The Cursed

by Dave Duncan

  Bulion thought of Tharn Valley, and his great-grandchildren at play in the meadows. He wondered what motivated old Imquin to persist in his political intrigues and even plot the defense of his city against an enemy he might never live to see. Perhaps kingship became a habit and the exercise of power was an unbreakable addiction.

  The governor chuckled. He barely seemed to be talking to his guest at all now, only to himself. "Over the years, the council has grown more and more powerful. A few wealthy families rule the city in all but name. They control the council, and the council tolerates the governor only because the alternative will be chaos and civil war. During my reign, I have been whittled down, cut by cut, stroke by stroke, until I am little more than a figurehead. I preside at their deliberations, and that is about all the authority I am allowed. When they combine against me, I am powerless. Ah, but today! Today I shall have some fun with them! The law is clear. The Phoenix Street title is mine, to do with as I please. It should be a very amusing afternoon!"

  It sounded like a battle of scorpions, and Bulion could imagine nothing he would enjoy less. Everyone to his own taste.

  Imquin sighed dramatically. "I regret the Solith woman's troubles, of course, but they were not my doing. She has lived rent-free for several months on land that does not belong to her. That must count for something. Largely for her sake, I held off acting until she obtained a husband. Yesterday her engagement to Kolo Gurshith was proclaimed by the crier."

  "That engagement was forced upon her! She agreed to it only to gain time, and in the hope of discouraging the others."

  The governor shrugged his thin shoulders. Jeweled orders flashed on his tunic. "She may wish to reconsider."

  Aghast, Bulion said, "Even if she does, would that Kolo man marry her now, without the property?"

  "I really cannot say. Liam may conclude that the Gurshiths will lose face by withdrawing. Either way, they are going to be laughed at. It is an awkward situation. He is capable of arranged unfortunate accidents to those who embarrass him. Also, Vinal Esoterith greatly enjoys his grudges."

  Struggling to conceal his fury, Bulion said, "I am somewhat shocked that the authorities of Daling cannot ensure the safety of a worthy citizen like Gwin Solith."

  The old man rose to his feet and straightened as if his back hurt. His dark eyes burned coldly. "These are sad times. My advice to her would be the same as my advice to you, Bulion Saj—leave town, and soon."

  17

  The first crisis of the day was Bulion's unexpected summons to the governor's palace. The second was a mutiny. Excepting only Niad and old Shuma, the servants quit en masse. The Phoenix Street Hostel had become a dangerous place to live, they said. Gwin sympathized entirely, for she felt the same way herself. She paid them a week's wages and bade them good fortune. The guards on the doors refused to let them depart.

  Thereupon Shuma shamed them into resuming their duties, but by that time Elim and the other Tharn women had taken over the kitchens. Jaul's own chaos followed.

  By the time that matter was settled, Gwin discovered that the guards were not even allowing tradesmen to deliver the day's supplies. She went out and demanded to see the warrant by which she and her guests were to be starved to death. She won the battle eventually and wandered back inside to wait for the next storm to strike.

  Already Poul was warming the courtyard. The only remaining evidence of the previous night's battle was a notably empty plinth. Ogoal as joker—it had not been her favorite statue, although Carp had claimed that it was one of the most valuable. Well, it was a heap of shattered jasper in a corner of the stable now. Tharns of various sexes and sizes were in evidence—women chattering, most of the men clustered around a table, rolling dice. The Tharns had always been the easiest of guests. They did not expect to be waited on, just kept well fed.

  "Because you're too stupid to play dice!" said an angry voice overhead.

  "You too!" The unfamiliar accents drifting down from the balcony certainly belonged to no Tharns.

  "That's how we lost all our money and had to start begging!"

  "That was you, Jasbur."

  "Well you were too stupid to stop me."

  "I was asleep."

  "'Sides, we haven't any money now, so you can't play anyway."

  "You too," grumbled the first voice.

  Gwin passed out of earshot.

  "Worried, Gwin, Saj?" Plump, silver-haired Elim was sitting in a patch of shade, busily knitting baby clothes.

  "Just harassed." Gwin settled on a stool beside her. She enjoyed Elim's company. "Life is more hectic than usual."

  Yes, she was worried. She was worried about Bulion, wondering why he had been singled out and what sort of interrogation he was enduring. She was worried that officials would arrive any minute to investigate last night's deaths. She was worried about the Gurshiths, and how she would escape from her promise to marry Kolo. She dreaded the thought that her Ivielscath was about to be exposed.

  She needed Carp—or someone. Someone to share troubles with.

  "I find Daling positively restful!" Elim announced with an expert clicking of needles. "At home there is always something waiting to be fed, pickled, washed, repaired, smoked, slaughtered, milked, stoked, watered, baked, or house trained."

  "You should try running a hostel!"

  "I am sure I could do it with one hand behind my back!"

  Her eyes twinkled as she spoke, but she was probably right. Gwin tried to imagine the response Liam Gurshith would get if he tried his tricks on the doughty Elim Panak.

  Elim frowned. "In fact, I am rapidly becoming bored! I have a million things I need from the market. If those guards do not take themselves off shortly, I shall borrow a sword from one of the men and fight my way out!"

  "I can smuggle you out an attic window if you wish. You'll have to jump an alley, but it's not excessively wide."

  "I think I should prefer the sword." Elim stared across the court and pursed her lips. "The Niad girl? Are you... responsible for her? Acting mother, I mean?"

  Gwin looked. Niad was seated at one of the stone tables, secluded between two trees. Young Polion was talking earnestly, holding her hand and gazing into her eyes at very close range.

  "Romance blooming?" Gwin asked.

  "Something is blooming!"

  "Do you suppose her healing powers have bewitched him? Some sort of side-effect?"

  Elim made a skeptical noise. "I am sure the magic involved is no more than the normal Muol variety. She's young and female. Her blue eyes and blond hair and big tits probably make very little difference. Be warned, Gwin! That boy has never been broken to the bit."

  Niad had been bereft of all her family, been Cursed by Iviel, been imprisoned in the hostel for months—a romance was exactly what she needed to take her mind off her troubles and give her some self-respect.

  "She looks happy enough. He seems a pleasant boy. He's your family hero, after all. A true Zardon, your father called him."

  "You know what they were famous for! If I were Niad's mother I would be putting bars on all the windows about now."

  "She's not as innocent as she looks," Gwin said. "She couldn't possibly be! But I'll pass on your message. Oho!"

  The lovers came out of their trance as Labranza rounded a tree and loomed over them. She still wore the same silvery gown in which she had arrived. Her hair was tidily arranged. She was impressive, fit to attend an imperial reception. She took a seat on the other side of the table.

  Gwin was already on her feet and moving rapidly across the courtyard. She sat down alongside Labranza, feeling under-dressed by comparison. Her rational mind told her the older woman was over-dressed for this city, certainly at this time of day, but Labranza's personality drowned out such logic.

  The big woman scowled at her. "I wish to have a word with the girl."

  "Speak on."

  "In private."

  Gwin shook her head. "You may not be aware of this, Labranza Saj, but the city outlawed all who were af
flicted by the star sickness—those who recovered, of course, because the majority died. By sheltering Niad, I became a felon. I am therefore an interested party in your discussion."

  The big woman shrugged angrily. "This young man, however, is not."

  Polion looked anxiously at Gwin.

  "Let him stay," she said. "I am greatly in his debt. If he wishes to listen, and Niad has no objection, then I certainly do not mind. He saved me from being kidnapped."

  "He did not. The man carrying you off was slain by Niad Bilith."

  Niad gasped. Polion paled under his wispy whiskers.

  "I did not touch him!" Niad wailed, wide-eyed with horror. "I was not even close!"

  Labranza smiled coldly. "You did not need to be. I admit that striking a man dead at a distance is a very unusual exercise of Ivielscath influence, but it is not impossible. You saw what was happening, did you not? You wanted it to stop? You wished you could stop it?"

  Niad nodded dumbly.

  "That was sufficient. You have the power to heal and the power to inflict sickness. They go together. Anyone who earns your dislike from now on will be in mortal danger."

  Polion eased back from Niad, although he was probably not aware that he was doing so.

  "Explain," Gwin said. "Explain how you know such things, Labranza Saj."

  "I am from Raragash."

  "So?"

  "In the days of the empire, anyone who contracted the star sickness was exiled to Raragash—even the mildest cases, as the severity of the disease has no bearing on whether or not Cursing will follow. Raragash was a sort of leper colony."

  "The inmates must have died out years ago."

  The big woman folded her thick arms in an oddly masculine gesture. "The tradition lives on. Many who are Cursed find their way to Raragash." She turned to Niad. "I strongly suggest that you go there as soon as possible, so that you may be taught how to control your powers. If you don't, then you are going to kill more people. Whenever anyone falls sick or dies, you will be blamed, whether you are guilty or not. Sooner or later, you will be denounced as a witch. Then you will be hunted down and slain."

  Niad had shrunk into a frightened child. Polion put an arm around her, thereby rising several notches in Gwin's estimation.

  "Be taught by whom?" he demanded assertively.

  "By other Ivielscaths. Centuries ago, Emperor Losso Lomith established an academy at Raragash to study the star-inflicted. Inmates who could satisfy the authorities that they had not been Cursed were granted imperial pardons and were free to leave. The Academy lives on, although not in its original form."

  That was surprising information, and very good news. Gwin thought angrily of the dozens of people who had been evicted from Daling in the spring and should have been told this. She studied the big, mannish Labranza for a moment. "Who runs this academy? Who is in charge of it?"

  "I am."

  That was not surprising, somehow.

  "And what brings you all the way to Daling?"

  "Important business."

  "Little of the empire has survived outside Daling itself," Gwin said thoughtfully. "Raragash was not sacked in the troubles?"

  Labranza shook her head impatiently. She was conveying signals that she wished to end the discussion. "The Zarda respected the Cursed as the Qolians never did. They bypassed Raragash."

  "Not all the wars that followed involved the Zarda."

  "No, and the petty kingdoms are unpredictable. Raragash has learned not to advertise itself. Whenever we learn of an outbreak of the star sickness, though, we send emissaries to seek out the Cursed. My two companions came to Daling for that purpose."

  So her own purpose there was something else.

  Polion said, "On our way here, we met a Jaulscath."

  Labranza turned her intimidating gaze on him again. "The Jaulscaths are particularly to be pitied, for they cannot conceal themselves. If you will inform Jasbur or Ordur where that person may be found, they will go and find him."

  "Her. A woman. Grandfather already offered her refuge."

  "He is to be commended. But she should go to Raragash first. We can help even Jaulscaths."

  Niad was staring plaintively at Gwin. It was impossible to imagine that trusting, friendly child murdering people and yet last night a man had dropped dead in his tracks. Labranza had merely confirmed Gwin's own fears.

  "There need be no immediate hurry," she said. "None of us can leave this building at the moment anyway. Even if we could, Niad can hardly set off on such a journey all alone. She will need an escort."

  "Oh?" said Polion. "How far away is this Raragash place?" Romantic youth had just scented adventure, obviously.

  "The far side of the Cockpit," Labranza said. "Two weeks on a good horse, even if there is no trouble on the road. And a war or two will certainly slow you down. The Karpana have invaded Nimbudia. The Karpana are reputed to slay Cursed out of hand."

  Polion gave Niad a squeeze. "See? Things could be worse!"

  She sniggered and banged an elbow in his ribs. Romance seemed to be progressing at a lively pace.

  "I'll protect you!" he said, bringing his other arm into play as well.

  "If he bothers you," Gwin suggested, "give him belly aches."

  "That remark is not funny!" Labranza said sharply. "You are playing with fire, young man!" She rose to leave.

  Polion glared up at her with instant defiance. "I like playing with fire!" He turned to Niad. "Do I displease you?"

  "No, but—"

  She was unable to complete the sentence before he put her lips to other uses. Her eyes opened wide with surprise, then closed and stayed closed.

  Gwin decided that events were out of her control and left them to it. She would have a word with Niad later. Polion had already been warned.

  She caught up with the tall Labranza, who was striding toward the stairs. "Are you planning on returning to Raragash yourself, Labranza Saj?"

  The big woman stopped. "Probably. Tell me about Tibal Frainith."

  "I know very little. He arrived early one morning, stayed two days, and left not long before you arrived."

  "Did he seek out anyone special while he was here?" Her air of authority was astonishing. Gwin resented it, but could not deny it.

  "Not that I know of. I do not ride herd on my guests, Saj."

  "Maddening man! Still, a Shoolscath is not truly responsible for his actions, so I should not condemn him. Yes, I think the news of the Karpana is reason enough for me to return to Raragash fairly soon."

  "I thought all Shoolscaths became gibbering jolt-heads." The Daling ones had.

  "Not if they will be properly counseled. Do you understand the nature of the Shool curse, Gwin Saj?" Labranza peered down from her greater height like a schoolmarm.

  "They can foretell the future."

  "In a limited way. A Shoolscath's memory only works forwards. By now Tibal Frainith will have no recollection of you at all, unless he is destined to meet you again sometime. Did you notice him writing a lot? Shoolscaths are inveterate diarists. The past is lost to them, as the future is a mystery to us. You remember the past—whatever you have experienced or been taught—but they premember the future as they will know it."

  "So the future is fixed for them, as unchangeable as our past is to us?"

  "Not at all! A Shoolscath can change the future. If he foresees spilling boiling water over his foot, he can stay away from the stove."

  Liam Gurshith had knocked Tibal Frainith to the ground almost exactly where Gwin was now standing. If Tibal had known that punch was coming...

  The bell jangled as the outer door opened. A guard entered, identified Gwin, and came marching toward her. He stamped to a halt and saluted.

  "Gwin Saj?" He was a youngish man she had not seen before. As much of his face as was visible inside his helmet looked flushed and sweaty. He was panting. Chain mail must be incredibly uncomfortable in this weather, and he had probably been hurrying. "I was sent to find Labranza Lamith."
r />   Gwin gestured. Labranza folded her arms again.

  The youngster eyed her as if she were a problem in siege craft. She was taller than he was and certainly outweighed him, mail and all.

  "His Excellency requests your presence, Saj."

  "Indeed? And if I do not choose to come?"

  He smiled hopefully. "I call for assistance."

  "That sort of request? Well, perhaps I should have a word with Governor Imquin. Lead on, sonny."

  Gwin watched them depart, then surveyed the courtyard again. The male Tharns at their dice game were all wearing swords, she noted. They would not be taken unawares a second time. Still sheltered by trees, Niad and Polion were deep in conversation, holding hands, foreheads almost touching. A women's gossip session had developed around Elim, at the base of the statue of Shool as Historian. The fate appeared to be taking notes of what was being said around his shins.

  Last night a gang of thugs had invaded this courtyard. Liam Gurshith wanted the place so much he was willing to marry off his son for it—although Kolo would be worth little in the regular marriage market. Vinal Esoterith had tried to kidnap Gwin and would have succeeded had he not been so unlucky as to find the place full of Tharns. He would not be easily discouraged; he would want revenge.

  It was a beautiful home, but it was not worth her life. It was not worth marriage to Kolo Gurshith. If she had to end her days as a drudge or a beggar or a whore, it would be a better fate than that—married to him, she would be all of those things at once. Fates take it! The building was a trap and she should have seen that sooner. A home should shelter; this one was her worst danger.

  You have been imprisoned here too long.

  "What?" She jumped and looked around, although she knew what she would find.

  Go out into the world and achieve something.

  "Who are you?" she demanded of the empty air.

  There was no reply. This time there could be no question that she was hallucinating, because this time there was no one near her at all.