Jenna felt that she had to defend her teacher. “He didn’t have that much time, you know. He had to forgo some history so that he could make sure I wouldn’t accidentally fry somebody.”
“Now, don’t you think about bespelling me. I was teasing. I’m certain his cragginess did a fine job. I’ll explain about the Keepers when we can see them.”
“How far are we from the Markare?” Ghortin’s descriptions of the massive desert didn’t make her want to go there, but seeing it from a safe distance would be fine.
Keanin jerked his head up, his golden eyes wary. “We’re not close, thank the gods. Bad things go on in the Markare. My parents were killed there.”
Jenna squeezed his hand. “I’m sorry.” It sounded weak, but there wasn’t much else she could think of.
“It was a long time ago. I was just a baby.” He shook his head and pulled her along with him. “But let the past stay in the past. I think we should enjoy ourselves.”
Jenna forced a smile. “Agreed.” Clearly Keanin had some demons of his own, but he wasn’t going to deal with them today.
She gave a large white building careful study as they passed. More of the mysterious helaermages wandered in and out.
“That’s the Helaermage House.” Keanin noticed her interest. “Since the helaermages are an order of religious wizards, they all have various levels of magecraft, but they have also devoted their lives to the neutral god DOL. It’s a secretive order, but they seem to be up for doing good deeds, even if they claim not to take sides. They often disagree with unaligned mages over matters of theory and practice. But, as you saw yesterday with Dantil and Ghortin, most of them get along well enough on a personal level.”
“So they can do the same things mages can?” They didn’t have the same feel she got from Ghortin. But with the sporadic manner in which her magic had been working lately, she didn’t know if she could trust her sense about it.
Keanin shrugged. “I’m afraid I have no more than a rudimentary knowledge of magecraft myself. I’m not gifted.” He kicked a small loose stone as they continued their walk. “I do know that there is some sort of internal difference in the way the two classes work magic. I’m not clear as to what it is. There aren’t many helaermages down in Lithunane because the DOL temple is in the mountains outside Irundail. The helaermages refuse to be far from it for any length of time; I think it has something to do with their Power.”
The town was more congested than Jenna had previously thought. Houses seemed to lean precariously into each other, although Keanin assured her they were quite sturdy. People barely acknowledged them, which, after the over-attentivness from everyone around her the past few days, was a relief to Jenna.
“Oh, I almost forgot.” They were halfway through the twisting streets when Keanin pulled up short. “The Keepers.” He backtracked them down the street. He looked down each side street carefully, as if he was trying to jog his memory. Finally he nodded to himself and squired Jenna down a thin, dark path. Within minutes they arrived at a small hill of grass behind the buildings.
Pulling Jenna along behind him, Keanin crossed the grass and walked to the top.
“Can you see way down there?” He pointed toward the south.
Huge cliff-like walls of deep black rose majestically into the sky. Squinting, Jenna could make out two white towers sitting on either side of a chasm between the walls. The walls were easily eighty feet tall, and the two towers sitting upon them were another twenty or so feet from top to bottom. With the cliffs behind the town, this gap would be the only way in or out.
“Those towers are the Keepers. The most amazing mage achievement outside of Ghortin’s mystical abode,” Keanin said.
“What do they do?” She had a hard time believing that anything could be as impressive as Ghortin’s home.
Keanin’s face fell a trifle. “I knew you would ask me that. I’m afraid my knowledge of their exact abilities is somewhat limited. But they do it well.”
“You have no idea what they do?” She folded her arms and gave her new teacher a scowl.
“I didn’t say that.” He drew himself up with mock pride. “I know what they do; mainly keep raiders, miscreants, and hooligans out of the valley. I lack the knowledge of how they do it. But they are impressive, aren’t they? They have never been breached, and never will be. We’re safe here.”
They wandered back toward the center of the city slowly, Keanin pointing out odd places of interest along the way. By the time they got there, Jenna’s stomach was making some undignified noises.
“I say, I never did ask if you had breakfast,” Keanin said.
“I usually get out of bed to eat, and in case you hadn’t noticed, I was in bed when you got me. I think that means you owe me breakfast, or lunch, or whatever meal they’re serving right now.”
“Ah, my lady. How could I be so remiss? Come, come. We shall seek nourishment for your fragile bones.” He led the way down a twisting side street.
The tavern he led her to looked more reputable than most on the street. The inside of the place was neat, if well worn. The small wooden tables were plain, but at least they were clean. Even if they looked more like someone had slapped pieces of wood together rather than actual woodworking.
A portly human man poked his head out from the kitchen. “Be with you shortly. ‘ave a seat.” He disappeared behind the swinging door without waiting for a response. As Jenna’s eyes adjusted to the dim light, she realized the place wasn’t empty like she had at first thought.
Two off-duty female guards huddled in a corner, inhaling their food.
Oblivious to her observations, Keanin plunked down at a nearby table. “This place has gone downhill a bit since I was here last, but it’s still better than most at this end.”
“There are better places at the other end?” Jenna was hungry, but she would be willing to wait for a better inn.
“Now don’t sound so worried. This place may have slid in looks, but I recognize the innkeeper. He’s as good a cook as you’ll find this time a day. Many of the places, including the expensive ones at the other end, don’t open until later.”
“And w’at will you folks be ‘aving today?” The innkeeper was back and his smile was sincere enough. But Jenna knew it was directed at the wealth of their clothes, rather than them personally.
“What have you got for a fair lady’s breakfast, my good man?” Keanin asked.
“Last night’s roast, good and lean. Some fresh bread and fruits.” His head gave a slight bob as he spoke.
“We’ll take two servings of it all. And keep it coming until my companion has had her fill.”
Jenna looked away at Keanin’s theatrics. The outrageous man couldn’t even order lunch without making a show.
The stout tavern keeper bobbed his head again and bustled back through the swinging doors.
A movement in the corner caught Jenna’s eye, and she looked up to see that one of the guards was almost at their table. She seemed to give no attention to Jenna, but zeroed in on Keanin like a hunting falcon.
“Say, fair face.” Her voice was low, and Jenna realized with a shock that the woman was quite drunk. And quite well muscled.
“My mate and I don’t recall seeing you ’round here before. How about you coming over and introduce yourself properly.”
The undisguised lust in her eyes seemed to surprise Keanin, but only momentarily. Rising smoothly, the kelar noble took the woman’s scarred hand, bending over to kiss it as if she was of noble birth.
“Ah, alas, as much as I would like to join you two fair flowers, I fear my honor and duties forbid it.” He gave a weary sigh and glanced over to Jenna. “I am nothing more than a royal servant, but the queen has entrusted the daughter of a visiting dignitary to my care. My life should be forfeit if I fail to keep her entertained and safe.”
The guard pulled back, favoring Jenna with an assessing stare. Jenna did her best to appear meek and a bit stupid.
The woman pulled in c
lose to Keanin, running one long finger down his face and down to the top of his open shirtfront. “But my friend and I could make your forfeited life very pleasurable. It has been a long time since I’ve had such fare.”
“Ah, if it weren’t for my duties.” He shook his head wearily. “Mayhap I can find you later?”
The guard stepped back. “My name is Marta, of the seventh regiment. When you’ve finished your responsibilities, come find us. We spend our eves at the Ox and Hound.” She wrapped her arms around a startled Keanin and planted a passionate kiss. She pulled back with an evil smile. “Until later, pretty face.” Without another look at either of them, Marta stumbled back to her companion.
Keanin sat down with a thump, his golden eyes wide and vacant. Finally, he shook his head and turned to Jenna. “Are you ready to go on with our tour now?”
Jenna shook her head. The amorous noble had met his match.
“Keanin, we haven’t been served yet.” She paused and glanced meaningfully toward the two guardswomen. “Or at least I haven’t.”
“Of course. I knew that. At least I think I did.” He looked like a man who had taken a much longer journey than he had intended. “Quite interesting clientele the place has.”
“Keanin, if she had kissed you much harder you would have sold me into slavery and followed her off a cliff somewhere.” Jenna laughed. It had been tense there for a moment, but the woman fortunately wasn’t belligerent, just amorous. “Pretty face.” She folded her hands under her face and batted her eyelashes in mock adoration.
“Stop that.” He swatted at her hands. “I’ll have you know I was in complete control the entire time.”
The keeper was back with their food before she could respond.
Fortunately, once they’d realized their prey wasn’t able to play, the guardswomen finished their meals and left. But not before Marta gave a slow raking stare over Keanin’s lean form. Jenna managed to keep a straight face until the women were well clear of the place.
18
The rest of the afternoon was a relaxing one. Jenna continued teasing Keanin about Marta and he continued to deny any attraction to the woman. But not entirely convincingly. Female soldiers might not be his regular fare, but he was pondering it. That must have been one hell of a kiss.
At one point, late in the day, she saw someone who looked suspiciously like Lord Ravenhearst. But, like when she had been at the market in Lithunane with Storm, by the time her companion turned around, the cloaked figure was gone.
“I know that one wouldn’t have been picked up by the rescue beacon.” Keanin wrinkled his slender nose. “The only reason he’s allowed in the royal castle at all is because of his wretched ambassador status.”
Jenna didn’t say anything more about her unease, but she kept a close eye out. She was certain that it had been the blond nobleman she had seen. And furthermore, she was equally certain that he had seen her.
It was almost dark by the time they worked their way back up to the House of Healing.
According to the apprentice healer on duty at the door, the prince had been biting and snapping at everyone while he awaited their return. “Shall we, my lady?” Keanin held out his arm formally, assuming the role of court lackey. “I do so hate to keep royalty waiting, don’t you?”
Storm looked better than he had the day before, but he still was a shadow of his normal self. His grayish skin looked like it was stretched too thin. He was also being supported entirely by a huge pile of pillows, although he was trying to make it appear that he was sitting up of his own power.
“Maggie told me you two had left; I thought you would never get back.” He tried to sound gruff, but his voice was still too weak to pull it off. “So, what’s the news?”
“Shouldn’t you be resting more? Like asleep?” Jenna asked.
“Ah, I fear he is too ornery for rest.” Keanin moved forward, slowly pulling out a seat for Jenna and one for himself. “Even when it’s obvious he’s weak as a fledgling.”
Storm favored his friend with a fleeting glare. “Pah. I’ll be out of here soon enough. It’s just a scratch.”
Jenna raised an eyebrow at that, and Storm quickly amended his comment.
“All right, it was a deep scratch.” He frowned. “What’s the news? Have they found Ghortin and my father? Are there any clues as to where that evil mage has gone?”
Jenna was momentarily chagrined. They’d spent the whole day out as if nothing was wrong. Then she remembered that Ghortin had told her to do that very thing. She felt recovered, but judging by the reactions, she had been close to dying when she arrived here.
“Ghortin is still in my head. As for your other questions, I have no idea. I’m sure your royal mages and lackeys aren’t going to fill Keanin and me in on what’s happening.”
Keanin stepped in smoothly. “Besides, you know no one is going to do anything until Resstlin comes back and gives the royal word.”
Storm tried to slam his fist on the bed. The feeble result was shocking to Jenna and she had seen how badly he was injured inside. Averting his face, Storm drew the twitching hand back toward him as if it hadn’t happened.
“Damn it.” He growled, as angry at his weak body as he was at the situation. “Now’s the time to strike, while there’s a chance that the demon mage is weak—there’s no way what he did wouldn’t take a toll.”
Keanin held out a comforting hand. “I know you’re upset. We all are. But what’s the point of fretting about things we have no say over? None of us are going anywhere for quite some time, I think.”
Storm looked ready to argue, but seemed too tired to carry it out. “I intend to be up in a few days. If Resstlin isn’t back by then, I’ll go find our father and Ghortin’s body without his approval.”
Another image drifted into Jenna’s mind. “Storm, would Lord Ravenhearst have been picked up by the rescue beacon?”
“No.” Storm shook his head. “Unless someone was hanging on to him, like I was holding you. Keanin? What of it?”
The handsome kelar shook his head. “Jenna already spoke to me of it.” He shrugged. “To be quite honest, I have no idea whether he came through or not. It was quite chaotic when the transfer was finally completed. I suppose he could have come through, then disappeared before I saw him.”
“I know what I saw.” Jenna paced around the small room. “It was him. He took off before Keanin could see him, but I know who it was.”
Storm’s eyebrows rose. “Again? Are you certain? What was he doing?”
“Yes, again.” Jenna growled; she didn’t like the tone of disbelief in his voice. “And for all I could tell, he was just standing there. It was outside one of the sword shops, one with a lot of off-duty guards outside. Anyway, one minute he was there, the next he was gone. But I know he saw me.” It almost felt like she should recognize something about the blond nobleman, something that stayed just out of reach.
Besides her growing unease about Ravenhearst, there had also been some elusive thing wandering through her mind during their walk. For some reason, she felt like there was something missing, something that she needed to remember. She found herself staring mindlessly at the grayish skin on Storm’s hand with a frown. Suddenly it came to her.
“Ghortin’s book.”
Both kelars looked at her oddly.
She waved her hands at them. “No, this isn’t about Lord Ravenhearst. Not directly anyway. Something else had been nagging at me today, and I remembered what it was. Ghortin’s book. Surely that thing has some answers. He was obsessed with it.”
Storm’s face, which at first had been as blank as Keanin’s, cleared up. “You mean that gray book he kept lugging around with him?”
Jenna nodded enthusiastically. “Yes. Right before the ball he let me study two of its spells. Judging by the pages, they were the lowest level in the book, but way above anything I’d ever done before. The language was odd too.” She renewed her pacing around the room. “That book must have something to do with al
l these strange happenings; why else would Ghortin be so obsessed with it? I’m sure when he comes back he’ll have us go get it.”
“Easy, easy.” Keanin raised his hands as he glared at Jenna. “You’re getting as bad as Corin. We can’t go darting all over the country. Winter’s practically upon us, and I know there isn’t enough mage ability left in either Irundail or Lithunane to light a match, let alone transfer a bunch of adventurers. And you cannot seriously think of traipsing all the way down to Lithunane on horseback.” The stunning nobleman shuddered.
“We can’t just do nothing; couldn’t we have someone send us the book? It would be smaller than sending a person.” Jenna couldn’t help it, the more she thought about it the more she knew that they needed that book.
“It’s not that easy.” Storm was the one talking her down this time. “I don’t think they would waste the energy even if they had it, which I doubt. Plus, I know Ghortin, and more than likely he’s got enough wards on it to blow Lithunane sky high if someone tries to take it without his tricks.”
“So, as soon as you get better, we’ll go after it,” Jenna said as she ignored the pang of fear that followed. She knew they needed that book, but going back to the scene of the attack left her cold.
Keanin looked at them like they had lost their minds. “Didn’t you hear me? Winter? And after that, floods in the plains? This part of the country is wretched to travel through for months. You know that, Corin.” He fiddled with the edge of his tunic.
Jenna couldn’t blame him, but they needed the book. Hopefully, with Ghortin’s essence inside her head she’d be able to safely open it. And Storm’s reasoning about attacking while the enemy was still recovering made sense. They needed advice though. Reaching inside her mind, she called Ghortin’s name. Just mentally shouting for him seemed rather unprofessional. But she couldn’t think of a better way.
She felt his presence before he spoke. Like his visit last night, he stayed strictly in her mind. Apparently he wasn’t going to take over her body every time he came for a visit.
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