The White Assassin (20 page)

“What
sort
of… offer?” asked Lithgo.

“Dear Lithgo, we are ready,” said Billycan, “finally ready to invade the Catacombs, and
I
will lead the way.”

Finally Killdeer got up from his chair. “Yes, gentlemen, it’s time to take back our home. The home Trilok banished us from. Old fool should have killed us when he had the chance. We will once and for all destroy High Minister Trilok, along with his wretched group of advisers. With Billycan at the helm, we cannot fail.” He stood next to Billycan, who kept his paw firmly latched to Lithgo’s neck. “Billycan is no longer just another one of you.” Killdeer glared angrily at Lithgo. Lithgo gulped. Killdeer turned to the rest of the rats. “Henceforth, you will address Billycan as Commander. Commander Billycan reports to me, and each and every one of you reports to him. You are now an army,
his
army. Is that clear?”

Silence filled the room.

Billycan wrenched Lithgo close to him and whispered in his ear, “Major Lithgo, you are
my
major now. Do not ever address me in such a manner again—do you understand me?” He could feel Lithgo’s hackles rise under his grasp. “For if you do, not only will you die, but you will die in such a prolonged and, dare I say,
ghastly
manner that you will be utterly mad by the time I finally finish you off. I will quite literally skin you alive bit by bit, until there is no skin left. You will beg for death.”

Juniper sat on his stool and watched Billycan in silence, thinking. He thought of the secret and what it was doing to him. And what it would undoubtedly do to his family, his friends, the Council—all of Nightshade. Everything trickles down, as they say, one poor decision leading to another.

More than ever he wished his brother Barcus were alive. Barcus always seemed to know the answers to life’s sticky problems,
giving sound advice, but in this situation Barcus might well have been equally confounded. Juniper felt as though everything was tumbling down around him. Lost in reflection, he didn’t notice Billycan staring at him from his cot.

“Juniper,” Billycan called out groggily, “are you all right?”

Juniper looked up. “Oh,” he said, getting to his feet, “yes, I’m fine.” He folded his arms and leaned against the bars of the cell. “I was thinking about you, actually. I’ve been coming down here for days now, hoping you’d remember something of the swamp, because I so badly need you to remember whom you were working with. But I’ve neglected to ask about you. How you’re
doing.
What you’re feeling. And you may think my asking is a ploy to win your favor, to get you to talk, but I do care about you, what happens to you… what
happened
to you.”

Billycan cocked his head and stared at Juniper, perplexed. “But why? After all I’ve done, why would you care anything about me, other than the day I’m to be executed? I don’t remember it all—not yet—but I do remember many, many things, horrifying things that I did. Worst of all, I remember liking it.” He pulled himself to his feet. A sudden chill sent a shudder through his body. His stomach churned and his hackles rose. He looked at Juniper as though he’d been slapped hard across the muzzle. His voice grew angry. “I don’t want you to care about me! I don’t want anyone to
ever
care about me! What I’ve done cannot be forgiven, nor should it be. There will be no pity for me, only loathing and disgust at what I’ve become—a wicked, wicked creature.”

“What if I told you you are not solely responsible for being that wicked creature you describe?” Billycan stayed silent. “What if I told you that in that laboratory you once called home a dangerous drug was
pumped into you by humans? This drug, supposed to make you calm and content, had the opposite effect. It made you violent, sadistic. It was manufactured out of greed, and the humans knew full well its vile effects.”

“I don’t believe you,” replied Billycan flatly. “You’re just saying this to get answers out of me—clever of you, just what I would do in your place.”

“I speak the truth. That is exactly what happened, and there is a chance at redemption. Everyone has that chance, even you.”

Billycan shook his head. “Every time I look at you, all I see is that night in the Catacombs when I attacked you, ripping that eye from your skull. I can’t think of anything else! I wished you dead. I remember hearing you growl in pain. I reveled in every moment of it.” His shoulders slumped. He fell back down on his cot. “Whatever this serum is, its effects will wear off eventually. I will turn back into the soulless killer I was. I know it. I
feel
it. I hope you get your answers before that happens.”

Two cups of tea between them, Juniper sat across from Elvi in the Council Chamber, his expression one of utter astonishment. “I don’t understand why you’d ask me this. Elvi, it makes no sense.”

“I know it’s a strange request,” said Elvi, “but one I thought was quite vital. You said the serum you gave Billycan
is
working. He
is
starting to remember things—many things—but slowly. Maybe I can help hasten his memories along. Perhaps your presence is impeding him, keeping his memory from moving forward.”

“I’m sorry to say, I think you’d only be wasting your time.”

“Since I returned I’ve heard nothing but unsettling, grisly stories from all of you about Billycan,” said Elvi. “Maybe that fear—that
history you all hold with him—is preventing him from giving you answers. He may not remember details quite yet, but perhaps his subconscious knows he should not talk to you. If he’s as cunning as everyone says he is, even with the drug maybe he’s found a way to hold back.”

“You do make sense,” Juniper agreed. “He did mention that he can’t stop thinking about the night of the Bloody Coup, when he attacked me in the Catacombs…perhaps you’re right. Maybe it
is
preventing him from remembering more.” He pushed away his tea and smiled. “And you do have a way about you—that Toscan charm.”

Suddenly Elvi’s paws trembled.

“Elvi, what is it?”

“Juniper, all those years ago, when I was hustled onto that boat to Tosca, I was terrified. I had no idea what horrors lay in store for me in the vast Toscan jungle. My greatest fears were realized. Not only are Toscan creatures savage, they are wicked, too. They kill because they are born to it. They
like
it. But I’m strong. I used my wits—and my wiles—to deal with those cunning creatures, to talk to them. I’m quick and I’m clever. I can cajole Billycan, worm the truth from him, bend his will just as I did with the brutish Toscans.”

“But—”

“You
have
to let me do this,” she pleaded. “Don’t you understand, Juniper? I want to help. Now I have a chance to truly contribute—to give back to the Saints for taking care of me in Tosca, and to give back to you. You and the others welcomed me with open arms.” Tears welled in her eyes. “Please. You
must
let me do this.”

Juniper considered. It was natural that Elvi needed to feel she was helping. She seemed to care about everyone in Nightshade, always
there with kind words, always compassionate. She doted on poor Texi. She was a dear friend to his wife. She was a caretaker—someone who wanted only to help. “All right, Elvi,” Juniper finally agreed.

Elvi wiped her eyes. “Thank you. I know I can help.”

“Tomorrow, then.”

U
LRICH HAD ALWAYS
had a soft spot for Texi. Some thought she was slow, simple, a dim, damaged dullard. He’d never believed that. There was nothing
dim
about her. He reasoned Texi’s heart was merely so pure and generous she couldn’t fathom others being cruel and calculating. She was a benevolent soul who was lucky enough to live in her own special world.

With that in mind, he and his brother made their way to her and Clover’s quarters, hoping to ease Texi’s mind about Billycan and decipher her strange words to little Julius. They had to question her regardless, so the timing made good sense. Talk of Killdeer, dead for three years now, troubled them greatly. Perhaps Texi had become overwrought from Billycan’s return. Her grip on reality might just be slipping.

“You must be gentle with her,” Ulrich urged his brother as they walked toward her door.

“Your fondness for her clouds your judgment,” said Ragan. “We
discussed this at Council. No one gets special treatment—no one.” He patted his brother on the back. “You’ve always told me she’s special. I understand that. We just need to check everything out—just to be safe.”

“I know,” agreed Ulrich. “It’s just that in all my days working security with you, I’ve never interrogated anyone as altruistic and innocent as she.”

“You’ve no need to convince me. We’re only covering the bases. After all, she is Killdeer’s sister. She must have some loyalty to his memory, no matter how evil he was. And what have we always told each other?”

Ulrich sighed. “Trust no one.”

“Exactly,” replied Ragan. “Besides, I think you like her so much because she’s the only one in all of Nightshade who admires that stubby excuse for a tail.”

Looking back at his nub of a tail, Ulrich frowned. “What are you talking about?” He wiggled it back and forth. “My tail is beautiful!”

Ragan laughed. “That it is, brother. That it is.” He knocked on the door. Clover opened it. “Hello, dear, we’re here to check on Texi, see how she’s managing.”

Ulrich and Ragan had a charming way about them, which made them good at interrogation. “Your timing is perfect,” Clover said. “We’re just about to have some tea.”

Ulrich and Ragan tried to hide their grimaces. Clover made appalling tea, and Texi’s didn’t go down much better.

“I see your faces!” Clover said. “You’re both awful. But neither Texi nor I made the tea, Elvi did.”

“Oh, thank the Saints,” said Ragan, putting a paw over his heart.

“Why, you’re terrible, Ragan!” said Clover, laughing, “I admit it. My tea is dreadful.”

“Sorry, dear,” said Ulrich. “As you know, we’re quite particular
about our tea. Our mother spoiled us with her currant spice. I must admit, though, I’ve grown quite partial to Elvi’s. Here again, is she? Elvi’s certainly fond of you.”

“And I her, but truth be told she’s here for Texi—they have a special friendship. She’s taken Texi under her wing.”

“It must be hard for Texi,” said Ulrich, “She had a large family in the Combs, and now they’re all gone. I for one would be glad to get rid of a family like that—but Texi has such a forgiving nature. I’m sure in a way she misses them.”

Ragan and Ulrich sat with the three ladies in Clover and Texi’s small parlor. They knew they needed to get down to business, but the setting was so pleasant—the company, the roaring fire, and Elvi’s perfect tea.

“Texi,” Ulrich finally started, in his most delicate manner, “Ragan and I have come here to speak to you about, well, Billycan—and Killdeer.” Texi stayed quiet. “We heard from little Julius what you said to him—about your brother. And I know there must have been a good reason behind it, but what did you mean? Something about Killdeer never forgiving you if you don’t make things right? After all, he’s been dead three years. And we’re curious about what you said about Billycan’s capture—that ‘this changes everything.’ Could you tell us what you meant by that? Please, it’s important.”

Texi looked around her. The twins, Clover, and Elvi all stared at her hopefully, yet at the same time with troubled expressions. She gulped, promising herself she would not cry, and stared into her cup of tea. “Oh, I tried so hard not to pile my troubles on dear little Julius, but when I see his smiling face, I know things will be all right—that I’m doing the right thing.”

“What do you mean, ‘the right thing’?” asked Ulrich.

“I’d worked myself into such a dither over Billycan, and Julius seemed the perfect companion. He’s like real family to me, and I suppose I only want to do what’s best for him. I was so upset last night. I just knew I needed to see Julius and I’d feel happier again. He reminds me why I’m here—my purpose. I suppose I sounded ridiculous, didn’t I?”

“Not ridiculous,” said Elvi, “simply troubled, which happens to all of us at some time or another.”

“Elvi’s right,” said Clover. “Back in the Catacombs, there were many times when I felt anxious.”

“Dearest, what is going on in that head of yours? Please tell us,” said Elvi. “We only want to help.” She took Texi’s paw and patted it gently. Cocking her head, Elvi smiled sweetly at her. Her big black eyes looked sympathetic, but something about Elvi’s unflinching gaze suddenly unnerved Ulrich. He nudged his brother, who nodded.

Texi took a long sip of tea and let out a tired sigh. “Growing up in the compound, I was taught that family stays loyal to family, no matter what. It was drummed into our heads. Killdeer insisted that if my sisters and I weren’t loyal to him in every way, we might very well lose our lives. That’s the way my brother was. When he was killed, I was relieved. I finally had freedom. It’s just… as time wore on I started feeling, well, guilty—disloyal. And when I learned of Billycan’s capture, in some way I felt… sad. Now everything is over. Once and for all, the High Ministry, my brother, Billycan—all of it—is gone forever. My brother was not good to me—or my sisters—but he was
still
my brother. He was my family.” She shook her head, confused by her emotions. “Does that make any sense?”