The Harp of Aleth (4 page)

“That’s our risk. We might never come out alive.”

“I thought you said it had been cleansed.” Qin-Dar’s eyebrows shot up into her fringe.

“I was just inferring from what Miner Banner said earlier,” Tavia replied and slid under the water.

Julissa looked at the cavalier through the water.
Nevertheless, that’s the High King’s plan isn’t it? Make sure we never return so peace will never fall upon the border.

* * *

The window focussed on the confrontation between the elves and the Franierens. The Jar examined the opposing armies minutely, zooming in on individuals that caught his single eye.

“Methinks I see Dungeon Agents amongst the soldiers of Harradine’s army. I wonder…” The Jar cast a swift glance at the Aracan Katuvana, who snored a little under his hood, then with the tiniest whisper of power, opened a small side window into the Alethdin Dungeon.

“How may I help you, Lord?” Jarsken’s brown-skinned face appeared in the window.

“Custodian Jarsken, I believe that Alethdin is currently playing host to the High King’s Army.” The Jar raised its only eyebrow.

“That is indeed true. A small distraction that our Lord may consolidate his hold elsewhere.” Jarsken bowed.

“You did this without consulting me… our Lord?” The Jar covered the slip with a cough and frowned.

“I believe I am high enough up in our Lord’s estimation that I may act on my plans, without consultation.” Jarsken spoke amiably enough, but the overtone of censure made the Jar flinch.

“I shall convey your plan to our Lord, Custodian Jarsken,” the Jar said and taking the man’s bow as agreement shut down the side window. The Jar glanced at the sleeping Aracan Katuvana and smiled. “I’m sure that my children will enjoy the diversion, immured as they are.”

* * *

Master Greeman frowned.

“I don’t care why you want to go into the mine. My orders from the Duke are to stop anyone from entering.”

Julissa sighed. “Surely orders from the High King would overrule those?”

“They would, if you had them and if I didn’t suspect that you were just treasure hunters trying to get down to the old dungeon.” Greeman glanced at her. “There’s been rumours of treasure being down there since before I were born.”

Tavia nudged Julissa.

“I told you he wouldn’t believe you.”

“Where are the orders that Harradine gave you?” Julissa hissed back. “You were pretty free with them on the way to Frazin.”

I thought she’d forgotten about those.
Tavia groaned. “Here.” She pulled a folded parchment out of her pouch and passed it to Greeman.

He opened the orders and read them. Then he held it to the large beeswax candle in front of him. The bone-dry parchment caught quickly and soon only ash drifted away from Greeman’s fingers.

“That’s what I think of the High King’s orders to give you anything you ask for.”

Julissa gasped. “Those were signed by the High King himself!”

“Please, Lady, I mean you no disrespect, but I can tell a forgery when I see one. That seal alone was illegal.” Greeman looked at Tavia. “I’m sure that she has told you she comes from the High King, but I suspect she is nothing but a Con Artist.”

Tavia’s face flushed bright red.

“How dare you insult me? I am Ser Tavia of Fron, one of the High King’s Cavaliers. The real orders are far too valuable to risk losing by handing over to anyone.” She rummaged in another pouch and drew out a scroll bound in cream silk and tied with an orange ribbon.

Tavia untied the ribbon and Greeman’s eyes almost popped out of his skull at the thick golden wax seal affixed to the base of the document and the orange ribbons dangling from it.

“Satisfied?”

Julissa exhaled noisily with relief at the sight of the paper.

“I do believe that it’s time for my performance.” She retrieved her lute case from behind her chair and left the table.

Qin-Dar and Joran watched Julissa weave her normal spell around the miners, Virrinel standing at her shoulder. Tavia spent a few moments deep in discussion with High Master Greeman, and then she left the room looking thoughtful.

“She’s up to something,” Joran said in a low voice.

“What do you want to do?” Qin-Dar looked around.

Julissa had used a small spell to create a shadow puppet display of the song and the miners were completely enraptured by the show.

Joran nicked a finger with the point of a dagger and let a single drop of blood fall onto the grey brown earth of the floor.
“Yala Onna. Amin quella.”

An earth golem in the shape of a large spider crawled up his leg and onto Joran’s hand. The mage stroked the creature for a moment and whispered
“Soora’he.”

The spider disappeared and seconds later, Qin-Dar saw a tiny ball of dust follow Tavia out of the room. She looked back at Joran. His eyes were glazed and a thin red cloud had appeared in his pupils.

“She went into her room,” Joran murmured at the edge of Qin-Dar’s hearing. He paused, and his eyes darted around the room, not focussing on the scenes in front of them. “She’s collecting her equipment and putting on armour of some sort.”

“I’ll go talk to her,” Qin-Dar said. The unicorn cleric
stood up and disappeared into the crowd.

Joran kept watching Tavia through the spider’s eyes.
I wonder what the cleric can do to stop the cavalier from leaving?

* * *

“Ser Tavia, I was just wondering…” Qin-Dar knocked briefly and opened the door.

Tavia spun round, drawing her blade. The point came to rest, touching Qin-Dar’s nose.

“What do you want?”

Qin-Dar frowned and on her forehead, a small silver and gold spiral horn appeared.

“Please don’t threaten me.”

Tavia sheathed her sword.

“Sorry, Lady Cleric, I… you surprised me.”

“Are you going somewhere?” The cleric entered the room and shut the door behind her. The horn disappeared again.

“Lady Julissa engaged me to guide her into the dungeon. I was about to check out the tunnel to the Dungeon Library,” Tavia said. “High Master Greeman has agreed to look the other way for three days only, beginning at dawn tomorrow. He will also keep the miners away from that part of the mine as best he can.”

“Then I shall come with you. I can sense magic traps, disarm them and heal injuries; it will save whatever healing potions and other claptrap you may have brought with you.” Qin-Dar glanced around. “Bring only your weapons.” In the corner behind Tavia a puff of dust appeared.
I hope that was Joran letting me know that he’d heard me.

Tavia considered Qin-Dar’s suggestion.

“Fair enough. I’ll leave a note for Julissa.”

* * *

Virrinel watched first Tavia, then Qin-Dar leave the room.
Where are they going?
He itched to follow, but when he saw that Joran had stayed put, he relaxed.

Julissa also noticed the two women leave. She changed key and started on a new song, weaving a subtle sleep spell into the music.
If I’m careful with this, I should be able to get the audience to leave. Then I can go find out what’s going on.

Within ten minutes of starting, the miners were beginning to yawn and rub their eyes. Julissa ignored it, but High Master Greeman wasn’t happy. His frown grew with every wide mouthed, uncovered yawn and as some of the miners began to nod off in their seats, he’d clearly had enough.

Waiting until Julissa finished the song; he stood up and began applauding. Those in the audience awake enough joined in and the noise made the half asleep ones nudge the sleeping miners.

Soon, Julissa had a standing ovation in front of her. She smiled and stood, bowing.

“Thank you for the performance, Lady Julissa. Now if you would excuse us, I have some notices to give out to the miners, not to mention a few bones to pick.” High Master Greeman glared at the men and women in front of him.

The more awake ones flinched.

“Not at all, High Master,” Julissa said. “I feel it’s time to retire for the night anyway.”

She bowed again and motioned for Joran and Virrinel to follow her. Then she swept out of the hall.

Joran stumbled and Virrinel caught him as they shut the hall door behind them.

“What’s wrong, Lord Joran?”

Joran shook his head and groaned.

“The earth golem that I had following Qin-Dar and Tavia got squashed.”

Julissa turned on him.

“You were following them?”

He nodded.

“Tavia is checking out the tunnel to the Dungeon. Apparently, she secured a three-day remit for us to enter from High Master Greeman. Qin-Dar went with her, but the door they went through crushed my spider.” He pulled a tiny vial of cloudy white liquid from his belt pouch and swallowed the contents.

Virrinel watched, fascinated as a blood encrusted cut on Joran’s forefinger closed over with new skin. In seconds, there was nothing but a bloodstain left.

“Did you see where they went into the tunnel?” Julissa insisted.

“Yes.” Joran took a deep breath. “This way.”

The mage led them through the Traveller’s Rest to the corridor leading to the baths. In between the entrances to the men’s and the women’s baths, was a small seating area. There was a small shrine with three statues on it in the centre of the back wall.

“Why would the miners place such a horrible statue next to the Goddess of Healing and the God of Creation?” Julissa’s nose wrinkled and she swallowed. “It’s like the sculptor deliberately ruined a piece of their own work.”

“That’s Nurgle, one of the Dark Gods.” Joran hid a smile at Julissa’s reaction. “He’s supposed to look like that, especially as he’s the God of Disease, Deformity and Physical Corruption, amongst other things.”

“Thank you, I did know that,” Julissa snapped. “I just don’t understand why they would voluntarily worship such a hideous being.”

Joran raised an eyebrow.
I’m saying nothing. For a highly educated bard, she’s very sensitive to perceived criticism.

“I suppose they think that by worshipping him they won’t contract any of the diseases that underground workers usually get,” Virrinel said, drawing Julissa’s ire.

“That’s not the point. Espilieth should be enough!” she snapped. “Invoking the Dark Gods causes only trouble.”

“I can see the mechanism to open the passageway. Do you want to follow them, Lady Julissa?” Joran’s formal tone jolted her back to the job at hand.

After a moment’s thought, Julissa shook her head.

“Not at the moment. If they have not returned by morning, then we’ll follow.”

Virrinel held back his sigh of relief at the look on her face.
She’s annoyed with being left behind. Just like the time her sister Kirassa was taken to court and not her.

“Then wait we shall.” Joran bowed slightly.

Julissa turned on her heel and stalked into her room. Joran and Virrinel went to the sitting room.

Virrinel stopped outside Julissa’s door.

“Nothing will harm her here, Ser Knight,” Joran said.

“I know that.” Virrinel paused, looking at the Blood Mage.

“You still don’t trust me?” Joran chuckled. “I’m used to that. No one really trusts a Blood Mage, even in Elysia where we are commonplace.”

“If Lady Julissa trusts you, then I trust you,” Virrinel replied and sat down on a chair where he could watch the entrance to the sitting room and Julissa’s door. Slipping his claws out, he cleaned them with his dagger.

“But you don’t.” Joran relaxed against the soft cushions. “I’m not Archmage of the Blood Guild for nothing, Ser Virrinel.”

The autochthon looked at him, his golden eyes narrowed.

“I need to be able to trust you.” Around his neck, ginger and cream fur ruffled and he smoothed it down absently, before he drew his sword and pulled a polishing cloth from a belt pouch.

“Would a blood oath satisfy you?” Joran leaned forward.
He wants to tell me something important.

Virrinel seemed to be in a trance, his hands gently stroking the hilt of his sword with the cloth, an odd glow of rainbow coloured light pulsing around his fingers as the light caught the gems in the hilt. Suddenly he took a deep breath.

“Yes, but only if we become blood brothers.”

Joran blinked. “You do realise what that would mean?”

Virrinel tilted his head and his eyes glowed red in the lamplight.

“Completely.”

Joran smiled.

“I would welcome a brother; my birth family disowned me when I was sworn to Kaela Mensha.”

“Julissa is my family. She saved me from a slaver’s shipwreck when I was a cub,” Virrinel lamented. “The rest of her family treat me as they would a pet. Only Julissa ever accepted me as a person.”

Joran nodded. “Then we are doubly brothers, for I see a Knight in front of me, not an animal.”