The Vildecaz Talents: The complete set of Vildecaz Stories including Nimuar's Loss, The Deceptive Oracle and Agnith's Promise (17 page)

* * *

Dawn was marked by a heralding chorus of birds, the first odors of cooking in the kitchen, a loud bray from the household trumpets, and Ninianee’s hurrying into the stables to don the clothes she had hidden there – dolaj and brikes and high, wide-topped boots – while the horses watched her with unfrightened curiosity and whuffled for their breakfasts; the chestnut gelding in the next stall had an image in his mind of the courtyard piled high with crimped oats, which made Ninianee laugh as she fumbled with dressing. She emerged from the stable shortly thereafter, looking as if she had spent the night in a hayloft; she made her way back to her apartments in the castle and changed to somewhat grander and more appropriate riding togs, then hastened to Lomcoz Terichovee’s quarters to warn him of what she had overheard regarding him. That done, she hied herself along to Erianthee’s rooms, eager to tell her sister all she had learned.

Kloveon greeted her at the door with a respect and a gentle inquiry as to how she was doing this morning. “You were missed last night, in spite of the excellent entertainments Doms managed to provide. I hope you have recovered from whatever possessed you.”

“I am well-enough,” she answered, doing her best to seem at ease. “Is Erianthee awake?”

“I don’t know. I would suppose so,” he answered, and tapped on the door. “Duzna. Your sister is here.”

From inside the room, Erianthee muttered a response, and then there was the sound of footsteps and the door opened a crack, revealing a wedge of what seemed to be living light – Erianthee looked out at Ninianee; she was beautifully dressed in a gaunel of deep-lavender Garzine satin over a guin of ice-blue linen. Although she had not yet donned her coronet, she wore rings on her fingers and a pectoral of blue topaz on a broad chain of gold. “Nin! Agnith be thanked! I worried half the night!” she exclaimed softly, tugging the door wide. “Come in, come in. Tell me everything.” She took hold of Ninianee’s shoulder and pulled her into the room, shutting the door behind them before Kloveon could slip into the room with them.

“Kloveon of Fauthsku guarding your door?” Ninianee remarked as they crossed the room. “That’s a bit provocative, isn’t it?”

“He insisted upon it,” said Erianthee. “I was afraid to tell him no, for fear he would become more – ”

“No doubt he would,” said Ninianee, frowning.

“He is my escort to Riast’s court,” Erianthee reminded her gently. “Or part of the way, in any case. I wouldn’t be wise to offend him.”

“No, probably not,” said Ninianee with a twinkle in her eyes. She stretched suddenly, as if her own body felt unfamiliar, which it did. “I found out something last night.”

“Something important?”

“I think it is,” said Ninianee thoughtfully. “After my Change, I stayed in the outer gardens, as – “

” – as you planned,” said Erianthee impatiently. To keep from trying to rush her sister, she took a brush and went to work on her hair, soothing herself with the steady stroking.

Recognizing the brushing for the distraction it was, Ninianee said, “You must have had a hard night.”

‘That I did,” said Erianthee. “Maeshar and his guests were worse than a pack of moon-hounds – though moon-hounds may have better table-manners.”

“They
are
boors, with the airs and graces of rutting wallow-mojes – much the same look, as well; there’s no reason to insult the moon-hounds, or the wallow-mojes, for that matter,” said Ninianee, shuddering at the thought of the previous morning. “That doesn’t mean they are as dangerous as some of our guests, who behave a little better.”

Erianthee dropped her brush and gave Ninianee her full attention. “What have you found out?”

“That Yulko Bihn and Dinvee are up to no good, and that isn’t because they were trysting near the grotto to Lorjoran, the Provider, it is because they have a mission of their own that brings them here. They have goals of their own, too, to accomplish here, and they will do their utmost to achieve their purposes.” Quickly she summed up the encounter she had witnessed in the outer garden the night before. When she had finished, she said, “So I am more worried about Papa than I was earlier. Whatever they’re up to, it bodes ill for him. I think he must be found, and without delay.”

“If he can be found,” said Erianthee darkly, taking up her brush again. “His talents may have been lessened, but he can still cloak himself.”

“I am certain he can be found,” said Ninianee with such firm purpose that Erianthee stared at her. “I’ll try to locate him before Magsto Bihn does. I don’t want to see Papa’s situation become any worse than it is.” She cocked her head toward the door. “Speaking of difficult situations, what is the real reason that Kloveon is serving as your guard? Isn’t that beneath a Mirkal, standing watch?”

Erianthee shrugged. “In essence, he said he was afraid for me, and he didn’t trust any of the usual guards to protect me.”

Ninianee’s laugh was laced with sarcasm. “How very gal
lant
of him.”

“I was rather touched, that he would make such an effort,” said Erianthee, pretending to be indifferent to his attentions. “He has to provide the first leg of my escort to the Porzalk Empire, so he will have to answer for my safety, won’t he? He might as well get some practice.”

“That’s one way to look at it, I suppose,” said Ninianee. “But I think it is simpler than that.”

“He says he loves me; he’s said that before,” Erianthee said, coloring with the admission. “Most of the time I believe him, but . . . ”

“I suppose he does, as much as his position will allow,” said Ninianee, starting to stride about the room. “And, given his assignment as your escort, he can be trusted to protect you, at least as far as your meeting-point with your second escort, which counts for something. I am sure it does, because he is fond of you. But he is first and always one of the Emperor’s men, sent here on the Emperor’s business, and the Empire must – “

”Supersede Vildecaz in his loyalties,” Erianthee finished for her. “I
know
that, Nin.”

“But?” Ninianee asked when Erianthee didn’t go on.

“But I wish it weren’t so, that’s all,” said Erianthee simply. She set her brush aside at last. “Doms Guyon is still here.”

“I thought he would be,” Ninianee answered in a voice that hinted that she wanted to hear nothing more about Doms.

“He’s a puzzle, isn’t he?” Erianthee pursued.

“Yes. He is,” said Ninianee, and glanced toward the door.

“He was missing for part of last evening’s entertainment,” said Erianthee.

“Oh?” Ninianee tried not to show her alarm. “How long?”

“About two hours, I’m told.” Erianthee shrugged. “I was . . . occupied, so I don’t know for sure.”

Ninianee pondered in silence, then said in a matter-of-fact tone, “I think I had better arrange to go off to Duz Kinzyrach’s Library as soon as I can, to be certain Papa is really there – don’t you think, Eri?” She watched her sister, an expression of eager determination on her face.

“I suppose so,” said Erianthee. “And it will get you away from Maeshar and his crew.”

“A happy coincidence,” said Ninianee with a quick wink to Erianthee.

“And Doms Guyon,” added Erianthee.

“That, too,” Ninianee said more somberly.

“Not that I blame you,” said Erianthee, “but I may have need of you later in the day.”

“I’ll be here, whether or not I find Papa. I’ll return in the early afternoon, no matter what. I’ll hope to be back earlier, and Papa with me.” She stopped pacing and gave Erianthee a considered look. “You will have to leave shortly in any case, won’t you? Court begins its formal session soon.”

“If you mean for the Imperial Court, yes, I fear so,” she said, with an uneasy nod toward the door, as if she feared to be overheard. “I wish I could stay longer, but – “

”But the Emperor expects you, and what Riast wants, he expects to have. We disoblige him at our peril; it will endanger our House to be at odds with the Porzalk Empire. If you do not depart soon, Riast will hold Vildecaz as a potential enemy, and respond with his armies. All who stand against the Porzalk Empire are numbered as foes.” Ninianee started toward the door, her boot-heels tapping smartly on the marble floor.

“Yes, and that number could Include Vildecaz, if we aren’t careful. You’re right about that. We are in danger, deserved or not, and we must prepare to defend Vildecaz. I will be on guard all the time I’m gone, and I will learn as much as I can about what the Emperor is planning,” Erianthee reminded her. “That is why I answer his invitation every time he extends one.”

“Yes,” said Ninianee as she reached the door. “I suspect you’re right: he always wants Vildecaz. You do well by us, going to Riast.”

“On, Nin, I hope I do,” said Erianthee, a troubled look in her lovely face.

Ninianee caught her gaze and held it. “What do you fear?”

“That the Emperor will make me a kind of well-cared-for hostage to use against you and Papa.” This was almost a whisper.

“Very wise, Eri,” Ninianee approved. “So long as you keep that in mind, you’re not likely to be trapped.”

* * *

A little more than an hour later, as most of the guests were sitting down to a generous breakfast, Ninianee rode out through the main gate of Vildecaz Castle, across Hevomaj Stream, and turned northwest around the flank of the castle to the road leading toward the Library of Duz Kinzyrach. Against the advice of her sister and Doms Guyon, she traveled alone, armed only with a Fahnine saber; she claimed she could go faster by herself, and needed no more protection than her saber provided, for she could rely on the animals along the way to warn her of any danger ahead, and with that assurance they had to be content. Her horse – the lanky chestnut gelding with powerful front action, who had yearned for a courtyard of oats – was fresh and inclined to scamper, but Ninianee held him to a more-or-less trot as they reached the first branch in the road, where she checked him to avoid scattering a flock of sheep being driven to market in Valdihovee.

“Duzna!” the shepherd called out, respecting her as she rode by behind the sheep.

The road passed through a spinny, and made a gradual turn upward. At one time this had been a favorite haunt of thieves, but they had been routed six generations ago, and all that remained to remind the traveler of those more dangerous times was a partially crumbled stone wall. Nevertheless, Ninianee approached it carefully, putting her chestnut on the alert with a whispered word and an image of possible lurkers ahead, a lucky precaution, for as the rounded the end of the wall, the horse came to an abrupt stop – and sent Ninianee thudding into his mane – as they saw a small party of riders headed toward them.

Righting herself in the saddle, Ninianee shaded her eyes and peered ahead through the dappled light, ready to draw her saber, and doing her best to count the number of riders in the approaching group. Suddenly her horse whinnied – not the strident challenge to strangers, but the equine shout of greeting – and was answered by three similar salutes. Ninianee relaxed in the saddle, knowing that at least some of the approaching horses were from the stables of Vildecaz Castle. She moved her hand from the saber’s hilt and sat back, waiting for the others to arrive.

There were four out-riders escorting a blocky wagon with large, stout wheels laden with books and drawn by a single horse – a grey-spotted mare that was Duz Nimuar’s favorite – and the Duz himself on the driving-box of the wagon, handling the reins. The out-riders wore the gaihups of the Library of Duz Kinzyrach, and all four carried spell-swords. As they drew in, all four offered Ninianee as profound a respect as their saddles would allow.

“Ninianee!” Duz Nimuar called out, raising his hand. “I am pleased to see you, but you needn’t have bothered.”

“Better to have done it when it is unnecessary than fail to do it when it is,” said Ninianee, repeating an old saw. She respected her father. “Erianthee and I have been concerned, and some of the guests are asking questions.”

“So I have supposed,” said Nimuar, starting his mare moving again. “You should have known that I would alert you if anything were truly wrong.”

“I’d hope that, yes,” she said, putting slight emphasis on the
hope
. “You return to a company of guests.”

“So I gathered from the Library’s Gaz-owl,” said Nimuar, with such utter seriousness that Ninianee could not decide if he were joking or in earnest.

“You have empowered a familiar?” Ninianee asked, her doubt imparting a kind of reserve to her gladness at seeing him.

“Just last night. I wished to know what I would be coming back to without putting all the Castle on notice of my return, or to alert anyone who might be waiting to receive me with malice, for I have magic enough left to know there are enemies under my roof. A Gaz-owl isn’t considered unusual as a familiar, and he makes a very useful spy.” He smiled at her, and while his face was drawn and tired, his eyes were as lively as Ninianee had ever seen them. “We have a great deal to do.”

“Hence the books?” Ninianee asked as she turned her chestnut to walk next to the wagon.

“Yes.” He fell silent, frowning. “I must find a safe place for these, before we reach the Castle. Somewhere Yulko Bihn will not find them.”