Touch of Power (25 page)

A large map of the Fifteen Realms covered the right wall. Symbols and arrows had been drawn on it as well as troop information. I stood before it, examining it.

I pointed to Tohon’s occupied Realms—Lyady, Zainsk and half of Vyg, with Sogra in the center. “Are you invading the other Realms just to spite Kerrick?”

He laughed. “I’ll admit to being petty and jealous, my dear, but my invasion, as you so quaintly put it, is not due to him. We need a leader, and frankly, I already command life and death, so who better to rule?”

He gestured for me to sit in a soft, burgundy-colored armchair that had been pulled up to the side. Tohon shuffled a few papers on his desk, ignoring me until a knock sounded. The door opened without Tohon’s permission and a tall woman around Tohon’s age entered. With a sword hanging from her waist and her athletic build, she reminded me of Jael. She even had blond hair and blue eyes. The resemblance ended there. Her features were plain and her pudgy nose looked as if someone had sat on it.

“Cellina, this is Avry of Kazan,” Tohon said.

Her name sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place her.

Instant dislike flashed in her gaze. “The healer?”

“Yes. We’re going to write up a contract and need you to bear witness to the terms and conditions.”

“You’ve never needed a contract before, Tohon.”

“Avry is different.”

“Really?” Cellina peered at me with a shrewd calculation.

“Stay away from her, Cellina.” Tohon’s tone held a clear warning.

Cellina failed to be intimidated. She flopped into another armchair. “Go on, write your contract. I’ve things to do.”

Tohon drew a clean sheet of parchment from a pile. He wrote a few lines. Anxiety swelled and I clutched my hands together. This was probably an exercise in futility. I couldn’t trust him. His moods swung from perfect gentleman to perfect maniac.

He sensed my apprehension. “Basic introductory language.” Setting the stylus down, he leaned back. “Time for the terms. I need you to heal my subjects as needed—not that it matters to me if they die, but they’re easier to train while alive—to assist with an experiment I’m working on and to promise not to run away. In exchange, you will be well cared for and you won’t be confined. Except for a few areas, you can roam the castle complex when you’re not needed.”

Other than the experiment, his terms matched what I had been expecting. I addressed them in order. “I’ll heal the sick and injured, but
I
decide who is healed and who can be treated by herbs or time. I want to be in charge of the infirmary. You can’t force me to heal anyone.”

“Agreed.” Tohon wrote down the conditions.

Too easy? I continued. “What type of experiment? I won’t work with your dead soldiers.”

“It’s with Death Lilys.”

Intrigued despite myself, I asked, “What are you trying to do with them?”

“I’ll explain later.”

“Not if you want me to agree. I won’t hurt anyone.”

“How about you’ll help me with my research as long as
your
tasks don’t harm anyone?”

I found a loophole. “But what about you? What if the research results in something you can use to harm another?”

“I can’t agree to that. I’m going to be at war with Estrid.” Tohon waited.

Realizing Tohon would negotiate only on my actions, I conceded the point.

“And I’ll add that you will not sabotage any parts of the experiments, the research and the results.” Ink flowed over the paper.

Last issue. “What do you consider running away?”

“Leaving the castle complex without
my
permission. I don’t wish to lock you up every night or chain you to a chair in the lab. It would become tiresome. You kept your word with Kerrick, and he didn’t deserve it. All I ask is the same thing.”

Interesting and scary. “How did you know I gave Kerrick my word?”

“Please, Avry, don’t insult my intelligence. I’d be a poor leader if I didn’t know what’s going on in the enemy’s camp.”

He had spies in Estrid’s army.

Tohon smiled at my expression. “One robed acolyte looks much like another, don’t you think?”

“What if Estrid storms the castle?”

Cellina huffed in amusement.

Tohon shot her a sour look. “In the highly unlikely event that I’m defeated or dead, you’re free to go. How’s that?”

“How long do I have to stay here?”

“As long as I say. I will be king of all the Realms soon, which will make me
your
king. Then I don’t need a contract.”

More incentive to find a way to stop him.

“You already have the clause in case my plans do not pan out. And you will be well cared for in exchange.
That
I promise.”

Giving my word not to leave the complex, I would have a difficult time contacting Sepp, but it wouldn’t be impossible. I hoped. Besides, I really didn’t relish the idea of being confined. “Agreed.”

He had the decency not to smile or gloat. “I’d like to add one more…request.”

Uh-oh. I glanced at Cellina. Her amusement was gone. She stared at Tohon as if daring him to continue.

“What is it?” I asked.

“On occasion, I have formal events, parties and meals that I have to attend. I’d like you to accompany me to them.”

“And in exchange?”

His grip on the stylus tightened, but he kept his ire from his expression. I guess I was supposed to be grateful for the opportunity to spend an evening with him.

“For each event you attend, you can make a small request like a trip into town or new clothes or a day off.”

Those small favors might give me some wiggle room. “Agreed.”

Tohon finished the document. He signed his name with a flourish, then passed it to me. I read every single word twice, seeking loopholes and wording issues. He had stated the terms and conditions in plain language. Nothing jumped out at me.

When I’d arrived here, I’d expected to be locked in a cell. At least this had the illusion of being a better situation. Although I’d had no delusions that he would keep his word.

Tohon handed me the stylus. Signing this, I would once again surrender my freedom. Last time it had saved Melina and two others from a horrible life. This time it would save so many more. I had to believe that as I wrote my name. The alternative was too horrible to contemplate.

Cellina signed the contract last. She shoved the paper and stylus over to Tohon. “Can I go now?”

“You’re dismissed.”

She glared at us both and stormed from the room.

“Don’t worry about her, my dear.”

Hard not to. Although compared to what I just agreed to, Cellina’s…anger or jealousy was a minor concern.

“You must be exhausted, my dear. Bashin, has Winter arrived?”

The guard poked his head out the door, then widened it to let a servant in. The young lady curtsied.

“Winter, this is Miss Avry. You will be her lady’s maid for the duration of her stay. Show her to her rooms, and assist her with anything she needs.”

“Yes, my lord.” Winter curtsied. “Miss, please follow me.”

“Go on,” Tohon said to me. “Get settled and I’ll stop by later to make sure you’re comfortable.”

My heart did flips in my chest as I followed Winter through the castle. The day had not gone as expected. Not at all.

My rooms consisted of a receiving area with a couch, armchairs, tables and a rug all arranged in a semicircle in front of a stone hearth built into the back wall. Lanterns lit the room, revealing the deep purple, blue and green colors of the fabrics and tapestries. The colors blended well together. A small wooden table with a few chairs occupied the left corner, and a desk, chair and bookcase had been placed in the right corner.

Next to the hearth was an entrance to a bedroom that shared the hearth. I bent down and spotted Winter building a fire to push back the chill. The huge canopy bed used up most of the floor space. I walked around it, thinking Kerrick and his gang could all fit on it. The room also contained an armoire, bedside table and a lantern. I removed my cloak and tossed it onto the bed.

Heavy curtains blocked the three windows on the far wall. I pulled them aside and peered out into the semidarkness of twilight. A few torches bobbed below. My rooms looked like they were on the third or fourth floor. I let the fabric drop. The swish-thud matched the leaden feeling inside me.

My mood lightened a bit when I found the washroom adjoining the bedroom. The marble walls, floor tile and pedestal washing basin were nice, but the tub had captured my full attention.

Winter appeared in the doorway. She held my knapsack. Blond wisps of hair had sprung from her bun and her blue-eyed gaze held apprehension. She wore a long white apron over a light blue linen shirt and a navy skirt that reached the floor.

“Shall I put your effects away now, miss?”

“No, thank you.”

“But—”

“You were told to see to my every need?” I asked.

“Of course, miss.” The girl’s petite nose crinkled in confusion.

Winter had pretty alabaster skin and appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen years old.

“Relax, Winter. I’m not going to throw a tantrum or run to Tohon if you don’t see to my every need. I appreciate your help and hope we can work together.”

Winter stared at me as if I was a hissing Death Lily. Scared and curious at the same time.

I took my knapsack from her. “I would love a hot bath.”

“Yes, miss.” She hurried over to the tub. Plugging the drain, she reached for a lever and yanked it. Nothing happened. Then the distinctive rush of water sounded from a round hole in the wall just above the lip of the tub.

Now it was my turn to be confused.

Winter noticed. “Water pipes, miss. King Zavier had them installed throughout the castle. They carry hot water from big heated tanks and, when you’re done, just pull the plug. More pipes will allow the water to drain outside the castle. They’re fabulous.”

And expensive, I’d bet. Sure enough, steaming water gushed from the hole and poured into the tub. When the water level neared the top, Winter pushed the lever back up. “Your bath, miss.”

“Thank you.”

She smiled and laid out towels and a robe for me. Then waited.

“I can handle it from here,” I said, escorting her to the main door of my rooms. “I won’t need you again until the morning.”

“But your bed—”

“I can turn down the sheets. I’ll be fine. Good night, Winter.” I closed the door and discovered it had a lock. I drew in a breath. A lock, a hot bath and a soft bed. A few unexpected perks that I planned to take full advantage of. Locking the door, I hurried to the washroom as I pulled off my smelly travel clothes. My necklace remained where it had been since Kerrick hooked it around my neck. The pendant rested at the base of my throat.

I soaked off about fifty days of road grime. Between the cold weather, the fast pace and being in the company of men, I hadn’t been able to get as clean as I wished. I drained and refilled the tub a second time.

Finally clean, I dried and wrapped the white cotton robe around me. I couldn’t bear to put on my other equally rank set of clothes or the skirt and shirt Kerrick had bought me—a reminder of…him. Instead, I kept the robe on. Not like I would have to escape or fight in the middle of the night.

I unpacked my knapsack, piling my meager possessions on the table, which included my weapons, bedroll, blanket, the herb pouch the monkeys had given me, the gloves from Belen, a few papers recovered from the Guild, the two sacks of liquid from the Death Lily and my apprenticeship journal. All that I owned in one pathetic pile. At least they had been easy to carry.

Picking up the journal, I curled on the couch and read through the pages. I noted a few interesting tidbits, and found an entry about Allie, my roommate at Tara’s. She had talked in her sleep and had frequent nightmares. One night, I had to shake her awake as she screamed for her mother. Allie had been apologetic and told me she had been caught by a Death Lily when she was young. Her mother nursed her through the hard recovery.

I sat up straight. Except Allie hadn’t been attacked. The Death Lilys sensed potential in people and snatched them. Potential for what, I didn’t know. I scanned my notes, looking for a page that mentioned Tara’s lecture about Death Lily toxin. My notes were incomplete, but I’d marked that when Tara described the symptoms she’d sounded like she knew about them from experience. There was a question mark next to my speculation. I never had the chance to ask her if she had been grabbed.

“Read anything of interest, my dear?” Tohon asked.

I jumped to my feet, dropping my journal. Tohon leaned against the bedroom’s threshold.

“What… How did you get in here?” I asked as my heart thumped back down to its proper place.

“Secret passage between our rooms.” Tohon’s gaze scanned my robe. “I see you made yourself comfortable.”

I tightened the sash. “I won’t be ever again if you can pop in here without warning.”