Pendant of Fortune (8 page)

“
There’s a central staircase where this hallway meets the one that leads to the great hall. All the lords are staying on the second floor. Go up the stairs and toward the great hall, and you should be able to find Lord Tistunish’s apartments on the left hand side.”

“
Thank you, Renaldo. I’m sure I can sniff him out if I’m in the right area.”

“
I’m sure you can, my Lord. You’re not staying in the castle?”

“
No. I’m staying with Lord Ikling, down the mountain.”

“
Very good. Oh, Lord Vinton,” Renaldo said as Volle turned to walk down the hallway. He turned his head to look back at the marten.

“
A third hallway joins the other two at the staircase. That leads to the throne room.” Volle nodded. “That’s where your hearing will be.”

Volle flicked his ear. “Thanks.”

“
You’ll be cleared, my Lord.” The marten smiled encouragingly.

“
I hope the King shares your conviction.” He gave Renaldo a wave, and started down the hallway.

Some tapestries had been laid over the floor, probably to insulate the nobles’ paws from the chilly stone. They smelled a little musty, and the designs on them were old and uninspiring, mostly faded portraits of weasels. He glanced down every now and then, but looked up when the hallway opened up into the central chamber.

It must have been very grand once, a receiving chamber that extended up through all three stories of the castle, and Volle thought he could make out the remains of a fresco on the bits of plaster that still clung to the ceiling. At each story, the round chamber was dotted with sconces that could have all held lamps, though now only every third one did. As a result, the room was light enough to see, but was criss-crossed with shadows. A few bears strolled through the room, glancing at him before starting up the stair.

The grand stair stood across from him, between two other archways. Parallel staircases to the left and right led up to a large landing, from which more hallways spread out. A deer and a raccoon in formal clothes, both female, looked at him from over the balustrade, and there was a shadowy figure that he thought might be the rabbit from the pub. He looked closer, but the figure stepped back into a hallway and disappeared.

Volle considered pursuing him, but decided against it, especially with everyone watching. He raised a paw to the ladies and mounted the stairs slowly, looking up to the landing and then down at the stairs. He could see the worn spots where countless paws had walked up and down, hundreds of years ago.

On the second floor, he sniffed the air until he recognized Tish’s scent. The door was on the left hand side and looked somewhat newer, or at least more well-preserved, than the main door. He gave it a sharp knock, and stood back.

The door opened, and Volle looked into the black mask of a formally dressed raccoon. “Hello, Alcis,” he said.

“
Lord Vinton. His lordship is expecting you.” The raccoon stood aside and let Volle enter the chambers. He closed the door and then left the room via another door, in the left hand wall.

The room was large, but not nearly as cozy or as well-decorated as Volle’s chambers in Helfer’s mansion. There had obviously not been enough tapestries to go around, because the walls and floor were bare cold stone. A thick curtain hung on the wall over what Volle assumed was a window; he could hear the wind through it and caught a scent of fresh air in the room that hadn’t been present in the hallway. A few wooden pieces of furniture stood around the room, and on one, a large chair, sat a portly black wolf. A smile creased the graying fur of his muzzle as Volle entered.

“
Hello, Lord Vinton,” he said in a familiar deep voice.

“
Hi, Tish.” Volle smiled broadly at the wagging of the wolf’s tail, matching his own. He held out a paw, but a moment later the wolf was up from the chair and embracing Volle tightly. Volle returned the embrace, touching his muzzle to the wolf’s and breathing his scent as Tish breathed in his. Then he remembered that he was angry at the wolf, and stepped back.

Tish saw the glint in his eyes. “What’s the matter?”

“
You lied to me. About Dereath.”

The wolf sighed. “Not technically.”

“
You misled me.”

“
Would you have come if you knew that he was not only going to be here, but was the new Minister of Defense?”

Volle paused. “Maybe. But I would not have brought Streak.”

Tish’s eyes widened slightly. “Your companion? You brought him?”

“
Yes. He wanted to come.”

The wolf rubbed his muzzle. “And did you want him to come?”

Volle sighed. “No. But I’d have made sure he didn’t, if I’d known.”

Tish nodded. “We’ll take care of it. Don’t worry. I wouldn’t have tried to get you here if I didn’t feel confident, Dereath or no.”

“
I still would rather have known. You haven’t played those information games with me in a while.”

“
I only stopped, dear boy, because you were getting as much information as I was.”

Volle had to grin, then. “So what’s your great plan?”

Tish reached out and fingered the chain around Volle’s neck. “Is this…?” He lifted the pendant out and examined it. “Ah.”

“
What?”

The wolf chuckled. “I feel silly doing this after you just scolded me for it, but I’m not sure I should tell you yet.” He turned and sat down in his chair.

Volle followed him. “Tish!” He stood next to the adjacent chair, then sat down when Tish waved him into it.

“
All right, all right. I think that pendant may be useful in proving your heritage.”

Volle blinked at him. “What? How?”

“
Dereath isn’t aware of it, but I think I can use the pendant to convince the King that you are who you say you are. Or at least, who we say you are.”

“
How?”

Tish raised a paw. “Now, that I will keep to myself. You just need to wear that pendant to your hearing.”

Volle glowered at him, but tucked the pendant back into his shirt. “Is that your whole strategy?”

“
No, no. As you know, Dereath has no direct witnesses other than himself. You didn’t give up any names under torture—which, by the way, we are all very grateful for.” His eyes were sober. “I know what you went through there, now.”

Volle nodded. “I did what I had to. It helped that I…I didn’t think I was going to get out of there.”

“
I didn’t know until it was too late. If I had…”

“
I know. It’s okay.”

“
Your only hope was that Dereath would over-reach himself. And he did. I hope he will again, because really, he has very little case. In his favor is that you escaped and fled rather than defend yourself, but I think you can explain that as a natural reaction. He doesn’t have very much credibility with the King where you’re concerned. He still remembers the whole debacle of…” Tish trailed off, sympathy in his eyes.

“
Xiller.” Volle said it evenly. “I know.”

Tish nodded. “The King seems to believe that Dereath is intelligent and capable…except where you are concerned. That will work in our favor, actually. If Rallish had been presenting the evidence, I’d actually be more worried.”

“
All right. Is there anything I need to do?”

“
Just watch yourself and that wolf of yours.”

“
I will.”

Tish examined him closely, and smiled. “If we do win, you’ll have to return to the palace. Will you bring him with you?”

“
I don’t think I’ll be able to leave him behind.”

“
But do you want to bring him?”

“
Yes. I mean, I want him with me.”

“
In your bed, or in your life?”

“
Well…both?”

Tish looked at him steadily. “It’s not fair to him if you’re unsure. Do you want to share your life at the palace with him? I don’t know how you’ve gotten on this year, and maybe it’s none of my business, but you brought him here, so he must be very attached to you, and either you are attached to him, or you aren’t but don’t mind having him along. In the former case, by all means bring him to the palace. If it’s the second case, then maybe you should think about it.”

Volle sat back in the chair and rubbed his muzzle. “I never really looked at it that way before.” He smiled. “So now you’re giving out romantic advice?”

“
Tika told me to ask you about it. She wanted to ask you herself, but I told her that would have to wait.”

“
Is she here?”

“
Yes. She’s out with Lady Villutian and Lady Barclaw now. They’re probably making up gossip, since there isn’t enough here to keep going on. Though you’re helping.”

“
I’m sure.” Volle rubbed his muzzle. “I feel responsible for Streak. He left his home, his job, and his country for me. And he saved my life. I guess I feel more worried about him than anything else. I don’t know how much he’ll enjoy being in the palace.”

“
Probably more if you want him there.”

“
I do. At least, I think I do,” honesty made him add. “Well, I’ll bring him up here tomorrow for the banquet. Maybe we should be staying up here.”

“
No, I’m sure you’re better off down there. But I do think it’s a good idea to bring him up here. I know at least Tika would like to meet him.”

“
We’ll sit near you at the banquet.” Volle grinned.

“
Of course you will. I’ve already arranged it with Alister. I’ll have to tell him to add an extra seat, but we can do that.”

“
I feel almost proud that I managed to do something you didn’t expect. And somehow worried.”

Tish smiled and flicked his ears. “Just be careful. Someone you love is leverage, and if Dereath can find a way to use him against you, he will.”

“
Do you think I haven’t thought of that? I’m surprised I haven’t seen Dereath by now. Speaking of which…you said none of his assistants came along, right?”

“
As far as I know.”

“
There’s a rabbit who’s been looking at me suspiciously. I saw him down in the pub and up here in the castle just now, I think. Sound familiar?”

Tish stroked his whiskers. “I don’t know everyone who came with us from Divalia. I do know that none of the Defense assistants came along, but as I think of it, I wonder if Dereath inherited Lord Fardew’s personal servant. Alcis!”

The raccoon opened the door he’d left through and stepped into the room. “Yes, sir?”

“
Do you know Lord Fardew’s personal servant?”

“
Only slightly, sir. He brought a new servant in when he assumed the post.”

“
Is he a rabbit?”

“
Indeed, sir.”

“
Thank you, Alcis.” After the raccoon had left, Tish turned back to Volle. “There you go. It appears you were right.”

“
Maybe he’s just keeping an eye on me, waiting. Usually he likes to appear when I’m not expecting him. Catch me off guard.”

“
Maybe. Speaking of guards…I know you were worried about your wolf being arrested as a deserter. Those laws haven’t been enforced since the last war, but,” Tish held up a paw, “knowing how you worry, I checked some months ago, and there is a provision for desertion under extraordinary circumstances to save the life of a noble. It’s a provision instituted during the reign of King Oric, a squirrel, when Lord Creane…” He saw Volle’s expression and harrumphed. “Yes, well, it’s fascinating if you care about history. The gist of it is, if you win your case and are reinstated, your rescuer has nothing to fear. Is he safe now?”

“
Helfer’s with him. And he can take care of himself.” Volle felt a twinge of worry, but suppressed it.

“
All right.” Tish looked at him closely. “I look forward to meeting him tomorrow.”

“
I look forward to introducing you to him,” Volle said, and as he smiled he found that he really was.

Tish nodded. “We’ll have about a week until your hearing. During that time you should be up here most days. Don’t be obtrusive, but don’t act like you’re hiding out, either. This is a vacation time, so on days when it’s not quite as windy as today, there will be outdoor games.” His ear swiveled back to where the wind whistled against the window, and his nose wrinkled. “Today I believe they are playing chess in some of the rooms downstairs, and some people are playing with cards. Can’t see what they see in those things.”