The Ruined City (13 page)

“Sometimes, so do I. But not at the moment, when there are patients—er—languishing.”

“Not very many languishing. Most are more like—lounging,” Jianna told him, and it was true. The population of the infirmary tent had decreased dramatically. The power of the hot heaves was largely broken, and those few lately stricken with the malady suffered little of its earlier fury. Their lives were hardly threatened. Even so, they were miserable enough, and their sufferings still demanded care and attention.

Jianna worked hard, as had become her habit. The faces looking up at her smoothed and cleared under her ministrations. The experience she had acquired told her that every single one of them would live, and the sense of victory warmed her to the core. The hours passed quite happily, and then there was the midday meal, and more work, followed by a span of free time that she devoted to the mending and reinforcement of her deteriorating garments. During this time she never caught sight of Celisse Rione, which suited her well enough.

The day marched to its conclusion. The skies darkened from grey to charcoal, and preparation of the evening meal commenced. Jianna scraped carrots and chopped onions; small tasks to which she had grown accustomed. When the food was served up, she took her usual place at the usual fire, noticing for the first time the absence of both Falaste Rione and his sister. Rione was quite likely to come late to supper, or to skip it altogether, if a patient required attention. Such was not the case at the moment, however, and for the second time that day, uneasiness stirred inside her.

She ate, making abstracted conversation with the closest Ghost, while her eyes roved so incessantly that her companion soon grew impatient, and left off speaking. Jianna scarcely noticed. The minutes passed, and then Rione was there in the circle of firelight, face harder than she had ever seen it.

“I’ve just checked on Celisse,” he informed the group at large. “All of her things are gone. She’s cleared off.”

A moment’s silence greeted this announcement, and then Poli Orso spoke up, with some regret. “Can’t say I’m surprised. The lass was that peeved.”

Jianna’s eyes were fixed on Rione’s set face. Occasionally the working of his mind mystified her, but from time to time she felt as if his blood pulsed in her veins, and his heart beat in her breast. She felt so now.

“You think she’s run for Vitrisi,” Jianna heard herself state clearly. “You think she means to assassinate Governor Uffrigo.”

Her listeners’ attention crystallized. Somebody loosed a muted imprecation.

“I do.” Rione turned to face her.

“All by herself?”

“Yes.”

“Has she the smallest chance of success, on her own?”

“The very smallest. And the very greatest chance of destroying herself.”

“You mean to stop her?”

“Yes. None of the sick lads here are in real danger, so I can be spared for a while. I’ll leave tomorrow at first light. Noro, you may come with me or remain here at camp, as you choose.”

“
Oh
. Well then, I’ll come. I’ve a mind to see Vitrisi,” she returned, trying hard to seem nonchalant. Inside, the surge of rising excitement threatened to smash all restraint.
Vitrisi
. Days ago he had promised to take her home, and she had never for an instant doubted his word. Nevertheless, the suddenness of it took her by surprise. She had prepared herself to accept delay, and now all at once they would be leaving this place tomorrow. And without pangs of conscience, for the sick lads were out of danger; he had just said so. She wanted to hop and shout. Instead, she sat still and fixed her eyes studiously on the bowl in her lap.

“You might want to take a couple of the boys along,” Orso suggested. “Help you hunt the town.”

“I know you can’t spare them, and Celisse is most likely to let herself be found if I’m there on my own.”

His refusal of the proffered assistance surprised Jianna, despite the adequately plausible explanation. What he said might be true, but it was equally true, she realized, that he would find it easier to accomplish his secondary task of returning “Noro Penzia” to Belandor House without benefit of Ghostly observers.

After that, he’d somehow track down his wayward firebrand sister and take her in hand, forestalling potential disaster. And then the siblings would rejoin the Ghost force, resume their resistance activities, and Falaste Rione would soon forget that he had ever been so unwise as to risk his own position for the sake of Aureste Belandor’s daughter. He would try to forget that he had ever met her at all.

Let him try
.

She would contrive to effect a meeting between Falaste and her father. Then the unassailably high-minded physician would see for himself. His own sense of justice would ensure recognition of the Magnifico Aureste’s obvious virtue. A single, face-to-face meeting should accomplish all; and afterward, the good doctor might be persuaded to tarry in Vitrisi. For a long time.

Probably he would be glad to remain, once he arrived and saw the city again, for who could voluntarily abandon Vitrisi? The journey home would involve days of travel across the wintry countryside, but the prospect of much chilly discomfort did not discourage her at all. At the moment it seemed as if pure excitement would keep her warm throughout the trip, and it would begin
tomorrow at first light
.

“We have received replies,” Innesq Belandor informed his two brothers. “A couple of them from Taerleez—from Houses
Pridisso and Zovaccio. The other, from our young kinswoman out in the wild.”

“Really, I don’t know that some untutored rustic waif of uncertain pedigree should be honored with the title of
kinswoman
.” Nalio Belandor pursed his lips.

“If you trust in my abilities at all, then you must trust me when I tell you that she is of our blood,” Innesq returned. “She is our cousin—a simple fact in nature, if not in law—and she possesses great natural talent. We very much need that talent now, and the young girl has forced herself to set aside a thousand fears in order to grant her consent. For this she deserves our respect as well as our thanks.”

Nalio subsided with a frown.

The three siblings sat in the north wing’s demi-council chamber/dining room. The remains of an excellent dinner lay on the table before them, for Belandor House’s kitchen, at some remove from the main body of the building, had escaped all damage, as had its presiding chef. Save for the black mourning that Nalio wore for his murdered wife, the brothers were their normal selves.

“How reliable is any information garnered by way of Vinz Corvestri?” demanded the Magnifico Aureste. His black brows contracted. “This so-called communication occurred within the confines of his house, did it not? How shall we measure possible Corvestri influence?”

“Oh, there is no fear of that,” Innesq returned, almost carelessly. “Vinz understands the importance of our undertaking too well to tamper.”

“
Vinz
? How long have you enjoyed such informal intimacy with an enemy of our House?”

“Since the enemy became an ally.”

“Surely you can’t be so naïve. By all means, make such use of Corvestri and his resources as your purpose demands and his weakness permits, but don’t commit the blunder of regarding him as an ally, a comrade, or indeed as anything other than a serviceable tool.”

“Ah, brother, sometimes you oversimplify.”

“Grant me patience! Do you truly imagine the enmity of generations dissolving upon a handclasp?”

“Do you truly imagine the self-interest of rational individuals incapable of overcoming ancient prejudice?”

“Just never turn your back on him, that’s all I advise.”

“We digress,” observed Innesq. “I am trying to tell you that we have received affirmative replies from three sources. Ojem Pridisso of Iron Hill and Littri Zovaccio of Frinnasi will both embark from Taerleez within hours. Needless to say, they will use all arcane skills at their command to speed their own journey. As for young Nissi, she is already on the move. With the addition of Vinz and myself, that is a total of five arcanists of the Six.”

“Didn’t you tell me that you need half a dozen?” Aureste objected.

“That is the traditional quorum. An examination of the old accounts, however, leads me to believe that five should suffice. And who knows? Perhaps others will join us.”

“What if it’s the opposite? Suppose someone backs out, gets sick, dies, or simply disappears?”

“Ah, then we have reason to fear. I hold fair confidence in the combined power of five genuine talents, but that is the minimum. We cannot make do with less. But come, do not look so grim. Remember, this is no impossible undertaking. The cleansing of the Source by human agency has been accomplished in the past upon several documented occasions. Are we less skilled and determined than our ancestors? Can we not do what those who went before us have already proved possible? It is a challenge that others have met, and we shall do as well, or better. Will you believe that?”

“At the moment I’m concerned less with belief than logistics,” Aureste told him. “These arcanists you’ve secured—are they coming here, to Vitrisi?”

“No, we have agreed to meet at the Quivers. It is thought that the Source’s underground circuit throughout the Isles approaches
the surface at that locale, but nobody truly knows. Whatever the reason, the site is undoubtedly infused with power certain to support our efforts.”

“And how do you propose to travel? You’re scarcely accustomed to gadding about on your own.”

“I anticipate little if any solitary gadding. Vinz has invited me to travel with his party.”

“Has he indeed? Now, there’s generosity for you.”

“Truly. His attendants will look after me well enough.”

“No they won’t. D’you imagine I’d allow it?”

“Allow?”

“Pardon me, I choose my terms poorly. I know too well that I can’t stop you, once you make up that obstinate mind, but a moment’s thought will surely persuade you. To begin with, consider the loss of personal dignity. You, a Belandor, abroad in the world without benefit of your own vehicle, horses, servants, Sishmindris, bodyguards, weaponry, provisions, and all other necessities. You, occupying a few spare inches in the Corvestri’s second-best carriage, like some penniless spinster aunt. It won’t do.”

“He’s right, Innesq,” Nalio interjected. “Only think how it would look!”

“I believe the Belandor family honor capable of sustaining the blow,” Innesq reassured them kindly.

“Appearances are scarcely the greatest cause for concern,” Aureste continued. “Once you assume the role of Vinz Corvestri’s passenger and dependent, you place yourself entirely in his power. You’ll be out in the wild, far from family and friends, unprotected, and there he’ll do as he pleases with you—torment or kill you for the sake of the hatred he bears our House, or perhaps he’ll simply content himself with ripping the knowledge and arcane secrets out of your head, thus adding your wealth to his own mental hoard.”

“These are idle fears. I assure you, Vinz fully comprehends the gravity of the situation, and he has set aside personal animosity, for the moment at least. I trust him for that.”

“I don’t.”

“I am sorry to hear that, but I cannot afford to stay for your approval. There is no time to be lost, and I fear we have tarried too long already. Therefore, since I have made no arrangements of my own, I am obliged to embark with Vinz Corvestri tomorrow morning.”

“No you aren’t,” Aureste informed him. “I feared something of this sort, so I’ve made arrangements on your behalf. There’s the small brown carriage, which is light in weight and capable of navigating difficult roads. When the roads cease, there’s a sedan chair for you. The guards and servants have been selected and they’ve received their preliminary instructions. The supply wagons are fully loaded and ready to move.”

“Really, you are most efficient and generous, but I hardly think—”

“Rest assured, when we set forth for the Quivers, we shall travel in a style befitting two members of House Belandor.”

“We? Pardon me, but surely you did not mean—”

“I mean that I’ll accompany you on this expedition. You appear thunderstruck. I trust my presence isn’t entirely distasteful to you?”

“No, certainly not. You have taken me by surprise, that is all. I must confess, I do not quite see your motive. What point in going, Aureste? What precisely do you expect to accomplish?”

“I’ll safeguard Belandor interests. I’ll see to it that you take no harm in the midst of the Corvestri vipers.”

“No need. What will it take to convince you that the interests of Houses Belandor and Corvestri have currently merged?”

“You are brilliant and talented, but not a worldly man. You must grant my superior knowledge of the world, and listen when I tell you that it’s fatal to trust in the honesty of our enemies. Don’t trouble to argue the point. I won’t abandon you to the questionable mercies of Vinz Corvestri, and there’s an
end to the matter. Tomorrow morning we head north toward the Quivers in our own party, among our own people. Resign yourself.”

“I see that I shall not dissuade you. But what of your search for Jianna?”