by JANRAE FRANK
The servitor laughed and she swished on.
Galee had begun to rotate the formula, three days red, fourth day black; with the black being the most highly concentrated form. She halted at Talons' back, draping an arm around her shoulder. "You're looking beautiful tonight. Pregnancy becomes you. It's a shame the wedding can't be held until fall. There's sooo many details, you know."
Talons looked up at her, uneasily. "I know."
Galee smiled to herself. Even with the makeup the servants had begun putting on her face, Talons looked weaker and more wan with each passing day, although not yet outright sick – that would come. When people noticed the changes, they usually wrote it off to the pregnancy combined with weird Sharani genetics. If I could just get past those wards, my work would be far easier. I could once more have her drinking it while I watched. I enjoyed that. Such a pleasant time we shared. "Please, enjoy this wine, it's very good." Then she continued on to her place beside the Grand Master.
* * * *
Blood red wine. Talons stared at it as the server set it by her plate. Every night it was blood-red wine. The lack of variation bored Talons and she found herself losing interest in even her favorite things. With Hanadi gone on her wanderyear as a Shardith, Galee seemed to have set herself up as queen of the palace in her place, overseeing every thing. Takhalme – having chosen not to remarry after the death of Talons' last step-grandmother – had given over most of the day to day running of the palace to his female lieutenants: Hanadi and Galee. Now, for a year, it was just Galee.
Talons sipped the wine, at least it was a good vintage, she had to grant Galee that much. Bryndel watched her ignore the food going by and started filling her plate himself.
"You must eat, Talons," he admonished her, looking so excessively concerned that it was almost comical.
"It makes me nauseous looking at it. Especially the meat. It looks ready to crawl off the plate." Talons pushed the plate away, taking a large swallow of the wine. "The wine is the only thing that seems to go down right."
Bryndel removed the meat to his own plate. "Well, you can't make a meal on wine." He piled some large roasted mushrooms in sauce on Talons' plate and pushed it back at her. "There, please eat some of the mushrooms. They were always your favorite."
Talons finished the wine and turned to Bryndel, "How did you know that?"
Bryndel smiled. He cut a piece of mushroom on her plate, extending it on the fork like a parent with a reluctant child. "Eat this and I'll tell you."
Talons accepted the mushroom, chewing it slowly. It tasted good. She did not want to eat: she felt so exhausted that even chewing and swallowing took effort.
Bryndel's smile widened. "You never paid any attention to me. Rank meant nothing. Everyone knew your grandsire had promised you a love match. I have loved you since we were children. I watched everything you did. I made note of everything you liked. I dreamed about you." He rattled off a list of Talons' favorite things, so complete it stunned her. "I never dreamed – until your cousins died, making you heir – that there was the slightest possibility for me. I did not want to annoy you by pursuing you."
The server came by and, after a glance at Galee, which got him a nod, refilled Talons' glass. She reached for it, but Bryndel covered it with his hand. "Eat the mushrooms first, please."
Talons smiled slowly, realizing that she had started to like him now that he was not making an ass of himself. "Okay." She ate determinedly, finishing the mushrooms.
"That's better." Bryndel let her have the glass.
Talons drank the second glass more quickly than the first. Bryndel's hand stole onto hers and stayed there. Dizziness came over her in a sudden wave. She clutched his hand. "Bryndel..." She toppled over, falling against him.
"Oh, gods!" He rose, sweeping her into his arms. "Call a healer! I'm taking her to her rooms."
Galee nudged Wrathscar, "Quick, my lord, see that there's no healer available for him to send for save Solance."
Wrathscar left the table.
* * * *
Yahni returned another stack of books to the shelves, wondering what Queiggy could possibly be searching for now. Everyone was talking about the murder in the healer's chambers, and yet here was Queiggy going over stuff that happened in Havensword last year, last ten years actually. And he wondered where Belyla was. Tollo was the healer who confirmed her pregnancy before sending her along to Sha. Could there be a connection? Was Belyla all right? The last three days seemed to drag with interminable slowness.
"Yahni?" Jajinga stood at the base of the ladder, his hands on the rungs, looking up at him. "I have something for you."
"If it's more work, forget it!" Yahni forced a grin as he looked down at him.
"It isn't. It's something you want." Jajinga pulled a small folded paper from his pocket and waved it at Yahni.
"Belyla?"
Jajinga grinned. "Yeah."
Yahni came quickly down and took it from his hands, opening it.
Yahni,
I love you. Come to Terrys' suites, I'm waiting.
Belyla
* * * *
Galee sat at her desk, writing steadily. Wrathscar paced, pausing now and again to watch her. Evening had darkened into night and Wrathscar was always more restless and irritable at night. Galee tried to ignore him. She wanted to get all of her notes recorded before Solance finished with Talons and brought her more. Belyla had not yet returned with the blood of her Guildsmon and that aggravated her as much as Wrathscar's pacing.
"You are always writing in that damned book. You promised me a hunt." He walked over and stared down at it. "I cannot read the words."
"You are not supposed to read them. If you wish to hunt, go without me. Meilurk will be glad to accompany you."
"I do not wish to go without you. Put the damned book away."
"When I have finished."
Wrathscar snatched it out of her hands and threw it against the wall. "You will hunt with me."
Galee's eyes blazed red and she seemed to rise from her chair like flame, catching him by the throat without her feet touching the ground, floating. She hurled him effortlessly across the room to strike the same wall as the book. "Pick it up."
"Fuck you, Galee. You're never there for me, anymore." He turned on his heels, striding out.
"Meilurk!" Galee snapped and the Lemyari emerged from his room onto the top of the stairs. "Follow him and keep him out of trouble."
* * * *
Bryndel carried Talons to her apartments followed by two servants. A third had been sent for a healer, and Solance showed up at the doors at the same time as they reached them. Edouina let them inside, following Bryndel closely and glaring at Solance.
Edouina's eyes met Bryndel's and they locked for an instant. "Don't say it, Edouina. She's sick. She is sick."
"I don't want him in here," Edouina pointed at Solance.
"He stays. Argue with me and I'll summon the guard and have you put out until he's finished."
Edouina withdrew to lean against the pantry door in case Arruth decided to appear.
Solance, left alone with Talons, ignored them. He opened a vial of liquid so dark red it was black and added it to wine, which he helped Talons drink. Then he put the vial away, wiped the glass out to make certain no traces remained, packed his things and left.
As soon as they were alone, and before Edouina could start on him, Bryndel turned with his hands palm outward. "Let me explain. I told him them I didn't want Solance, but if they couldn't find anyone else to bring him."
Edouina relaxed. "Oh. That's different. Give me room to cool off. We'll talk tomorrow."
Edouina chased Bryndel out immediately and then summoned Dynarien. The evening was pleasantly warm, yet Talons lay shivering under a bright blanket, caught in cold sweats and chills, only half-aware of her surroundings. The lovely embroidered pillows she loved to nestle among were pushed aside into little heaps along the edge of the bed against the wall. Small whimpering noises emerged fr
om far back in her throat and she stirred restlessly.
Holding her wrist, the yuwenghau Read Talons.
"I've found it, but I don't know what it is." Dynarien was the only Reader sensitive enough to find the drug. "If they keep getting this stuff into her, sooner or later, she'll die."
"I can't understand why they'd want to kill her," Edouina sounded exasperated. "They've got what they want. She's pregnant, they're getting handfasted. The throne will eventually belong to the Wrathscar lineage. Why are they doing this? It can't be Wrathscar; he stands to lose too much if she dies. The mon must know an incredible amount about Sharani and their resistance factor to get around it so easily."
"We're missing something, and we don't know where the vampire fits into all of this. I wish I knew who we're dealing with."
"Well, I say she stops going to dinner. Too many people have access to her there. They're probably putting it in her wine or something. That's standard procedure for Guildsmyn who like poison. Might even be a servant. They've been subverted before, honey."
"I'm starting to dislike your people."
"Dynarien, I did not mean to imply that a Guildsmon was doing this. Guildsmyn would not hurt an innocent. We take our oaths very seriously. However, most Creeyans – even among the nobility – aren't Guildsmyn."
* * * *
Galee smiled at Yolany from across her black-lacquered, parlor table. The firefly had finally succumbed to Galee's blandishments, and accepted her invitation to visit privately. "I am so glad you came to visit me." She poured wine into glasses and handed one to Yolany.
"It was hard to get away..." Yolany began, holding the delicate glass by the stem with her fingers pressed along the edges of the side in a nervous manner.
"I understand completely. The Fae are very possessive..."
"No, it's not that. Channadar doesn't like you."
Galee sighed heavily. "I hesitate to tell you this. I don't wish to get into another fight with Channadar. I suppose he is a good mon in his way..."
"Tell me what?" Yolany leaned closer, her expression as eager as a hungry gossip. "I've always wondered and I'll never tell anyone..."
"The real reason Channadar banned me? The reason he hates me?" Tears welled up in Galee's eyes, and she put on a tragic face.
"Please, Galee." Yolany put a comforting hand on Galee's shoulder. "You've been good to me."
Galee nodded slowly. "Channadar ... wanted me. He knows my reputation ... I am free with my favors, but I am picky."
"You have every right to be."
"I refused him. He was not content to remain on his holdings ... he had to come here after me. You have no idea what happens when he catches me alone. I am terrified of him, but there is nothing I can do."
Yolany's eyes widened. "I'm sorry. I am so very sorry."
"Thank you. You understand that this must not come out... I would be as humiliated as if I were a prostitute crying rape."
"Of course. Channadar is a tyrant. He treats Juna shamefully. His own brother."
"I understand and I sympathize. If I can think of any ways to bring your sweet Juna into his own proper status, I will."
Yolany's eyes glittered suddenly. "Oh, Galee, if you only could."
"Tell me, is there somewhere Channadar goes to be alone?"
* * * *
Yahni did not stop to change from his uniform when he got off shift, but went straight on to Terrys' apartments. Terrys glowed with happiness when she let him in. Relief and joy surged through Yahni at seeing Belyla sitting on Terrys' couch in a delicate blue dress that was one of his favorites. She rose when he entered.
"Oh Gods, Belyla!" Yahni crossed the room in three quick strides, took her in his arms, and held her tightly. "I was so afraid for you. I was so worried. I love you, Belyla."
"I love you, Yahni," Belyla said, her eyes large and uncertain.
Yahni sensed sadness in her as he kissed her. "Let's go riding."
"Not in this ... but I have something else." Belyla ran upstairs and changed quickly into a soft blue dress with a split skirt.
Yahni hugged Terrys briefly. "Thank god, you found her."
Terrys smiled. "I didn't find her, she came back. I told you she would not stay away. She loves you."
Yahni took Belyla out through a postern gate and onto the mountainside where he knew the wildflowers were blooming in abundance. He wanted a lovely place to show her the letters. They could leave for Shaurone on a moment's notice.
For a while they simply rode. She seemed too quiet all the way; as if something were troubling her and he could get nothing from her. It dismayed him to see her like that. Yahni sensed so much sadness in her that he wished she would explain it. Something bad had happened to her, but he knew he would have to wait until she felt comfortable enough to tell him. He suspected that her father had caught her packing.
Finally they found a spot they liked and dismounted. They gathered flowers and he got her to smiling, stealing kisses while she struggled to braid them together, giggling. Gradually she began to seem more like herself. When Belyla had had enough of that she shoved him backwards playfully and opened his shirt, rubbing her hands over him, avoiding the godmark, which she usually stroked. He was so overjoyed to have her back that he failed to notice it. She unbuckled his sword belt and tossed his blades aside as she opened his pants. Yahni fumbled with the fastenings on her bodice, becoming intent on the all the little hooks and eyes along one side, so he did not notice the sudden expression of intense sadness that entered Belyla's face again. Her fangs flashed in the bright sun and she sank them into his upper arm.
Pain, weakness, confusion. He tried to twist and push her off, pull loose from her, succeeding only at ripping his arm worse as her fangs were deep sunk. In a wild twist of thought, he wondered why she had not gone for his throat and a quick kill. "Belyla! Belyla, please!"
A rising sense of panic gripped him as she fed. He should have hit or kicked her. Yet his love was a stonewall of inhibitions blocking his ability to react, despite the monstrousness of what she was doing. For a moment he was trapped between terror and love, between action and reaction. Then all he wanted to do was get her loose. He caught her hair, twisting her head and tearing his arm still more as he tried to free himself. His blood ran warm down his bicep. She shoved him back with the strength of the undead, pinning him. Her sucking came hard and frantic, taking his blood in long desperate pulls. The swift blood loss overcame him, and Yahni fainted, not expecting to wake.
* * * *
Galee sent for Bryndel on the afternoon following Talons' collapse in the Great Hall at dinner. She stopped writing and closed her journal when he came in to snap at him. "I warned you," Galee said. "You should have kept giving her the medicine. The bi-kyndi is a delicate thing. Having it blocked has made her fragile. The Temple of Ishla warned me that it might. It makes the pregnancy more difficult."
"I never dreamed..." Bryndel said lamely. He felt helpless and confused, wondering how trying to do something right could go so wrong.
"Exactly. And what did the Patriarch say about the medicine?"
Bryndel sighed, ducking his head. "He said he was not familiar with some of the ingredients, but he did not think it would hurt her."
"This will teach you to listen to me. I am, after all, the one who fetched it from the Ishlani temple." Galee looked severe. "The idiots don't want her to get it. You must simply put it in some wine and give it to her each and every day. Don't let them catch you. If you want her to get better, you'll do what I say and not listen to those who have no idea what they are talking about."
"I promise."
"Get out of here."
Galee watched him go. The drug was subtle indeed. A little of it did no harm at all. In fact, before the elder gods arrived, many of her people took it for its soothing effects. However, sustained over-dosing – like they were doing with Talons – weakened and finally killed. The children would not be harmed, because the kyndi would prevent the drug reaching the
m. She had twisted the formulation further, enhancing it with magic and other arcane substances. It disappeared into her body's chemistry, disguising itself as natural substances, lodging in the cells, nerves, any place it could find to hide and eat away at her. Sharani were marvelous creatures when it came to reproduction. It would take months to bring her down, but Galee had calculated it well: they would have the children's claim to the throne, but Talons would not be alive to interfere. Nor would the Grand Master. Bellocar, her liege-god, would have Creeya and the Guild. Then no realm in the entire world would be safe. The age of darkness would return. Eventually she would shatter the escarpment and free him. Then she would turn on him and take it all for herself.
Galee opened her journal again and began to write. They had found a Sharani bi-kyndi healing master who could, in a pinch, intervene to save the children if Talons began to die too soon. Solance, on the other hand, felt that a blade birth could be safely achieved, cutting the children from Talons' dying body, as early as late fall or early winter. She needed to subvert another healer, preferably two.
She looked up at a knock on her door. "Come in."
Yolany entered, bringing Tongari, another of Juna's four fireflies.
Galee closed her ledger. "I am so glad to see both of you. You have no idea how wondrous it is to finally have someone I can talk to."