The Vildecaz Talents: The complete set of Vildecaz Stories including Nimuar's Loss, The Deceptive Oracle and Agnith's Promise (6 page)

“The son of Hyneimoj presented himself to Svalen-Tu as a merchant from far away, one who wished to purchase a great quantity of her weavings to sell on his voyaging and to use for his sails. But he was struck by her beauty and her skill, and that brought desire into his mind.” Erianthee paused as her figures mimed a bit of this conversation. “The more they spoke, the more Womotomaj felt himself enmeshed by the weaver as surely as if he had been the warp and the woof on her loom.”

The Spirit of the Outer Air who had been given the shape and role of Womotomaj flung himself down before Svalen-Tu, his hands joined to beseech her to love him, but the endearing woman said no as gently as she could, and Womotomaj got slowly to his feet.

“Although his heart was sore, Womotomaj’s mind already spinning plots, for he was and is The Fabricator, and plots come to him as readily as castles and bridges. He settled their arrangements for cloth, and he sailed away, promising to return in the Tenth Month, as the autumn nights draw in. He hastened his journey so that he might soon return to Svalen-Tu and resume his pursuit of her.”

The shadow-boat became more real and carried Womotomaj on a circuitous tour of the table-top, until there was a disturbance near the boat in the ripples of Outer Air that created the illusion of water  which
announced the arrival of the Kuyumai Aodil. “Womotomaj sailed throughout all the Drowned World, dealing his wares and hoping to find one who would advise him on how to win Svalen-Tu.” A figure that was a combination of human and otter rose in the ripples, his laughing face turned upward toward the boat. “In those times Kuyumai were more plentiful than they are now, and Aodil was the leader of more than a hundred of his kind. He asked Womotomaj what he could do to help the son of Hyneimoj, and Womotomaj said that he wanted only the love of Svalen-Tu, and he would be the most fortunate of mortals. The Kuyumai Aodil found this an amusing situation for the son of such a goddess as Hyneimoj, and said so, whereupon Womotomaj felt renewed purpose. He asked the way to Zegul-Gnax, the largest island in The Tail, to the home of Ihntof, the palace-master, who had built great castles and palaces throughout the Drowned World. Long ago, Ihntof had been Womotomaj’s finest pupil, and now Womotomaj needed his help.”

The Kuyumai Shadow led the ship and Womotomaj a complicated voyage among the many islands that rose and vanished as the boat with its single occupant and the Kuyumai approached and passed them. The Shadow-ship sped along the spectral coasts Erianthee conjured up, the Kuyumai Shadow continuing to lead the vessel. Finally a long string of islands appeared, three of them showing great fortresses and castles on them, and one – the central one – topped by a grand palace with domes and cupolas and glistening turrets.

“They had reached Zegul-Gnax, and the Kuyumai, in deference to Ondirpich, promised he would return again and guide Womotomaj back to his beloved.”

Womotomaj stepped ashore, and summoned Inhtof to his side; a new figure appeared, as tall as Womotomaj, but much bulkier. This was Ihntof, the palace-master, a truly imposing figure. “Ihntof and Womotomaj consulted as they climbed to the splendid palace, where Ihntof agreed to create a new palace for Svalen-Tu on the near-by island of Tushan-Loz where Womotomaj could court Svalen-Tu unhampered by the world. They fixed their agreement, and Womotomaj summoned the Kuyumai Aodil to guide him back to Tirin-Dzur.”

The Shadows continued their play, showing how Womotomaj disguised himself as he presented himself to Svalen-Tu as a petitioner from Ihntof, who was known throughout the Drowned World, and the Five Worlds as the greatest builder on the Great World. Womotomaj convinced Svalen-Tu to accompany him, which she did, in spite of the warning song of Kuyumai Aodil, who, with the aid of Ondirpich, guided their ship to The Tail and to Tushan-Loz, where Ihntof had built a palace made of Womotomaj’s magic, and capable of changing itself to accommodate her every whim. There were gardens that delighted all the senses in which marvelous creatures roamed, when birds sang and fountains perfumed the air, where rare fruits grew in plenty, and where even the insects were completely benign. There were grand halls and small rooms delicate as jewel-boxes, with all manner of things to delight her. There Womotomaj laid determined siege to Svalen-Tu, presenting himself to her in a number of forms” – a series of heroic figures rose and vanished on the surface of the table – “until he hit upon the one that Svalen-Tu could not resist, and then he made her his captive, his most dedicated love, for she believed he was not Womotomaj, but Rathmei-Ur, her first love, who was said to have drowned off Liriz-Zai.

“And so on, and so on,” whispered Dinvee again. “Everyone knows the story. No need to drag it out.”

Since Erianthee had been at Court before, loud comments no longer distracted her, and she continued with how Womotomaj, having won Svalen-Tu in his guise made the most of his conquest: he lay with her in every gorgeous room of the palace, dedicating one room to kissing, one to caresses, one to their nakedness, and one to their pleasures when their passions had been spent. But a time came when Womotomaj had to leave Svalen-Tu alone, and so sent for a guard, bringing Dojlan ae-Tsomso of Harro-ae to Tushan-Loz. At first, Dojlan, captivated by his charge, avoided Svalen-Tu for fear of what Womotomaj might do, but gradually he fell in love with Svalen-Tu and revealed his distress at his dawning affection, for Hyneimoj’s son was known to have a dreadful temper
.
In his apology to Svalen-Tu, Dojlan revealed all he knew, so that she would not think harshly of him.

“Now Svalen-Tu realized she had been deceived, and that her lover was not Rathmei-Ur, but Womotomaj, and her realization destroyed the magical palace. Their appeals to Womotomaj met with derision, and a reminder that life was harsh for those who forsake the sons and daughters of the god. Only the Silent One remains to receive the devotion of those who abjure their devotion.” All the Shadowshow islands and palaces vanished; Svalen-Tu and Dojlan were left on a barren rock, where they should have perished. “They had nothing to sustain them but their love for one another, and they swore that if they could not live together, they would die together. Then Kuyumai Aodil, who had seen what had become of them, took mercy on them and brought them food and bits of driftwood, helping them to construct a boat, and when they had built it, towed them back to Tirin-Dzur, where they lived in dread of Womotomaj’s ire until they grew old. Then, shortly before their lives ended, Womotomaj visited them and asked their pardon for using them so unkindly; they gave him their pardon, and then the trio swore friendship forever, so that when Svalen-Tu and Dojlan died, many, many vials of tears were offered to the Silent One, and the weaver and her guard were enrolled among the lesser god for all they endured.”

The three Spirits of the Outer Air remained in tableau for a long moment, then broke into scraps of light, fading away; after a short silence, the applause began. Erianthee ended the spell and rose from her place behind the screen, then went to acknowledge the guests’ appreciation.

* * *

Ninianee was startled awake an hour after dawn in the sitting room of her apartments by the sudden, brazen shout of the trumpets. She sat up, gathering her wits and trying to banish the fatigue that seemed to have swathed her in cloudy gauze; she was dressed in the clothes Erianthee had left for her in the arming room of the northwestern tower, and aside from lack of sleep, she felt well enough – no muscles pulled, no serious bruises. “Tonight,” she said to herself, “is going to be trickier. The hunters will be out in force, in our woods. They will be delighted to have a Challim-doe to chase.” She suspected she needed a bath and cleaner clothes, and several hours’ rest, but they could wait: she wanted to see her sister as soon as she could, to tell her what she had encountered in the night. She rubbed her arms as if trying to instill energy in her body, but only felt a greater fatigue seeping into her, stopping her from reciting a grooming-spell. If only she could find an hour for a nap, she thought. Just as she stifled a yawn, the door opened and Erianthee came in, eyes bright with excitement.

“I see you’re doing well,” said Ninianee, getting out of her reclining chair. “How did the evening go?”

“Easily enough, but for that Dinvee-creature, She has fixed her eye on Hoftstan Ruch, and this pleased no one but Dinvee herself.” Erianthee shook her head as if in disbelief. “She was blatant in her intent. Everyone saw what she sought, even Papa.”

“Not Yulko Bihn’s doing?”

Erianthee considered her answer. “Not that I saw. That’s not to say they didn’t arrange things before they arrived. That would be just the sort of trick that Magsto Bihn would delight in, wouldn’t it?”

“Well, well,” marveled Ninianee sarcastically.

“If he is in favor of her antics, he has shown no overt evidence of it, but neither has he shown any disapproval of them.” said Erianthee, going on more briskly, “And speaking of Hoftstan, he is lending me his middle son for the morning – you know, the gamester?”

“You mean Rimdoch? He’s a prankish lad, isn’t he? One who likes to take chances in gaming?” Ninianee asked. “I heard him as I came in shortly after dawn, boasting to the late-cooks. He seems to have done well with Bihn’s escort last night – won almost all their money. He said it was the first decent winnings he has had in months.”

“Because almost no one here is fool enough to play against him; they know he has a talented advantage,” said Erianthee. “A pity he won’t agree to develop his talents – he could do so much more if he would submit to training. He’d rather waste them on cards and dice and tiles.”

“He probably doesn’t see the harm in winning,” said Ninianee. “Well, he is a good assistant if he doesn’t gamble while in the city.”

“He said he’s done well enough that he will not need to worry about money for weeks and weeks,” said Erianthee.

Ninianee’s light-green eyes grew serious. “If he gambled only for money, that might be true. But he likes the thrill of risk as a hunter likes the chase, and as long as he seeks that thrill, he will game, if it be for nothing more than straws. It stirs his blood as nothing else can.” She looked down at the two broken nails on her left hand, the token of a badly jumped fence. “And speaking of hunters,” she went on somewhat remotely, “there was a party of them over in the game preserve, thrashing about in the rain. I wasted much time avoiding them. I doubt I was in much danger, given how they behaved. Maeshar of Otsinmohr has a party of guests, and you know what he’s like.”

“I wish he wouldn’t treat that part of Vildecaz as his private hunting preserve,” said Erianthee, annoyed. “It is Vildecazin territory, not Otsinmohrine.”

“Unless he can persuade the Porzalk Emperor to annex Vildecaz at last,” said Ninianee.

“He hasn’t managed it so far, for all they are cousins,” said Erianthee.

“And you suggested that I accept him as an official suitor,” Ninianee said, a bit pointedly. She smoothed her dolaj. “I suppose I’d best bathe and change the standard way; it’s not as risky as magical cleaning.”

“Do so,” Erianthee recommended. “After you tell me about the hunting party.”

“There were about twenty of them, on very good horses. There wasn’t very much game about, for they were noisy enough to be heard in Cazboarth. I think most of them were half-drunk, for they hurtled around in the forest as if they had no notion of the pandemonium they were causing. Once the rain began, they were completely hopeless. For the most part they got lost and milled about in the dark. They’re planning to come back tonight, so I’m planning to be there, too.”

Erianthee paled. “Oh, Nin, no. You don’t know what they might do, and they wouldn’t know you aren’t really a deer . . . “ She trailed off. “You’re determined, aren’t you?”

“I want to know if Maeshar is up to anything more than trespassing, in case his hunters in the forest and Yulko Bihn in the Great Hall are more than a disquieting coincidence,” said Ninianee. “If they are plotting together, I will find it out.”

“I suppose you will,” said Erianthee with a fatalistic nod. “I’ll put clothes out for you – “

”You won’t have time, not if you’re going down into Valdihovee to look for entertainers,” said Ninianee with a knowing smile. “I wish you luck: most of the minstrels and jugglers will already be at Otsinmohr. You’ll need help finding anything more than amateurs.”

“How did you –“ Erianthee began. “Oh, of course. You heard Rimdoch talking, and his father’s pledge to give his help last night.”

“It’s a pity you can’t stay here and plan for your Shadowshow,” said Ninianee, a hint of something more than mischief in her light-green eyes. “We’ve much to contend with, between our father and Yulko Bihn. Would you rather I went? There’s plenty of time to get back before sundown.”

“It is fine with me, but I suspect Papa is going to ask us both to go, so that every possibility for entertainment may be discovered,” said Erianthee. “He told me a short while ago he doesn’t want either of us to have to spend time with Yulko Bihn, or with his so-called student.” She put her hands together and rested her chin on her longest fingers. “Dinvee has been prowling for Hoftstan all morning, lying in wait for him and making a display of herself; he has gone out to make sure the work is done on the damage to the western wall.”

“If he thinks he’s safe there, he’s mistaken,” said Ninianee. “She is searching for him even now, or I mistake the purpose for her prowling in the gardens and courts.” She shrugged. “I noticed as I came in that she seemed to be looking for something. I didn’t realize it was some
one
, not some
thing
.”