The Vildecaz Talents: The complete set of Vildecaz Stories including Nimuar's Loss, The Deceptive Oracle and Agnith's Promise (77 page)

”Van is carrying invitations for Last and First Day festivities to many of our neighbors here,” said Zhanf.

“General Rocazin is away as well, isn’t she?”

“I believe so,” said Zhanf, who had seen General Rocazin off two hours earlier, bound for the Mercers’ Stage, the first barge stage above Valdihovee, and the center of textile trade in the region. “She’ll return in a day or two.”

“More preparation for Last and First Day, I warrant, at a time she can get a good, winter price on cloth,” he said. “Even that ingratiating fool Merinex is gone.”

This was news to Zhanf, who said only, “If he’s beyond the Castle’s outer wall, I’d be surprised.” Pareo’s rancor at the mention of Merinex didn’t surprise him, but he added, “All his duties are in the Castle.”

“I saw him in the tower where the spell-mummies have been placed.”

“No doubt he wants to reinforce the protective spells on them,” said Zhanf. “That’s one of his duties – to maintain protective spells. He’s always been careful about his duties. No? You’ve seen how he bustles about, and how he makes sure everyone knows he’s done his work. He is diligent about those spells. ” He smiled at Pareo as he decided he’d have to speak with Merinex about how he was containing the spell-mummies.

“Something was said about there being Cazboarthen men at the wall where the spell-mummies were discovered.” He made a gesture of protection. “Merinex told me that the guards had been alerted to watch for more trouble from Cazboarth.”

“When did he tell you that?” Zhanf asked, hoping to find out how much Merinex had said, and to whom.

“A few days after . . . Ruch died.” Pareo looked down into his wine-cup as if he would like to have much more. A shake of his head ended his wish.

“Did he make a connection between the spell-mummies and Cazboarth?” That was precisely the kind of rumor Zhanf didn’t want bruited throughout the Duzky, and it was exactly what the people were likely to seize upon. He would have to speak to Merinex about it.

Pareo didn’t answer directly. “I hope he knows what he’s doing. One mistake with spell-mummies, and who knows what mischief could be unleashed. I hope the spell-mummies aren’t beyond his talents to control.” He paused thoughtfully, then said, “I can’t understand how such an experienced magician as Duz Nimuar could engage such a fellow as Merinex as his Castle magician. Compromised or not, Nimuar must be aware of Merinex’s limitations.”

“He is somewhat . . . incapable of all that’s required of him, I suppose, but he does his work and he is given nothing beyond his talent to accomplish, as far as I’m aware. But Duz Nimuar, in spite of what was done to him, kept up a great deal of the routine household spells himself, so Merinex carries fewer obligations than most household magicians.” As Zhanf said it, he discovered he shared Pareo’s puzzlement.

“You spoke, Magsto, of possible enemies within the walls,” Pareo observed. “Someone like Merinex is ill-equipped to deal with them.” He tossed off the rest of his wine and got out of his chair. “This was most kind of you. I regret that I’m unable to remain longer, but I must leave.” He respected Zhanf lavishly and went to the door. “One day, we may meet again.”

“One day we may,” Zhanf agreed.

“I’ll look forward to it, and to meeting Duz Nimuar.” He flourished the long, tied sleeves of his gaihups and left Zhanf alone with his thoughts.

A short while later, Zhanf heard the Castle trumpeter play Farewell to the Guest a sure signal that Pareo was through the main gate and on his way down the long, curving road to Valdihovee. He continued to sit, sipping his wine and trying to discern what message, if any, Pareo had concealed in his last remarks. One thing was certain – Pareo was worried about the spell-mummies. This didn’t surprise Zhanf, for Pareo had been much distressed by the death of Hoftstan Ruch, and had remained uneasy since the seneschal was murdered. He couldn’t figure out why Pareo had made such a point of bringing up Heijot Merinex’s inadequacies, except that it helped to justify the dread that had driven Pareo to flee Vildecaz Castle. And while Zhanf was worried about possible enemies or allies of enemies within the Castle walls, he had found no evidence linking any of the household to Cazboarth. His ruminations continued until Neilach Drux appeared in the doorway.

“I think I may have found something,” he said as he respected Zhanf.

“What is it?” Zhanf rose and gave his attention to Drux, for he could see that Nimuar’s valet was agitated.

“Well, I was going through the Duz’s clothes-presses for the usual winter repairs, as is done every year at this time,” Drux began, making an effort to organize his thoughts. “I found something behind the clothes-press, up against the wall. I think you’d better have a look at it.”

“All right,” said Zhanf, motioning to Drux to take the lead.

“It could be nothing,” said Drux as he made for the main stairs. “But I doubt it, for it took an effort to conceal it.” He folded his hands as if to calm himself as he climbed to the second floor. “The clothes-presses are heavy and I only move them when they’re empty. Usually a maid cleans the underside and the floor and we manage with spells for the rest of the year.”

“A fairly common arrangement,” said Zhanf, continuing upward with Drux. “But you have the presses open just now, and you moved them?”

“Yes. That’s the way of it,” said Drux. “I want to be sure all his clothes are in good order for when he returns.”

“Commendable, I’m sure,” said Zhanf. “I have the feeling that what bothers you has little to do with the state of Nimuar’s clothes.”

This time Drux nodded. “You’ll see,” he said, stepping onto the third floor and continuing along toward Duz Nimuar’s dressing-room. “I think it would be advisable to look in the Duzeon’s dressing-rooms as well.”

This suggestion troubled Zhanf, who walked a little faster. “What is it that you’ve found?”

“I think . . . “ Drux cleared his throat as he opened the door to Duz Nimuar’s dressing-room. “I think it is an expulsion-spell, one that would drive the Duz out of Vildecaz.” He pointed to a small wooden jar on the floor behind where the largest clothes-press usually stood. “I recognized the invocations to Dandolmaz, the Capricious and Kylomotarch, the Forgetter on the lid. Those two can be a powerful combination for – ”

”Sending their subjects away,” Zhanf finished for him, in agreement, continuing to stare at the small wooden jar. Drux had been right about the invocations, and that prompted Zhanf to want to see the whole of the jar, to find out more about what kind of spells it contained, and how they were renewed. “Yes, this is most perturbing.” He pulled a vial of ympara-oil out of his sleeve, unstoppered it and dropped a little of the oil on the wooden jar. A faint, rotten odor rose from it, and a thin trail of smoke leaked out its seal. “Most worrying.” He turned to Drux, “Will you fetch me a plate of salt, please? If there is a silver plate you can use to carry it, so much the better.”

“I’ll bring the salt-cellar from the book room and one of the old silver platters hung there, if that will do,” said Drux, casting an anxious glance at the wooden jar, then looking directly at Zhanf. “Duz Nimuar keeps them to deal with unexpected spells found in some of his books, if you think they will do.”

“Most acceptable,” said Zhanf, and stood back while Drux hurried from the room. Alone, he made a few passes in the air above the wooden jar and heard a growling recitation come from it, the voice hard to comprehend in anything but the malicious talent that fueled it. This was concentrated malevolence, saturated with devastation and alienation, and focused on Duz Nimuar, for the one word that Zhanf could make out from the hissing voice was Nimuar, the name expressing such vicious intent that Zhanf was taken aback. It would require a Knot of Vitiation at least to stop the jar’s spell from continuing to do its work. He would begin the counter-spells to make the Knot before sundown. He took great care not to touch it, or allow his shadow to fall upon it, knowing that this could trigger more damage.

Drux came back with the salt-cellar and platter as well as a small volume of invocations for spells. “I know you’re a most learned Magsto, but I thought you might find this useful,” he said as he handed over the book.

“Thank you,” said Zhanf, taking all three objects.

“Because,” Drux went on, “it struck me that if the invocations match those in this book, it is likely someone in the Castle is responsible for that jar.” He indicated the seal on the book. “This is Duz Nimuar’s own compilation of spells, from . . . before he was blighted.”

“It’s cloaked as well as complex,” said Zhanf, lowering his head and crouching low, still taking care to keep his shadow from falling on the jar. He poured salt from the cellar onto the silver platter until there was a pale-grey sheet blocking out the silver’s sheen. “This is going to be difficult,” he remarked as he prepared to move the jar by spells onto the platter.

“May I help you?” Drux asked, doing his best to keep his distance from the sinister jar.

“Watch any smoke that may emerge from the seal. There may be something in it that will point the way to the one who cast the spell.” He took up the posture for counter-spells, then intoned the conjuration, the air crackling around him, and a faint glow coming from his fingers. After a third of an hour, the jar lifted from its place, its wood looking charred, and malodorous smoke coming from its surface. “It’s trying to destroy the invocation. Throw water on it!” Zhanf ordered Drux.

Drux took the ewer of water on the shaving-table and tossed all its contents on the jar, which landed in the wet salt on the silver platter.

Zhanf waited for a hundred heartbeats, then bent down and inspected the wooden jar. “It almost succeeded in catching fire.” Most of the invocation was blackened, but on the underside there was an emblem, one that Zhanf saw with repulsion.

“What is it?” Drux asked, shocked by the expression on Zhanf’s countenance.

“Despicable and dangerous,” Zhanf said solemnly. “This is the sign of the Night Priests of Ayon-Tur.” He stood up, determination replacing alarm. “Come. We have much to do and little time to do it.” With that, he picked up the platter and swept out the door, Drux following behind him, distressed by what he had just learned.

* * *

Shortly before dawn after the first night of the full moon, Ninianee – now a very small drugh-ox – managed to break free of the pen Doms had improvised for her. She rushed away through the brush toward the edge of the forest that loomed three leagues north of the River Dej. Doms followed her, and found her, two hours later, crouched naked in a thicket of juniper.

“Well,” he said as he held out a sajah to her. “That was interesting.”

She took the pleated cloak and pulled it around her shoulders. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly as she got to her feet.

“The first night is always the most difficult,” said Doms reassuringly. “Tonight you’ll have better control.” He held out more garments. “Once you’re warm, put them on. I’ll hold the cloak to conceal you.”

“Why?” she asked with a short laugh. “You’ve seen me naked before.”

“That I have,” he agreed. “And it always causes me to long for you.”

To her surprise, this acknowledgment alarmed her. “I thought you . . . put such feelings aside.” She reached for the clothes, taking care to keep the front of the sajah closed as she did.

He offered her an awkward respect. “No, I said I’ll wait, but that doesn’t mean that I’ll deny my feelings.”

“I’m being so unfair to you,” she said as she turned away and tugged on her skin clothes, wriggling with her efforts.

“Let me hold the cloak, Ninianee,” he offered, plucking it from her shoulders and holding it half-around her. “Now, the brikes and then the zenft, and last the pelgar.”

“I’ll need slippers for a couple of hours.”

“I have them.” He held them out to her. “They’re a little large for you, I think, but your feet always hurt after you’ve had hooves, don’t they, and these slippers are lined with fleece.” He grinned at her. “I remember your trouble with hooves, from the wallow-moj.”

“You’d think paws would be worse, but they’re easier,” she said, her voice muffled as she drew the zenft over her head and tugged it down. The wind picked up, still cold from the snows on the peaks above them, and she shivered.

Doms held the sajah more closely around her. “I think we should find a barn for tonight. One with a stall that can hold you – the pen wasn’t sufficient.”

“I’ll be more aware,” she reminded him. “That will help.”

“So it will,” he agreed, loosening his grasp as she shrugged into her pelgar. “I’ll be glad not to have to be on guard against those horns.”

She turned toward him sharply. “Did I hurt you? I seem to think I did.”

“You tried, but I’m too fast for that.” He lowered the sajah and kissed her forehead where the horns had been.

“Oh, Doms, I’m so sorry.”

Her chagrin cut him to the quick. “You needn’t apologize, Ninianee, not to me, and never for your Change.” He wrapped his arms around her, the sajah still between them, and held her gently.

“But . . . “ She looked directly into his eyes. “I have to. Of all people, you’re the one to whom I should apologize.”

He released her, gathering up the sajah and holding out his hand to her. “Come on. We need to get moving. We’re getting under way later than we’d planned.” He led her to where he had left Womilaj tied to a tree. The pony whuffled at their approach and stamped his hoof. “Let me give you a leg up,” he offered, lacing his hands together and bending over.