White Blood (19 page)

Carlich slipped in after her and called for her to wait. He cut his hand again and spent several minutes piling up stones and fixing them in place. When he finished, they were sealed within the stone as securely as a corpse within a tomb. Maryn swallowed and tried desperately to find some other thought to take her mind away from that image.

Blue light shone past her as Carlich pointed. “Go on.”

The crack in the earth extended for several dozen yards, sometimes wider, sometimes narrower, but never quite as tight as the first stretch. It cut back sharply around an outcropping of rock and opened into a much larger space. Maryn couldn’t see much in the dim blue glow that emanated from the smear of blood on Carlich’s shoulder, but it appeared to be a natural cavern. Spikes of stone hung from the ceiling and lumpy pillars reached up from the floor. Human hands had modified the cave, though. There was a clear path among the rubble on the floor, and occasional mortared stone walls, or archways that showed the marks of tools. She wanted to ask Carlich about the place, but one glance at his face, mouth twisted into a scowl, eyes far away, convinced her that her captor was deeply absorbed in his own bitter thoughts, and any interruption from her would surely be met with fury.

They walked in silence for a long time, through the first cavern and into others. After a while they passed into a section of tunnels that were clearly man;-;made, for they were straight and level, with smooth, regular walls. Side passages branched off, but Carlich kept them to what seemed the main way.

At length Barilan stirred in Maryn’s arms, whining. Her nose told her the nature of the problem, and she tried to quiet him without success. Finally she was forced to choke words out, despite her fear. “I beg your pardon, your Hi—I mean, my lord. We’ve got to stop. Barilan’s diaper is messy. He gets the most awful rash if I don’t change him right away. But I don’t have any fresh diapers, or anything else I can use.” The stiff gold embroidery of Barilan’s ceremonial robe chafed Maryn’s arms. It was filthy with the dust and grime of the underground passages, and Barilan had lost one of the golden slippers along the way.

Carlich rubbed his forehead. “I don’t suppose you do.”

Encouraged by his lack of anger at her presumption, Maryn ventured a few more requests. “Please, sir, can we rest a while? I’m hungry, and so thirsty, and my feet hurt. And I need to find someplace I can use…a garderobe, or chamberpot, or something.” She ducked her head in shame.

Carlich blinked at her. “Come to think about it, so do I. Here, I think I see a side corridor a little way down. We’ll stop there.”

When they reached the spot, Maryn sank to her knees. She spread her skirts in front of her so she wouldn’t have to set Barilan down on the cold stone. He squirmed restlessly when she pulled his gown up. It was one of his huge, spreading messes, she saw, her heart sinking. The thick yellow liquid had oozed all the way up the back of his diaper, and leaked out around his legs to smear the precious gown.

Carlich gave a little mirthless laugh, watching her. “Disgusting. I always knew I didn’t want children.”

Maryn dabbed futilely at Barilan’s bottom with a corner of the diaper. “There’s no water, or anything. I can’t…”

She twisted around and ripped a generous strip off her underskirt. She used it to swab at Barilan’s buttocks and legs, but accomplished little more than spreading the mess around. She fought to hold back her tears, but it was no use. She wiped her face on her shoulder.

“Oh, gallows, girl. Quit sniveling. This is useless.” Carlich rubbed the back of his neck. “You’re more trouble than you’re worth, nephew. I should have left you at the palace. But then I’d have no hope of ever getting my crown back.” He sighed heavily and pulled out his knife. “Get out of the way.”

Maryn gasped and hunched protectively over Barilan. Carlich grimaced. “I’m not going to hurt him. Not that I could. I thought you wanted me to clean up his filth?”

Reluctantly, Maryn sat back on her heels. Now that she thought about it, she knew it was true that King Froethych’s spell should prevent Carlich from doing Barilan any harm. And in any case Carlich seemed intent on keeping Barilan alive for his own purposes. But she still caught her breath when Carlich crouched over Barilan and added a new cut to the collection of fresh ones that scored his palm.

He winced. “I’ll wager Metren never thought I’d put his teachings to this use. Still, it ought to work.” He rubbed his hands together, smearing the blood over them, and began to wave them.

Blue lightning built up around his hands. He directed it down onto the fouled diaper and Barilan’s messy body. The waste vanished in a burst of blue flame and stinking smoke. Barilan yelped and began to bawl.

Maryn hurled herself forward and gathered the baby up. He was clean, and the diaper as well, only a sulfurous smell lingering. “You did hurt him!”

“Just startled him, I think. Unless we’ve escaped the effects of Father’s spell.” Carlich made an abortive strike at Barilan. “No, it’s as I guessed. When the magic got out of control, it magnified the effects far beyond what he intended. From what I know of such things, it was probably strong enough to blanket all Milecha, and last for years.” He chuckled mirthlessly. “I wonder how it will manifest. Are parents all over Loempno tonight finding they can’t beat their unruly brats into submission like usual?”

The thought seemed to amuse him; he laughed a little more as he rose. He swayed before he caught himself with a hand against the stone wall. “Gallows, I’ve burned a lot of blood today. A few more like that and I won’t have enough left to shoo away a fly. You’re going to have to take care of him yourself from now on, girl.”

Anger boiled up in Maryn, pushing aside her fear. “I’d be glad to, if I had the means. You’re the one who dragged us down here. How are you going to provide us water and food? I can only nurse Barilan if I eat and drink myself. He won’t be of any use to you if you let us both die.”

Carlich raised his hand, and she cowered back. But he let it fall again, and rubbed at his eyes. “You’re right. I’ve got to get us out of here.” He rose abruptly to his feet. “Stay put.” He headed off down the side corridor, the light from his shoulder vanishing with him.

Maryn fumbled in the darkness to wrap the diaper back around Barilan. She gathered him into her arms. He snuggled against her, babbling softly. Maryn wanted to take him and flee, but blackness surrounded her, far more absolute than the deepest night. She couldn’t see even a trace of her fingers when she waved them in front of her nose. She had no idea how to wake her blood into light, not more than the sparks cleansing created, which would fade within seconds. Without Carlich, she would wander lost until they died of thirst and starvation. But she couldn’t simply stay, subject to his every volatile whim. She had to find some way to get Barilan safely back to Voerell.

She hadn’t yet resolved her debate when Carlich’s echoing footsteps heralded his arrival, rendering it moot. Much as she loathed and feared him, still he was another human presence in this miserable place, and her heart leaped at the return of the light.

He gestured down the passage. “Give him to me, and go take care of your business. I left some light so you won’t fall down and break your neck.”

Maryn hated the thought of entrusting Barilan to Carlich. Would he take the infant king and abandon her? But he did need her, if he wished to keep Barilan alive as a bargaining tool. And if he was right about King Froethych’s dying spell, he could not actually harm his nephew. Reluctantly she passed Barilan into Carlich’s arms. Then, because her need was great, she trotted down the corridor. Occasional smudges of blue light on the walls lit her way. At the last light a privy smell told her this was the place Carlich had used for his makeshift garderobe; she followed suit as quickly as she could and retreated back to where he waited.

Carlich handed Barilan back to her. “Come. I think I know where there’s water, not too far away.”

She nodded and fell in behind him. He led the way for what must have been at least an hour. At last they emerged into another natural cavern. A narrow, water;-;filled crack wound along the floor. Carlich dropped to his belly and scooped up a double handful. Maryn knelt to drink. The water was icy as snowmelt in spring, clean and sweet tasting.

“Ah. That’s what I needed.” Carlich sat back on his heels and breathed deeply. “Fill yourself up. We don’t have any way to take it with us.”

Maryn obeyed, drinking until her stomach sloshed. Carlich drank again. Maryn checked Barilan’s diaper, but it remained only slightly damp. After a mess like he’d just made, he might easily go a week before repeating the performance.

Carlich levered himself to his feet. “Come on. We’ve got to keep going.”

Maryn plodded along after him. They wound through endless miles of caverns and corridors. In the unchanging gloom, she lost all sense of time, until the hours stretched like months or years.

After a while, she no longer cared if Carlich hurt her, as long as he let her rest. “Your—my lord, please, I can’t go on any further.”

His voice sounded almost as weary as she felt. “All right. We should have reached the exit I was thinking of by now, but maybe I took a wrong turn somewhere. Next time we come to a wide place, we’ll stop.”

He was true to his word. A short while later they came to a small round room with a domed ceiling at the intersection where two passages met. Carlich gestured for Maryn to rest. She collapsed to the ground, too exhausted to care what he might do, as long as she didn’t have to move. He circled the room, placing smudges of fresh glowing blood on the walls and making obscure gestures.

When he finished, he put his back against the wall opposite her and slid down. He crossed his arms and studied her. “I’ve warded us against intruders. It should be safe to sleep. I know it will keep ghouls and specters and rats out. A sorcerer could break it if he used enough blood, but if they were going to find us they would have already.”

It was foolish to speak, but Maryn was too weary and sick of fear to be cautious. “I hope they do. I hope Voerell sends the whole army to comb the city until they find you.”

Carlich groaned. “Gallows, girl, can’t you just cooperate? Do what I tell you and you’ll be fine. I’ll take care of you. Do you think Voerell will be so generous, if she finds us? You helped me steal her son.”

“Not willingly!” But Maryn felt a chill at his words. Would Voerell care that she had been a helpless pawn, or in her rage would she heap punishment on anyone who had been involved?

Carlich’s voice softened. “I know my sister. When she’s angry she doesn’t care who she hurts. It won’t matter why you helped me, only that you did.”

“I don’t believe you! She saw what happened!” But even as Maryn protested, fear churned in the pit of her stomach. Carlich might be right. She’d seen the princess lose her temper with servants several times during her months in the palace. Once Voerell had ordered a maid dismissed for dropping and breaking her favorite vase, even though it was clearly an accident. The girl had been filling the vase with flowers and had been startled by a spider among the leaves. But all her apologies and explanations had not been sufficient to calm Voerell’s wrath.

“I hope you don’t have the chance to find out.” Carlich yawned and slid down to pillow his head with his arms. “Get a little sleep. Don’t bother trying to run; you can’t pass the wards. And if you’re thinking of trying anything, I warded myself, too.”

He fell silent. Maryn arranged herself on the cold stone floor, cupping Barilan in the curve of her body. She wished she had the courage to try Carlich’s words. Would anything happen if she crept up on him as he slept and cut his throat with his own knife? But if she succeeded, she and Barilan would be alone down here, lost.

Barilan nursed eagerly, latching correctly on the first try. Maryn was grateful for that small blessing. She was so tired she couldn’t have faced the usual struggle to get his mouth positioned so it wouldn’t hurt her. Now that she thought about it, he’d been latching well all day. Maybe he’d finally learned. After a while his sucking slowed and stopped as he fell into peaceful sleep.

He didn’t know or care how much trouble they were in. As long as he had her warm body and sweet milk, he was happy. He didn’t miss his mother. As far as he knew Maryn was his mother, the one who held him and tended him and fed him, who changed his diapers and bathed him and slept by his side.

Maryn tried her best not to disturb him as her tears flowed and silent sobs shook her body. She sent up silent hopeless pleas to the Holy One. But who was she, a lowborn servant girl, to attract his attention or concern?

Eventually she slept. She woke often, cold and stiff, and tried vainly to get more comfortable, before sinking into muddled dreams again.

At length a groan from Carlich roused Maryn. He pushed himself up to sit, rubbed at his eyes, and ran his hands through his hair. Catching Maryn watching him, he gave her a wry smile. “Time to get moving.”

He broke the wards, burning into nothingness the remains of the blood that had fueled them. They both ventured down a side corridor to relieve themselves. Maryn removed Barilan’s wet diaper and replaced it with the torn strip from her petticoat. But there was no food, or water, or any other comfort to ease their waking. Carlich set out without fanfare down one of the passages, and Maryn trudged after.

Eventually they came to a section where the walls were made of brick, with many small rooms and side passages. Carlich brightened and his step quickened. “I think I recognize this place. If I remember right…” He took a few steps down one passage. “No, not this one. Where was it…”

He tried a number of other false starts before he found what he was looking for. “Here it is. We’re almost out.”

He hurried along a corridor that to Maryn looked just like every other he’d examined. After several turns, they came to a long straight section. Halfway down one wall was a wooden door without latch or handle.

Carlich pressed his ear to the wood. Barilan made a few cheerful babbles; Carlich gestured urgently at Maryn to keep him quiet. She had little success, for he wasn’t interested in her breast at the moment, only wanting to comment happily on his surroundings.