The Vildecaz Talents: The complete set of Vildecaz Stories including Nimuar's Loss, The Deceptive Oracle and Agnith's Promise (13 page)

With a touch of amusement, Kloveon reached out and touched her cheek. “I will not let any harm come to him, for your sake, Erianthee.”

Her breath quickened, and then she said, “Sadly, neither you nor I have the strength to ensure that.”

Kloveon regarded her with a quizzical expression she could not read. “You underestimate yourself, I think. The Vildecaz talents are known throughout the Porzalk Empire,” he told her at last, and looked around as the page brought a candle of pale-honey color and held it out to her.

“Thank you,” she said, taking it from the youth. “I’ll leave it in the bowl on the mantle.”

“As you wish, Duzna,” said the page, and left her to perform her rite.

Bending to light the candle from the fire in the hearth, Erianthee began her invocation, calling upon Agnith, the Preternatural, Lenchmai, the Informer, and Bandikrion, the Destinizer, to attend Duz Nimuar in all his endeavors, and to bring him safely to Vildecaz Castle by nightfall in safety and haste, for the honor of the House and the gods. She repeated her petition three times, one for each invoked god and goddess, then placed the burning candle in one of four copper bowls set on the mantle for that purpose. “I’ve done as much as I can,” she said to the room. Turning to Kloveon, she went on, “Let us be gone. There is no reason for us to remain, if my father will not receive us.”

“Not one that would benefit you or your father in any case,” said Kloveon, going off toward the door and opening it for her. “Your staying here might serve Yulko Bihn very well.”

Erianthee found herself uneasy that she should rely upon Kloveon so readily, and she stood straighter. “I have an obligation so long as there are guests still at the Castle, and they expect my full attention.”

Kloveon respected her out of the Visitors’ Hall. “That is all true, Duzna.”

As the door closed behind them, she could not keep from saying “Thank you.”

“Save your thanks for later,” Kloveon recommended, and, returning her smile said, “There is much to do before I have earned your gratitude.”

* * *

Ninianee swung off Maeshar’s horse in the stable-court of Vildecaz Castle, uncomfortably aware of the speculative glances her arrival occasioned, and how inappropriately she was dressed. “I apologize for my attire; I had a difficult chase last night.” She handed the reins to Garminrich, one of the senior grooms, telling him, “This is Maeshar’s horse; he and a group of his guests will be along in an hour or two to claim her. You and the rest of the grooms must see to the care of their horses. For now, I will need you to feed and water this mare, and see she has a good grooming. I cannot return her in poor condition.”

Garminrich considered Ninianee’s unorthodox appearance, but said nothing, deciding it was best to do as she ordered without remark. He was leading the mare toward the stable when General Rocazin came hurrying across the courtyard, her staff of office serving as additional support for her.

“Duzna Ninianee,” exclaimed the Housekeeper-General as she approached. “Thanks to all the maitsee, you are back safely. I was worried that something dreadful had befallen you.”

“I am back safely, yes,” said Ninianee. “And in need of a bath and a change of clothes.”

“Most certainly. I will order both at once,” General Rocazin declared. “You’ve been sorely missed.”

“I am sorry. My sister should have let you know what – “

”That is part of the trouble. Your sister is away from the Castle, searching for your father, who left here in the night. Mirkal Kloveon is with her, which is something to be glad of. But there are still guests in the house.” General Rocazin stopped to rap the paving stones with her staff, summoning a page, issuing her orders crisply as soon as Rigoj arrived. “Tell Ver that hot water is needed in the bath-house at once, for Duzna Ninianee. And send out two of the serving women, to help her make ready for the afternoon meal.”

The page respected the two women and withdrew, his eyes huge in his youthful face, excitement in every quality of movement he made.

“What do you mean, my sister is searching for my father?” Ninianee asked as soon as the page had turned his back.

“Your father went away on a mission of his own before the evening’s entertainment began last night, and your sister went looking for him this morning; he failed to come back last night.” General Rocazin said, making the remark emphatic. “So she went with Kloveon of Fauthsku this morning, in spite of the other guests.”

“Kloveon went with her? She accepted his company?” Ninianee asked, frowning. “Kloveon?”

“He offered to be her escort, and would not be denied,” said General Rocazin. “With so many guests in the castle, guards could not be spared.”

“And there will be more this evening,” said Ninianee.

“What do you mean?” General Rocazin asked as they reached the entrance to the kitchen garden.

“Maeshar of Otsinmohr found me; he loaned me his mare, and said he and his guests would come in an hour or so to claim the horse. They’ll have to be entertained, and fed. They may want beds for the night as well.” Ninianee looked about. “What have we to offer them by way of amusements?” she asked.

“If your sister were here, I could tell you,” said the General. “As it is, I suppose we could send Burinar to Valdihovee to bring back the entertainers from last night, and to search for some new performers who might be willing to provide something by way of music or drama for after dinner. There must be some mimes we could summon, or musicians. I’ll ask Doms Guyon what he would recommend – he seems to know all the entertainers in Valdihovee. That way, none of the guests need see the same things twice.”

“That may be necessary, seeking out help in Valdihovee,” said Ninianee, looking toward the rear of the keep. “I wish we were not so much surrounded by uncertainties; we are at a great disadvantage on their account. I cannot help but wonder if it is Yulko Bihn’s doing, that we should have so many difficulties to address at once.”

“As to that, he would not admit it if he had done all of it,” said General Rocazin.

“Not to us, in any case,” said Ninianee. “Well, I will hurry with bathing. I’ll need a proper guin and gaunel brought to me; I’ll want them shortly so I will be able to greet Maeshar and his hunting party as they deserve.” She hoped that they would make good time, for this third night of the full moon would be the last time she would Change for another twenty-seven days, and she had to be certain that her transformation went unnoticed.

“Yes, Duzna Ninianee,” said the General. “And I’ll dispatch Burinar to Valdihovee.”

Reluctantly, Ninianee recalled what Erianthee had said to her the day before, and added, “Ask Burinar to find Doms Guyon; he can prove useful tonight if Erianthee doesn’t return.”

“You will act for your father if she isn’t here? One of you ought to preside for him,” General Rocazin ventured.

“No, not I; not tonight, I fear,” said Ninianee quietly. “That’s one reason I would like to summon Doms Guyon.” She trusted she would not have to spend much time in his company, for she found his eyes too keen and his senses too acute for her to be comfortable. His interest in her had become an encroachment on her secret life, and she hated having to risk more exposure to him. “He is a capable entertainer, and his rank is sufficiently high to allow him to serve as my deputy if I am unable to remain at the High Table through the whole of the evening.” She noticed that her foot was bleeding again. “If you would be good enough, ask Zenoch Mai to perform a healing spell for the cuts I’ve sustained.”

“If you wish it,” said General Rocazin. “About Doms Guyon, that is. The healing is another matter altogether. I’ll send word to Zenoch Mai at once.”

“Thank you, General,” said Ninianee, and stepped away from the Housekeeper-General toward the bath-house; smoke was just starting to rise from the chimney, and she wanted to make the most of the newly heated water.

“Shall I dispatch a rider to find your sister?” General Rocazin called after her.

“If she is still missing when I am dressed, then yes. Have Nejoch ready a horse, just in case,” Ninianee said, keeping steadily on her way along the edge of the garden toward the thick-walled bath-house and relief from her night as a Challim-doe in the forest.

By the time Ninianee emerged from the bath-house in an elegant gaunel of bronze-colored velvet over a guin of pale-gold wisp-cotton, she was met with the news that the guards had caught sight of Erianthee and Kloveon approaching on Duz Kinzyrach’s Road, and that they should arrive in an hour or a bit more. She was relieved to hear this, for she didn’t want to face the last night of her monthly transformation alone among the many guests of the Castle. She felt her anticipated burden fall away, and rubbing a drying cloth through the curling riot of her hair, Ninianee smiled, trying to give the appearance of confidence. “Thank you, Giuynee,” she said to the waiting-woman whom General Rocazin had assigned to her three weeks ago as part of the usual household rotation. “I will prepare to meet them in the Great Hall.”

“I’ll tell Ver that she and the Mirkal will arrive shortly, and General Rocazin – I’ll tell her, too,” said Giuynee.

“That’s much appreciated,” said Ninianee, and started for the main entrance to the keep, walking quickly so no one would be inclined to stop her. “One more night, and no more Challim-doe,” she whispered to herself. “Just one last night.” Until, she thought, next month when the Change would return. And who could say what creature she would Change to then?

The youngest of the pages came running up to her, his face flushed and his dolamine sash in disarray. He respected her, and flung himself into delivering his message. “Hoftstan Ruch asks you to meet him at once in the Great Hall, Duzna. He said it is urgent, or he would not ask it of you.”

“Then I will hurry,” said Ninianee, and moved more swiftly, passing through the main doors into the keep in a rush, so that she was a bit flushed as she came up to Hoftstan Ruch. “You sent me word that you needed to see me?” She touched her hair in a last effort to tidy it.

“That I did,” he said as he worked with two servants and his oldest son, Kazhtal, to widen the stage they had set up for the previous evening. “I have been told that we are to entertain Maeshar of Otsinmohr this afternoon, along with an undisclosed number of his guests.”

“That’s true, unfortunately,” said Ninianee. “I’m sorry; it’s my fault that we are in this predicament.” She cleared her throat and stood somewhat straighter. “I’ll do whatever I can to make this easier.”

“Except remain in the keep all evening,” said Hoftstan Ruch with a knowing nod. “Not that I blame you for preferring the mountains to Maeshar’s company.”

Kazhtal held up an iron wrench. “The bolts are fixed in this section.”

“Very good,” Hoftstan approved. “And done with muscles, not magic, so it will be harder to interfere with. By the way, I went out to check the wall repair, and it’s been tampered with. I’ll have to put a metal bar in it.”

“Do you anticipate some interference?” Ninianee asked, thinking of Yulko Bihn.

“Who knows?” Hoftstan answered, aware that they shared the same suspicions. “Someone is tampering with the repairs, and could compromise these structures, but if he does, it would mean having to defend himself in court if we should apprehend him doing his work. I’ve put a capture-spell on the site that should reveal the culprit’s identity if more damage is done tonight. Still, I’d rather avoid all trouble we can. Better to be prepared than to be unpleasantly surprised. Were we not to have more company, the task would be easier. With such men as Maeshar likes to surround himself, I would be a fool not to realize that more mischief is possible.” He picked up a mallet and held it aloft. “No one has to renew a spell for this to work, and any spell attempting to undo the bolts will be noticed. Terichovee will put the spell-hounds on patrol during the entertainments.”

“Fine precautions,” said Ninianee.

“Also, I gather from what I was told that Doms Guyon will be here in a short while,” Hoftstan went on with a quick glance at Ninianee. “I understand he is to be welcomed. Do you wish me to keep him occupied, or shall I present him to you?” The very bluntness of the question made it less troubling than a more tactful inquiry would have been.

“So long as you present him before sundown; I can deal with him until then.” Her face softened. “He isn’t a monster, Hoftstan, and surely I am not the greatest disappointment in his life, that I must not receive him or show him proper courtesy. Just do not let him – or any of Maeshar’s friends – into the outer gardens at any time this evening,” said Ninianee, knowing it would be unwise for her to try to leave the vicinity of the Castle tonight. “Tell him it is for their safety that we do this, that so many illustrious guests could well attract unwanted attention, and that therefore hospitality requires us to keep them within the safety of the castle walls.” Her decision was spontaneous – Challim deer were common in the outer gardens, and she would not attract any significant attention to herself by remaining there. “Tell the guards not to shoot any of the animals inside the outer wall tonight; not deer, not redcoons, not Roba elk, not moon-hounds. Never mind that Ver wants venison, deer and elk, for the guests, and that moon-hounds are pests. All animals are sacrosanct until dawn.”