The Vildecaz Talents: The complete set of Vildecaz Stories including Nimuar's Loss, The Deceptive Oracle and Agnith's Promise (9 page)

* * *

Kloveon of Fauthsku was half-way down the Grand Staircase when he caught sight of Erianthee hurrying across the entry-way. “Duzna,” he called, a slight catch in his voice betraying his interest in her. He was a very handsome man – tall, rangy, with sugar-brown eyes, bright, burnished-gold hair, and a disastrously attractive quality of amusement in his demeanor – made more so by his beautiful clothing: a long dolaj in the southern style, of thick-woven opalescent-silver Mozh-cloth; the sleeves were embroidered in red. His brikes were of Uduganish tapestry, and his boots were made of red, tooled elk-leather; all bespoke his wealth and position, and the whole, including his wealth, became him extremely well.

Much as she wanted to pretend she hadn’t heard him, Erianthee stopped still. “Welcome, Mirkal Kloveon.” She respected him with more than usual care, watching him come down the last eleven steps. “It is an honor to have you at Vildecaz Castle.” This was not entirely true, but good manners required she say so. She decided something more was called for. “It is a while, Mirkal, since we have had the pleasure of seeing you here.”

“You needn’t bother with my title,” he said as he came up to her, making a fine respect to her.

“You used mine,” she pointed out, matching respect for respect. “I could do no less.”

His eyes crinkled as he smiled, the most engaging thing about his features. “Then let us consider the proprieties done.” He stood before her, staring down into her face. “I have missed you, Erianthee. More than you can know.”

She tried to think of a response to that, but came up with nothing more than, “That’s very flattering.”

“Not flattering at all; I have no reason to flatter you,” he said. “It is nothing more than the truth.” He waited for her to speak, then said, “I bring your official invitation to Court, for the Zunah.”

“I will be honored to attend; I am grateful to Emperor Riast for his kindness to me,” said Erianthee automatically; the Autumn Assembly had asked her to entertain them for the last four years; this invitation was not unexpected, but having Kloveon be the Courier was, and it disquieted her to have him as a guest in the Castle, especially since Yulko Bihn was also here.

“I am to give you escort into the Porzalk Empire, and as far as Udugan Province, where your Grand Escort will meet us and take you the rest of the way to the capital. It will be a privilege to see you safely to the rendezvous.” His delivery of this simple information turned his words into something more, almost a caress.

“Oh,” she said, trying to recall what the proper response was, and coming up with nothing suitable.

“The Emperor asks me to greet you in his name and assure you of his happy anticipation of your Shadowshows.”

“Thank you,” said Erianthee, offering another respect.

“We must depart within the next week if you are to arrive at the opening of the Zunah.” He might as well have run his hands over her body, given how he spoke to her.

“You are to escort me all the way? Will you continue with the Grand Escort?” Erianthee asked, aware that would be a significant break with tradition, yet wanting an excuse to linger in his presence.

“Nothing so outrageous, or so enjoyable, not that I would not welcome such a duty. As I said, I and my men will go as far as Udugan, and you will be provided with the Archmagistrate to protect you, and I will relinquish you to his care, in accordance with the wishes of the Emperor. The Archmagistrate and his Grand Escort will take you the rest of the way to Tiumboj.” There was a hint of disapproval in this announcement, as if he were readying himself for a new outbreak of the rivalry that had flared between them last year.

“Hajmindor Elet?” Erianthee asked, picturing the man almost to the point of summoning a Spirit of the Outer Air in his semblance. She shook herself mentally to break free of her imagining. “Is he going to escort me?”

“He and a dozen of his best men. The Emperor is determined that no one should interfere with your journey.” Kloveon offered her a formal smile, one that lacked his wonderful crinkling eyes. “I haven’t the patent to travel to the Imperial Capital with so many armed men.”

“It may be just as well, given the Emperor’s penchant for seeing enemies in every shadow,” said Erianthee, thinking she ought to guard her tongue around Kloveon. As attractive as she found him, she knew his first loyalty had to be to the Empire, not an obscure border duzky like hers.

“Just so, and something you might keep in mind during your Shadowshows, since the Spirits of the Outer Air could influence him to distrust you; not that I think you would work against Riast in any way,” said Kloveon, a bit too smoothly. “In my own regard, I do comprehend your concern, and I thank you for – “

”I am being nervous, that is all,” said Erianthee. “You mustn’t regard what I say too closely.”

Kloveon smiled. “I can’t help being flattered that you would worry for my safety. I am much comforted by your concern.”

This was getting worse and worse, Erianthee thought, deeply flustered. “I have much yet to do, and less time than I would like to do it in, so if you will excuse me, Mirkal?”

He took a half-step back. “Of course, Erianthee.”

Irrationally, since she not wanted him to use her title, she wished he had included that formality, for now it seemed he was on overly familiar terms with her. She gave a single, impatient bounce on her toes and hurried off, knowing he was watching her as she hurried down the corridor.

* * *

Nimuar was not in his study, nor was he in his book-room, nor in his private apartments. Masking her worry with annoyance, Erianthee put off changing for the banquet and instead hurried to the stable, where she found Ninianee sitting in the stall of her big bay coach-horse.

“I thought you must be donning your finest gaunel by now,” said Ninianee as she looked around at the sound of Erianthee’s approach. “Sanma here informs me that he may be throwing a splint. His leg is a little warmer than it should be, and he is favoring it, even here in the stall.”

“I can’t find Papa anywhere,” said Erianthee without any other greeting, and paying no heed to the ailing horse.

“I think he’s in the northeastern tower. He claimed that he needed to do a sighting of some sort, an hour since. You should find him there,” Ninianee said. “Just as well that he isn’t around, with Bihn going through the castle like a curious ferret, and that Dinvee-creature slinking after Hoftstan, wanting to pounce on him. It’s a pity Hoftstan has to attend to making the Great Hall ready for the banquet; that woman is driving him to distraction. If I could order him to go to his home, I would, but General Rocazin would be very put out at such a lapse in conduct.”

“She is a bit of a chore to deal with – Dinvee, not General Rocazin,” said Erianthee. “If you’re certain Papa is in the tower, I’ll dispatch Rimdoch to find him and bring him back. It is time to be dressing.” She studied her sister. “Shall I have Ver send a plate out to you?”

“No, I don’t think so,” said Ninianee. “I’m afraid all that fine meat would not sit well with a Challim doe, and Ver would wonder at being asked for a plate of grain. I can get any food I will need from the bins in the tack room.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” said Erianthee, and shrugged nervously. “You know best.”

“I may want a hearty breakfast come tomorrow, for I’m going to try to see what Maeshar and his friends are up to in our game preserve – with any luck, I might frighten them into leaving the woods to Vildecaz,” Ninianee said, trying to project calm and amusement to her sister. “For tonight, you have no reason to worry about me. Beirach – you know: the fur-trader – was here earlier, and he said that the Otsinmohr hunt is going out after dusk; I should be able to avoid the hunters, since I should reach the forest some time before they do. I will look for you in the morning room, an hour after dawn. At least I am a doe this moon, not hungry for flesh: last moon, I was a marten – a very large marten, whose legs could hardly hold her up because of her size. I’m lucky only you and a woodsman saw me. That Change would have been awkward with so many guests in the Castle as we have now.”

“I recall, and I understand you, Nin,” said Erianthee, feeling steadily more flustered. “I apologize for being so uneasy. I know I must not continue this way tonight. But it is all I can do to handle being civil to Bihn and trying to keep away from Kloveon. I know you’re in no position to help tonight. And I’m not trying to make your way more difficult, it’s just that with all that’s been going on, you are in a risky position, and . . . “ Her words trailed away.

“I take it, then, you’ve seen Kloveon?” Ninianee ventured, her expression showing no emotion.

“Bontaj, yes!”

Ninianee stared, surprised to hear Erianthee use such strong language. “Oh, dear.”

“He’s just one more thing to deal with,” said Erianthee hastily. “I expected the Imperial Courier sometime this week, because he has come at this time for the last three years, but I never thought it would be Kloveon.”

“Why should you?” Ninianee soothed, then added, “He must have bribed someone very important to get the mission.”

Erianthee responded without thinking,“Coming, as it did, on top of seeing Doms Guyon in Valdihovee – “

Ninianee started. “Doms Guyon?”

“Yes.”

“But he left months ago,” said Ninianee, turning a little pale.

“He left, but was driven back by a storm, or so he says; he is going to be one of the entertainers tonight, if he’s needed,” Erianthee told her, feeling even more awkward than before. “I probably shouldn’t have mentioned him.”

Ninianee’s laughter cracked like the slap of a riding crop. “I wonder if it’s true?” Her voice was rising in pitch. “It must have been a very convenient storm.”

“I don’t know; he’s not strong enough to conjure a storm himself, so at least that’s – ” Erianthee broke off. “And he’s probably shielded his memories, so not even Heijot Merinex or Papa could find out what actually happened, if he’s prevaricating.”

“Did he tell you why he is in Valdihovee just now?” Without giving Erianthee a chance to answer, Ninianee went on, “Has he been there long? What brings him here – this Castle, the city, or the River Dej?”

“He didn’t tell me,” said Erianthee. “But at least he is not going to be with us this afternoon, although he pointed me to some very good entertainers.” She felt her blush begin, a token of an incomprehensible rush of embarrassment.

Ninianee saw it and reached out to put her hand on her sister’s shoulder. “You didn’t do anything wrong in talking to him. In fact, it’s probably just as well that you did. It’s unfortunate that he should reappear, particularly now, when there are other matters claiming our attention – “

”But it’s so arduous, balancing so many things,” Erianthee burst out. “I feel as if I’m about to stumble and fall.”

“I wish we were through the three nights of the full moon; you would have fewer burdens than you carry at present.” Ninianee sighed. “And, with that in mind, I will turn Sanma out into the pasture shortly; I’ll let everyone in the stable know I’m going out to keep an eye on him.”

“You will have clothes waiting for you, for the morning,” said Erianthee.

“Thank you, yes,” said Ninianee.

Erianthee gestured impatiently. “I wish we could spend longer together, but I have to dress for the banquet and make ready to do a Shadowshow for our guests. This is not the way I want to spend the evening. Truth to tell, I would prefer to be alone with Kloveon, but that’s impossible. I don’t want to have to endure an evening with Yulko Bihn and his so-called student, but if I must, I must.” She paced down to the end of the broad aisle between a double-line of box-stalls, turning abruptly and coming back to Ninianee. “What do you want me to tell them about your absence?”

“Only that I am taking care of an ailing horse; no one will question that,” said Ninianee. “And that I won’t subject them to stable-clothes.”

“All right,” said Erianthee, and prepared to leave.

“Eri,” said Ninianee, “be careful with Kloveon. Much as he admires you, you aren’t the only thing that brings him to Vildecaz.”

Erianthee slapped her hands together. “I know, Nin, I know.” She started toward the main door, adding over her shoulder as she went, “And I don’t know if that makes his being here better or worse.”

* * *

Near sunset, at the end of the feasting, just before the entertainment began, Duz Nimuar rose and addressed the company gathered in the Great Hall. He was in his very best hupslan, of rich, sculptured Adamine-velvet from Pomig the deep color of ripe joalliberries, over which his doga of pale-grey damask glistened like polished silver; his duzine cornet shone on his brow. “I am delighted to have so many honored guests under my roof, and I thank you for the distinction you lend to this House. May your stay be as delightful as your departure is sad.” He blinked as if suddenly exposed to bright light. “I leave you in the capable hands of General Rocazin, the entertainers, and my daughter, Duzna Erianthee, but I fear I must excuse myself for the remainder of the afternoon and into the evening.” He respected the whole room, then hurried to leave the High Table.

“Where is he going?” Dinvee asked, loudly enough for almost all to hear her.