Jolie gave Aidane an appraising glance. “I recall. You thought you’d bettered your prospects with your vayash moru patron.”
“It’s not like I broke his heart. We were never in love.”
“I just want to make sure that you don’t suddenly change your mind now that Jonmarc’s ‘prospects’ have improved.”
Aidane could feel Thaine’s impatience. “I haven’t changed my mind. This is about preventing a war. It’s the Durim I’m after. I want them to pay for what they did to me.”
Jolie’s gaze was skeptical. “I’ll be watching.”
Thaine’s disappointment was genuine. “You used to trust me.”
Jolie’s expression softened. “You might not have hurt Jonmarc with the way you left, but I wasn’t happy about it. You left a note and disappeared. Not much of a good-bye after you’d made your home with us for so long.”
Thaine’s regret was real. “I’m sorry. I was a fool. If it’s any consolation, I died for my foolishness, and I continued to pay for it, long afterward.”
The anger was gone from Jolie’s face. Aidane was surprised to see genuine caring, something she hadn’t expected. “You were free to go any time you wished,” Jolie said quietly. “No one is ever forced to stay with me against their will.”
“I know. You took good care of me. Of all of us.” Thaine swept her arm to indicate the other whores who rode behind them just far enough to be out of earshot. “I’ve seen enough other houses in the business and enough other managers to know that you’re one of a kind, Jolie.”
“Damn right about that.”
“Do you think Jonmarc will believe me?”
Jolie shrugged. “It’s not him believing you that worries me. I’m fond of Carina, his wife. She’s been good for him. Carina’s a healer, Thaine. Not just the best damn healer in the Winter Kingdoms, but a mind healer, too. For the first time since I’ve known him, Jonmarc’s actually happy. I don’t want anything to go wrong with that.”
Thaine looked away. “I understand. I’m dead, remember? Dead and without a body of my own. Let Aidane carry my warning. When I’ve done all I can, I’ll leave and go to my rest.”
Jolie’s eyes held a sadness Aidane hadn’t seen there before. “Principality’s not a bad place for our kind to die. After all, they worship the Lover and the Whore. Perhaps the Lady will grant you favor.”
“We’re here.” Kolin’s voice interrupted whatever reply Thaine might have made. Thaine’s spirit drew back into the recesses of Aidane’s mind, leaving Aidane master of both her mind and her body. Jolie fell back, taking a position with her girls. Kolin looked at Aidane and shook his head. “I can’t wait to see what Jonmarc makes of you.”
Aidane watched nervously as guards opened the huge manor house gates. The guards outside the gate were dressed in the livery of King Staden’s soldiers, making it obvious that the king had a stake in protecting Dark Haven and its inhabitants. Aidane wondered if the guards inside the gates were vayash moru. They hailed Kolin and waved the group inside. A tall, flaxen-haired man was waiting for them in the courtyard. He was clearly of noble birth, Aidane thought.
“You’re late,” he said to Kolin, but Aidane heard worry more than censure in his tone.
“Had some unexpected complications,” Kolin replied, handing off the reins to his horse.
The blond man looked at the newcomers, and his eyes widened in recognition. He went to where Jolie stood with her girls and gave a bow in greeting, kissing the back of Jolie’s hand.
“Jolie? What an unexpected surprise.”
Jolie grinned and held her head up as if she wore her usual finery instead of the plain traveling dress. “Good to see you, Gabriel. Even with the king’s blessing, Margolan got a little too dangerous for my taste. Thought we’d throw ourselves on Jonmarc’s mercy and sit this out somewhere safe.”
Kolin had already begun to hand off his newest charges to Zhan, who took the rescued vayash moru and vyrkin toward one of the other buildings that ringed the courtyard. Kolin spoke in low tones to other servants, who motioned for Ed and the musicians to go with them. Soon, only Jolie’s party and Aidane remained in the courtyard with Kolin and Gabriel.
“Where’s Jonmarc?” Kolin had moved so quickly that Aidane hadn’t seen him until he spoke from beside her.
“Inside. He’ll be anxious to see you, and happy to see Jolie. I’ll have the servants find a place for you and your girls.”
“Anyplace that’s dry and warm is fine with me. I thought perhaps we might set up shop in the village. We can earn our keep.”
Gabriel frowned. “You might want to rethink that, at least for a while, Jolie. I know you’ve come for sanctuary, but Dark Haven’s not as safe as it used to be.”
“Jolie! What brings you here?”
Aidane looked up to see a man standing on the landing of the entranceway. His dark hair was loose around his shoulders, and he moved with the muscular grace of a swordsman. As he drew closer, Aidane could see intelligence and surprising humor in his dark eyes, and she glimpsed a nasty scar that ran from his left ear down into his collar. That’s him, Thaine whispered in her mind.
Jonmarc embraced Jolie, and the two began to talk rapidly in the thick river patois that was a favorite of smugglers and thieves. Jonmarc’s affection for Jolie was clear, and Jolie fussed over Jonmarc like a son she hadn’t seen in years. As if he suddenly became aware of the others around them, Jonmarc switched back to Common.
“Of course you’re welcome, all of you. Gabriel’s probably told you that it’s not the best time to try to relocate your house, but until things settle down, you’re welcome here. I’ll warn you; it’s tight. We’ve been overrun with refugees, and it’s kept Carina busier than she should be.”
Something made Jonmarc turn and he looked Aidane up and down. “What do we have here?” To Aidane’s surprise, he addressed her in fluent Nargi.
“That’s one of our ‘complications,’ ” Kolin said.
“Hello, Jonmarc. Been a long time.” It was Thaine’s voice that spoke, and her spirit surged forward, filling Aidane so that Aidane took on her stance, her mannerisms, all in the span of a single breath. And while Aidane knew that Thaine had told the truth about her intentions, Aidane could also feel Thaine’s perverse pleasure in the stunned look on Jonmarc’s face.
“That’s not possible,” Jonmarc whispered, his eyes widening.
“Aidane is a serroquette,” Jolie said quietly. “We met up with Thaine’s ghost by accident. Thaine says she has a warning for you.”
“Perhaps we should have this conversation inside,” Gabriel said, with an unhappy glance at Kolin. Gabriel gestured, and two servants came running to see to Jolie’s contingent and their sparse luggage, although Jolie did not follow them.
Gabriel led them inside, and although Thaine was at the forefront of her consciousness, Aidane looked around as they entered the manor house. She had called on many highborn clients and was accustomed to the great homes of Nargi. While Dark Haven was easily their equal in size and construction, it was austere by comparison. There were no paintings of esteemed ancestors, real or purchased, no grand tapestries regaling tales of family history. What Aidane could see of Dark Haven and its rooms showed its furniture to be practical but not opulent, and its decoration to be minimal. The manor seemed as unpretentious as its lord, and Aidane was even more curious to learn more about Jonmarc Vahanian.
Kolin, Gabriel, Jolie, and Aidane followed Jonmarc to a small parlor. He closed the door behind them and lit the lanterns. Then he turned to face Aidane, hands on hips.
“What the hell is going on?”
Under Thaine’s control, Aidane squared her shoulders, taking a defiant stance. “I thought you might be happy to know that I’m dead.”
Something flickered in Jonmarc’s dark eyes. “I’m sorry. How long?”
Thaine shrugged. “My patron brought me across as a vayash moru a few weeks after I left Jolie’s Place. I guess it’s been about five years now. It w
ent badly after that.” Thaine tried to sound nonchalant, but Aidane felt the pain behind the words. It was true what Thaine had told Jolie, that she had no designs on Jonmarc. But at the same time, Thaine felt keenly humiliated at having to admit just how badly her choices had turned out. “My last ‘patron’ tired of me and sold me for my blood to the Black Robes. They murdered me as an offering to Shanthadura.”
Jonmarc paled at that, and Aidane saw pain in his expression. “Thaine, I-”
“I didn’t come here for pity.” Thaine’s voice was sharp, and Aidane could feel embarrassment turning into anger. “I’d heard about the new Lord of Dark Haven. My patrons debated the uprising last year, and I heard all about how you put down the vayash moru who broke the Truce.” She glanced at Kolin and Gabriel, and her smile was more of a smirk. “My patrons feared you, and they hated fearing a mortal. Congratulations, you have the same reputation as a fighter among the undead as you had among the Nargi.”
“I’d have rather not had to earn either one.”
Jonmarc’s gaze seemed to see through her bravado. Thaine looked away. “The Black Robes talked in front of me, because I was expendable. They’re planning something big in Principality City during the Feast of the Departed. They want to disrupt the festival and cause panic. But there’s more to it. They want to slaughter as many people as they can as a blood offering to Shanthadura. They think that if they murder the priestesses, the Black Robes can take their place and bring the worship of Shanthadura back to Principality.”
Jonmarc exchanged glances with Gabriel. “Staden and Berry don’t need something like that, on top of the plague and everything else that’s going on. Everyone’s jumpy enough that a big disruption like that could do a lot of damage.”
Gabriel nodded. “I’ll alert my people in the city.”
“There’s more,” Thaine said. “The Black Robes think something big is going to happen. They were excited about it. They called it a War of Unmaking. The Black Robes said that there’s a new power, a dark summoner, who will help something they called an ‘ancient darkness’ rise again.”
“A dark summoner,” Jonmarc repeated. “Dark Lady help us.” He looked at Thaine. “Where is this dark summoner? Where will he come from?”
“Across the Northern Sea.”
Jonmarc swore and turned away. “It just keeps getting better.” He glanced at Gabriel. “Well, at least we know now why the Black Robes seemed so intent on getting into the barrows. They’re hoping to wake up whatever lives in there, bring it back in time for the war.”
Thaine met Jonmarc’s eyes. “So you’ll take the message to the king?”
“There’s just one problem with that,” Jonmarc said, grimacing. “Staden’s very ill. I’ve got a direct order from the king commanding me to guard Berry and to keep both of us here until he sends for us, or until he dies. Short of those two options, I’m not to set foot in Principality City until the crisis is over.”
“But you have to warn him!”
Aidane could feel Thaine’s panic. It rose as she realized that Jonmarc seemed to be reconsidering the message.
“How do we know it’s not a trap?” Jonmarc said, looking from Gabriel to Kolin. “The serroquette could have met Thaine anywhere. Maybe Thaine told the ghost whore her story. It doesn’t mean that she’s actually channeling Thaine’s ghost. How do we know it’s not a trick to get close to Staden or Berry?”
“Ask me anything,” Thaine said, and Aidane felt the spirit growing more desperate. “Anything. I am Thaine. And what I’m telling you is true.”
“Aidane’s gift with the spirits is real.” They all turned to look at Kolin. “She used it when we were escaping from the Nargi. And we saw her beset by spirits outside the camp where we found Thaine’s body.”
“Maybe she’s a gifted actress,” Jonmarc said, and a hard glint had come into his eyes.
He doesn’t want to believe. He doesn’t want to deal with me. Things are bad enough, without this. Thaine was upset enough she was making Aidane breathe too fast. Aidane struggled not to become light-headed. Then she met Kolin’s eyes.
He knows my power is real. Aidane wondered if Kolin read the challenge in her eyes, and whether he would take it.
“She’s not acting.” Kolin hadn’t fed recently enough to blush, but he looked uncomfortable, nonetheless. “Earlier on the night that we found Thaine’s body, Aidane came to me in the crypt. She was possessed by the spirit of my long-dead betrothed, Elsbet. I, too, was skeptical. I’ve known too many vayash moru who were promised reunions by ghost whores who were nothing but frauds. But Elsbet has been dead for over two hundred years. There was no marker, no conversation to give Aidane any clues. No one in our party knew.”
Kolin met Aidane’s eyes. “No one knew the circumstances of Elsbet’s death except the two of us. Aidane recounted it exactly. She had Elsbet’s voice, Elsbet’s ways. She was Elsbet.” His voice caught, and he looked away. “Her power is genuine.”
Gabriel moved closer. “Taru and Carina are mind healers. They aren’t telepaths, but they can sense power and read memories. They could validate whether or not her power and her message is real.”
Jonmarc passed a hand over his eyes. “Carina. How am I going to explain this?”
Jolie gave Aidane a hostile glare. “I have Thaine’s word that she didn’t come to make trouble.”
“Somehow, that’s not much comfort.”
The door behind them opened. Carina stood in the doorway. “Neirin said Kolin was here with Jolie. I wondered where you’d gone.”
Aidane felt Thaine’s surprise as she took a first look at Lady Vahanian. Carina was dressed in healer’s robes. She had dark hair, cut chin length, and intelligent, green eyes. But there was no sign of rank or wealth, no jewels, nothing other than the green healer’s belt to indicate her status or position. She wore no cosmetics, nothing to enhance her appearance. And yet, when Aidane watched Jonmarc move toward Carina, it was apparent that he was completely smitten, and that the two cared deeply for each other. It was also very clear that Carina was nearly to term with her pregnancy. Thaine startled, and Aidane followed Thaine’s gaze to a thin, twisted scar on the palm of Jonmarc’s left hand. Jolie said they were married. I thought a handfasting. But he’s made a ritual bond. That’s something I didn’t think he’d ever do. And although Thaine was sincere in disavowing any interest in the lord of the manor, Aidane felt a twinge of pain.
“There’s someone I’d like you to meet,” Jonmarc said, taking Carina’s hand and leading her into the room. He stopped in front of Aidane.
Carina’s eyes widened. “You’re a-”
“ Serroquette,” Aidane finished for her, in her own voice. Thaine had stepped back in her consciousness. “The spirit I’m carrying has an urgent message for King Staden. Lord Vahanian is right to be cautious, but we need to prove that the spirit is genuine, that the message is real. Please, Lady Healer, if you can use your power to verify that, I beg you, do whatever you must.”
Carina glanced at the necklace Aidane wore, the necklace Thaine had given her. She seemed to take in everything: the borrowed clothing, Aidane’s heavy Nargi accent, even the way Kolin and Jolie watched Aidane. If Carina sensed that Jonmarc was ill at ease, she did not let on.
“Will you open your mind to me?” Carina met Aidane’s gaze with green eyes that seemed to see into her soul. For the first time, Aidane was afraid.
“Yes. Not just my mind, but the spirit I’m carrying.”
“Give me your hand.”
Aidane stretched out her hand, and as Carina took it, Aidane saw the match of the scar on Jonmarc’s palm that made a fine white line on Carina’s hand, the mark of a ritual wedding. Such a vow bound the lovers’ souls as well as making a formal commitment. Aidane had never known anyone sure enough of their choice to make a ritual bond.
Aidane felt a warm presence brush against her mind. It was different from the ghosts that possessed her, different from the way Thaine inhabited her. This warmth pose
d no threat. Aidane knew that Carina’s power had no desire to harm her or to take control, and Aidane relaxed. It was as if a balm soothed her mind, easing the memories of the beating, her capture by the Black Robes, and the near-possession at the camp. The memories remained, but their ability to hurt had been dulled. Carina’s touch was light, gentle, but Aidane knew its power. And while no words passed between them, Aidane was certain Carina could feel her own magic as a serroquette.
There was a shift, and Thaine’s spirit came to the fore. Aidane was content to withdraw, uncertain of Thaine’s reception. Thaine, too, was unsure, and Aidane could clearly feel the ghost’s fear. After a moment, Carina’s power drew back, and Aidane stood looking at the healer in a silence that seemed to last forever.
“Both Aidane and Thaine are what they seem to be,” Carina said finally. It was impossible for Aidane to read any emotion in Carina’s voice. What she thought of Aidane as a serroquette or what she made of Thaine’s presence in her household, Carina gave no clue.
“Is Thaine telling the truth?” It was Jonmarc who spoke.
Carina seemed to consider her impressions from the mental touch, and then nodded. “Yes. At least, she believes it’s the truth. Thaine is afraid.”
“Damn.” Jonmarc began to pace. “Now what do we do?”
“Perhaps if you contacted Captain Gellyr, he could give her safe passage to Principality City, make sure her word reaches the king,” Carina suggested.
Kolin shook his head. “If the Black Robes get any inkling that Aidane is carrying Thaine’s spirit, they’ll try to kill her. Will Gellyr take the message seriously enough to protect her?”
Aidane knew that Kolin’s real question was different, and she shared his fear. Will Gellyr bother protecting a whore?
“If the king is barely conscious, then he’s not going to be able to stop this threat personally,” Gabriel said. “I would not expect General Gregor to give Aidane a worthy hearing.”
“The Feast of the Departed is barely a week away. That’s not much time to find the traitors and stop the plot.” Kolin chewed on his lip as he thought, and despite the gravity of the conversation, Aidane smiled at how mortal the gesture was.
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