The Dragon of Despair (95 page)

Peace’s smile showed his broken front tooth all too plainly.

“We would have been inviting further difficulties if the porter had answered the gate promptly, but I had been correct in my assumption that he would have climbed to the wall to watch the dance from there.”

“So the entire public rehearsal,” Elise said, wonder erasing the weariness and tension from her features, “was to provide an excuse to open the front gates of Thendulla Lypella and a crowd to cover your sneaking out.”

“That’s about it,” Edlin agreed. “I only wish the Healed One’s plan had succeeded in bringing Citrine out, too.”

“So do all of us,” Wendee agreed.

“And what,” Derian said to cover the uncomfortable silence that followed, “do we do next?”

“Prepare dinner,” Wendee said, her practicality a welcome interruption. “I could use help in the kitchen and I’m sure that Edlin and Peace could both use some quiet rest.”

Elise agreed. “We can’t hope to achieve anything more today. I’ll come out to the kitchen with you, Wendee. Doc can help Peace and Edlin if they’re too sore to get out of those robes without help.”

She smiled at Jared when she added, “And maybe Doc can use a nap, too. He’s given a lot of himself today.”

Derian thought that Doc’s answering smile showed no sign of weariness, and knew that one of them, at least, felt well rewarded for the day’s efforts.

XXXVI

“
THEY DID
what?”

Melina looked up from the papers she had just spread out on her desk, papers she had thought she would have a few hours to study before needing to surrender to sleep.

Bright Eagle! She could sleep during the trial tomorrow. It wasn’t as if she was needed there. Maybe she’d send Tipi with a message she was ill. Woman’s complaints. Something vague. Maybe even intimate it was morning sickness. That would make the ground under them roll.

But here was Citrine standing in front of her desk, still in her dance costume, her ridiculous apple hat pushed to one side, interrupting her mother’s work once more. The child had burst in almost before Melina had her books open, babbling so rapidly Melina hadn’t grasped a quarter of what she was saying, but now she had fallen inexplicably silent.

“They did what?” Melina repeated sternly. Her gaze dropped to the page in front of her: “
Bounded by streams of liquid fire, deep beneath the Earth Spires, we trapped it, forcing it within the living rock and sealing that rock with cold until it became dead.
”

The pronoun use was difficult, but Melina was certain that the second “it” referred to the rock, not the dragon. What use the rest of the account if the dragon had been killed?

“They tried to kidnap me, Mother. Derian was in the carrot costume, I’m sure. He talked to me.”

Melina wrested her gaze from the text.

“You are saying that Derian Carter tried to kidnap you? When?”

“Just this afternoon, Mother. At the end of the rehearsal—the rehearsal for the Harvest Joy dance.”

Melina remembered Toriovico telling her something about this public rehearsal over breakfast, an event to hearten the people of the city, people whose morale had been badly shaken by recent events and rumors.

Rumors, Melina knew well, that arose from her—or if not from her specifically, from residual unhappiness related to the Healed One’s marriage to her. Melina didn’t mind Toriovico showing himself to his people in an accustomed role, but they had better get used to her. She wasn’t going anywhere.

“I would have come to you earlier, Mother,” Citrine said, clearly dreading a reproof, “but Tipi said that you couldn’t be interrupted while you were in court.”

“And she was right,” Melina reassured the girl. “Now, tell me everything that happened. Speak slowly and clearly, as benefits a matter of such grave importance.”

And Citrine did so. One of the great advantages, Melina thought complacently, of her influence over her daughter was this ability to override anxieties.

When Citrine concluded, describing her biting of Derian Carter’s hand with such relish that Melina wondered if the child had spent too much time with that feral woman of the Norwoods, Melina gave an appropriately grave nod.

“You did well, Citrine,” she said, and the child all but wriggled like a puppy beneath her mother’s praise. “I am pleased by this proof of your love and devotion.”

“Thank you, Mother,” Citrine replied, her eyes shining.

“Now, go and get out of your costume and get cleaned for dinner. You haven’t had your dinner yet, have you?”

“No, Mother.”

“Go then and get ready.”

Melina looked longingly at her pages; then a chance thought stirred, a seed splitting but not yet fully sprouted. It had to do with Citrine and with bypassing a difficulty…. Never mind, it would come to her. In the meantime, the child needed rewarding for her loyalty.

“And when you are ready, Tipi is to come and get me. I,” Melina pronounced in the tones of one bestowing a great honor, “will eat the evening meal with you.”

Citrine shaped the appropriate ritual of temporary leavetaking and skipped out the door. Melina was turning back to her book when she noticed several folded sheets of paper, heavily sealed, sitting at the top of the rest of her ignored mail. The seals were among those Melina had given Idalia.

Checking that Citrine was truly gone and the door securely closed, Melina reached for the missive. Snapping open the heavy wax, she recognized the seemingly incomprehensible words as one of the codes Idalia used. Almost automatically, Melina deciphered it and read:

Consolor Melina,

With heavy heart I write you to report that the two uninvited guests to whom you so kindly extended your hospitality have taken leave of my care. We were touring as you directed should be done when strange noises—which I firmly believe originated with bats—frightened the guards. They fled and our guests took advantage of their absence to also flee.

I have searched for the guests and can find no trace. Therefore, I have no reason to think they remain in the vicinity. Moreover, the frightened guards carried their fear back to their fellows. My family and I spent much energy over the following day securing their continued fealty.

I write this one full day and night after our guests’ departure. If you wish further report of any of these events you have only to ask.

I remain your…

Melina hardly saw the flowery closing phrases, though once their unctuous flattery would have soothed her anger—at least somewhat. Her gaze kept returning to certain phrases, understanding their meaning perfectly despite Idalia’s carefully evasive phrasing.

“…have taken leave of my care.” Escaped.

“…the frightened guards carried their fear back…” That sounded as if there had been a near revolt among the slaves.

“…one full day and night…” Given how long messages from Idalia usually took to reach Melina, that meant that the escape had been not last night, but two nights ago. With any other prisoners, Melina would have thought them gone beyond finding, but with these two…

She yanked the bell and when a clerk came to the door said, “Send for Kiero.”

The clerk ducked his head and vanished. Melina had hardly begun rereading the letter for the third time and contemplating how she might slip away unnoticed to meet with Idalia later that night when there came a sharp rap on her door.

“Come!”

Kiero entered, the expression on his heat-and weather-worn features part quizzical, part pleased. He shaped various greeting gestures, then said:

“I understand from the clerk outside that you require me, Consolor Melina?”

“I do,” Melina replied. Then, because it never did to skip the little courtesies with those you needed but didn’t completely control, “I compliment you on the promptness of your arrival.”

“Pure coincidence,” Kiero said humbly, “though surely a power such as yourself may warp the very fabric of time to her needs. I was coming here,” he added more bluntly, “because I had news for which I thought you would not wish to wait.”

“Speak,” Melina said calmly, though her thoughts added,
And dispense with the flattery.

“I have just checked in with the man I have watching the house of Hasamemorri from the rooms across the street. He had interesting information for me—so interesting that I am docking his pay for not finding a way to get it to me more quickly.”

Talk more quickly…,
Melina thought, and perhaps her gaze held some of the malice she felt, for Kiero did so.

“Late this morning, the remaining four foreign tenants of that house departed in costume to see the rehearsal of the Harvest Joy dance. Costumed as they were, they would not be easily recognizable as foreigners, therefore, my agent did not try to instigate any anger against them in the streets.

“Sometime later, presumably following the performance, Lady Archer and Sir Jared returned without their companions. These two were hardly inside when two New Kelvinese my agent had never before seen came to the house. They were admitted by Lady Archer.

“Shortly after that, Derian Carter and Wendee Jay returned. Neither of these strangers have reemerged, although the hour has grown late for visiting. My agent reported this to me a short time ago when I went to collect his report before he was relieved.”

Kiero paused.

“That is your complete report?”

“Yes, Consolor Melina.”

He stood so very stiff and proper, yet vaguely pleased with himself for all his formality. Melina wondered if he’d heard of the kidnapping attempt and thought he was providing information about the probable kidnappers. How little did he know!

“What you say is interesting,” Melina replied. “You did well to report to me. Is anyone now watching the house?”

“Yes, Consolor Melina. I ordered the first agent to remain alert. As I was leaving to report to you his relief arrived.”

“Well done.”

Melina had strong suspicions as to who those two “New Kelvinese” strangers might be. It was too much of a coincidence that two would arrive there when two were missing elsewhere. Kiero didn’t need to know that, of course. As of yet Melina had not told him about the underground area where Idalia kept order. Melina would prefer as few people as possible to know about that.

“Where exactly is this house of Hasamemorri?” Melina asked. “I know it is across the city from the Earth Spires, but in what district?”

“The Aswatano district, Consolor Melina, called so for the closest market square, named in turn for a famous fountain from the time of the Founders.”

“I wonder if I have been to this Aswatano?” she mused aloud, trying to picture it.

“The fountain,” Kiero said, self-effacingly, as speaks one who supplies information he has not been directly asked for, “depicts the Star Wizard and his allies taming the Dragon of Despair. It is famous both for its artistry and because it runs with both hot and cold water.”

Melina stared at Kiero in disbelief. Could it be that the entire time she had been delving beneath Thendulla Lypella, the place she sought was out in the city proper—and so clearly marked?

Kiero was looking at her, concerned that his words would have met with such an unexpected result.

“The fountain is in a public area, Consolor Melina,” he said. “I could take you to see it if you wish.”

“I may indeed wish,” she said slowly, then turned her mind to more immediate matters, “but I cannot go tonight.”

“Of course not, Consolor Melina,” Kiero said, rather shocked that the Healed One’s wife should think to play tourist at such an hour. “In any case, the sculpture is best appreciated by daylight. The moon is waning and her light would not be enough for you to appreciate the subtleties of the carving.”

Melina tapped her fingers along her jawline, so agitated that for a moment she forgot the enormity of this social gaffe. Then she looked at Kiero.

“I want an even more complete watch kept on those foreigners. Put several watchers there, even if you need to pull them from other points. If anyone leaves the house, I want him or her followed.”

Kiero nodded.

“Make certain back exits are covered as well,” Melina continued. “I recall you were concerned about difficulties with the neighbors noticing and complaining. Tell any who complain that a ring of burglars has been operating in the area and you are trying to stop them.”

Kiero grinned, approving of her deception—and the greater freedom it offered him to operate.

“Make certain I can always get a message to you,” Melina concluded, “in the shortest time possible. Now go!”

Kiero did. When she was alone Melina turned almost lovingly to the biography of the Star Wizard. There were a few things mentioned within those pages she thought would be useful. And when she had the dragon under her control, then she could end this wearisome juggling of the claims and desires of various people who thought they were important.

At last they would realize that she was the only one whose wishes truly mattered.