The Vildecaz Talents: The complete set of Vildecaz Stories including Nimuar's Loss, The Deceptive Oracle and Agnith's Promise (66 page)

“Of course not,” said Pareo, a bit too quickly.

“Then why does Gaxamirin want it? It is of no importance to him.” Zhanf waited for Pareo’s answer.

“It is. He’s requested the names and companies, so it must be important to him, though I don’t know precisely why,” said Pareo. “Imperial Scholar Zervethus Gaxamirin has responsibilities to the Empire and I am charged with helping him to fulfill them. Just as you have your duties, I have mine.”

“I don’t see how information on the Guards helps you do this.” Zhanf wanted to argue the notion that Gaxamirin was entitled to such information with Pareo, but was able to keep from doing so.

“I am giving him what he has requested, Magsto,” Pareo said with an air of strained patience. “I don’t question the instructions of the Imperial Scholar. He has so much to learn for the protection of the Porzalk Empire.” He refused to meet Zhanf’s gaze, preferring instead to stare at the parchment spread in front of him.

“I must remind you that Vildecaz isn’t in the Porzalk Empire,” said Zhanf, a bit too nicely.

“Vildecaz is an important ally – one that the Emperor values highly, and one whose safety is of importance to Porzalk,” said Pareo. There was a stubborn set to his chin and his eyes narrowed.

“Strange that Riast’s kinsman, Goriach Maeshar of Otsinmohr thinks of Vildecaz more as his hunting preserve than an ally. The safety of Vildecaz matters to Maeshar less than the game in our forests,” said Zhanf, referring to the Emperor’s cousin who held sway on the south side of the River Dej. How much Zhanf wanted to have a battle – at least of wits – with the officious Pareo, and knew that Maeshar was a sore issue with many in Vildecaz. “That isn’t what allies – ”

Their brewing argument was interrupted by the arrival of Heijot Merinex, who came bustling in, his sajah spangled with water, his hair clinging damply to his face and neck. He respected the two men, then hurried toward the hearth, rubbing his hands as he went. “The second spell-mummy has been found,” he announced with satisfaction. “It was just as Ruch suspected – buried inside the repaired part of the wall, so that if one were discovered, the second might continue to do its work. And whoever buried them was clever enough to make a decoy as well. There seems to be no spell-trail leading from either mummy, which means that whoever put it there is a very powerful magician indeed. We thought we were safe, but – ” He lifted up his hands to show how helpless he was in the face of such nefarious acts. “No wonder the repairs have continued to fail. The masons will come back to fix the wall again when the weather clears.”

“An excellent precaution,” Zhanf approved, reminding himself that this self-important household magician had his uses. “Have you told General Rocazin so she can warn the household and staff?”

“I have, and the Captain of the Night Guard, as well. Senijer ae-Miratdien will want to keep his patrols away from that section of the wall, at least until it is properly restored. We don’t want the Guards falling, do we? And torches won’t be enough to light that section of wall.” Merinex chuckled. “Who would have thought we’d have two spell-mummies under the wall? Think of all the time we spent looking in the wrong places for it. Yet there it was, continuing the spells of the first. A clever ploy, that. You have to admire it.”

“You were the one who said that a second spell-mummy would be in another part of the Castle. You stated that the magical influence was gone from that part of the wall – and then it fell down again,” said Pareo, as if glad to point out another error on Merinex’s part.

“That shows Vildecaz has a subtle enemy, one capable of very complex magical spells that are concealed as well as long-lasting,” said Merinex, impervious to or unaware of this insult. “Although Hoftstan Ruch thought we might find the second mummy near the first. He was certain the second had to be close to the first. He was determined to find out all he could.” He nodded slowly, his demeanor so sagely that he seemed more like a mummer in a play than an actual magician. “His assumption about the second mummy was a most trenchant observation, as it turns out.”

“And one that might have been deadly to him,” said Pareo, his lips thinning as he spoke. “He caught the attention of Vildecaz’s foes.”

Zhanf shook his head. “His death may or may not have had anything to do with the spell-mummy.”

“So you keep saying,” Pareo declared. “But if it doesn’t, how is it that you could learn nothing from his niedaj after you saw his body? Doesn’t it seem unlikely that Ruch would have been so unconcerned that his niedaj retreated to the Outer Air in less than a night? The spell-mummy could account for it.”

“It could – but there are other things that would do the same, as well,” said Zhanf, disliking going over this ground again.

“Very true,” Merinex chimed in. “Not that the spell-mummy couldn’t have contributed to the magical barriers that surrounded the body. That Magsto Zhanf could summon up so much from the niedaj is a remarkable accomplishment.”

“But it wasn’t enough to reveal who killed him,” said Zhanf, feeling the weight of his failure.

“That only goes to show that his killer is powerful, a magician to be reckoned with, which we would do well to keep in mind,” said Merinex stubbornly while accentuating his words with a gesture of high regard. “We face a most formidable opponent, do we not? If the magical works were enlisted in our cause, think what might be done. As it is, we must bear in mind that the magician we’re facing is as formidable as a company of cavalry with enchanted bows and swords.” He sighed. “What more can you or I do to discover him – without alerting him to our efforts and giving him time to secure a more impenetrable disguise? We must assume he will expect us to try to search him out.”

“I don’t know. That’s what I’m hoping to find in these books. It’s clear that Duz Nimuar consulted them, and fairly recently.” He gestured to the three stacks nearest to him. “I know all the usual ways to undo deceptive spells and magical barriers, but there are things that are unique to Vildecaz that I have to deal with before I can find out how Hoftstan Ruch was killed, and by whom.”

There was a short silence, and then Merinex said, “I’d offer to help, but I fear what you’re doing is beyond my talents.” He laughed in self-deprecation. “Your abilities far outshine mine, Magsto.”

Zhanf shrugged. “Everyone’s talent is unique.” He looked over toward Pareo, expecting some comment from the Imperial Secretary. He wasn’t disappointed.

“That is the traditional wisdom,” said Pareo.

Resisting the urge to take umbrage at this, Zhanf went on, “So, Merinex, what do you recommend in regard to the spell-mummy?”

“For now it’s in the shed by the goats’ pen. It can’t do much harm from there, I would guess. You may want to see it later, and add your own protections to it. It’s not as if we can just roll it down the slope and into the river.”

“That would be ill-advised,” said Zhanf before Pareo could speak. “We wouldn’t want a spell-mummy interfering with Dej sturgeon, or washing up on a beach in the Drowned World.”

“By Nyolach, the Unexpected, that would be unfortunate,” said Merinex, the nasty possibilities of such a mishap magnifying in his thoughts. “Best to keep the spell-mummy where it is until there’s a chance to dissipate its magic. Until it is drained of its spells, we must keep an eye on it.”

“Exactly,” said Zhanf. “I say this not just for the Drowned World, but for every sailor on every ship that plies the waters from Valdihovee to Zegul-Gnax.” He felt a pang of homesickness as he said the name of the Drowned World’s largest island. “A spell-mummy adrift in the sea could create terrible problems.”

“A spell-mummy could indeed cause trouble in those waters,” Merinex agreed, then slapped his hands on the front of his sajah. “Well, I won’t linger. There are others who need to be informed of what’s happened here. I thought it best to report to you first after Housekeeper-General Rocazin of what has been done. No doubt we’ll speak further after our main meal.”

Pareo seemed completely indifferent to this suggestion. “That’s still two hours away, and we have much to do here.”

Little as he disliked fomenting rancor, Zhanf snapped, “Not that what you do has any bearing on Vildecaz.”

Pareo drew himself up, affronted. “I have my duty, as you have yours.”

“So you keep telling me,” Zhanf said, all the while surprised at how abrasive he was being. He wondered if there were some magical influence working here – one he wasn’t aware of. This seemed unlikely, but, he reminded himself, he had been unable to trace Duz Nimuar since he disappeared, and that indicated strong negative magical interference on the usual finding-spells. “I shouldn’t have spoken so harshly,” he said to Pareo as Merinex closed the door. 

“No, you should not have,” said Pareo, and returned to writing his report.

Zhanf sighed and reached for the book he’d set aside. As he found his place, he determined to make another attempt to seek out Duz Nimuar through tracking-spells and locating rituals. Some of the cloaking-spells and other misdirective devices might have dissipated by now, and that would allow him to find more about the Duz. That way, he might be able to summon Ninianee home, or provide her some idea about where her search would succeed. It wasn’t much of a plan, but it was preferable to doing nothing.

* * *

Yulko Bihn faced Erianthee across the confines of the solarium, his paunchy body made impressive by his most formidable gaihups of deep-iris Adamine-velvet over which an elaborately embellished dogaza shone with jewels and rare, colored glass beads from Cortinaj on the distant island of Zarifaenee. Two golden Orders hung on gold chains around his neck and he had put rings on every finger. “You’ve certainly been hard to find alone.”

“Magsto,” said Erianthee. “Should you be here?”

“You’d like to keep me away?” He gave her an affronted stare, his breath coming harshly.

“Yes.” She studied him. “That shouldn’t surprise you.”

“Given what you’ve been saying about me, I suppose it shouldn’t. I want to hear no more of your suspicions, Duzna,” he declared, using her older title deliberately.

“What are you talking about, Magsto Bihn? I’m afraid your remarks are incomprehensible to me.” Erianthee said.

“You may stop spreading rumors based only on your dislike of me, and your suspicions about my actions. You accusations are groundless and insulting.” His face was turning red now, and his eyes were shiny with anger.

Knowing it was folly to be talking with Yulko Bihn, Erianthee kept her tone level and polite. “What suspicions do you speak of, Magsto?” She was genuinely puzzled by his attack, and she cocked her head, waiting for his response. Belatedly she rose from her chaise and respected Bihn, this attention to good form making this gesture seem more a slight than a courtesy. “I do not bruit my dislike of you about. The Court has more than enough rumors to deal with; I will not add to them.”

“You have been bruiting it about that I contributed to the conjure-storm,” he said in the full force of his indignation. “Don’t deny it. I’ve been informed by more than one of the Court’s magicians.”

“I’ve said nothing of the sort to anyone. I’ve made no statements in that regard at all.” She studied her father’s old enemy, and thought back to his most recent visit to Vildecaz. “Not that I wouldn’t have reason to do so.”

“That’s what I mean! You’re not to say such things! It’s not true, Duzna, and you know it!”

“Duzeon,” she corrected him.

“Oh, yes. Duzeon.” He glowered at her, his face showing more outrage. “You will have that title, although your father is only missing not dead. How like you to advance yourself over your father.” He made a gesture of rejection. “What have you done to deserve the honors given you here? The Dowager Empress has singled you out for favor, based on nothing more than your methods of story-telling – which takes many forms, as you have shown. Between your Shadowshows and your whispers, you have sought to slight me at every turn.”

Erianthee regarded him levelly. “So you have chosen to believe the rumors that I have been spreading rumors about you? That is why you’ve sought me out?”

“Don’t attempt to deny it,” he said angrily. “I told you I have heard it from honorable magicians in the service of the Imperial Court.”

“And you are willing to credit them with good intentions?” she inquired.

He fumed as he strove to find the right thing to say. Finally he pointed his index finger at her. “You are to stop telling the Court that I helped – “

”Magsto, let me reiterate: I’ve said nothing to anyone about you, beyond asking Riast to keep us apart, for reasons he doesn’t need me to explain,” she interrupted. “If someone claims I have done so, he or she is in error.”

“You must have,” he countered. “Don’t think I’m deceived. Your mendacity is known to me.”

“Then you’re being advised by someone deliberately set on turning you against me – not that I would have thought such an effort was necessary, for you’ve made your sentiments regarding my family known to us every year you’ve come to Vildecaz to gloat.”

He jerked his head as if slapped. “Gloat? What do you take me for?”

“I take you for a man who rejoices in my father’s misfortunes, for you make no attempt to hide your contempt for him, and his Duzky. In fact, given your feelings about my family, I wonder that you bother to come to Vildecaz at all. No,” she said forcefully, seeing he was about to interrupt her. “I have listened to you and now you will listen to me. Whatever my sentiments regarding your treatment of my father may be, I have no opinion about any role you may or may not have played in the destruction of so much of Tiumboj Castle. Your activities after the conjure-storm should serve to exonerate you from all suspicions. If you want my view, I would assume you would rather preserve Tiumboj than not, since you live here, but I could be mistaken.” Now that she said it, many of the half-formed thoughts that had been with her since she had sheltered in the Vault of Meilianoz and listened to the Castle breaking apart above her. “You may be a Court magician, but I wouldn’t think you were capable of causing a conjure-storm of that size and power. It was beyond the talents you possess. I know that such a storm requires the concentration of talents of many magicians, and I have said so whenever my assessment has been sought. You alone might uproot a tree or two, or break windows, or damage a portion of a roof, but smash the Castle and the whole of the city as well as most of the Porzalk Empire? You couldn’t do it – no one magician could.”