Volle (11 page)

On his second try, he found the Rat stair. Sculptures of rats stood against both posts, and a rat design was woven into the fabric that covered the stairs. He noted that none of the other stairs had had carpeting, but also remembered that he hadn’t seen the Bear stair yet. Most likely the king was in that area, and he was sure there would be carpeting.

Moving on past the Rat stair, he was gratified to find that, as he’d expected, the Lion stair was the next one. He was on the right floor, and he thought he remembered which door was the Steward’s. Approaching it, he found it slightly ajar, and caught the scent of a fox from inside. Tail wagging at his achievement, he pushed the door open.

Arrin was sitting at his desk talking to the Steward, who was pointing to some things on a paper. They both looked up as Volle entered, and Arrin flashed a surprised smile.

“Ah, good morning, Lord Vinton,” the Steward said. “If you’ll give me just a moment, I can see you.”

“Oh, I don’t need to take up your time,” Volle said. “I can just talk to Arrin.”

“It’s no trouble, I assure you.”

Volle paused, awkwardly. “Actually, I was rather hoping to talk to Arrin.”

Arrin’s ears flicked, and he tried to hide his wide smile. The Steward merely looked puzzled. “Well, you can speak to him when I’ve finished, then.”

“Thank you.” Volle sat down. He had realized when pressed by the Steward that he hadn’t actually thought of anything to say to Arrin when he did talk to him, so he focused on that while the Steward was talking. He did notice that Arrin kept glancing at him, but the Steward seemed oblivious.

“All right, Lord Vinton, I’m finished.” The Steward was scurrying towards the corridor.

“Thank you,” Volle called, standing, but the Steward was gone before he got the second word out.

“He’s very busy,” Arrin said apologetically. “We really could use another assistant.”

“Maybe I can find someone,” Volle said without thinking, then hurriedly added, “when I’ve gotten to know a few more people around here.”

Arrin smiled. “It’s just hard to find someone reliable that the Steward trusts. Half the time he’s so busy because he’s checking up on tasks he’s assigned to other people. I tell him he should just trust them, but…” He spread his paws. “So what can I do for you, Lord Vinton?”

Volle smiled. “Well, as I was saying, I don’t really know anyone yet. And you were very friendly yesterday, so I wondered if you would like to join me for dinner, perhaps tomorrow night.”

“Really?” Arrin smiled. “I would be delighted and honored, Lord Vinton. Tomorrow night would be fine. At eight?”

“That sounds perfect.” Volle smiled. “I do appreciate it.”

Arrin’s ears flicked back in embarrassment and he smiled. “I hope I will be pleasant enough company.”

“I’m sure you will. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have an engagement for lunch.”

“Of course, Lord Vinton.”

As he stepped back from the desk, Volle noticed that Arrin’s tail was wagging. He chuckled. “I’ll see you tomorrow night, then.” He felt his own tail wagging slightly as he stepped back into the corridor.

It was an easy matter to find his rooms now. He found Welcis talking to Renaldo in his parlor when he returned. There were some items of new furniture, including a dinner table that could seat four, and four chairs. The whole set was made of a dark wood and was beautifully carved, but it was weathered and chipped in several places. Next to it was a small cot and a neat little valise.

“Ah, my lord.” Welcis indicated the table and chairs. “They delivered your table and chairs. I presume you will want them in the sitting room?”

“There doesn’t seem to be enough room in the parlor. Yes, the sitting room will be fine.”

“Are these suitable?” Welcis looked anxious. “They are not in the best condition.”

Renaldo put a paw on the table. “They have been used, certainly, but they are very finely crafted. I assure his lordship there are none better available now.”

“They’ll be fine, Welcis. Thank you for asking. As a matter of fact, I will be entertaining tomorrow night. Could you procure a cloth and perhaps some candles?”

“Certainly, sir. The only matter remaining is of my own arrangements.”

“Is that your cot?”

“Yes, sir.”

“That and the valise are all you have?”

“Yes, sir.”

Volle considered. “Renaldo, is there a sort of screen we could use to set off part of the sitting room, so the cot could go behind it?”

The marten nodded. “I believe we could find something, my lord.”

“And if there’s any other furniture that Welcis would like—a small table, perhaps, and a chair—then bring it along as well.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Thank you, sir,” Welcis said. “I believe a small desk and chair would be pleasant, if they’re available.”

“I’m certain we can find something.” Renaldo made a small note on his scroll. “We will have it here later today or tomorrow. Certainly before his lordship’s dinner.”

“Thank you, Renaldo.”

The marten bowed. “Pleasure to be of service, sir.” He turned to Welcis. “Let’s move all this into the sitting room.” They moved the table together, then moved the chairs and the cot while Volle watched, seated in one of the upholstered chairs. He couldn’t help grinning. To go from the Academy, where he had to do nearly everything himself, and come to this place, where people argued about the best way to wait on him, was positively intoxicating.

When Renaldo had left, Welcis came to stand in front of him and to one side. “My Lord, Lord Tistunish called while you were out. He will call again this afternoon. I apprised him of your schedule and he said he would find you here after your run.”

“Thank you, Welcis.” He wondered if it were too late to get out of Lord Tistunish’s plan to set him up with a mate, and how he would present that request to the old wolf. While he was putting together a reasonable-sounding request, there was a knock at the door.

Welcis sprang to answer it, and admitted a tall fox holding a small cloth bundle. He and Welcis greeted each other familiarly, and then he walked over to Volle.

“Lord Vinton. My name is Caresh, and I have the honor to be the personal servant to Lord Ikling. He requested that I deliver these to you, and inform you that he will be awaiting your company down at the front entrance.”

Volle took the bundle, which proved to be a green skirt with a crest sewn into the side. The crest showed a weasel head over two crossed stalks, one that Volle thought might be wheat, and one that was a branch of grapes.

“Thank you, Caresh,” he said, and the fox bowed to him, turned smartly on his heel, and walked back out, tail waving.

The palace was busier than it had been when he’d taken his bath. Dressed only in the shorts, he felt a little exposed walking through the main hall, but none of the people he passed gave him a second glance. He found his way to the garden and Helfer was there waiting for him, clad in a similar pair of shorts. He waved a paw. “Sleep okay?”

“Just fine. Been up for hours.” Volle grinned, jogging in place.

“All right, all right.” Helfer waved him down the path. “I’ll show you the route I usually take. Twice around the palace. There’s one point when we have to stop and climb over a wall, but otherwise it’s smooth.”

“Lead on.” Volle matched Helfer’s pace as he ran through the garden. They ran steadily, not sprinting, so Volle had a chance to admire the sights and smells of the different gardens as they passed through them. There were three large gardens, of which the front gardens were the most elaborate. Wild profusions of color were artfully arranged to create a brilliant harmony, and although the smells were a bit strong and sweet, they were harmonious as well. The trellises Volle had seen upon entering stood in the middle of the gardens, but smaller ones decorated the borders. As he ran past one, Volle noticed that the wood was elaborately carved, and that there were small benches hidden below the tangle of vines.

The other gardens were tamer, but Volle found them just as beautiful. They featured the same winding paths, but the bushes were sculpted into near-geometric shapes and were simply green, rather than being allowed to grow and blossom. The scents were subtler, because the flowers were placed more sparingly, at the centers of the green areas between the paths. Every so often, a statue or fountain appeared around a bend in the path.

It only took them about fifteen minutes to make a complete circuit of the palace. Although the gardens didn’t completely circle the palace, the front garden was connected to the first rear garden by a large tunnel obviously intended to drive carriages through. The stables were somewhere behind the first rear garden, and a six-foot-high wall separated the two rear gardens. The second rear garden connected back to the front garden through a smaller sunken passageway that smelled of garbage and was obviously used by the kitchens to dispose of their waste.

Stopping to climb the wall between the two rear gardens was a nice break. Volle used the time to relax and think about life at the palace so far. Helfer would not be much use in discovering information around the palace, but Volle didn’t care. He liked the little weasel, who seemed to have boundless reserves of energy and humor, and he refused to immerse himself in serious work without some kind of outlet. He’d had a hard enough time getting time away from his studies at the Academy, and he was determined to relax more now that he had the chance. This was a long-term position, and he had to behave naturally, he reasoned.

Besides, he was enjoying himself. Even the run, which he’d dreaded at the Academy, was pleasant, what with the flowers and the soft dirt path and the half-naked weasel trotting at his side. The pace was slower than he was used to, the run was more leisurely, and the breeze was cooler. It seemed impossible that any plot against Ferrenis could be brewing here, on such a bright and beautiful day.

All in all, he thought as they came to a stop, this was nowhere near as bad as he’d been thinking it might be. He’d envisioned himself locked in a dreary castle, sneaking around corridors, risking his life to get information back to his country. The reality was much simpler, much quieter, and much more easy to get around. The only thing he didn’t know yet was how he would remain in touch with Seir and the others, and he was confident Seir would figure that out.

He was hardly panting, and Helfer didn’t look too winded either. He grinned at Volle. “Country stamina, eh? Most of the lords in this place couldn’t keep up with me after one go-round. You’re in good shape. Best to stay that way. Life here favors the fat, if you hadn’t noticed from the banquet.”

“I didn’t think it was that bad.”

“Not even after the banquet? The mass waddle down to the theater?”

Volle laughed. “I guess I didn’t notice.”

Helfer snorted. “Oh, come on. You can tell me. Don’t worry about sugarcoating—” They had entered the palace and turned towards Volle’s quarters, which were closest. As they turned a corner, Helfer abruptly stopped talking and patted Volle on the shoulder. “Well, I’m going to run up for a bath. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Sure,” Volle said to the weasel’s retreating back and tail. He paused, puzzled, and looked down the corridor. A badger, a raccoon, and a rat were walking towards him, the rat at a quick pace, but none of them seemed frightening. The rat was looking right at him, though, and moving purposefully. Volle walked to the baths and waited there for the rat.

He was slightly shorter than Volle, wearing a black vest and black trousers with a silver belt. He wore nothing under the vest, leaving his skinny chest exposed. The fur there was a grayish-white, decently groomed, and the rest of him was brown. His beady eyes scanned Volle up and down, and Volle didn’t need to smell him to sense his interest.

The rat was holding his paws together in front of him. “Lord Vinton?” he asked finally.

“Yes.”

“My name is Dereath Talison. I’m the assistant to Lord Fardew. He’s the Minister of Defense.” He spoke quickly, as though he were afraid Volle would run away.

“Yes?”

“Lord Fardew asked me to interview you and I was wondering if this would be a convenient time.” The words were rushed out in the span of time it took him to drop his head, looking from Volle’s muzzle down at his groin. It could have been a deferential bowing, but Volle didn’t think so.

“I’ve just been running…”

“I know. I waited until you got back.”

“…so I would like to bathe. Then I will be at your disposal.” He continued as if the rat hadn’t interrupted him.

“Oh, very well. So I’ll just wait here for your lordship.” He made a more courteous bow then, actually bending at the waist.

“All right.” Volle sighed. “I’ll be right out.”

While he rolled in the scented powder, he wondered what the defense minister could want with him. Probably the same thing everyone else did: to know what his leanings were and where he stood. Even if he hadn’t had time to figure it out yet. He took an extra long time rubbing the powder into his fur, half hoping the rat would be gone when he emerged, but Dereath was waiting right there, standing in the corridor with his tail fairly quivering in anticipation.

Volle supposed the scent from the powder bath was strong enough to let Dereath know when he was coming. Still, the rat was making him nervous, and seeing him go straight to Volle’s door and open it for him didn’t help. He tightened the towel around his waist and walked inside.