The Dragon of Despair (98 page)

Least Prime Nstasius of the Sericulturalists, clearly disappointed at what he feared would be interpreted as a sign of the Healed One’s favor toward Apheros’s retainer—and too inexperienced to hide this disappointment—spoke out before his allies could stop him.

“Could such an arrangement be made for tomorrow morning? Wouldn’t the power of the sun counter the ebbing of the moon?”

Toriovico cocked an eyebrow at him.

“Not at all, Prime Nstasius.” This time he placed the faintest emphasis on the man’s title, as if questioning that one so ill-educated had risen to such prominence within his sodality. “If the sun’s force alone could counter the moon we would not have a Moon Ritual at the ebbing of each phase.”

Rebuked and belatedly aware that he had embarrassed both his Defeatist allies and his sodality, Nstasius offered no further protest. His embarrassment had the added benefit of stilling any other debate on the issue. Toriovico could almost hear the thoughts filling every mind in the room.

After all, it’s not as if the Honored One pardoned Xarxius or questioned his sentence. He’s only delayed it for a brief time.

Apheros is still vulnerable to a vote of no confidence. We don’t even need to wait until after the execution—though maybe that would be wisest.

Toriovico knew that Melina would be wondering whether she should use this reprieve to find a way to clear Xarxius or whether she would do better to identify who was likely to succeed Apheros and set about digging her claws into the prospective new Speaker.

Then Toriovico wondered if he was wrong about her thoughts. Melina’s expression when he glanced her way was withdrawn, as if now that the immediate issue of Xarxius’s innocence and guilt was settled—if not completely to her satisfaction—she was concentrating on something that interested her more.

That worried Toriovico. He had bought Xarxius five more days of life. He had the strangest feeling that those five days were a countdown to something far more significant than the life or death of a innocent man and the rise or fall of a Speaker’s prominence.

THOUGH MELINA PRAISED TORIOVICO
lavishly for his clever delaying of Xarxius’s execution, she decided that she would do nothing further to interfere with the course of those events. In her anger she had misjudged the power of the Speaker and the Healed One to protect her interests, but she had been right about Xarxius’s treason. If Apheros could not maintain his position after everything she had done to try and help him, then he was not the strong ally she desired.

It was time to seek that ally—and to eliminate the need for all other allies. From the hints Melina had gathered from various histories, she had deduced that the best time to work the spells freeing the Dragon of Despair would be during the dark of the moon. As Toriovico had said, elemental forces were at an ebb then and as this dragon had been raised from the elements it should also be weakened—and easier to control.

She felt certain that Kelvin’s error had been working his spell at a time when elemental forces were on the ascendance. She had no proof of this, but felt certain nonetheless. It fit.

Melina didn’t blame that long-ago sorcerer for his error. After all, he had been working to defend his land against an invading force—an invading force that had already shown itself powerful enough to push the sorcerers of New Kelvin away from the coast and into the western mountains.

She was aware that Kelvin himself would probably consider her an invader, but she preferred to think of herself as a savior. New Kelvin had certainly drifted far from its initial glory. She doubted whether its current thaumaturges could raise a rain shower, much less a dragon. With her in charge, though, the kingdom would achieve the glory its founders certainly intended for it.

And then, and then…

Kiero requested audience with the Consolor of the Healed One almost as soon as Melina’s foot crossed the threshold. Melina shook herself back into practical considerations.

“You have information for me?”

Kiero’s hand crossed his chest right to left in an emphatic Yes!

“My watchers report that several of the foreigners left their house this morning, attired as New Kelvinese, and went directly to Aswatano. While one of their number, the woman called Wendee Jay, did some shopping, the others showed undue interested in the fountain.”

Melina felt her blood chill.

“Did they do anything other than show interest?”

Kiero shook his head.

“They did not. Indeed, they seemed rather nervous about being in public.”

“Did your agent do anything to help intensify this nervousness?”

“No. You seemed to wish to know what their plans were and another uprising would have been counterproductive.”

Melina nodded muted approval, her mind racing. Truly there was no time for delay. The full dark of the moon wouldn’t be for another four days, but she did not think she could afford to wait for that most propitious time.

Kiero was standing, his posture that of perfect servile waiting but his eyes alive with interest. Melina made up her mind quickly.

“Keep the watch as before. If any of them attempt to do more than show interest in the fountain, find a way to stop them. Stop short of violence if you can, but do not hesitate if that is the only way you can stop them. Do you have someone under you who is skilled in research, especially research into the work done in the time of the Restorer?”

Kiero looked surprised, but nodded.

“I have one who is well acquainted with the city archives. I am certain she could find what you seek.”

“Very well, have her find any and all plans for the area surrounding Aswatano, including the Fountain Court itself. I want maps of the street layouts and of any sewers or tunnels beneath the area. Inspect these maps yourself before bringing information to me. If there is any other way that the Fountain Court could be reached, set impediments at those points.”

“Impediments? Could your gracious self clarify?”

Melina nodded a trifle impatiently.

“I don’t want the foreigners to have access to Aswatano from either above or below ground. Be subtle. If locks and alarms will do the job, then use them. If they won’t, use guards, but have them remain out of sight. Set a roving patrol to check each point on a regular basis.”

Now Kiero looked alarmed.

“I am not certain that I have enough agents to do all of this.”

Melina frowned, then made up her mind.

“I will send you reinforcements. Whoever brings them to you will have a password so that you will know they are from me.”

Kiero looked as much interested as relieved at this information and Melina knew he was wondering just how much she had at her command that he had not managed to learn about.

You would be surprised,
she thought.
But take comfort. You would be less surprised than most.

Kiero departed, promising that he would regularly leave messages regarding his location with the clerks at the Petitioner’s Gate.

“Report on your progress,” Melina said, “only in person and only to me. If you cannot locate me, act according to your best judgment. Under no conditions should you create a fuss if Tipi cannot locate me for you. I may have business about with which I do not entrust her.”

Or you,
she thought, seeing Kiero trying to mask his curiosity.

“Have no concern,” Melina said to him by way of reassurance. “You will know more than any other as soon as I have confirmed that certain arrangements are in place.”

This soothed the spy, reaffirming the sense of self-importance that had been growing since he had ingratiated himself into her service.

After Kiero left, Melina dealt with a long line of petitioners. Most of these were concerned with the outcome of Xarxius’s trial and its possible implications for Apheros’s government. She dealt with these as swiftly as possible, reminding them that the house of the Healed One did not meddle in matters of the Primes.

This satisfied those who were looking for reassurance that Xarxius’s preservation was not meant to sustain Apheros’s government and puzzled those who had noticed her interest in the Primes. Melina did not care as long as they left her alone.

Some hours into this process, a packet arrived from Kiero. It included the maps she had requested and a note that for all its businesslike tone couldn’t quite hide the writer’s pleasure in his own cleverness and efficiency:

Consolor Melina,

My researcher was as excellent as I expected her to be. At my behest, she produced the maps you requested. She also used her connections at the Sodality of Illuminators to inspect their archive of city maps.

Aswatano proves to be approachable from numerous points above ground, a thing unsurprising as it is the major market square for that district. However, the Fountain Court is only reachable underground from three channels, two of which are really sections of the same thing. The enclosed maps will assist you, but as they were rather quickly drawn, let me offer some clarification.

Beneath the Fountain Court the maps show a series of interconnected chambers, doubtless associated with maintenance of the fountain itself.

Melina looked at the map, which showed an extensive network of subterranean chambers. She recalled her earlier discussion with Kiero and smiled dryly.

Doubtless,
she thought.

These are accessible from an opening located within the body of the sculpture that is central to the fountain. The other entry points appear to be portions of natural conduits for carrying away excess water. The roughly northern segment originates beneath the Earth Spires. The southern segment is a continuation of this, picking up where the waters leave the Aswatano chambers and carrying them to join up with the conduits that eventually end in the river.

The segment that originates beneath the Earth Spires does not connect above ground at any point until Aswatano. The southern segment, however, could be entered at numerous points. I will be using the bulk of the additional agents you will be entrusting to me to guard these entrances.

I have not entered the chambers beneath Aswatano and will not without your express command.

And how you want that command,
Melina thought with cynical amusement,
but I do not think I will give it—at least not yet.

Kiero’s note intensified Melina’s feeling of urgency. When early evening brought an end to her stream of callers, she fled to her private suite. Tipi was there, trying to look busy.

“I must go out,” Melina told the slave, “alone. Tell those who seek me that I am meditating. Give them to believe that I am within my chambers. If any press, tell them I went for a walk among the spires and you have no idea where.”

Tipi looked interested, but Melina’s tone told her this was not the time to pry.

“Shall I tell the same to the Healed One and little Citrine?”

“Tell the same to the Healed One,” Melina replied. “If Citrine comes looking for me reassure her that I will be back, though perhaps not until late. Tell her to eat her supper and get her rest. I will come to her.”

Melina spoke with such force that she knew her assurance would be communicated to Citrine. It was very important that the girl wait. Very.

She paused only long enough to change from the ornamented robes she had worn to the conclusion of the trial and to gather certain essential items in a sturdy bag. Then, using back stairs and little-used corridors, she made her way to the storage room and from there to the tunnels beneath Thendulla Lypella.

The bag was heavy, and Melina wasn’t accustomed to using the tunnels when the business of daily life was still under way. Several times she was forced to damp her lantern, drop into a shadowed corner, and wait while some servant went by, but as her course took her farther from the more populated areas the only footsteps she heard were in her imagination.

First Melina sought out Idalia. Idalia’s mood was an odd mixture of defiance and groveling, from which Melina deduced that the other woman’s husband and children had been trying to influence her—and were having an effect. That changed Melina’s plans slightly. She had been about to order Idalia to choose a dozen or so of the most trustworthy slaves and put them—with herself in command—at Kiero’s disposal.

Now she saw a way not to risk her valuable property and to make Idalia’s no-good family pay for their attempted treachery. Of course she didn’t present it this way to Idalia.

“I have seen portents that your brother, Grateful Peace, means to act against me,” Melina began. “We must take precautions. I want you and Varcasiol to stay here and supervise the slaves. Your husband and other children can each take three trustworthy slaves and put themselves at the disposal of my surface agent, Kiero.”

For a moment, Idalia’s conflicting loyalties were visible on her pinched features, but her allegiance to Melina and hatred of Grateful Peace won out.