Dagger's Edge (Shadow series) (25 page)

Argent laughed.

“I never thought to hear you say such things,” he said. “But it makes me glad to see you applying yourself, and I know your mother is reassured. I’m sure she’s hoping you’ll become a master swordswoman and roam about the land hewing your enemies in half.”

Despite his jocular tone, Jael could hear a note of concern in his voice. The thought of hewing someone in half carried unpleasant overtones of what she’d just seen in the cellar.

“Don’t worry,” she said honestly. “I’d like to become a good swordswoman, but it doesn’t look as if I’m much made to be a warrior. And after seeing those bodies, it sounds even less appealing.”

“I’d be deceiving you if I said I was sorry to hear you say that,” Argent admitted. “But you mustn’t make such decisions when you are so upset. Dry yourself and go to bed, dream sweetly and rest well, and soon tonight will only be another unpleasant memory of this terrible time.”

The potion she had drunk was already starting to make her drowsy, and the heat of the bathing pool intensified her languor; Jael thought that Argent’s advice was probably sound, and stumbled back to her room in the robe, leaving her clothes where she’d dropped them.

Despite the potion, however, her dreams were troubled. First she dreamed that she was dining with Urien, and he gave her an ornately wrapped box; opening it, however, she was horrified to find that it contained Merchant Najel’s severed head, the eyeless sockets staring horribly up at her.

Jael sank into the sheltering refuge of stone, sank through the streets of Allanmere until she found herself in some dark place smelling of dust and mold. For a moment the darkness was almost comforting, quiet and still; then gradually she could hear voices from somewhere overhead, muffled as if far away.

Slowly Jael became aware that she was not alone in the darkness. She could hear breathing, deep and slow, and quiet, strange sounds, as if something huge stirred slightly in the space. She could feel huge, cold hands starting to close around her in the darkness—

Jael bolted upright in the bed, shivering and clutching the bedclothes around her. What had frightened her? Had she dreamed? For a moment, a wisp of memory flashed through her mind—stone, darkness—and then was gone.

Her room was still and dark, lit only slightly by the embers of the fire and what little moonlight could trickle through the clouds. Her keen elven vision quickly reassured her that nothing was out of place; she was alone and safe in her room as always. Still Jael could not return to sleep, imagining sounds or shadows that moved.
Well, no wonder,
she told herself.
Being chased around alleys by horrible illusions, and then coming home to fondle corpses
—
excuse enough for a good case of the night shakes.

At last she gave in and took her sword from its resting place on her table and took it back to bed with her. Finally, clutching the sheathed blade like a talisman, Jael slept.

^VII

Jermyn apparently spoke with Donya or Argent in the night, or very early in the morning, indeed, for it was Donya and Argent who took Jael quietly aside after breakfast to tell her the results of the previous night’s divinations. “I didn’t think this was a subject for the table, or for the twins, come to that,” Donya said quietly, “and I wanted you to eat your breakfast. Jermyn was able to get a few impressions from some of the bodies, although nothing too helpful—as I told you, elves are poor subjects for hindsight after they’ve died. Still, it was enough for him to be certain that all five elves were killed by the same group of people. He was certain there were several persons involved, although he couldn’t say whether it was one person or many who actually killed. He had an impression of darkness and of chanting coming from somewhere nearby, and believes that the killing was part of a magical ritual of some kind. His only other impression he received was that of some powerful presence nearby in the darkness, or perhaps two such presences.” Jael shivered. Donya’s description sounded somehow familiar, uncomfortably so.

“So you think a necromancer might be involved?” Jael asked her.

“Jermyn says it’s likely,” Donya said, looking far from comfortable herself. “Necromancers often use human blood and—and parts in their summonings.”

“But why elves?” Jael pressed. “Wouldn’t—uh—parts of elves be less useful for that kind of magic, since you said the life goes out of them so fast?”

“Not if the elf was killed then and there, as a part of the ritual,” Donya said quietly. “I think Celene mentioned to you how killing uninitiated mages released a large burst of power. None of the elves killed were mages, but all elves have at least a little magic in their blood, I’ve heard. The release of that magic may be why elves were killed, or the mage may simply prefer killing elves. I’m afraid the divination didn’t give us much help. But I thought you deserved to know, after your assistance.”

“Chanting, and several people, and a powerful presence,” Jael mused. “It sounds like a mage circle, doesn’t it? Do necromancers use mage circles?”

“If other mages do, I don’t see why necromancers couldn’t,” Donya told her. “Assuming that, Jermyn’s divination could be of some use to us. Darkness seems to imply a cellar or underground area, but I’d already thought of that. This kind of killing takes time and secrecy and a place where noises won’t be heard. Unfortunately the city’s more riddled with cellars and tunnels than a termite-eaten log.”

“But likely it would be somewhere in Rivertown, wouldn’t it?” Jael suggested. “It’s a good spot where necromancers could meet in secret, residents aren’t nosy, and the bodies don’t have to be carried far to be dumped in places where they won’t be found too quickly. And reputable mages don’t frequent Rivertown, so the magical energies wouldn’t be detected.”

“I think you’re likely right,” Donya said, nodding. “The last two bodies were found farther from Rivertown—Najel upriver, and I think whoever was disposing of Evriel’s body was interrupted in the effort to carry her away from Rivertown and toward the market. Argent and I think the killers are trying to get the bodies farther away from their meeting place, to draw suspicion and guards away from them.”

Jael frowned, thinking of the horrible monster—
illusionary monster,
she reminded herself—she’d encountered in Rivertown. No, that was only an illusion, and the elves had been killed with knives, not teeth or talons. There couldn’t be any connection there.

Jael was glad enough for her lessons that morning, and she rejoiced with her teachers when she unexpectedly managed to knock Larissa’s feet out from under her and send the tiny human woman sprawling to the ground. For a moment she wondered if Larissa hadn’t deliberately left her an opening, but the surprised arch of Larissa’s brows told her that her teacher was as amazed as she.

“Very, very good, little heirling,” Larissa grinned, accepting a hand up. “I didn’t see that on its way. You’re starting to move like your arms and your legs are attached to the same body. Pick up those practice daggers and see if you can surprise me again.”

Jael was sure that the fall had been nothing but luck, but later that morning she was able to land such a blow to Rabin’s ribs with her practice dagger that she was happily certain that the weapons master would have a bruise of his own to nurse that evening.

By the time Jael had eaten her supper, steadfastly ignoring the twins’ chatter, she had decided that she’d have to risk another trip to the Temple of Baaros to find Tanis. Once the acolyte got over being angry with her, he might well feel embarrassed, and Jael was not sure he’d come to see her. She needed to find out if Tanis had learned anything new of Ankaras’s dealings with the worshippers who had left the Temple of Baaros, and it was only fair to share with him what she’d learned about the killings, and the story of the horrible illusion she’d seen. How to deal with Tanis himself—well, hopefully she’d know what to say when she saw him.

That decision made, Jael threw herself into her sword lesson enthusiastically, surprising her mother with her energy. She even managed to get a strike or two past the High Lady’s guard. After the lesson, when Donya reviewed her progress, Jael told her mother about the success of her lesson earlier that day. Donya congratulated her, but seemed unsurprised by the news.

“Fighting with sword, dagger, or unarmed is based on the same principles: balance, speed, and coordination,” Donya told her. “Now that you’ve found a style of swordplay that works with your body instead of against it, and a type of unarmed and dagger fighting that suits you as well, your progress will naturally spread from one to the other. You’re learning more during these afternoons than simply how to wield a sword; you’re learning to move without thinking, learning to trust your instincts and your sword. That kind of confidence affects everything you do. Just don’t neglect your practice for either lesson.”

Jael promised, but she was already eager to change her clothes and hurry to the Temple District. She had reached the abandoned temple and was quietly working her way around to the entrance when she collided with Tanis himself. For a moment Jael was too surprised to speak; then Tanis grabbed her arm and hurriedly pulled her around behind the temple.

“Thank Baaros! I was just on my way to the castle,” Tanis said relievedly. “I was afraid you’d try to sneak in through the cellar again. One of High Priest Urien’s lesser priests found your opening in the cellar wall, and now he’s got his acolytes taking turns standing guard all the time, day and night. He’s afraid the hole was made by someone from one of the other temples, hoping to profane the temple in some way to cause the Grand Summoning in three days to fail.”

“Can you come somewhere to talk now?” Jael asked him. “Somewhere safer than this, I mean.”

“All right, but not the market this time,” Tanis told her. “Let’s go somewhere quieter, with fewer people.”

“I know just where to go,” Jael told him.

They had to travel back west through the Temple District to reach the castle grounds again, but this gave them the opportunity to buy a few meat pies for their supper. Tanis and Jael left the city through the North Gate, and Jael led Tanis around the north wall of the city to the small hidden entrance to the castle gardens.

“This is a secret entrance that only a few people know about,” Jael warned Tanis. “Don’t ever tell anyone about it.”

“I swear by Baaros’s purse that I’ll never whisper a word,”

Tanis told her, smiling with pride that she shared the secret with him.

A group of bushes had been deliberately planted just inside the wall to conceal the secret entrance to the castle grounds. Within the bushes, however, was a nicely cleared space, necessary to let the hidden door swing open. Jael sat down in this clearing, and after glancing around curiously, Tanis sat down beside her, avoiding Jael’s eyes.

There was an awkward pause.

“I just wanted to tell you—” Tanis began boldly.

“I’m sorry about—” Jael blurted at the same time.

They stared at each other a moment, silently; then Jael chuckled, and Tanis joined in.

“You first,” Jael said shyly.

“I had no excuse to speak to you as I did,” Tanis said quietly. “Our friendship gives me no right to presume on your affections. And to leave you alone in the market when elves are in danger in the city—I’m so sorry, Jael. That was unforgivable.”

“No, it wasn’t,” Jael sighed. “I suppose I needed to be reminded that other people have troubles, too, and that not everybody in Allanmere is like me.”

“Like you?” Tanis still didn’t meet her eyes.

Jael reached over and took Tanis’s hand and squeezed it reassuringly. Suddenly, wonderfully, she knew what to say.

“I’m going to tell you something,” she said quietly. “But you’ve got to swear to me you’ll never tell anyone, not ever.”

Tanis frowned, troubled.

“It doesn’t concern the Temple of Baaros?” he asked hesitantly.

“Uh-uh.” Jael flushed. “It’s just—urn—kind of personal.”

“Oh.” Tanis cleared his throat. “May Baaros forever deny me a profit if I ever reveal your secrets.”

“Thanks,” Jael said, a little awed by his oath. “Actually, it goes back before I was born, right before the Crimson Plague came to Allanmere—”

Tanis listened silently while Jael told the whole story, nibbling quietly at his meat pies as the sun sank and finally disappeared behind the wall. Jael blushed once or twice, but spoke frankly, omitting nothing but the details of her meetings with Urien. She finished by pulling off her boot to show Tanis , the small, perfect extra toe on her left foot.

“Baaros bless us all,” Tanis murmured when Jael was done. “That’s quite a secret to trust me with.”

Jael shrugged and grinned.

“If you’d wanted to do me harm, physical or not, you’ve had chances aplenty,” she said practically. “Some of Ankaras’s friends might have given a good bit to know where and when the High Lord and Lady’s eldest daughter could be found unprotected in a market alley. Anyway, you’re my best friend.”

Tanis smiled warmly, and this time he reached for Jael’s hand.

“So a part of your soul is missing?” he asked. “And that’s why magic goes all wrong around you, and why you can’t use magic yourself?”

“And likely why I’m not a beast-speaker, too,” Jael said, nodding. “And why I don’t feel—uh—the normal things a young woman my age might feel with a man.”

“Like Urien?” Tanis asked, his eyebrows lifting in realization.

“Like Urien,” Jael agreed, not mentioning the Bluebright or the potion she’d asked her father to make. “Or you.”

“Oh. Oh!” Tanis grinned ruefully. “Is this forever, or will you outgrow it in a few decades?”

“It’d better not be forever,” Jael said disgustedly. “If Aunt Shadow or Mother’s mages can’t think of a solution within a year, I hope my father’s people aren’t too awfully hard to find.”

“I’d pray for you,” Tanis said, chuckling, “but I don’t think it’s the sort of thing Baaros grants—parts of souls, that is.”

Jael grinned back, glad that she hadn’t lost Tanis’s friendship. Many young men from noble houses would have been far less accepting of a friend who had just admitted bastardy. The elves were far more accepting.

“I just didn’t want you to think that I was slighting you,” Jael said awkwardly. “You’ve been a wonderful friend, and I care about you as much as—well—as much as I can care about anyone. But whatever you feel about me, maybe you’d be smart to find another girl to feel that way about. I don’t want you sitting around lonely waiting for me, and I don’t want to feel guilty about you doing it, either.”

“Jael—” Tanis hesitated. “Why
are
you visiting with High Priest Urien, then?”

“Being honest, I don’t really know,” Jael admitted. “At first I suppose I was flattered that he even noticed me. Mother and Father were glad he came to the city, since it solved their problem with the Temple of Baaros, and when he wanted me to help him find a house, it seemed only courteous to help him.”

“I suppose your mother and father have encouraged him,” Tanis agreed, sighing. “They must be glad to have a nobleman of his station courting you.”

Jael forced herself to shrug noncommittally, deeming it wise not to tell Tanis that he couldn’t have been more wrong.

“Did you find out anything new about Ankaras?” Jael asked quickly, eager to change the subject.

“He met with Merchant Sheesa again last night,” Tanis told her. “They went into a tavern, but there weren’t many other people inside. I knew that if I went in after him, he’d see me. So I just went back to the temple. Did you learn anything?”

“I don’t know that I learned so much,” Jael said ruefully, “but I certainly have a couple of gruesome stories to tell you, no doubt.” She enjoyed the way Tanis’s eyes widened and the color drained from his face while she told him about the horrible creature she’d seen in the alleys, and her encounter with the corpses the night before.

“And all you did was spew up your supper?” Tanis asked, mustering a sickly grin. “After all that, I think I’d have fainted, or at least soiled my trousers. Yecch. Thank you for waiting until I finished my pies, at least. But I think you must be right that the thing was an illusion. A real monster would have killed you, and as you say, even in Rivertown, somebody else would’ve seen it by now and called the guards.”

“Anyway, I’m starting to wonder if Ankaras could really be involved,” Jael told him. “I mean, has Ankaras had the time and opportunity to become involved with necromancers?”

“I don’t see how he could,” Tanis said, shaking his head. “It’s been less than two weeks since High Priest Urien took the robe from him. He might have been dealing secretly with some of the elf-haters in town before that, but he
couldn’t
have been dealing with necromancers. There were no murders then—beyond what’s expected in a city this size, that is.”