubt very much that it will be possible to achieve, given the state of things back home.

How can you say that so calmly? Emriana wailed. I don’t want to lose you!

Child, all things come to an end. But that’s a parting for another time. Right now, we’ve got urgent things to attend to, and I’m not going anywhere until they’re dealt with. So stop fretting.

Emriana wiped the tears that had begun to form in the corners of her eyes and nodded. All right, she promised. I’ll try.

By that point, the girl had neared the lane where the inn she had selected sat. The thought of a hot bath and clean clothes quickened her steps, so she almost didn’t notice the figure stepping out of the alley just ahead, blocking her way. The man paused, facing her, and Emriana took three more steps before

she realized it was Lak. She skidded to a sudden stop, her heart pounding.

Damn it, damn it, damn it! the girl thought, berating herself for letting her watchfulness flag.

The skinny man made no move to advance toward her, but he gave her a slight, knowing smile as he folded his arms across his chest. Emriana looked back over her shoulder, confirming what she already feared; that the bear of a man, Lak’s companion, was there, perhaps twenty paces back. He had paused as well and was leaning against the stone wall of the building, watching her with a scowl on his face.

Emriana tried to calm her breathing. All of her previous thoughts of bravado faded away at the reality of facing the two men who had tried to kill her the night before. Her daggers were packed inside the box, which was inside her satchel. There was no way she could dig them out in time.

Don’t panic! the girl insisted to herself. They won’t jump you in the middle of the street like this. They’re waiting until no one is around. Keep moving, she told herself. Find a crowd.

The girl turned to cross the street, thinking to head directly away from either of her pursuers, even though that would take her farther from the inn. On the opposite side, she spotted the woman with the short blonde hair, the one who had impersonated Xaphira.

Groaning, Emriana cut across at an angle, watching as the woman began to match her pace, strolling on the far side. Lak did likewise, crossing the street with her, gradually closing the distance. She didn’t bother to turn around to see if bear-man was doing the same—she knew they were keeping her surrounded, biding their time.

Where in the nine hells is the watch when you need it? Emriana fumed, beginning to angle back the

other way. She noticed that there were fewer people on the street right then, a fact that seemed to embolden the three pursuing her, for they drew ever closer, still surrounding her position.

Drawing a deep breath, Emriana changed course again, then darted back the other way, breaking into a sprint, dashing past the surprised Lak. He lunged for her, a bold move considering they were not completely alone on the street, but the girl managed to evade his grasp and scoot past him, charging ahead to the next intersection. Emriana whipped around the corner and kept going, all thoughts of the inn and a bath forgotten.

I have to find someplace safe, where they can’t get to me, she thought. Grandmother, what do I do?

Run, child. To the Darowdryns. They’ll protect you. Hurry!

Emriana mentally nodded as she sprinted in that direction, heading toward the massive estate of the old friends of the Matrell family. Her breath came in ragged gasps, as much a result of her terror as of tiring. At the next intersection, there were more folks out walking, and she slowed to avoid colliding with anyone. The thought flashed through her head that, given her bedraggled state, someone might think she was a thief fleeing the law.

Emriana risked a quick glance back to see if she was still being pursued. She spotted Lak, his short legs churning, closing the distance. Behind him, bear-man lumbered along, not as swift as his partner. The woman was not in sight, but Emriana had a pretty good idea that she was using the rooftops to track her quarry.

It’s what I would do, the girl thought, turning and fleeing once more, heedless of the distasteful stares directed her way by passersby.

As she neared the Darowdryn estate, Emriana realized the one flaw in her plan. That section of

the city was the providence of the very wealthy, and their homes were huge, sprawling affairs that covered several blocks. Few other people had cause to go there, which meant that the lanes meandering between the high walls delineating the various properties would most likely be empty. Unless Emriana could outdistance her would-be captors, they would have no witnesses to hinder their efforts.

It was a chance she would have to take, for to turn back would mean heading straight into their arms.

And still no watch, she thought, wishing a squad would see her running and try to accost her for her suspicious appearance. What better way to get rid of those three?

She was only a short distance from the front gate of the Darowdryn estate when the woman in the purple pants and magenta vest appeared in front of Emriana. The girl knew the woman had used magic to cut her off, and she didn’t have to turn around to know that Lak and bear-man weren’t far behind. They had her cornered.

“Not much room to move,” the woman said, strolling toward Emriana. “You’re a slippery little minx, I’ll give you that,” she added, pulling something from a pouch at her belt. “But you’re luck’s run out, I think.”

“Don’t bet on it,” Emriana said, eyeing her pursuer. “You haven’t caught me, yet.” She had no idea why such bold words were coming out of her mouth; she was terrified.

“A trivial matter,” the woman said, smiling as she drew closer. The smile was not warm. “Think fast,” she added, gesturing with both hands.

Emriana did not wait to see what arcane attack erupted from her foe. She turned and sprinted toward the wall of the estate, leaping as high as she could at

the last moment. She could not reach the top of the wall, which was more than a full story high, but she had spotted a protruding stone in the work that she just might be able to grab hold of. It was her only chance.

As the girl sailed through the air, a trio of glowing darts shot forth from the fair-haired caster, whistling as they passed through the point where Emriana had been a moment before. She grimaced as she hit the wall and slipped the tips of her fingers over the protruding stone, knowing that the three missiles would double back on her.

She managed to claim a sufficient hold on the wall then hung there helplessly as the three magical darts slammed into her back. The pain from those horrid, burning missiles made her gasp, and she nearly lost her hold as she jerked, tears brimming.

“Bitch,” she sobbed.

There was a sudden, soothing coolness flowing through Emriana then, and the pain receded sufficiently that she could concentrate once more on scaling the wall.

Hurry, child, Hetta’s voice commanded, though it sounded weak and weary. I can’t do that for you again.

Thank you, Emriana thought. She began to clamber higher, reaching the top a moment before Lak arrived down below then she pulled herself into a sitting position and glanced back.

“Get back down here!” the diminutive man growled, obviously frustrated. He eyed the wall, looking as though he was going to try to follow, but Emriana’s attention was still focused on the female. She began to cast again.

Emriana rolled backward, slipping down the inside of the wall, evading whatever spell had been intended for her.

The girl found herself in a thicket, mostly underbrush and vines, but she could see open field just a little toward the interior of the estate. Behind her, muffled by the wall, she could make out the sounds of people arguing, and she did not want to wait around to see if the trio of pursuers maintained the chase. She pushed through the foliage and into the field beyond, which stretched for quite a distance toward the main house, easily seen atop a central hill.

Perhaps a hundred paces away, a contingent of mounted soldiers were headed straight toward her. They had weapons out.

‘ There was a crash behind Emriana, and she turned back in time to see Lak dropping to the ground at the base of the wall. He rolled to his feet as the woman settled easily to the ground beside him. Both of them began to advance on her.

Run to the soldiers! Hetta insisted. They will know your name and protect you. Go now!

Without hesitating, Emriana darted into the open, running with the last reserves of her energy right toward the soldiers, all but one of whom wore red, black, and gold livery. The one exception was an immense man sitting atop a huge destrier, both he and his horse sheathed in polished mail from head to toe. He brought up the rear, his mount laboring to keep up with the smaller, faster horses of the House guards. Behind Emriana, she could hear a hiss of vexation, but she didn’t bother turning around to see if anyone followed. Her eyes were focused on those weapons before her, bearing down on her position.

“I yield!” she cried out, keeping her hands in the air as she ran. When she was only a few strides away, she stumbled and knelt in the grass, holding her hands high and to either side. “I yield,” she repeated, thoroughly spent.

The soldiers encircled her on their horses, leveling spears at her head or aiming crossbows from the saddle. Emriana flinched, but otherwise all she could do was pant in exhaustion.

“You are trespassing, girl,” one of the guards said, eyeing her. “We normally flog for that offense.”

“Please,” Emriana said, looking fearfully at the guard. “I must speak with Ariskrit Darowdryn. She will know me.”

The soldier snorted in derision. “I seriously doubt that,” he said. “Lady Darowdryn values her privacy very much, so you can just turn around and hop back over the wall.”

“Please!” Emriana repeated. “I promise that I am not lying to you! My name is Emriana Matrell, granddaughter of Hetta Matrell, and I must see the lady!”

The soldier was shaking his head, obviously unwavering in his resolve to keep riffraff away from the lords and ladies of the manor, when the huge mounted knight arrived. He threw a leg over the saddle and slid to the ground, huffing and puffing. The guard leader turned and saluted. “She claims to know Lady Darowdryn, m’lord, but she is obviously just a common street rat, looking for a handout. I was about to give her a chance to bolt, but she is pushing her luck.”

The huge man strode past the soldier, staring straight at Emriana, slipping his gloves off his hands before removing his helmet. Great white mustaches settled down past his chin as he gazed intently at the girl kneeling before him. It was Tharlgarl “Steelfists” Darowdryn.

“Em?” the man said. “Emriana Matrell?” He turned and waved away the soldiers. “She speaks the truth. Let her up.”