The Wraeththu Chronicles (108 page)

Arno Demell walked toward the canal. He exhibited no signs of worry, or fear that he was being watched. An average kind of har, unremarkable in appearance. He stood at the water's edge and threw something into the shifting, oily blackness. I'll never know what. For a moment, he continued to stare into the water. Then we jumped him. It would have been easy just to have thrown him into the canal; the freezing cold would have finished him off pretty quickly, but Astarth wanted to shake that packet of crystals into the poor fool's mouth. It was his moment of glory and I wasn't going to deprive him of it. I don't know whether he was genuinely grieved by what had happened to Lolotea, it was difficult to tell, but he certainly enjoyed making Demell suffer for it. The victim didn't ask who we were; he knew. Of course, he may have seen our faces before in Piristil, but I saw that resigned acceptance of doom as he witnessed Astarth's bared teeth and patient execution of vengeance. Demell knew what he had done and now accepted he had to pay the forfeit; in this case, death. The law of the jungle, the law of the world. Few poisons can affect a harish frame. We are a resilient race. We left Demell gasping and writhing at the edge of the water. I expect he eventually did fall in, but we didn't stay to watch.

We walked back to Piristil in silence, both of us wrapped in our own thoughts. Perhaps Astarth was thinking that one death can't pay for years of degradation, I don't know, but I was thinking of the Garridan. It was possible that they were derived from Uigenna stock. Suddenly, my mind was alight with ideas. This was it. Panthera's liberation was suddenly so much nearer.

The following day, a predictable pall of gloom and despondency hung heavily in the air in Piristil. The air smelled greasy; the air was cold. The kanene passed each other on the stairs with barely a greeting. We dressed in black and bound up our hair. There is a hill about half a mile away from the house. It is reached by a steep, muddy path. That is where Lolotea lies buried. There are no hienama in the town of Fallsend, no priests. Jafit, who had made no mention of Arno Demell and his fate, spoke a few hackneyed words over the open grave as Orpah and Wuwa lowered the rough, unadorned wooden box containing the remains of the murdered one into the ground. The rest of us

stood around, numb from cold and, in some cases, shock. Some of them wept. Flounah veiled himself in gray and stood withhis back to the grave. Ezhno held onto my arm, looking aggressive. There was no-one of Lolotea's blood to mourn him there. No-one would ever even know he was dead; a group of desperate whores the only thing he had close to a family. It was pathetic really, but me, I felt detached. I've experienced worse things.

After a dreary lunch, shared with Jafit and the others in Jafit's personal dining room, I went to find Outher. "I have to go into Fallsend," I said. "Want to come with me?" I think this rather disappointed him as he'd been
 
| planning to spend the afternoon with me in a more secluded place. "We can eat in my room tonight, if you like," I added. That convinced him.

As we walked down the hill into the town, snow seeping through my boots, I was deep in thought. My mind was racing, but I strove not to show it. I remember forcing some inane chatter onto Outher. He must have thought me as empty-headed as the rest. Once the streets leveled off, I mentioned that I would like to go for a drink in The Stone. "It seems it's the best this lousy town has to offer," I said, and Outher agreed. He took my arm. "It will make me proud to walk in there with you," he said. How gallant.

Unlike the previous evening, The Stone was relatively quiet when we got there. A sumptuously painted har was draped over the bar waiting for custom. Outher offered to buy me a drink. I must not move too soon. I smiled and nodded and asked for a beer. As he strolled up to the bar, I reflected that it was almost a pity that I would have to leave Piristil this way. I'd made good friends whose company I would miss, not the least of which, Lolotea. That resolved me. The sooner I left the better. I scanned the room. Being large, it appeared emptier than it actually was. I could see no face that I recognized. Outher came over to the table I had chosen with the drinks. I smiled. He sat down.

"Panthera seems to have taken to you," he said. "I've never seen that before."

"Oh, I don't know about that," I said. "I just get on well with anybody."

"I don't think I've ever heard him speak to any of the others."

"Have you heard us speak then?"

"No, but. . ."

I inclined my head. "Well then!"

"You know what I mean, Calanthe," he laughed. "By Aghama, you're a cagey creature—just like Panthera."

"Cagey are the beasts kept in cages," I replied lightly, while surreptitiously glancing over Outher's shoulder. I drained my glass. "My round, I believe."

Outher looked at his half-full glass in surprise. "You are thirsty, Calanthe!"

"Yes, burying is thirsty work." Outher had the grace to look abashed. I said no more and went to the bar. The pot-har slouched over to me after leaving me waiting for maybe a minute. I watched him fulfill my order with the same amount of enthusiasm. Ale splashed over my hands as he handed me the glasses. "Tell me," I said, "is the Garridan Liss-am-Caar staying here?"

The pot-har gazed at me stupidly. I sighed and threw a spinner onto the bar where it rolled for a full insulting twelve seconds before lying still. The pot-har continued to stare.

"Well?" I enquired sweetly.

"Who wants to know?" he said at last.

"I do."

"And who are you?"

"A potential customer of his wares."

The pot-har continued to eye me with suspicion. "And what wares are those?" he asked, with undiminished surliness.

"Look." I said. "I haven't much time. Just tell him, will you! You don't have to be afraid. I'm not Gelaming. I'm a Varr. I just want to buy. No questions either side. Do you understand?" The pot-har stared me in the eye. I stared back.

"You want I should send him to your table?"

"No!" I hissed emphatically. "Have you a yard here?"

The pot-har pointed sullenly to a half concealed door to the right of the bar.

"Ten minutes," I said. The pot-har shrugged.

"If he's in. I'll have to try his room."

"Yes, you do that!"

I took the drinks back to the table. Outher asked what I'd been doing. I lied glibly about some flirtation with the pot-har. Outher grinned at me engagingly. Such a simple soul. I watched the clock above the bar.

Nearly time. After nine minutes, Outher said, "Calanthe, you really are special."

"Yes, thank you," I said. "Look I just have to buy a couple of things. Hang on here for me, will you?"

"But I..." Obviously more profound sentiments were about to erupt.

"I won't be long."

"That's alright. I'll come with you. It's no bother."

"No! I mean, no, don't trouble yourself. Anyway, I want to buy something for us to eat tonight. It's going to be a surprise."

Outher smiled. He really is quite handsome. "OK, if you're sure."

I smiled and held up my hand. "Five minutes," I said.

I thought it safer to leave The Stone by the front door and hope that there was another way into the yard from out front. I had to be careful not to arouse any suspicions in Outher. Luckily, there were a couple of hara carrying barrels of ale through an open door in the wall. I followed them into the yard. It had been cleared of snow and strewn with ashes. I stood stamping and shivering for what seemed an eternity before a light touch on my shoulder made me spin round, half-afraid it would be Outher. It wasn't. In daylight, the lean face of the Garridan seemed even cruder, more snake-like, but seeringly attractive. I could see easily the mark of his Uigenna history in his eyes. Perhaps we had even met before. It was possible.

Inspired, I held out my hand and said, "In meetings hearts beat closer," which was an old, cliched but authentically-Uigenna catch-phrase. Liss-am-Caar raised his brow fastidiously.

"In blood, brother," he responded. "You're a long way from home, friend."

"As are many," I replied. Now, I hoped he would not try to cheat me.

He asked my business.

"Should you ask?" I replied.

He smiled thinly. "Only the result, my friend, only the result."

"Not death," I said.

Liss-am-Caar registered no expression. "Then I can only offer Blood-shade, Diamanda and Rauspic." Only two of those names were familiar to me, and I was also familiar with their side-effects. Death may even be preferable.

"I need sleepers not shriekers," I said mildly. "What is this Diamanda?"

"Perhaps what you require, although the sleep is deep. The dosage is crucial, for heavy-handedness whilst dosing could initiate a sleep deeper than might be required."

"That should suffice. How much?"

"That depends upon how much you want."

"Enough for ten, I think."

The Garridan did not flicker. "A hundred spinners then."

"What!"

He shrugged. "Sleepers are more expensive. I could sell you Acridil for a mere three spinners and you could administer maybe a hundred doses."

I reflected for a few moments. Should I? No. I remembered the shadow that had been on my tail through Thaine. Chances were, once out of Fallsend and in the open country, vigilance on the part of my pursuers would be stepped up. I could not risk causing another death. I'd already been through enough for the ones I'd initiated in the past. Arno Demell was more than enough for one town. "Diamanda for three, a light dose; how much?"

"A light dose? Should be thirty, but I'll give it to you for twenty-five."

Sighing, I handed over the better part of my savings. The Garridan counted it thoughtfully. He opened his bag and gave me three twists of paper. "This is a child's dose," he said, holding up one twist.

"And how will that affect a fully grown Mojag?" I asked.

The Garridan whistled through his teeth. "Ah, you're cutting close to the bone there! A light doze for half an hour, maybe."

I sighed again. It would just have to be enough.

"The advantage is, of course," the Garridan continued, "that should anyone wake up from a Diamanda sleep, they'll be groggy for ten minutes or so, no matter how light the dose."

"Thanks!" I said, glumly.

"Pleased to do business with you!" Liss-am-Caar touched his brow politely and turned away.

"Oh, one more thing, Tiahaar," I said. He turned.

"Yes."

"Who is the Lion of Oomadrah?" There was an electric silence. The Garridan's face was stony. He looked briefly around the yard.

"A changed person, my friend," he said. "In view of your history, you would do well to stay out of Maudrah. The Lion has sharpened his claws, but he never laughs nowadays. If you're looking for old friends, come to Garridan. Here, have my card."

I took it. "Thanks again," I said.

"Any time, my friend. Goodbye." He went back indoors.

I hurried back into the street and recklessly spent a further three spinners at the food stalls. Outher was looking very harried when I went back into The Stone, perhaps afraid I'd ditched him. "A long five minutes," he said.

"I'm sorry," I purred. "Listen, I have the whole day free. Do you want to go back to Piristil now?" That brought the smile back to his face; he didn't know I was thinking how much more preferable it would have been making that offer to the Garridan Liss-am-Caar.

We sat and talked beside my fire, mostly about what I was going to prepare for our meal; an engrossing topic, as you can imagine. I was still indulging in casual fantasies about the Garridan, even as I discussed with Outher the superiority of Fallsend chicken-meat to Fallsend pork. After what I considered to be a suitable time, I went to sit on Outher's lap to share breath with him. He cupped my face with his hand. "You're too good for this place," he said.

"Yes," I agreed and slipped my hand inside his leather shirt. "No, don't do that now," he said gently. "Calanthe, I have something to say to you. In the spring, I'm going back to Mojag. Someone else will take my place here. I'd like you to come home with me."

I laughed. "Outher, this session is for free, OK. You don't have to say things like that!"

He flushed angrily. "I'm not joking, Calanthe! I want you, but not just for a sordid night. I want you forever. It's terrible thinking of what you have to do here. Tell me now, will you or won't you? There won't be many chances for you like this here."

"Oh, I know that! But this is unexpected, Outher. So quick. Have I made such an impression upon you this afternoon?"

"You are laughing at me."

"Well, you must admit, it's hard to take your suggestion seriously. After all, we've

only just met really."

He looked perplexed, wondering how to convince me. I resolved to let him suffer for a

while. How could I be so lucky? I felt like leaping up and dancing round the room, but

not for the reason Outher would want.

"It sounds so corny," he said, "but I wanted you from the moment I first saw you." He