The Nemesis Blade (37 page)

Chapter 27

Cold, heat,
makes no impact on action. Right?

~ Unknown

Valaris

“
T
his
damnable cold is getting to me,” Tianoman complained as he stared
out of an upper window.

“The worst is
still to come,” Teroux said. “I’d quit complaining.”

Tianoman
muttered and then, “Hey, someone’s coming.”

Teroux put his
book down on a side table and joined his cousin at the window.
“Fuma and Amunti.”

They glanced
at each other and headed for the door. Tristan was downstairs in
the library. They would be taken to Tristan.

By the time
the cousins made it to the library, Fuma and Amunti warmed at a
blazing fire and Tristan gave orders to a retainer about
refreshment.

“Tris?”
Tianoman asked. “Has something happened?”

“I don’t know.
Come in.”

Fuma
straightened. He was dressed in more complete wear and appeared odd
covered. “We are not here with dire warnings, my Lords. Elixir
asked us to step in as … as …”

He looked to
Amunti, who said, “My Lord Elixir desires open eyes on
Valaris.”

Fuma shook his
head in exasperation. “Gods, Amunti, like that?”

“Open eyes?”
Teroux repeated. “Open to what?”

Fuma muttered
under his breath. “Perhaps my esteemed colleague should have said
‘open ears’. We are tracking the rumour mill, my Lords. We were
sent here and others of the Kaval were deployed elsewhere.”

Amunti nodded.
“Yes. No trouble.”

Tristan gave a
sour smile. “I am not a child. What is going on?”

Fuma stared at
the ground for a while and then looked up. “My Lord, no one is
certain yet. We are being careful.”

Tristan
nodded. “Very well, keep your secret for now. And please call me
Tristan.”

Fuma bowed.
“Tristan it is, then. Thank you.”

Amunti
grinned.

Tianoman
scowled. “If there’s danger …”

“… we shall
inform you immediately,” Fuma said.

Tristan waved
at the group of armchairs. “Sit. I assume you will be staying at
the Palace?”

“If that is no
trouble?” Fuma queried.

“Not at all.
Tell me,” Tristan said, “what happens if my cousins and I head for
the mainland? Will you remain at the Palace?”

Amunti barked
a laugh. “He is sharp, Fuma.”

Fuma glared at
his companion, made his way to a chair and sat. “We would prefer to
accompany you.”

“Aha!”
Tianoman pounced.

Teroux
laughed. “Clever Tris.”

Tristan
remained serious. He took a seat facing Fuma. “Are we in
danger?”

Fuma rolled
his tongue over his teeth as he considered how to answer. “There is
a chance, yes.”

“Bodyguards?”
Teroux demanded.

“Something
like that,” Amunti affirmed. “But we will not get in the way,
promise.”

“Anything new
on Lowen?” Tristan continued to dig.

“Nothing
firm,” Fuma replied.

“We have
clues, that is all,” Amunti offered, “and being followed as we
speak.”

“And where is
Torrullin?”

Fuma stared at
the younger man. He called his grandfather by his name; this
grandson had insight. “My Lord Elixir has gone to Grinwallin.”

“Why?” Teroux
asked.

“We assume to
confer with the Emperor,” Amunti murmured. “Those two are great
friends.”

Tristan leaned
back. “He would not go for casual reasons.”

Amunti
shrugged. “Where Teighlar is concerned, he would.”

Tristan gave a
disbelieving look. “Now? With Lowen missing?”

“Well, perhaps
not now,” Amunti admitted.

“Quiet,” Fuma
snapped.

Tristan
smiled. “It’s all right.” He rose. “Please, feel at home here.
Teroux, will you ask the girl to prepare two guestrooms when she
returns with refreshments?”

“Sure.”

“Where are you
going?” Tianoman demanded.

“I want to
speak to Caballa. You two stay here.” He left before they insisted
on accompanying him.

Fuma smiled
inwardly.

Tristan was
much like Torrullin.

He found
Caballa pouring over the Oracles in the upstairs study.

She
straightened as he entered. “What do they want?”

“Pat phrases,
no real answers.”

“Then
something is a-foot.”

“Obviously.
What do you know about it?”

“Nothing.”

“Come,
Caballa, you, nursemaid, and now those two, bodyguards? Are we in
danger?”

“Why do you
think I am nursemaid?”

“Aren’t you?”
Tristan wandered over to the desk to see what she was reading.
Vannis’ tale.

“No.”

“I think you
are.” He tapped the book. “Vannis?”

She smiled.
“Purely sentimental. He was an extraordinary man.”

“So I hear.
Caballa, please, the truth.”

“Fine,
Tristan, truth. There’s a prophecy about Three Kingdoms and you
three could well be in the line of fire. Torrullin is being
careful, and when he knows where truth and fantasy divide, he will
give you the answers you seek.”

“Therefore you
exacted the promise from me to remain on Valaris.”

“It is easier
to be alert here.”

“All
right.”

She grinned.
“You don’t like it.”

“Well, it’s
not me you need worry over. Tian - he can be impulsive.”

“And he is
being watched, as is Teroux.” She rounded the desk and came to
stand before him. “It isn’t meant to be restrictive.”

He lifted a
hand and traced the line of her jaw, but when she flinched he
dropped it. “Sorry.”

She forced
herself to remain in place. “You are too much like him.”

“I am not
him.”

“Thank the
gods,” Caballa muttered.

“What is that
supposed to mean?”

She backed
away. “I don’t know.”

He drew
breath. “Caballa, I am not a womaniser like Tian and I do not drift
between liaisons like Teroux. I am not like Torrullin either,
unable to commit.”

It was her
turn to draw breath. “How did we get onto this subject?”

“I am not
playing with your emotions. You are a beautiful woman and I sought
to tell you so. I meant no uncouth advance in lifting my hand to
touch you.”

She closed her
eyes. “I am sorry. I have insulted you and did not mean to.”

“I am not
insulted; I’m concerned.”

Her eyes
opened.

“You can’t
retreat so far, Caballa, and still be whole.”

She barked a
laugh. “Come tell me that once you love someone unreachable.”

He inclined
his head. “See what I mean?”

She sobered.
“I’m not in the field, and that’s that.”

“But I am, and
I … forget it.”

“Tristan.
Somewhere out there is the perfect woman for you. It isn’t me; I am
too messed-up, and you would always wonder who I think of when I am
with you.”

“Pat
phrases.”

She laughed.
“Defences.”

He smiled. “A
labyrinth.”

She laughed
again, delighted. “So quick, that mind of yours.”

“What of Rose,
Caballa?”

Her amusement
vanished.

“Longevity, I
hear, like the Valleur. Not Xenian. Who is she?” Tristan went
on.

“Stay away
from Rose. That girl is trouble.”

“Tell me
why.”

“Are you
attracted to her?”

“About as much
as I am to you.”

Caballa drew a
sharp breath. “Well, I would rather you fell at my feet. Rose is a
dilemma.”

“Why?”

“She’s an
innocent in many ways, yet aware of her power over men. She is a
siren song; she sings, they come, she stops singing, and hearts are
crushed. Rose doesn’t know what Rose wants and thus she plays games
to find something or someone, and she doesn’t know she’s doing
it.”

“That I
already figured out.”

“Then you see
how she’s a danger to herself as well as to you. If she repudiates
you, she gets hurt and so do you. If she accepts you, the same
applies, for she can’t commit. She is mercurial; she wants
something new all the time. You will not hold her.”

“That is, of
course, a huge challenge.”

“And you enjoy
that. How typical.”

“Who is
she?”

“All I know is
she has the longevity gene.”

“A
mystery.”

“And you enjoy
that, too. Typical.”

Tristan
grinned. “Jealous?”

Caballa glared
at him and then laughed. “Bugger off. Go bother your cousins.”

Tristan burst
out laughing and headed for the door.

“By the way,”
she said, halting him. “Torrullin knows how to commit.”

He said
nothing.

“The problem
lies in his duality, not commitment.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning,
sometimes only one facet commits. It is real, but when the other
facet flares up, he withdraws.”

“Is that why
he left Saska?”

“She left
him.”

“Because she
realised he hadn’t engaged all his natures?”

Caballa
sighed. “If only it were that simple. No, with Saska he was all
tuned in, which is part of the allure between them.”

“So the
problem is Lowen?”

“No, the
problem is Torrullin.”

“I don’t
understand.”

“Neither do
I.”

Tristan shook
his head. “If he is committed to Saska and the problem isn’t Lowen,
why doesn’t he go back to her?”

“He is no
longer certain she is committed.”

“Is she?”

“Only Saska
can answer.”

“How does
Lowen fit in?”

“Damned if I
know,” Caballa muttered.

“Doesn’t it
rile you?”

“He was
already married when I met him. How can that rile me?”

“And
Lowen?”

She pulled a
face. “That riles me.”

“Are you
hoping …?”

“No.”

“Then?”

“We are true
friends, and it is more important than anything else.”

“And still you
love him,” Tristan prompted.

“Yes, but not
in the way you think.”

“Then why do
you flinch at my touch?”

She drew
breath and then, “Because I am attracted to you also.”

He stilled and
waited.

“Yet you are
so much like him I am confused. Am I reaching for the unreachable
or am I trying to capture something once briefly held? Do I see you
or him? Maybe I am not over the past, maybe I am to find …”

“I am more
like him than even I know?”

“Yes. I won’t
make the same mistake twice.”

“Ah.” Tristan
nodded, retreated, and left her staring after him.

Teroux and
Tristan sat with their heads close talking in an undertone.

“Teroux, we
need information,” Tristan said. His fingers tapped a frustrated
rhythm on the table.

Teroux glanced
around the deserted dining chamber. “Agreed. What did Caballa let
slip?”

“Bugger all,
and she won’t talk more.”

“We’re
definitely not getting anything out of Fuma and Amunti.”

“What do you
suggest?” Tristan asked.

“The
Elders?”

“They’re too
prickly now. Although - maybe Vanar?”

Teroux
snorted. “Not a chance. Vanar is the most closed-mouthed of the
lot.”

They sat on in
silence and then both had the same thought at once. “Rose!”

Tristan put a
finger to his lips and both gazed furtively around. “We’ll have to
get past Vanar.”

Teroux
grimaced. “And Yiddin.”

Tristan pulled
a face also. “While I’d prefer transparency, I think we may have to
use a backdoor.”

“Slip in
unnoticed?” Teroux was intrigued. “And Tian?”

“Not yet.
Sometimes he gives himself away.”

Teroux nodded
and then frowned in thought.

“What?”
Tristan prompted.

“Well, you
should go to her alone. Less suspicion.”

“Why me? You
could do it.”

Both pulled a
face. Both were wary of the delectable Rose.

“You know what
to ask,” Teroux pointed out.

Tristan heaved
a sigh. “Fine, I’ll do it.”

“When?”

“Later
tonight, when everyone has retired.”

“That’ll scare
Rose,” Teroux whispered.

“What else do
you suggest then?”

“I’m just
saying.”

“I’ll be
careful,” Tristan murmured.

Chapter 28

Do not judge a
book by its cover.

~ Earth
Idiom

Valaris

V
anar installed Rose in the
guesthouse where visiting dignitaries resided because the complex
possessed additional security.

Vanar
considered Rose a security risk; all the Elders thought thus.

Tristan
transported into the small courtyard at the back of the complex,
the one where the staff took their leisure hours in. It was
deserted, as expected, and there were no Valleur guards in the
vicinity. He headed in what he hoped was perfect silence for the
kitchen and heaved a sigh of relief when he discovered the door
unlocked.

Slipping
inside, he made his way through and along darkened corridors and
various storerooms through entertainment areas, the black void of
the conference facility, and into the guestroom wing.

The ambassador
from Beacon was in residence, having completed his business with
Isaiah Kronig the day before, and there was a delegation from Ceta
asleep somewhere. Other than them there was only Rose. She could be
in one of twenty staterooms; finding her would not be easy.

At the first
bedroom he heard a male snore, grinned and moved on. The second was
ajar and empty. Through the door of the third he heard someone
talking in his sleep and the fourth revealed the intimate sounds of
lovemaking. He hoped it was not Rose with one of those idiots from
Ceta.