Dammit, Kale. "She was just leaving."
"I wasn't, actually. I wanted to talk to you."
"Oh." Kale felt his face grow warmer. "What's going on? Why is everyone so tense? I can't have friends visit?"
Kali cut off Delilah's reply. "They don't trust me. They think I'm some criminal mastermind here to abduct or murder you."
"Pancras!"
The minotaur snorted and grinned at Kale. "Not me." He rose from his chair to check his soup.
"Deli?"
She felt Kale's eyes on her. Turning to face him, she put on her best innocent expression, clasping her hands in front of her chest. "We've had nothing but trouble since we arrived, Kale. I just want to keep us all safe."
Her brother scowled and held the bedroom door open, gesturing for Kali to come over to him. "You always get uptight when a female wants to talk to me, Deli. Kali is my friend, and we're going to talk. In private!" He punctuated his statement by slamming the bedroom door.
Pancras blew on his soup, sipping gingerly at the spoon. He raised his eyebrows and regarded her over the steaming bowl. Delilah stomped across the room and flopped down in the chair.
"Stupid Kale. You weren't supposed to notice."
* * *
"Your sister doesn't seem to like me much." Kali sat in one of the chairs at the side table. Kale tossed his puzzle box on the bed and took the seat across from her.
"She's worried about me getting hurt. That's all. Back home, most draks only talk to us when they want something. We're the ones they don't trust." Kale was used to the derision he and Delilah received from the draks in Drak-Anor. It was the main reason they spent most of their time with Sarvesh and Pancras.
"Why is that? You both have stripes. I would have thought they would revere you."
"Yeah, well, they think because we hatched from the same egg, our curse is stronger than any special destiny we might have. We were cast out of Clan Windsinger as soon as we were old enough to fend for ourselves." The twins were barely ten years old when they were ousted. They wandered into the mountains and found the city now known as Drak-Anor. It was the same year Pancras arrived, although they didn't know him at the time. It seemed like a lifetime ago to Kale.
"Twins?" Kali sat back in her chair. "They would have left you to die from exposure if you didn't have stripes."
"Yeah, that's what everyone kept telling us." Kale suspected were it not for their parents, the elders would have left them to die at birth anyway. Once they were old enough to fend for themselves, even their parents couldn't sway the elders from their decision. "Deli got to be good with sorcery, so we did okay for ourselves. We have better friends now than we would have if we'd stayed in that village."
Kali nodded and pulled a small box out of her pouch. She set it on the table. "I have something I need help with." She smiled and looked down at her hands. "I seem to have lost the key."
Laughing, Kale pulled the box across the table and examined it. It was made of some type of lightweight metal. He didn't see any hinges, but there was a seam that traveled the circumference of the box. On one side was a keyhole just large enough for Kale's claw. "Lost it, huh?"
He didn't believe for a moment she lost the key. "With all the draks in that secret tavern of yours, there aren't any who can pick a lock?"
She reached over and stroked his arm, causing him to shudder. "Sure. But I want you to do this one."
Kale pushed the box away. "I could. It looks pretty easy. Why should I? I'm not as naïve as my sister thinks I am. I just get excited."
Kali pulled her hand back and grinned. "I knew I liked you for a reason."
"I'm not saying I'm not going to open it, but I just want to know what you really want."
"Fair enough." Kali leaned forward, folding her hands together on top of the table. "Despite the name of our tavern, we're not assassins. We just ensure that the draks and minotaurs of Almeria get the things they need. Sometimes, humans aren't keen on letting us bring that stuff into town, or they don't want to sell to us. So, we use alternate methods of acquisition."
"So, you're thieves and smugglers?" Kale remembered what life was like before the foundation of Drak-Anor. Draks, minotaurs, oroqs, and goblins all vied for the same limited resources. You were either strong or sneaky to get what you needed. Kale didn't always have his sister's magic to back him up, so he often resorted to sneaking around.
"Well." Kali pursed her lips and turned her eyes toward the ceiling. "If you want to be crass about it."
Kale grabbed the box and pulled tools out of his pouch. Peering into the lock, he saw a few mechanisms inside that did not seem to affect the locking mechanism. A needle? I wonder if she trapped this on purpose. He knew what to do to avoid it of course, and within a minute, the lock clicked and the top of the box popped open.
"Easy." He slid the box across the table to Kali. "Would I have been poisoned if I set off that needle in the lock?"
Kali smiled and plucked out a pearl ring from the box. She slid it onto her finger and closed the container. "That would have been rude. Want some work? Think your sister might be willing to help us out?"
Kale thought about it for a moment. He wasn't sure he could do anything to help Pancras, other than fetch things for him. Whatever Kali wanted him to do would undoubtedly be more exciting than that, but he wasn't sure Delilah would be game. "I don't mind helping out, but I don't want to get involved in anything too serious. We're leaving for Muncifer as soon as it's safe to travel again. The prince says we're not allowed to leave the palace, so that sort of limits what I can do."
"There are ways around that. I can show you tonight, if you like."
The temptation was strong. Kale almost agreed but then shook his head. "I'd better talk things over with Pancras and Delilah first. Pancras made some kind of deal to get us out of jail and in here. I think he's trying to get us permission to go into the city. I don't want to mess things up." He chuckled and scratched at a nick on the table. "This is much nicer than the jail or that inn we were staying at."
Kali stood up and sashayed past him, nuzzling his neck as she went. "Suit yourself. If you get a chance to wander around, you know how to find me. And if you want me to come back and show you how to get out on your own, I guess you'll have to ask your sister to send me one of those glowing, blue things."
Kale rubbed his neck where she nuzzled it and watched her leave. Her touch warmed him inside. It almost made him forget about the pain in his back. He stretched and winced as Delilah entered the room.
* * *
"Well?" Delilah tapped her foot as Kale finished stretching. The other drak hadn't said a word either to her or to Pancras as she left, and Delilah was sure Kale was at the center of some nefarious plot.
"Well what?" Kale flopped down on the bed, grabbing his puzzle box.
"Are you going to run away with her and leave us?" Delilah clamped her hands over her mouth as soon as the words were spoken. Stupid, stupid, stupid! She knew it was ridiculous, and she hated when her anxieties about Kale made her speak without thinking.
Kale rolled over on the bed to look at her. He scooted to the end, hopped off, and hugged Delilah. "I'm not leaving, Deli. I promise. Even if she and I… if something—no, if anything like that happened, I'd make her come with us."
Delilah pushed Kale away. He stumbled and fell back onto the bed. "Fine then. What did she want?"
"She asked if we wanted to help her smuggle stuff for the draks and minotaurs in town. The humans don't treat them well, you know."
"I noticed." Delilah sat on the edge of the bed. "What did you tell her?"
"I said I'd have to talk it over with Pancras and you. I don't want to do anything to mess up the deal Pancras made, and I don't want to go back to the Grumpy Minotaur Inn."
Delilah nudged her brother and leaned on him. "I shouldn't have doubted you."
Kale pushed her away and laid back. "You're right. You shouldn't have. I'm not dumb."
A wave of guilt rushed o
ver Delilah. He had a point. She treated him like a child. "I'm sorry, Kale. I worry about you, about us. This whole thing…" She waved her arms in the air and sighed. "There's so much that could go wrong, so many bad things that can happen, and you're still affected by that chaos rift thing." She lay back on the bed next to her brother.
"Between you and Pancras, you'll figure out all this magical stuff." Kale turned his head to look at her. "I'm just trying not to be bored while we're stuck here for the winter, you know?"
"I understand. I hope Pancras gets permission to leave the palace." Delilah rolled over and reached for her grimoire and then remembered she left it in the great room. "I don't think he's going to let us help with his little favor for the prince."
"Kali offered to show me the secret way she used to get in."
Delilah's eyes lit up. She rolled over to look at her brother. "If Pancras doesn't have something for us to do by dinner tomorrow, we'll contact her."
* * *
The shadow invaded Pancras's dreams once again as he slept. Like a cold blanket of sodden wool, it enveloped and suffocated him. He fought to keep it at bay but could not summon his powers, for in his dream, he was naked. This vulnerability served to further enrage the shadow, and it pummeled Pancras with the sum of its fury until the light of dawn encroached, beating it back with its warm, life-giving light.
Pancras rolled out of bed, clutching his head. Throbbing at the base of his skull made his eyes feel as if they would pop out and shoot across the room. Bleary eyed, he fumbled with his focus, reversing the parts before he was able to fit them onto the tips of his horns.
Fresh air, that's all I need. He stumbled out of his bedroom, clutching his robes. Kale and Delilah were already breaking their fast and waved to him from the table. He offered a feeble wave in response and stepped out into the corridor that overlooked the gardens. He remembered to don his robes just as footsteps on the stone heralded the arrival of Princess Valene taking her morning constitutional.
"Once again, I encounter a minotaur on my morning walk." The princess teased him, her mouth upturned and a twinkle in her eye. Her smile became a frown as Pancras stepped into the light. "You look terrible."
"I feel worse. I was hoping the fresh air would help." He leaned on the wall and looked down at the garden. Overnight fresh snow fell, and the cold breeze blew the white powder into drifts across the city roofs.
Princess Valene looked over Pancras's shoulder. "Oh dear, a Royal Guard is coming, for you, I suspect."
The minotaur turned to see Lady Milena approach. Her hair was frazzled, and gray-purple bags sat under her bloodshot eyes.
"Pancras. Your Highness." The knight bowed to her sovereign.
Princess Valene placed her hand on Milena's shoulder. "Good morning, Milena."
"Prince Gavril will see you now."
Blinking to wash the sleep from his eyes, Pancras squinted at Milena. "Now? I expected him to keep me waiting for at least another day."
"He said now." Milena gestured for Pancras to accompany her. He bowed to the princess and heard her snort as he left with the captain of the royal guard.
“Rough night?” Pancras hoped his restless sleep had not somehow affected Lady Milena.
“My duties do not end when we part ways. Also, I never sleep well after a visit to the catacombs.”
"You know, if the prince would just let us go into the city and do our own shopping, he wouldn't have to bother with me at all."
"That is not my business."
Prince Gavril met them in an antechamber off the main hall, rather than in his throne room. His lips moved in silence as he read a document as he paced the floor. Shaking his head, he rolled up the paper and looked at Pancras.
"Well, let's have it."
"Have what?" Pancras was unsure what the prince wanted to know. He made it quite clear in his request for an audience what he wanted.
Prince Gavril coughed and took a deep breath. "What is it you want?"
"You promised to hear my request to acquire my own equipment and supplies. The alchemy equipment delivered last night is a good start, but it is only a fraction of what I need for the"—Pancras's eyes flicked to Lady Milena, who stood at attention in the doorway—"for the project you want."
"And how am I to know you won't simply flee the city, hm?" Prince Gavril slapped his hand with the paper. "What guarantees will you give me, eh?"
Pancras didn't feel guarantees were needed. If the city was bogged down with snow and poor weather, the open country would be even worse. They would likely die of exposure within a few days if the weather continued to get colder.
"I'm not sure what I could offer—"
Lady Milena cleared her throat. "Your Highness, if I might offer a suggestion?"
Prince Gavril looked at her the way parents regard a child who has just interrupted them. "By all means, enlighten us."
"Perhaps Pancras could stay here while the draks go into the city, and vice versa."
Pancras nodded his assent. There was little the draks could do to help him while he searched for his supplies other than be a distraction, and they certainly didn't need him around if they wanted to look within the gambling halls for Edric. For his part Pancras felt confident in the dwarf's ability to look after himself.
"Oh, very well. If it will get you working and keep you out of my hair. Lady Milena, you will accompany Pancras when he desires to visit the city. You can accompany the draks, as well, or find another guard to do it, but only you will accompany the minotaur. Clear?" Prince Gavril did not await her response before dismissing them with a wave of his hand. He brushed past them and headed toward the throne room.
"Damn it." Lady Milena chewed on her bottom lip, glaring at the prince as he strode away. "You do not look well. Are you ill?"
Pancras stifled another yawn and rubbed one of his eyes. No." Pancras and Milena ambled down the hall toward his suite. A group of ladies-in-waiting stared at them as they passed. "I have a terrible headache. I haven't been sleeping well."
"I see. If it becomes chronic, I can contact my brother. He is a priest of Apellon, god of healers, light, and the arts. He knows a few teas than can remedy such ailments."
Pancras dodged a pair of children running down the corridor giggling. "Thank you. I shall keep it in mind."
He kept one hand on the wall as they climbed the spiral stairs to the wing that led to his quarters. The journey seemed arduous, and he felt as if he could sleep the rest of the morning if the shadows in his dreams would allow it.
"Will you want to go into town this morning?" Milena took his arm as they continued down the hall. He leaned on her for support until they reached his door.
"No, I want more sleep. You're welcome to come in and see if the draks want to, though."
Milena's expression told him in plain terms what she thought of that. "I will look for volunteers among my guards for them. There are a few who are sympathetic to the draks in town."
Pancras pushed the door open and offered her a smile. "That would be most appreciated."
Chapter 11
Delilah looked across the table at Kale as Pancras staggered in. He cocked his head and watched the minotaur as he headed for his room.
"Hey, Pancras!" Delilah tossed a sweet roll at him. It struck him in the shoulder and stuck to his robes for a moment before falling to the floor. He watched it fall and stared at it as it laid there before looking up at Delilah.
"What's the news? Can we leave yet?"
Kale jumped down from his chair and retrieved the sweet roll. He bit into it as he returned to the table.
"Yes, with supervision. Lady Milena is looking for a couple of guards to volunteer to escort the two of you. We can't go together. If you go, I have to stay here. You have to stay here if I go." He pushed open the door to his bedroom.
Delilah hopped off her chair and followed him. "So, are you going? Can we go?"
"I am going back to sleep. There's a thick blanket of new snow out there right
now. I'm sure Lady Milena will be by when she has found someone willing to escort you." He fell into his bed, covering his head with his arm.
She poked the minotaur, eliciting a grunt and a swat with his arm, and returned to the table, closing his door behind her as she left. She returned to her brother and helped him load up the food lift with dirty dishes.
"He passed right out."
"I’m not surprised. You didn't hear him yelling and screaming last night?" Kale yawned. "I hardly slept."
"Nope." She climbed into the armchair in front of the fire and opened her grimoire.
"What are we going to do today, Deli?" Kale sat in the chair across from her, nursing a mug of mulled wine."
"I'm going to sit here and try to read until Lady Milena comes back and tells us who will to take us into the city." She turned to the page where she left off. The symbols danced around on the page as if they waited for her attention. "Then, I'm going to go look for stuff."
"What stuff?"
"I don't know. Something, anything. I'll know it when I see it. Besides, I need to make you a glow gem, right? So you can wander around the catacombs and other dark places without me." She returned her attention to the page and tried to wish her brother into silence.
"Aren't you worried I'll run off with Kali? Or we'll do stuff alone in the dark down there?"
Delilah closed her eyes and sighed. When she opened them again, her brother still stared at her. "I told you, I don't really care about that, but if it'll get me some peace and quiet so I can study this"—she tapped the open page of her book—"then you can run off with her right now if you want!"
Kale kicked her dangling leg and then retreated before she could retaliate. Brothers!
* * *
The next several days passed slowly for Kale. He knew better than to spend the entire time harassing his sister, and although Lady Milena found two volunteers to take him and Delilah into the city, the falling snow piled up and prevented them from leaving.
Malediction (Scars of the Sundering Book 1) Page 16