The Eyes of a Doll (The World of Shijuren Book 2) (21 page)

“True.”

“And it’s interesting she showed up when she did.”

“At the Faerie?”

“Yes. Knowing you and I were trying to figure out how to get to Lezh, and conveniently providing a solution.”

I nodded. “What about Andreas?”

“Do you think that Katarina couldn’t find a way to control Andreas, at least for a few days?”

“No, it’s what she does.”

“You seemed on pretty good terms with her when we left, but don’t trust her.”

“I don’t.” I sighed. “I just wish I knew if she took the amulet to the Readers. I’ll have to wait until I get done to find out.”

“I was going to have Radovan ask the Readers anyway. If he can figure out a way to tell you subtly, I’ll have him do so.”

I nodded. “I can wait, though. There’s nothing I can do about it if she hasn’t, so make sure he knows that I can’t be exposed.”

“What amulet?”

“You don’t want to know, Ylli.”

I realized immediately that was exactly the wrong answer. Now he would have to know. He raised his eyebrows and started to speak, but I interrupted. “Never mind, I’ll tell you. Katarina helped us get past the Bardheküülle so she could retrieve an amulet from there.”

“You went inside the Bardheküülle for an amulet?”

“Yes, of Mavric iron.”

He blanched. “You let her have something that powerful?”

“It seemed like a good idea at the time. Besides, if she uses it she’ll be destroyed.”

“But, for that time…”

Sebastijan shrugged. “Believe me, Ylli, I’ve yelled at him about that plan already. But I think the Sevener is right. It did seem like the best idea at the time.”

“And I think she’ll give it up.”

Ylli stared at me like I was crazy. “Give up all that power?”

“She is prone to whimsy.”

“But…”

“I know, I know. Still…”

“It’s done now,” added Sebastijan.

“Yes,” I said, “and we need to focus on keeping you and Gibroz from each other’s throats.”

Dubiously, Ylli nodded.

Sebastijan and I returned to the Westering Winds to retrieve our belongings and our horses. We told Dardan that we were going to stay with Ylli while we negotiated our deal.

“How can we help?” he asked.

“By keeping watch on Ylli’s mansion. I don’t trust him and while it’s more convenient that we stay there for now, I’d like to know someone we can trust is available for us.”

“We can do that.” He charged off to organize things.

I hated to lie to Dardan, but we needed people to know we were staying there.

Later, Ylli played the host of Lezh by taking me around, and we watched the sun set from the Heraclian Tower. Afterward, we dined on his patio overlooking the city. Spartak served us a meal of several courses. Ylli was clearly showing off, and the meal consisted of fresh local fish and some delicacies he imported. I think his cook put sugar in every dish.

I especially enjoyed the bass that had been fried in olive oil, vinegar, sugar, onions, and cubeb. I had never tasted anything so bitter and yet so sweet at the same time. Odd, but delicious.

After dinner, he brought me into a room and presented me to an older woman. Tall, with the same thin build as Era, she had eyes that brooked little nonsense. She glared at both of us. Ylli only said one word, “Achrida,” to her. He then suggested I return to the patio for rakija when she was done with me.

The woman spent the next few minutes looking at me. At first I thought she was taking my measurements, for she pulled out a cord like many tailors used, but she never really put the cord to my body. She ruffled my hair, lifted my hand, turned it over and looked at my arm, and generally did things that made no sense to me. Finally, she told me to leave.

Not knowing what else to do, I left. Sebastijan, Ylli, and I spent the rest of the evening sipping wine and rakija, very publicly, on his patio.

We had been given luxurious bedrooms that held all the charms of Andreas’s cage. In the too-soft bed, dreams periodically woke me, leaving me to restless attempts to return to sleep.

After one such interruption, my mind wrapped in fog, I arose to insistent tapping at the bedroom door. The deep, soft carpet felt odd as I crossed it, almost tripping me with its lush wealth.

“Hello?”

At the door was the same stern woman, along with two servants. She held a small case covered by a towel. One servant carried a small bundle and the other a large one. She directed the servants to place their burden on my bed, and they left.

“Strip.”

“What?”

“Take off all of your clothes?”

“What? Why?”

She glared at me.

“I’m told to change you.”

“What do you mean?”

“You are going to Achrida, right? And you want to stay out of sight?”

I nodded.

“Strip.”

I took off my tunic.

“All of it.”

While I removed the rest of my clothes she opened up one of the bundles. In it was a long tunic, old and frayed. It bore lines that suggested it had once been adorned with trim, but that trim had been removed as the tunic had aged. The bundle also held a pair of old, uncomfortable-looking sandals.

“Put these on.”

She then opened up her case. It held several ceramic pots along with some scrapers, several brushes, and three pieces of fabric twisted into cones. She removed the stopper from one of the pots, and an acrid aroma that hinted of lemon filled the room.

“Sit down, then close your eyes.”

“What are you doing?”

“What does it look like?”

“Nothing I understand.”

She sniffed. “Your hair is too light.”

“Too light?”

She sighed and shook her head at my stupidity. “How many people with light brown hair have you met in Achrida?”

“Uh, a few.”

“Were they travelers? Or barbaroi?”

“I don’t know.”

“Of course you don’t, but they probably were. Now hush and close your eyes, I have work to do.”

I did as she ordered. I felt her hands moving through my hair. The paste felt odd as she rubbed it through my hair.

“What is the paste?”

“Henna.”

“What is that?”

“Shut up and let me work.”

I shut up and let her work.

When she stepped back, I opened my eyes to see her looking closely for any streaks or mistakes. Twice she put more paste in her hands and touched up sections of my hair. Finally satisfied, she carefully wiped her hands clear of the paste.

Then she turned to the bed and the other bundle. She opened it up to show me clothing of Imperial design: two long overtunics, three undertunics, and two pairs of pants. A belt, also of Imperial design, was rolled in amongst them.

“Do you have boots?”

I nodded.

“Let me see them.”

I pulled them out for her to examine.

“These are sufficient.”

She packed up her supplies and moved to the door before turning back to me. “Wear that tunic and the sandals today. Before dinner you should bathe, especially cleaning your hair. Leave the excess on your hair until you bathe, even though it will feel odd all day. Spartak will show you where and provide you with old towels. Also, stop shaving.”

With those curt words, she left.

Bemused, I looked at the clothes she’d left for me. They all seemed to fit me well. I had just finished buckling on the belt that held my saex when Ylli and Sebastijan entered.

“Excellent.” Ylli smirked. “And you should let your beard grow out.”

Sebastijan laughed at my expression. I glared at him but spoke to Ylli.

“She told me not to shave.”

“Good.”

“I suppose this makes me look different.”

“People may still recognize you, but you’ll be harder to recognize.”

“I could still be found by someone using magic.”

He nodded. “Yes, but while there’s no way to hide you perfectly, dyeing your hair and growing a beard will give you much more freedom to look around Achrida.”

Ylli paused, looking at me pensively, and then turned to Sebastijan. “You warned me.”

Sebastijan chuckled and Ylli smiled back at him before saying, “You speak to him about it. I have things to do.” Turning back to me he continued, “Find Hristo at midday. He’s preparing some equipment for you. If you have any other needs, speak to any servant.”

“I shall, thank you.”

Ylli lilted out, leaving the scent of roses to fight a losing battle against the aroma of henna.

I looked at Sebastijan warily. “What are you supposed to speak to me about?”

“You’ll have to leave your sword and scale armor behind.”

I grimaced and started to object, but he snapped, “They’re simply too distinctive.”

I stopped and thought. “You’re right.”

He motioned at the belt at my waist. “And you must leave the shorter blade.”

“What? Leave my saex?”

He laughed. “Yes. It’s the only blade of that design I’ve ever seen. A water-patterned sword with an odd, rounded hilt is bad enough. Yes, we have scale armor, but yours is different, markedly so. I’d rather you kept both of those things than your saex.”

“But it is my proof that I am free man.”

“It will be the proof that makes you a dead man.”

“I cannot leave it.”

“I will mourn you.”

I glared at him as he continued.

“Why are you doing this, Sevener?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why are you trying to find out who is creating a rift between Gibroz and Ylli? You could just leave for the Great City and join the Imperial Guard.”

“You know I can’t.”

“Do I?”

“Have you not been paying attention? If I don’t do this then Honker and Ludmilja are in…”

I trailed off and Sebastijan struck.

“Yes, they’re in danger if you don’t follow through. It could be that if you fail, your life might not be the only one that is lost.”

“I’ve borne my saex every day but one that I can remember.”

“I know your story. If your lord had required you to put down the saex so that you could fulfill some task he required, would you do so?”

“No lord would require that of me.”

“Perhaps, but have you not sworn an oath to Honker? Maybe not in so many words, but have you not vowed to protect him and his family?”

I nodded.

“Give me the saex, Sevener.”

I hesitated.

“I will care for it. I will make sure it is oiled, sharpened, and placed back into your hands as soon as is practical.”

“And when will that be? Months hence, perhaps.”

“That’s not likely. Also, Ylli and I discussed that timing while your hair was getting dyed.”

“Yes?”

“I won’t wait for any messages from you. I’ll leave in four days with your equipment with me.”

“And Deor?”

“Someone who looks as much like you as Ylli can find shall ride him back, wearing your armor.”

“On Deor? He won’t like that. I doubt he’ll allow anyone else to ride him.”

“We’ll find out. You should talk to him. You seem to know how to talk to him.”

“This brown paste makes me smell wrong, and you want me to tell Deor I’m leaving him behind?”

“I’ll be right behind you,” he smirked. “About twenty feet.”

“By the eyes of the Slain God, I am not liking any of this.”

“You had your chance to come up with a better plan.”

“I didn’t think it would be this irritating.”

“Start thinking like an Achridan.”

I shook my head and then a thought occurred to me. “In that case, why?”

“Why what?”

“Why will you follow me so quickly?”

“We gain nothing by implying you’re here in Lezh any longer. If you are discovered quickly, you’ll need my help. If you are not, and you stay abnormally long in Lezh, people will start to wonder. If you return about that point in time, we can go directly to the Faerie and imply you’re back. In fact, it will give you more freedom to move around Achrida, as all will know to watch the Faerie for you. I’ll feed that illusion. If you’re staying elsewhere, they may not know where to look.”

“What about ambushes?”

“Ylli will attach us to one of his more heavily armed caravans. By that point, people will surely think we are fast friends and will think nothing of us riding with one of his caravans. We might have some extra surprises hidden in the caravan, but Ylli has made sure over the years to develop the reputation that robbing his caravans was a fool’s business.”

“I suppose you know best,” I said doubtfully.

“Yes, yes I do.”