The Vildecaz Talents: The complete set of Vildecaz Stories including Nimuar's Loss, The Deceptive Oracle and Agnith's Promise (42 page)

Then, at the rear of the Performance Hall, a tall wave rose up, as wide as the Performance Hall, and nearly as high as the ceiling. It rushed forward and struck the city of Jinoarthcaz and the Fortress and Palace of Zaroga-Jin, damaging many parts of the city and harbor, but falling away as rapidly as it came. The impact of this manifestation was overwhelming. A small number of the Court went so far as to cry out their approval while drumming on their chairs with their fists.

“Jinoarthcaz was not destroyed, and in rebuilding it became more glorious than it had been before. Even now, with most of the promontory fallen into the harbor and the old breakwater long-gone, the wisdom of Rachnoraj is not forgotten: give the unwelcome guest every opportunity to depart as soon as possible, and if danger is coming, prepare for it on its terms, not those of your wishes.”

The Performance Hall came brilliantly alight as the assembled courtiers hummed and hummed, and Riast himself went beaming to the platform to congratulate Erianthee on her extraordinary accomplishment.

In two nights the moon would be full and her three nights of Change would be upon her. Ninianee sat in the shelter of a herder’s hut doing her best to keep the small fire burning while outside the walls the wind crooned a ominous lullaby, stroking the hut with searching, gelid hands. When she left Vildecaz, she was convinced she had prepared adequately for the Change. But now she could not decide what would be best to do. She had planned try to confine whatever she became to a small area, such as a hut like this one, so she could keep from running amok by tying herself to a boulder or a tree, but now she realized that might not work out as she hoped. She knew she had to limit her activities during the Change; otherwise she might injure herself and her pony and mule as well, particularly if she Changed into a predator. She also ran the danger of wandering too far from her animals, her clothes, and her supplies, which would put her in even greater danger than she already was when she returned to her human form. Preparing for her Change had seemed a minor inconvenience when she set out, something she could accommodate without difficulty, having no one to avoid, no guards to elude, being on her own in the wilderness. Now that the actuality was nearly upon her, Ninianee was fretful.

Jenshaz and Danliree, enclosed in the byre attached to the hut, were resting after a day of arduous climbing over the crest of the Boarth Range. Ninianee could sense their fatigue and their satisfaction at finding such a protected place as this hut for the night. She lulled them still more with an image of approval and satisfaction, and perceived their ease increasing. She put another small branch on the fire, then took a fat sausage out of her food-chest and spitted it on a spindly branch hanging above the fire. She had a little wine left, and she had broken off a handful of icicles to melt in her cooking pot for water. Staring off into the middle distance, she considered her situation, finding it desolate. The Oracle’s answers, which had seemed so much more reassuring when she had first heard them now filled her with foreboding.

Where was she? she wondered. Had she reached Cazboarth yet? She was over the Crag and was now on the northern slope of the Boarth Range, descending toward the sea. But how far had she come? Was she near any village or town? There had been no signs on the trail that would indicate settlements near-by. Was she in Bindomaj territory or was that still ahead of her? She had been to the north side of the Boarthine Peninsula before, but her three journeys had been in summer and made by boat. She hadn’t realized how little she actually knew about the regions away from the coastal cities. If only Sinj Umver were still with her! He would have known how to find shelter, and where they were. Ninianee once again railed at herself for allowing the guide to leave her. But knowing her Change was coming, she realized that his presence would have been a problem, had he still been with her.

It all came back to the Change, she thought, and moved the pot of melted ice away from the flames. She would eat shortly, she reminded herself, and when she had eaten, she would feel less harried. Food and warmth would restore her and quite her anxiety. There would be time for calm reflection and the chance to consider how to proceed, paying more attention to the protective spells she had conjured to keep the hut safe than to making any coherent plan.

As she put together her meal, she began to assess how far she would have to go to find an inn or other similar place for her animals and her. She drank a little more of the melted ice, reminding herself to crack the ice on the water-trough before she lay down for the night. She decided to put a spell on it to keep it free-flowing, and to establish a bubble-spell around the hut, in case someone or something should approach in the night, for she still had the uneasy sensation of being followed, and realized it was something more than the protective spells Poyneilum Zhanf had put on the pony and the mule, which she had detected the morning she left Vildecaz Castle. As irritating as she found these spells, she was also relieved to have them, with winter settling in. She disliked having to create so many spells on her travels, not just because it was inconvenient to have to devote so much energy to them, but because they served as a constant reminder of the danger that surrounded her.

“This is absurd,” she said aloud to herself, running out of patience with her inability to get on as well as she thought she would. She tested the sausage and decided to give it a little longer before eating, taking refuge in this simple act, devoid of all but the most basic of pragmatic considerations – was it done? If only all her problems could be as easily solved. The complexities of her situation seemed to be increasing with every breath she took, and dealing with this most basic of dinners provided some relief from the worries gathering around her like shadows. Hunkering nearer the fire, she did her utmost to gather as much heat to herself as she could even as she decided to try not to think about the Oracle any more tonight.

She had just unrolled her blankets and was spreading them on the floor near the fire when she heard an imperious knock on the door. Stopping her work, she stared at the door, wondering who could have come upon her. The spells put in place in the last hours that should have alerted her to any approach had not sounded, which she found alarming. She glanced at the sausage, took up a useful cudgel and went to the door. “This hut is occupied.”

“I am aware of that, for I was sent to find you. Duzeon, I am the Bindomaj Amejgon, messenger to the Hircaj Chogrun, sent to invite you to join him at his capital Chamirjen by sunset tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Yes. You are really quite close, given how far you have come.”

Ninianee felt a cold grue slip down her spine. “How did you know I was here?”

The Bindomaj chuckled. “Once our mountain scouts found you, we have been keeping track of your progress. You are near enough to the Hirc that Hircaj Chogrun decided it was time to issue his invitation, and dispatched me to find you.” Amejgon faltered, then resumed his message. “Although he doesn’t wish to force you to accept an unwelcome solicitation, he is sure that for the sake of Cazboarth and Vildecaz, you will agree to accompany me at first light.”

“How far is Chamirjen?” Ninianee asked, trying to sort out the many things contained in the invitation.

“Eight wyns, as we fly. On the ground, about ten. We should be there by mid-afternoon tomorrow without difficulty, no matter how short the days are becoming. The weather-witches say that no more snow will come for three days.” The Bindomaj spoke as if they were in the halls of Vildecaz Castle, not out in the blizzard-torn wilderness.

“Ten wyns is a long way to cover in cold weather,” said Ninianee said to buy herself some time. Tomorrow night would be the first of the full moon, and that would mean many difficulties. But if she refused the summons of the Hircaj Chogrun, then things might become more hazardous still, for once under the scrutiny of the Bindomajes, her Change would be no longer secret. The last thing she wanted was a company of Bindomajes chasing her, no matter what form her Change took this time. “I will accompany you, but if we must stop before nightfall, then we will do so,” she said, determined to make plans to save herself from discovery. She would have most of a day’s travel before she had to remove herself from the Bindomajes, and she promised herself to turn this time to good use. “I fear it would be incorrect to let you in, Amejgon. I apologize.”

“There is no need. I have no expectation of hospitality here, and would not accept it if offered, for respect to you and your House. In addition, Hircaj Chogrun ordered that I not intrude upon you. So for now, my wishes for a pleasant night. I will return at dawn when I will guide you to Chamirjen.” He made the high, grating cry of the Bindomajes to punctuate his pledge.

Clapping her hands to her ears, Ninianee thought that such a penetrating, unpleasant sound might well precipitate an avalanche. She knew better than to speak of this aloud, for any such observation might redound to her discredit in the Court of Hircaj Chogrun. With a restive sigh she went back to the fireplace and her sausage and its over-cooked skin. “At least I’ll get a few good meals in Chamirjen,” she said, trying to buoy up her spirits, then added realistically, “I hope.”

* * *

“Have you thought about the matters we discussed?” asked Dinenniet Meanaj as she and Erianthee strolled in the Imperial Gardens of Porzalk Castle. This was one of more than a dozen retreats set amid the walls and towers, turrets, keeps, halls, baileys, armories, parks, smithies, stables, coops, supply depots, granaries, storehouses, creameries, public buildings, forcing houses, follies, bake-houses, bath-houses, libraries, kitchens, out-houses of all descriptions, larders, dormitories, residents’ quarters, guests quarters, pavilions, spring-houses, vaults, and spell-rooms to put on and remove every manner of spell, all enclosed within the Theninzaylin traditional three defensive walls, all three of which were constantly manned at full complement of Imperial Guards. The front gate flew ranks of guest-banners and had platforms for heralds to address newcomers in the name of the Emperor.

“You mean have I decided to accept your invitation to come to the Agnitheon?” Erianthee asked.

“Of course.” There was a touch of impatience in Magstee Meanaj’s response that Erianthee heard with some dismay. The last thing she wanted to do was alienate this woman.

Choosing her words carefully, she responded, “I have, Magstee, but I don’t know if I can reach a conclusion for you yet. I ask you to permit me some time to deliberate. It is difficult to have time for calm reflection at Court, don’t you think? There is always so much to command one’s attention, and so many unadmitted intentions in every seeming opportunity that it isn’t possible to be sure an impulsive decision is free from influence. The commitment you propose should not be given in haste, nor without careful consideration.”

“You are right, of course. Nothing at Court is ever lacking in complexity. So many courtiers have reasons of their own beyond their stated one that you can see none as simple,” said Meanaj. She looked around as if searching for any eavesdroppers. “I can comprehend your reticence.”

“It is a posture that will spare me and my House much possible humiliation, wouldn’t you agree. Magstee.” She all but held her breath.

“A great deal of that is true, I would agree,” said Meanaj, once more serenely calm. “Yet even I may have a secondary purpose for approaching you.”

As much as Erianthee wanted to find some phrase to make it clear her reservations didn’t extend to the Magstee, all she was able to manage was, “It is hard to separate genuine interest from more complex ones.”

“I believe some of our study-techniques could help you to discern more clearly,” said Meanaj.

They reached the end of the walkway and turned right, going to the display of quazmei trees from Pomig. These were all fine specimens, ranging from shoulder-height to three times that, impressive frondy top-knots of green frills extended toward the bright blur of sun overhead. “I am interested in the work you do. It is very much along the lines of my own studies, and I know I would like to be part of it, but how much a part, I haven’t decided yet,” said Erianthee. “In any case, I am in no position to make a commitment now, with my father still missing.”

“That is a problem,” Meanaj allowed. “But once he is returned, do you think you might want to train with us – for a time?”

“I am of two minds on that point as yet, and anything I might agree to now would be in the spirit of conjecture, not promise,” said Erianthee clumsily, disliking the pressure she was being given. “I ask your pardon, Magstee, but while I can see many advantages to learning from you, I can see an equal number of disadvantages, as well.”

“So you do think a visit to the Agnitheon might be useful? If you travel to the Agnitheon, it would be easier to see what agendas have been served during this stay at Court, do you think? I can arrange for you to travel there directly as soon as you are released from the Zunah.” She didn’t make the mistake of pushing this proposition, but only offered it up as one of many possibilities.

She answered promptly and without apology for her manner. “I am mindful of the honor you do me, but I believe I must decline. With my father gone, I believe I should return to Vildecaz as soon as my work for the Emperor is completed. My sister and my people – “

” – depend upon you. Of course.” She smoothed the front of her mauve, tongue-satin gaunel and offered Erianthee a cordial smile. “I do understand, you know, and I am certain that you are being candid with me.”