Fire of the Soul (30 page)

“Who in turn gathers information at court and
no doubt also in the local marketplace, which she then passes on to
her brother,” Calia finished for him. “A very clever system, my
lords.”

“Clever, and quite simple,” Durand agreed
smiling.

“Except for the diversions provided by
pursuing pirate ships and unexpected stops at foreign ports,” Calia
went on. “Or was the stop in Tannaris planned?”

“Not planned, but fortuitous,” Garit
admitted.

“Then I have just one more question. What
belongs in that tiny silver casket?” When neither man would meet
her eyes she went on, “It must be something valuable, if so fine a
silver receptacle was especially made to contain it. Don’t try to
convince me you don’t know what the object is. I won’t believe
you.

“You see,” she continued, “I’ve thought about
that casket often since leaving Tannaris and I have concluded that
the object it was made to hold is the real, deeply secret reason
behind your mission. All the rest, the business about peace between
nations and discovering Mallory’s intentions, may be factual, but
it’s only a cloak to cover the deeper truth.”

Silence prevailed for a time, while Garit and
Durand looked hard at each other and Calia waited, her gaze moving
from one man to the other. Garit appeared so worried that she
almost told him to forget it, that she would trust him to do what
was best. Then she reminded herself that Garit didn’t trust her, so
she’d do well to question his motives. In the end, he surprised
her.

“It’s the Emerald,” Garit said, his voice so
low that she could just barely hear him. “That must be what belongs
in the casket.”

“What Emerald?” Impressed by his seriousness,
she whispered, too. “What are you talking about?”

“The Great Emerald of the East. It’s been
stolen.” Still he whispered.

“Do you mean the famous jewel that Domini
Gundiac is said to wear bound to his left arm, the jewel he never
removes?” Calia whispered.

“The same.” Durand nodded. “One of his many
wives stole it during a night in Gundiac’s bed. At least, that is
what we are assuming, because the wife also vanished on the same
night, along with a second wife, who may be an accomplice. However
the theft happened, word has reached Sapaudia that the Emerald is
indeed gone and as a result of the loss Gundiac has fallen ill and
may die.”

“I think I begin to understand.” Calia
recalled the conversation she had overheard between Durand and the
proprietor of a brewer’s house during their brief stop in Larak.
The pieces of a tantalizing puzzle were beginning to fit together.
“That’s what you and Laisren were talking about, isn’t it, Durand?
She expects to receive the Emerald, doesn’t she? Someone is
transporting it to Kantia.”

“Ultan wants it back,” Garit said. “He claims
the Emerald rightly belongs in Chandelar.”

“Of course. The ancient legend. I’ve heard of
it. Who hasn’t?” Calia thought for a moment. “And I gather that I
am the person designated to return the Emerald to Ultan.”

“Thus bringing peace to the known world,”
Garit said, his voice drenched in scorn. “Lest you allow yourself
to believe the old legend, let me point out that the Dominion is
not likely to remain peaceful if Gundiac dies. King Henryk wants
the Emerald restored to Gundiac, so the Dominion and Sapaudia can
continue as they have been for centuries, neatly balanced against
each other, never truly at peace, but not at war, either.”

Calia stared at him for a long moment before
she transferred her gaze to Durand. Both men looked so cold and
implacable that she shivered. Still, she refused to stop pushing
them to reveal their plans. She had to know the truth.

“Are you saying that when Laisren returns the
box to me with the Emerald inside and tells me to take it to Ultan,
you expect me to hand it over to you two, instead, so you can
deliver it to King Henryk, who will send it on with his compliments
to Domini Gundiac?”

“That would be most helpful,” Durand said,
using his bland, polite voice.

“What do you imagine Laisren’s reaction will
be to such a scheme?” Calia demanded.

“She doesn’t have to know,” Garit said. “Not
at first, anyway.”

“Not know?” Calia cried, forgetting to
whisper. “Didn’t you notice the effect she had on the courtiers and
on us? Laisren’s Power is so great that the very air around her
vibrates with it. The instant she places the Emerald in my hand she
will know what you intend to do.

“Furthermore, what will the Great Mage
Ultan’s response be when he learns what you’ve done? Both of you
ought to be quaking in terror at the thought of Ultan’s wrath. I
know I am.”

“King Henryk’s orders to us supersede all
other issues,” Garit said with stern determination. “Those orders
were given to Durand and me well before Ultan’s charge to you.”

“Have you taken leave of your wits?” Calia
yelled at him, so angered by his assertion that she cared not one
bit if she were overheard. “What about Lady Elgida’s safety? We
swore to each other that we would protect her. And what about your
little brothers? Most important of all, what will Mallory do when
he learns about the Emerald and its magic? Be assured, if he
doesn’t know yet, he soon will.”

“How?” Garit demanded. “Will you tell
him?”

“Easy, Garit,” Durand cautioned, holding up a
hand as if to stop any further argument.

“Even in the days when our father was still
alive,” Calia said, ignoring Durand, keeping her full attention on
Garit, “even then I knew I was not Mallory’s only spy. He trusts no
one, certainly not me. In this case, he’ll be right to be
suspicious and to rely on his other spies. My loyalty lies not with
my brother, but with Lady Elgida, who has been far kinder to me
than Mallory ever was.

“I also have a duty to Ultan who, unlike you
or my brother, thought I was worthy of his trust. He trusted me
enough to give me that box. If Laisren wants me to return the box
and the Emerald to her father, I will do so. You cannot prevent
me.”

“You think not?” Garit snarled at her.

“If I tell Lady Elgida what Laisren wants me
to do, she will agree with me,” Calia threatened, knowing the men
depended on secrecy to carry out their mission.

“Stop this, both of you,” Durand
commanded.

“King Henryk did not issue any orders
directly to me,” Calia stated firmly, glaring at Garit. “I am not
obligated to do what I was not commanded to do. You, however, are
obligated to see to your grandmother’s safety. I suggest you think
about those two facts before you devise any more clever schemes to
circumvent the wishes of the Great Mage Ultan.” With that Calia
turned her attention back to Durand. She was scarcely less angry
with him than with Garit, so she resorted to formality.

“My lord Durand, I thank you for taking me
into your confidence. I won’t betray your trust, though I am sorry
to say I cannot agree with your conclusions. Nor will I pass the
Emerald on to you. Now I must ask you to excuse me. I am going to
bed.”

After she left the two men stared in silence
at the door she had quietly closed behind her. Finally, Durand
poured two cups of wine and slid one across the table to Garit.

“What are we going to do now?” Garit
asked.

“Now, we wait.” Slowly, Durand’s mouth curved
into a smile. “Dyfrig has granted us three days in which to settle
our plans.”

“He told your sister to stay away from court
for three days,” Garit said. “He didn’t tell us to stay away.”

“Don’t imagine we’ll be allowed back before
Ilona is,” Durand said. “Still, much can be accomplished in three
days. By relieving us of the need to waste time at court, Dyfrig
has given us a gift. How long does Captain Pyrsig plan to linger in
the harbor?”

“Until he hears from me. What are you
thinking?” Garit asked as Durand’s smile deepened.

“That you ought to pay your friend the
captain a visit,” Durand said. “Meanwhile, I will wander about the
marketplace, distracting the people set to spy upon us and
accidentally meeting and speaking with a few Kantians whom I know
from previous visits here. Anders is a clever lad; I think he ought
to go with me.”

Which was how, before the next day was over,
they learned that Mallory had reached Kerun City, and how they
heard the latest whispers about the Emerald...not to mention the
rumors of a pending insurrection aimed at removing Dyfrig from the
throne of Kantia.

“I trust you paid no heed to Lady Elgida’s
ridiculous claim,” Mallory said, confronting King Dyfrig his
bedchamber, which was the most private room in the royal
apartments.

“Of course not. Never think I’ll give away to
another what you have rightfully earned by your efforts in my
behalf,” Dyfrig responded.

“What I have
earned
is the title of
Lord of Kinath,” Mallory said with barely leashed anger.

“You shall have the title. All in good time,
my friend.” Dyfrig gathered his robe about his thin frame and sat
down in the large chair by the fire. A hasty motion of his fingers
invited Mallory to take the facing chair. “Unfortunately, Lady
Elgida set forth Garit’s claim to the title during a public
audience, where all of my court could hear her. Most of my nobles
consider the claim to be legitimate.”

“That witch! She ought to be hanged,” Mallory
grumbled.

“Perhaps later, if she offers sufficient
cause. Which she will do if I allow her to speak to me again in
public. When did you reach Kerun City?” Dyfrig asked, his gaze
roving over Mallory’s clean face and hands and his glittering black
and silver tunic.

“Just before midday,” Mallory admitted with
no sign that he regretted his delay in reporting to the king.

“Instead of pausing to bathe and put on your
richest clothes, you should have come to me at once to warn me that
Garit and his grandmother would be present at this evening’s
gathering,” Dyfrig snapped. When Mallory wisely did not answer the
accusation, Dyfrig added, “I have a task for you.”

“Of course, my lord.” Mallory knew his smile
was unpleasant, and he did not care. “Whatever you wish.”

“Do not mock me. I am the anointed king, not
you.”

“A fact I never forget, my lord.” Mallory bit
back the scathing accusation he wanted to make, that Dyfrig would
never have become king of Kantia without his friend’s help. Mallory
had used his corrupt Power to ensure that Dyfrig would be named his
older brother’s successor. The same Power had hastened the deaths
of King Audemer and his queen, and then had stopped an incipient
revolt among the late king’s nobles.

“I was not mocking you, my lord,” Mallory
said. “I was merely stating a fact that ought to be obvious to you
by now. My life, and my Power, are at your service.” So they were,
Mallory thought, at least until he had drained Dyfrig of all the
lands, titles, and wealth the king was able to bestow.

“I want you to discover the true purpose
behind Garit’s sudden appearance in Kantia after so many years
away.”

“That’s simple enough. He wants Kinath,”
Mallory said.

“He claims not.”

“Do you believe him? Would you believe any
nobleman who holds an honest claim to a castle and the lands and
title that go with it, yet says he has no interest?”

“My thought also,” Dyfrig said. “Nor do I
believe that Garit is here to attend to the best interests of his
half-brothers. Those boys are his grandmother’s cause, not Garit’s.
I expect you to discover what he really wants.”

“It will be my pleasure.” Mallory paused,
watching the king, noting the signs of deep irritation and unease
that Dyfrig, as always, could not quite conceal. “Is there anything
else, my lord? Is the queen well?” he asked pointedly.

“I don’t like that woman.” Dyfrig squirmed in
his chair. “I find it more and more difficult to assert my rights
as husband over her.”

“If you wish, I can supply a potion that will
– er –
reinvigorate
your interest,” Mallory offered as
delicately as he could, considering his contempt for both Dyfrig
and Laisren.

“I have no difficulty with any other woman,”
Dyfrig said. “Only with my wife. Sometimes I wonder if she’s using
her Power against me.”

“She wouldn’t dare,” Mallory told him with
great assurance. “She understands her father’s wishes; therefore,
Laisren will never do anything to spoil peaceful relations between
Kantia and Chandelar.”

“Perhaps not.” Dyfrig sighed and changed the
subject. “Garit and his companions are staying with Euric.”

“Good.” Mallory nodded his approval of the
arrangement. “Your cousin Euric will see that they cause no
trouble.” Without waiting for the king’s permission, he rose and
headed for the door.

“Sir Mallory!”

He turned, smiling to himself when he noted
the flush of anger on Dyfrig’s long face. The rudeness of not
waiting to be dismissed had been deliberate. It was a good idea to
keep the king aware of how much he owed to his friend and how
powerless he was against Mallory.

“Yes, my lord?” Mallory said softly.

“You haven’t asked about your sister. In case
your spies have not already informed you, Calia betrayed you in
front of a hundred or so courtiers and assorted servants. She
declared your stated intention to see your stepsons dead.”

“There you have it, sir. Calia and I are so
close in heart that we understand each other perfectly.”

“Were anyone to ask my opinion, I’d say she
despises you.”

“Perhaps she does. However, she cannot do
anything to stop me. I have never received the slightest hint that
she possesses any Power at all. And without Power, no one can stand
against me. “

The shot hit its intended mark. Dyfrig paled
at the reminder that he’d be little without Mallory’s corrupt
Power, and that he might well lose his throne if Mallory chose to
withdraw that Power.