The Vildecaz Talents: The complete set of Vildecaz Stories including Nimuar's Loss, The Deceptive Oracle and Agnith's Promise (22 page)

“What do you mean?” Ninianee asked, hating the new suspicions that rose inside her.

“You need not fear that your message will be compromised. It will not be; not by me.”

Baffled, Ninianee stared at him. “You are from the Drowned World. How can you say – ”

Doms smiled at her, so smoothly that she almost missed the hard shine in his icy eyes. “My father is a noble of the fourth degree by birthright, and that still has some meaning in the Drowned World. Our name is not so well-known as many are, but it is among the oldest of the Families.”

“You are a Yaonoi?” Ninianee could barely get the word out.

“No; I am a Yaolaj; I am my father’s heir.” He paused. “Not that that means much in the Great World, except that only the highest nobles can detain me or demand answers of me.”

“Why did you never say anything?” Ninianee asked, astonished and infuriated at once.

“There was no reason. Now that you are to entrust a message to me, one that bears on your safety, you should know how much protection I can provide.” He studied her for a dozen heartbeats. “Will you accept my assurance?”

Nonplused, Ninianee did her best to answer. “I suppose this is the truth, for not even you would venture such an outrageous lie,” she said, and saw General Rocazin cover her mouth in shock. “If a Yaolaj is willing to be a messenger for a Duzna, who am I to protest.”

“You are such a pragmatic lady,” said Doms, shaking his head in amusement. ‘As soon as you hand me your message, I will be at Captain ae-Miratdien’s service.” He offered them all a fine respect and stepped back to allow them to make their arrangements for the night.

* * *

Toward dawn a shudder passed through Vildecaz Castle, not a shudder of the world, but one of magic; it touched the Castle and everyone inside it with tweak of malaise, and the sense that there was undiscovered danger about them. Most of those asleep under the Castle’s roof shook themselves and drew themselves up in their beds; those on watch shivered and stared intently out at the darkened land, limned by the waning moon.

In her chamber, Ninianee sat up, straining to make out any unfamiliar shape in the room, but to no avail. Troubled, she rose and pulled on her night-wrap, then carefully let herself out of her chamber only to find Doms Guyon leaning against the wall, half-awake. He looked up as she muttered, “Bontaj.”

“At least,” said Doms.

“What are you doing here?”

“Guarding your door, of course,” he said.

“You’re as bad as Kloveon,” said Ninianee, doing her best not to yawn.

“Probably worse,” Doms agreed.

“How long have you been here?” She wanted to yell at him but dared not speak above a whisper.

“You went to bed at end of the second hour after midnight,” said Doms. “I took up this post half an hour later, as soon as I returned from Valdehovee.”

“You didn’t need to return tonight,” said Ninianee, not knowing how to account for the emotions that swept over her.

“But I did,” he said.

“Why?” She began walking down the hall as much to be active as to reach any specific destination.

He took her question seriously, staying with her as he answered. “Someone has been trying to get into this Castle, or to make you think he or she has already done it. It might be so.”

“And you are prepared to defend me?” She wanted to sound sarcastic, but heard the plaintiveness of her question.

“I am – and well you know it.” His disarming smile was engaging.

Gathering up her courage, she said in a rush, “Are you really a Yaolaj?”

“You don’t believe me?” He sounded amused.

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “It’s possible that you are, and it’s possible that you aren’t.”

His tone changed to one so direct that she stopped walking and stared at him. “Of course I am. My direct ancestor founded the Cantonment of the Tail. He established the Yahmah and his son established the Mirkalin on Zegul-Gnax. My own holdings are on Tirin-Dzur, and four other small islands.”

“But . . . why aren’t you there?”

The amusement was back in his eyes. “There is so little to do on Tirin-Dzur, these days. The Cantonment is secure, and the Yahmah has excellent administrators. I have four brothers, so there is little reason for me to remain there, poisoned with boredom.”

Ninianee resumed walking. “I see.”

“And you believe me?”

“Very likely,” she admitted. “But I have to consider all you’ve told me. I have to get used to it.”

“Fair enough,” he allowed. “Where are you bound?”

“I’m not sure. Something woke me.”

He made a sign of agreement. “Something like a dog shaking itself?”

“Yes. Something magical.” She folded her arms for the night was cool. “But the spell-hounds haven’t keened.”

“No, they haven’t,” Doms agreed, studying her face in the dark.

“Perhaps I should ask Erianthee if she has noticed anything?” She did not want to disturb her sister at this hour, but she could not shake the pervasive sense of unease that had taken possession of her. “She may have a suggestion . . . ” Before she could change her mind, she started off toward Erianthee’s apartments.

Doms fell into step next to her. “Would you like me to talk to the Night Guard? Captain ae-Miratdien should be on the wall near the break.”

“No. Not yet. I may be making too much of this.” She rounded the bend in the corridor and took the left branch that led to Erianthee’s rooms.

The lighting-spells that made small pools of light along the main corridor were beginning to fade, and the secondary corridors were all dark and sinister in the wake of the disquieting perturbation that had brought Ninianee so edgily awake. Most of the Castle was filled with sleep, but that sleep was restless.

“It is possible,” said Doms, thumbing a sulphur-stick into sputtering light.

“No magic, just simple tools?” Ninianee asked as Doms held the sulphur-stick aloft.

“Why use magic when this works as well?”

Ninianee considered his answer, admitting its good sense to herself. She was about to tell him so when she caught sight of Kloveon of Fauthsku dozing on a bench in front of Erianthee’s door. “What in the name of Dandolmaz – ”

The sound of her voice, though hardly more than a whisper, brought Kloveon sharply awake. “Duzna! What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, perhaps. I don’t know,” said Ninianee.

“There was a disruption in the castle a short while ago,” Doms explained, keeping the sulphur-stick high in order to light their faces.

Kloveon nodded. “I felt it; a troubling interruption.”

“Yes,” said Ninianee. “Do you know if my sister is awake?”

“No,” said Kloveon. “I haven’t been in her rooms since she retired. She’s worn out.”

“Hardly surprising,” said Ninianee. “Still, let me take a look in on her. If she’s awake, she and I will talk. If she is asleep, then I’ll leave.”

“You are Duzna here,” said Kloveon, and stood aside as Ninianee let herself into Erianthee’s rooms.

The darkness was so dense it was almost palpable. Ninianee made her way carefully toward the place she assumed Erianthee’s bed was. As she went, she conjured a spark to give her a little light, holding the glow in her cupped hand. Even with this slight illumination, she nearly banged her shins on Erianthee’s bed frame. She managed to keep her balance, then held her spark over the bed and saw that her sister was sunk in deep slumber. “In the morning,” she promised in a half-voice, then retreated from the room, letting herself out as she extinguished the spark-spell. “I’ll return later. As you said, Mirkal, she is very much asleep.”

Kloveon made an abbreviated respect to Ninianee. “I hoped she was. The Shadowshow was a demanding one.”

“That it was,” said Ninianee. “And I am glad such manifestations don’t happen very often.”

“It must be hard for her,” said Kloveon, “which is why I have taken up watch over her.”

Ninianee suddenly felt very foolish, so she respected Kloveon. “You are doing her great service, Mirkal.”

Kloveon acknowledge the respect, then sat back down on the bench while Doms held up the last of the sulphur-stick to light their way back to Ninianee’s rooms.

* * *

By mid-morning, Maeshar of Otsinmohr and his companions had made a hasty departure and only Yulko Bihn remained to make the most of taking his leave; he was most impressive, grandly dressed in his dark-green gaihups with piping in gold, his fingers carbuncled with amethysts and rubies. He stood beside his carriage, Dinvee ae-Semilgai draped on his arm, her gorgeous and revealing flame-colored guin and gaunel much too grand for travel. The footmen were loading their chests and cases while the grooms brought the tacked team into place at the front of the carriage. Bihn gave Ninianee a thorough going-over with his eyes, then said, “A pity your father didn’t come out to offer his farewell.”

“He is busy this morning,” said Ninianee, who hadn’t seen her father since the previous afternoon.

“Yes. Well, tell him I look forward to my next visit.” Bihn respected her once.

“I will. May you be safe from all harm throughout your journey.” It was the polite thing to say, but Ninianee still disliked wishing even so much on Bihn.

For his part, Yulko Bihn was eager to be away. He had seen what he wanted to see: that his old enemy Nimuar was as blighted as ever, and posed no threat to him. He signaled for the steps to be brought to allow him to get into his carriage. “Dinvee.” He offered her his hand as the steps were put in place. “Duzna, tell your sister I will see her at the Porzalk Imperial Court before long. I look forward to her coming. Tell her that, too.”

“I will,” said Ninianee as she waited for Bihn to get into his carriage. She could hear the thoughts of the horses, now eager to be on their way.

The coachman climbed onto his box and gathered up the reins, then swung the team around so that they could go out the main gate while Bihn’s personal banner was removed from the place of honor.

Ninianee watched Bihn’s carriage roll away from Vildecaz Castle as his visitor’s banner was taken down, feeling the first genuine relief she had experienced in days; she went back into the Castle, to the morning-room where she found Erianthee sitting in one of the comfortable, roll-backed chairs, an engulfing jalai of quilted tongue-satin swathed around her. She was paler than usual and there were dark circles under her eyes.

“Well?”

“Bihn and ae-Semilgai have left,” said Ninianee. “He said he would see you at Court. He says he is looking forward to your visit.”

Erianthee’s single laugh was scornfully eloquent. “I don’t know how I would avoid him there.”

“You are protected at Court,” Ninianee said.

“I am protected here. Kloveon isn’t going to be with me at Tiumboj. I wish he were allowed to escort me all the way to the capital. Isn’t that strange? Even now, when he is taking a nap after being awake most of the night, I am beginning to miss him.”

“No, I don’t think it so strange.” No stranger, she thought, than her own sudden relief at having Doms Guyon to guard her in her own castle.

Erianthee was about to say something more when Vazha Parumenz, Heijot Merinex’s apprentice appeared in the doorway. “Duznas. A word, if you would.”

The sisters looked over at the young man, and saw that he was distraught. “What is it?” they asked simultaneously.

“My Magsto has sent me,” Vazha began. “He and I had planned to study the Rites of Agnith today, and to use books your father had promised to loan us.”

“He will do so, if you are patient,” said Erianthee.

“Is there a problem?” asked Ninianee.

“I don’t know, not beyond question,” said Vazha, fiddling with his hupslan.

Ninianee wanted to shake him. “Has the Duz forgotten his promise?”

“I don’t know.” He hung his head. “We have looked everywhere, but we can’t find him.”

“Can’t find him?” Erianthee echoed. “What do you mean – can’t find him?”

Vazha coughed. “We’ve looked all through the castle, Magsto Merinex and I, but we can’t find him.”

“That’s not possible,” said Erianthee, more as if to convince herself than others.

Ninianee was on her feet. “Go fetch General Rocazin and Ver Mindicaz. Tell Hoftstan Ruch. Then summon the Guard. They will carry out a hunt for him. He has cloaked himself before, and this is likely more of the same.” As she said it, she hoped it was true.

“Yes, Duznas,” said Vazha, and hurried off to find the Housekeeper-General and the Cook-Major.

Erianthee sat still for a short while. “You don’t think he can have vanished, do you, Nin?”

“No, I don’t,” Ninianee said uncertainly.

“Do you think we should have Lomcoz Terichovee bring the spell-hounds to look for him?”

The mention of the mews-keeper reminded Ninianee of something. “What about Neilach Drux?” Nimuar’s valet, she thought, must know something.

“Shall we send for him?” Erianthee wondered aloud.

“I suppose we must,” said Ninianee, and went to ring the small gong to summon assistance. “We’ll find him,” she said as the loud, clear noise of the gong filled the room.