The Myst Reader (70 page)

It does not matter
, Aitrus had said to her.
They do not expect you to behave as they behave.

Now, as the island grew nearer and she could see the great host of boats queuing to enter the tiny harbor, she felt her nervousness return.

Last night, before her conversation with Aitrus, there had been a strange little scene in Kahlis’s study. Knowing that his father knew nothing of their ventures into Ko’ah, Aitrus had had his father “explain” about Books to Anna, and she, schooled by Aitrus in what to say and how to react, had pretended that it was all completely new to her.

Kahlis had clearly been concerned; not only at Anna’s possible reaction but by the problem of just how
much
to tell her. Aitrus, however, had convinced him that had Lord Eneah not meant her to know, then he would have given explicit instructions to that effect. Kahlis would, indeed, have gone to see Lord Eneah had the great man not taken to his bed again with a recurrence of his illness.

And so Kahlis had “prepared” her, telling her that she must expect a great surprise, and that she was not to be afraid, for all that she would experience was quite normal. And she, prompted by Aitrus, had feigned that she understood, even though she would barely have recognized the process of “linking” from the description Aitrus’s father had given her. It had been vague almost to the point of willfulness.

As their boat joined the great queue of boats, Anna could see, on the decks, endless guildsmen and their wives and sons and daughters, all of them dressed in their best finery. Looking at them, Anna felt her spirits sink again. She should never have come. Then her father’s voice sounded clearly in her head.

Don’t worry, Anna. Just be yourself.

IT WAS ALMOST AN HOUR BEFORE THEIR BOAT
drew up alongside the stone jetty and they climbed the dark granite steps, up onto the marble-flagged forecourt. Facing them was the carved stone gate that surrounded the massive doorway.

Anna had seen K’veer by day and it had seemed a strange yet pleasant edifice, but at night it seemed a wholly forbidding place. As they approached the doorway, Aitrus came alongside her.

“Forgive me, Ah-na,” he said quietly, “but we must conform to certain formalities. When we are inside, you will draw back and wait a moment while my father and I are greeted. Then it will be your turn.”

Inside the great atrium, Anna did as she was told, holding back beside Tasera as Aitrus and his father stepped forward and were presented by the Chief Steward to Rakeri and his son.

Anna saw once more that curious taking of both hands that was the D’ni way of greeting, the fingers linked; witnessed the smiles, the easy banter between the two sets of men, and knew that this was a world she would never enter, book or no book.

As Kahlis turned, Tasera nudged her gently. “Ah-na.”

Veovis was smiling pleasantly, his attention half on what was being said, half on greeting the next guests. As he looked across and his eyes met hers, the smile faded. There was a moment’s consideration and then he turned to Kahlis.

“Forgive me, Master Kahlis, but might I have a word with you, in private?”

Kahlis looked to his son, then shrugged. “Of course, Veovis.”

Veovis turned and bowed to Rakeri. “If you would forgive us a moment, Father? I shall not be long.”

Tasera and Anna had stopped, yards distant of Lord Rakeri. As Veovis and Kahlis walked away, Aitrus stared after them, perturbed. Rakeri himself was simply mystified.

There was an embarrassed silence. Rakeri looked to Tasera and smiled weakly. Aitrus simply stared at the door through which Veovis and his father had passed. A moment later the two men returned, his father clearly embarrassed by something. Coming over to Aitrus, he drew him aside.

“It seems there has been a misunderstanding,” he began. “I took the invitation to include our house guest, Ah-na, but it was not meant so.”

Aitrus, who had been listening to his father’s words, glanced over at Veovis, who stood beside his father, wearing a determined look.

“A misunderstanding?” Aitrus tried to keep calm, tried not to let his anger show.

“Yes,” Kahlis said. “Ah-na can stay here, in the house. Veovis has promised that his servants will make sure she has everything she wants. But she cannot go through into Ader Jamat.”

“Why not?”

Kahlis raised a hand, bidding him be silent. “Because she is not D’ni.”

Aitrus felt the anger boil up inside him. Keeping his voice low, he leaned close to Kahlis. “This is not right, Father.”

“Maybe,” Kahlis conceded, “but it is Lord Veovis’s decision who enters his Age, not ours, and we must respect that.”

“I see.”

“I’m glad you do. Now will you tell her, Aitrus?”

Aitrus stared back at him a moment, then looked down. “You must forgive me, Father. I respect you deeply, and love you, but in this I must disobey you. This is wrong.”

“Aitrus …”

But Aitrus turned and walked across to where Rakeri and Veovis stood. “Forgive me, Lord Rakeri, but I have been suffering from an illness these past few weeks. It has left me feeling rather weak … light-headed.” He glanced at Veovis, who was watching him hawkishly now. “I feel it coming on now, and beg you to excuse me.”

Rakeri, who had no idea what was going on, gave a tiny bow of his head. “I commiserate, Aitrus, but maybe my house surgeon could help?”

“That is kind of you, my Lord, but I really ought to go home.”

Rakeri shook his head, a look of disappointment in his eyes. “I am sorry about that. I had hoped to talk with you.”

Aitrus bowed low, then turned to Veovis. “And may good fortune shine down on you, Veovis. I am sorry that I cannot be there for the celebration of your Korfah V’ja.”

There was a black anger now behind Veovis’s eyes, yet if he felt like saying something, he kept it well in check. He nodded curtly.

Aitrus stood there a moment longer, wondering whether something more ought to be said; then, knowing that the situation was irreparable, he turned on his heel and walked across to where Anna stood beside his mother.

“Aitrus,” Tasera said, her curiosity almost overwhelming her by now, “what is going on?”

“Ah-na and I are leaving,” he said, making no attempt to explain how things were. “Ask Father.”

Anna was staring at him now, bemused. “Aitrus? What’s happening?”

“Later,” he said, then took her arm and turned her, leading her out through the gathered ranks of guildsmen and their families, heading back toward the boat.

AITRUS WAS STANDING AT THE STERN OF THE
boat, chewing on a thumbnail and staring back at the great rock of K’veer as it slid into the darkened distance.

“You do not want to know.”

Anna, sitting just below him, let out an exasperated sigh. “I am not blind, Aitrus. I saw how Veovis looked at you.”

“There was a misunderstanding.”

Anna waited, conscious of how pained he was by all this. After a moment he spoke again.

“He said you were not invited.”

“Ah … I see.”

“He said it was because you were not D’ni.”

“That much is undeniable.”

Aitrus was silent a moment, then, “It was an impossible situation, Ah-na. He made me choose.”

“And you chose me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because he was not right to make me choose.”

ANNA WAS DRESSING THE NEXT MORNING WHEN
there was a hammering on the door downstairs. It was still very early and it was unusual for anyone to call at this hour. Going over to her door, she opened it a crack, listening.

There was a murmured exchange between Kahlis and his steward. Then:

“Here? Are you sure?”

There was silence for a moment, then:

“Lord Veovis! Welcome! To what do we owe this most pleasant surprise?”

“I have come to see your son, Master Kahlis. Is he at home?”

“He is. I shall go and see if he has risen. If you would take a seat, meanwhile. I’ll not be long.”

A hand briefly brushed her arm. She turned, her heart thumping, and found herself staring into Aitrus’s face.

“Aitrus!”

“Will you come down with me, Ah-na?”

She hesitated, then shook her head. “This is between you two.”

“No. This is about
you
, Ah-na. You ought to be there.”

VEOVIS STOOD AS THEY STEPPED INTO THE
room.

“Aitrus,” he said, coming across the room, both hands extended. “Will you forgive me?”

Aitrus took his hands, tentatively at first, then with a greater firmness.

“That depends.”

“I understand. I handled things badly. I know that, and I am sorry for it.” He looked past Aitrus to where Anna stood. “And you, Ah-na. I owe you an apology, too.”

“You do, indeed,” Aitrus said sternly.

Veovis nodded, accepting the rebuke. “Yes. And that is why I have brought you a present. To try to make amends.”

He turned and, going back across, picked up a box and brought it back, handing it to Anna. It was a small, square box with tiny airholes in one side of it.

She stared at it a moment, then untied the bright red ribbon and lifted the lid … and then looked up at Veovis, laughing.

“Why, it’s beautiful! What is it?”

Carefully, cupping it in one hand, she lifted out a tiny creature—a veritable fur ball, its long silky coat the dark, brown-black of rich loam. Its large, cobalt-colored eyes stared up at her.

“It is a reekoo,” Veovis said. “It comes from Ader Jamat.”

Aitrus, who had turned to look, now smiled. “Thank you. It was a kind thought.”

Veovis sighed, then, somberly, “I am sorry you were not there last night, Aitrus.”

“And I. Yet we must resolve this matter, no?”

Anna, who was stroking the rippled, leathery neck of the tiny creature, looked up, glancing from one to the other. So it was not settled, even now.

Veovis took a long breath, then nodded. “Tonight,” he said. “Come to my rooms. We’ll talk about it then.”